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Speaker 1: Welcome to the Hammer Territory podcast. My name is Sean Coleman,

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Speaker 1: burning the Midnight Oil with you here late on Tuesday

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Speaker 1: going into Wednesday, our normal time that we record, and

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Speaker 1: I'm here with my podcast partner Steven Tolbert and Stephen.

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Speaker 1: I don't recall there may be being a time this year,

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Speaker 1: possibly in April, but I don't. It's been a while

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Speaker 1: that I have looked more forward, even with as late

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Speaker 1: as it is, looked more forward to doing a podcast

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Speaker 1: with you, because Stephen, the Braves have won four games

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Speaker 1: in a row. We deserve this, Stephen. As much as

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Speaker 1: we've talked about the brains after some disappointing losses, we

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Speaker 1: deserve this, sir. How are you doing tonight?

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Speaker 2: Yeah, what's up, Sean? Certainly a little bit later than

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Speaker 2: what we record. It's it's about twelve thirty on the

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Speaker 2: East Coast. It'll be well past one when we get

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Speaker 2: done recording this. But like you said, it's always easier

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Speaker 2: to do after a win. And you know, the Braves

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Speaker 2: have gone out west and and won the first two

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Speaker 2: games in this Diamondback series after one in the last

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Speaker 2: two games against Philadelphia, four games in a row. You know,

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Speaker 2: the offense is really going. Uh They've scored at least

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Speaker 2: five runs in five straight games, which is you know,

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Speaker 2: is far far removed from what they did in that

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Speaker 2: home stand against the Pirates and the Giants. So yeah,

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Speaker 2: it's it's really encouraging stuff. You can see multiple guys

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Speaker 2: in the lineup kind of getting it going, Sean Murphy,

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Speaker 2: Adam Devall, you know, Riley's been hot, Kelnick's been hot,

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Speaker 2: Mazuna's had some Piket big hits, Eli White came up

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Speaker 2: with a big hit tonight, Davall. So yeah, it's been

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Speaker 2: good to see, and obviously it's coming at a good

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Speaker 2: time because the Braves had gone through that really rough

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Speaker 2: stretch and have come back out of it and won

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Speaker 2: a big series against Philadelphia. Now I've gone out west

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Speaker 2: and taken the first two from Arizona.

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Speaker 1: And as I mentioned, four in a row, and we're

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Speaker 1: obviously going to get to the offense in just a

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Speaker 1: moment here because of how good it's rolling right now.

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Speaker 1: But Steve and I also think, you know, it's it's

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Speaker 1: definitely important to point out that just as significant the

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Speaker 1: starting pitching is, once again, you know, as it's done

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Speaker 1: all year, significant, it is consistently keeping the Braves in

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Speaker 1: positions to win games. Spencer Swellenbach on Saturday, Rnaldo Lopez

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Speaker 1: on Sunday, Rice Elder last night, Chris Sale tonight, Chris

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Speaker 1: Sale probably had you know, one of his you know,

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Speaker 1: less least impressive starts that that he's had over the

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Speaker 1: past ten starts that he's had. But yeah, he still

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Speaker 1: did more than enough to help us win the game.

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Speaker 1: And again, Bibb, we talked about the offense. I think

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Speaker 1: it's important to mention that the Braves pitching continues to

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Speaker 1: be elite and if our offense is now able to

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Speaker 1: continue as important as that he is, this starting pitching

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Speaker 1: is if it stays elite, the Braves are gonna win

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Speaker 1: into high clip as they're doing right now.

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Speaker 2: Yeah. I mean, listen, Philly scored one run on Saturday,

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Speaker 2: they scored zero runs on Sunday. Arizona scored four runs

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Speaker 2: last night, but you know one of those was in

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Speaker 2: the extra innings, was the ghost runner scoring so and

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Speaker 2: then obviously Arizona I scored two runs tonight. So yeah,

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Speaker 2: I mean that's that's been the strength all year, it

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Speaker 2: really has. And you know the difference is the Braves

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Speaker 2: have had to win these games three to two, two

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Speaker 2: to one, one, three to one. And now they're getting

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Speaker 2: some easy wins, right, they're getting some six nothing, some

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Speaker 2: five ones. Tonight it was six to two, like that's

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Speaker 2: you know, this is much more what I thought this

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Speaker 2: team would be. Where you're not having to just you know,

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Speaker 2: scratch and call for every single win. You know, you

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Speaker 2: you can use your bullpen at leisure because you're not

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Speaker 2: having protect a one run lead all the time. You know, uh,

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Speaker 2: Sniker was able to use Jesse Chavez for a big

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Speaker 2: part of the game tonight after Chris Sill left, which

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Speaker 2: of course saves your high leverage guys for you know,

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Speaker 2: closer games, and that stuff adds up. And that's one

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Speaker 2: of the benefits of scoring runs is you're not always

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Speaker 2: having to use your high leverage guys to win games.

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Speaker 2: If you can win games six to two or seven

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Speaker 2: to one, you know, six to nothing, you know, you

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Speaker 2: get wins without having to use your best relievers. And

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Speaker 2: that that's that that just has such a cumulative effect.

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Speaker 2: They really can't be measured. So yeah, big big deal.

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Speaker 2: Obviously the pitching has has been as solid as it is,

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Speaker 2: but they all excuse me. The offense coming along with

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Speaker 2: it and allowing some easy wins, some some low leverage

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Speaker 2: bullpen usage and wins is a big deal. It'll pay dividends.

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Speaker 1: Later, absolutely, And speaking and speaking of paying dividends later,

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Speaker 1: you know, I know that you know many you know this,

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Speaker 1: this is no secret to many. But right now, I

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Speaker 1: think you know, likely did the Braves make the playoffs?

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Speaker 1: And you know, are in a favorable position as favor

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Speaker 1: a position as they can be once the playoffs start.

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Speaker 1: I think we are right now in the midst of

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Speaker 1: what could be the most important stretch of the season.

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Speaker 1: Because you want to talk about over the weekend we

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Speaker 1: play the Phillies. Obviously, it doesn't seem like that the

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Speaker 1: NL East is going to be you know that likely

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Speaker 1: to get this year, but hey, we've come back from

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Speaker 1: big you know, deficits before. But you talk about the

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Speaker 1: series against the Phillies and then on the road against

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Speaker 1: the Diamondbacks and the Padres and coming back against the

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Speaker 1: Cardinals to open the second half of the season. That's

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Speaker 1: your main division opponent that you're going after, plus three

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Speaker 1: of the other major players in the wild card. You

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Speaker 1: know race that the Braves are are leading right now,

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Speaker 1: but I bring that up because if there was any

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Speaker 1: time for our offense to get going, Stephen, it's right now.

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Speaker 1: And while there's many factors that we're going to discuss,

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Speaker 1: one of the things that I felt was important to

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Speaker 1: mention when we were struggling, when Sean Murphy and Austin

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Speaker 1: Riley came back right after Ronald Acunya Junior went down,

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Speaker 1: I and others mentioned I believe you did as well.

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Speaker 1: If the Braves offense is gonna get going, it's going

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Speaker 1: to be when Sean Murphy and Austin Riley are clicking

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Speaker 1: at the same time. And that's exactly what we're seeing.

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Speaker 1: Both of them have played huge parts in the series,

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Speaker 1: especially in yesterday's game, but when those two were going,

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Speaker 1: you've got some very effective offensive contributors, and that's what

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Speaker 1: can make your offense diverse, and it also makes your

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Speaker 1: offense consistent. That's what I think we're seeing right now.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, they just needed they needed more than,

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Speaker 2: you know, two guys at a time. Like all year long,

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Speaker 2: it seems like the Braves offense has been relying on

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Speaker 2: one or two guys at a time to do all

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Speaker 2: the damage, and that just inevitably leads to like one

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Speaker 2: or two or three runs scored at the most. And

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Speaker 2: you know, when you have Kelnick, you know, contributing, and

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Speaker 2: you have Austin contributing in Matt Olsen and Ozuna and

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Speaker 2: Murphy and Duval and Eddie Rizzario and Eli White tonight Lake,

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Speaker 2: when you have you know, four or five six guys contributing,

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Speaker 2: it's just so much easier to score. I mean, there's

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Speaker 2: just so many more opportunities to score runs. You're just

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Speaker 2: not having to wait on one guy to come back

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Speaker 2: around and do any sort of damage. So, yeah, it's big,

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Speaker 2: And what I would love to see is an extended stretch.

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Speaker 2: That's what we haven't been able to do this year.

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Speaker 2: We've had these little pockets of offense. The Braves did

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Speaker 2: it a couple of weeks ago against Tampa and Detroit

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Speaker 2: and even against New York and a little bit, but

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Speaker 2: then it went cold again. And so that's what I'm

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Speaker 2: That's what I'm kind of waiting to see, is can

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Speaker 2: we get an extended, like month long hot streak with

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Speaker 2: the offense reel off like you know, twenty wins out

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Speaker 2: of twenty six games or something like that. You know,

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Speaker 2: what we've seen them do in the past, especially in

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Speaker 2: June and July where they usually play, so well, that's

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Speaker 2: kind of want I want to see, you know, make

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Speaker 2: the division race a little more interesting, you know, blow

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Speaker 2: the rest of the wildcard teams out of the water

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Speaker 2: and just make sure they know they have no shot

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Speaker 2: at that number one wildcard spot at the very least.

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Speaker 2: You know, that's what I want to see, and watch

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Speaker 2: the offense kind of carry the team for about a

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Speaker 2: month or so, because that's what I expect. Even without

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Speaker 2: Ronald this this offense still has enough talent to do that,

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Speaker 2: and so yeah, that's what I want to see. It's

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Speaker 2: nice to have it in these last four or five games,

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Speaker 2: But can they keep it going? Can they do it

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Speaker 2: for like a month? Can they do it for two months?

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Speaker 2: Can they do it for the entire second half? I mean, heck,

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Speaker 2: that would be amazing if they could just start mashing

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Speaker 2: baseballs again for you know, the rest of the year

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Speaker 2: and really remind team, right, you know, remind the league

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Speaker 2: that this is one of the best offenses in baseball.

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Speaker 2: So yeah, it's good, it's good to see it in

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Speaker 2: this kind of short burst, But can they continue it?

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Speaker 2: Can they carry it? You know? Through a much longer stretch.

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Speaker 2: That's going to be the key.

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Speaker 1: And I think the big key that has allowed for

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Speaker 1: this offense as a whole to really get going once again, Steven,

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Speaker 1: is that it just feels like it feels like that

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Speaker 1: we're more consistently seen productive at bats and we're seeing,

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Speaker 1: you know, these players comfortable at the plate, at the plate,

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Speaker 1: and they're going what is giving to them. Specifically for

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Speaker 1: the lineup as a whole, it certainly seems for a

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Speaker 1: right handed heavy lineup they are more confidently going to

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Speaker 1: the opposite field. Now it's happening in different forms. Austin

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Speaker 1: Riley obviously is hitting the ball in the air more,

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Speaker 1: but since you've seen him really get hot over the

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Speaker 1: past three weeks, you can kind of correlate it with

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Speaker 1: the fact that you're seeing a lot of his well

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Speaker 1: hit balls going to center our right center. Orlando Arcia, Yes,

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Speaker 1: his numbers still are not that impressive, but one thing

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Speaker 1: he's more consistently done is hit the ball hard to

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Speaker 1: the right side. And even though an error led to

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Speaker 1: a run off his bat tonight, putting the ball in

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Speaker 1: play that hard consistently is eventually going to lead to

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Speaker 1: good results. It seems like Steven that listen, I don't

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Speaker 1: think that the goal has you know, I think the

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Speaker 1: goal was always the same, but they're just more consistently

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Speaker 1: being confident in going what's given to them with the

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Speaker 1: opposing with the opposing pitching, and they're taking it the

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Speaker 1: way that the pitch is going. I think when this

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Speaker 1: team is driving the ball to right center, to right

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Speaker 1: field or up the middle, that's when they're at their best.

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Speaker 1: And I think that's a huge contributing factor to how

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Speaker 1: good the offense is going.

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Speaker 2: Right now, Well, that end fastballs, Like you know, this

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Speaker 2: team is supposed to mash fastballs, and there's been a

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Speaker 2: lot of the season where they've just missed a bunch

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Speaker 2: of easy not easy, it's never easy, but a bunch

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Speaker 2: of middle fastballs. And you know, those are the pitches

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Speaker 2: that this team is supposed to crush. And you know,

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Speaker 2: Riley did it last night. Murphy hit that. I mean

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Speaker 2: four hundred and forty what monster blast to write center

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Speaker 2: field off a fastball that was away like you were

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Speaker 2: talking about. But yeah, hitting fastballs, hitting fastballs where they're pitched,

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Speaker 2: making other teams pay for leaving fastballs over the plate,

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Speaker 2: That's what I expect out of this team, and you know,

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Speaker 2: that's been good to see. And the power, you know,

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Speaker 2: that's been another really encouraging sign is the power has

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Speaker 2: come back. I mean the Braves hit. I think they

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Speaker 2: hit eight or nine home runs in the Philly series.

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Speaker 2: There's been plenty of power so far in this Arizona series.

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Speaker 2: Obviously this is a really good place to hit. You

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Speaker 2: would expect that. But you know, Alex has talked about it.

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Speaker 2: You know Snitker talks about it all the time. This

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Speaker 2: is not a manufacturer runs lineup. There is very little

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Speaker 2: speed in this lineup. There's very little overall athleticism. There's

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Speaker 2: not a lot of you know, buna, guy over take

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Speaker 2: the extra base like that's not how this team is built.

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Speaker 2: This team's built to hit doubles, triples and homers, and

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Speaker 2: it's been good to see like that. That's what that's

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Speaker 2: what this team needs to do to score runs. And

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Speaker 2: they can't do it. They have the talent to do

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Speaker 2: it up and down the lineup. They have guys they

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Speaker 2: have still have six, seven, eight guys that can all hit.

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Speaker 2: Are probably twenty plus homers smy thirty some forty plus homers.

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Speaker 2: So it's good to see. That's what this team is

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Speaker 2: built on, that's what they need. And like you said,

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Speaker 2: it's it's always easier when you just take what the

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Speaker 2: pitcher gives you. It's always easier when you make sure

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Speaker 2: you're making them pay for leaving fastballs over the middle

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Speaker 2: the plate. And that's what we've seen more of. And

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Speaker 2: I would, you know, I would just I would love

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Speaker 2: to see it for another month, another two months, another

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Speaker 2: three months. Just a consistent, you know, long stretch of

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Speaker 2: games for the offense really shows up.

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Speaker 1: Absolutely. And you know, we go back about three three

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Speaker 1: and a half weeks ago when Austin Riley was you know,

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Speaker 1: you know, struggling, and then about June fourteenth is when

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Speaker 1: he really, you know, was able to you know, get

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Speaker 1: to where you know he usually does this time of

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Speaker 1: year and turn into an MVP level hitter. You know,

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Speaker 1: at that time, you know, his production against fast falls,

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Speaker 1: I think against four Steamers. Three weeks ago, he for

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Speaker 1: the season he was like at a one eighty slugging percentage,

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Speaker 1: but his expected slugging percentage was around four to twenty five. Well,

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Speaker 1: three weeks later, he's now slugging near four hundred on

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Speaker 1: forcing fastballs with his expected slugging at five point fifty.

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Speaker 1: So the point that I'm getting at is that he's

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Speaker 1: definitely elevated his overall production. And for Austin Riley, he

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Speaker 1: talked about it. He felt that he was doing the

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Speaker 1: right things. He just needed to get some success going.

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Speaker 1: And I use that as an example because now I

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Speaker 1: think over the past week we're starting to see the

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Speaker 1: same thing with Adam Devall. If you go back to

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Speaker 1: him getting the game winning hit against the Pirates two

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Speaker 1: weekends ago, since that time, you've seen big hit after

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Speaker 1: big hit from Adam Devall. He crushed a three run

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Speaker 1: homer tonight that basically put the game in the braves favor,

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Speaker 1: and it's just great to see. Adam Devall has always

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Speaker 1: been a streaky hitter, There's no doubt about that, and

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Speaker 1: he can go ice cold or he can go red hot.

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Speaker 1: Right now, he's red hot. But I think that one

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Speaker 1: of the things that stands out the most, and he's

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Speaker 1: discussed as well, he just needed to have a stretch

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Speaker 1: of success. He needed to have a big moment that

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Speaker 1: he could build off of, and that's what we saw

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Speaker 1: against Pittsburgh and now we're starting to see that he

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Speaker 1: still has an inning to be a true contributor to

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Speaker 1: a winner.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, we just never seen Adam go through.

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Speaker 2: I mean, everybody knows that Adam is streaky, but the

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Speaker 2: level of death that he was for the first three

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Speaker 2: months of this season, I mean he was, I mean

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Speaker 2: his season. His WRC plus for the season was in

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Speaker 2: the low fifties for the season, not that like that's

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Speaker 2: not a split. I don't know, that's not like over

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Speaker 2: two weeks or a month, like for the entire season,

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Speaker 2: his WRC plus was in the fifties. And and you know,

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Speaker 2: most of it is because he just could not hit

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Speaker 2: right handed pitching to save his life. You know, he

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Speaker 2: was still doing pretty well against lefties, but you know,

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Speaker 2: I've said it a bunch before, but you just see

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Speaker 2: so much more right handed pitching over the course of

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Speaker 2: his season, and he is he you know, before this

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Speaker 2: hot stretch, he just could not do a single thing.

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Speaker 2: He had a negative WRC plus against right handed pitching

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Speaker 2: before this stretch. So not only to see him get hot,

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Speaker 2: but to see him get hot against mostly right handed pitching.

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Speaker 2: You know, tonight he obviously hit that bomb against Gallon,

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Speaker 2: a really good right handed pitcher. He had another single

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Speaker 2: against one of their right handed relievers later in the game.

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Speaker 2: So like that's the encouraging thing is that, you know,

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Speaker 2: and we've talked about this, but Devaal has never actually

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Speaker 2: been a really big platoon guy, Like he's always been

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Speaker 2: able to hit right handed pitching, you know, which is

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Speaker 2: what's made this stretch of you know, this is long,

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Speaker 2: long stretch, this like three month stretch of just not

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Speaker 2: being able to do anything against them so unusual. So yeah,

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Speaker 2: it's great to see. You know, they need it desperately.

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Speaker 2: The Braves need as much help as they can get

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Speaker 2: against right handed pitching. You know, that's why they brought

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Speaker 2: in Rosario. I'm still guessing they're gonna make some moves

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Speaker 2: of some sort to help with that as well. But

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Speaker 2: the all getting hot and being able to carry his

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Speaker 2: or his weight and maybe even the weight of other

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Speaker 2: guys against right handed pitching would be massive. I mean

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Speaker 2: that would just that would take such a weight off

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Speaker 2: the rest of the lineup if he could start pulling

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Speaker 2: some of his weight.

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Speaker 1: And I don't care if the Braves do have the

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Speaker 1: stretch that you're talking about them having this you know, hey,

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Speaker 1: they can get back near the top of the league

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Speaker 1: in offense and start winning, you know, over a month

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Speaker 1: or so at a seventy five percent clip. To me,

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Speaker 1: that doesn't mean that the Braves, oh, we figured it out,

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Speaker 1: we're finding the outfield. We really don't need to make

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Speaker 1: some sort of relevant or significant move at the deadline. No,

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Speaker 1: to me, if the Braves are improving their offense, that

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Speaker 1: should give Adam or alexan Thopolis even more reason to

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Speaker 1: go get a significant contributor to this offense. Because again,

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Speaker 1: while it's great to see the Braves offense starting to

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Speaker 1: live up to where you expect for it to be,

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Speaker 1: you definitely don't want for it to, you know, go

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Speaker 1: back close to what it was when a few of

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Speaker 1: these players may get back into a cold stream. So

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Speaker 1: Steve and I think again, even though the offense is

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Speaker 1: having success, finding another outfielder who can get on base

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Speaker 1: as a pretty good clip, who can contribute at a very

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Speaker 1: good clip when it comes to hitting against right hind

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Speaker 1: and pitching, that still, according to Ken Rosenthal, seems to

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Speaker 1: be the priority for the Braves, and I think that

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Speaker 1: it becomes even more clear for them to make a

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Speaker 1: relevant move that you know, helps out for the for

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Speaker 1: the playoffs. Potentially us playing better offensively gives us even

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Speaker 1: more reason to go get a pretty good level of

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Speaker 1: outfielder to add to our current contributors.

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Speaker 2: Oh yeah, they're still going to add somebody. I think,

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Speaker 2: you know, Eli White, Eddie Rosario, even Adam Duvall. You know,

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Speaker 2: these guys are still you know, getting pretty significant playing

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Speaker 2: time and pretty significant bats and and I don't know,

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Speaker 2: you know, I don't know if that's exactly what you

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Speaker 2: want if you're trying to win a World Series. I

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Speaker 2: think there's just another level above that that you're probably

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Speaker 2: trying to get to. In all due respect to those guys,

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Speaker 2: but you know, I mean, Eddie Risari was just released

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Speaker 2: by the Nationals. Eli White is a career minor leagueer. Like,

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Speaker 2: you know, the the goal, the the aim should be

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Speaker 2: a little higher. So yeah, even even if the offense

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Speaker 2: gets hot and some of these guys play well, if

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Speaker 2: you're Alex, you still got to go get an outfielder.

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Speaker 2: You you can't depend on that. You can't depend on

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Speaker 2: these guys to do that all throughout the year and

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Speaker 2: into the postseason without adding anybody. You know, maybe it reduces,

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Speaker 2: you know, the urgency to add you know, a top

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Speaker 2: of the line player. Maybe you know, you can go

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Speaker 2: a little bit more of a platoon player or somebody

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Speaker 2: who's maybe not a star level player, but I still

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Speaker 2: think you need to go add somebody. Just you know,

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Speaker 2: one hot streak should not greatly deter your plans. If

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Speaker 2: you think you need an outfielder, then you know, four

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Speaker 2: games against the Diamondbacks and the Phillies shouldn't change that,

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Speaker 2: and I don't think it will. Alex is a you know,

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Speaker 2: the Braves are one of the smartest front offices in baseball.

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Speaker 2: So my my expectation is, and just like Rosenthal reported

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Speaker 2: earlier this week, the Braves are going to be aggressive

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Speaker 2: in the outfield market in some regard uh how you know,

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Speaker 2: we'll see exactly how that shakes out in the next

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Speaker 2: three weeks, but that, yeah, that's my expectation.

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Speaker 1: Absolutely, and so it definitely appears to that that's going

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Speaker 1: to be a focus of you know, the Braves when

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Speaker 1: it comes to the trade deadline, and Stephen, we've talked

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Speaker 1: about it a little bit as well. One thing that

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Speaker 1: probably makes the outfield a bit more of a priority

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Speaker 1: is the fact that the Braves, you know, we've seen

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Speaker 1: Spencer Schwellenbach have a very good, you know, basically you know,

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Speaker 1: two or three week stretch of excellent starts. His results

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Speaker 1: haven't always been there, but he's done more than enough

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Speaker 1: to obviously keep his spot in the rotation. We've had

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Speaker 1: a couple of good spots starts from Bryce Elder here. Recently.

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Speaker 1: We are now see a J. Smith Shauber back in

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Speaker 1: the majors. You know, he's now in the bullpen. Dylan

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Speaker 1: Lee in yesterday's moves sent down to the minor leagues.

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Speaker 1: But I bring that up just your thoughts on the

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Speaker 1: bullpen moves Dylan Lee to the miners. It seemed more

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Speaker 1: just you know, more of an operational type thing and

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Speaker 1: procedural thing for Dylan Lee. I think he'll be up soon,

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Speaker 1: but don't need going down to the minders a J.

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Speaker 1: Smith Schaumer coming up to the bullpen. The point that

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Speaker 1: I'm bringing up is is that we've talked about those

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Speaker 1: young arms potentially limiting innings for our starters for Chris Saylee,

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Speaker 1: Ronaldo Lopez and others, but I also think that they

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Speaker 1: could be versatile arms that can help out the bullpen

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Speaker 1: as well. I think what we're setting up is that

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Speaker 1: you're going to see those young arms play big roles

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Speaker 1: in the second half of the season, and it really

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Speaker 1: could be interesting to see a J. Smith Shauver possibly

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Speaker 1: get an extended look in the bullpen.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, I'll be inter see what they do. I think

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Speaker 2: I think the moves this week were more dictated by

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Speaker 2: the fact that a they wanted to give all their

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Speaker 2: starters an extra day's rest, which is not anything new.

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Speaker 2: They've been doing that all year and have even gone

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Speaker 2: to six man rotations at time to make it happen.

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Speaker 2: And so Brice Elder was called up, and then I

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Speaker 2: think AJ was called up just because when they wanted

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Speaker 2: to get a reliever back up for the rest of

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Speaker 2: the week, none of their relievers on their forty man

409
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Speaker 2: roster were actually available to come up because they had

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Speaker 2: not been down in the miners long enough. You know,

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Speaker 2: you have to stay down fifteen days after your option

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Speaker 2: before you can get called back up unless you're coming

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Speaker 2: back up to replace somebody who's going on the IL.

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Speaker 2: So like Daves, Bill Hernandez and Dylan Lee both weren't

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Speaker 2: eligible to come back up. And so my guess is

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Speaker 2: they just called up AJ because he was available and

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Speaker 2: on the forty men roster, and could sit in the

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Speaker 2: bullpen and be kind of an emergency guy. I saw

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Speaker 2: Buman report earlier that if he's not used in the

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Speaker 2: next couple of Gay days, they'll they'll probably send him

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Speaker 2: back down and get somebody else up. So I don't

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Speaker 2: expect aj is going to be in the bullpen. I

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Speaker 2: do think aj is going to play a role in

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Speaker 2: the second half of the year, though, Scott and I

425
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Speaker 2: talked about this on Sunday. But you know, the Braves

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Speaker 2: have shown a strong, strong desire to give their starters

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Speaker 2: as much rest as possible. They have really shifted their

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Speaker 2: they have really shifted their kind of ideological approach to

429
00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:53,360
Speaker 2: the regular season and going from you know, pitching their

430
00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:56,800
Speaker 2: best starters as much as possible to now, you know,

431
00:21:56,920 --> 00:21:59,320
Speaker 2: giving their starters as much rest as possible. And I

432
00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:01,280
Speaker 2: think that's gonna continue in the second half. I think

433
00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:04,800
Speaker 2: they know their entire season relies on getting Chris Sale

434
00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:07,919
Speaker 2: and Max Freed and Ronaldo Lopez and Charlie Morton to

435
00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:12,159
Speaker 2: the postseason healthy. And you know you're I think you're

436
00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:13,800
Speaker 2: gonna see Bryce Elder. I think you're gonna see a

437
00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:16,199
Speaker 2: j Spis shaw Er. I wouldn't be surprised at all

438
00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:18,800
Speaker 2: if the Braves went to six man rotation throughout the season.

439
00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:21,960
Speaker 2: You know, even if it means maybe not winning the division,

440
00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:25,320
Speaker 2: I don't think. I don't think that's the braves number

441
00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:26,720
Speaker 2: one goal. I think the braves number one goal is

442
00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:29,280
Speaker 2: to win a World Series, and they know the best

443
00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:31,960
Speaker 2: way to do that is to get these starters to

444
00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:36,120
Speaker 2: the postseason healthy. And that means, you know, sometimes you're

445
00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:38,000
Speaker 2: gonna go with a six man rotation and sometimes you're

446
00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:40,720
Speaker 2: gonna have Bryce Elder pitching a game instead of Chris

447
00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:42,480
Speaker 2: Sale And and does that give you the best chance

448
00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:46,199
Speaker 2: to win that game? No, probably not. But you know

449
00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:48,600
Speaker 2: Bryce Elder can throw decent games. He did it, you

450
00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:51,040
Speaker 2: know last night against Arizona. Thought he had really a

451
00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:52,920
Speaker 2: really strong game. You know, I didn't love the way

452
00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:56,440
Speaker 2: it ended. I thought snit was too slow in taking

453
00:22:56,480 --> 00:22:58,560
Speaker 2: him out of the game, which is a whole separate conversation.

454
00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:01,280
Speaker 2: But he still had a strong game. And I think

455
00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:03,199
Speaker 2: the Braves are going to utilize that all throughout the

456
00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:06,359
Speaker 2: second half, where you know, maybe giving Chris Sale and

457
00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:09,720
Speaker 2: Ronaldo Lopez an extra day dress doesn't necessarily help you

458
00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:12,240
Speaker 2: win or give you the best chance of winning that day,

459
00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:13,919
Speaker 2: but he gives the Braves the best chance to win

460
00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:17,040
Speaker 2: a World Series because it's going to allow those guys

461
00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:19,719
Speaker 2: to get October healthy. So yeah, those guys. You know,

462
00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:21,360
Speaker 2: AJ is gonna play a big role in the second half.

463
00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:23,320
Speaker 2: I bet, I bet Bryce Elder plays a big role.

464
00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:29,160
Speaker 2: The number one, the far and away, the biggest priority

465
00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:31,600
Speaker 2: the Braves have the rest of the way is getting

466
00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:34,600
Speaker 2: their best starters healthy to October. That is a number

467
00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:39,800
Speaker 2: one plan, a priority one, and that's it. And so

468
00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:42,960
Speaker 2: everything they do is going to be unto that goal.

469
00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:47,760
Speaker 1: Absolutely, and and so we turn our attention and I

470
00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:51,280
Speaker 1: agree with you. I think that, you know, as much

471
00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:54,240
Speaker 1: as the offense was talked about last year and we

472
00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:57,359
Speaker 1: talk about offense being the identity of this team, you

473
00:23:57,480 --> 00:23:59,200
Speaker 1: want it to be that way. You want the offense

474
00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:01,520
Speaker 1: to be as good as posts. I think it's clear

475
00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:04,480
Speaker 1: that for this twenty twenty four campaign. And it's so

476
00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:07,439
Speaker 1: crazy to say this, the fact that Spencer Strider right

477
00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:10,400
Speaker 1: now is injured and not going to contribute this year,

478
00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:14,400
Speaker 1: but the Braves' best ticket to get to the World

479
00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:16,280
Speaker 1: Series and have a chance to win the title is

480
00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:19,160
Speaker 1: through their pitching and if they can, especially their starting pitching.

481
00:24:19,359 --> 00:24:21,200
Speaker 1: If they can have that starting pitching healthy when the

482
00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:23,440
Speaker 1: playoff comes around, you have to feel pretty good about

483
00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:26,199
Speaker 1: where you are, especially if the offense can contribute. But

484
00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:29,600
Speaker 1: tomorrow's starter, Charlie Morton, Steven, what it gets your thoughts

485
00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:32,560
Speaker 1: on him? A pretty decent year so far. You know,

486
00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:35,439
Speaker 1: Brad Rowland has been a huge advocate of Charlie Morton's,

487
00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:39,240
Speaker 1: you know the fact that it's underrated. Just how consistently

488
00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:43,240
Speaker 1: reliable Charlie Morton has been as a pitcher who, yeah,

489
00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:46,560
Speaker 1: has duds at times, but he consistently puts your team

490
00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:50,960
Speaker 1: in a position to win. He consistently, you know, give it,

491
00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:53,879
Speaker 1: steps up in big moments and I think you know,

492
00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:57,000
Speaker 1: a recent conversation that he had with Ken Rosenthal, he

493
00:24:57,160 --> 00:24:59,240
Speaker 1: kind of gave us some bobs that you know, yeah,

494
00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:02,280
Speaker 1: I'm thinking this is probably going to be my last year,

495
00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:05,240
Speaker 1: you know, in the majors. But I think that overall

496
00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:07,320
Speaker 1: you have to be pretty satisfied with her he's been

497
00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:10,119
Speaker 1: this season. Stephen, where are you at with Charlie Morton,

498
00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:12,520
Speaker 1: with how he's performed this year? Do you think that

499
00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:15,639
Speaker 1: you could, you know, confidently want him back next season?

500
00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:18,520
Speaker 1: And and and do you feel that with how he's

501
00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:21,520
Speaker 1: pitching this year, you know that he once again shows

502
00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:24,320
Speaker 1: just that, you know, while he's never truly been elite

503
00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:27,080
Speaker 1: really in a Braves uniform over an entire stretch of

504
00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:31,520
Speaker 1: a season, the consistency that he's shown is pretty valuable

505
00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:32,480
Speaker 1: when he's on the mound.

506
00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:37,840
Speaker 2: Yeah, listen, I mean I I listened to that interview

507
00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:44,840
Speaker 2: that he gave to Rosenthal. You know, he's definitely I

508
00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:47,920
Speaker 2: think I think Charlie is definitely giving off more vibes

509
00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:52,480
Speaker 2: that this may be it. You know, I've just gotten

510
00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:56,119
Speaker 2: that since he's been a bit I don't want to

511
00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:58,800
Speaker 2: say melancholy, but he's almost he's almost had like this,

512
00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:02,600
Speaker 2: you know, kind of taking in enjoying the last ride

513
00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:06,040
Speaker 2: kind of mentality and all the interviews he's given this year,

514
00:26:06,040 --> 00:26:09,760
Speaker 2: And you know that might just be me reading more

515
00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:13,480
Speaker 2: into it than that then it's actually there. But I

516
00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:16,240
Speaker 2: don't know. I do I do feel maybe stronger that

517
00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:19,000
Speaker 2: this is going to be his last year. I do

518
00:26:19,040 --> 00:26:20,720
Speaker 2: think if he wanted to come back, I think the

519
00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:23,439
Speaker 2: Braves would be interested. I don't think they'd be interested

520
00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:26,840
Speaker 2: at twenty million a year, you know, I doubt they

521
00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:28,959
Speaker 2: would re up at that number, just because he is

522
00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:31,360
Speaker 2: more of a back end starter now. You know, Charlie's

523
00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:33,080
Speaker 2: got an era in the four is a fip in

524
00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:35,520
Speaker 2: the Fords. That's just kind of what he is now.

525
00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:38,159
Speaker 2: I mean, listen, he's forty years old. Father Time is

526
00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:40,800
Speaker 2: undefeated for a reason. You know, He's probably not a

527
00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:44,760
Speaker 2: twenty million dollar a year pitcher anymore. Although I do

528
00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:48,520
Speaker 2: think people overreact to that number. I think people. I

529
00:26:48,520 --> 00:26:51,760
Speaker 2: think people at least, you know, general fans kind of

530
00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:54,679
Speaker 2: misunderstand how much twenty million dollars is, especially on a

531
00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:56,879
Speaker 2: one year deal, and what that should buy you. But

532
00:26:57,440 --> 00:26:58,920
Speaker 2: I don't think the Braves would re up at that

533
00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:00,960
Speaker 2: number next year. But if he was, if he still

534
00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:03,639
Speaker 2: wanted to pitch, you know, he's perfectly good in terms

535
00:27:03,640 --> 00:27:07,440
Speaker 2: of the back end starter for you. You know, I've talked

536
00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:09,320
Speaker 2: about this before, but the thing that's gonna be interesting

537
00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:12,400
Speaker 2: to me is, you know, if the playoffs started tomorrow

538
00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:16,240
Speaker 2: and let's say the Bride win the wild card, you know,

539
00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:18,479
Speaker 2: does Charlie Morton get a start in a in a

540
00:27:18,480 --> 00:27:22,040
Speaker 2: three game series. You know, I don't. I would have

541
00:27:22,119 --> 00:27:24,320
Speaker 2: a hard time believing he would start. He's not gonna

542
00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:26,359
Speaker 2: start with Max or Chris Sale obviously, but you know,

543
00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:30,359
Speaker 2: Ronaldo Lopez or Charlie Morton, you gotta pitch Ronaldo in

544
00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:32,359
Speaker 2: that's I mean, Ronald's got any R in the ones.

545
00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:36,199
Speaker 2: I mean, you know, that's where it really comes down to,

546
00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:39,800
Speaker 2: is is what is his playoff what is his playoff

547
00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:42,520
Speaker 2: role at this point in his career? And if he's

548
00:27:42,520 --> 00:27:45,159
Speaker 2: not one of your three best starters, you know, he

549
00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:46,919
Speaker 2: would still pitch in a seven game series, because you

550
00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:49,639
Speaker 2: need four starters in a seven game series. But you know,

551
00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:51,160
Speaker 2: if a guy's not gonna pitch in a three game

552
00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:53,879
Speaker 2: or a five game series for you, then you know,

553
00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:55,280
Speaker 2: I don't know if you can pay him twenty million

554
00:27:55,280 --> 00:27:58,199
Speaker 2: dollars a year anymore. So it will be interesting if

555
00:27:58,200 --> 00:27:59,600
Speaker 2: he just hangs it up or if he wants to

556
00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:01,320
Speaker 2: come back. I think the Braves would be interested, but

557
00:28:01,359 --> 00:28:02,919
Speaker 2: I doubt it'd be for twenty maye. I think they

558
00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:06,480
Speaker 2: would probably negotiate that down to something a little more manageable.

559
00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:09,679
Speaker 2: But yeah, I mean, people over react to Charlie. You know,

560
00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:12,360
Speaker 2: he's he's the four starter in the rotation, and he's

561
00:28:12,359 --> 00:28:16,639
Speaker 2: a perfectly serviceable four starter in your rotation. He's a

562
00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:19,760
Speaker 2: tremendous clubhouse guy. He helps the young guys. You know,

563
00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:23,520
Speaker 2: he's a no nonsense, no drama kind of player. So

564
00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:25,320
Speaker 2: and I imagine the young guys that get to sit

565
00:28:25,359 --> 00:28:28,880
Speaker 2: with him and talk with him probably have been better

566
00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:31,399
Speaker 2: because of it. So I have no problem with the

567
00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:34,000
Speaker 2: money they paid. Charlie. I doubt it. You know, I

568
00:28:34,040 --> 00:28:36,040
Speaker 2: do have a feeling this might be the last ride

569
00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:38,240
Speaker 2: for the Braves and Charlie. But we'll see, you know,

570
00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:40,280
Speaker 2: we'll see when we get to November.

571
00:28:41,640 --> 00:28:45,320
Speaker 1: Yeah, you go into last year's playoffs with Spencer Strider

572
00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:47,680
Speaker 1: as your number one. Max Freed is your number two,

573
00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:51,120
Speaker 1: Charlie Morton is your three, and then Bryce Selder as

574
00:28:51,160 --> 00:28:54,120
Speaker 1: if as that four if you need him. That's how

575
00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:57,600
Speaker 1: you went into last year's playoffs. This year's playoffs, Charlie

576
00:28:57,600 --> 00:29:00,240
Speaker 1: Morton isn't that Bryce Elder role. And that is such

577
00:29:00,240 --> 00:29:03,479
Speaker 1: an upgrade in terms of experience, in terms of, you know,

578
00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:06,120
Speaker 1: what we've seen him do in past playoffs, but also

579
00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:11,080
Speaker 1: speaks to just how confident you are in a Freed sale.

580
00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:15,440
Speaker 1: Ronaldo Lopez top three even without Spencer Strider. So once again,

581
00:29:15,480 --> 00:29:17,120
Speaker 1: at the end of the day, when we talk about

582
00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:20,040
Speaker 1: the job that Alex and Doplas did during the off season.

583
00:29:20,280 --> 00:29:23,040
Speaker 1: The biggest thing that many looked at was pitching depth.

584
00:29:23,200 --> 00:29:25,720
Speaker 1: Quality of pitching depth, and I think that people can

585
00:29:25,720 --> 00:29:28,200
Speaker 1: confidently say they are going to be The Brazs are

586
00:29:28,240 --> 00:29:30,360
Speaker 1: in a much better position going in this year's playoffs.

587
00:29:30,440 --> 00:29:34,200
Speaker 1: If everyone can remain healthy, then they have over the

588
00:29:34,280 --> 00:29:36,840
Speaker 1: past two but Stephen, over the next couple of days,

589
00:29:36,840 --> 00:29:38,960
Speaker 1: We've got Charlie Morton and Max Reid on the mound

590
00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:42,000
Speaker 1: against Arizona. It remains to be seen who Arizona is

591
00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:43,120
Speaker 1: going to be put on the mound. The Braves have

592
00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:46,920
Speaker 1: to feel pretty confident in those two stars remaining in Arizona,

593
00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:49,520
Speaker 1: and if you can go winning this Arizona series into

594
00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:52,160
Speaker 1: San Diego, you have to feel pretty confident about going

595
00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:54,640
Speaker 1: into the All Star break. I feel very good that

596
00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:55,880
Speaker 1: the Braves are going to be able to get some

597
00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:58,680
Speaker 1: needed wins and really get some momentum going into the

598
00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:00,720
Speaker 1: All Star Break to start off the second half.

599
00:30:00,760 --> 00:30:05,280
Speaker 2: Will Yeah, I've been tracking Twitter just to see if

600
00:30:05,320 --> 00:30:08,480
Speaker 2: the Diamondbacks released who they were starting. You know, it

601
00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:12,400
Speaker 2: looks like from one of their beat writers, looks like

602
00:30:12,520 --> 00:30:16,160
Speaker 2: Slade Secone Secon. I don't know how you say that

603
00:30:16,200 --> 00:30:18,160
Speaker 2: to be honest with you, somebody I've never heard of

604
00:30:19,640 --> 00:30:22,240
Speaker 2: is starting tomorrow and then I don't think they've announced

605
00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:26,480
Speaker 2: for for Thursday yet, So you know it should be

606
00:30:27,680 --> 00:30:31,160
Speaker 2: you know, I emphasized should it should be advantage Braves.

607
00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:37,040
Speaker 2: Charlie Morton is certainly more established and you would think

608
00:30:37,080 --> 00:30:42,760
Speaker 2: more reliable than somebody Nate's named Slade Secony. But you know,

609
00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:44,720
Speaker 2: we'll see. You know, the Braves had a rookie on

610
00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:47,440
Speaker 2: the mound against you know, on Monday against Arizona and

611
00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:48,960
Speaker 2: really couldn't do a lot with him. I mean, they

612
00:30:48,960 --> 00:30:51,880
Speaker 2: didn't score until you know, the ninth inning. You know,

613
00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:53,560
Speaker 2: Austin hit that a home run in the first, but

614
00:30:53,560 --> 00:30:55,360
Speaker 2: they didn't score again until the ninth inning on that

615
00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:58,760
Speaker 2: on that three round homer from Murph. So you know,

616
00:30:58,840 --> 00:31:02,680
Speaker 2: rookie pitchers can sometimes be a blessing and a curse,

617
00:31:02,840 --> 00:31:04,480
Speaker 2: you know, if they if you don't, if you're not

618
00:31:04,520 --> 00:31:06,400
Speaker 2: familiar with them. You know, the Braves have had their

619
00:31:06,520 --> 00:31:09,400
Speaker 2: share of struggles against against young pitchers. They're scene for

620
00:31:09,440 --> 00:31:11,760
Speaker 2: the first time, so yeah, we'll see how that goes.

621
00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:14,320
Speaker 2: But yeah, I mean, obviously on paper, you know, you

622
00:31:14,480 --> 00:31:17,600
Speaker 2: like the matchup for the Braves having Morton in Mexico

623
00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:21,200
Speaker 2: in the next two days against some relative unknowns for Arizona.

624
00:31:21,400 --> 00:31:23,280
Speaker 2: So you would hope you at least get one of

625
00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:26,880
Speaker 2: those two games and leave, you know, leave the desert

626
00:31:26,920 --> 00:31:29,000
Speaker 2: with a with a three to one series win.

627
00:31:30,040 --> 00:31:32,480
Speaker 1: Absolutely, and of course we will be with you if

628
00:31:32,480 --> 00:31:36,760
Speaker 1: any big news comes along, and including the Braves continuing

629
00:31:36,760 --> 00:31:39,120
Speaker 1: to win, which hey, nowadays is pretty big news, We're

630
00:31:39,120 --> 00:31:41,360
Speaker 1: gonna be here to have you cover. But also we're

631
00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:43,720
Speaker 1: gonna have some in depth analysis when it comes to

632
00:31:43,840 --> 00:31:47,440
Speaker 1: the upcoming MLB draft that'll be going on obviously now

633
00:31:47,440 --> 00:31:50,320
Speaker 1: aligned with the All Star Break. It's gonna be a

634
00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:53,800
Speaker 1: very fun you know, top of the draft this year.

635
00:31:53,840 --> 00:31:56,200
Speaker 1: I think the Braves are picking twenty fourth, twenty four

636
00:31:56,200 --> 00:31:58,640
Speaker 1: to twenty fifth this season. But we will of course

637
00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:00,760
Speaker 1: have analysis for you win it to the draft, but

638
00:32:00,920 --> 00:32:03,400
Speaker 1: before and afser so make sure to check out some

639
00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:06,320
Speaker 1: more insight on that later this week. Also, of course,

640
00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:09,640
Speaker 1: you know myself, Steven Scott Brad We're gonna be with

641
00:32:09,680 --> 00:32:12,000
Speaker 1: you in different variations as we go into the All

642
00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:13,720
Speaker 1: Star Break and start the second half of the season.

643
00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:16,040
Speaker 1: But Steven, do you have anything else as we head too,

644
00:32:16,360 --> 00:32:19,160
Speaker 1: you know, the last two games of this Arizona series

645
00:32:19,280 --> 00:32:21,920
Speaker 1: with some really good momentum, hopefully winning five in a

646
00:32:21,960 --> 00:32:23,680
Speaker 1: row tomorrow. Anything else you got for us as we

647
00:32:23,720 --> 00:32:26,280
Speaker 1: wrap up this edition of the Hammer Territory Podcast.

648
00:32:27,960 --> 00:32:29,600
Speaker 2: No, yeah, it just it'd be really nice to win

649
00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:32,880
Speaker 2: one of these next two and get up a series win,

650
00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:35,560
Speaker 2: you know, one last series to go before the All

651
00:32:35,560 --> 00:32:38,360
Speaker 2: Star Break. Gets a momentum, you know, I think minimum

652
00:32:38,440 --> 00:32:40,880
Speaker 2: momentum is a little overrated, but you know, winning is

653
00:32:40,880 --> 00:32:43,680
Speaker 2: certainly better than losing. So if we want to call

654
00:32:43,720 --> 00:32:46,200
Speaker 2: it momentum, we can call it momentum. But I would

655
00:32:46,240 --> 00:32:47,880
Speaker 2: I would love to get at least one more in

656
00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:51,360
Speaker 2: this series. Go to San Diego, have a good showing there,

657
00:32:52,560 --> 00:32:54,680
Speaker 2: and go into the All Star Break with some with

658
00:32:54,840 --> 00:32:57,120
Speaker 2: some momentum, and maybe come out in the second half

659
00:32:57,160 --> 00:32:58,640
Speaker 2: and start chasing down the.

660
00:32:58,600 --> 00:33:06,360
Speaker 1: Phillies absolutely and listen, you know, while the Phillies continue

661
00:33:06,360 --> 00:33:08,520
Speaker 1: to win, the Cardinals continue to win. You know, when

662
00:33:08,520 --> 00:33:10,440
Speaker 1: it comes to you know, who the Braves are trying

663
00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:12,479
Speaker 1: to chase and who's chasing the Braves. At the end

664
00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:14,480
Speaker 1: of the day, the Braves right now can only control

665
00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:17,360
Speaker 1: and what they can control, and right now they're doing

666
00:33:17,440 --> 00:33:20,280
Speaker 1: a very good job of winning at the clip that

667
00:33:20,320 --> 00:33:23,200
Speaker 1: they need to to remain in a favorable position when

668
00:33:23,200 --> 00:33:25,880
Speaker 1: it comes to the playoffs. So for Steven Tolbor, my

669
00:33:25,960 --> 00:33:28,360
Speaker 1: name is Sean Cohen. Pleasure being with you. Hope you

670
00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:30,800
Speaker 1: have a great evening and a good start to your Wednesday.

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00:33:30,880 --> 00:33:32,880
Speaker 1: We'll talk to you again soon here on the Hammer

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00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:34,000
Speaker 1: Territory Podcast