1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:01,720 Speaker 1: I mean, if the Braves come even close to the 2 00:00:01,800 --> 00:00:03,800 Speaker 1: number of injuries they had last year, I don't know 3 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 1: what they need to do in that clubhouse because that 4 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:10,040 Speaker 1: would be all time bad luck and back to back years. 5 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 2: Hammer Territory host Scott Coleman joining us right now on 6 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:20,000 Speaker 2: Foul Territory. Big crowd in the Atlanta area, really in 7 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 2: Braves country, all in the Southeast that's watching right now. 8 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:25,280 Speaker 2: So we're excited to have be on. Scott is the 9 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 2: most downloaded Braves podcast, So go check it out and 10 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 2: we're going to get right to biz because we got 11 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 2: a lot to cover with the Braves. So let's hit 12 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 2: the storylines. Don't rush me. Ronald Acunya back again from 13 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:48,080 Speaker 2: a major lower body injury. We'll see how he does 14 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 2: with the knee. Chris Sales encore, We'll see how he does. 15 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 2: How often do they maybe rest him to make sure 16 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 2: that he is ready for a postseason run. But you 17 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 2: also got to get in Spencer Strike coming back soon. 18 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 2: And is there a shortstop void with this team? Should 19 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 2: they have gone after somebody to handle the infield and 20 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,679 Speaker 2: move Orlando Arcia to more of a bentrol All right, 21 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 2: let's start at the top. Ronald Cunya Junior super important 22 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 2: part of this team. They didn't have him for a 23 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 2: good chunk of last season. What do you think of 24 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 2: what they've said so far and what Ronald has said. 25 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think the Braves probably learned a lesson a 26 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 1: couple of years ago when Acuna tore his ACL the 27 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: first time, and while he was still good by at 28 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: least maybe the league standards, Ronald Acunya Junior was not 29 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: the superstar level player that we all have come to 30 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:45,319 Speaker 1: see when he returned in twenty twenty two after he 31 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 1: tore his ACL the first time, he just it never 32 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: looked like Ronald felt comfortable. And because of that, I 33 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,559 Speaker 1: think the Braves are showing extra caution, and not only 34 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: just this spring, but even in the offseason. Alex and 35 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 1: Thoppolos said, I think the winter meetings that Ronald was 36 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: not going to be on the opening day roster, and 37 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: that's a significant statement when you're still four months away 38 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: from opening day at that point. So I think the 39 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 1: Braves are going to be overly cautious with their superstar outfielder. 40 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:15,960 Speaker 1: And if it means that if you have a Kunya 41 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 1: closer to one hundred percent whenever he does make it 42 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:21,359 Speaker 1: back to the field, maybe in late April or even 43 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 1: at some point in May. I think the Braves are 44 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 1: probably playing the long game here and just banking on 45 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: Acunya being more of himself because we know how high 46 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 1: his ceiling is when everything is clicking and when he 47 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 1: is feeling good. 48 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:38,920 Speaker 3: Speaking of guys feeling good last year, Chris sale my boy, 49 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:42,119 Speaker 3: or as my bay, as Kratz likes to call him, 50 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 3: because you know, I caught his I caught his debut 51 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 3: and I've known him for a long time. So Cratz 52 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 3: and Jels, then nobody likes him that much. Okay, here 53 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 3: we go, but can he do it again? He's thirty six, 54 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 3: He had an unbelievable year, you know, Cy Young, the whole, 55 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 3: the whole Enchilada kind of tweaked his back at the end, 56 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 3: had a full healthy offseason. Can he do this again 57 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 3: and be a Chris so because they're going to need 58 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:06,799 Speaker 3: him to be that Chris silly was last year, especially 59 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 3: with some of the guys they've lost. 60 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, I know Chris has been on the 61 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 1: show a couple of times, this time a year ago. 62 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 1: Of course, he's going to have confidence in himself as 63 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:18,959 Speaker 1: a competitor and someone who's been doing it at a 64 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 1: high level for a long time. But I don't even 65 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 1: know if Chris Sale would have told you that he 66 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: had eighteen and three with a two point four ERA 67 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 1: and leading Baseball and war still in him. But Sale 68 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 1: was so impressive last season, and I think the Braves 69 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 1: handled him perfectly. A year ago, I was looking at 70 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 1: this earlier. Chris Sale made twenty nine starts last season. 71 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 1: He had at least one extra day of rest in 72 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: twenty two of those twenty nine starts, and I don't 73 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 1: think it's a coincidence that up until that very final 74 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 1: week of the season when the backspasms popped up, that 75 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 1: Sale was just so dominant basically every single time he 76 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: went out there. So I would imagine the Braves are 77 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,160 Speaker 1: going to have a very similar plan. If it ain't broke, 78 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 1: don't fix it. And you're absolutely right, I think protecting 79 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 1: Sale and keeping him healthy and hopefully ready for the 80 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 1: playoffs should that time come, is going to be the priority. 81 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: And if that means that they have to call up 82 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 1: somebody from TRIPAA to make a spot start or to 83 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 1: give Sale an extra day of rest, I think you 84 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:22,160 Speaker 1: do it because we know just how good this guy 85 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:24,919 Speaker 1: is whenever he's been healthy, I mean not even just 86 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 1: last year with the Braves, but basically his entire career. 87 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: When Chris Sale has been healthy, he's been awesome, and 88 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:33,919 Speaker 1: the Braves are really going to need him in that rotation, 89 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: especially with guys like Max Freed and Charlie Morton moving on. 90 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,039 Speaker 3: Sales stayed healthy all the way till the very end, 91 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 3: but other key members of that core of that team 92 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 3: did not stay healthy. Is this going to be a 93 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:52,480 Speaker 3: trend moving forward here going into twenty twenty five or 94 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 3: have they figured out how to hopefully curtail that from 95 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 3: happening again. 96 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 1: It's a big question, and I just have to think 97 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 1: that after just an all time unlucky season for the 98 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,280 Speaker 1: Braves with injuries last year, that they're gonna they're do 99 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 1: some good fortune from the baseball gods. I mean, just 100 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:14,160 Speaker 1: a quick rundown for folks, if maybe they aren't Braves fans. 101 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:16,720 Speaker 1: This is like an abridged version of what this team 102 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 1: lost last year. Spencer Strider missed basically the entire year, 103 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 1: Acuna tore his acl in May, Austin Riley broke his 104 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 1: hand and missed the final two months of the season. 105 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 1: Ozzy Alby's broke his toe and then broke his wrist. 106 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 1: Sean Murphy, their all star catcher from a year ago, 107 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:38,720 Speaker 1: had a nasty oblique injury on opening Day, missed two 108 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:42,599 Speaker 1: months and basically wasn't himself all year. Michael Harris, their 109 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 1: five tools center fielder, missed two months with a hamstring. 110 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:49,040 Speaker 1: Aj Minter, who's been one of the better lefty setup 111 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:50,719 Speaker 1: men in the game for the past couple of years, 112 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: had a hip injury and ultimately underwent surgery. And honestly, 113 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:57,920 Speaker 1: I mean, the microcosm of the season, guys, was friend 114 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: of the show. Wit Merrifield joined the Braves as an 115 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 1: injury replacement for Ozzy, always at second base in Mirfield. 116 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 1: On his very first day in Atlanta, has a nasty 117 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 1: finger injury in pregame warm ups and ends up missing time. 118 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 1: And it's been one of the more tougher iron men 119 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:18,839 Speaker 1: in the game for his whole career. And what happens 120 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 1: when he shows up and he's in Atlanta for one 121 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:23,600 Speaker 1: day and then he needs to miss time with a 122 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: finger injury. He also hurt his foot too, So I mean, 123 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 1: by the end of the year, the Braves were starting 124 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 1: three waiver claims basically every night because of all the 125 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 1: injuries they suffered. And I mean, it's a credit to 126 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 1: them for still winning eighty nine games and getting into 127 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: the playoffs at the very end, but man alive. I mean, 128 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:43,159 Speaker 1: if the Braves come even close to the number of 129 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 1: injuries they had last year, I don't know what they 130 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:47,479 Speaker 1: need to do in that clubhouse because that would be 131 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: all time bad luck and back to. 132 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 3: Back years and all of that, all of those injuries 133 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:56,719 Speaker 3: and their all star shortstop from twenty to twenty three, 134 00:06:56,880 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 3: Orlando Garcia had a one of my really good friends, 135 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 3: had an abysmal year, and somehow they still made the playoffs. 136 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:07,280 Speaker 3: So if you think the Braves are, you know, they're out, 137 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 3: down and out. Don't like you just forget exactly how 138 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 3: good this team is. But that shortstop position, are they 139 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 3: gonna just roll with? Oh? Are they going to then say, Okay, 140 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 3: we're just gonna keep an eye on it the whole 141 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 3: time because it's tough to find big league shortstops. Could 142 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 3: it be a trade part way through the season, or 143 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 3: is there a prospect in the pipeline that might be 144 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 3: able to be that next answer at shortstop. 145 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 1: For them, it sure seems like they're gonna roll with 146 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 1: Orlando Arcia again in shortstop. I'd be fascinated to know 147 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 1: behind the scenes what work the front office did to 148 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 1: try to improve that position. And the story the Braves 149 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 1: will tell you publicly is they feel that if everybody 150 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 1: is healthy or at least mostly healthy in that lineup, 151 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 1: if Orlando Arcia is batting ninth and playing good defense 152 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 1: and just giving you a little bit of offense in 153 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 1: that ninth hole at shortstop, they're going to be fine offensively. 154 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 1: That being said, that was their plan a year ago, 155 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 1: and then half of the team got hurt and there 156 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:12,920 Speaker 1: was a stretch where Arcia was batting fifth because he 157 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:14,679 Speaker 1: had had a couple of good games in a row, 158 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 1: and it's like, who else is going to hit here? 159 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:21,000 Speaker 1: Why not have him bat fifth? For Arcia, he just 160 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 1: wasn't very good last season offensively. He was really really 161 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: bad with runners in scoring position, and it felt like 162 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 1: by the end of the year it was almost a 163 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:33,080 Speaker 1: mental block for Arcia where he would come up with 164 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: two runners on base and just the bat and the 165 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,200 Speaker 1: approach was all off, and it was in his head 166 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 1: at that point so I think the Braves they're just 167 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: hoping and banking that Arcia is more of the player 168 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 1: he was in twenty twenty three, when funny enough, he 169 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: had a great first half and was actually an All Star, 170 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 1: and then just hope that it's more of twenty twenty 171 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 1: three than the player who struggled quite a bit last season. 172 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 2: Scott, great insight. Of course, you hear all of this 173 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 2: plus the ft hat that he's wearing on Hammer Territory 174 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 2: many episodes every single week when there is breaking news, 175 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 2: they're out there instantly with an emergency episode. You can 176 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 2: see Scott and Brad there to others as well. It's 177 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:16,320 Speaker 2: a four team crew to make sure that they've got 178 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 2: you covered for Braves coverage all year long, many many 179 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:21,560 Speaker 2: episodes right after games to kind of serving as your 180 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:24,079 Speaker 2: postgame show. So Scott, great to see you, Thanks for 181 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 2: the insight, and we'll see you on Hammer. 182 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 1: Thanks Ell, it's great to talk with you all and 183 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:30,400 Speaker 1: happy to have baseball back.