1 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:25,680 Speaker 1: Hello everyone, Episode fifty eight of The Hammer Territory Podcast. 2 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 1: I am your host, Sprad Rowland coming to you on 3 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 1: a Friday night, yes say Friday night, and I'm joined 4 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 1: by Scott Coleman. Scott, what's up on a Friday? 5 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 2: The Braves are? What's up on a Friday? Brad? I'm 6 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:38,920 Speaker 2: going to be totally honest with everybody listening, and a 7 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,200 Speaker 2: big thank you to tuning in on the weekend, which 8 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 2: we don't usually do. But Brad and I were texting 9 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 2: this morning and we're like, hey, maybe we'll do a 10 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:48,520 Speaker 2: show tonight. The team is playing really well. The Braves 11 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:50,600 Speaker 2: have won a couple of fifty to fifty games lately. 12 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 2: But of course, if the Brave's lost tonight, I can 13 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 2: guarantee you that we would not be doing a Friday 14 00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 2: night show. So thankfully they came back on a very 15 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 2: enjoyable baseball game on Friday night, and here we are 16 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 2: doing a bonus episode and plenty of good things to 17 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:09,320 Speaker 2: talk about with the way the team is playing right now. 18 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: Yes, that's right, and nothing less from us. We'll still 19 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:14,039 Speaker 1: be back on Sunday in our normal slot as we 20 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 1: might plan to do. And by the way, if you're 21 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 1: a new listener, Welcome on board. This is a good 22 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:19,760 Speaker 1: time to jump on the board with this podcast. We 23 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 1: are part of the Foul Territory network. Please please go 24 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:26,399 Speaker 1: ahead and subscribe to this podcast anywhere you might find podcasts. 25 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:29,960 Speaker 1: Just search Hammer Territory on Apple, Spotify, Overcast, et cetera. 26 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 1: Ratings and reviews very much appreciated. It's been quite busy 27 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 1: on the podcast in recent days, not only because the 28 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: Braids are playing well, which you just said and is 29 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 1: definitely true, but also the deadline was this week. I 30 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: supeels like there was a lot of time we go down, 31 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: but you guys did an emergency reaction after the Braves 32 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 1: acquired Jorge Hilaire and Jackson. We did some analysis after that, 33 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 1: both you and I as well as our regular co 34 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 1: hosts Steven Tolbert and Sean Coleman. But yeah, here we are. 35 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 1: The Braves are one four in a row. They are 36 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 1: now six and one since what we hope the rock 37 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 1: bottom of a six consecutive loss about a week ago. 38 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 1: And the look now, Scott, the Braves are only as 39 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: we record this podcast five and a half games behind 40 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:13,359 Speaker 1: the Phillies, and it could be five by the time 41 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 1: listening to this podcast on Saturday, the Phillis played late 42 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 1: night tonight in Seattle. Wouln't have the result of that 43 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 1: gang yet, but again it could be five by the morning, 44 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 1: and that is a sharp departure more things were just 45 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:26,799 Speaker 1: a few days and weeks ago. Yeah. 46 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 2: I think the largest deficit the Braves had was ten 47 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 2: and a half games, So the fact that they have 48 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 2: basically cut that in half in a very short amount 49 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:38,240 Speaker 2: of time is obviously great because it gives them a 50 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 2: real chance now in the division. And I know a 51 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 2: couple of folks pointed out the upcoming schedule, but in 52 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 2: case you missed it, this is suddenly a very very 53 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 2: important next three or four weeks ahead for the Braves 54 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 2: and the Phillies. The Braves have a pretty soft upcoming 55 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 2: slate of games. They have taken care of the Marlins 56 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 2: in the first of four games. Then they will play 57 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:03,080 Speaker 2: the Milwaukee Brewers, who are not bad, but a team 58 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 2: I think the Braves obviously have a chance to win 59 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 2: a series against. And then they head out West against 60 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 2: a terrible Colorado Rockies team, a Giants team that just 61 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 2: sold off some pieces, and then in a very very 62 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 2: bad Los Angeles Angels team as well. And meanwhile, the 63 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:23,359 Speaker 2: Phillies are about to embark on a ten game West 64 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 2: Coast road trip against the Mariners, the Dodgers, and the 65 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:31,240 Speaker 2: red hot Arizona Diamondbacks. So this is a very important 66 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 2: stretch of games coming up, and the fact that the 67 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 2: Braves are now very much within striking distance, assuming they 68 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 2: keep on playing well like they have been, this could 69 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 2: suddenly get really interesting in a hurry. 70 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, and we don't want to get over our skis. 71 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: Of course, the Braves have been in consisting this year. 72 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 1: There's been a few times when they gotten us excited 73 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 1: a little bit, but certainly it's feeling much better than 74 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 1: it was as a bare minimum. And in fact, I'm 75 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 1: going to credit our usual co host Steven Tolbert, who 76 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 1: just actually said this to us and basically flag this, 77 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 1: and I think that you would agree with me. We'll 78 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 1: come back to the game tonight for the second half 79 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 1: of this podcast, But it felt like tonight would have 80 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: been a loss for most of the season, if that 81 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 1: makes sense. The Braves being down for nothing vibes not fantastic. 82 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: The offensive gone quiet for like a full game between 83 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 1: the end of Thursday and getting a Friday, and it 84 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:21,360 Speaker 1: feels like that's the kind of win where it's like, hey, 85 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: maybe they're coming out of it for real this time, 86 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 1: because they actually just have it won that game very 87 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 1: often this year. 88 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 2: They have not won this game very much this year, 89 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 2: and the win on Friday Night very much felt like 90 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 2: one of those games during this division run where they 91 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 2: were kind of drawing dead early in the game and 92 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 2: then just really turned it on. And even though there 93 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:43,839 Speaker 2: wasn't a ton of offense until late, the Braves have 94 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 2: just been much much better with execution and taking advantage 95 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 2: of the few situations they have to score a run. 96 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:55,479 Speaker 2: We're going to go deeper into Friday Night's game, but 97 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:59,119 Speaker 2: just you know, executing a sack bunt, which I thought 98 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 2: in the moment was act you the right call, which 99 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 2: is maybe a off brand for this podcast because we 100 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:07,039 Speaker 2: are anti bunt on this show, hitting with runners and 101 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 2: scoring position. There was a grated bat from Austin Riley 102 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 2: down two where he just put the ball in play 103 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:15,599 Speaker 2: and it came in to score a run. Just little 104 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:18,720 Speaker 2: things like that that end up being very important, and 105 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:20,720 Speaker 2: you got to start doing those things if you're going 106 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:23,919 Speaker 2: to start stealing baseball games and looking back on the 107 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 2: first half of the year, I could probably count on 108 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:29,719 Speaker 2: one hand the number of games where the Braves quote 109 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 2: unquote stole. 110 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 1: From the other team. 111 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:35,359 Speaker 2: But just in this six game winning Star stretch of 112 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 2: seven games where there's six and one, there have been 113 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 2: a couple of instances where it felt like it was 114 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 2: truly a fifty to fifty game, or maybe not even 115 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 2: a fifty to fifty game, but they figured out a 116 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 2: way to win. 117 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, we're on the same page there for sure. And 118 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:50,479 Speaker 1: we'll save our deep dive into Friday for the second 119 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:52,840 Speaker 1: half of the show, but quickly on Thursday, because the 120 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 1: last show that was on this fee was on Wednesday night. 121 00:05:55,320 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: Ably breaking down everything from Sean and Steven, Thursday was 122 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 1: more of a straight ahead win, a little bit less 123 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 1: to discuss in that one. The offense was powered early 124 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 1: by three home runs, one by Riley, one my Olsen, 125 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 1: and one by Arcia. And by the way, we're talk 126 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: at Marcia, I promise you in a few minutes. Charlie 127 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 1: Morton was not his absolute best, but looked pretty good 128 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:18,600 Speaker 1: to me. Six innings, one unnerned run and I don't 129 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:20,159 Speaker 1: know if you saw this, Scott, if we could just 130 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 1: build the whole plane out of Charlie Morton at Truest Park, 131 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 1: we'd be just fine because he has a ERA of 132 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: literally one point zero one in his last six starts 133 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 1: in the City of Atlanta. 134 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, Charlie's having a really weird season. He's been really 135 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 2: good sometimes and then he has been unbelievably bad in 136 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 2: other starts. And maybe that comes with some of the 137 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:47,479 Speaker 2: territory of being forty years old and having high expectations 138 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 2: for a player of his track record, but it really 139 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 2: is as good as some of the other starters have been. 140 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:56,720 Speaker 2: Charlie's been a roller coaster. It seems like you never 141 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 2: know what Charlie Morton you are going to get. But thankfully, 142 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 2: even if he was a little shaky early on on 143 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 2: Thursday night, he's settled in and you know, one to 144 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:07,479 Speaker 2: run with six innings is more than enough against a 145 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 2: team like the Marlins that really are struggling. 146 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 3: Hey ftfam, it's Alana Risot. 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It's 167 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 1: rare that Snith would do that, especially at this point 168 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 1: in the season. It's notable that he only threw thirty 169 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 1: four total pitches in three days, but still it felt 170 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 1: like Snip wanted to get that one wanted to use 171 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: his guy, and that's one thing with the other thing 172 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 1: that I wanted to make sure we brought up because 173 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 1: I feel like that I am guilty of this. We 174 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 1: don't talk about Iglesias very often on the show, in 175 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 1: part out of respect because he's just so good and 176 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 1: safe and normal that he doesn't come up a lot, 177 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 1: but kind of just a good idea to kind of 178 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: flag how good he has been because his her rays 179 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 1: under two and like, he's been just awesome, and it's 180 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 1: good time to kind of note that because he was 181 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 1: unavailable on Saturday, sorry on Friday, because he was so 182 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 1: good over three days before that, and he's been awesome 183 00:08:59,080 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: all your long. 184 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:03,440 Speaker 2: Really, you know, I think with a reliever, and a 185 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 2: telltale sign that a reliever is really good is when 186 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:09,440 Speaker 2: you don't really talk or think about him very much 187 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 2: because he is doing his job effectively and really, since 188 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 2: he came over in the trade two years ago, Raycel 189 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 2: Iglesias has been very, very good in the ninth inning. 190 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 2: He got off to not a bad start this season, 191 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:26,680 Speaker 2: but he was not his a oneself early on. He 192 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 2: wasn't getting a ton of strikeouts or swinging miss which 193 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 2: was a little bit of a concern, but especially lately 194 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 2: Ryceell has been fantastic and whenever the Braves turn the 195 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 2: ball over to him and the ninth inning, at least 196 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:41,120 Speaker 2: for me, I have about as much confidence as you 197 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:43,199 Speaker 2: can have in a reliever in a close ball game. 198 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:46,079 Speaker 1: We were excited about Russell when they traded for him. 199 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:47,959 Speaker 1: Of course that was a deal in which they took 200 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:49,840 Speaker 1: on a lot of money, but it was worth it 201 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:51,440 Speaker 1: for a guy who is as good as he has been. 202 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:53,640 Speaker 1: And you know this year, one point seventy three ra 203 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:56,439 Speaker 1: with third, nine strikeouts and eight walks. He's not a 204 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,200 Speaker 1: lot of run with an urn run in about six weeks. 205 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:01,560 Speaker 1: And I just found this as what we're talking because 206 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 1: you brought up the time since he actually arrived in Atlanta. 207 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:08,480 Speaker 1: This is pretty wild. It's two and a half season, well, 208 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:11,199 Speaker 1: I guess two full season's not. Basically, he's appeared in 209 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 1: one hundred and twenty eight games with the Braves. Scotty 210 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 1: has an ERA of one point eighty nine as a Brave. 211 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's fantastic, And I feel like Grapestell is probably 212 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 2: a little underrated nationally. Where if you were to ask 213 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:28,160 Speaker 2: a fan of Hey, Brad named the five best closures 214 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 2: in baseball. He probably has a pretty good claim to 215 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 2: being part of that list. 216 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, I wish I'd pulled the numbers, but I would 217 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 1: imagine since he's gotten to the Braves, he has been 218 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 1: a top five closer in baseball. And you know, obviously 219 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,240 Speaker 1: he doesn't really pitch multiple innings. There are you know, 220 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 1: there's there's those interesting relief arguments that we won't have 221 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:49,000 Speaker 1: now about like how you use your guys. But Snid 222 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 1: is still very much a I have my guy in 223 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: the ninth Enning kind of manager and right sales PERVCT 224 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 1: for that because he just goes out does his job. 225 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:57,079 Speaker 1: He's an older guy. He doesn't always like blow you 226 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 1: away aesthetically, but the results are the results, and he 227 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 1: has been awesome and I feel like we've talked about 228 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 1: it a lot, so good time talking about that now. 229 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:05,679 Speaker 1: And then Joeanmennez came in tonight and slammed the door. 230 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 1: And it's nice for a bullpen that's been very good 231 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 1: all year, and we have said that a lot. In general, 232 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:13,360 Speaker 1: the bullpen's been very good all year. It's a nice 233 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:15,839 Speaker 1: thing to have when you're not terribly worried because most 234 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:17,719 Speaker 1: teams when they don't have their closerre available, it's like 235 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:20,439 Speaker 1: a little bit worried in a tie game. Sorry, in 236 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:22,160 Speaker 1: a tight game, I should say, not so much for 237 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 1: the Braves. They have a lot of quality arms and 238 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 1: it's kind of encouraging for people like us to do 239 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 1: not have to worry too much. We were kind of 240 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 1: doing podcast prep and then night thinning, which is a 241 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:33,199 Speaker 1: good sign. Yeah, supreme confidence in the back end of 242 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:36,440 Speaker 1: this bullpen. Joe Hamanez has been really good as well. 243 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:39,719 Speaker 1: I mean, frankly, he's probably a closer for what a 244 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 1: third of the teams in baseball, and actually tweeted about 245 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 1: it a couple of days ago. But we are just 246 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:48,480 Speaker 1: past the one year mark since the Braves traded for 247 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:52,599 Speaker 1: Pierce Johnson, and Pierce has been just superb with the 248 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 1: Braves an era below two, an eighty to twenty strikeout 249 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:02,760 Speaker 1: to walk ratio so four to one. Pierce Johnson's been great, 250 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,120 Speaker 1: Joe Hamans has been great, right satl has been great. 251 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 1: Hopefully aj Minter can continue to settle in after his 252 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 1: couple of injury issues earlier in the season. Aaron Bummer, 253 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:15,720 Speaker 1: Dylan Lee, it really is a quality bullpen from top 254 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 1: to bottom, and the Braves are, let's hope, as long 255 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:21,400 Speaker 1: as they stay healthy, going to be in really good 256 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:24,080 Speaker 1: hands down the stretch with this unit. You guys can't 257 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:25,720 Speaker 1: hear of that, But Scott was knocking on wood when 258 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:26,080 Speaker 1: he said that. 259 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:28,720 Speaker 2: I promise you he was every piece of wood within 260 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:29,080 Speaker 2: a mile. 261 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:32,080 Speaker 1: Trying to be diligent about that on the podcast. All right, 262 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 1: let's go to Friday. Of course, the game just happened. 263 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:37,840 Speaker 1: It was a five three victory. The Braves were down 264 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:39,599 Speaker 1: three to nothing earlier, which we did we sort of 265 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,480 Speaker 1: alluded to earlier in the show. They kind of climbed 266 00:12:42,559 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 1: back in it. Gradually, they got one of the fifth, 267 00:12:45,679 --> 00:12:47,199 Speaker 1: one of the sixth, and then it kind of broke 268 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:49,920 Speaker 1: it up in a little bit in the eighth. You 269 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:52,880 Speaker 1: brought up with with Maryfield. To me, obviously he has 270 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 1: been on the fringes. We did talk about how Mark 271 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: Bowman and others kind of flagged that he might be 272 00:12:57,760 --> 00:12:59,719 Speaker 1: a bigger part of the roster moon for because of 273 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:01,480 Speaker 1: the not show struggles and all that. Once he was 274 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:03,719 Speaker 1: able to come back and field, but he was a 275 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:05,319 Speaker 1: big part of the game tonight, to be sure. And 276 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:07,720 Speaker 1: obviously there are other heroes that we'll get into Arcia 277 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 1: and schwellenbacket particular, but with Berryfield was a quiet standout. 278 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:15,560 Speaker 2: Tonight when I watch with Merryfield, and he is now 279 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:18,199 Speaker 2: thirty five years old, so clearly he is on the 280 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:21,199 Speaker 2: back nine of his career, but you can really tell 281 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:23,319 Speaker 2: that at once upon a time, this dude was a 282 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:27,720 Speaker 2: really really good baseball player. And it's a small sample 283 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:30,720 Speaker 2: with the Braves, especially since he had that gnarly finger 284 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 2: injury a couple of weeks ago, but he does a 285 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 2: lot of things that can help a team win a 286 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:39,960 Speaker 2: baseball game. Solid defensively so far, had a nice play 287 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:42,440 Speaker 2: tonight to get a ball on his left that probably 288 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:44,679 Speaker 2: should have been a hit, and just a lot of 289 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 2: really good hitting in big moments. He had a triple 290 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:51,280 Speaker 2: in the sixth inning that he came around to score 291 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:54,200 Speaker 2: on ended up cutting the deficit to one. He also 292 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 2: had a perfectly laid down sacrifice bunt in the eighth 293 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 2: inning that would have been come around to score Jared 294 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:04,679 Speaker 2: Keelnick to tie the game. It really is while we 295 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 2: were rooting for Notacho Alvarez to emerge and step in 296 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 2: and fill the void of Auzzie, all these with Marryfield, 297 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 2: through at least a couple of games, has already made 298 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:17,439 Speaker 2: an impact. And I think my confidence level in second 299 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 2: base with him out there is pretty high considering what 300 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 2: the Braves are dealing with injury wise. 301 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:25,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, and we did, we did talked about it a 302 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 1: few days ago. But it's not like we're arguing that 303 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 1: Maryfield is awesome because he's He's not. He's just a 304 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 1: play He's more of a plug and play guy. That's 305 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:34,320 Speaker 1: the kind of guy who's available for you in July 306 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 1: to sign off of the Scott Peek basically. But I 307 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 1: think it is a safety upgrade in some respects. He 308 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: can go out and do his job and then when 309 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 1: Ozzie gets back, he can grace graceful, gracefully slide into 310 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 1: that utility role that he kind of was playing in 311 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:49,560 Speaker 1: Philly the other places. And I think he's a very 312 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 1: nice luxury to have for a good team. You know, 313 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 1: we mentioned it, but they scored three in the eighth, 314 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:57,440 Speaker 1: kind of break it open. Corries Hilaire's first hit in 315 00:14:57,560 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 1: his Rebraves stint, his number two stin, and then Arcia 316 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: drives in the insurance run to go up five to three, 317 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:09,280 Speaker 1: and look at it's Orlando time. We have been critical 318 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 1: of Orlando Arcia this year. I think rightfully so he 319 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 1: was maybe the worst player in baseball, or one of 320 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 1: them going up till about two weeks ago or so. 321 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: But uh, Scott, I don't know if you noticed this, 322 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 1: And maybe it was because at least in part because 323 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 1: of the joke that you told about him hitting fifth 324 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:26,200 Speaker 1: the other day on Twitter. But Orlando Arcia has been 325 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 1: out of his mind for about thirteen games now. 326 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 2: Orlando has been awesome, And maybe it was never in 327 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 2: doubt after I tweeted about are they really batting Orlando 328 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 2: Arcia fifth in this lineup going into Thursday? And I 329 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 2: guess a tip of the cap to Brian Snitker, who 330 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:45,520 Speaker 2: is better around the game a whole long time, and 331 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 2: he deserves credit for pushing the right buttons Orlando has. 332 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 2: I mean, the power has been really encouraging as well. 333 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 2: It's not like he's just hitting a bunch of soft 334 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:57,760 Speaker 2: singles and it's not sustainable. You know, the power has 335 00:15:57,800 --> 00:15:59,920 Speaker 2: been good. He had a couple of really big hits 336 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:04,160 Speaker 2: the last couple of nights, including a very important insurance 337 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 2: run in the eighth inning tonight to push Lee to 338 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 2: five to three. As we have said forever on this podcast, 339 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 2: ourcias glove is very, very valuable to this team. But 340 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 2: if he can just give the Braves a little bit 341 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 2: of something in the bottom part of the order, or 342 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 2: even now in the middle part of the order, it 343 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:24,600 Speaker 2: is only going to help the cause overall. And hey, 344 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 2: he's been red hot the last couple of weeks, and 345 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:29,040 Speaker 2: I would imagine the way he has hit the last 346 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:31,640 Speaker 2: couple of nights, Orlando is going to continue to be 347 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:35,720 Speaker 2: in that fitth spot until he presumably will cool down 348 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 2: again at some point. 349 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:39,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, it was to defend my co host. It was 350 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 1: very funny to me as well to see Orlando hitting 351 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 1: fifth because of the way he's played this season. But 352 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 1: you know, coming into that, you know, and people I 353 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:48,680 Speaker 1: think got on you right away about like have you 354 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 1: seen what he's done the last ten games? Like, Okay, 355 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 1: I wouldn't make my lap positions based on that personally, 356 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 1: but he has been better and he looks more like 357 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 1: The way that I would say is that he looks 358 00:16:57,440 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 1: more like the guy he's been at times with the Brave, 359 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 1: which wasn't a great hitter but was league average hitter, 360 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:06,359 Speaker 1: like had showedn some pop. I would I would love 361 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 1: to get a someone smarter than you and I about 362 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:12,440 Speaker 1: swings to tell us what has changed because our cia 363 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:14,119 Speaker 1: it wasn't like when we cover this before. But it 364 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:17,159 Speaker 1: wasn't like he was getting super unlucky with bad at 365 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:20,359 Speaker 1: ball stuff. His bad ball profile was awful. He just 366 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 1: has not done anything all year long, and then suddenly 367 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:24,119 Speaker 1: the power has come back. And I mean he has 368 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 1: an ops over one thousand in the last thirteen games, 369 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:28,960 Speaker 1: four hour runs in the last six Like it's it's 370 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:31,240 Speaker 1: all that stuff there, and I should at least acknowledge 371 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:33,800 Speaker 1: us to say how bad it was before. Even after 372 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:36,080 Speaker 1: all of that, he has his seventy five WRC plus 373 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:38,200 Speaker 1: for the season, So like that kind of tells you 374 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:42,440 Speaker 1: how bad it was before this. But yeah, we even said, 375 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:45,359 Speaker 1: to be fair to us, he was never supposed to 376 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 1: be as bad as he's been this year, even as 377 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:50,560 Speaker 1: a long time Orlando skeptic with the bat. Anyway, he's 378 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:52,919 Speaker 1: not as bad as he was until mid July. There 379 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 1: was just no way. So this is a regression to 380 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:57,360 Speaker 1: the meaning a positive direction, I suppose. 381 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:00,119 Speaker 2: And hey, we'll take it. Oh yeah, of course, Or 382 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 2: to if the Braves, and it's a big if, but 383 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:05,520 Speaker 2: if the Braves are going to try to chase down 384 00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:09,160 Speaker 2: the Phillies, they are going to need some unexpected heroes 385 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:12,240 Speaker 2: to step up over the final two months of the season. 386 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:15,119 Speaker 2: And hey, if Orlando Arcio wants to really turn it 387 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:18,159 Speaker 2: on for however many games and give this team a 388 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:21,480 Speaker 2: real boost offensively, we will take it. And you know, 389 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 2: you just kind of hope that as he hits and 390 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 2: maybe a few others in the bottom half of the 391 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 2: order continue to hit. I've already it feels like we've 392 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:33,280 Speaker 2: already felt the impact of Jorge Solaier in the leadoff spot. 393 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:36,719 Speaker 2: And even if Jorge has not been hitting great so far, 394 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:38,959 Speaker 2: he just has one hit and a couple of walks. 395 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:42,119 Speaker 2: I'm just moving Jared Kelnick down to like the seventh 396 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 2: or eighth spot in the order to linked in the lineup. 397 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 2: It just feels better when you're watching it in real time. 398 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 2: And then hopefully two weeks from now we will have 399 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 2: Michael Harris back in center field batting somewhere in the 400 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:56,720 Speaker 2: middle of the order. Now, then I think we're going 401 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:59,080 Speaker 2: to look at the lineup and go, Okay, this group 402 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:03,440 Speaker 2: here looks like a very potent and capable lineup, whereas 403 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:05,680 Speaker 2: just a couple of weeks ago was like, man, this 404 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:07,840 Speaker 2: is the Atlanta Braves. This is the lineup the Braves 405 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:10,720 Speaker 2: were running out there, So very much goodbyes with the 406 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 2: Orlando right now, and hopefully he keeps it going, because man, 407 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 2: if he can stay hot for a couple of weeks, 408 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 2: the way the top of the half of the lineup 409 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 2: is batting right now, it's only going to help things 410 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 2: and keep the Braves on the winning track. 411 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:27,600 Speaker 1: One more thing from Friday's game, and you and I 412 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:29,720 Speaker 1: are going to break our promise to each other to 413 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 1: keep this podcast short. We're already going to be close 414 00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 1: to that number now. But special Swallenbach has to be discussed. 415 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:39,280 Speaker 1: He did a lot to them runs tonight and that 416 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 1: was well in conjunction with the offensive down to early 417 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: in the game while they were down for nothing. But 418 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 1: he has been really, really, really good. Just to give 419 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:53,679 Speaker 1: the numbers, last five starts including tonight, thirty three innings, 420 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 1: nine earned runs. And here's the crazy one. Thirty eight 421 00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:01,920 Speaker 1: strikeouts and one walk in the last five starts for 422 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 1: a rookie in the middle of a pennant race. And 423 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 1: also this is a cur I think it was Sarah langstat. 424 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:09,919 Speaker 1: Somebody pulled this, But he is now the only rookie 425 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:13,640 Speaker 1: in the modern era of baseball with at least twenty 426 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:16,639 Speaker 1: five k's and no walks over three starts. Like, what 427 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:18,520 Speaker 1: are we even talking about here? Is he an alien? 428 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:19,199 Speaker 1: What's going on here? 429 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, and just to re emphasize that stat one more time, 430 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:27,000 Speaker 2: the only, the only, the one and only rookie in 431 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:30,720 Speaker 2: the modern era of baseball, which is many, many years. 432 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:33,000 Speaker 1: It's like, it's like one hundred years. It's a long time. 433 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:37,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, Yes, twenty five plus strikeouts and no walks over 434 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:41,440 Speaker 2: three starts. I mean, rookie or not, there's probably only 435 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:43,639 Speaker 2: so many pitchers in the history of baseball who have 436 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 2: done that. 437 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:47,399 Speaker 1: Thirty eight and one walk in five starts, Like, zoom out. 438 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:49,360 Speaker 1: Even I know he had one walk four starts ago, 439 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:51,600 Speaker 1: but like, what are we doing here? Thirty eight records 440 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:55,480 Speaker 1: on one walk for rookie five starts. Sorry, I don't 441 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 1: we don't often do the baffled thing, but I'm actually 442 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 1: baffled by how crazy that ratio is for a guy 443 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:03,960 Speaker 1: in the middle of penned race who twenty two whatever 444 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:04,200 Speaker 1: he is? 445 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:07,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, maybe twenty four. But I mean, yeah, I'm 446 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:10,560 Speaker 2: kind of a lot of words. Yeah, I'm kind of 447 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:14,160 Speaker 2: at a loss for words. Schwellenbach has been so good, 448 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:17,120 Speaker 2: and I mean I look forward to the fifth day 449 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 2: when he's on the mound. He has quickly become appointment 450 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:23,800 Speaker 2: viewing for me. I mean, it was pretty clear early 451 00:21:23,920 --> 00:21:26,440 Speaker 2: on that this kid had a real chance to stick. 452 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:28,880 Speaker 2: You know, I would like to say that we give 453 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:30,520 Speaker 2: ourselves a little bit of a patent in the back 454 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:33,159 Speaker 2: here and say, even if the results early on for 455 00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:36,760 Speaker 2: Schwellenbach weren't great, it was pretty clear this kid had 456 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 2: the stuff to at least be at the major league level, 457 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:41,639 Speaker 2: and he just had to learn how to attack hitters 458 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:44,400 Speaker 2: and really learn how to put batters away when you're 459 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:46,560 Speaker 2: heading the count and get back into account whenever we 460 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:49,399 Speaker 2: fall behind early. But he is so good, he is 461 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:53,879 Speaker 2: so impressive, and there's nothing fluky about the Schwellenbach start. 462 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:57,040 Speaker 2: You mentioned the strikeouts and the walks. I guess the 463 00:21:57,200 --> 00:21:59,760 Speaker 2: only thing that has me a little concerned with him 464 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 2: is he has given up quite a few home runs 465 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:06,679 Speaker 2: on the mound. But if he keeps getting those strikeouts 466 00:22:06,760 --> 00:22:09,640 Speaker 2: and limiting walks and he does a pretty decent job 467 00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:12,520 Speaker 2: of keeping the ball on the ground as well, as 468 00:22:12,560 --> 00:22:15,160 Speaker 2: long as he doesn't develop suddenly like a chronic home 469 00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:18,119 Speaker 2: run problem. I mean, I think we're potentially looking at 470 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 2: a very very good middle to upper part of the 471 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:23,360 Speaker 2: rotation starter here. Yeah. 472 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:25,200 Speaker 1: I think it's nine home runs and ten stars, which 473 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:28,760 Speaker 1: is a lot for sure. I would just this is 474 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:31,800 Speaker 1: very unscientific, but part of never walking anyone is that 475 00:22:31,840 --> 00:22:33,720 Speaker 1: you throw some pitable pitches and that's that's part of 476 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 1: the deal. And I'll take I'll take that, Scott. Honestly, 477 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:38,760 Speaker 1: nothing drop, Nothing drives me crazier than the guys who 478 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:40,800 Speaker 1: walk people. I think people know the listened to the 479 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:42,440 Speaker 1: podcast for a long time will know that. But I 480 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:46,160 Speaker 1: hate walks. I cannot handle walks, and he's the opposite 481 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:48,880 Speaker 1: of that. It's it's been really really fun to watch, 482 00:22:48,920 --> 00:22:51,200 Speaker 1: and I think you feel it from like, you know, 483 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:53,720 Speaker 1: the hardened beat writers, people that are around the team, 484 00:22:54,119 --> 00:22:56,800 Speaker 1: people that are more like more like us, that are 485 00:22:56,920 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 1: just you know, online braves, diehards that like keep their 486 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 1: dard up to some degree, and everyone's kind of like 487 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 1: celebrating Schwollenbach Day now every five days. And that's fun, man. 488 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 1: I mean, he's done enough. And yeah, I knows Eer 489 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:09,879 Speaker 1: rays at four, so like it's gonna be one of 490 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:11,800 Speaker 1: those things that's maybe a secret to people outside of 491 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 1: Atlanta because of the era, but his peripherals are better 492 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:17,120 Speaker 1: than that. We just sort of again lauded the start 493 00:23:17,359 --> 00:23:20,440 Speaker 1: turn out to walk ratio, but man, he's been ludicrous 494 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:22,920 Speaker 1: and another great one tonight because look, some guys would 495 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 1: have unraveled more than he did. Two bad pitches and 496 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:27,240 Speaker 1: you can argue about some more than that, but the 497 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:29,520 Speaker 1: two home runs, yes, but he kept him in the game, 498 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 1: got through seven innings, like he did a job in more. 499 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 1: You and I were joking about it. I think you 500 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 1: kept me on the res a little bit tonight when 501 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:37,920 Speaker 1: they were down three nothing. It's like, if they can't 502 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:40,119 Speaker 1: score three runs against the Marlins, they don't deserve to 503 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:41,919 Speaker 1: win the game. That's right, that's how to put that right. 504 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, and thankfully Schwellenbach didn't take the loss tonight with 505 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 2: the offense waking up late. And you mentioned his numbers 506 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:52,119 Speaker 2: on the whole. Now, yes, I believe it's the era 507 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 2: on the season is four point four. But his second 508 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 2: start against Boston, I think he gave up six runs 509 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:02,200 Speaker 2: so quick tells me that his R is probably like 510 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:05,639 Speaker 2: three point two or three point three since those starts. 511 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:08,080 Speaker 2: And sure, I mean, every every pitcher is going to 512 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:10,920 Speaker 2: look better if you take out his worst start. But 513 00:24:11,119 --> 00:24:13,879 Speaker 2: for a rookie who is presumably learning things on the 514 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:16,480 Speaker 2: fly and getting better every time he goes out there, 515 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:21,080 Speaker 2: I mean, his numbers are fantastic across the board. I mean, 516 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:24,120 Speaker 2: even if you're not a big believer in the underlying metrics, 517 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:27,520 Speaker 2: you know his ex FIP is three point two now 518 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:30,639 Speaker 2: on the season. That is very, very good. That is 519 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:35,200 Speaker 2: top twenty pitchers in baseball, good in recent years. So again, 520 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:38,359 Speaker 2: we cannot say enough things on Spencer Schwellenbach and just 521 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:41,200 Speaker 2: how important he has been to lock down the fifth 522 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:44,800 Speaker 2: spot in their rotation. Yeah, it's been huge, and you know, 523 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 2: we'll get out of here now, but it was it's 524 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 2: been fun. I mean we led with that, we'll end 525 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:52,760 Speaker 2: with it as well. Four wins in a row, six 526 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:55,639 Speaker 2: and one says that rock Bottom loss the rest of 527 00:24:55,640 --> 00:24:57,320 Speaker 2: the weekend. If you were listening to this show before 528 00:24:57,359 --> 00:24:59,960 Speaker 2: the game on Saturday, it's gonna be Grant Holmes time 529 00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:03,480 Speaker 2: on Saturday. He was actually quite good on Monday against 530 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:06,879 Speaker 2: Milwaukee and then Sunday is kind of a TVDS. Do 531 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:09,119 Speaker 2: you want to run through all of the machinations that 532 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:10,919 Speaker 2: have been reported? I'm looking now just to make sure 533 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:13,960 Speaker 2: you've missed anything tonight. But there is some genuine uncertainty 534 00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:16,639 Speaker 2: about who pitches on Sunday, even if we already know 535 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:17,400 Speaker 2: it to be Grant. 536 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:18,320 Speaker 1: Holmes on Saturday. 537 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:21,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, it feels like the Braves are taking it day 538 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:24,960 Speaker 2: by day with the rotation. But Brian Snicker came out 539 00:25:25,119 --> 00:25:28,679 Speaker 2: and I think had some pretty encouraging updates with the rotation. 540 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 2: It sounds like it might be Max Freed making a 541 00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:36,080 Speaker 2: start on Sunday. He was technically eligible to come off 542 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:39,520 Speaker 2: the IL on Friday, but obviously the Braves did not 543 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 2: make that move. And down in Gwynedd, Aj Smith Shauver 544 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 2: was supposed to pitch but he was scratched. So it's 545 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:52,560 Speaker 2: also possible that the Braves call up Aj for Sunday's start. 546 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:56,480 Speaker 2: They're off on Monday, so that would give Max another 547 00:25:56,720 --> 00:25:59,959 Speaker 2: two full days basically to distance himself from the new 548 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:03,879 Speaker 2: issue and the elbow. I would guess that's probably what 549 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:06,520 Speaker 2: they're going to do, to give Max a little more 550 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:09,400 Speaker 2: time off and to give A. J. Smith Shav kind 551 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:12,159 Speaker 2: of a reintroduction to the major leagues after missing a 552 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:16,000 Speaker 2: few months against a pretty terrible Marlins lineup. It feels 553 00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:18,000 Speaker 2: like a good spot to get Smith Shaw or a start. 554 00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 2: But we will see. Maybe by the time folks listening 555 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:22,800 Speaker 2: to the show, there'll be some clarity, But I would 556 00:26:22,840 --> 00:26:25,800 Speaker 2: imagine for Sunday it will either be Max Freed or 557 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:26,800 Speaker 2: AJ smith Shav. 558 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:30,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, that is I think we're on the same page there. 559 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:33,480 Speaker 1: Ronald A. Lopez still day to day, he's not thrown 560 00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:36,080 Speaker 1: a bullpen yet, which is the next step really the 561 00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:38,680 Speaker 1: probably the file step for him. But all reports on 562 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:41,320 Speaker 1: Max are good, So if Max doesn't pitch on Sunday, 563 00:26:41,359 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 1: people should not panic about that. That's what I would say, 564 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:46,000 Speaker 1: based on what's been reported, what's been out there, what 565 00:26:46,119 --> 00:26:48,920 Speaker 1: maxis said, what's Nith said of giving him two more days, 566 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:51,720 Speaker 1: like you just lay it out smartly makes sense to me. 567 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:54,000 Speaker 1: And I know the Braves have been pretty cautious with 568 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:55,800 Speaker 1: their starters, Like even the guys who have not had 569 00:26:56,359 --> 00:26:59,359 Speaker 1: any injury issues sale push back a lot this year 570 00:26:59,359 --> 00:27:02,000 Speaker 1: a couple different times they've been cautious with and by 571 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:03,160 Speaker 1: the way, that's that's fine. 572 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:03,800 Speaker 2: I get it. 573 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:06,560 Speaker 1: They have they have gods they like and they want 574 00:27:06,560 --> 00:27:08,919 Speaker 1: to be cautious. But Max is gonna be hopefully Max 575 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:10,840 Speaker 1: when it comes back. And if it's Sunday, that's cool. 576 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:12,960 Speaker 1: If it's Tuesday, that's cool, and then we will see 577 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:15,320 Speaker 1: on that. I have to say one more thing before 578 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:17,080 Speaker 1: we got to hear about Scott. I just took I 579 00:27:17,160 --> 00:27:20,840 Speaker 1: just took my Twitter mentions along with yours, and someone 580 00:27:20,920 --> 00:27:23,760 Speaker 1: asked us if we're going to talk about the tradeedline 581 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:26,560 Speaker 1: acquisitions of Matt Olsen in Orlando, Orsia, which I thought 582 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:30,679 Speaker 1: was funny. Yeah, baby, I can't stop laughing. I got 583 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:33,480 Speaker 1: the whole show without mentioning Matt Olsen. But let's just 584 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:35,600 Speaker 1: say Medals has been looking like Medilson again too, which 585 00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:35,880 Speaker 1: is good. 586 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:38,440 Speaker 2: We like that. Yeah, the power has been great. He 587 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 2: had a couple of really good advads on Friday night 588 00:27:41,680 --> 00:27:44,960 Speaker 2: as well. He should have drawn like a ten pitch walk, 589 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:47,600 Speaker 2: but the umpire wrung him up on ball four, which 590 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:51,040 Speaker 2: is always annoying. But yeah, man, I think I think 591 00:27:51,119 --> 00:27:54,520 Speaker 2: Steven is probably the champion of this movement. But if 592 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:56,440 Speaker 2: the Braves are going to be at their very best, 593 00:27:56,720 --> 00:28:00,920 Speaker 2: that includes a performing Matt Olsen and maybe for the 594 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:03,440 Speaker 2: last week or so he has been much much more 595 00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:06,119 Speaker 2: like the guy who was so damn good last season 596 00:28:06,560 --> 00:28:09,320 Speaker 2: and the guy we know that can come close to 597 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:11,840 Speaker 2: carrying an offense by himself with his power. The way 598 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:15,480 Speaker 2: it's been showing up lately, so encouraging stuff. Austin Riley 599 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:18,680 Speaker 2: also had a good night. Marcelo's Zuna. I mean, Marcello 600 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:22,240 Speaker 2: Zuna just missed a three run homer that would have 601 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:26,520 Speaker 2: erupted Truest Park. He ended up plating the go ahead run, 602 00:28:26,640 --> 00:28:29,560 Speaker 2: but he just missed the homer, So there we know 603 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:33,960 Speaker 2: what he can do. The catchers Murphy Travis Darnaut, who's 604 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 2: been kind of quietly fantastic all season long. It really is. 605 00:28:38,320 --> 00:28:41,320 Speaker 2: It feels like the pieces are maybe slowly but surely 606 00:28:41,440 --> 00:28:44,040 Speaker 2: starting to come together. In any time you can run 607 00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:46,640 Speaker 2: together a bunch of wins like this, I mean, it's 608 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:48,760 Speaker 2: hard not to be excited about what this team might 609 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:50,400 Speaker 2: be able to do in the final two months of 610 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:50,840 Speaker 2: the season. 611 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:54,040 Speaker 1: That's right, and shout out to Chip Carey. It's like 612 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:56,480 Speaker 1: acquiring a bunch of all stars of the deadline. It's 613 00:28:56,800 --> 00:28:59,360 Speaker 1: we'd love to see it across the board. Scott anything 614 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:01,040 Speaker 1: to share, and before we get out of here on 615 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:02,640 Speaker 1: a podcast that went longer than we thought it was 616 00:29:02,680 --> 00:29:02,960 Speaker 1: going to go. 617 00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:05,560 Speaker 2: It always does, it always does. 618 00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:07,080 Speaker 1: We knew it was gonna happen. 619 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:10,360 Speaker 2: It's okay, hope everybody out there has a fantastic weekend. 620 00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:13,080 Speaker 2: Let's hope the Braves pick up two more wins against 621 00:29:13,120 --> 00:29:15,880 Speaker 2: the Marlins. It is always a little weird to be 622 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 2: like they need to go out and win this series, 623 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:20,080 Speaker 2: or they need to go out and sweep the series, 624 00:29:20,560 --> 00:29:23,200 Speaker 2: because baseball is a funny game. But the Marlins are 625 00:29:23,280 --> 00:29:26,200 Speaker 2: so bad right now, Brad, Let's hope the Braves can 626 00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:28,720 Speaker 2: win these final two games this weekend, get the sweep. 627 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:32,120 Speaker 2: At very worst, go one in one, you would still 628 00:29:32,160 --> 00:29:34,400 Speaker 2: take three out of four, which maybe wouldn't be the 629 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:36,880 Speaker 2: greatest outcome, but I think you have to take it. 630 00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:40,040 Speaker 2: But yeah, this was fun and maybe a bonus Friday 631 00:29:40,120 --> 00:29:42,360 Speaker 2: night pod. But hey, the Braves are playing well. There's 632 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:43,800 Speaker 2: a lot of good stuff to talk about, so we 633 00:29:43,880 --> 00:29:45,120 Speaker 2: wanted to do an extra show. 634 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:48,720 Speaker 1: That's right. Hopefully folks will enjoy this bit of extra 635 00:29:48,840 --> 00:29:52,960 Speaker 1: concep check out the Grant Holmes Salad Experience on Saturday. 636 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:55,240 Speaker 1: As I know, I will be watching and then Sunday, 637 00:29:55,240 --> 00:29:56,760 Speaker 1: and then you and I will plan to be back 638 00:29:57,160 --> 00:29:59,600 Speaker 1: at our usual slot on Sunday evening. Please go ahead 639 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:02,280 Speaker 1: subscribe but to this podcast if you're not already. Hopefully 640 00:30:02,280 --> 00:30:03,760 Speaker 1: you enjoyed this show. If you made it this far, 641 00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:06,360 Speaker 1: thank you for listening, and again, tell your friends about 642 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:08,880 Speaker 1: the podcast as well. Follow us on Twitter at Hammer Territory. 643 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:11,840 Speaker 1: We're all over social media. We're on Instagram, we run Facebook, 644 00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:14,000 Speaker 1: all those places, and one more time, thanks for listening, 645 00:30:14,080 --> 00:30:15,719 Speaker 1: Thanks to Scott for being here with me as always, 646 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:17,120 Speaker 1: and we'll see you all next time.