Dan Szymborski: Hello!

Guest: So many Dudebros in that Fox pre-game studio.

Eric A Longenhagen: howdy, all

Dan Szymborski: Welcome to our NLDS Game 1 Chat! Which you have likely figured out from the link that was titled as such!

Grant: What noise would be louder in the event of an Astros-Yankees ALCS – collective groans of fans, or cheers of FOX execs?

Dan Szymborski: I imagine a Marlins-A’s World Series would cause Depression-era panic at Fox.

Person McBoatface: Saw an article today suggesting that neutral fans should root for NYY ahead of TB because the Yankees choose to spend on FA, while TB chooses not to spend and instead tries to maximize their roster strategically. To what extent is this take defensible? I’m all for players getting paid, but how much can a franchise like TB truly compete on the FA market when it comes to FA like Gerrit Cole? If it’s really an equal playing field, why are there Comp Balance picks?

Dan Szymborski: Eh, it’s weird to tell people who to root for! Even neutral fans have their own reasons for things.

Dan Szymborski: *Some* of the difference between what the Rays spend and the Yankees spend is their choice, but not all of it.

Eric A Longenhagen:

Brent: As a Braves fan not used to watching many games in Houston, what are the quirks we should be aware of in Houston’s stadium? I know about the Crawford Boxes and the trash cans, anything else we should know?

Dan Szymborski: Not super quirky now since they took out Tal’s Hill

Guest: Re: quirks: Was it Houston that had the flag pole that was in play? Is that still a thing?

Dan Szymborski: Yup, that’s Tal’s Hill. They removed it after the 2016 season.

Eric A Longenhagen: It’ll be interesting to see whether or not Miami tenders Cooper and/or Aguilar this offseason. They’ve got Lewin Diaz in waiting and are clearly more cash-strapped than other orgs because the ownership is new and very leveraged.

Paul Sporer: Good day all!

Dan Szymborski: I think they keep Cooper.

Paul Sporer: Does Diaz have the pop to be a solid 1B?

Craig: “This season has ‘Marlins Magic World Series Win’ written all over it” – someone laughed at on Twitter in June.

Paul Sporer: They still haven’t lost a playoff series yet!

Eric A Longenhagen: He’s geared for low-ball, don’t think he’s a 30+ homer guy or anything like that. Closer to Dom Smith output.

Eric A Longenhagen: Diaz, that is

person: Does Freddie Freeman have the most ugly/beautiful swing? I think of Lefties having the prettiest swings (Albies’ LH swing is pretty smooth), but Freddie might have the herkiest/jerkiest swing for a LHB superstar I can remember

Eric A Longenhagen: I think guys like him whose posture is tilted over the zone, allowing the barrel to work north/south in the zone, are often very good.

Dan Szymborski: Lefties have the luxury of a smooth transfer into a run

Guest: Who is your *least* favorite team still left in the post-season?

Dan Szymborski: Marlins personally because of their lax attitude early that put the season at risk.

Paul Sporer: Acuna is absurd

Dan Szymborski: Will feel better in the future about them, but not 2020.

Eric A Longenhagen: Acuna gets the barrel to a fastball on the outer edge, takes it oppo off the face of the second deck, 1-0 Braves

Dan Szymborski: You know, I expected to hate piped-in crowd noise, but it does make it feel less weird.

Eric A Longenhagen: I’m still anti-noise in all societal nooks and crannies. Let us hear them curse.

Dan Szymborski: Eric, did you catch the loud expletive from Stanton’s 121 MPH homer earlier this year?

Dan Szymborski: https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1306745421369311233/pu/vid/1280×7…

Paul Sporer: I’m just impressed by whomever runs the noise and gets the swells and fades perfect

Eric A Longenhagen: I’ve heard so many of them that I can’t recall any of them individually

Will: The age old question – who do you like better long term: Acuna or Soto?

Paul Sporer: I think Soto’s plate skills are just so good that he’s going to be good for so long. Acuna’s speed and defense add to his bottom line, but in terms of pure hitting, I’m going Soto now & for the future

rusty: piped-in boos would have improved it, but i generally liked it as well

Guest: Dan, does ZiPS still have Ozzie as a better 5 year projection than Acuna?

Dan Szymborski: Naw, I don’t know the exact point it happened, but Acuna has passed Albies.

Numpty: Never understood what it means for the bat to stay in the zone for a long time. Sounds like a slow swing to me. Help me understand.

Eric A Longenhagen: It’s about distance, not time. It’s meant to describe the bat mirroring the path of the baseball for much of its traveled distance. It’s not a perfect description of it and there are guys whose swings are not ike that who are excellent (peak Pujols is a prime example)

Dan Szymborski: He certainly had passed Albies by the time Craig did the trade values.

JJ: Man how much pure fun would a Braves Padres NLCS be

Dan Szymborski: I’d love a Padres-Rays WS, though I imagine the network does not.

T: I feel like Acuna’s season hasn’t gotten nearly the attention it deserves.

Paul Sporer: MIGUEL ROJAS TIES IT!!!!

Dan Szymborski: What’s amazing is that he had such a dreadful start too.

Paul Sporer: Does it really matter re: the networks, though? Whether we get big teams or small, there’s a “the ratings suck” story every year, stupidly comparing it to football as if it’s a viable 1:1

Kiermaier’s Piercing Green Eyes: Last night, down by a run in the 5th, TB had the bases loaded, two outs, and Manual Margot, a career 62 wRC+ hitter against righties, facing Cole. Meadows and Tsutsugo available off the bench. As bad a decision to keep him in as it seemed at the time?

Eric A Longenhagen: Yes. I’m willing to believe that Margot is a location/pitch type platoon guy more than a left/right platoon type, but I don’t think he’s suited to beat Cole. I’d have rather hit Meadows even though he’s clearly not right.

James: last year I would’ve said Soto, but Ronald’s plate discipline improved immensely this season. I’d rather have Ronald between the two for the outfield/steals value

Paul Sporer: The latter is only a fantasy consideration, though and who knows how much longer he’ll run.

Guest: It is too bad that D’Arnaud couldn’t stay on the field. He would have been one of the best catchers of this century.

Eric A Longenhagen: Yeah, I think he’s probably clearly behind Posey, Mauer, McCann, Yadi but could have been a Lucroy, Grandal type of producer had he stayed healthy. He was the centerpiece of the Halladay deal for a reason.

H O M E R B A L L: So uh, has anyone checked on those EV/launch angles for unusual carry? Any concern about Postseason Baseball Syndrome?

Dan Szymborski: I personally have not.

Paul Sporer: I think people forget how regarded TdA was whenever he has these in-season surges over the last few years, he’s a dude

Eric A Longenhagen: I haven’ checked but share your gut feel that the ball is carrying better than during regular season.

Paul Sporer: Am I crazy or does the infield still look quite wet?

Wood: Looks soaked

Paul Sporer: Like they’re fresh out of a rain delay lol

JJ: Also Hi Eric I’m reading Future Value right now and it’s incredible (everyone go read it!)

Eric A Longenhagen: Thanks, hopefully one day Kiley and I can actually do a tour, hell I’d settle for seeing it in a book store. I still have boxes of books to give away at games and to family who I haven’t seen in six months.

Thunderclap Jackson: Eric, did you hear anything regarding Pache’s performance at the alternate site this season? Any reason to believe he’ll be used as anything other than a pinch-runner and late-inning defensive replacement, barring injury? Seems silly to trot out Inciarte occasionally during the regular season, never give Pache a real shot, then bring him up for the playoffs

Eric A Longenhagen: Nah, I didn’t ask any teams about their own alt site uys because I knew the answer was going to be that they looked good. I get what you’re saying about Inciarte/Pache playing time dynamic and also think Pache is probably the better foil for Markakis. And yeah, infield seems really wet, Swanson’s grounder kicked up a splash.

Dude: Why do the Marlins not where their light blue spring training jerseys? Not knocking the black, I like the black, but the blue ones are nice.

Paul Sporer: Jersey in question:

Guest: More fWAR next season: Anderson or Soroka?

Eric A Longenhagen: I’d go Anderson based on how often Soroka has been hurt.

bosoxforlife: Yesterday the Astros used their 13th, 19th and 32nd ranked pre-season prospects in a post-season game. Does this just blow your mind and would it have happened if there had been a minor league season?

Eric A Longenhagen: Nah, not mindblowing, that’s why those guys are on the list. Blake Taylor’s early-season strike throwing was the surprising thing, but he’s back to Earth now.

Guest: Will the Braves be the last team to try a complete teardown rebuild that attempts to focus entirely on pitching? A lot of the arms they acquired were used for trades, but often those trades were for…more arms. Right now they’re at a place where Fried, Soroka, and Wright look great or at least good, but the same could be said of Folty and Newcomb in past stretches. In the end, the team is good because of Freddie, spectacular one-year contracts, and hitting the jackpot on two hitters with a third (Swanson) improving gradually every year. Is there any reason for a team to try the PITCHERS FIRST AND LAST thing ever again?

Paul Sporer: Haven’t the Tigers kind of gone Pitchers first? Don’t you kinda have to go with what the draft gives you?

Numpty: If these teams both have to go to 4th and 5th starters, who’s got the edge?

Eric A Longenhagen: that’s tough. I really don’t have confidence in Atlanta’s backend starters

Phillies fan who misses Sixto: I would like for Sandy Alcantara to not allow balls hit over 105mph

Paul Sporer: Definitely MIA for me, I barely trust ATL’s 3rd tbh

Dude: Eric, is targeting control-oriented pitchers with the intent to develop velo/stuff a good strategy with all the advancements in player dev? Are there any teams doing this now? The Indians come to mind, but not sure if they actually are.

Eric A Longenhagen: Yup, I think there’s something to that, especially if their fastball has other traits (angle, spin axis, spin rate) that would make it effective even if you’re only throwing 92.

Quadrangular: Are there any real take-aways from all the Central teams getting knocked out early or is it really just random luck?

Dan Szymborski: Well, there’s clear evidence that we expect the central teams to be weaker as a group, though a bunch of short series doesn’t really buttress that.

Dan Szymborski: If the Central teams had gone 5-2 or something, it wouldn’t have changed it in that direction either.

Tim Tebow’s Thunder Thighs: RE: targeting young pitchers with the intent to develop velocity, at what age do you figure most guys have topped out? Or is it more based on arm mileage than age? Thinking of guys who developed velocity later in their careers, like Morton and DeGrom.

Eric A Longenhagen: I think it’s becoming harder to know when guys are done gaining steam. So much of it has to do with whether or not they were training and living right. Like Dustin May clearly had a projectable frame when he was drafted sitting 90-92, but wo’d have guessed he’d add almost 10 full mphs? Nobody projected that kind of leap.

Paul Sporer: Marlins going off, wow

Eric A Longenhagen: Okay, it’s time for Atlanta to start thinking about a multi-inning bridge now

Paul Sporer: ^

Eric A Longenhagen: but also, you don’t wanna burn ‘pen arms for the rest of a series that has no off days.

Paul Sporer: It’s a rough spot to be in, but he’s not shutting ’em down

Paul Sporer: Needs a groundball in the worst way

Quadrangular: OK I’ll admit: I love the Marlins as an organization and it brings me a lot of joy that they’re doing so well. I think it’s good that the sport has a team that randomly shows up in the playoffs and does really well, just completely out of the blue

Derek: We shouldn’t be surprised by this, should we? I mean, we already know the Marlins as a franchise are incapable of losing a playoff series.

Paul Sporer: The Marlins have always cultivated quite a bit of talent and of course have the two WS wins, but I tend to lean toward hating them because of ownership. That said, I’ve been pretty high on this team

Moose_Bolton: Unfortunately you have to just let Fried eat this, right? Unless he absolutely can’t get anyone out I’d think it would be better to save arms for the next days, especially with a lack of off days (something I’d completely forgotten about).

Eric A Longenhagen: They *did* carry 15 pitchers. And I think Miami’s bullpen is not great, three runs is surmountable. I’m more inclined to make a move.

Will: The Braves can’t afford to let Fried eat this – they have the kind of offense that you trust to make something happen

Eric A Longenhagen: I would have guessed this would happen yesterday…

Dan Szymborski:

Dude: I don’t think that had intent. Wanted to go two-seam inside corner and just missed. Agree?

Eric A Longenhagen: Yes but these two teams have history surrounding Acuna getting hit.

Eric A Longenhagen: So there’s more to it than just what we’re seeing unfold today

Eric A Longenhagen: more context to the warning and emotions

Dan Szymborski: And two run lead!

Paul Sporer: I don’t think it was intentional, either, but if I’m Acuna, I’m sick and damn tired of the Marlins drilling me

Clark: How do you feel about the Braves apparently getting warned as a result of that?

Clark: makes no sense to me

Eric A Longenhagen: I agree they don’t deserve a warning but also that a warning there gives the umpires the best chance of preventing any physical conflict from happening.

Jkim: As a Dodger fan I have an intense dislike of Mattingly w/ this crap (although this is a 50/50 case in terms of intent)
but man I hope Acuna pimps another homer later

(also tangent – am I the only one that thinks Mattingly by virtue of his absolutely reckless and irresponsible handling of the COVID breakout w/ the Marlins this year should’ve been punished, let alone the Manager of the Year narrative?)

Eric A Longenhagen: others in chat have expressed similar feelings

bosoxforlife: Where was the left fielder? That was through the hole, not down the line.

Eric A Longenhagen: Dickerson is not a good defensive OF

Paul Sporer: I don’t like the wake up narrative if only because I don’t think they were asleep. If anyone thought ATL was going to roll over at 4-1, they’re insane

Dan Szymborski: It’s fun to see scoring that’s not homer-based!

Paul Sporer: ^

T: Atlanta’s lack of offense in the first series was a credit to Cincinnati’s pitching, nothing to do with a sleeping offense.

Paul Sporer: Ugh, now the long inning narrative. Alcantara isn’t exactly getting rocked, a couple singles into left after a HBP

Sam: Remember when Dickerson was a +13 DRS and +8.6 UZR in 2018 with Pirates? Haha

Scotty: that’s Corey “2018 Gold Glove Winner” Dickerson to you

Paul Sporer: Copped a Gold Glove for it. Having Marte in center no doubt helped

Eric A Longenhagen: voters clearly know what they’re doing (evergreen tweet)

Dan Szymborski: The Pretzel Bacon Pub Cheeseburger was good.

Dan Szymborski: Thought I’d recommend holding the mustard as it’s sweet.

Paul Sporer: Lewis Brinson out here trying to break his wrist

Tim Tebow’s Thunder Thighs: I’ve yet to see a definitive answer for this, but is it possible the universal DH will be implemented next year or does that require waiting for the new CBA? Were the negotiations over this season’s changes truly just a unique circumstance, or could the owners and MLBPA theoretically agree to changes like this every year?

Eric A Longenhagen: I think they can both mutually agree to alter the CBA at any time. I think uni DH is a lock for 2022 and might be in place next year because it’s certainly a thing the players see as plus. It means 15 more everyday jobs for hitters.

bosoxforlife: Do the Marlins get buzzed this inning?

Paul Sporer: It’d be remarkably stupid of Fried

Dan Szymborski: I personally think we’ve seen the last of pitcher-hitting.

Paul Sporer: Thank god

Paul Sporer: 2 quick outs by Fried, another and they’ve got a great shot at getting him through 5

Dan Szymborski: Good Albies-related things.

Eric A Longenhagen: Man, Magneuris Sierra. What the hell?

Paul Sporer: Why is Magneuris Sierra 2-for-2?

Eric A Longenhagen: I think Pierzynski and Waino have been good. AJ spot on about O

Eric A Longenhagen: O’day*

Paul Sporer: Looks like that’s it for Fried

Dan Szymborski: I like bourbon awareness.

All Bees: Is there any merit to playoff games being higher scoring when between divisional rivals due to increased familiarity with the pitchers?

Dan Szymborski: I don’t think so.

Guest: now that fangraphs is on twitch, would you guys consider opening a discord? Maybe that adds too much after-hours work for the writers, but would help build a community beyond just writer chats and comment sections.

Dan Szymborski: We actually do have a Discord, but we’ve mostly used it for staff things. I do have it set up for opening up, but we’d have to talk about it (since I already have employees on our own permission group with a staff-only channel already)

Debutante: Do you think the willingness to debut guys in the playoffs is due to the unique playoff and roster structure this season or indicative that teams, if not players, view this season as something less? Is it that no fans in the stands means less pressure even with the stakes?

Eric A Longenhagen: I do think the lack of crowds and circumstances have impacted manager confidence in young guys, yeah. And I think some of the skepticism regarding the importance of experience is valid, as it probably varies player by player rather than as a universal negative when you have none. Some dudes are built for it.

Eric A Longenhagen: I think one ofSanchez, Harrison and Brinson pan out but pans out big, and Sierra is part of a CF platoon.

Roger: What do you think the Marlins’ OF looks like in a couple years? Brinson? Harrison? Sierra? Others?

J: Is there evidence that batters even benefit from seeing a pitcher more times? Seems that pitchers would benefit from that as well.

Eric A Longenhagen: ^

Dan Szymborski: I haven’t seen much of an effect.

Paul Sporer: Acuna gonna try and send one 520 to center lol

TJF177: Maybe I missed this – but why is the roof up for this game? I’m sure it’s a little warm there, but really?

Paul Sporer: It’s almost never open, I’d go to games in Houston where I was SURE it’d be open and nope, closed

Paul Sporer: Woooow

Dan Szymborski: HUGE

Dan Szymborski: Houston gets hotter than 86 of course all the time, but I’d prefer A/C at that temperature.

Dan Szymborski: I *think* they close it when there’s a heat index of in the mid-80s or higher.

Dan Szymborski: https://www.mcall.com/la-sp-dodgers-astros-notes-20171026-story.html

Dan Szymborski: 84 for day games.

Eric A Longenhagen: Man, I never would have thought I’d see a link to the Morning Call (that wasn’t frlom me) on this website

Ryan: Have you guys heard anything re: the Philly and LAA GM vacancies?

Eric A Longenhagen: Just frlom being on the phone talking about instructs with folks: Dombrowski in LA, Jim Hendry in PHI. Just names mentioned as industry gossip, I’m not reporting news.

Tim Tebow’s Thunder Thighs: For anybody that hasn’t heard, Jaffe just posted that Clevinger is back and will start tonight:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/clevinger-is-on-the-padres-roster-and-will…

Paul Sporer: That’s huge. I didn’t think they stood a chance w/no Clevdog and Lamet, but at least one of em opens up their chances a bit

Eric A Longenhagen: a’Arnaud did not deserve a hit there, Alcantara sawed him in half. His shit is great.

Quadrangular: Big fan of these 92+ mph changeups that pitchers are throwing now. They seem pretty unfair

Tim Tebow’s Thunder Thighs: Good news, seemingly, must always be tempered with the bad. Eddie Van Halen has died at 65 from cancer:
https://www.npr.org/2020/10/06/834995224/eddie-van-halen-guitar-hero-d…

Eric A Longenhagen: Yeah, a huge bummer. I saw them (with Roth {oohhhhh yeah!}) live in Reading a couple years ago, Wolfgang almost faceplanted as they came out to play. But eddie was great and he’s one of the great riff writers of all time. RIP.

Eric A Longenhagen: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/a-dispatch-from-the-driveline-pro-day/

Jkim: Braves fans should sing Acuna Matata like EPL fans

muxosk: Have to think the plan is for matzek to get 6 outs right?

Eric A Longenhagen: Yeah, I think that’s wht you hope, but realistically he sees six hitters and not all will be outs. ike if he walks a guy next inning and Aguilar is up with traffic and he’s thrown 24 pitches or something? Coming out.

Eric A Longenhagen: But, uh, he’s off to a good start

Paul Sporer: Should be easier after that first inning, wow

Tim Tebow’s Thunder Thighs: Wow, Matzek progressed from a “scattershot 89-92” two years ago to 98 just now. At 28 he certainly wasn’t done building velocity (re: earlier discussion). Gotta think that was something mechanical.

Paul Sporer: I believe he’s a Driveliner, no?

Paul Sporer: Woo, I remember correctly! https://bravesjournal.us/2019/08/19/why-im-reading-more-into-braves-si…

Brandon: It’s a bit crazy, as hard-pressed as the Braves were for SPs this year, that they never tried Matzek as a starter.

Dan Szymborski: You can understand the drive to not risk ruining something that’s working! Especially given his history of injuries and completely losing the plot when it comes to the strike zone.

muxosk: Alcantara back out next inning?

Eric A Longenhagen: Hmmm, he’s at 91 pitches, he gets the no. 9 hitter than top for a fourth time, including Acuna….I might go Yimi Garcia there.

Fangraph’s Lurker: beer update?

Dan Szymborski: Nothing for me. I’ve cut way down on the beer drinking as it’s beneficial to my back to lose weight.

Dan Szymborski: I’m even on my same bottle of bourbon that I bought in the spring!

Numpty: Braves had the Robbie Erlin experiment going, otherwise might have tried Matzek to start

NashvilleSounds: MLB is sure doing its best to match the NBA in making sure as much of its playoffs are outside of prime after-work viewing hours, aren’t they?

Paul Sporer: Ya some of the wildcard scheduling was truly peculiar to me

Eric A Longenhagen: I’m not a media expert but I think so many working from home has altered the concentration of viewership.

Tim Tebow’s Thunder Thighs: As someone working from home, I’m concentrating really well on these games. Just not on work.

Paul Sporer: Eeek, not sure I like a 4th look at Alcantara for Acuna

Paul Sporer: Freefgod goin yard here

Eric A Longenhagen: Good cutters in on Freeman frlom Yimi, great play by Berti to get the out that keeps the double play possible

muxosk: How much does keeping the DP in play change the run expectancy vs it being 2nd and 3rd?

Eric A Longenhagen: a fifth of a run https://library.fangraphs.com/misc/re24/

Paul Sporer: Ozuna is such a g

Paul Sporer: Holy crap that was smashed

cg: Are awards already voted for? I can’t help but think playoff performance can sway voters even if it isn’t supposed to.

Eric A Longenhagen: Acuna spiked Rojas on that Berti fielder’s choice

Paul Sporer: Yes, they are turned in IIRC

Eric A Longenhagen: Big time jack from d’Arnaud, Braves 7 Marlins 4

Dan Szymborski: GOOD FRENCHY DOES IT

Jkim: d’Arnaud. My God

Tim Tebow’s Thunder Thighs: Oh my

JJ: Playoff baseballllllllll

I will Rue the McClanahan: Braves seem like the NL team with the least amount of “narrative” that might just mash their way deep into the post season.

Grant: Great swing by d’arnaud there, but I gotta tell ya Matty, a two-run double would’ve been better to keep the lead at an even number

Eric A Longenhagen: lmao

Nick: Has anyone else been receiving a dozen ads per break about some crappy AI thriller?

Eric A Longenhagen: No, the algo thinks I need paper towels.

Nick: DONG TWO

Guest: Lieutenant Dans

Eric A Longenhagen: This one is out of hand just as the second game is getting started. I’m switching to HOU.OAK but will be back if Miami scores.

Derek: Remember when people wanted Fried to just eat some innings?

Paul Sporer: This offense is relentless

Dan Szymborski: Hey, 9-4 I’d be happy for him to be out there!

Paul Sporer: You can’t know how much your offense is gonna put up, it makes to have had some concern if Fried went just 3 and taxed the bullpen with 5 gms in 5 days

Paul Sporer: Now they’re in a great position to win this one

GraphFans: I am supremely jealous of Dansby Swanson’s hair.

Paul Sporer: And talent, and face, and general existence

person: No one is talking about the trade that brought Dansby to ATL, but I feel like the Braves got the better of AZ in that deal

Dan Szymborski: Plus, his name sounds like a Great Gatsby character.

Tim Tebow’s Thunder Thighs: So at this point does Snit rest Martin/Melancon and just throw Ynoa out there for six outs?

Eric A Longenhagen: I agree. Even if Ynoa struggles, so long as he gives you something you’re at least saving one of Martin or Melancon.

Paul Sporer: Wasn’t it assumed that Atlanta always won that deal?

Paul Sporer: Yes, agreed re: Ynoa

Jkim: I can guarantee you that all dodger fans just had really bad flashbacks w/ Donny Baseball leaving in Alcantara 2 batters too long & bringing in Yimi Garcia and the game getting out of hand in the 7th inning

Derek: Re: Eric switching games. Why not just watch them both! (This is like the only time I ever use mlb.tv’s split screen thing)

Paul Sporer: I’m watching both but HOU/OAK gets the sound on now

TJF177: The all-green alternate Oakland hat is so choice

Dan Szymborski: I like yellow A’s duds

Eric A Longenhagen:

Will: Wait Adam Wainwright is broadcasting now?

Eric A Longenhagen: I’ve really dug him and Pierzynski

Paul Sporer: Disgraceful that anything but the OAK kelly greens got a vote

Paul Sporer: Ya Waino & Pierz are good

Paul Sporer: Pierz was a douche as a player, but he’s really sharp in to booth IMO

Grant: The Swanson deal was SLAMMED at the time, and that was even before Shelby Miller turned into a pumpkin.

TJF177: The current Braves garb is alright but it is a far cry from peak when you know that they can dust off those 70s Bob Horner era unis whenever they want

Steve Nebraska: At least no votes for Houston yet…

Dan Szymborski: Yeah, Oakland has some of the best colors in baseball, I’m glad that they’ve resisted any attempts to change things up

Dan Szymborski: Was checking – neither Oakland nor Pittsburgh have gone for their yellow jerseys since 2018

Paul Sporer: Grant, wasn’t it slammed AGAIN Arizona? I was a huge Miller backer but still can’t recall a time when Arizona was seen as the winner of that deal

Paul Sporer: Surprised they went with Chris Martin

Eric A Longenhagen: Correa showing the 80 arm

Paul Sporer: Jatt Moyce with a chance….

Grant: Paul, that’s what I meant. People slammed Arizona for it even before we knew Shelby Miller was no good. It only looks worse now

Paul Sporer: Oh ya ya ya… just gets worse by the day with Dansby evolving into a first division player

Eric A Longenhagen: lol, he’s certainly in the very precisely staged team photo.

Quadrangular: True or False: Bregman has the biggest “coach’s son” energy in the majors

Paul Sporer: looooool

Paul Sporer: so accurate

Eric A Longenhagen:

Eric A Longenhagen: I miss ‘Devil Rays’

wonder mike: Man, I feel so happy for d’Arnaud. I always have sympathy for highly regarded prospects who have a rough start to their career. Feel like he’s been under-appreciated his whole career + bad injury luck. He’s been solid for a couple years now

Eric A Longenhagen: Yeah, every year there’s a catcher who’s non-tendered after being hurt a ton and ends up being good. He’s been that guy like 3 times.

Baseball Eating: Khris Davis did the thing again

Eric A Longenhagen: dinger to CF, maybe Springer could have robbed it if he could see it?

Austin: “Devil Rays” might have worked as a name if you had a shorter city name preceding, but “Tampa Bay Devil Rays” was too much of a mouthful

Eric A Longenhagen: that’s fair

Paul Sporer: It was certainly close so Springer would’ve had a shot

Eric A Longenhagen: Another soft grounder through an OAK infield defense that sorely misses its best defender

Steve Nebraska: Too much of a mouthful? So if you go by syllables, that’s 6… No more than Colorado or LAD

Paul Sporer: Perhaps it’s because it’s 4 words? I dunno, just speculating

Eric A Longenhagen: Pretty amazing plate coverage by Springer, who goes out and pulls a breaking ball off the plate away from him 420ft to center. 2-1 Houston

Brandon: Tampa Bay Devil Rays uses a lot of front-mouth consonants. It’s why it’s a mouthful when a word like Colorado really isn’t.

Eric A Longenhagen: we’re now thru two and a half in the AL game, Braves threatened again in 8th but did not score, still up 4 in 9th

Also Ben: How long until Springer is a corner outfielder?

Paul Sporer: A year or two? Depending where he goes

Paul Sporer: Did the Braves waste their potential advantage by using both Martin & Melancon?

Eric A Longenhagen: with a 4-run cushion and the bottom of the order hitting in the 8th, yeah I think they could’ve just used one.

Eric A Longenhagen: but they’re up 1-0 now, so…

Numpty: Seven pitch inning save Melancon some work

Eric A Longenhagen: Looks like we’re gonna wrap things up here shortly. Let’s go through this half inning and then I’ll close up shop.

Eric A Longenhagen: tough break for Piscotty. Maldonado hopped on a spiked Framber Valdez curveball like a panther and hosed him. I thought it was a good play to run based on how badly Valdez bounced it

Eric A Longenhagen: valdez walks Semien, La Stella hitting w/ 2 out

Paul Sporer: OK y’all, I gotta get going. Thanks for hanging out. Eric, Dan, talk to y’all later!

Eric A Longenhagen: Correa fights the sun and catches La Stella pop up. That’s gonna do it, folks. Thanks for coming. Have a great rest of your day.