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Post by Hart's Middle Finger on Feb 29, 2024 20:56:36 GMT -5
Charlie Culberson pitch an inning against the Rays today. Faced four batters, gave up a hit but no runs. Of course, I think the Braves were up by ten at that point. I think the best end game for Charlie is being a middle reliever at Gwinnett.
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Post by Hart's Middle Finger on Mar 1, 2024 7:54:21 GMT -5
Sale looked vintage in his two innings today. 0 walks.. 0 hits...4k's...95mph and hit 97mph. If we get that this year, that trade will be the biggest heist since the Brinks job. Hopefully, that will allay some fears that a couple people on the bored have regarding what he has left in the tank. Looks like he has high octane... maybe to the chagrin of some who'd rather be right than proven wrong. Sale looked great but I don't recall seeing anyone say much other than comments about his durability at this point in his career, and that is probably a legitimate concern.
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Post by Fumbduckery on Mar 1, 2024 10:47:26 GMT -5
Sale looked vintage in his two innings today. 0 walks.. 0 hits...4k's...95mph and hit 97mph. If we get that this year, that trade will be the biggest heist since the Brinks job. Hopefully, that will allay some fears that a couple people on the bored have regarding what he has left in the tank. Looks like he has high octane... maybe to the chagrin of some who'd rather be right than proven wrong. Sale looked great but I don't recall seeing anyone say much other than comments about his durability at this point in his career, and that is probably a legitimate concern. 2018 —-> 158 IP 2019 —-> 147 IP 2020 —-> 0 IP 2021 —-> 45 IP 2022 —->. 2 IP 2023 —-> 102 IP Come on now, how could anybody possibly be concerned about his health as we enter his age 35 season???
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joeyg39
Low A Farmhand
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Post by joeyg39 on Mar 1, 2024 11:40:02 GMT -5
Sale looked great but I don't recall seeing anyone say much other than comments about his durability at this point in his career, and that is probably a legitimate concern. 2018 —-> 158 IP 2019 —-> 147 IP 2020 —-> 0 IP 2021 —-> 45 IP 2022 —->. 2 IP 2023 —-> 102 IP Come on now, how could anybody possibly be concerned about his health as we enter his age 35 season??? Rather misleading and unfair to point out limited innings pitched when he had to deal with goofy non pitching related injuries. If we can get him to pitch 125 innings a year and be healthy for the playoffs... then that's the end game. If mostly healthy at the end of the year, then he will be a force to be reckoned with... and everyone here knows it.
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Post by PABraveFan on Mar 1, 2024 13:45:26 GMT -5
Elder with 2 scoreless then gives up 3 in the 3rd after two outs and nobody on. O's 3 Braves 0 Bottom 3rd
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Post by wncbravesfan on Mar 1, 2024 14:54:51 GMT -5
Justin Toscano @justinctoscano · 2h Ronald Acuña Jr. was removed from today's lineup "as a precaution" due to right knee soreness.
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Post by wncbravesfan on Mar 1, 2024 15:06:43 GMT -5
David O'Brien @dobrienatl · 3m #Braves lefty Tyler Matzek's second spring appearance after coming back from Tommy John surgery: back-to-back Ks, then a two-out double (Ardoin) before walking Maton. Snit replaces him. Looked good for most part. 94 mph heater, good movement on breaking ball.
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joeyg39
Low A Farmhand
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Post by joeyg39 on Mar 1, 2024 15:22:23 GMT -5
Justin Toscano @justinctoscano · 2h Ronald Acuña Jr. was removed from today's lineup "as a precaution" due to right knee soreness. Are you effin' kidding me?
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Post by Hart's Middle Finger on Mar 1, 2024 15:32:13 GMT -5
2018 —-> 158 IP 2019 —-> 147 IP 2020 —-> 0 IP 2021 —-> 45 IP 2022 —->. 2 IP 2023 —-> 102 IP Come on now, how could anybody possibly be concerned about his health as we enter his age 35 season??? Rather misleading and unfair to point out limited innings pitched when he had to deal with goofy non pitching related injuries. If we can get him to pitch 125 innings a year and be healthy for the playoffs... then that's the end game. If mostly healthy at the end of the year, then he will be a force to be reckoned with... and everyone here knows it. Yes.. everyone here knows it.. Personally I think it's perfectly understandable to show some concern about any pitcher his age who has pitched rather limited innings for several years running, but if he's healthy at the end of the year then he will be a great weapon to have in the post-season.
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Post by rennymadeit on Mar 1, 2024 16:33:54 GMT -5
Strider has a curveball…
Five things we've learned so far in spring training
Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. reacts after popping a ball during the third inning of the home opener spring training baseball game at CoolToday Park, Feb. 25, 2024, in North Port, Florida. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com) NORTH PORT, Fla. – Hey there,
We have made it to baseball games. They do not count yet, but there is baseball, and that is enough reason to celebrate.
The Braves have had a relatively quiet spring, which is a positive. When you have perhaps the best roster in baseball, you don't want any unpleasant surprises.
Here are five things we've learned thus far:
1. World Series or bust
This has been the motto for the Braves. That they are willingly to state it publicly shows you how motivated they are entering this season.
A.J. Minter said it first. Spencer Strider confirmed it. Sean Murphy said it. Others have, too.
The tricky part is this: The 2024 Braves will now be defined, by the outside world at least, by whether they achieve this goal. This is probably how it should be, though. They have talent. Their pitching staff is deep.
There's a lot to like with this club and its mindset early in spring training. But, as we've all discussed before, talent doesn't equal a World Series.
But that shouldn't deter anyone from focusing on the ultimate goal.
Strider put it best: "I don't think we should be afraid to say we want to win a World Series. There's kind of this aura around it that it's something that's out of your control. All outcomes are out of your control, but we want to leave everything out there to guarantee ourselves the best opportunity, the best chance. When the season is over, regardless of how we finish, I want to be able to say, for myself and the rest of us, we did everything we could at that time to try and secure the outcome we want."
2. The batting order might go like …
RF Ronald Acuña Jr. 2B Ozzie Albies 3B Austin Riley 1B Matt Olson DH Marcell Ozuna CF Michael Harris II C Sean Murphy LF Jarred Kelenic SS Orlando Arcia
The Braves have sent out a couple lineups that have looked like they could be previews of Opening Day, if a couple players were switched in or out. So, the above order is, at this point, the best guess at how they might look on March 28 in Philadelphia.
But there aren't many secrets here. We know the nine members of the batting order, barring injury. And as manager Brian Snitker alluded to at Braves Fest when asked about how he might structure his order: Why change what clearly worked?
3. Spencer Strider has a curveball!
That's right.
Spencer Strider, already one of baseball's best pitchers, has added a new pitch. Naturally, it makes you wonder: If he was so good while relying primarily on two pitches, how dominant could he be if he masters a third?
You should know that Strider is intentional and purposeful with everything he does. He doesn't know what this curveball could become – no one can tell the future – but he feels it'll be part of his arsenal this season.
Strider throws a four-seam fastball and slider. He's mixed in a changeup to give hitters another look. The curveball, though, could be a devastating addition.
Developing a curveball is the latest example of Strider's hunger to become the best. He has talent, but he has work ethic and drive.
Those qualities are a deadly combination.
4. No frontrunners for two open bench spots
Those of us – myself included – who are sports nerds will be intrigued by the competition for the final two bench spots. If you don't care about this, I don't blame you.
But it adds a fun layer to spring training.
There aren't any frontrunners for the two bench spots. It's March 1, and there's a lot of time left for the Braves to decide which direction they'll go.
They have options. They could do multiple things.
The key thing to think about is this: If the Braves feel someone has the potential to meaningfully contribute at the big-league level this season, that player might actually begin the season in Triple A because he wouldn't get every day at-bats in the majors. The Braves' starters play every day, so the backups don't get a lot of run.
From the perspective of adding speed, Forrest Wall makes a lot of sense for a roster spot. David Fletcher has looked impressive early in camp, but perhaps the Braves would want to keep him ready in case an injury occurred, and they needed him to fill a spot in the lineup. Luke Williams has played both the infield and the outfield, and he has speed. Outfielder Eli White features speed and defense. Jordan Luplow, another outfielder, is also in camp.
See how many options there are this early?
5. There truly is a fifth-starter competition
It's still early in spring training, and everything that has happened thus far would signify that there is still an open competition for the final rotation spot.
If everyone stays healthy in the bullpen, it seems difficult to go against Reynaldo Lopez in the rotation. If he's in the bullpen, the Braves would probably only have one optionable reliever. There's not a ton of flexibility in that scenario.
This takes nothing away from Bryce Elder, who deserves time in the majors this year. He was an All-Star last season. He capably filled a rotation vacancy.
At this point, I cannot rule out AJ Smith-Shawver. He's young and talented, with a lot of room to grow. He's got a great arm.
Anything can happen.
Here's the funny thing about a rotation battle, though: The Braves will need more than five starters to get through this season, so every one of these guys – and others – could get starts in the coming months.
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joeyg39
Low A Farmhand
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Post by joeyg39 on Mar 1, 2024 16:46:57 GMT -5
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Post by wncbravesfan on Mar 1, 2024 19:57:03 GMT -5
David O'Brien @dobrienatl · 4h #Braves lefty Tyler Matzek's second spring appearance after coming back from Tommy John surgery: back-to-back Ks, then a two-out double (Ardoin) before walking Maton. Snit replaces him. Looked good for most part. 94 mph heater, good movement on breaking ball.
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Post by Fumbduckery on Mar 1, 2024 20:35:52 GMT -5
Rather misleading and unfair to point out limited innings pitched when he had to deal with goofy non pitching related injuries. If we can get him to pitch 125 innings a year and be healthy for the playoffs... then that's the end game. If mostly healthy at the end of the year, then he will be a force to be reckoned with... and everyone here knows it. Yes.. everyone here knows it.. Personally I think it's perfectly understandable to show some concern about any pitcher his age who has pitched rather limited innings for several years running, but if he's healthy at the end of the year then he will be a great weapon to have in the post-season. He's had one non baseball related injury from a bicycling accident that cost him just 7 weeks over a 4 year period. And technically remembering how to ride a bike counts as a requirement to avoid being called "injury prone."
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joeyg39
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Post by joeyg39 on Mar 2, 2024 10:11:11 GMT -5
Acuña has irritation of the meniscus. Going to see doctor who performed his acl surgery to double check. On a side note...why is he even getting himself into a 3 minute rundown in spring training games? I'm sure everyone watching that was praying nothing happens. Well it appears something did happen...Let's hope it's not consequential. I bought tickets 7 rows behind Braves dugout for March 31st game against Phils. His eligibility for that game might be in jeopardy. Great. www.si.com/mlb/braves/news/acu%C3%B1a-to-be-sent-for-further-testing-of-irritated-knee
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maverick86
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2021 World Series Champs
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Post by maverick86 on Mar 2, 2024 12:11:26 GMT -5
Acuña has irritation of the meniscus. Going to see doctor who performed his acl surgery to double check. On a side note...why is he even getting himself into a 3 minute rundown in spring training games? I'm sure everyone watching that was praying nothing happens. Well it appears something did happen...Let's hope it's not consequential. I bought tickets 7 rows behind Braves dugout for March 31st game against Phils. His eligibility for that game might be in jeopardy. Great. www.si.com/mlb/braves/news/acu%C3%B1a-to-be-sent-for-further-testing-of-irritated-kneePaul George for the Clippers (whom are my NBA team) was diagnosed w same injury. Missed a couple of games and came back to play yesterday.
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