Soroka

I have used the photograph above before. It is Michael Soroka‘s first MLB pitch. I took it, so that unlike most images that I put up here, mumbling “fair use” and pointing to the aggregate revenue of Braves Journal, I actually own this image. Feel free to use it.

Is there an alternate universe in which Michael Soroka is still a Brave? Of course there is. I saw Everything, Everywhere, All At Once — that documentary about parallel universes. But we live in this one, and he’s a Diamondback facing the Braves. There are a number of things I find suboptimal about this universe: this is one of them. As suboptimalities go, it is of a pretty low order, but when I watch him pitch against the Braves, it looms a little larger. On the other hand, the universe where Jim Leyritz is arrested without bail on October 22, 1996 looms larger still. My head swims with alternative universes — I do not sleep well.

The Game

Bryce Elder, going for his second complete game of his career, didn’t have a 1-2-3 inning until the 6th inning. Everyone was so surprised, he was yanked after that. He left with a 2-1 lead, but a DBack homer off Fuentes tied it up.

The bottom of the 7th saw a leadoff Austin Riley double and a successful Jim Jarvis sacrifice. If that sounds like a nod to small ball, the ensuing three-run homer from Matt Olson should disabuse you from that particular heresy.

So today was another FLIGGY relief day. After Fuentes gave up the solo shot, Lee was perfect. That left the roulette wheel that is the August Iggy with a 3-run lead. A leadoff walk created a frisson of fear, and the subsequent single transformed the frisson to an allotment of apprehension. A flyout was seemingly followed by another flyout, but a balk was called on the delivery, raising the allotment to a cauldron of crisis. A groundout led to a run and a flyball from James McCann ended it, emptying the cauldron.

It’s off to Minnesota tomorrow, where the Twins are trying to thwart a Phillies sweep as I type. Enjoy whatever universe you currently inhabit.