I love me a good filet, but Center-cut isn’t always, like center-cut fastballs to Nick Castellanos in extra innings, for instance.
After failing to score in both the 10th and 11th innings, the Braves threw Aaron Bummer to pitch the bottom of the 11th. After getting Kyle Schwarber to line-out to Michael Harris II, he walked Trea Turner. Bummer then induced a ground ball to third baseman Luke Williams. The Braves infield positioning created havoc on the play, Whit Merrifield was late to the bag, and Bryce Harper was safe at first.
Two outs, men on the corners, Castellanos coming to the plate. One could have put Castellanos on to load the bases and allow Bummer to face Bryson Stott. That was one scenario before Brian Snitker and the Braves. Another was to call on Grant Holmes, the same Holmes who gave up a go-ahead home run to Castellanos in game 1 of this series.
Plan A or Plan B?
Snitker went with Plan B. At least that was my Plan B. My gut devised Plan A, and my gut is usually right. Easy for me to say, right?
In game one, Holmes through Castellanos two fastballs. The veteran right-fielder belted it over the CF wall to give the Phlies a victory. Thursday night was proof that Center-cut isn’t always best.
Did he and Travis d’Arnaud learn their lesson? Uhhhh, no. This time, a 1-2, 95 mph, Center-cut heater was singled up the middle to all but clinch the NL East for the Phlies. Castellanos tied the game with a two-run single off Spencer Schwellenbach in the sixth. Schwelly was cruising through 5.2 innings Turner hit a flare into right. Harper dthen umped one into no-man’s land in left, giving Philly second and third with two outs. Schwelly proceeded to get ahead of Casty, 0-2, but his slider backed up over the inning half and Castellanos didn’t miss it.
Philly won the series, 3-1, in a series that could very easily have been reversed. Center-cut isn’t always best is the lesson learned. We all hope it sinks in for the Braves who cling to a one game lead in the race for the final NL Wildcard spot.
It’s hard to know where to start but 0 and 2 runs will win nothing. Snit left both Morton and Schwelly in a bit too long. That might change in the playoffs. A rotation of Sale, Fried, and Morton with Fried and Morton on short leashes and Lopez and Schwelly in long relief sounds pretty darn good. Pinchhitting choices were odd to say the least and so were relief decisions (Lee for one batter and Holmes twice to Castellanos). Without Minter they have to use Lee in that high leverage slot at least against Schwarber and Harper. Although I like the odds of Lee getting out of a bad jam more than Bummer.
Soler looked really bad at the plate and so did Arcia. Without a hot -hitting Harris, Ozuna, and Olson, the Braves will never score enough to win no matter how good the pitching is. Even if Albies and Riley come back I doubt there’s enough time for them to find a groove. Seems like Urshela and Merrifield have been OK in their spots especially on defense.
At least they brought Matzek back. That bodes well for next year. I never thought he should be thrown into the deep end this year. At least at the beginning of the year.
I’m not starting Morton if Reynaldo and Schwelly are available in a playoff series.
While games one and four ended up being closer than I thought, the final result of the series is exactly what I expected. It seems that at no point this year have five of our hitters clicked at the same time for any duration. It’s September, and we know what this team is. Any slip-up by a starter or relief pitcher and we’re toast. I took a look at the Braves’ remaining schedule and it looks daunting. I imagine they’re going to come up just short for that last wild card spot. The only question is will it happen during the penultimate series with the Mets–please, God, no!–or will they be out of it before that.
FWIW, Mets’ schedule is a bit tougher in September. Of course, that 3-game series in ATL (Sept. 24-26) will be huge.
NYM:
(H) Bos 2, Cin 3, Was 3, Pha 4
(A) Tor 3, Pha 3, Atl 3, Mil 3
12 Home, 12 Away, 15 games vs. .500+ teams
ATL:
(H) Col 3, Tor 3, Cin 1, LAD 4, NYM 3, KC 3
(A) Was 2, Cin 3, Mia 3
17 Home, 8 Away, 11 games vs. .500+ teams
Mets play their last 6 games on the road; Braves play their last 6 games at home.
Well, that Mets schedule does look pretty tough. But then seeing that we have to face LA, Cincy, and KC–and even the Nats, with whom we’ve struggled–it sends shivers down my spine, and not the good kind. Hell, after what happened a couple of weeks ago, even the Rockies scare me. Hopefully not playing a mile above sea level will help our chances . . .
Oh, we can lose to anyone anytime — hey, we lost 2 of 3 to the White Sox this year — but the remaining schedule leans our way a little bit.
If either team gets to 89 wins, I’m guessing that’ll probably do it.
Blue Jays up on Phillies 6 to 1 in inning 1.
At this point, what happens with the Mets (currently leading the Bosox 2-1), the Padres, and the Diamondbacks is more important. ATL lost the division this past weekend.
Man, Chris Sale is special.
Recapped