Not a great finish. When you let a crappy team hang with you bad things can happen. We could say “closer problem,” but Raisel Iglesias has been very good for his entire Braves tenure except the first half of last year, when he had a “3 month episode.” And then Devin Williams replicated that statistic known as the “blown save.” Then, the Manfred shenanigans got us.
I tuned in at 3 to 1 in the 4th inning. Freddy Peralta was getting cuts and scratches, but after the Matt Olson solo shot in inning 3, he got to inning 5 and had 2 outs when he turned over a 2 runner on situation to Cionel Perez who promptly got Joey Bart out (pinch hitting for the now not so hot Dominic Smith). There were several more times when extending the lead was possible, but did not come to fruition.
In the 6th inning, the Mets tried to get things going and a lot of good defense messed them up. Great charging diving catch by “Team MVP” Mauricio Dubon. Also, a Dubon to Jarvis to Baldwin relay caught Bichette at the plate. Mets still got 1 to make it 3 to 2.
So, in inning 9, the action showed up. Raisel let it get to 2 on and 2 out with Juan Soto coming up. Small sample sizes are tricky, but since SOTO was 3 for 4 on career against Raisel before that and is now 4 for 5 after hitting a three run homer, maybe we need to make sure Raisel doesn’t pitch to Soto.
BUT WAIT, in bottom of 9, Braves come storming back. 4 of the first 5 hitters reached safely and the first 2 scored on Matt Olson’s home run to tie the game. But the 2 on after that were still there with 3 outs. One hit shy of a load.
Well, in inning 10, Owen Murphy got his shot. Fair, but not too good. Letting the Manfred man score is not too bad, but then another one too? So, then the Braves came out and got Manfred man home.
Tonight, we hope the Braves wake up before they get to the ballpark in Pittsburgh.
Keith Law came back with a report on some of our key prospects in Rome. Takeaways:
• Caminiti looks good and is a no-doubt starter, but needs a better third pitch to be a finished product.
• Hartman’s a starting center fielder, but some of his power surge is probably illusory as the ball is jumping all over the minors.
• John Gil has the best tools on the team but his baseball IQ is currently a bit lacking.
• Tate Southisene has way too many holes in his swing, and he doesn’t appear to have the tools to stick at short.
• Owen Carey, a 15th-rounder, looks like he could be a fourth outfielder.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7427009/2026/07/07/mlb-prospect-scouting-cam-caminiti-tate-southisene/
That’s disappointing about Southisene. We’re doomed at shortstop. I can live with the feedback on Caminiti, Hartman, Gil, and Carey. Hartman’s production has been compared to Acuna, and I don’t think anyone was thinking Hartman was Acuna coming into the season.
As the poster who brought up Grant McAuley’s comparison of Hartman’s numbers with young Ronald’s I feel bad. It seemed like some encouraging news; I didn’t think anyone would take it as serious prediction he was a lock to be as good as Ronald. You can be below that level and still be good.
I hear Francisco Lindor could be available… only 5 years/$162 M remaining on that deal.
I watched the game last night and saw at least three or four cases where the Braves left men on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs. I know in isolation, that’s not promising but if you get men on 2nd and 3rd often enough something SHOULD happen.
This is starting to feel a lot like last year, when we get pitching, no hitting. When we get hitting, no pitching. All we have to do is wait for there to be no hitting and no pitching and we will drop like a rock. I’m not sure how to solve this problem. Maybe the best answer is to get Acuna, Suarez, and a SP back from the injured list. We should have money; if we get anything at the deadline, it would be a boost.
I hope (HOPE) we can get it together after the All Star break.
A bunch more itsy bitsy stuff: Rowdy Tellez is back, James Karinchak and Connor Thomas have been called up, Tyler Kinley’s on the paternity list with Eli White, and Daysbel Hernandez has been released.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/atlanta-braves
That must have been a crazy night 9 months ago.
Dang, poor Daysbel. He must just not be able to get healthy again.
He also couldn’t throw strikes.
The Pirates have lost Skene’s last nine starts. Make it 10. Go Braves!
A GSHR, then a 3-run blast in the 3rd inning… the RBI record for one game is 12.
Guess he has a chance.
There’s no defense for the 7-run homer
2 RBIs to go…
This team is the 2025 Mets.
recapped