1 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: Hello everyone that want up to the first ever emergency 2 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 1: episode of the Hammer Territory podcast. I'm your host, Brad Rowland, 3 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 1: coming to you deep into the night here on a 4 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: Sunday evening into Monday. In fact, it is now officially 5 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,239 Speaker 1: a moral day as I'm recording this podcast. We are 6 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:38,959 Speaker 1: part of the Foul Territory Network. Make sure check out 7 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: the shows there across the board Foul Territory, Norse Side Territory, 8 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 1: Dotterish Territory, et cetera. Also want to encourage you at 9 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 1: the top of the podcast to go ahead and subscribe 10 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 1: to our podcasts anywhere you might find your podcasts. And 11 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: earlier on Sunday evening, I recorded an episode with Braves 12 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 1: insider Grant McCauley on this podcast feed. Grant covers the 13 00:00:57,480 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 1: team all over the place, including nights found the game 14 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 1: power alson Sports Atlanta marya daily journal. He's a fantastic 15 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 1: Braves insider and is really well versed on the team. 16 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 1: On that podcast, we purposely gave the caveat a few 17 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 1: different times on that show because basically we're recording between 18 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: eight and nine pm Eastern Time on Sunday, and usually 19 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 1: I wouldn't do that but because of the entirety of 20 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 1: Braves Country basically being at the edge of their seat 21 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:26,320 Speaker 1: waiting for an update on Ronald Cocuna Junior, I thought 22 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 1: it was necessary for context purposes. But as you we 23 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: know who listened to this podcast now, Acunya suffered a 24 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 1: injury to his knee during the game on Sunday, the 25 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 1: win up of Pittsburgh or the Pirates, and after the game, 26 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:40,120 Speaker 1: Acunya was relatively upbeat. I would say. He talked about 27 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 1: how it felt more to him like the minor d 28 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 1: injury or somewhat minor injury that he had in twenty 29 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: eighteen than it did when he towards ACL back in 30 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one and missed the whole season. There, Brian 31 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 1: Snicker didn't really give a ton of commentary, I would say, 32 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 1: beyond waiting for the update from the medical staff, and 33 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: the messaging across the board was that the update was 34 00:01:56,720 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 1: likely to come on Monday instead of Sunday. Well, instead 35 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: of that actually happening, the Braves announced about an hour 36 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: after I published a show with Grant on Sunday evening 37 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 1: that Ronnie unfortunately suffered a complete tear of the ACL 38 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: in his left knee. That means that he will have 39 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 1: surgery in the near future, and he is going to 40 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 1: be out for the remainder of the twenty twenty four season. 41 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:18,519 Speaker 1: So there's a lot to get here, a lot to 42 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 1: get to, I should say on this topic, I want 43 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 1: to trust that you should still listen to the show 44 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: with Grant. By the way, it was an awesome conversation. 45 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:26,079 Speaker 1: Grant has great insight. He talked about a lot of 46 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 1: different stuff beyond ron Acunya, plus Grant's thoughts on the 47 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:31,679 Speaker 1: outfield without Acunya for a whist a little while, and 48 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: now it's going to be the rest of the season, 49 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 1: of course, and the vast majority of that show is 50 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: still up to date in relevance. If please listen to 51 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 1: that show, it's a worthwhile conversation to check out in 52 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:42,239 Speaker 1: the next couple of days. Beyond that, though, of course, 53 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:45,400 Speaker 1: this is an awful, awful, hideous blow for the Braves. 54 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:49,080 Speaker 1: Acunia has not been his best self this year. We 55 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 1: all know that as Braves, people of brave observers, I 56 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: would say, and basically that's the case for almost the 57 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: entire offense out of outside of Bazuna and Travis Darnaut 58 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 1: everybody else has been below the romal level that includes Acup, 59 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 1: but with the potential exception of Shohava Tani, Acunya was 60 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: the player in baseball that would have been at the 61 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: top of the list of best players in the entire 62 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:10,359 Speaker 1: league one season began. Of course, last year, he won 63 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:12,920 Speaker 1: the MVP Award in the National League in unanimous fashion. 64 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:15,519 Speaker 1: He won Silver Slugger. He won the NL Player of 65 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:18,679 Speaker 1: the Month three different times. Last year. He led the 66 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 1: league on base percentage and hits, total bases run scored, 67 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: stolen bases, and ops. He was number two in the 68 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 1: league in slugging and bang average. He was the first player, 69 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: of course, in history, yes in history, to put up 70 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 1: a forty home run seventy stolen base season. If it 71 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 1: listening to the show, you probably realize how good he 72 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: is already. He's twenty six years old, he's in the 73 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 1: middle of his prime, so obviously rooming in a lot 74 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 1: of every day makes the braves considerably worse. And that 75 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 1: is putting it mildly. I would also say, it's baseball, 76 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: and one player does not change your life in the 77 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 1: same way that one player does in the NBA, for instance, 78 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 1: or perhaps a quarterback in the NFL. One player in 79 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 1: baseball is significant, for sure, but it isn't quite the 80 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: same as it is in some of their sports sub positions. Also, 81 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 1: by the way, at Justin Tocano, the AJC put it 82 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 1: early on Sunday, Acunya is an absolute basically baseball Siico 83 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 1: in the best possible way. He listen, breathes the game. 84 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:16,480 Speaker 1: He's the guy taking VP in November and December and 85 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:19,040 Speaker 1: the winner when other guys are on vacation. He plays 86 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: and plays and plays and hits and hits and hits. 87 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 1: And he sort of announced the news in his own 88 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:26,479 Speaker 1: way with a tweet apologizing to Braves fans before the 89 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: news actually broke. I am sure he feels sick about this. 90 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:35,280 Speaker 1: It's absolutely brutal. On the team side, it feels pretty 91 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:38,040 Speaker 1: rough for the breaks right now. Obviously, it's been kind 92 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: of a nightmare start in some respects. We'll get to 93 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:41,359 Speaker 1: some of the fallout and what happens from here in 94 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 1: a second, But the Braves coming into the year had 95 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 1: the preseason MVP favorite and the preseason say Young favorite 96 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:52,039 Speaker 1: in Acunya and Stryder, and they are both gone for 97 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 1: the season before the World Day. That is just in 98 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 1: itself crazy. I mean, two of the best players. You 99 00:04:57,240 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 1: wouldn't necessarily say that they're absolutely the best players on 100 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:01,480 Speaker 1: the team. Acunia is the best player, Strider would have 101 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 1: been on the top of the five player list or whatever. 102 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 1: But you could argue best hitter and best pitcher gone 103 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 1: before a World Day. That's just awful in itself. And 104 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:13,479 Speaker 1: that's before you throw in Sean Murphy just missed two months. 105 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:15,679 Speaker 1: John murf is an All Star, a little player. Austin 106 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,040 Speaker 1: Riley is currently out right now, just missed two weeks. 107 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:20,039 Speaker 1: The offense is not doing what it's supposed to do 108 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:22,360 Speaker 1: in general, and it's already been a maddening season as 109 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:25,039 Speaker 1: a result of that. And of course that sounds crazy 110 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 1: for a team that's currently thirty and twenty as of 111 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: record of his podcast, And as I talked about with 112 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 1: a Grant earlier tonight, there's a lot to be positive 113 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,720 Speaker 1: about still with Chris Sale and Max Freed and Marcel Azuna. 114 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:38,840 Speaker 1: We're on a Lopez a quality bullpen. But a lot 115 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 1: has gone wrong for the team this year, and they 116 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 1: entered the season as co Worldseri his favorites alongside the Dodgers. 117 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:46,279 Speaker 1: In a lot of places, and it's just down a 118 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:48,799 Speaker 1: moral day since we're pass been an Eastern time now. 119 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:51,720 Speaker 1: But I say all that to say the season is 120 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:54,159 Speaker 1: not over here. I understand a lot of the knee 121 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:57,280 Speaker 1: jerk reactions that I saw on social media. Probably that's 122 00:05:57,279 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 1: just frustration or performative in some respects. On some level, 123 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:03,600 Speaker 1: I get all of that. It's obviously really bad news. 124 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 1: But number one, social media is not really real life, 125 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: and I remember myself of that sometimes. But this is 126 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:11,160 Speaker 1: also a team that is still good enough to win 127 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 1: at a high level, and if you make the playoffs, 128 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 1: you can win the World Series. That's the reality of 129 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 1: the new world order. Basically in the world of baseball 130 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:21,119 Speaker 1: is the best teams will always win, and the Braves 131 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 1: have been on the wrong side of a couple times, 132 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:24,360 Speaker 1: and in twenty twenty one you can argue they weren't 133 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 1: the best team, but they got hot at the right 134 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 1: time and they made it all the way there. So 135 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 1: the easy layup is actually about that topic, and that 136 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:33,839 Speaker 1: the Braves won the World Series three years ago with 137 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 1: a roster that on paper was worse than the current 138 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:40,839 Speaker 1: roster that they have, and also without round after he 139 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 1: went down in the middle of that season with the 140 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: torn acl That does not mean that they're definitely gonna 141 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 1: do it again. But nothing is over. Nothing is dead here. 142 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:50,920 Speaker 1: They are still alive. They're still very talented. We'll get 143 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:52,479 Speaker 1: into all that and more coming up in a second, 144 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:54,760 Speaker 1: but that's kind of the overview of things, And in 145 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:56,839 Speaker 1: a second I'll touch on what's going to actually happen 146 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 1: next with regard to the outfield, how the Braves amount 147 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 1: adjust things in the future. But first, they weren't on 148 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:04,679 Speaker 1: ag one from our friends, it's got broad aercrats athough 149 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 1: territory crats here from FT, I wasn't feeling as focused 150 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: as I wanted to be and heard some buzz about 151 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 1: ag one. 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If you 178 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: are the Braves, I'm recording this before anyone on the 179 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 1: Braves has said anything on the record about this other 180 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 1: than the simple injury update that was announced on Sunday night. 181 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 1: So we'll here for Brian Snicker on Monday maybe and thoughtless, 182 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:42,839 Speaker 1: I'm sure Accoona will talk at some point in the 183 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 1: near future. Other prominent players we'll speak as soon as Monday. 184 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 1: We'll come out on the podcast at some point this week. 185 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: But you may remember, just for some context here, that 186 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:55,319 Speaker 1: Acuna tore his right a cl on July twentieth, twenty 187 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: twenty one, so about two months later in the season 188 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:01,719 Speaker 1: than they then this actually happened. Now then he debuted 189 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: the next year on April twenty eighth, So in general, 190 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 1: it is possible that Ronnie might be back opening day. 191 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 1: No one has said that. No one said otherwise. It 192 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:13,960 Speaker 1: isn't a luck. But of course he's in a conferict 193 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: for a long time through twenty twenty eight, so he's 194 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:18,320 Speaker 1: not going to go anywhere in the near future. Of course, 195 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 1: will cover his potential return. That's just some interesting context. 196 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 1: And one more thing here in case people will kind 197 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:26,800 Speaker 1: of miss this. This is not the same knee that 198 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,080 Speaker 1: he tore the last time, so he had the torny 199 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 1: cl and his right knee in twenty twenty one. This 200 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:33,640 Speaker 1: is the left knee. So you can argue whether it's 201 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:35,360 Speaker 1: better or worse, but you generally don't want to have 202 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 1: the same ACL twice. That's kind of harder to come 203 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:41,439 Speaker 1: back from on that one knee. Look, mess modern messin 204 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 1: is definitely better than it used to be. Guys come 205 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 1: back and they're kind of good as new. We saw 206 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:47,560 Speaker 1: that last year with Ronne. It took him a little 207 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: while to get back to one hundred percent full strength, 208 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:51,839 Speaker 1: but he just had one of the best seasons that 209 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 1: I've ever seen essentially last year, and that was post ACL. 210 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:58,080 Speaker 1: So obviously it is recoverable, especially for a guy who's 211 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 1: still in his mid twenties at this point time. Okay, 212 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,320 Speaker 1: with that said to the rest of the season. Obviously, 213 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 1: Grant and I talked about this a little bit on 214 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 1: the show earlier tonight. They should listen to you right now. 215 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:11,559 Speaker 1: But the Braves still have three starting caliber outfielders on 216 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 1: this roster. Quite clearly, it is a massive downgrade to 217 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 1: go from having Ronald and then one of Adam Duval 218 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:21,480 Speaker 1: or Jeroni Kilnick in the lineup every day to having 219 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 1: to play Duval and Colic together every day on either 220 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: side of Michael Harris in the outfield. But that's not 221 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:30,480 Speaker 1: untenable on its face. I've said for a long time. 222 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:32,440 Speaker 1: I know my Coscott has said this as well as 223 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:35,200 Speaker 1: Steven and Sean, but the Braves kind of have this 224 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 1: offensive situation whether they are full strength, which they have 225 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 1: not been this year, where the vast majority of their 226 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: starting nine are like star level players, and you know, 227 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 1: they're not all the same rondo as the best of them, 228 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 1: but it's nice to have that kind of depth. Most 229 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 1: teams have two, three four spots in their lap, they're 230 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:56,959 Speaker 1: not that overwhelming, and the Braves have another one now 231 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:58,840 Speaker 1: that's not going to be overwhelming in the positive direction. 232 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 1: It remains to be seen how Kelnick can handle lefties. 233 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 1: We'll see. They brought it out of Naval in spring 234 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 1: to kind of offset that. But Kelnick, essentially this year 235 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 1: has been a league average hitter. He has a ninety 236 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 1: eight doub vercy plus all the season with strong defense, 237 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 1: and that is just fine. If you can maintain that 238 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,679 Speaker 1: in left field or right field or whatever, that's just fine. 239 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:21,000 Speaker 1: Adam Duvall is not a huge platoon split guy. That's 240 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 1: always kind of got missed about Adam daval when they 241 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 1: brought him into kind of platoon with Kelnick, but that's 242 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 1: more because Kelnick has not hit lefties well in his 243 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 1: career versus Duval not being able to hit righty's. He 244 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:33,880 Speaker 1: can do that. He is very shrieky. He is not 245 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 1: always the most consistent guy in the world, but the 246 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 1: power is real. He can play defense. Adam Duval is fine. 247 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 1: I've always been higher on him the most people are. 248 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 1: But if you let him play every day, he'll have 249 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:47,720 Speaker 1: some rough moments but also be playing productive and he 250 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 1: is not going to kill you in a corner field spot. 251 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:54,120 Speaker 1: So I asked Grant about this potentially earlier in the evening. 252 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:56,200 Speaker 1: But they could also use Marcelo Zuon in left field 253 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 1: at some point. He didn't rule that out when I 254 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 1: asked that question. I think it's an option, not one 255 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 1: that they're likely to go to anytime soon. But Marcel 256 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: I'm sure has ant foe glove. He'll be bad there. 257 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 1: He's not a good defender. He has no arm at all. 258 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 1: But if they are in a situation, but it just 259 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:14,680 Speaker 1: cannot score runs, especially when Murphy comes back. You could 260 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:17,320 Speaker 1: see a day or two during a week where you 261 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 1: might want to play Murphy, Darneault and Ozuna, and the 262 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 1: one way to do that would be to have those 263 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:24,679 Speaker 1: in a play left field and mis Mattelson goes down. 264 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 1: But there you go. Then of course you have the 265 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 1: potential to address the situation externally. Alex I Poppols is 266 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 1: not afraid to make a move, obviously. The reality is 267 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 1: it's a world day and the vast majority of baseball 268 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:40,760 Speaker 1: trades do not happen this early. There's been one notable 269 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 1: trade so far, I would say this season across baseball 270 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:45,640 Speaker 1: it was Louisa Rise. But like most of the time, 271 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:47,760 Speaker 1: we're waiting until at least like mid June, late June, 272 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:50,720 Speaker 1: even July before a lot of deals start to happen. 273 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:53,200 Speaker 1: And I think what's most likely to happen now is 274 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 1: that the Braves will roll with Kellnick and Duval for 275 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:58,440 Speaker 1: a while, and if they want or need to upgrade 276 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 1: later on the summer, they'll go ahead and try to 277 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 1: do that. I reference point twenty one once earlier on 278 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:06,960 Speaker 1: this podcast, But Alex essentially went out and got an 279 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 1: entirely different outfield at the deadline after Ronnie went down 280 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 1: that summer, and they had a pretty clamored situation in 281 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:16,880 Speaker 1: the outfield at that point in time, it can be done. 282 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:19,320 Speaker 1: They can find someone, especially in a corner spot, to 283 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 1: help you for relatively cheap on the market. I'll also 284 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 1: say this though, Michael Harris needs to be kind of 285 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 1: in bubble wrap now. Michael Harris is extremely valuable anyway, 286 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 1: but centerfield's hard to replace. And Michael Harris is of 287 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 1: course healthy right now and is a very good player, 288 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 1: but he's even more important than he was before because 289 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:39,640 Speaker 1: without Ronnie, he's the centerpiece of that defense in the 290 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 1: outfield and also the offense and some respects out there. 291 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:45,720 Speaker 1: As far as lamp is concerned, getting Ronie back is 292 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:47,800 Speaker 1: going to be big. Getting Murphy backs can be really big. 293 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:49,800 Speaker 1: We'll see if those guys play as soon as Monday, 294 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:52,120 Speaker 1: that'll help to offset some of the loss of Acunya. 295 00:13:52,559 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 1: But they do not have a great lee off option. 296 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:57,000 Speaker 1: That is pretty clear at this point. If I had 297 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:00,560 Speaker 1: to guess, they'll probably try Ozzie or they'll try Harris 298 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 1: there to start. Those guys won't take walks, the don't 299 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 1: get on base at the high level. The Braves don't 300 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:06,640 Speaker 1: have a ton of on base guys in this lineup, 301 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:08,840 Speaker 1: and the rest, like all Masse guys, are actually their 302 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:13,440 Speaker 1: power guys Riley and Olsom, So we'll see. But they 303 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 1: don't have a great guy to put there. We kind 304 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:18,960 Speaker 1: of all understand that. But I will also once again 305 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:23,960 Speaker 1: say this is a lineup that has plenty of firepower. 306 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:27,400 Speaker 1: They're still worse without Ronnie, but you could say this 307 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 1: up and down the lineup, they have, in my mind, 308 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 1: the best catcher duo in all of baseball. And Murphy 309 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:34,960 Speaker 1: is back at first base. You have a top five 310 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 1: guy in the league in Matt Olsen. At second base, 311 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 1: youhi have a conservatively top eight guy, top ten guy 312 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 1: Ozzie Alby's at third base, you have a top five 313 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 1: guy in Austin Riley. You still have a lot, a lot, 314 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 1: a lot of production in this lineup, and it's not 315 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 1: the same about Ronald. But again, they won World Hears 316 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 1: without them. They could do it again if everything comes 317 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:56,160 Speaker 1: back together. As of earlier tonight, Fangrafts gave the Braves 318 00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 1: a ninety eight point seven percent chance to make the 319 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:01,200 Speaker 1: playoffs and about a seventeen chance or so to win 320 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:04,160 Speaker 1: the World Series. Those playoff odds I think are still 321 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 1: relatively in line of with where I have them. It's 322 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:10,120 Speaker 1: very forgiving to make the playoffs this time and this 323 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 1: current iteration of Baseball, the Division is gonna be uphill battle. 324 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 1: The Phillies are playing great the bridge of my six 325 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 1: game right now, that's obviously not crazy to overcome. We've 326 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 1: seen them do more than that against the Mets in 327 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:25,040 Speaker 1: previous years and it's still early. But making the playoffs 328 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 1: is not unlessarily win the division, and they have a 329 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:29,920 Speaker 1: pretty clear path of doing that. If you ask me 330 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 1: the World Series chances, I think will come down number one. 331 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:35,200 Speaker 1: That was pretty rosy for a team that's not even 332 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 1: in the division right now, I would say, but getting 333 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 1: in the dance is the name of the game. When 334 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 1: it comes to the World Series, it frustrates me to 335 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 1: no end in some respects. I don't like they expand 336 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 1: of playoffs. I know this is a new podcast, but 337 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 1: on our old feed at Battery Power, this is a 338 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:53,120 Speaker 1: topic we talked about a lot where I think in baseball, 339 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:56,200 Speaker 1: the ultimate largepl sized sport, there should be a smaller 340 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 1: playoffs and a with a longer series and less various 341 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 1: all that stuff. But I've lost that battle. Baseball is 342 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 1: all in all on expanded playoffs and shorter series, and 343 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:08,440 Speaker 1: I get it, and that's it's definitely exciting. It does 344 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 1: not reward the best teams necessarily. He has home court. Sorry, 345 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 1: home field matters all that stuff, but the value quote 346 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 1: unquote of getting in the playoffs and having home field 347 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 1: or winning the division is not what it used to 348 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 1: be when it comes to playoff advantages. So if you 349 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 1: knew you were actually going to get the absolute peak 350 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:29,600 Speaker 1: Akunya from this point for which you didn't know. But 351 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 1: let's just assume that this could be a four five 352 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:35,080 Speaker 1: win drop off from him to an average player the 353 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:38,400 Speaker 1: rest of this season. He's not good, but it's hard 354 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 1: to project that. And again, he was struggling this year 355 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 1: to some exmit so far. So I would say to 356 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 1: wrap it up, two things can be true at once here. 357 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:50,000 Speaker 1: Losing Ronald notable changes things with the Braves. 358 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 2: Eve. 359 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 1: If he's not the best player in the world, which 360 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:55,280 Speaker 1: he might be, he's definitely in the top five and 361 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:58,280 Speaker 1: you don't replace that guy very easily. He is really, really, 362 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 1: really good and really hard to replace. The second thing, though, 363 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 1: is that the Braves can still win the World Series. 364 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:06,639 Speaker 1: Alex is not shy but making moves. Of course, I 365 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:08,200 Speaker 1: said it's borb. They still went up. That has a 366 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:11,879 Speaker 1: bunch of stars in it, Olsen, Riley Murphy, Ozzy Harris, 367 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:14,840 Speaker 1: Marcel Soon has been incredible this year. For instance, they 368 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 1: still have a top level rotation. They have four guys 369 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 1: that they trust in the rotation, including legitimate ace in, 370 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 1: Max Freed, Chris Sales pitchelinck An Ace. Right now, Lopus 371 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:25,840 Speaker 1: and Morton are very good. That's a good situation. And 372 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:28,280 Speaker 1: they have a good a really good bullpen, a really 373 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 1: really good bullpen on paper, and those three things mean 374 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 1: you have the pieces to ruin the World Series, the 375 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 1: pieces to win, not that they definitely will, but they 376 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:41,040 Speaker 1: definitely can. So if they're to win the world' yeares 377 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 1: the second time in the last four seasons, it will 378 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 1: have to be the second time four seasons they actually 379 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 1: do without without Ronald on the field, It's doable. It hurts, 380 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 1: there's no question about that. Will have much more in 381 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:57,199 Speaker 1: the way of reaction to this news and just the 382 00:17:57,240 --> 00:17:59,959 Speaker 1: reality of again arguably the best player in baseball, if 383 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:01,840 Speaker 1: not the best player, one of the top five players 384 00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 1: in baseball being gone from a World day on is huge. 385 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:09,160 Speaker 1: I won't hide that from you at this point in time. 386 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:11,680 Speaker 1: This is the first ever emergency podcast for a reason. 387 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:13,359 Speaker 1: We kind of checked ut us a little bit on 388 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:16,119 Speaker 1: previous episodes. But you don't want to be doing emergency 389 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:20,479 Speaker 1: pods in May because that usually would mean it's an 390 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 1: injury because or like I guess, maybe if you want 391 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 1: to be rosy, it could be a contract or something 392 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 1: like that. But not a lot can go well enough 393 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 1: to inspire an emergency podcast. And May unfortunately brought Acruz 394 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 1: off of the season and he'll go along with specially Trider, 395 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:37,040 Speaker 1: And this is obviously a weekend team from where it 396 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:39,560 Speaker 1: was supposed to be a couple of months ago. That's brutal. 397 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:41,919 Speaker 1: I understand everybody's kind of reacting to that. We'll have 398 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:43,919 Speaker 1: more context, but that's where we are right now. The 399 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 1: breads are still going to be good. I think I'm 400 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:47,919 Speaker 1: confident in this team in the way it's been built. 401 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:51,320 Speaker 1: They still have every every chance to be the same 402 00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:53,920 Speaker 1: maybe not at the same level, but certainly the same 403 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 1: results that they entered the season seeking. But in the meantime, 404 00:18:57,359 --> 00:18:59,520 Speaker 1: they're a weekend and we'll have much more in the 405 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 1: fallout coming up. That's all I have on this shortened 406 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:05,719 Speaker 1: emergency podcast. Again, I recommend listening to the show that 407 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:08,040 Speaker 1: I did with Grant. It's longer than this one, much 408 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 1: more depth on a lot of different things, from Chris 409 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:13,719 Speaker 1: Sale to Star Battles. All those things are on that episode. 410 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: It's not just a kunya. So that's why I want 411 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 1: to recommend people to listen to that show initiat to 412 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 1: this one, and then we'll have much much more later 413 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 1: on this week from Steven Tolbert, from Sean Coleman, from 414 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:26,400 Speaker 1: myself and Scott Holm me back in the next week 415 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:28,600 Speaker 1: or so as well. To have the full complement of 416 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:33,120 Speaker 1: podcast hosts coming up in the near future. Please subscribe 417 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 1: to the show anywhere you might find podcasts that includes Apple, 418 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:39,480 Speaker 1: that includes Spotify, overcast. We would definitely appreciate ratings and 419 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:41,679 Speaker 1: reviews on the podcast as well. It helps us to 420 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 1: sort of boost the algorithm in some respects. Also, please 421 00:19:45,119 --> 00:19:47,399 Speaker 1: do us a favor if you enjoy this podcast and 422 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:49,320 Speaker 1: go ahead and share it with a friend or two 423 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:54,240 Speaker 1: or three uncles, aunts, brothers, cousins, parents, all that stuff. 424 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:56,360 Speaker 1: If they like the Braves, hopefully they'll find our show 425 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 1: and enjoy it. We definitely appreciate all the support. Follow 426 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 1: us on Twitter as well at over territory and thanks 427 00:20:01,520 --> 00:20:04,440 Speaker 1: posting everybody. Unfortunately not in the show that anybody want 428 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:06,159 Speaker 1: to be doing on this fine evening, but hopefully you 429 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:08,920 Speaker 1: got some updates there and we're more later on this week. 430 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:10,480 Speaker 1: Fit tuned, let's see X time