1 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Here Territory Podcast. My name is Sean Coleman. Hope, 2 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: wherever you are and wherever you are listening, hope that 3 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: you are having a wonderful, wonderful into your week. And 4 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:35,879 Speaker 1: it's nice to be able to add to that with 5 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 1: the Brave victory at three to one victory for the 6 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:41,240 Speaker 1: Braves over the Blue Jays to start this weekend series 7 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 1: against Toronto. But of course we've got multiple games to discuss, 8 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 1: plenty to discuss, and is always one of the best. 9 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:50,240 Speaker 1: I always a privileged to get to talk with this gentlemen. 10 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 1: My podcast partner Steven Tolbert, Steven, Hope you've been well. 11 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 1: It's good to talk with you again about a victory, 12 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 1: but plenty to get into over the past couple of games. 13 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 2: Yoh, what's up, Sean, Yeah, it's been you know, the 14 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,040 Speaker 2: last couple of games has kind of been a perfect 15 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 2: microcosm of the Braves season. To be honest, you know, 16 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 2: if you hadn't if you hadn't watched for the last 17 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 2: four or five months and you wanted to understand what 18 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 2: it's like to watch Braves games this year, just watch 19 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 2: the last two games and that is a perfect encapsulation 20 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 2: of what the season has been like so far with maddening, 21 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 2: you know, just unbelievably inconsistent offense, incredible pitching, incredible back 22 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:35,400 Speaker 2: into the bullpen, and you know I'll win and a 23 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 2: loss in the last two games and that kind of 24 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 2: sums up the Braves twenty twenty four. But yeah, we 25 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 2: got a lot to get to tonight and obviously a 26 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 2: couple of games talk about, you know, a big stretch, 27 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 2: the playoff standings, how close they are so but it's 28 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 2: always good to do these with you. 29 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: Man, absolutely, and we'll get into the pitching first and 30 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 1: then really dive in a bit to the hitting, because 31 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:56,279 Speaker 1: I do want to get your thoughts on the hitting 32 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 1: or the lack of the hitting that's been there. Of course, 33 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 1: Hammer Tarrat always a pleasure to be with you. Thank 34 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 1: you again so much for the support, and we are 35 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 1: very happy to continue to cover the Rays through the 36 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: home stretch of the season and hopefully what will lead 37 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: to another playoff appearance for the Braves, and of course 38 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:15,679 Speaker 1: Hammer Territory part of the Foul Territory family of podcasts. 39 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 1: But Stephen, it's no secret what we're going to talk about. 40 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 1: It's been the theme of our podcast over the past 41 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:27,839 Speaker 1: three weeks. The Brave Starters now twenty four straight appearances 42 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:30,639 Speaker 1: twenty four straight outings by a starter for the Braves 43 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:33,959 Speaker 1: in which they have allowed three or last run. Sara 44 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 1: Lang's showed it on ex Twitter earlier tonight. It's emerging 45 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 1: as one of the longest streaks that the starting pitching 46 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: staff has ever had. Ronaldo Lopez and Max Read, both 47 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: who experience injuries in the early and mid part of August. 48 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 1: Over the past three weeks, they've come back to form 49 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:57,080 Speaker 1: with Chris Selle a trio that was so good at 50 00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: times in the first half. But Stephen, I'll first let 51 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:01,800 Speaker 1: you talk about these two games and then we'll get 52 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 1: into a bit broader question. But from these games, Ronaldo 53 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 1: Lopez a career high live in strikeouts. Max Reed was 54 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:10,919 Speaker 1: on his game tonight as well, working out a couple 55 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: working out of a couple of jams, but overall was 56 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: pretty much in command. The thing that stands out to 57 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 1: me about both Max Freed and Ronaldo Lopez they are 58 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: in their first half form and it's really good to 59 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 1: see not only how consistent they are, but how dominant 60 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 1: they can be at times as well. 61 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, especially for Max and Ronaldo right coming 62 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 2: back from injury. Weren't sure what you were gonna get, 63 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 2: and they have literally picked up right in the middle 64 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 2: of this long stretch. I think it's twenty five games 65 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 2: now after tonight of you know, three runs or less. 66 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 2: It's really incredible stuff. You know, the strikeouts have been 67 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 2: maybe the most encouraging part. The Braves are striking out 68 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 2: a ton of hitters, not just Chris Sale, but you know, 69 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 2: Ronaldo had eleven k's the other night, Max had a 70 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 2: strikeout ball going tonight, Swallenbach. You know, even Charlie Morton's 71 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 2: picked up quite a few strikeouts here lately. So yeah, 72 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 2: I mean, it's it's it's the thing that's keeping the 73 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 2: Braves alive, quite honestly, as the offense goes through another 74 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 2: one of their you know, patented lolls that we've seen 75 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:16,599 Speaker 2: so many times this year. That the pitching is is 76 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 2: what's keeping the Braves afloat. It's it's the reason they're 77 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 2: still you know, in the playoff race at all, quite honestly. 78 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 2: And you know, it's I talked about this with Scott 79 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:28,839 Speaker 2: a little bit on the last show we did, but 80 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:32,479 Speaker 2: you know, as bad as it's gone for the offense 81 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:34,719 Speaker 2: this year and the position player group as a whole, 82 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 2: it's really gone about as well as you could have 83 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 2: expected out of the pitching side, even with the Strider injury. 84 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 2: Just on the results on the field, you know, giving up. 85 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:46,280 Speaker 2: You know, the Braves are giving up the fewest runs 86 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 2: in Major League Baseball this year, fewer than any team. 87 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 2: They're number one and runs allowed in terms of fewest 88 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 2: runs allowed. So it's been incredible and it's it is 89 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 2: the thing carrying this team right now. They have become 90 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 2: the they have become the Seattle Mariners, you know. I 91 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:03,359 Speaker 2: know Jared kelnic thought probably thought he was leaving the Mariners, 92 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:06,119 Speaker 2: but he went to the East Coast Mariners for twenty 93 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:09,479 Speaker 2: twenty four because they can prevent runs with the best 94 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 2: of them. It's just the scoring part that they're having 95 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:15,280 Speaker 2: trouble with. And yeah, the starting pitching has been the 96 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 2: anchor all year and it's been incredible and this latest 97 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 2: stretch is just another example of how that part of 98 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 2: the team has really carried this franchise in twenty twenty 99 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 2: four when the offense has done so little. 100 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:30,160 Speaker 1: Well, and that's the thing that I'll ask you I'm 101 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 1: not trying to jump ahead here, but I do think 102 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:34,719 Speaker 1: that it's worth definitely talking about. Is that when it 103 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 1: comes to this Braves team right now, Steven I talked 104 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 1: with you about it before the podcast, I legitimately would 105 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 1: feel confident of putting this starting staff for the Braves 106 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: up against any of their starting staff in baseball right now. 107 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:50,039 Speaker 1: Sale then freed than Rinaldo Lopez. And even when you 108 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 1: talk about the number four starter, Spencer Swell the Bok, 109 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,279 Speaker 1: He's been right up there compared to many four starters 110 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: in the National League. He's been one of the most 111 00:05:56,920 --> 00:05:59,479 Speaker 1: impressive starters of the past three months in baseball. So 112 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:01,840 Speaker 1: the point what I'm getting that is is that we're 113 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 1: going to talk about why it's still in doubt that 114 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: we're going to get there, but if we can get 115 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: to the playoffs, I'm not just saying that our pitching 116 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 1: could have the chance of keeping us in playoff series. 117 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:15,799 Speaker 1: I am saying that the Braves are in a position 118 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 1: right now to where I think when many would point 119 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 1: to their starting staff as being in an advantage for 120 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:23,480 Speaker 1: the Braves over really any other National League team, I 121 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: would say even including the Phillies potentially maybe it's close, 122 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:28,520 Speaker 1: but that's how good this Brave staff is right now. 123 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 1: They truly, in my opinion, could form a trio between Sale, 124 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:35,159 Speaker 1: Freed and Lopez that I think you could stack up 125 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:37,599 Speaker 1: against any other trio in baseball when it comes to 126 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 1: a potential playoff series. 127 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, I mean we've talked about it a bunch, 128 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 2: but it's not just they have quality pitching, but they 129 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 2: have quality frontline pitching right with Sale, with Max, with Ronaldo, 130 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 2: you can put that trio up against anybody else in 131 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 2: baseball in terms of their best three pitchers. And then 132 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 2: you add in the back of the bullpen, you know, 133 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 2: Dylan Lee, Pierce Johnson, Joejmenez, Roussi Oglesias, and those guys 134 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:06,039 Speaker 2: have been as good as any bullpen in baseball. So yeah, 135 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:09,159 Speaker 2: I mean the Braves can absolutely they have to get in, 136 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 2: but they can absolutely do damage once they get in 137 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:17,640 Speaker 2: because they're just very hard to score against. And usually 138 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 2: the only time the Braves give up a run these 139 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 2: days is off of a defensive you know, miss Q 140 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 2: like so there, you know the last couple of times 141 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 2: or Arcia had the air tonight that led to the run. 142 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 2: You know, the pitching side is not giving up anything again. 143 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 2: They are number one in baseball. They've given up the 144 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 2: fewest runs in baseball all year. And yeah, you get 145 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 2: them in a short series where the only pitchers you're 146 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 2: gonna see are Sale, Max, Ronaldo, Lee, Pierce Johnson, Jmenez 147 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 2: and Iglesias and those are the only seven guys you're 148 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 2: basically gonna see the whole series. Good luck, I mean yeah, 149 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 2: I mean you're gonna have a hard time doing anything. 150 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 2: And if the Braves offense contributes at all, I mean 151 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 2: just a little bit, then the Braves could literally they could. 152 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 2: They could absolutely march to the World Series with this 153 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 2: pitching staff. But you got to get in. And you know, 154 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 2: the Mets are as hot as any team in baseball. 155 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 2: They are the hottest team in baseball. And you know 156 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 2: the Braves are currently tied for that last spot, and 157 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 2: you got to get in before it matters. So that's 158 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 2: going to be the key. But this pitching staff has 159 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 2: been incredible, and the top end pitching, the frontline pitching, 160 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:25,120 Speaker 2: they have, the back of the bullpen they have. They 161 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 2: are as well set up to do damage in October 162 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 2: as anybody. But they got to get there. 163 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 3: Pop quiz aj what is America's number one meal kit. 164 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 4: That would be Hello Fresh, Scott and it even works 165 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 4: for picky eaters like you. There's a never changing menu 166 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:41,839 Speaker 4: of fifty recipes to choose from each week, So just 167 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:43,599 Speaker 4: select your meals and delivery. 168 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:47,040 Speaker 3: Day and voila Yeah, home cooked meals just hit different. 169 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:50,200 Speaker 3: The recipes are easy to follow with pre portioned ingredients 170 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 3: delivered fresh. Just choose that delivery day, open your box, 171 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 3: cook and eat. It's so easy. 172 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:59,959 Speaker 5: Crats agreed with ft every day and my coaching Joe, 173 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 5: I don't have time to search recipes all night and 174 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:05,760 Speaker 5: also spending money on a whole dour spices for only 175 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 5: a pinch. Nah, I'm good. My family gets more of 176 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 5: me because I don't have to take a last minute 177 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 5: trip to the grocery store at night to find dinner. 178 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:17,680 Speaker 4: Ready for this. For free breakfast for Life, go to 179 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:22,439 Speaker 4: HelloFresh dot com slash free FT one free breakfast item 180 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:26,240 Speaker 4: per box while subscription is active. That's free breakfast for 181 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 4: life just by going to HelloFresh dot com slash fr 182 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:31,839 Speaker 4: ee f T. 183 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:36,079 Speaker 1: So let's talk about the thing that Kanda has played 184 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 1: a big role in it being in question and to 185 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:40,200 Speaker 1: whether or not they're going to get their last night. 186 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 1: And you know, Steven, you use the word microcosm, you 187 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 1: use the fact that you know, the past two games 188 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 1: is just such a you know, very accurate example of 189 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: the frustrations that have been bubbling up for the team, 190 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 1: for the fan base all year long. When it comes 191 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:58,080 Speaker 1: to the offense. Last night, the Braves were actually up 192 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 1: by one one run. And I find it very you know, 193 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 1: telling that the Braves right now or or right now 194 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 1: are like twenty seven to twenty eight games above five 195 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:10,839 Speaker 1: hundred when they score first, fifteen sixteen games under five 196 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:13,680 Speaker 1: hundred when the other team scores first. The reason that 197 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:16,520 Speaker 1: I think that that's very telling is because last year 198 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 1: the Braves were so historic at scoring first, scoring early 199 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 1: in the game. This year they've fallen off so much 200 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 1: in that aspect of things that it's just it's hard 201 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 1: to be able to come back in games, even with 202 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:32,320 Speaker 1: how good you're pitching is when you just don't have 203 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 1: a good offense. But last night, in the second inning, 204 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 1: we had already we were already up one to nothing. 205 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:40,480 Speaker 1: We had Orlando Arcia on third, Luke Williams at the play, 206 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:42,559 Speaker 1: and I just wanted a productive out this team has 207 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:45,839 Speaker 1: had such a struggle in getting productive outs, brothers in 208 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 1: scoring position, and what happens a strikeout by Luke Williams 209 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:51,560 Speaker 1: of pop up by Michael Harris. It fell in the 210 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:54,720 Speaker 1: second ending up one to nothing. That was going to 211 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: be a missed opportunity that was going to come back 212 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 1: and honess And that's absolutely what happened. But I bring 213 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:02,440 Speaker 1: all that up to say, I never thought that I 214 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 1: would have those type of thoughts so early in games 215 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 1: that this offense was doomed because it missed a chance 216 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 1: in the second inning. But it's because this team has 217 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:14,199 Speaker 1: been so bad at converting opportunities when it's not hitting 218 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 1: home runs. It just it gets frustrating. And it really 219 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:22,160 Speaker 1: is especially frustrating when you see that there's plenty of 220 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:25,560 Speaker 1: opportunities to score runs, but we just cannot convert them 221 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 1: when we have goal opportunities too. 222 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, it's you know, it's been atrocious. The 223 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:35,280 Speaker 2: offense has been as bad as I ever thought they 224 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 2: could be, even accounting for the injuries. And that's the thing, 225 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:40,440 Speaker 2: and this is the thing that's going to annoy me 226 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 2: in the offseason. I don't want this all to be 227 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:45,680 Speaker 2: whitewashed under the headline that the Braves just had a 228 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 2: ton ton of injuries in twenty twenty four and that's 229 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 2: the reason they couldn't score any runs, because I don't 230 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:54,360 Speaker 2: think that is an accurate portrayal of what's happened. The 231 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 2: injuries have played a big part of it. Of course, 232 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:57,640 Speaker 2: the injuries have played a big part of it. But 233 00:11:57,679 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 2: the Braves right now in their lineup, hath or hayesel later, 234 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:02,840 Speaker 2: they have Marcelo Zuno, they have Matt Olson, they have 235 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 2: Michael Harris, they have the two catchers who are healthy. 236 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:08,840 Speaker 2: They've got Jared Kelnick, They've got Adam Devall, They've got Loreano, 237 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 2: who's been unbelievable. They've got with Miryfield who's got like 238 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 2: a three eighty on base percentage or something like. They 239 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:18,679 Speaker 2: have enough guys that they should still be able to 240 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:22,200 Speaker 2: score some runs. Like it should not be and it 241 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 2: should not take an act of God for them to 242 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:27,080 Speaker 2: score more than two runs in a game. And even 243 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 2: when everybody was healthy, this team was not scoring runs. 244 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:32,080 Speaker 2: And even when Ozzy was in there, Ozzy was having 245 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 2: one of the worst years of his career and Michael 246 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 2: Harris was having one of the worst years of his career, 247 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:38,199 Speaker 2: and Sean Murphy's having one of the worst years of 248 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 2: his career, and Adam Deval is having one of the 249 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 2: worst years of his career, and Matt Olson's having one 250 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 2: of the worst years. Like it's down the line. Outside 251 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 2: of Marcello Zuna, it's been underperformance, underperformance, underperformance, and then 252 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:53,920 Speaker 2: on top of that injury. And I don't want injury 253 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:56,839 Speaker 2: to whitewash all of the underperformance away because it's it's 254 00:12:56,880 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 2: an important part of the conversation, because is it it 255 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:03,720 Speaker 2: something does need to change going into next year. It's 256 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:06,320 Speaker 2: I don't want the conversation to just to be well, 257 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 2: we'll be healthy next year and everything will fix itself, 258 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:11,240 Speaker 2: because injury is not the only reason this this offense 259 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 2: has underperformed this year. There's just been guys who have 260 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:18,920 Speaker 2: who have taken massive steps back and are completely lost 261 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:22,000 Speaker 2: at the plate. The Braves. I can't count how many 262 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 2: times the Braves get middle middle fastballs, hanging sliders, you know, 263 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:27,839 Speaker 2: pitches that they were just destroying last year that most 264 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:31,240 Speaker 2: teams destroyed, that they completely swing and miss on or 265 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:36,240 Speaker 2: pop up or foul off. Like it. Something needs to 266 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 2: change in terms of their you know, their philosophy, their approach. 267 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:43,560 Speaker 2: Something needs to change next year. I don't want it 268 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:46,079 Speaker 2: to just be well, the Braves were injured, so that's 269 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 2: why they didn't perform the way they the way we 270 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 2: thought they would, Because that's not that's not accurate, that's 271 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:53,800 Speaker 2: not that's a that's only part. That's only part of 272 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:58,679 Speaker 2: the story. And you know, as we sit here today, 273 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 2: I still believe they have enough talent on the offensive 274 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:05,199 Speaker 2: side to be at least above average offense. I don't 275 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 2: think they have enough talent to be an elite offense, 276 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 2: but I think they have enough talent to be an 277 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 2: average offense or even slightly above average. This group, even 278 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:15,240 Speaker 2: with the injuries, should not be like a bottom five offense. 279 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 2: It just shouldn't. There's too much talent on the field. 280 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 2: And I don't know what's going on. I would love 281 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 2: to give you an answer. It's the exact same hitting coach, 282 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 2: it's the exact same hitting philosophy as last year. I 283 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 2: don't know. I mean, it's baseball, that's part of it. 284 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 2: It's a hard game, it's hard to hit. But it's 285 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 2: been maddening. It's truly been maddening watching this team try 286 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 2: to score runs in twenty twenty four. It's one of 287 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 2: the more frustrating things I've experienced on a team that's 288 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 2: expected to do a lot that's done so little on 289 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 2: that side of the ball. 290 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 1: And the other thing that stands out to me, Steven 291 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: is that, you know, we talk about what could the 292 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 1: Braves do to change things, what could they do to 293 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 1: try to be better. I think you hit the nail 294 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 1: on the head. I don't have the numbers in front 295 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:05,840 Speaker 1: of me at the moment, but I did earlier, probably 296 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:08,280 Speaker 1: about a month or so ago, and it stayed pretty 297 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 1: consistent since that time. We talk about the fact that 298 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 1: you know, well, when you look at what has struggled 299 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 1: so much about the Braves offense, and I know that 300 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 1: I have honed in on how unproductive they have been 301 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 1: with runners in scoring position. I think you know, for 302 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:23,480 Speaker 1: a good part of the season they've been in the 303 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 1: bottom three to even the worst team when it comes 304 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 1: to striking out the most with runners in scoring position. 305 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:30,160 Speaker 1: And I know that some may say, well, look at 306 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: who they played in the outfield, Eddie Rosario and Adam Devall, 307 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 1: and they played replacement level players or below replacement level 308 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 1: players in the outfield. But it wasn't that really at all? 309 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 1: When you look at the at the combination of Michael 310 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 1: Harris and Marcelo Zuna and Matt Olson and Ronald and 311 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 1: Cooney Junior Austin Riley, our best, our best hitters in 312 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 1: the lineup, each of them had an eight to ten 313 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 1: percent higher strikeout rate with runners in scoring position this 314 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 1: year than they did last year, a much lower lower 315 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 1: walk rate as well. The point that I'm getting at 316 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 1: is is that you're exactly correct and to the point that, yes, 317 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 1: we've suffered injuries, but the fact is is that the 318 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: overall approach of this team has been so unproductive. There 319 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 1: have just been so many times when you're looking at 320 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:15,680 Speaker 1: the at bats and you're like, why can't we just 321 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 1: sit here and put the ball in play to get 322 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 1: the job done. And that leads me to my main 323 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 1: point in that it's layers to this. One of the 324 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 1: reasons why the offense has done better in the second 325 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 1: half is they got back to hitting home runs. But 326 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:30,960 Speaker 1: that and of itself kind of masks the fact that 327 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 1: this team still struggles to get on base, they still 328 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: struggle to be productive with runners in scoring position. That's 329 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 1: a big key to me. It's not just one thing 330 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:43,120 Speaker 1: that's holding this offense back. It's multiple things that's holding 331 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 1: it back. So if they're struggling in one area, they 332 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:48,880 Speaker 1: don't have another approach that'll be successful. And that's what's 333 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 1: really maddening at times. That leads to performances like we 334 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 1: saw on Thursday night. 335 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, and again, I'm aware that they've had injuries, right, 336 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 2: I understand al Kunon Junior is not in there, but 337 00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:05,680 Speaker 2: Ramon Loriano has a one thirty WRC plus with the Braves, 338 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:09,359 Speaker 2: and if Ronald Junior was in there, Ramon Loreano would 339 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 2: not be playing. So you know, I'm not saying Ramon 340 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:16,879 Speaker 2: Loreano has has given you Ronald Cuney Junior level production, 341 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:18,600 Speaker 2: But if Ronald was hitting a had a one to 342 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:21,719 Speaker 2: thirty WRC plus over the span that Loreano has been 343 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:24,040 Speaker 2: on the team, you know, that would be a very 344 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 2: normal stretch for him. And so Loriano has added quite 345 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:31,040 Speaker 2: a bit to this team. And still even with that 346 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 2: and with Mayfield has like a one to ten WRC 347 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:35,719 Speaker 2: plus since he's been on the team, And I know 348 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:38,360 Speaker 2: that's not Ozzy Alby's, but that's kind of Ozzy Albi's 349 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:40,879 Speaker 2: level production. Like that's what you would expect from Ozzi 350 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:45,920 Speaker 2: and even still they cannot hit. They cannot score. Even 351 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:48,480 Speaker 2: with these guys coming out of nowhere, and you know, 352 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 2: Marcel Azuna having an MVP level season, they still can't score. 353 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:55,920 Speaker 2: And that's because you know, nobody on the team gets 354 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:58,240 Speaker 2: on base. I mean, every single guy on the team 355 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 2: outside of mayorfield, Old and Ozuna, you know, have a 356 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:05,919 Speaker 2: three hundred on base percentage or less. Like you know, 357 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:08,439 Speaker 2: I think Olsen's at like three ten and that's one 358 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:10,960 Speaker 2: of the highest in the lineup. But you know, the 359 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:14,240 Speaker 2: race have guys like see It with like a two 360 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:16,679 Speaker 2: eighty on base percentage. Michael Harris has like a two 361 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,359 Speaker 2: ninety on base percentage. You know, both the catchers have 362 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 2: really bad on base percentages. You know, kel Nick has 363 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,160 Speaker 2: a bad on base percentage of all has have been 364 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 2: atrocious this year. Like they don't get on base a lot, 365 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:31,359 Speaker 2: and when they do get on base, they do not 366 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 2: come through in big ways. They hit a lot of 367 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:38,000 Speaker 2: solo home runs. Yeah, it's it's just and this front 368 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:40,720 Speaker 2: office has sold out for power, Let's be clear about that. Like, 369 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:43,639 Speaker 2: you know, a Kunyan, Olsen and Riley are kind of 370 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 2: their three guys who they thought would be big on 371 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:48,439 Speaker 2: base guys, but everybody else was kind of a power 372 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:53,080 Speaker 2: over on base, you know. Addition, and and so they 373 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 2: they built this team to hit a lot of homers, 374 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:59,680 Speaker 2: and I just don't know if you can sell out 375 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:02,919 Speaker 2: for power that way. I'm very interesting what they do 376 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 2: in the offseason because I'm interested to see if they 377 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:09,040 Speaker 2: change their approach, they change their strategy, the way they 378 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:12,359 Speaker 2: build the roster, the way they build a lineup. You know, 379 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 2: if they get a little bit more on base, maybe 380 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:16,840 Speaker 2: a little bit more speed. The Braves are one of 381 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:19,639 Speaker 2: the slowest teams in baseball. I do think speed is 382 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 2: a little overrated at times, but the Braves have so 383 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:25,200 Speaker 2: little speed that I do wonder if maybe they add 384 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:28,679 Speaker 2: a little at some point. Yeah, I don't know. I 385 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:31,159 Speaker 2: wish I could tell you. It's an offense that was 386 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:34,719 Speaker 2: designed to hit home runs, and they have hit homers 387 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 2: this year a lot better than the second half, like 388 00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 2: you mentioned, but very few times with anybody on base. 389 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 2: They're having to hit three or four homers in a 390 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:43,879 Speaker 2: game to win the game. You know, that's just a 391 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:46,159 Speaker 2: tough way to exist. And they do not hit well 392 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:48,760 Speaker 2: with runners in scoring position. They do not play small ball, Well, 393 00:19:49,119 --> 00:19:51,120 Speaker 2: they don't take extra bases because they don't have any 394 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:54,520 Speaker 2: speed in the lineup. It's just everybody kind of sits 395 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 2: back and wait. You know, they wait for the three 396 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:58,960 Speaker 2: run homer, and last year it came all the time, 397 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:02,520 Speaker 2: and this year it hardly ever comes. And it's more 398 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:06,719 Speaker 2: complicated than that. But it's it's not really more complicated 399 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:08,680 Speaker 2: than that. That's really kind of what's happened. And last 400 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:10,440 Speaker 2: year they got the big homer and this year they 401 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:14,399 Speaker 2: have it, and yeah, that's been the difference. And it's 402 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:19,160 Speaker 2: been a drastic, drastic difference, so drastic. I am very again, 403 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:21,440 Speaker 2: I'm very curious to see what kind of changes they 404 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:23,439 Speaker 2: make going in the next year, if they rely on 405 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 2: the same formula offensively in twenty twenty five, because twenty 406 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:29,760 Speaker 2: twenty four is just it has been a disaster. I mean, 407 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 2: it just had offensively, it's been a disaster. 408 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:36,320 Speaker 1: Well, and you know, we talk about, you know, what approaches, 409 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:38,560 Speaker 1: what changes they may make in the off season, and 410 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:40,680 Speaker 1: I agree with you. I think that the dynamic has 411 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 1: to change. I don't necessarily think that again, you change 412 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:46,480 Speaker 1: the players. I know that Alex and Topless talked about 413 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 1: it last year, coming off to playoff struggles where our 414 00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:52,160 Speaker 1: offense just went dormant. Is that you still have faith 415 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:54,000 Speaker 1: in the players, and I still maintain faith in the 416 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:56,879 Speaker 1: players if they can stay healthy that we have, but 417 00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 1: the supporting cast members, I think is something to where 418 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:01,399 Speaker 1: you could, you know, potentially make moves to try to 419 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 1: improve areas of weakness. But speaking of approaches, you know, 420 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 1: to change maybe right now, you know, Steven, we talk 421 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:09,359 Speaker 1: about their approach at the play and one of the 422 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:11,600 Speaker 1: things that stands out to me is that when I'm 423 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:14,600 Speaker 1: noticing the Braves at Bad, as much as they struggle, 424 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 1: it seems like that frequently the best pitch that a 425 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 1: Brave will see and in it bad is the first pitch. 426 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 1: And I know that typically, you know, there's their thought 427 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,720 Speaker 1: process behind, you know, taking the first pitch, seeing what 428 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:30,320 Speaker 1: you're working with as far as the picture that you're facing. 429 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 1: But right now, with how much this Braves team is struggling, 430 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:37,720 Speaker 1: they need to take advantage of every good pitch that 431 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:41,679 Speaker 1: they see. But of course I have that thought and 432 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 1: it makes even more sense when you consider the fact, Okay, yeah, 433 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 1: they're wanting to see what the pitcher has to throw. 434 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:50,120 Speaker 1: They're wanting to be patient, But this team has been 435 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:53,400 Speaker 1: what twenty seven, twenty eighth in baseball and on base 436 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:56,600 Speaker 1: percentage since the start of May. So the philosophy of 437 00:21:56,800 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 1: wasting a good pitch by just seeing what the picture 438 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:00,920 Speaker 1: can offer on the first pitch doesn't make a lot 439 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:04,200 Speaker 1: of sense. But then on the other hand, you pointed 440 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:06,680 Speaker 1: it out a couple of days ago, this team has 441 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 1: struggled so much in being able to make good contact 442 00:22:11,359 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 1: on balls down the middle that had That was the 443 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:17,080 Speaker 1: key to our struggles over the past two nights. So 444 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:19,520 Speaker 1: many pitches right down the middle that we either took 445 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:22,359 Speaker 1: or did not place good contact on it in so 446 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:25,399 Speaker 1: many messed opportunities. That's what I'm meaning. Also, when it 447 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 1: comes to layers of how bad this team is offensively, 448 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:30,360 Speaker 1: is that you think that there's a way they could 449 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:33,360 Speaker 1: become more successful by maybe trying to hit better pitches, 450 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:35,520 Speaker 1: you know, early in the count, but they can't do 451 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:38,640 Speaker 1: anything with them. So it's kind of like, whichever way 452 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:41,320 Speaker 1: they go, it's not going to be productive. But your 453 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:43,440 Speaker 1: thoughts on you know, taking that first pitch, would it 454 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:45,360 Speaker 1: make sense for the Brays maybe to be a bit 455 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:47,520 Speaker 1: more aggressive and try to put the battom of the 456 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:49,800 Speaker 1: ball a bit earlier in the count, especially on those 457 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:50,479 Speaker 1: first pitches. 458 00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:57,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, so most studies that have been done on this 459 00:22:57,680 --> 00:23:03,119 Speaker 2: say that there's nothing good that comes from taking a strike. 460 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:07,879 Speaker 2: So if if the pitcher throws a pitch right down 461 00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 2: the middle on the first pitch, you're better off swinging 462 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:13,959 Speaker 2: at that ball and trying to make do damage on 463 00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:16,480 Speaker 2: that pitch. Then you are going down oh one because 464 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:22,320 Speaker 2: as you go down one oh two, offensive production drops dramatically. 465 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:25,439 Speaker 2: So there's no there there is really no benefit to 466 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:30,000 Speaker 2: taking a strike. There is obviously tremendous benefit in taking 467 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 2: pitches out of the zone. And this is again where 468 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:34,760 Speaker 2: the team has struggled this year and the decision whether 469 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:37,040 Speaker 2: to swing or take. They take a lot of pitches 470 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:38,520 Speaker 2: in the zone. They swinging a lot of pitches out 471 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:40,240 Speaker 2: of the zone. Some of that is just the makeup 472 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 2: of their individual hitters. They have a lot of free 473 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:47,000 Speaker 2: swingers or Sea Michael Harris as the Albi's, you know, 474 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:49,000 Speaker 2: Darnaul's a free swinger to ball is a free swinger 475 00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:52,119 Speaker 2: like guys who aren't known for like their their plate discipline. 476 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:55,160 Speaker 2: You know, the Braves have accumulated quite a bit of those. 477 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:58,439 Speaker 2: So some of that is just personnel. But you know, 478 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:01,439 Speaker 2: typically speaking there again, there's no there's nothing good that 479 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:06,800 Speaker 2: really comes from taking good pitches. And so the problem 480 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:09,119 Speaker 2: with the Braves this year, as you are just articulated, 481 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:11,280 Speaker 2: is that when they've swung at those pitches this year, 482 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:16,600 Speaker 2: they've just done a stunning a stunning amount of damage 483 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 2: in terms of how little damages they've done, Like, it's 484 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 2: been truly remarkable how little they've done with meatball pitches 485 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:26,560 Speaker 2: this year. There's a there's a category for that on 486 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 2: stat Cast. It's called pitches in the heart of the plate, 487 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:30,440 Speaker 2: and you can go look and see exactly what teams 488 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:33,160 Speaker 2: have done. And the Braves is just most of their 489 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:35,199 Speaker 2: guys are in the negative in terms of run value 490 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:39,359 Speaker 2: on pitches in the heart of the plate. And if 491 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:41,879 Speaker 2: you're swinging at those pitches and you're not doing anything 492 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:44,160 Speaker 2: with them, there's really nothing else that can be done, 493 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:46,040 Speaker 2: because again, you don't want to take that pitch. You 494 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:48,800 Speaker 2: don't want to go down oh one and not swing 495 00:24:48,840 --> 00:24:51,199 Speaker 2: at a pitch in the heart of the plate. So 496 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:53,200 Speaker 2: your best bet is to swing at it and do damage. 497 00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:55,240 Speaker 2: And if you're swinging at it and just not doing 498 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:59,399 Speaker 2: any damage, that just means you're bad. And that's been 499 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:01,959 Speaker 2: the Braves problem this year, is that so many times 500 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:04,160 Speaker 2: they swing through it or foull it off or pop 501 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:08,280 Speaker 2: it up, and there's no there's no remedy for that, 502 00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:11,399 Speaker 2: Like that's just you have to have you have to 503 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:13,439 Speaker 2: have your hitters do better than that, Like they just 504 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:15,080 Speaker 2: have to do better than that, Like they are more 505 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:17,840 Speaker 2: talented than that. Every guy in that lineup can should 506 00:25:17,840 --> 00:25:20,520 Speaker 2: be able to take a middle middle fastball and send 507 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:22,960 Speaker 2: it to the moon, like that's what this lineup was 508 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 2: designed to do. And so many times this year, hanging sliders, 509 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:31,680 Speaker 2: hanging changeups, hanging curveballs, fastballs right down the middle, they've 510 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:34,240 Speaker 2: just done nothing with And it's a huge part of 511 00:25:34,280 --> 00:25:37,600 Speaker 2: the problem this year. You know, Austin Gomber last night, 512 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:40,280 Speaker 2: you know, just he lived in the zone. That's why 513 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:42,000 Speaker 2: his pitch count was solo. He was living in the 514 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:44,200 Speaker 2: zone and the Braves just could do nothing with him. 515 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:47,320 Speaker 2: And if guys are throwing pitches over the plate and 516 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:50,880 Speaker 2: you can't do anything with it, that's that's a real problem. 517 00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:52,480 Speaker 2: And that's where the Braves are, where they're just not 518 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 2: even able to do damage on good hitters' pitches and 519 00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:59,160 Speaker 2: until they fixed that, it's gonna be like this where 520 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:01,880 Speaker 2: it's just it seems like they're getting mowed down by 521 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:06,280 Speaker 2: average blow average pitchers because they're getting a bunch of 522 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:08,320 Speaker 2: opportunities in the zone to do damage and they're not 523 00:26:08,359 --> 00:26:11,520 Speaker 2: doing it. And until that, until that changes, this is 524 00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:12,320 Speaker 2: what we're going to get. 525 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:16,040 Speaker 1: And the fact that we are now coming up on, 526 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:19,080 Speaker 1: you know, four months of really not seeing it change, 527 00:26:19,359 --> 00:26:21,680 Speaker 1: it's hard to believe that it's going to change this year. 528 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:23,639 Speaker 1: And I don't mean for this to turn into a 529 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:26,480 Speaker 1: rant or to be repetitive, you know, in terms of 530 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:29,120 Speaker 1: us talking about the offense, but that's that's what it's been. 531 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:31,359 Speaker 1: It's just the fact that there are so many times 532 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:33,960 Speaker 1: when there's a brave at the plate that it's just 533 00:26:34,080 --> 00:26:36,920 Speaker 1: it's a no win situation. It seems whatever approach that 534 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:39,720 Speaker 1: they're looking to use to try to be successful, it's 535 00:26:39,760 --> 00:26:41,399 Speaker 1: not there. And what that's simple The truth that that 536 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:44,760 Speaker 1: simply means is Stephen for me, is that unless we're 537 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:47,520 Speaker 1: putting the ball out of the ballpark, it's very hard 538 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:50,879 Speaker 1: to have faith in this team having the offense it 539 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:53,920 Speaker 1: needs to be able to consistently win games. And again, 540 00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:56,879 Speaker 1: as we mentioned, multiple times as well. You're now have 541 00:26:57,080 --> 00:27:00,280 Speaker 1: no choice but to you either are going to put 542 00:27:00,280 --> 00:27:02,119 Speaker 1: the ball out of the ballpark, You're gonna have to 543 00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:04,359 Speaker 1: figure out how to get on base, or you're going 544 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:05,920 Speaker 1: to have to figure out how to be productive with 545 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:08,440 Speaker 1: runners in scoring position. At least one of those three 546 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:10,680 Speaker 1: things have to occur for you to be able to 547 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:13,520 Speaker 1: win games. If you don't do that, with how the 548 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:15,720 Speaker 1: Mets are playing, it's going to be hard to see 549 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:17,600 Speaker 1: it even being able to make the playoffs. And if 550 00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:20,359 Speaker 1: you do, it's going to be even harder to trust 551 00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:23,119 Speaker 1: our offense to be able to be successful in the playoffs. So, 552 00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:26,359 Speaker 1: you know, I've said what I could say, and it 553 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:29,440 Speaker 1: is a frustrating thing to see just with the lack 554 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:31,520 Speaker 1: of consistent at bats that we can put at the plate. 555 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:33,320 Speaker 1: But what it just comes down to me is that 556 00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:34,960 Speaker 1: if we're not putting the ball out of the ballpark, 557 00:27:35,119 --> 00:27:36,919 Speaker 1: it's going to be very hard to see this offense 558 00:27:36,960 --> 00:27:39,640 Speaker 1: consistently playing at the level that it needs to to win, 559 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:41,520 Speaker 1: at the level that it needs to to not only 560 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:43,280 Speaker 1: get to the playoffs, but be successful there. 561 00:27:43,760 --> 00:27:43,960 Speaker 4: Yeah. 562 00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:45,800 Speaker 2: I mean again, they've they've kind of just become the 563 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:48,840 Speaker 2: Mariners where they have to, you know, they have to 564 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:52,720 Speaker 2: outpitch everybody to win games. And that game we saw tonight, 565 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:54,600 Speaker 2: that game we saw last night, that the Braves will 566 00:27:54,640 --> 00:27:58,760 Speaker 2: played that exact game on offense in ninety percent of 567 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:00,800 Speaker 2: their games this year, where they score one, two or 568 00:28:00,840 --> 00:28:04,080 Speaker 2: three runs early in the game and whether they win 569 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:07,119 Speaker 2: or lose depends on how well they pitch. And that 570 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:11,960 Speaker 2: exact game has played out eighty five ninety percent of 571 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:14,280 Speaker 2: the time this year, and the pitching has been so 572 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:18,199 Speaker 2: good that the Braves are actually currently in, you know, 573 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:20,959 Speaker 2: in the playoff hunt and they have more wins than 574 00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:24,240 Speaker 2: they have losses, because that's how unbelievable the pitching has been. 575 00:28:24,320 --> 00:28:26,679 Speaker 2: Where the offense can do that over and over and 576 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:29,480 Speaker 2: over and over again and the Braves can still have 577 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:32,840 Speaker 2: more wins than losses, have a positive run differential being 578 00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 2: the playoff hunt. You know, that's how good the pitching 579 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:40,040 Speaker 2: has been. But the offense doesn't really change much. Every 580 00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:41,520 Speaker 2: once in a while, they'll go through like a three 581 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:43,960 Speaker 2: or four game stretch where they'll score eight, seven to 582 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:47,200 Speaker 2: eight runs a game and give some guys some breathing room. 583 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:49,760 Speaker 2: But for the most part this year, it's been one, 584 00:28:49,840 --> 00:28:52,560 Speaker 2: two or three runs early in the game and then 585 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:54,880 Speaker 2: hold on for dear life and hope the pitching can 586 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:56,880 Speaker 2: get the ball, the starters can get the ball to 587 00:28:57,120 --> 00:28:59,240 Speaker 2: Jmenez and the Glaciers in the night, and those guys 588 00:28:59,240 --> 00:29:01,680 Speaker 2: have been nails all year. That has been the formula. 589 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:04,520 Speaker 2: That exact game we watched tonight, and that exact game 590 00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 2: we watched last night. That has been most of the 591 00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:09,720 Speaker 2: games we've watched on offense all year. It's just come 592 00:29:09,760 --> 00:29:11,360 Speaker 2: down to how good the pitching's been, and the pitching 593 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:13,400 Speaker 2: has been unbelievable, which is why the Bridges are where 594 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:16,320 Speaker 2: they are. So my guess is for the next three 595 00:29:16,360 --> 00:29:18,440 Speaker 2: weeks we're gonna see the exact same thing. We're gonna 596 00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:21,560 Speaker 2: see that game on offense that we've seen all year long, 597 00:29:21,760 --> 00:29:24,920 Speaker 2: and the Braves are gonna win or lose based on 598 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:30,120 Speaker 2: how unbelievable their pitching is. And if the pitching falters 599 00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:32,120 Speaker 2: at all, then the Braves are screwed. And if the 600 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:35,600 Speaker 2: pitching holds the line and maintains it, then they got 601 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:38,200 Speaker 2: a shot. If the Mets maybe lose a game at 602 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:41,480 Speaker 2: some point, that would help. But yeah, I'm done kind 603 00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:45,080 Speaker 2: of expecting something different at this point. My expectation is 604 00:29:45,840 --> 00:29:48,160 Speaker 2: that exact same game we've seen on offense all year 605 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:50,280 Speaker 2: will be the exact same game we see for the 606 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:52,440 Speaker 2: rest of the year, and the winner loss is gonna 607 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:53,760 Speaker 2: come down to how great the pitching is. 608 00:29:54,560 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: And I don't think it's known. I don't think that 609 00:29:57,200 --> 00:30:00,240 Speaker 1: there's any other source that knows this more than the 610 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:03,040 Speaker 1: team itself. But what I will say is this is 611 00:30:03,040 --> 00:30:06,520 Speaker 1: that it is going to be incredibly frustrating to see 612 00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:12,080 Speaker 1: how awesome, consistent, and historic this pitching staff has been 613 00:30:12,560 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 1: and it winds up not truly getting the chance to 614 00:30:15,080 --> 00:30:17,400 Speaker 1: shine in October. If we wind up not making the 615 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:19,640 Speaker 1: playoffs due to our offense, not trying to put a 616 00:30:19,640 --> 00:30:22,280 Speaker 1: bad omen or anything. I still feel confident that we'll 617 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:24,880 Speaker 1: figure it out and we'll make the playoffs. But I 618 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:28,800 Speaker 1: just I really hope that outcome does not occur. But Stephen, 619 00:30:28,840 --> 00:30:31,479 Speaker 1: we talk about, you know, other things that we're hoping, 620 00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:34,640 Speaker 1: you know, continues to not occur. But yet it does, 621 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:39,160 Speaker 1: and that is the Braves unfortunately continuing to deal with injuries, 622 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:41,800 Speaker 1: and this time it's with Mirrifield who's dealt with it. 623 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:43,760 Speaker 1: I know that you and Scott talked about, you know, 624 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:46,360 Speaker 1: the really scary situation that happened earlier this week where 625 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:48,360 Speaker 1: you know whit Marrifield got hit by the you know, 626 00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:50,720 Speaker 1: fastball in the head, and I agree with you, it 627 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:53,520 Speaker 1: looks like he got hit a good part of the 628 00:30:53,520 --> 00:30:56,760 Speaker 1: ball hit his actual head instead of the helmet. But 629 00:30:57,120 --> 00:30:59,520 Speaker 1: on Friday night he's back in the lineup, and of 630 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:02,120 Speaker 1: course he fels a ball off his foot. Now it 631 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:04,680 Speaker 1: was reported after the game, reported about an hour ago 632 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:07,200 Speaker 1: that X rays were negative, but he's going to get 633 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:10,480 Speaker 1: a CT scan. You're likely going to see him out 634 00:31:10,480 --> 00:31:12,680 Speaker 1: of the lineup. But not only that, when it comes 635 00:31:12,720 --> 00:31:15,880 Speaker 1: to you the second base position, we also got news today. 636 00:31:15,880 --> 00:31:18,120 Speaker 1: We had gotten you know what we thought may have 637 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:20,800 Speaker 1: been a little bit of a positive update on Ozzi Alby's, 638 00:31:20,800 --> 00:31:23,280 Speaker 1: but not necessarily. But if you combine the update from 639 00:31:23,280 --> 00:31:25,640 Speaker 1: earlier this week with the update on Friday that Ozzi 640 00:31:25,720 --> 00:31:29,640 Speaker 1: Alby's is continuing to struggle. He's still not feeling great 641 00:31:29,680 --> 00:31:32,760 Speaker 1: swinging from the left side. He's feeling just fine swinging 642 00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:35,520 Speaker 1: from the right side. That's not the most encouraging update. 643 00:31:35,840 --> 00:31:38,200 Speaker 1: So now, when you talk about your second base position, 644 00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:40,640 Speaker 1: and when you talk about players in Nazzi Alby's, when 645 00:31:40,640 --> 00:31:43,440 Speaker 1: he's in the lineup and Merrifield is his replacement, who 646 00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:46,000 Speaker 1: have been catalysts for this team at times this year. 647 00:31:46,160 --> 00:31:47,720 Speaker 1: When you talk about the fact that now you could 648 00:31:47,760 --> 00:31:49,360 Speaker 1: be without both of them, you're having to do with 649 00:31:49,480 --> 00:31:51,960 Speaker 1: Luke Williams at second base. We're back once again to 650 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:53,960 Speaker 1: the same thing that we were with the outfeld earlier 651 00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:57,160 Speaker 1: this year. Replacement level players who it's hard to look 652 00:31:57,160 --> 00:31:59,320 Speaker 1: at them as any more of than an automatic out 653 00:31:59,520 --> 00:32:01,520 Speaker 1: for the break. You have to hope that at some 654 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:04,280 Speaker 1: point Ozzy Albu's hopefully comes back late in September, but 655 00:32:04,320 --> 00:32:07,160 Speaker 1: before that occurs, you hope everything checks out with Mirrorfield, 656 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:09,520 Speaker 1: or you're back to having a spot in your lineup 657 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:11,720 Speaker 1: that teams are gonna target. I think because they feel 658 00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:12,960 Speaker 1: it's gonna be an automatic out. 659 00:32:13,640 --> 00:32:15,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, you know, wit wit just can't get 660 00:32:15,840 --> 00:32:19,959 Speaker 2: to break. I mean, no pun intended, but yeah, he 661 00:32:20,680 --> 00:32:22,960 Speaker 2: he filed a ball off I did. I was watching 662 00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:25,040 Speaker 2: the game live. I didn't actually notice it happened when 663 00:32:25,040 --> 00:32:28,000 Speaker 2: it when it happened, and just kind of the you know, 664 00:32:28,160 --> 00:32:30,240 Speaker 2: next time he came up, Luke Williams was standing there 665 00:32:30,320 --> 00:32:32,200 Speaker 2: and everybody just kind of realized he was out. Of 666 00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:36,320 Speaker 2: the game, and yeah, it's good that it wasn't fractured, 667 00:32:36,360 --> 00:32:39,120 Speaker 2: but you know, with the Braves luck, I'm guessing he's 668 00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:41,760 Speaker 2: still gonna miss a few games. Now. We got Luke 669 00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:44,080 Speaker 2: Williams playing second. I don't know what they're gonna do. 670 00:32:44,080 --> 00:32:45,680 Speaker 2: I mean, I don't know if Nacho Alvarez is gonna 671 00:32:45,680 --> 00:32:48,160 Speaker 2: come back up. I don't know. I don't know what 672 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:51,360 Speaker 2: they're gonna do, quite honestly, but yeah, just par for 673 00:32:51,400 --> 00:32:53,840 Speaker 2: the course for this year. You know. The Ozzie news 674 00:32:53,880 --> 00:32:58,160 Speaker 2: is interesting because it came out today that he's swinging 675 00:32:58,280 --> 00:33:02,400 Speaker 2: pretty well and feels pretty comfortable swinging right handed, but 676 00:33:02,480 --> 00:33:05,600 Speaker 2: he doesn't have any comforter. He doesn't. It's not it 677 00:33:05,640 --> 00:33:08,880 Speaker 2: doesn't feel good yet to swing left handed. And Mark Bowman, 678 00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:11,600 Speaker 2: a friend of the show. Mark Bowman of MLB dot Com, 679 00:33:11,640 --> 00:33:15,280 Speaker 2: actually asked Snit if there was any chance that Ozzie 680 00:33:15,280 --> 00:33:17,440 Speaker 2: would just come back and bat right handed only, and 681 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:19,800 Speaker 2: Snit said that that's up to the player, which I 682 00:33:19,840 --> 00:33:21,960 Speaker 2: thought was an interesting call. I mean, the team would 683 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:24,000 Speaker 2: be okay with it if if Ozzie was okay with it, 684 00:33:24,080 --> 00:33:28,040 Speaker 2: So I don't know if that's going to happen. You know, 685 00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:31,080 Speaker 2: the the update today. You know, if they are waiting 686 00:33:31,080 --> 00:33:32,720 Speaker 2: on him to be able to hit from both sides 687 00:33:32,760 --> 00:33:35,600 Speaker 2: of the plate, then the updated update today was not 688 00:33:35,680 --> 00:33:37,840 Speaker 2: a good one because it didn't sound like he's anywhere 689 00:33:37,840 --> 00:33:40,920 Speaker 2: close to you know, if he still can't even take 690 00:33:40,960 --> 00:33:44,280 Speaker 2: batting practice from the left side, then he's not really 691 00:33:44,320 --> 00:33:46,200 Speaker 2: close to being able to go out on a rehab assignment. 692 00:33:46,200 --> 00:33:47,440 Speaker 2: And if he's not close to being able to go 693 00:33:47,440 --> 00:33:49,160 Speaker 2: out on a rehab assignment, then he's not close to 694 00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:52,280 Speaker 2: coming back. And again we're at you know, we're in 695 00:33:53,120 --> 00:33:56,160 Speaker 2: approaching the middle of September very rapidly here, so he's 696 00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:59,200 Speaker 2: running out of days and that's going to be interesting 697 00:33:59,200 --> 00:34:02,160 Speaker 2: to see what happens, especially if Mayfield is out for 698 00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:06,920 Speaker 2: an extended period. You know, if I'm Ozzie, you know, 699 00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:10,239 Speaker 2: I've I've I've tweeted this out a bunch of times 700 00:34:10,239 --> 00:34:11,960 Speaker 2: over the year that I would be interested see what 701 00:34:12,080 --> 00:34:14,640 Speaker 2: Ozzie look like if he just batted right handed, because 702 00:34:14,680 --> 00:34:18,920 Speaker 2: he is so like unbelievably, it is crazy how much 703 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:20,520 Speaker 2: better of a right handed hitter he is than a 704 00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:23,160 Speaker 2: left handed hitter. And obviously this has been a topic 705 00:34:23,200 --> 00:34:26,560 Speaker 2: of conversation and brave Twitter for years now. You know 706 00:34:26,600 --> 00:34:28,239 Speaker 2: what would happen if he had a whole season of 707 00:34:28,280 --> 00:34:31,920 Speaker 2: just right handed hitting. And if he comes back and 708 00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:34,280 Speaker 2: he's and he's just batting right handed, that would be fascinating. 709 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:37,800 Speaker 2: That'd be a fun little, you know, mini experiment to 710 00:34:37,840 --> 00:34:41,480 Speaker 2: see how it goes. But if they're gonna wait until 711 00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:44,719 Speaker 2: he's comfortable from both sides, he might not be back 712 00:34:44,760 --> 00:34:46,680 Speaker 2: this year. And you know, you and I talked about 713 00:34:46,680 --> 00:34:49,160 Speaker 2: that when he first got hurt at wrist. Injuries or 714 00:34:49,520 --> 00:34:52,080 Speaker 2: are very very tricky, and it doesn't matter what the 715 00:34:52,120 --> 00:34:55,880 Speaker 2: timetable is, they don't always come true. It's very possible 716 00:34:55,880 --> 00:34:57,920 Speaker 2: he doesn't come back if if that's what they're waiting for. 717 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:00,680 Speaker 2: So that's gonna be interesting to see. You know, we 718 00:35:00,719 --> 00:35:02,239 Speaker 2: gotta wait and see what's gonna go what's going on 719 00:35:02,280 --> 00:35:05,200 Speaker 2: with wit. But yeah, I would you know, I would 720 00:35:05,239 --> 00:35:08,759 Speaker 2: go get your Luke Williams jersey because I'm guessing we're 721 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:10,520 Speaker 2: going to see a decent amount of him at second 722 00:35:10,560 --> 00:35:11,920 Speaker 2: for the next couple of days. 723 00:35:13,360 --> 00:35:15,799 Speaker 1: And to anyone that you know is hearing about, you 724 00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:19,160 Speaker 1: know this idea of Ozzie batting exclusively right handed, who 725 00:35:19,560 --> 00:35:22,440 Speaker 1: may think to yourself, you know this late into a 726 00:35:22,480 --> 00:35:25,880 Speaker 1: season coming back from an injury. You know, it's rarely 727 00:35:26,200 --> 00:35:29,000 Speaker 1: rarely seen that a hitter would make that drastic of 728 00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:31,040 Speaker 1: a change to their hitting approach. And in most cases 729 00:35:31,080 --> 00:35:32,480 Speaker 1: I agree with you. But if you go back, I 730 00:35:32,480 --> 00:35:34,400 Speaker 1: believe two or three years, I want to say it 731 00:35:34,440 --> 00:35:37,520 Speaker 1: was it was twenty twenty two, maybe twenty twenty two. 732 00:35:37,880 --> 00:35:41,160 Speaker 1: You know, Ozzie Albi's has experimented a bit. There was 733 00:35:41,200 --> 00:35:43,080 Speaker 1: a couple of bats I believe it was against a 734 00:35:43,120 --> 00:35:46,000 Speaker 1: specific reliever for the Nationals. Can't think of the guy 735 00:35:46,040 --> 00:35:49,879 Speaker 1: at the pitcher's name, but he had a specific off 736 00:35:49,880 --> 00:35:52,719 Speaker 1: speed set, a breaking ball set that he threw that 737 00:35:52,760 --> 00:35:54,839 Speaker 1: Ozzie felt that it was better to bat against right 738 00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:56,719 Speaker 1: handed and I even think Ozzie got a hit off 739 00:35:56,760 --> 00:36:01,080 Speaker 1: of him doing it. But Ozzie has right handed against 740 00:36:01,120 --> 00:36:04,319 Speaker 1: right handed pitching before. It's only been two or three 741 00:36:04,320 --> 00:36:07,479 Speaker 1: at bats, but he's done it before, so hey, maybe 742 00:36:07,480 --> 00:36:09,279 Speaker 1: that's a possibility. And if your Ozzy Alby's, what do 743 00:36:09,320 --> 00:36:11,920 Speaker 1: you have to lose, come back play see if you 744 00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:14,160 Speaker 1: can help the offense out. It's not like they can't 745 00:36:14,160 --> 00:36:17,000 Speaker 1: get better with you in the lineup. But one thing 746 00:36:17,040 --> 00:36:19,799 Speaker 1: that does get better, Steven is that the Braves continue 747 00:36:19,840 --> 00:36:22,640 Speaker 1: to throw out every single night a pitcher that you're 748 00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:24,880 Speaker 1: confident in getting them to win. And the rest of 749 00:36:24,920 --> 00:36:27,200 Speaker 1: this series is going to be Spencer Swellenbach and then 750 00:36:27,320 --> 00:36:30,359 Speaker 1: Chris sail on the mound on Sunday and Stephen you, 751 00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:32,800 Speaker 1: I mean you have talked about it, Scott, and you 752 00:36:32,960 --> 00:36:37,920 Speaker 1: talked about it on Wednesday. This team once again needs 753 00:36:37,920 --> 00:36:42,120 Speaker 1: to get gritty, gritty. This is not a situation where 754 00:36:42,280 --> 00:36:44,840 Speaker 1: you didn't get the job done on Thursday night against Colorado. 755 00:36:44,920 --> 00:36:48,440 Speaker 1: In this weep, you need to sweep Toronto. You badly 756 00:36:48,719 --> 00:36:52,800 Speaker 1: need to sweep Toronto because next week it's gonna be 757 00:36:52,840 --> 00:36:55,640 Speaker 1: pretty tough. You've got the Nationals, who you've not played 758 00:36:55,640 --> 00:36:57,960 Speaker 1: well against this year. The Reds gave you a tough 759 00:36:57,960 --> 00:36:59,920 Speaker 1: matchup earlier this year. And then, oh, by the way, 760 00:37:00,080 --> 00:37:02,160 Speaker 1: the end of next week, you've got the Dodgers. Now, 761 00:37:02,640 --> 00:37:05,000 Speaker 1: now a good amount of that is in Atlanta, but 762 00:37:05,400 --> 00:37:07,560 Speaker 1: you've got to be able to get a couple with 763 00:37:07,640 --> 00:37:10,799 Speaker 1: sweeps against these weaker teams, especially with how the Mets 764 00:37:10,840 --> 00:37:15,319 Speaker 1: are playing. The Braves offense needs to come alive and 765 00:37:15,360 --> 00:37:17,880 Speaker 1: alive soon. It's good ho they've got on the mound, 766 00:37:18,120 --> 00:37:21,560 Speaker 1: but the attention turns to the lineup, and I repeatedly 767 00:37:21,600 --> 00:37:24,640 Speaker 1: say this, It especially turns to the lineup getting the 768 00:37:24,719 --> 00:37:27,440 Speaker 1: job done early in games to get their starters to lead. 769 00:37:27,760 --> 00:37:29,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean not only their starters, but like we 770 00:37:30,040 --> 00:37:33,160 Speaker 2: gotta save I mean, we're gonna kill Joejamenez and Rossie 771 00:37:33,160 --> 00:37:35,840 Speaker 2: Iglesias by playing all these three to one games and 772 00:37:35,880 --> 00:37:38,279 Speaker 2: two to one games and one to three game. Like, 773 00:37:39,640 --> 00:37:41,160 Speaker 2: you know, the back end of the bullpen has been 774 00:37:41,239 --> 00:37:43,840 Speaker 2: unbelievable this year, but they have been used and abused 775 00:37:43,840 --> 00:37:46,359 Speaker 2: over and over again because the offense can't score. And 776 00:37:47,160 --> 00:37:50,160 Speaker 2: you know, it's an underappreciated part of off you know, 777 00:37:50,200 --> 00:37:52,520 Speaker 2: the best, the best friend a bullpen has is a 778 00:37:52,520 --> 00:37:55,680 Speaker 2: good offense because it's you know, it's free nights off. 779 00:37:56,520 --> 00:37:58,279 Speaker 2: You know, when you score seven or eight runs and 780 00:37:58,760 --> 00:38:00,879 Speaker 2: a bunch of low leverage guys can finish the game 781 00:38:00,880 --> 00:38:03,120 Speaker 2: out and it's a free night off with the high 782 00:38:03,160 --> 00:38:06,279 Speaker 2: leverage guys. So yeah, I mean, it would just be 783 00:38:06,400 --> 00:38:08,239 Speaker 2: I mean, we've talked to we've said it so many 784 00:38:08,360 --> 00:38:11,160 Speaker 2: times this year. It's it's the words are losing meaning. 785 00:38:11,200 --> 00:38:14,719 Speaker 2: But if the offense could just possibly come out and 786 00:38:14,800 --> 00:38:17,920 Speaker 2: score like five or six runs, you know, hell, maybe 787 00:38:17,960 --> 00:38:20,760 Speaker 2: even like eight or nine run like that's that's allowed. 788 00:38:20,880 --> 00:38:23,040 Speaker 2: That that is legal. You are allowed to score like 789 00:38:23,080 --> 00:38:25,360 Speaker 2: eight or nine runs in a game, despite what it 790 00:38:25,440 --> 00:38:27,080 Speaker 2: might look like if you're a Brace fan this year, 791 00:38:27,120 --> 00:38:28,680 Speaker 2: like that, there's no rule against it. 792 00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:30,919 Speaker 1: They did it. They did it. What two weeks ago, 793 00:38:30,960 --> 00:38:33,320 Speaker 1: they scored nine runs in two innings. They're fully capable 794 00:38:33,360 --> 00:38:33,759 Speaker 1: of doing it. 795 00:38:33,800 --> 00:38:35,680 Speaker 4: They just didn't do it. 796 00:38:35,320 --> 00:38:38,080 Speaker 2: It was a it was a miracle from God, but 797 00:38:38,120 --> 00:38:41,080 Speaker 2: it did happen. And if if God wants to bless 798 00:38:41,160 --> 00:38:45,520 Speaker 2: us with another miracle, that would be tremendous. But yeah, 799 00:38:45,640 --> 00:38:49,279 Speaker 2: if they could just possibly give this rotation in this 800 00:38:49,360 --> 00:38:52,759 Speaker 2: bullpen some breathing room and maybe even knock out a 801 00:38:52,760 --> 00:38:56,520 Speaker 2: few easy wins and maybe get some momentum going, and 802 00:38:57,120 --> 00:38:58,640 Speaker 2: you know, the Mets are going to lose a game 803 00:38:58,680 --> 00:39:00,560 Speaker 2: at some point. They're probably not gonna go thirty and 804 00:39:00,600 --> 00:39:02,600 Speaker 2: oh the rest of the way, even though they've won 805 00:39:02,640 --> 00:39:05,640 Speaker 2: eight straight and the hottest team in baseball. You know 806 00:39:05,719 --> 00:39:08,000 Speaker 2: a lot of times the team that gets hot at 807 00:39:08,040 --> 00:39:09,879 Speaker 2: the end of August is not necessarily the team that's 808 00:39:09,920 --> 00:39:13,000 Speaker 2: hot in at the end of September. So you know, 809 00:39:13,040 --> 00:39:15,399 Speaker 2: they might have peaked too early. But you just gotta 810 00:39:15,719 --> 00:39:18,280 Speaker 2: you gotta, you gotta win the games against bad teams, 811 00:39:18,320 --> 00:39:20,680 Speaker 2: and they they've flubbed a big chance to do it 812 00:39:20,719 --> 00:39:24,479 Speaker 2: against Colorado last night. This is a bad Toronto team. 813 00:39:25,080 --> 00:39:27,799 Speaker 2: They've kind of given up for the season. You've got 814 00:39:27,800 --> 00:39:30,880 Speaker 2: everything to play for. You're in a dog fight for 815 00:39:30,920 --> 00:39:33,680 Speaker 2: the division or for the wild card. Yeah, go out 816 00:39:33,719 --> 00:39:35,920 Speaker 2: and win these games because, like you said, it's gonna 817 00:39:35,920 --> 00:39:38,040 Speaker 2: get tougher. The Dodgers are coming to town next weekend. 818 00:39:39,239 --> 00:39:40,920 Speaker 2: You know, they go to Cincinnati where they have not 819 00:39:41,000 --> 00:39:45,160 Speaker 2: had success. You know it is gonna get tougher. So 820 00:39:46,040 --> 00:39:47,879 Speaker 2: you know, you gotta win these games where it's it's 821 00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:51,160 Speaker 2: at home against not a great team. And you know, 822 00:39:51,200 --> 00:39:52,880 Speaker 2: like you said, Swamba con sale on the mound the 823 00:39:52,880 --> 00:39:55,239 Speaker 2: next two nights. You feel good about that. But the 824 00:39:55,320 --> 00:39:57,160 Speaker 2: offense has got to show up at some point. 825 00:39:57,880 --> 00:39:59,680 Speaker 1: And we'll certainly be here to cover it, you know, 826 00:40:00,200 --> 00:40:02,320 Speaker 1: and when it does, and you know what, if it doesn't, 827 00:40:02,320 --> 00:40:05,280 Speaker 1: we'll be right here to talk about it. Once again. 828 00:40:05,840 --> 00:40:08,960 Speaker 1: That's the joy of doing this with Steven, Brad and Scott. 829 00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:12,080 Speaker 1: Every chance that we get, whether it's this team playing 830 00:40:12,400 --> 00:40:15,680 Speaker 1: like a potential World Series contender or this team unfortunately 831 00:40:15,719 --> 00:40:18,279 Speaker 1: struggling like one of the worst teams in baseball. We've 832 00:40:18,320 --> 00:40:22,239 Speaker 1: seen both versions of this team. We've seen both of 833 00:40:22,239 --> 00:40:25,520 Speaker 1: those versions of this team multiple times this season. Hopefully 834 00:40:25,560 --> 00:40:27,960 Speaker 1: it's the former here soon. If our offense can just 835 00:40:28,000 --> 00:40:30,399 Speaker 1: support our pitching for a week or two, I really 836 00:40:30,440 --> 00:40:32,760 Speaker 1: think you could see us, you know, secure that final 837 00:40:32,760 --> 00:40:34,480 Speaker 1: spot in the wild card and be in a good 838 00:40:34,480 --> 00:40:36,600 Speaker 1: position when it comes to the playoffs. Stephen, he got 839 00:40:36,640 --> 00:40:39,040 Speaker 1: anything for us? As we wrap up this edition of 840 00:40:39,080 --> 00:40:41,520 Speaker 1: the Hammer Territory podcast heading into the weekend. 841 00:40:42,239 --> 00:40:44,040 Speaker 2: No, I will say this because I just saw it 842 00:40:44,080 --> 00:40:47,239 Speaker 2: come across my feed, but the Diamondbacks did lose, and 843 00:40:47,280 --> 00:40:49,799 Speaker 2: that's the team. Obviously, everybody's focusing on the team behind 844 00:40:49,800 --> 00:40:51,960 Speaker 2: the Braids, which is the Mets, but the team right 845 00:40:52,239 --> 00:40:54,359 Speaker 2: directly ahead of the Braves is the Diamondbacks, and they 846 00:40:54,360 --> 00:40:56,319 Speaker 2: have lost a couple of games in a row now, 847 00:40:56,440 --> 00:40:59,000 Speaker 2: so you know, the Braids are kind of sneaking up 848 00:40:59,040 --> 00:41:00,960 Speaker 2: on them for that second one wild card spots. So 849 00:41:01,200 --> 00:41:03,400 Speaker 2: it is a you know, it's not just a two 850 00:41:03,480 --> 00:41:05,239 Speaker 2: man race here between the Braves and the Mets. The 851 00:41:06,000 --> 00:41:08,799 Speaker 2: Padres and the Diamondbacks are are pretty close in that race. 852 00:41:08,800 --> 00:41:11,719 Speaker 2: As well. So it's essentially four teams for three spots, 853 00:41:12,680 --> 00:41:14,320 Speaker 2: and it's you know, it looks like it's going to 854 00:41:14,400 --> 00:41:15,759 Speaker 2: come down to the wire, and it looks like all 855 00:41:15,800 --> 00:41:19,080 Speaker 2: these teams are going to finish with pretty damn good records. 856 00:41:19,120 --> 00:41:22,080 Speaker 2: I mean, you know, typically that last wildcat spot eighty 857 00:41:22,120 --> 00:41:24,200 Speaker 2: four eighty five wins has been good enough to get it. 858 00:41:24,960 --> 00:41:26,200 Speaker 2: I don't know if that's going to be the case 859 00:41:26,239 --> 00:41:29,279 Speaker 2: this year. The Braves are already at seventy seven wins. You know, 860 00:41:29,280 --> 00:41:31,879 Speaker 2: there's still three weeks to go. I don't I doubt 861 00:41:31,880 --> 00:41:33,600 Speaker 2: eighty five wins is going to get you that third 862 00:41:33,640 --> 00:41:35,839 Speaker 2: wild card spot. It might be closer to ninety this year. 863 00:41:35,960 --> 00:41:39,319 Speaker 2: So yeah, it's it's kind of a four team you know, 864 00:41:39,400 --> 00:41:42,359 Speaker 2: for three spot race. And so, you know, if you're 865 00:41:42,360 --> 00:41:44,600 Speaker 2: a Braves fan, obviously what the Braves do matters, but 866 00:41:44,640 --> 00:41:46,640 Speaker 2: what the Mets, the Diamondbacks and the Padres do every 867 00:41:46,680 --> 00:41:50,319 Speaker 2: night matters too. So and the Diamondbacks just lost, so 868 00:41:50,440 --> 00:41:51,320 Speaker 2: that is noteworthy. 869 00:41:51,960 --> 00:41:53,640 Speaker 1: Yep. So at the end of the day, we can 870 00:41:53,719 --> 00:41:56,560 Speaker 1: talk about you know, a Scott mentioned it the other night, 871 00:41:56,600 --> 00:41:58,800 Speaker 1: you know, whether it's one to nothing or eighteen to nothing, 872 00:41:59,080 --> 00:42:01,200 Speaker 1: and whether it's you know, the offense hit nine home 873 00:42:01,280 --> 00:42:03,920 Speaker 1: runs or there. It's a perfect game over nine innings. 874 00:42:04,160 --> 00:42:06,920 Speaker 1: A win is a win is a win, and that's 875 00:42:06,960 --> 00:42:08,680 Speaker 1: all the Braves need to do. I would love for 876 00:42:08,719 --> 00:42:10,279 Speaker 1: it to be with more margin of ra than the 877 00:42:10,280 --> 00:42:13,600 Speaker 1: pitching haveing to be dominant every single night, but just 878 00:42:13,600 --> 00:42:18,319 Speaker 1: get wins, and especially against teams that you should beat 879 00:42:18,360 --> 00:42:20,520 Speaker 1: the Braves. The reason why the Braves are in this position, 880 00:42:21,200 --> 00:42:23,319 Speaker 1: as admit, I think each and every one of us 881 00:42:23,400 --> 00:42:25,880 Speaker 1: on Hammer Territory have said this year is because of 882 00:42:25,880 --> 00:42:28,040 Speaker 1: how much we've struggled against teams that we should beat 883 00:42:28,040 --> 00:42:30,200 Speaker 1: all year long. If there's one thing that we can do, 884 00:42:31,719 --> 00:42:33,960 Speaker 1: and hopefully it's because of the offense, it's getting back 885 00:42:33,960 --> 00:42:36,760 Speaker 1: to beating teams that we should and hopefully that'll continue 886 00:42:36,760 --> 00:42:39,360 Speaker 1: this weekend. But for Steven Tolbart at be Underscore Outliers 887 00:42:39,440 --> 00:42:41,960 Speaker 1: on Twitter slash x. My name is Sean Coleman. You 888 00:42:41,960 --> 00:42:44,680 Speaker 1: can find me at stats Sac on Twitter slash xs 889 00:42:44,719 --> 00:42:47,840 Speaker 1: as well. Find the Hammer Territory podcast across all forms 890 00:42:47,840 --> 00:42:50,399 Speaker 1: of social media and of course a part of the 891 00:42:50,400 --> 00:42:53,880 Speaker 1: Foul Territory family of podcasts. Just hit that subscribe button 892 00:42:53,880 --> 00:42:56,720 Speaker 1: for Foul Territory and Hammer Territory and you'll get content 893 00:42:56,840 --> 00:42:59,359 Speaker 1: for free whenever it's available for Steven Tolbart. My name 894 00:42:59,360 --> 00:43:01,239 Speaker 1: is Sean Coleman. Go raise. We'll talk to you agin 895 00:43:01,360 --> 00:43:03,400 Speaker 1: soon here on the Hammer Territory podcast