1 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: Hello everyone, and welcome to a special edition of Them, 2 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:26,320 Speaker 1: a Territory podcast. I'm your host, Brad Rowland, coming to 3 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:29,319 Speaker 1: you on a Saturday afternoon slash evening here at the 4 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:33,240 Speaker 1: beginning of January in twenty twenty five. It's not quite 5 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 1: an emergency episode of the podcast, but it is episode 6 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: one thirty two, and it's a solo episode. It'll be 7 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: a short one as well. In fact, it's kind of impromptu. 8 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:45,840 Speaker 1: I toy with doing this last night on Friday, chose 9 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:48,160 Speaker 1: to wait for it a little bit, came back again 10 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 1: on Saturday afternoon. Welcome back to our regro SketchUp programming. 11 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:53,320 Speaker 1: A little bit later on this weekend, we're hoping to 12 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 1: have an episode that it's more traditional, let's just say, 13 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: on Sunday into Monday. But the big news of the 14 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: week for the Braves is that there'll be a pretty 15 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:05,400 Speaker 1: much an entrenched member of the team the last four 16 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:07,960 Speaker 1: seasons that will not be returning to Atlanta, with Charlie 17 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: Morton old Pal signing a one year deal with the 18 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 1: Baltimore Orioles for fifteen million dollars. And if you follow 19 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 1: the podcast run a length of time, you will know 20 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:20,040 Speaker 1: that there's a reason why I'm doing this whole episode 21 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 1: on this one is that Charlie is seen as and 22 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 1: it's probably fair that he's my guy in some respects Now, 23 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 1: it's become sort of a bit in the last few years, 24 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: and I've been, you know, reasonable, I hope about what 25 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:35,119 Speaker 1: Charlie is and what he isn't at this point in time, 26 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: at age forty one, and basically, we did kind of 27 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:42,479 Speaker 1: expect that Morton could be moving on, either to retirement 28 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 1: or going somewhere else. There's been reporting to that end. 29 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: This is not a big surprise, let's just say. But 30 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 1: ultimately him signing a deal to keep pitching and not 31 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 1: pitching with the Braves is not shocking, but it's certainly 32 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: different and it kind of tells you where things are broadly. 33 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 1: My first reaction was, Wow, Charlie is gone. My second 34 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 1: reaction was, that's a lot of money for Charlie Morton. 35 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 1: One year. Fifteen million dollars is not crazy. If the 36 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 1: Brais had given him that contract, it would have been considerable. 37 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 1: To be sure, I think the families would have not 38 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:13,679 Speaker 1: reacted very well to that, as we'll get into more 39 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,799 Speaker 1: in a second. But I will also say this, it's 40 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 1: not a crazy deal, and I think that's probably a 41 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:20,359 Speaker 1: little bit more than the Braves wanted to offer. I 42 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 1: would imagine, and this is not super source, but if 43 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 1: you follow the tea leaves read behind the scenes, tells 44 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 1: people that might know things. If the Braves had matched 45 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: this deal, I have a feeling that Charlie would still 46 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: be a Brave. So if you want to factor that 47 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: into the ongoing angst with regard to some Braised fans 48 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 1: and Alex my babbels right now people are not happy 49 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 1: with Alex in the front office. There's definitely a mixture there. 50 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 1: We talked about that ad nauseum on the show the 51 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 1: last several weeks about how, yes, it's been a while, 52 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 1: but also it's early January and you don't want to 53 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 1: panic just yet. I would encourage that anyway, just because 54 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 1: nothing's happened so far, it does not mean nothing is 55 00:02:56,800 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 1: going to happen. But that said, if you get February, 56 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 1: mid February, late February and nothing that's going on there, 57 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: we have said, and I'll say it again right now, 58 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 1: it will not be received well for us if the 59 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: Braves are quiet all winter long. With that said, there's 60 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 1: no shame in this not being mashed by the Braves. 61 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 1: You know, I would imagine the Braves made an offer 62 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 1: to Charlie at some point in time. It was probably 63 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 1: a relatively modest one and fifteen million dollars to join 64 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 1: a contending team like the The Orioles are not a 65 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 1: rebuilding team. I would not have been surprised at all 66 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:32,920 Speaker 1: if Charlie were retired, if there was nothing else out 67 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 1: there for him. Baltimore is the combination of a team 68 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 1: that has a ton of young talent and also a 69 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 1: pretty dire need for starting pitching, even more so than 70 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: the Braves have the need for it. The Braves have 71 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: a much better rotation than the Orioles do at this 72 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: point in time. In fact, even after you add moreton 73 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:51,560 Speaker 1: in to the Orioles, there's still a I think bottom 74 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:55,279 Speaker 1: third of the league rotation in terms of projections at Fangrafts, 75 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: even with Morton is basically their third starter right away, 76 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 1: which is different in Atlanta. He would have been there guy, 77 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: And that's the reality of what the Braves need quote 78 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: unquote that was it could add more than that, But 79 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: at the same time, I think Morton is probably best 80 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 1: suited on a good team at this point to be 81 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: a fourth or fifth starter. That's what he is. And 82 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 1: you know this won't be a super long reaction, but 83 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,279 Speaker 1: I want to just say, like there's been some I 84 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 1: would say, not necessarily inaccuracy, but just like kind of 85 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 1: just unreasonable expectations for Morton in the last couple of years, 86 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 1: even last year, and look, twenty twenty four Charlie Morton 87 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:29,719 Speaker 1: was not the same pitcher as twenty twenty one Charlie Morton. 88 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:32,480 Speaker 1: That is not up for debate. Even I would certainly 89 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:35,920 Speaker 1: and you know, eagerly acknowledge that fact. But he was 90 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: still a perfectly reasonable back end rotation guy. Last season. 91 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:42,559 Speaker 1: He made thirty starts, he threw more than a hundred 92 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:44,360 Speaker 1: of c the innings, he had more of the check 93 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: up er inting for the season. He had an ERA 94 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: and a low fours fangrafts war above one like very solid, 95 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 1: nothing great at all. He isn't going to be a 96 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,599 Speaker 1: ceiling razor for you at this point in time. But 97 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 1: even projection wise, you know, Morton is projected right now 98 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 1: cocording to fair grass depstart project projections for you know, 99 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:06,359 Speaker 1: an ERA in the low fours, a war total in 100 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:08,679 Speaker 1: the you know, mid ones one point four right now, 101 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 1: with the terms of innings result like back in rotation, 102 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 1: help depth, and the Braves probably chose to not go 103 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: that direction being that the price was what was And 104 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 1: that's a very reasonable distinction, even as the guy that 105 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 1: is the Morton Defender resident basically on this podcast, and 106 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 1: I got a lot of responses people on social media 107 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:32,280 Speaker 1: reaching out to me. No, I was not upset at all. 108 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 1: I'll see that now, like just probably speaking, this is 109 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 1: not bothering me in the slightest. Good for Charlie. Charlie 110 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:41,039 Speaker 1: has been fantastic. We're geting to in a second. His 111 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:43,360 Speaker 1: time with the Rays went extremely well. He did give 112 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:46,480 Speaker 1: the Braves a ton of different value added things behind 113 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 1: the scenes, on the field, et cetera. And it's also 114 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 1: fine for the Braves not to pay him fifteen million 115 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: dollars at age forty one. That's also totally fine with me. 116 00:05:56,160 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 1: So that's my broad takeaway to this. It makes sense 117 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 1: for Morton. He gets to be a part of a 118 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:04,880 Speaker 1: good team with a chance to win, a bigger part 119 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 1: than he would have been in Atlanta. He'll be relied 120 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: upon more and he got paid and that's that combination 121 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 1: is what you want if you are an aging pitcher 122 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 1: like Charlie Morton is. Now. The rest of this kind 123 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 1: of has to do with where things are and where 124 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:20,839 Speaker 1: things stand. But first a little bit of reflection on 125 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 1: the Charlie Morton era in Atlanta. He was with the 126 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 1: Braves for four seasons. He joined Atlanta after the COVID 127 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 1: shortened twenty twenty season, which he spent with Tampa Bay 128 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 1: and before that with Houston and Philadelphia before that, Pittsburgh 129 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:37,920 Speaker 1: before that, and of course he actually began his career 130 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:39,840 Speaker 1: in Atlanta in two thousand and eight. He came up 131 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:42,360 Speaker 1: with the Braves, debuted, was not good? Was his a 132 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,920 Speaker 1: brave prospect long long ago. He's one of the few 133 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:47,600 Speaker 1: players that's still older than I am, So like I'm 134 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: holding out hope on that that there will still be 135 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 1: somebody in the league that I can cover that's older 136 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:54,440 Speaker 1: than I am. Alas four years of Charlie Morton, and 137 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 1: here his numbers in that time. He put up nine 138 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:03,720 Speaker 1: point seven fan grafts or in four seasons with the Braves. Now, 139 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:06,799 Speaker 1: that may not seem like an incredible number to anyone, 140 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 1: not just casually speaking, that was number thirty four in 141 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 1: Major League baseball among pitchers in a league that has 142 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: thirty teams. So if you do the math on that, 143 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 1: he was a high end number two starter by the 144 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 1: actual pecking winner thirty fourth cumulative war in four seasons 145 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 1: thirty team league. Pretty much everyone ahead of him is 146 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 1: a not necessarily an ace, but like a high high, 147 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 1: high level pitcher worth noting. That's that's pretty impressive. I 148 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 1: saw some people reacting like a good rittance or whatever. 149 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: I get it. The end wasn't as good as the beginning, 150 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 1: but he was a very valuable pitcher for the Braves 151 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: across four seasons. He also finished that four season run 152 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 1: thirteenth in baseball and innings pitched. He was very consistent 153 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:55,120 Speaker 1: in Atlanta. In fact, Charlie had at least thirty starts 154 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 1: in all four seasons. The lowest innings total was one 155 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 1: sixty three for Morton in seasons. And yes, there are 156 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 1: dimishing returns at some point, but you want to and 157 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 1: obviously want to have a guy be effective when he's 158 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 1: out there. But that steadiness, that rock solidness, and people 159 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 1: have mentioned this already, and I know we have two 160 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: on the podcast losing as many starts and dings as 161 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 1: Charlie Moodon and Max Freed gave the Braves. Is not 162 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 1: easy to fix Max's difference circumstances. Obviously, he got paid 163 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: a ton of money, and rightfully so in New York. 164 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 1: No issue there also with the Braves passing on matching 165 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 1: that kind of number. It was a very, very large 166 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 1: contract that he got from the Yankees. With that said, 167 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:36,560 Speaker 1: it's a big hole now being filled by everybody else. 168 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: But you know, durability, consistency, He was never bad in Atlanta. Yeah, 169 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 1: they have a bad month that six weeks, sure, but 170 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:48,840 Speaker 1: all four seasons he was an effective starter. Two years 171 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 1: better than better than the other two. Twenty twenty one 172 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: was was the best year. Not surprising because that was 173 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,440 Speaker 1: his youngest season. He was thirty seven at that point 174 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: in time. He was awesome that year, and of course 175 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:01,599 Speaker 1: he was a huge factor in the Braves winning the 176 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 1: World Series, which should net you goodwill for a long time. 177 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 1: For whatever reason, that goodwill kind of evaporated on Charlie 178 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 1: in some corners of the Braves fan base. But how 179 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 1: about this. That season he threw one hundred and eighty 180 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 1: five innings with a three point three four ERA and 181 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 1: three point one eight fifth. He was a four and 182 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 1: a half win pitcher in twenty twenty one. That's a 183 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 1: star level player, not an absolute uber ace, but I 184 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:28,360 Speaker 1: believe he was in the top fifteen or twenty in 185 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 1: the league in pitching war that year. He was an awesome, 186 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:34,119 Speaker 1: awesome pitcher that season. Then you go to the playoffs. 187 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 1: He made four starts in the playoffs with a three 188 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 1: point twenty four ERA during a World Series run before 189 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 1: and here's where it gets even crazier. If you don't 190 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:46,200 Speaker 1: remember this, and you should probably, but he breaks his 191 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:49,680 Speaker 1: leg in the World Series and goes on to throw 192 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:53,080 Speaker 1: sixteen pitches on a broken leg in the World Series. 193 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:56,720 Speaker 1: That's legendary stuff. And they won the World Series. Like 194 00:09:56,800 --> 00:09:59,079 Speaker 1: it's one of those things where I'm an Atlanta Falcons fan. 195 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 1: Obviously there's with that in general. They famously lost the 196 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 1: Super Bowl in memorable fashion, But my comp would be 197 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 1: Falcon Center Alex Mack, great pro Bowl level player, played 198 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 1: in the Super Bowl on a broken leg, Like was 199 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 1: literally playing on a broken leg in the Super Bowl, 200 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 1: and that has been largely forgotten other than Diehard's because 201 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 1: they lost. That's just the reality. They blew twenty five 202 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: point lead all those things. In Charlie's case, it's most 203 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:30,960 Speaker 1: thing that could be forgotten if you if you lose. 204 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 1: They won the World Series, Now, was he the only 205 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: reason why they wont No, obviously not. But he was 206 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 1: awesome in the playoffs, awesome in regular season, and then 207 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 1: threw sixteen pitches on a broken leg in the World Series. 208 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 1: Crazy stuff. So anyway, a farewell to Charlie. Really an 209 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 1: impressive run in Atlanta. Obviously, it's not like a Tom Glavin, 210 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 1: Greg Maddix, John Smolt's level figure with the Braves. Max 211 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 1: Freed's highs were higher than Charlie's highs. He was around 212 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:01,080 Speaker 1: for longer, but four years of high level value for 213 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 1: a veteran guy. And that's before you get in to 214 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:06,199 Speaker 1: the off the field stuff, which, by the way, Charlie 215 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:10,720 Speaker 1: is revered by the media, by his teammates. He's very 216 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 1: a prospective family guy, like just an awesome guy by 217 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 1: all account, So salute to you, Charley Morton. From there, 218 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 1: the Braves, of course, have this issue with the rotation, 219 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 1: where I think it's overstated in some circles but also 220 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:29,680 Speaker 1: under stated in some other circles. There's a needle to 221 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:33,199 Speaker 1: thread here between the braves are fine quote unquote in 222 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:35,599 Speaker 1: the rotation, but also the braves need some help in 223 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 1: the rotation, and I feel both of those things are true. 224 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:42,680 Speaker 1: This is probably a little bit too convenient, and you 225 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 1: could certainly argue with this placement, But at the moment 226 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:48,680 Speaker 1: I am looking right now on Saturday afternoon at the 227 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 1: Fangrafts depth chart projections at starting picture, there are exactly 228 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 1: two teams in baseball projected to have a better and 229 00:11:56,320 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 1: more valuable rotation than the Braves right now. Those two 230 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 1: teams are the Phillies and the Dodgers. The Phillies have Wheeler, Nola, Sanchez, Suarez, 231 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 1: and Lozardo. That's a very firm top five, including a 232 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:13,560 Speaker 1: couple of stars in Wheeler and Nola, in particular Wheeler, 233 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:15,200 Speaker 1: who was awesome last year was number two and side 234 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:18,480 Speaker 1: Young voting. And then the Dodgers have the Dodgers embarrassment 235 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:22,400 Speaker 1: of Riches, Snell yea Momoto Glass Now, but Ty's gonna 236 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:25,640 Speaker 1: pitch this year, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, Bobby Miller, et cetera. 237 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 1: They're loaded, as they always are. After that, it's the 238 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:32,320 Speaker 1: Braves now, if you want to tell me you would 239 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 1: rather have the Rangers with you know, with de Gram 240 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 1: and Evaldi and Gray. Sure, if you want to rather 241 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:43,120 Speaker 1: have the Red Sox with Crochet and Bueler and Bellow, 242 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:47,080 Speaker 1: like sure, that's fine. Twins are good too, Pablo Lopez. 243 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 1: There are good, good rotations around baseball. The Yankes have 244 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 1: Cole Freed and rodn obviously a great trio, et cetera. 245 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:56,960 Speaker 1: But the Braves are number three on this projection list, 246 00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 1: and there's not really anything that I could say that's 247 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 1: like super against that projection. Now there is some projection 248 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 1: in there, and when that's kind of a different phrase. 249 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:07,680 Speaker 1: Chris Sale was the winner of this last year. He 250 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:11,240 Speaker 1: was awesome. I would think he'll be awesome again. But 251 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:13,560 Speaker 1: it's not a lock that he's awesome again at his 252 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:15,520 Speaker 1: age in particular and with the injury stuff that he's 253 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:17,200 Speaker 1: had in the past. But he was awesome this last year, 254 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:19,080 Speaker 1: a guy that you can bank on. We're not a 255 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:22,679 Speaker 1: Lopez breakout last year. For the record. They're projecting some 256 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:25,960 Speaker 1: significant regression for Lopez, a three point nine era as 257 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:27,600 Speaker 1: what I'm looking at right now in the projection page 258 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 1: four fangrafts. But that is still a good pitcher, not 259 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:31,960 Speaker 1: as good as it was last year when he had 260 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:37,079 Speaker 1: a probably unsustainable era but a good picture. Nonetheless, then 261 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:39,679 Speaker 1: you have Schwellenbach, the breakout of last year, who I 262 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 1: really fully buy into. Honestly, he was a Rookie of 263 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:44,600 Speaker 1: the Year level guy last year didn't win it, but 264 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:47,559 Speaker 1: there you go. And then Special Strider. So Strider is 265 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 1: there's some uncertainty, but what he is back I spitted 266 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:52,520 Speaker 1: him to be good? Now? How good will he be 267 00:13:52,559 --> 00:13:54,080 Speaker 1: as dominant as he was when he was at his 268 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:57,440 Speaker 1: absolute peak a couple of years ago? Maybe not, but 269 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:00,120 Speaker 1: it's say young level guy when he is a what 270 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:03,200 Speaker 1: he's available now? That's only four guys and only three 271 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 1: of them are healthy right now Starder won't pitch again, 272 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 1: probably until the end of April, we'll see, and then 273 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:10,559 Speaker 1: the right to have some other guys who Fangrafts does 274 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:14,120 Speaker 1: think are like reasonable fact similes. Grant Holmes as at 275 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:17,439 Speaker 1: the lead of that Ian Anderson, who talked about on 276 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 1: the most recent show with myself and Stephen, Ian is 277 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 1: out of options. If you missed that show, but I 278 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:23,200 Speaker 1: will listen to that podcast. But if you missed it, 279 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 1: Ian is out of options. So it's kind of a 280 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: parallel situation. He could get traded, we'll see there, but 281 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 1: he's at least in the mix. There. Then you have 282 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 1: Smith Shov, you have Hearsa Waldrip, you have Bryce Elder. 283 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:35,680 Speaker 1: Then you get into like the Alan Winans still on 284 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 1: Dodd Tyr or whatever. Some of the guys are not great, 285 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 1: but still they have a bunch of death for sure 286 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:43,520 Speaker 1: in the rotation. I say all that if they open 287 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:46,880 Speaker 1: the season right now with this rotation, I would be underwhelmed, 288 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 1: but it's still a good rotation. Both can be true. 289 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 1: At the same time, I saw my friend Grant McCauley, 290 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 1: who's been on this podcast before. I'm sure he'll be 291 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 1: back on again, talk about this today extensively on Twitter, 292 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 1: where he basically said, and I grew with the Braves 293 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 1: need to add a proven starter. I'n't begging that druma 294 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:04,640 Speaker 1: all once you're long. In fact, I would say they 295 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 1: probably need to get two to be safe, but at 296 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:08,760 Speaker 1: least one guy you can actually credibly put in the 297 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 1: rotation on opening day or that opening week and plug in. 298 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 1: But great pulled this number. I thought it was really interesting. 299 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 1: Over the last two plus seasons the Braves have thrown 300 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 1: It's like one hundred and thirty seven starts from guys 301 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 1: that you don't want to have throw starts basically in 302 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 1: the history, and I won't name them all now, but 303 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 1: it's the DoD Whinings, Vines, Elder Smith, Shover, Wasscari, Noah, 304 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 1: Jacob DERIZI like all of the flotsome like depth names 305 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:43,320 Speaker 1: the Braves have used the last two BLUs years and 306 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 1: great pull I trust Gramp. He says. The Braves are 307 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 1: seventy five and sixty two when those guys start the 308 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:53,040 Speaker 1: last two plus years. Now, part of that is that 309 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:55,480 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty three they had arguably the best offense 310 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 1: of all time, so that covers up some of that. 311 00:15:57,200 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: I'm sure this last year the numbers were not that 312 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 1: good when they were not throwing the good pictures. But 313 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 1: the Braves have better depth than most teams do, and 314 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 1: it is as underwhelmed as I am by some of 315 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:10,320 Speaker 1: the death guys on this roster, like for instance, Ian 316 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:12,400 Speaker 1: Air is a great example we talked about on with 317 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 1: Race episode. Ian is not a guy that I am 318 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 1: in love with being in the rotation for the Brads 319 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: right now, but for like probably ten teams in the league, 320 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 1: he would be their fourth fifth starter, like pretty clearly 321 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 1: and would be a reasonable guy to put there for 322 00:16:24,320 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 1: the Braves. He's like their seventh guy right now and 323 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 1: we'll see, but they do have depth there. So yeah, 324 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 1: losing Charlie is not it's not about losing it just 325 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 1: opportunity to talk about this topic a little bit. But 326 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 1: losing Charlie is not a death knel. They can replace 327 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 1: him with someone that's available. And what he's been giving 328 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 1: the Braves the last and least the last season or 329 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 1: so before that probably a little higher level, but last 330 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 1: year he was a plug and play, reliable but not 331 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 1: spectacular back and starter. So the takeaway is the Braves 332 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:55,160 Speaker 1: need to do something in the rotation that has not changed. 333 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 1: That was the case before Charlie signs somewhere else, it's 334 00:16:57,480 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 1: the case now. I do like their hot four a lot. 335 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:04,879 Speaker 1: You throw in guys that I think are reasonable, like 336 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:08,440 Speaker 1: Holmes like Anderson, you know, Smiths, Shauber and water ape 337 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 1: At a little bit more volatile right now, I would say, 338 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:13,840 Speaker 1: but obviously high upside guys, even Bryce Elder, who I've 339 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 1: poke plenty of fun of for being an All Star 340 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:18,879 Speaker 1: and how that was never sustainable and we were I 341 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:20,200 Speaker 1: was yelling at a lot back then for saying he 342 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:22,119 Speaker 1: wasn't that good, because he's not that good, but he 343 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:25,960 Speaker 1: is a capable fifth starter in a lot of rotations. 344 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:28,120 Speaker 1: He's not exciting, he's not very good, I don't think, 345 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 1: but he's a non embarrassing option. So all that's all 346 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 1: that said. They have depth, but they do need another guy. 347 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:36,480 Speaker 1: We talked about that a lot on the episode with 348 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 1: myself and Scott Coleman where we discussed they stay their 349 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:42,920 Speaker 1: free agency market, and it's been pretty quiet across baseball 350 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:45,359 Speaker 1: since then. Some guys have signed, but mostly it's come 351 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:48,480 Speaker 1: to a screeching holt over the holidays. Maybecause up again 352 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:51,879 Speaker 1: as Baseball for Ops has kind of reopen this coming week. 353 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:54,959 Speaker 1: But in the meantime, the Braves are where they've been 354 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 1: the whole time, and we'll see how they kind of 355 00:17:57,040 --> 00:17:59,719 Speaker 1: reflect from here. But they do need help in the rotation, 356 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:02,840 Speaker 1: but they're not in a disastrous place in i rotation 357 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 1: at the same time, So there you go. All right, 358 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 1: I will be done ranting and rambling now, but one 359 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:12,200 Speaker 1: more time, chefs Charlie Morton, Obviously, I'm doing this podcast 360 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:14,159 Speaker 1: with a little bit of a tongue in cheek. It 361 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:17,399 Speaker 1: isn't a emergency episode. I'm not crying for people that 362 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 1: were checking on me. It's kind of funny that they were. 363 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:22,760 Speaker 1: It's totally fine this has happened, that this happened. If 364 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:24,680 Speaker 1: they could have paid Charlie one year an eight million 365 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:25,919 Speaker 1: dollars to bring him back, I would have been all 366 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:27,639 Speaker 1: about that. Even one year ten million would have been 367 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 1: totally fine with me. Fifteen million dollars is a lot, 368 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:33,000 Speaker 1: which only Morton's That's objectably true. So no issues at all, 369 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:36,159 Speaker 1: and we'll see how Alex responds. I have, as I 370 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 1: keep saying on the podcast, but I have found some 371 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: joy and also like real bath you bewilderment with some 372 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:46,119 Speaker 1: of the reactions from fans about how Alex is just 373 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 1: like quitting or something, and Alex is bad at his job. 374 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:51,320 Speaker 1: I get it. The anks is real, but I will 375 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 1: still be relatively patient and uh just kick the can 376 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:56,720 Speaker 1: down the road if they get down In February, and 377 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,199 Speaker 1: we've teased about out before, but it still stands at 378 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:02,080 Speaker 1: the Braves are running this roster that they have right 379 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:05,480 Speaker 1: now into spring training, I'll have some serious questions in 380 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:08,040 Speaker 1: the meantime. I'm not panicking, just yet and we'll leave 381 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:11,400 Speaker 1: it there, all right, Please subscribe to Hamitary's Forward podcast 382 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:14,199 Speaker 1: if you have not done that already. It's usually not 383 00:19:14,280 --> 00:19:16,359 Speaker 1: a solo endevor. In fact, it's very rare that we 384 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 1: do a solo podcast. We have four hosts of the show. 385 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:22,639 Speaker 1: It's myself, it's Scott Coleman, It's Sean Coleman, Steven Tolbert. 386 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 1: Usually at least two of us on the podcast, occasionally three. 387 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:29,159 Speaker 1: Occasionally even beyond that, we can have four. But I 388 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:31,040 Speaker 1: thought that it was a it's a Saturday afternoon, people 389 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:34,040 Speaker 1: are busy. I wasn't gonna have somebody tap in on 390 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:37,080 Speaker 1: a basically a bonus podcast what this amounts to. But 391 00:19:37,119 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 1: I'm farewell to Charlie Morton. Shout us to you, my friend, 392 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:41,919 Speaker 1: and please stay tuned, Please subscribe. Tell your friends. We're 393 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:44,200 Speaker 1: on Apple, We're on Spotify, We're on YouTube. We're also 394 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:49,280 Speaker 1: on social media, but basically everywhere Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, threads, 395 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 1: all those places where at Hammer Territory across the board. 396 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 1: Follow me if you want to at bt roll. Also 397 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 1: have a Patreon that do some it's mostly Atlanta Hawk stuff, 398 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:58,320 Speaker 1: but a casually braves from there at Patreon dot com 399 00:19:58,359 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 1: slash bt Roland and all right, we'll sign off right now. 400 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:03,560 Speaker 1: Lets suppos say everybody what we plan to have a show. 401 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 1: I'll say planned, because it's never done until it's done. 402 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 1: We plan to have a show on Sunday in the Monday. 403 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:10,879 Speaker 1: Hopefully that will happen. But no matter what, you can 404 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:13,440 Speaker 1: find the podcast easier if you subscribe to the show. 405 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 1: It will be delivered to you with peace. All right, everybody, 406 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:18,120 Speaker 1: thank supposed take as always and we'll see you all 407 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:18,640 Speaker 1: next time.