The Braves announced their roster for the Wild Card series today and it does not include left-hander Chris Sale. The club is going with an even split of 13 pitchers and position players, the latter group including two catchers, five infielders and six outfielders.
Sale had an excellent bounceback season in 2024 and could be awarded a Cy Young trophy in a few weeks, but the campaign ended on a frustrating note. He hasn’t taken the mound since September 19 against the Reds. In that outing, Sale’s velocity was down and he hasn’t pitched since. Up until yesterday, it seemed as though the club was just holding Sale to see if they would need him for a do-or-die game, otherwise hoping to hold him back for the first game of the Wild Card round.
Going into yesterday’s double-header, which was necessitated after two midweek games between the Mets and Atlanta were delayed by Hurricane Helene, both clubs needed a victory to secure a playoff spot. Spencer Schwellenbach started Game 1, which the Mets went on to win 8-7. It was expected that Sale would take the ball for the second contest but the club then announced that Sale had been scratched with back spasms. The issue had flared up during that start against the Reds and he kept hoping to be able to return to the mound but it didn’t improve and then worsened on Sunday night, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com (X links).
Based on Sale being left off the Wild Card roster, it can be assumed that the club doesn’t expect him to be game ready in the next few days. As mentioned, he is having a great season and undoubtedly would have been a part of their plans if he were healthy. He made 29 starts this year with a 2.38 earned run average, 32.1% strikeout rate, 5.6% walk rate and 44.8% ground ball rate.
Without Sale, the club will have to get creative to survive against the Padres. Due to the aforementioned double-header situation, they used a lot of arms yesterday. Schwellenbach started the first game and Grant Holmes the second. Neither of those pitchers are on the roster either, which makes sense since they probably wouldn’t be available for a few days anyway.
Max Fried and Reynaldo López will likely start game two and three respectively, as they would be on normal rest for those contests following their last regular season outings. Charlie Morton started on Sunday and might not be available early in the series, though he is on the roster.
For today, the club may be looking to get some innings out of Bryce Elder or AJ Smith-Shawver. Neither has been a huge part of the club’s performance of late but they may need to step up while the bullpen is taxed and the club can’t turn to Sale, Schwellenbach or Holmes. Elder posted a 6.52 ERA in the big leagues this year while frequently being optioned to the minors. He had a solid 3.73 ERA in Triple-A this year but hasn’t pitched for the big league club since August 6.
Smith-Shawver only pitched once in the majors this year, a spot start of 4 1/3 innings in May. He has a 4.85 ERA in Triple-A on the year, though he finished somewhat strong with a 3.68 ERA over his last seven starts.
In addition to Elder and Smith-Shawver, Atlanta’s playoff roster consists of Fried, Lopez, Morton, Aaron Bummer, Jesse Chavez, Daysbel Hernández, Raisel Iglesias, Luke Jackson, Joe Jiménez, Pierce Johnson and Dylan Lee. On the position player side, they have catchers Sean Murphy and Travis d’Arnaud, infielders Ozzie Albies, Orlando Arcia, Whit Merrifield, Matt Olson and Gio Urshela, as well as outfielders Michael Harris II, Jarred Kelenic, Ramón Laureano, Marcell Ozuna, Jorge Soler and Eli White.
what
He’s got back spasms he should be back if the Braves advance to the NLDS
“Should” meaning “hopefully”. I’ve suffered from back spasms for decades. The mild ones can clear up in 3-4 days. But I’ve had bad ones that took nearly a month before I was even 80%. Wishing a speedy recovery for Chris.
I feel you on those back spasms. I’ve had several back problems the last 10+ years. I go in every about 6-8 months to have my nerves burned off in my lumbar. I can only imagine what the back pain would be for an active athlete.
That’s a tall order. The Padres look World Series bound to me
@DashaToushu they have 4 aces and a great bullpen. their offense is good and clutch as well. i say this as an a’s fan who lives in la and have gravitated towards the dodgers since moving here. they also have good karma, as it seems like they’re playing for the death of their owner, if you believe in stuff like that.
Dodgers are a regular season team. I dont trust their rotation whatsoever. Ohtani is gonna have to carry them. My guy says the padres go on a run. But who knows
fred – Postseason is a whole different ballgame.
Some players excel in the limelight, others choke. Other than Xander, not a whole lot of postseason experience on the Padres. Anything can happen.
@dashatoshu those weren’t do or die games, both teams were in the playoffs. they were just playing for the division and sweeping three games at dodger stadium is nearly an impossible task.
Dash – Do you EVER agree with anyone? LOL!
I have done many studies over the years to support my findings, which are also widely supported by players and coaching staffs.
Here’s the thing, players are HUMAN ….. and HUMANS react differently directly based on many factors especially pressure and stress. Those who can handle pressure the best, like David Ortiz and Curt Schilling and Jon Lester, perform better than expected in the postseason. Not every postseason game, but over a decent sample size.
Are you really gonna try to dispute that now? ;O)
Why did the Dodgers lose 8 of 13 against the Padres this season?
@Fever Pitch Guy
Like 75% of the Padres team was also the Padres team the last time they beat the Dodgers in the playoffs. You forgot that I guess when posting your “not much postseason experience beyond Xander” comment???
If the Braves can somehow sneak out a victory in game one Fried and Lopez are as good as anyone on the Padres. Even though the Braves are at a huge disadvantage the Braves could definitely surprise
Dasha DodgerBro- the Padres didn’t sellout to win the division, they chose to set-up for the Postseason. Argue with me and your new account is blocked, too. Just FYI
@DashaDBro… Feel free to celebrate the regular season again
Padres won the season series against the dodgers lmao
Padres not winning the division is actually a safer bet.
Padres will be playing this week while dodgers take a week off.
We’ve seen all through sports that when teams take a week off it definitely doesn’t give them the advantage.
Machado has some playoff experience. Hopefully he’s gotten wiser since his “attempt to injure” move against Brewers’ 1st baseman (maybe Jesus Aguilar?)
Has everybody forgotten the Padres/Phillies 2022 NLCS? Feels like 80% of that roster is still here…
And I would suggest that Manny has definitely matured. He’s been nothing but a class act since his arrival in SD.
Teams manage differently when they are in the regular season. The LF could play, but has a slight strain. Manager gives him the day off and plays a sub because its a long season. Bullpen has been used a lot, so the manager limits usage to a couple of more rested pitchers to allow arms to recover. None of that is happening in the post season. If the player is on the roster, he’s available. Yordan Alvarez can barely walk. He played today. Wouldn’t have, if it was the regular season.
Winning would be a surprise, because no one expects them to. They could also live up to expectations, just as Sale did. Did anyone at the start of the year think he would be healthy for all of 2024? Still, he lasted longer for Atlanta than they had the right to expect.
Well, you’ve earned said block by not even beginning to understand what setting a rotation means. Aloha again, DashaBro!
You’re a moron the Padres won season series over Dodgers 8-5 so won – lost record means nothing! Both Phillies and Padres own tve Dodgers and once again the $1.2 billion they spent won’t get them far
Padres and Dodgers, two teams yearning for a 162 WS
Dash – I got a nope from you, so I think I’ll quit while I’m ahead …. it’s not often (ever?) that you agree with me. LOL!
Why would you ignore statistics that are actual results?
David Ortiz has a career .947 OPS in 369 Career Postseason PA’s which of course is all the more impressive considering the higher quality of pitching that he faced in the postseason.
Why would you disregard those postseason numbers, but yet you support Cora’s belief that Wilyer Abreu can’t hit LHP because of his career .514 OPS against them?
Seems like you are highly inconsistent when it comes to statistical evaluations.
socal – Postseason experience is accumulated based on the player careers, not the brief postseason appearance of the team itself.
Cronenworth – 18 games
Profar – 20 games
Merrill – o games
Tatis – 6 games
Arraez – 7 games
Solano – 10 games
Higgy – 9 games
Peralta – 8 games
Wade – 4 games
Yes Machado’s 41 games can be considered as almost comparable to Xander’s.
But when you look at a team like the Dodgers, 49 games for Freeman and 58 games for Mookie and 41 games for Smith and 46 games for Muncy and 72 games for Kike and 67 games for Taylor …. there’s value in all that postseason experience.
Not saying the Dodgers will win the WS as their pitching is suspect, but I certainly wouldn’t rule them out.
Dash – Now you are pretending to have amnesia?
You supported Cora’s decisionmaking abilities, you insisted he was a good manager, I will not allow you to once again backpedal.
That’s why I won’t waste even more time presenting my studies. It is meant for people with an open mind who have the desire to learn and be enlightened. Instead of politely requesting this favor from me, you openly convey in your narrow biased mind that you will criticize and ignore whatever it is I provide.
Do you really think ANYONE would bother to put in the time and effort to educate you after you tell them “Of course, you probably don’t have any studies. And, on the off chance that you do, they probably, based on this comment I’m replying to, aren’t rigorous at all.”
Talk about anti-social behavior. I hung in there as long as possible trying to have a friendly conversation, but your closed mind and not-very-hidden agenda just wouldn’t allow it.
Pity.
lol!
Gwynn – THANK YOU!
I thought it was him, anybody who is “new” here and immediately starts going after people is likely an alt account.
Amazing the lengths some people will go to try and feel superior by pushing down others.
Bro – Time’s up.
I gave you a second chance, not gonna humor anyone who continues to push their anti-social agendas.
I won’t mute you again though, at least you were somewhat civil this time.
Bro – I could plagiarize the greatest studies from Bill James or Alex Speier, and you’d still call it crap no matter what. Why the hell would I EVER assume you’d give me credit or praise for anything. You’re incapable of doing so.
Nobody trusts your “opinion” because you are incapable of giving an unbiased one or even a reasonable one.
Gwynn – Hafta agree with you. Even though plenty of Sox fans still hate Machado for Pedroia, fact is Machado hasn’t done anything jerky in a long time..
Good to see some people do mature with age.
Bro – As usual, you either miss the point entirely or simply choose not to acknowledge it.
Just because a car isn’t a Rolls Royce, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have value.
Just report Filihok’s new account and reflag him for trying to circumvent a ban. Site was better without Filihok anyways.
Bro – I’ve been posting on messageboards since you were in diapers.
I’ve encountered several people like you, I know you think you’re special but you’re not. Whenever I put the time and effort in to post lengthy studies, they systematically reject it because their ego is too enormous to acknowledge they were actually wrong.
You’re trying to bait me, even after admitting you had already decided to trash whatever I present BEFORE I even present it.
Stop wasting my time.
Bro – You already embarrassed yourself by bringing a “clutch” article to a discussion about postseason performance! Hahaha!!!
Did I say even one word about RISP?
Waste.
Of.
Time.
@DashaToushu,
Your premise that the team with the best record has the inside track to win the World Series is faulty.
Since divisional play began in 1969, the team with the best record only won the World Series 15 times, which indicates only a little bit better than a 1-in-4 chance that the best regular-season record also hoists the trophy when all is said and done.
In the current video-game environment of pitch clocks, universal DH and other changes to make MLB baseball palatable to short-attention Millennials, pitching and clutch hitting are key in a playoff series. The Dodger rotation is problematic at best and they are a very streaky team once you get past Freeman and Betts.
Will the Padres sweep the Dodgers in a best of seven series? Not likely. But I do think they have momentum and the depth to outlast LA.
head – Well said!
Some people don’t realize the postseason is a whole different ballgame than the regular season.
Regular season success has largely to do with depth, postseason has largely to do with talent and the ability to perform in a postseason environment.
Never know. Some play thru it, some don’t. No 2 players are alike, different thresholds. Yaz played tad over 10y with his back jacked up, but only season really missed time was the “hamate” season (72). He struggled thru rest of the time, even won few more GG’s.
As long as he can still sit in the dugout & do the “tomahawk chop” they’ll be fine. Ahahaha!
Should have just let the DBacks in. This will be an embarrassing postseason display yet again from Atlanta.
At least it will be quick and finished by Wednesday night.
I think the Braves will be competitive. But yeah, 2 & out
Boston knew he couldn’t make it through an entire season, he just chose the worst time to prove them right
Braves aren’t in the postseason with out him
They squeaked in the final game of the year because the Mets weren’t playing their regulars
Every single team would’ve taken Sale’s
performance and accompanying salary this season playoffs or not – even the White Sox.
@mystery you can push that narrative. The Braves also “squeaked in” because the d-backs played horrible when they needed it most including blowing an 8-0 lead in a game against the Brewers while the Braves won 6 of their last 8 games.
‘Not making the Playoffs’ vs ‘Eliminated in the First Round’
Is it that big of a win?
lol be serious man
The Injury Gods frowned upon the Braves in 2024. Otherwise they would have been a powerhouse.
A powerhouse without the injuries?
Don’t kid yourself. Everyone was playing mediocre baseball before their injuries. Strider maybe the only exception but the pitching has been fine without Strider.
Don’t believe me just go take one look at Acuna’s numbers, Riley’s numbers, Murphy’s numbers, etc. They’ve been bad, or at least incredibly mediocre. I get that the injuries prevented them from ever having a chance to turn it around, but the ship was heading in the wrong direction before the injuries. Blaming the injuries is serious cope.
Sure, I wasn’t talking about the Mets, but they were also having a soft rebuild year, so there’s that
No it’s not, just ask Jays fans
No Strider, no Acuna, limited Riley, Murphy and Albies.
They could have easily have had a better record than the Phillies but for being bitten hard by the injury bug swarm.
@2024: No MLB team has ever made the playoffs w/3 of their Opening Day starters missing the last 35 games. Strider, Acuna, Riley. Acuna only played 49 games. Better than even chance he would have gotten closer to his projected numbers than he finished with. Riley in 110 games w/116 wRC and 115 OPS plus. That’s 16 and 15% better than league average. Missed the last 35 games w/a broken hand and another 2 weeks w/an oblique injury. Michael Harris missed 2 months w/a hamstring injury. Albies missed 63 games due to injury. Your inability to admit that injuries to the starting lineup crippled their offense is “serious” obtuseness.
Didn’t Cleveland have 3 of their top starters injured in the 2016 postseason? And they made it to The World Series.
“……the last 35 games……” Saw that quote earlier today. I should have quoted the entire sentence. My bad for not giving credit to the source that I’m trying to find again (lol.)
That quote was from OptaSTATS. “No other MLB team has ever made the playoffs in a year where 3 of their Opening Day starters missed the final 35+ regular season games (plus the playoffs) on the IL.”
Every team has injuries. How you overcome them is what makes a team a powerhouse. The Braves lacked depth, and it showed.
@ Nashville Jeff
The Tigers made the playoffs with only 2 starters.
Just like the Mets would have “squeaked in” had the Braves won the first game and the Mets won the second game
@stymeedone: Not really referring to pitching. Strider was the only starting pitcher they lost for the season after his second start. Position player injuries was the point.
Their poor depth has them in the playoffs…
There is prob only 3-4 teams that could lose their best position player and best pitcher for the season and still make the playoffs.
Every team has injuries but not all injuries are equal. Braves depth is what got them here
Boston traded him for a replacement level hitter. John henry needs to sell the team. MLB is better with boston a juggernaut
Dusty: Very true. And, Mystery, Sale DID make it through the season.
@ dusty obviously not
Yeah, they were much better off with the sub-.200 hitting Grissom.
Yeah Boston really dodged a bullet, they could have had a triple crown quality SP. Instead Grissom really tore it up for them!
yup they were right to trade the triple crown winner and cy young for a minor league shortstop
Mystery – If he had missed several starts during the regular season, the Braves don’t make the postseason ….. so this isn’t exactly the worst time.
So much for saving Sale for the playoffs. The injury is real….
This is unfortunate. The Braves SP was to be a playoff strength. Because MLB didn’t move the Mets series up to last Monday with a doubleheader on Tuesday (pre-hurricane) the Braves, and Mets to a degree, pitching has been exhausted before the playoffs. I Hope Sale will be available for another series should the Braves survive the Wildcard round.
Isn’t that by design though? There has to be some incentive to win a division or locking up early. Setting your playoff roster is one of those perks
The Braves refused to move the games. They get to suffer the consequences now. The Mets got shafted by this decision. Sunday in Milwaukee, then off to Atlanta for a double header, then back to Milwaukee for a three game elimination series. F*** the Braves, they are complicit in their own demise if this affects their pitching.
Tell me you’re an idiot without telling me you’re an idiot.
The Mets could have won more games at any point of the season to avoid that situation
Didn’t hear about the Tuesday double but mlb offered a neutral site and the Braves said no, in logistics & probably revenue loss. They lost a pitcher at the start of the series last year too. Fried I think
Terrible to see another star not in the playoffs.
Sale and Glasnow picking the worst time to live up to their reputations.
I’ll enjoy watching Cease, Sale (hopefully) and Lopez – all former White Sox pitchers – compete in the postseason. They all deserve better than being on the worst team in the modern day history of baseball (Look out, 1899 Spiders! We’re coming after you next season!)
Dang! Terrible news for Atlanta facing San Diego.
Hindsight is 20/20. It’s clear the Red Sox would have loved to have had Sale’s production on the roster this year, even if he just barely pushed them into the postseason and couldn’t pitch in October. I’m confident the Braves have no regrets, and I’m skeptical the next three years of What’s-his-name playing second in Wooster is going to change that. Nonetheless, the trade made sense for Boston at the time.
Anyhow, with Verlander, Scherzer and Kershaw all sidelined for the first round of the playoffs just like Sale, it made me wonder what would it take for Sale to punch his ticket to the HoF? Would five more years like 2024 be enough to get him in? What are the chances he’ll be able to perform at a high level until he’s 40?
Probably three more productive seasons plus this season’s CYA gets him in. Roy Halladay is a good comp.
Through their first 14 seasons, Halladay pitched 600 more innings than Sale, and accumulated 11.6 more WAR. Sale is more of a strikeout pitcher, but his results on average are only marginally better — 140 ERA+ to 138 ERA+.
Halladay’s last two seasons were dreadful, with a negative 0.6 WAR and a 5.15 ERA. So I suppose Sale just needs 600 innings and an additional 11 WAR, which should be possible with three more seasons.
But Halladay got a boost for having his career cut short. His career WAR, JAWS and other advanced metrics fall below the average for the Hall. Voters gave him a little extra credit for the seasons he didn’t get to pitch. His best full-career comps are Adam Wainwright and Dwight Gooden. His best comps through age 36, when he died, are Tim Hudson and Mike Mussina.
I don’t see Sale getting that bump. Particularly since he had a five lost seasons in Boston.
Compare them both with Kershaw. Through 14 seasons, Kershaw accumulated nearly 20 WAR more than Sale, in slightly fewer innings than Halladay. Here’s a link to all three filtered for their first 14 years:
stathead.com/tiny/Jxm5F
To catch up to Kershaw over three more seasons, Sale will need 800 innings and 25 WAR. That seems improbable given his health.
Sale might finish somewhat close to Halladay, but that leaves him as a bubble candidate at best. And that requires three years of 200 innings each, a tall order for someone with his injury history.
Good analysis bcjd, one comment though Doc died at 40, 4 years after retiring not his age 36 season
The thing about speaking of averages for the hall is they are skewed because almost everyone has a high WAR but there are guys with outrageously high numbers bringing the averages up.
There is no universe where that trade ever makes sense. Sale was still throwing hard enough to be dominant. He was overdue for a healthy(-er) season. He’s now winning a CYA. That trade should be a fire-able offense for Breslow last July
“Overdue for a healthier season” requires a crystal ball. There was no good reason to think he was going to pitch 30 starts, much less with a sub-3.00 ERA. It’s only possible to say that with hindsight.
bc – No good reason?
Sale ended last season healthy and strong.
He was having a healthy and normal offseason for the first time in several years.
This has been confirmed by both Sale and the Red Sox.
All indications were he’d have a healthy 2024 season.
Braves wouldn’t have made the trade or immediately extended him if there was any question about that, they are a solid organization that makes wise decisions for the most part.
You don’t need a crystal ball to see that Grissom would be a bust. No power, poor defense. Not sure what the Red Sox saw in him. He’ll be riding the pine within a couple of years.
gmat – I think they were enamored with Grissom’s hitting in AAA, which of course doesn’t always translate to the majors.
Troy – what in the past 4 years of Chris Sale’s career gave you any indication that he’d be healthy this year? If it wasn’t an issue due to pitching mechanics (TJ, the rib injury), Sale hurt himself in the most random ways (falling off the bike, broken finger on a comebacker).
If Sale was still in Boston and hurt, which is the most likely outcome, then the Fo gets crucified for getting literally no value out of his massive deal. Now do I agree that Grissom was a good return? No but that’s a different discussion.
This way, there’s a chance that Grissom contributed to the major league team and they at least get some value out of Chris Sale’s massive extension.
then how did braves know to get him?
Jeff – the Braves got Sale for essentially nothing. The Sox paid all of his salary, or very near all of it and the Braves traded a guy with a 79 Ops+ last year and spent most of the year in the minors.
Low risk high reward move by the Braves. If Sale got hurt, they were not actually on the hook for his salary and they only gave up a guy who wouldn’t have cracked the major league team this year and probably didn’t factor in at all to their long term plans with their young talent locked up at those positions.
If someone offered you a free lotto ticket, you take it.
bc – The trade made sense for a team forfeiting the next couple years.
Pretty sure if Sox management knew in advance how attainable a postseason spot was this year, they’d have held onto Sale. And they wouldn’t have made the horrendous decision to sign Giolito to that ridiculous contract.
Braves will likely win this series just because.
Sale and Spencer Sw are the only two interesting and exciting assets on the team. Can’t wait for the latter to make a name for himself on the big stage.
Still bitter the Mutts won game 1. Didn’t even watch the game and yet despite the lack of investment and anxiety inert if actively watching it, I’m still pissed.
@Trade; “Sale and Spencer Sw are the only two interesting and exciting assets on the team.” Austin Riley. Ronald Acuna. Michael Harris II. Matt Olson. Ozzie Albies. Those 5 prove that you still have no idea what you’re talking about. A large percentage of the teams in MLB would love to have those 5 as their position player core. That group has strong trade value as well as being on field performance assets. Btw—-during spring training I posted that imo Schwellenbach was a sleeper to make starts for the Braves by June. You made one of your usual disparaging remarks about the Braves. You said the Braves had no pitching in the minor leagues that could help them. Glad to see you realize Schwellenbach’s value now. The Braves are loaded w/talented minor league pitching.
But but but the Mets and Braves had a hand shake agreement to split yesterday so Sale would be fresh for the playoffs?!?!?
Those two rainouts really hurt the Braves. Winning just one of them when they were originally scheduled would have helped save their rotation.
Padres get to miss the NL Triple Crown leader and CY Young favorite in the Wild Card series. That has to be a good thing for them.
It’s quite lucky for them. But in a 3 game series, where stochastic outcomes are in play, such advantages are not all that important.
They are critical. Instead of Sale, the Padres faced a bullpen game and came away with a 1 game lead in the series.
@dustyslambchops — thanks for the correction. Given that, it’s hard to see why Halladay got a boost from the voters. Yes, he was among the best of his era, but he’s definitely a marginal candidate for the HoF. His best seven years are just a hair above the average for a HoF starter. Everything else is below average.
Halladay was the best pitcher in baseball for several years (or at least #2 or so). He’s hardly marginal.
@jeffreybecker — the Braves didn’t have any special foreknowledge or insight to tell them Sale would have a good season. They took a gamble and it paid off. They weren’t clairvoyant.
Well they clearly had reasons they believed. At the least he pitched 100 innings last year so was healthy and had some nice underlying stats. The velo was there. He is a generational arm. I mean it was hardly pure luck although there has been luck involved for ATL here in that he was better than they could’ve expected.
Why is Luke Jackson on the post-season roster? Only thought would be garbage innings. Terrible acquisition.
@vacommish: Probably because he’s a fresh arm. Holmes pitched Sunday and 4 innings yesterday. Had to leave him off. Chavez is on the roster too. No mil options any better to replace those 2.
Yes, knew that but it was more of a commentary about his history of crappy performance :-). Jackson, while a fresh arm, is not a trustworthy arm. I pray the Braves don’t see Chavez or Jackson in crucial situations unless all other options have been exhausted.
Lol, totally w/you on this. Hope to see those two only waving at fans and celebrating Braves homers.
Jackson probably only comes in if they are down by 5 in the 7th, or if game 1 goes 12 innings and everybody in the bullpen is cooked for game 2.
Either the greatest gift the Braves could give the Padres or AA is some kind of freaky genius
If the Braves win it all with these injuries it will be legend.
Are players in Sale’s position allowed in the dugout for the games?
@Bauer: Players on the IL in the regular season can sit in the dugout. Not sure about playoffs—–and you’re asking about guys actually not on the Playoff Roster (and haven’t been IL’ed either.) There’s a difference, so…………..? I’m guessing yes.
This is a terrible comment section.
No sale? Braves are Texas torts
Toast**
Dagger
Braves will win the World Series. With the injuries they’ve had and lower production and losing Sales, they’ve got it locked up. I’m the eternal Braves fan.
Right when u need em most. Injury bug has been brutal for Braves all yr. Next man up.
Not a back issue
DEAD ARM
Worst time of the year to start missing games, but Braves playing Padres so you never know. Padres have been best team over last two months and Braves have a way of ruining hot teams in the post season.
What hot teams have they ruined in the post season? Besides the 21′ World Series the Braves have been bounced by the Hot teams for what like 9-10 Consecutive Playoff runs dating back before their rebuild.
Putting Smith-Shawver (a shaky rookie) and Elder (a nuclear meltdown waiting to happen) on the playoff roster instead of Ian Anderson (a pitcher with proven major league and playoff experience and success) is a typical example of how inept Snitker is as a manager. He does not know his butt from a hole in the ground about managing a pitching staff.
@Bucsfan: Why do you believe that Snitker was the decision maker on the roster set-up? He probably had a say in it, but the FO makes personnel decisions. Snitker isn’t watching pitchers at AAA. The development staff/FO are. Besides—-Anderson hasn’t been his old self in AAA this season. He hasn’t pitched in a ML game since 2022. Still recovering from TJS and it hasn’t gone very well for him. Obvious the Braves management believes that he’s a worse choice than Elder and AJSS at this time.
Snitker has the final say as to who pitches and who plays, not the GM. Snitker is an overrated overmatched old turtle who should retire. Poor Smith-Shawver did not make it out of the second inning tonight. Even Meltdown Elder would have done better. Snitker has no clue how to handle a pitching staff period.
Snitker has no say over who’s called up from AAA. Nice try though.
Snitker does not decide who is pitching. He has literally said before that the front office decides who pitches in the rotation. In a post game interview he was once asked about Elders spot in the rotation and said “I don’t make those decisions.” So you do not know what you are speaking about
The reason SS was called up was because he struck out 10 and 12 in 2 of his last 3 outings and in the other he pitched great along with some of his other recent starts. Now there were warning signs as well as he gave up 4 solo homers in that last start if I recall. It was him or Elder apparently. I would’ve gone with Jesse Chavez. I just think they thought there was a chance that with AJ SS’s stuff and the fact that they likely have never seen him that he might have something to offer here but hindsight is 20/20. I think they were expecting to use him as a 3 innings opener. So not too different from what we see with lots of young guys getting called up in the postseason. Essentially an opener…a reliever.
You’re right about them using AJSS as an opener. Snitker said in an interview that they were hoping “to get 13 outs” from AJSS.
Braves could use more bodies. How bout a 5 for 1 with the White Sox?
Sale prolly had a hissy fit over way he was dressed. He should be in fashion, not sports.
Isn’t this why the Braves got Sale was the post season pedigree. Triple crown is awesome on a personal level but let’s get an injection and throw for gold. Come on.
Lonnie – I’m a longtime fan of Sale, but what on earth do you mean about postseason pedigree?
Dude has a 6.35 ERA in the postseason and September has been historically his worst month of the regular season. He wears down, not surprising for a guy that tall and thin.
But if you need a guy to GET you to the postseason, he’s your man.
Honestly that’s just what “they” said when they got them. They said they picked him up for his competitiveness for the post season.
Lonnie – Got it! Well “they” were wrong, Sale has had a great career but has never been a postseason legend.
And it still infuriates me that he got pounded in the 2017 ALDS because of Cora’s cheating.
I mean we can all agree the 17 scandal is an * like winning the 2020 sprint
Lonnie – They should have taken away the championship like they took away the medal from Rosie Ruiz.
Hoping CS can get right …and we see him on mound again soon. His somewhat unconventional mechanics are a real hoot to watch.
Sale told his doctor his back hurts when he gets up in the morning. So his doctor said just wake up in the afternoon.
“No Sale” seems like a euphemism for Atlanta’s efforts to retool for a playoff run this season. Just made it by the skin of their teeth and with smoke and mirrors.
Unfortunately, Braves Nation will use Sale’s unavailability as their excuse du jour when they get swept in a short series in spite of having a roster that — when healthy — was perfectly capable of the necessary additional wins that could have put them in contention of a division title. That they didn’t seize that opportunity when they were healthy means they are now having to rely on an immense amount of luck.
Sale will have been a huge lift for them, but he won’t be a difference-maker either way.
Naw Braves are hammered. I don’t see a game 3. Fried’s farewell is tonight.
@the voice: “When they were healthy”…..? So they should have “seize{d} that opportunity” before Acuna was knocked out after 49 games? Before Riley was done after 110 games? While Harris II was on the IL from mid-June to mid-August? While Albies was available for the 99 games he played? My reason for them being knocked out tonight will be that the Padres are the best team at this time. The Braves scrub lineup has little chance against the Padres strong pitching and superior lineup. No excuses from this Braves fan. Easy to acknowledge that the Braves were lucky to scratch their way in and are badly overmatched in this series. No soup for you.
agree
With Nashville of course.
I predict Fried will dominate and they will lose tomorrow. Think Fried is in a zone and would love to show Pads fans what their front office (probably owner driven) gave away for a year of J-UP in what was obviously gonna be a non-competitive season. One of the worst trades I’ve ever seen considering the situation they were in.
And should I point out the oddity of clinching on that last day and having some players drinking a bit after a doubleheader with another game the next day? I mean they weren’t hitting it hard (many werent drinking at all) but I would’ve had a non-alcoholic celebration.
Fried did not dominate…
Padres may win it. They are hot like a fire cracker and are looking great. The swagger and confidence is on high. Love it.
Johnny saw Chris at Penneys the other day.