Show #473: The 2020 Season Begins

You're listening to Atlanta baseball talk. You're weekly podcast for all things at Atlanta Braves. Welcome to Atlanta baseball talk show number 473 today is Sunday July 26, 2020. My name is Steve. I'm joined by both Hammy and Curtis and folks. Please help out the show by telling your friends sharing links and writing reviews. If you don't, we will expand the playoffs to 28 teams. Hey, it's

hockey. Yeah. All right folks. And tonight's show will be discuss the roster, the opening series in New York and those expanded playoffs, but first a quick break. All right. So guys, before we get to the series in New York, let's talk about some notable stuff that happened this past week, leading up to Friday. So first off, some signing some new guys. Yeah. Matt Adams. Some Joe

old guys. Yeah, new old guys, right. And Scott Shabler. So let's talk about each of those guys. So the Matt. I think you got stepped over on your second guy. Matt, I was shacin. Sounds familiar. I think we want to say it now, Ham. You want to save it for later? What's your plan? I don't know. I want to hear Kurt say it. Jules shake it.

Yes. All right. Shaken is shaken again at truest park. Yeah. And shaken, got out of a bit of a mess in the fifth. It was pretty good. All right. So let's also Matt Adams, right? So it gives the team another semi legitimate left hand of bat. He was not amazing last year. He OB P below 300 16 Homer 757 OPS last year against varieties. And look

at this series as any indication, Snicker plans to D H Adams, when the braids face a variety, which is every team will be a ton. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, really. So look, that may expose Adams. And in two weeks, that's not the plan. I assume Snicker will roll them out until Adams basically tells him you shouldn't with his play. But you know, look, it was a

great pickup. Yeah, it's a great paid off tonight. RBI single. That's right. So I'm pretty cool. It protects, you know, protects Ozuna a little bit. Maybe I guess if he's still producing like this, you know, makes extends the lineup. So it's great. It's great. I love it. Uh, Jules shaken is back, as we said. So also not a great year last year, an ERA over six

or less like five. What's that? Or less like five. No. Yeah. They he was when he was with the brewers and they lost the Dodgers and the NLCS. He was their ace. That was two years ago. Yeah. It's true. Um, so look, it's a depth move. Depth will be key this year. We see it already. He came out of the bullpen in Sunday night's game. Um,

so look, it's great. If we need him a bunch, that's terrific. He's a vet sort of. Yeah, he's a vet. Exactly. He can pitch and games were beating them. That's 10 to 1 exactly. You can eat any still a win here and there. Absolutely. And then Scott Shabler, lefty outfielder who a few years ago had some pop. Uh, was in the game. He was injured last

year. Right. Didn't play many games. But again, another great depth move. He's on the, the 30 man satellite squad. But, you know, I mean, it's going to be a war of attrition this year. You need as many guys as you can. That can fill the spots you need, right? He's another lefty. It's great to have him in reserve. I mean, I like all these moves. And

I like that on top of this is not just sitting back. He's being aggressive and he's getting any guy that even sort of. He fits the bill. You know, 100% 100% and not to say that they don't even revisit Puyg. If he gets a couple of negative test results and they don't. Uh, Shabler and. Till that spot with Puyg, you know, I mean, why not? Uh,

oh, I think I think that they absolutely talked to Puyg again when he tests negative. I would be shocked if they didn't. Yeah, I Puyg is going to be a brave. He's going to be a brave. Yeah. Totally. All right. So also, of course, leading up to opening day, the 30 man got announced. Not a ton of mysteries heading into it. But a few things got

answered. One was Camargo who had missed the last few. You know, spring training games because he had tweaked. An ankle or knee. Don't remember. He was okay. And he was activated. And look good. Saturday. Yeah. That's right. Yeah. Got the start of third on Saturday. Tyler Matsik lefty who, you know, was looking pretty good a number years ago. Then got the Yips and is sort of

a comeback story. He made it. And the only other thing, you know, Snittaker was talking earlier during spring training 2.0 that they didn't know if they were going to go with 16 pictures or 17 pictures. They did end up going with 16 pictures, 14 position players. Um, so that's the 30 man as it stands now. Of course, that 30 man changed. Because on opening day, we

learned that both Tyler flowers and Travis Darno had COVID-like symptoms. Did they have like a sleepover or something? Yeah. Before the first road trip. They have got to stop holding hands. Yes. They were painting each other's fingernails or something. And this happened. Don't take it. Yeah. Go ahead. I'm sorry. What doesn't the MLB have testing? Like, are there any other things that are going to happen?

They're the ones that you have to wait a week to get a test result back. This is the MLB. Like, how can they like, yeah, they're showing symptoms. Well, they had they had. Remember that they didn't test positive hand. Right. It was just out of abundance of caution because they had what seemed like COVID-like symptoms. They did not feel good. So they were like, you, you

guys stay high, I guess. Which mistakas went down today with the same thing. I think they're going to be ridiculously cautious with any guys that are even showing anything. They cannot afford to have a team get decimated. Right. And see the Marlins on Sunday who four guys come up positive, including, you know, best friend, Jose, Urania. I mean, the, the, the, with another homer. Oh, beautiful.

Ah, that's delightful. All right. So, you know, flowers and Darno stay at home and enter Alex Jackson and William Contreras, who we will get to when we talk about the opening series. The last thing I wanted to talk about was just something to look to this coming week is that Faulty got sheld in his war, his final warmup. It was, it was one of the Marlins

exhibition games. His velocity was way down. Certainly the most concerning thing about it. He just, you know, had bad results. Wouldn't be too worried about it. The velocity was down somewhat concerning. After the game, he was like, it's just rainy conditions. I just didn't feed, you know, um, but it's certainly something to, to look for Monday when he faces the rays. Yeah. We can't have Faulty

throw an 88. No. No. That would not be great. And he seems dare I say an excuse maker. Well, look, I think that, let's let him pitch in a real game. Yeah. Faulty does not get the benefit of the doubt. No. Because it is last start. Ham, ham, ham. Wait a minute. That, that, that suggests that this is the first time he's ever made an excuse

about his poor outing. No, but I'm just saying before we start saying he's not ready or. I mean, did I say when ready? No. All right. I just, maybe I was talking to Steve. Right. You're right, Ami. He is. Yes. Kurt does hate everyone on the Braves. It's true. Everybody tune into my podcast. I hate the Braves baseball talk. All right. So let's talk about this.

We are recording this Sunday night. It is top of the sixth. 11 to one Atlanta. But boy, the first two games didn't look like this. Um, but we'll get to that. So ham, just first impressions. What, you know, what have you seen this weekend? Good and bad. Um, well, I, Saroka looked just as good as the grum. I mean, he looked dominant. Uh, just amazing. You

know, and, and I mean, not flawless, but like dominant still. Um, I mean, he's got a lot of things to do with him. And so did the grum. I mean, you sort of, you know, you say the Braves offense look horrible on, on Friday night. They, they face pretty good pitching. Um, sure. God, they really looked at a lot of college type threes on that. But

the pitching look great. And then freed look great. And I mean, really other than, um, you know, a bad pitch from Chris Martin. Um, Luke Jackson looking a little shaky. The pitching has looked dominant and new come to, you know, I know we'll talk about that in a bit. So I mean, I, I'm just very, very excited for the pitch. And the, you know, without Freddie

and without Acuna, uh, we put up five runs last night and we have 11 tonight. Um, you know, and I guess Freddie's been doing it tonight and Acuna just got in there. But, um, what just happened. Riley just missed going up or deck by about a foot. Oh, um, so that, so I think we're really good. Is my impressions from this. And I am, I'm really,

really excited by the team. I'm really, really excited. I mean, ender look good. Uh, you mentioned Darno and flowers going down. I thought Alex Jackson, you know, he didn't look great. Was great behind the plate and I got here as well. It's looked terrific. Yeah. And Contreras looks good too. And there was a point tonight where, um, you know, Newcom seem like he was wanting to

get ahead of himself. And Contreras slowed him down and said slow down, slow down. It was against Ken. Oh, and then slowed him down. I got to ground out. Um, so I think, uh, we have depth. We have pitching for days as long as Snit doesn't misuse it. Another topic. Um, and, uh, I'm excited. I think we look great. I think we look great. Yeah. So

I think you're a little kind to Newcom. Who like could not throw a strike much. I mean, look, he threw some beautiful pitches, but he threw, um, more, I mean, he really had control locations. So he threw 82 pitches and three and a third. I get that. Yes. But, um, he showed glimpses, but, you know, I mean, he could not, and he got some real gift

top of the strike zone. And by that, I mean, three inches above the strike zone calls. Um, and then chasing some of those balls. Yeah. I mean, I'm not, I'm not like he didn't throw Nukem away. He just did not look, but he didn't break, right? So he came out and walked the, you know, three, three balls of the first person walked the two of the

first three, um, didn't give up a run in the first inning. You know, so he, you know, he, you know, he, did not look great, but he did not, I mean, he kept us in it. You know, he only gave it one run. I think. So as bad as he looked, I still think, uh, and maybe Nukem, I, I was generous there. But, um, certainly. No,

so, okay. Free look amazing. My God, freed, you know, freed actually had that thing where like he can't keep the ball down, of, you know, a bit. But when he was really on, when that curve ball was dropping in. And when he was throwing 96, I mean, freed, we talked about it, right? Earlier a few weeks ago, the whole, when he came back for spring training,

two. Oh, and he developed a changeup. Um, that he could really go to the next level. He looked at at times. On Saturday. Um, yeah, really excited for freedom. So, Roca. Yeah. Um, Minter looked really good. You know, I mean, Minter was pretty impressive. I mean, I think he was really excited. And pumping 97 on Saturday. If he's really a piece, that is something. Oh, day

looked really good. All the pitching. Yeah. Green looked good. Green looked good. Martin, like you said, he was sort of the, you know, one guy that, you know, had that one bad pitch. Um, it was a roller coaster with Luke Jackson, Luke Jackson, of course. Um, but talk about, you know, bending and not breaking. Um, Curtis, what about you? Um, yeah, the pitching is really exciting.

Obviously, the offense struggled in the first two games and, and the, the, the strikeouts, such as piled up, uh, I think they had 22 strikeouts in the first two games, something like that. Obviously that goes hand in hand with Matt's being really good. And obviously Jacob DeGrom being Jacob DeGrom. Um, but that's a little unsettling. Um, and you're obviously, when you bring in a guy like

Matt Adams, and you're losing a guy, um, like Marqueca, who doesn't strike out a lot. And then you bring in a guy like Matt Adams, who, who struck out over a hundred and something times last year, you're going to start to build up strikeouts, which is sort of Anthopolis got away from that. Um, um, with the structure of the team. So you're hope you're not going

back to that, which we had those years ago, when it was the Upton brothers and Hayward and that team where it was like all or nothing. They hit a ton of home runs and they struck out a ton too. So, uh, uh, uh, sure. Um, I know because the coonies got the bug. He's, he's, he's really looked out of sync. Can't catch up to the fastball.

It seems to be guessing. But we're not talking, I, here's the thing. Here's what I think, Kurt, like, let's talk about all the strikeouts and everything. Again, next week and sure. No doubt. I mean, I'm just giving my reaction from watching what we watch so far. Um, I don't want these to be transit, but they, it really, I mean, you keep, you can't take away the

fact who they were facing. I mean, those are really solid pictures. And that's going to be the end result. And they grow, they, you know, they ground out that, that win yesterday. Um, because seriously, there was zero chance. They were going to win. Yeah. I mean, you know, I mean, they said home run with two strikes to tie the game. Um, and then they, you know,

they sort of broke it open. And obviously, it's carried over today. I mean, they're just exploding. Um, and my, the way, I mean, when I'm, met Riley, missed an upper decker by foot. It wasn't that it was foul. It was that he hit it so high and so far that it missed going into the upper deck by a foot, which would give them five home runs

on this series. By the way. Um, oh, wow. Bear in the lead. Yeah. I did love, I did love that, uh, you know, that Diaz struck out of Zuna on Friday night on that outside fastball. And I was like, if he throws that again, I know I'm gonna do it with it. And then he did it, right? And he got the same pitch and put it

over the opposite field fence, which was awesome. Zuna has been great. Obviously, these first couple games. Yeah. Yeah. And you figure Freddie, you're not going to worry about Freddie. He's going to figure it out. Um, as he's picked it up, but the bottom of the lineup is looked really good. Um, Dan's reason having a monster night tonight. Um, and, and that monster hit, well, not a

monster hit, but, you know, clutch hit in the 10th inning on the back. Yeah. Sure. Uh, I guess Riley is other than the monster home run that I just talked about. He's looked a little off, which we were sort of worried about. He struck out a lot. So hopefully it's just, you know, opening day, opening series and really good pitching and once he sort of gets

more comfortable, everything will come back, um, for him. So, but yes, it's obviously it's an exciting start. Um, that the starting pitching. I mean, you look at that. They've only given up one of the give up for runs over three games. And then, um, the, I know they're struggling tonight and they have, but I mean, there are often says it's not forgettable anymore. I mean, it's,

it's pretty deep. There's a lot of really good hitters in their, in their lineup now. So I guess only three though. Uh, so Newcombe give up one free gave up to, so we'll give it zero. Oh, yeah. Right. Yeah. That's right. Exactly. So even better. Yeah. No, I see you just want, you want to come into this first series, especially in this anxiety riddled season, you

know, having a good sense of the team and we, you know, the mets are a real deal team, great pitching. People will talk about how interesting their lineup is and what they've done there. And we're better than them. We're just showing it. And so this is how you want to open the weekend. We almost beat the grom. We had a tough match up with mats, you

know, Dan's beat, Dan's beat it up when we needed it to when needed him to. And then in the rubber match, we're just proving we're better than them. Um, and our lineup is deep. And when Freddie starts hitting homers and Akuni starts hitting and Riley starts hitting. We are a force. We are. Yeah. And maybe when you get to, to three deep in the starting rotations

from some of these other teams, uh, their looks going to run out facing this lineup. Yep. And, and you know, this is without Travis Darnell, who, you know, had a really great offensive year last year. Flowers. I mean, it's pretty forgettable at the plate. But add Darnell to this lineup. It gets even deeper. Uh, yeah. No, it is. And we're so young. We're so young. We're

so young. Like sitting there watching opening day and Soroka is dominating. And you've got Akuni and all bees and Swanson. I mean, your, your elder statement is 30 year old Freddie. Um, even Contreras in the game. Freed. Yeah. Yeah. So many. I mean, all that. I know the bullpen is a little bit more veteran. But like, you know, the bullpen is always sort of guns for

higher. Um, and if you're going to have a veteran presence, that's the best we want it. That's where you want it. Yeah. But like, and Contreras coming in and getting the RBI double his first A B in the mates on Saturday. It was just awesome. So you put, yeah, you know, put Riley at third. Contreras behind the plate. You have Akunya. You know, you bring up

Pache and Waters. There we are. Let's go. Let's go. All right. So I want to talk about Saturday for a minute. So after giving up two singles in the body, the bottom of the ninth, but holding the Met scoreless, Luke Jackson came out again in the bottom of the tent. Oh, after the Braids have scored three in the top of the tent. Twitter, of course, lost

its mind. And it was good. All right. Yes. Yes. And a very supportive, supportive of Snickers. Yeah. So, but I want to talk about a little. So here's the thing. Like, I know you guys were all right. No, Hami, at least you really against it. I get it. So Snickers was going with a proven commodity. And well, listen, right. So if you accept the following, they

had, they had decided not to go with green or Martin two days in a row. They're out of the picture. Melanson, we didn't know at the time, but his, you know, hurt his back during the game. He was unavailable. Tom Lino, day and mentor, it already been in. It leaves you with two lefties, Grant Dayton and Tyler Matic, both who are not really tested, not to

mention that the three guys coming up in the 10th are all righties in Marisnic Alonzo, Nunez. You're not going to put them out there. You've got Tuky and Shacin, those are the last two guys. Tuky, I think, was a legit option. He has come out of the bullpen before Shacin, you're not bringing out in the bottom of the tent. Right. No. So if you're not going

to bring out Tuky, you're left with with Luke Jackson, who, you know, for a good amount of time last year, filled in admirably is the closer. Yeah. So, you know, to me, it was not this like horrendous move by him. That's my piece, Ham. No, I hear you. It's just, and it's a valid piece. It's just, you know, like you said, with 16 pictures and 14

position players, you really, really never want to find yourself in a situation where you have to go to a two inning save from Luke Jackson. You just don't, I mean, for one inning, he can be great. And I agree with everything you said, but I just, you really, really have to do better to not find yourself in that situation. And I know that there are things

outside of your control. But what is the point of having the best bullpen in the National League, if, if you're finding yourself in the second game of the season, having to go to Luke Jackson for two innings. That's where you put, but you're right. But that's, that is an emotional reaction. You're, you're, you're facts, Steve, make, make a good case. But that's like, that's from the

outside, you're sort of scratching your head. And, and I am all for them being really cautious with the pictures. Guys are going down. Yeah, yeah. I mean, the injuries are happening. A verlander today, right? I mean, the healthier a team stays this year with some talent is going to be the more successful team. So look, I get it. And it was, it was hair raising. I

just think that we're not at our best when Luke Jackson has to come back out. I'm going to be a little bit more careful for another inning. I hear you. Curtis, can we move on? Yeah, I got nothing. I mean, he was not terrible. He was shaky. He was not terrible. He was still throwing it in there. 95, 96 miles an hour. He was, he had

some great. He was on the lower outside, you know, painting a black on the lower outside. He was missing a lot with his, his breaking ball, which, you know, if he can get that ball over, at least it gives him something else to think about. They just, you know, he's never had to offer against it because he didn't throw it for strikes that much. But, you

know, I mean, I know nothing's early because there's only 60 games in the season. But that could be a huge confidence builder for Luke Jackson. I know you've kind of skirting the edge there, throwing him back out there. But just Steve's point. I mean, there were not a ton of options available. I would so much have rather seen Luke Jackson go back out there than Tookie

or Shacin in that situation. Yeah, it was the safer play. So, you got through it and, you know, I'm happy they did. If they, if he had blown it, I would have probably figured he was going to blow it. But, um, yeah, I just, I don't, it's good to have Luke Jackson. I mean, that's the other thing. It's like people were actively rooting against Luke Jackson.

He's part of your bullpen. You want the guy to be good. So I'm not sure what the point is in hoping that he's going to blow up and that you get him out of there. You maybe roof for him to be good and be a valuable piece of this operation. And that would be the better long play. Yes. All right. So look, let's, let's move on

to the expanded playoff. So just a few hours before first pitch of the season on Thursday, the expanded playoffs rose from the dead and are now in place for this postseason. So here are the basic basics. 16 teams make it eight from each league. It's each division winner. Each team in second place in the division. And then the teams with the, you know, next two best

records, essentially the wild card teams for this season. The opening season, sorry, the opening series. It will no longer be a one gamer, but a best of three all played at the higher seeded teams home ballpark. And the division series and league championships here is remain the same as we're used to high a seed plays, plays the lowest seed. So one plays eight to play seven

and so on. Ham, your thoughts on this. Does there something where they're going to put a bell on the wall in center field? And if you hit it with the home run, all the fans get hot dogs, can we just add like more novelties to this season? It's not too late, Ham. Okay. Maybe the braves will do their own thing. I mean, I'm of two minds

here. One, I'm like, who, why not? Sure. If this is the season where we're going to do novelty things and, you know, the runner on second and all that kind of stuff, which I know is probably going to stay. Okay. Sure. Sure. Why not? I guess I mean, the more chance for the braves to get in more baseball, more playoff baseball. Yeah. You know, I think

that we put the big asterisk on it that we like we will to this season and put it on the shelf when it's done and not do it again. I think it's just I don't know if I like it. You know, I don't love a one versus eight three game series. Just knowing how baseball can be, right? So even how braves baseball can be. No, but

you know, I mean, you can have a dominant team and then you get an eight that's got a, you know, a hot starter and somebody in your team goes down and all this in the back. I mean, that's just how playoff baseball is. Oh, there's no doubt. I mean, now moderately middle of the pack teams are going to get into the playoffs. And they can win

two out of three. Yeah. Any team can get hot. So I mean, I think because the match are probably going to make the playoffs now and you're going to get the Grom and Steven Mats into those games, you know, so I. Well, that's one, you know, that's one thing I was thinking about Curtis's rotations are going to be so huge in that first series that there's

going to be a ton of jockeying, particularly. Like if you are, if you are comfortably in second and not going to drop to third or comfortably in first and not going to or and may even drop to second, you can start screwing around with your starting pitching because here's the biggest problem with it that I have is there is essentially no difference in winning the division.

Or coming in second, which is insane. Like they really screwed up the math here by making it that way that that there is really no benefit to winning the division. Now there's no buys. You get a whole advantage. Maybe. But number two is going to get home field advantage over number seven. Right. In that opening series. Right. Just like number one is going to get home

field of advantage over number eight. I mean, so theoretically, maybe depending how things go, you're playing a team with a worse record, but there is really no incentive to win your division now. Just come in second. Because you're in. Yeah. Because you're in and the benefit is minuscule between first and second. Right. But I think for 60 games, not even home field advantage this year, but

I think for a 60 game season where, you know, everything's 2.7 times accelerated. You're just not, you know, there's no. I think you have to allow for more teams to get into the postseason. Right. Think about it. Not the nationals last year who started so horribly came back, got the wild card and won it. And, you know, was a legitimate win. And so in a 60

game season, I think you have to maybe allow for more teams to sneak in because. I don't know. I mean, what's the true measure of how good you are? It's just it's it's it's when the playoffs happen. Really. And if you get to be in the playoffs. So look. Your point is not wrong. But that's not why they're doing this. This is not because let's make

it more equitable. This is just to have more playoff baseball content so they can make more money. Yeah. Right. Because they're only getting 60 games out of the season. There's no consideration of of like this. This reward excellence here. Yeah. Well. And you're going to get to some point where you're going to look at who you're going to be matched up against. And I don't know

if this is piggybacking on your point or the point that you made it. And I'm just explaining it differently. But why even throttle yourself to get to the one. And if the eight seed is the met's and you're going to get Jacob to grow on the Stephen Matt's, maybe you want the seven, you know, maybe you want to be the. The two or the three C

because you have a better matchup against the six or the seven. I think teams can think that way. I think I think with 60 games, you got to try to win every game. Well, but you can start resting. That's in the season. And you can see if the math is the math, you can start doing that stuff. Yeah. I don't like it. This. I mean, no

season. It's a big astrophic anyway. Well, it's totally, but it's fine that they do with this season. But I don't like the guide. We, I don't know that we touched on that. I don't like the guy on second to lead off extra and things. I know it worked out for the braves. It just seems gimmicky. It seems little league. And I don't like to expand a

playoff. I mean, it's seriously, it is the NBA and it is hockey. And I, you know, and that works for those because that's the setting for those playoff scenarios. The baseball is a completely different animal. I don't want all these teams making the playoffs. I agree. It's too many. And the fact that it's just blank at first and second place out of every division. You know,

I mean, it's, it's too much. And I don't like it. And I hope to guide. They do not keep this past this. Well, that, that, that is the biggest concern. Just this set some sort of precedent that they use when they, you know, when, when they redo the. Well, I mean, what's who's who's, because I'm with you guys, I mean, I think the season. Who cares?

Again, they should all have to wear like ballerina uniforms or like, you know, dress like the bad. I would, that I would all the players, all the players have to dress like whoever. Does the race you will. You know, like the, the presidents of the, they should, the that should all have to dress like the presidents who run the race. That's how they should have to

play the games. Who cares? What happens this year? But yeah, beyond that. But, but so, but who's against it? I guess other than the fans, right? But the people who actually make the decision are, do you think owners or do you think players are against it? Do you think owners are against it? Like who? Who? Who really? The owners are not the owners are certainly not

against it. And the players aren't against it. I'm I don't know. If you're the Dodgers or the Braves or if if you are the, you know, if you are the top six teams, the top three in the NL and the top three in the A.O. I think you're against it because all of a sudden you've got this screw job of a best of three series where

anything can happen and all your good work is just gone. It's, it's, it's, it's even, it's honestly, it's even worse than the one game wild card. No, I know, I know, but I just wonder with all that money that's there. And once you do it, and it's already been out there, you know, who's putting that, that cow back in the barn? Is it where? Right. Right.

Well, I think, I think, yes. Is it a horse? Is it a horse? Is it a horse? Where are you going to get back in the barns? Get back in the barn. What are the barnyard animals? Yes. Which I also like the idea of mascot baseball just don't even have the players just have the actual guys in the sausage costumes planned for the brewer's. I think

that's a great. And the freeze. He can play home and the people still get some eligibility left. Yeah. I don't even know what my point was now. Oh, no, I think the calendars what's going to work against expanding the playoffs too much. Unless they cut games out of the season. You know, you're going to be playing playoff games if you add another layer of playoffs into

November and December. You know, I mean, which clearly can't happen because the Yankees might make the playoffs and you'll be playing in New York in December and it'll be 12 degrees. So I think that's what we'll work against expanding the playoffs in a full season scenario. And but you know, I mean, there. The commissioners of baseball. Have been prone to make some really horrible decisions over

the past decade or so. Yeah. So I'm as long as you're not talking about Seeleg. I'll agree with you. As long as we're not talking about the winner of the All-Star game getting a home-filled advantage for the World Series. All right, guys, next up is shot in the dark. But first, a quick break. All right, shot in the dark are crazy predictions for the games coming

up this week. But first, we got to see how we did with the week that just ended and we will start with our listener picks, our first listener picks of the year. So we have four this week. So first up is brave stats who predicted that Ozzy Albees would be the team leader in home runs at some point before the weekend end. So Ozzy just hit

a home run. In the top of the seventh. So does anyone. So I guess, Ozone is the leader right with you. So Ozzy would have to hit two more. So not looking. Not looking too good there. But thanks for playing. All right, next up Jeremy Timmerman predicted that Dan's be swansome at home in one of the first two games in New York. Oh, so close. One

game off. So close. Next up go all three. All right, next up Hume's Franklin predicted that Ozzy and Matt Adams would each hit a home run in the series. And the Braves, Soroka and freed would each earn wins. So no one would be able to get a home run. No wins for either. Ozzy, I hit a home run. Matt Adams has not hit a home run

yet. So yeah, but the the wins for the pictures sunk that one. Thanks for playing. And last up Mickey Hodges predicted that the Braves backup catchers would hit 333 or better with two dingers. So right now. No, dingers. No, dingers. Right. They were one the fun. No, three and Alex Jackson struck out like 87. Yeah, I don't know. Well, right. I mean, through the first two

games, they were one for five. I think that. Contreras has a has a two for four tonight. Here's a double. He's two for four. Yeah. Yeah. So that is what three, four, nine. So they're actually batting. They're actually batting 333. But you're running out of time for home runs. But thank you everybody for playing. All right. Let's see how we did. So I predicted that Ozuna

and Darnell. Oh, well, I finished that one. Darnell not traveling mid that one kind of tough. Ham, you predicted Acunia doubles and homers in game one. Would you settle for a broken bat single and game one? Hmm. What about game three? Yeah. All right. And then Curtis, you predicted that the Braves would hit five home runs in three games. So heading into Sunday, you needed three

homers. They have already hit four. So Curtis, I'm a poor man. Accusing ice. That's two point two point season four. I mean, that counts as a lot. All right. So let's let's go to our predictions for this coming week. I'll start. I predicted the Braves go five and two in the seven games. And Acunia really breaks out and hit hits three home runs. I can't wait

for your this week ahead prediction. And right exactly. Hammy, what do you got? I'm going with Freddie. He is going to snap out of it as he started to tonight and hit two homers, two doubles, and over 300 for the week. All right. That would be good. Curtis, what do you got? Despite two full T starts or maybe because of two full T starts and two

call ride starts, the Braves starting pitchers give up seven runs or fewer this week combined. That would also be good. All right, folks. Remember, you get to play each week to get your shot in the dark in before first pitch on Monday, send it in via Twitter. And if we pick yours, we'll discuss it on the show. And you could win an A B T. Coosie

if you hit it exactly. So let's talk about this week coming up seven games this week. Four with the raise to in Tampa to Atlanta. And then three more with the Mets. And actually there is a fourth game next Monday. It's a it's a four game or with the Mets. So let's look at these seven games in the match up. So game one. We'll be full

T versus Tyler Glass now and his like untouchable 178 ERA and sub one whip from last year. He's quite good. Game two Kyle Wright makes a start. Let's see if he can hold on to that fifth spot. He faces Yani Chirinos and his 385 ERA from last year. Game three. The first game in Atlanta for the year. So Roka faces Charlie Morton who got roughed up

for six runs against the Blue Jays in his 2020 debut. Game four is Max Fried versus Ryan Yarbrough who pitched five in a third innings of shut out ball against the Jays earlier. He is the only lefty. We will see this week. So then back to the Mets. The final three games of the weekend. Newcom versus Portsello who did not fare too well in his debut

on Sunday night. Six earned. And two innings. Game two. Fulti versus Michael Waka who posted a 476 last year. And then game three is Kyle Wright for a second start of the week. No starter announced for the Mets yet. So you know, look, Fulti and Wright need to pitch well. This is coming week. But I'm excited, man. So Roka Charlie Morton is really sexy. Fulti Tyler

Glass now could be free. He'd Ryan Yarbrough. I mean, you know, it's going to be fun to play the raise, man. See how we stack up. This is the first of the, let's see how we stack up against the best of the A.L. East. I mean, yeah, we might as well just get it over with and start playing these guys. You know, we have such a

tough 60 game slate. Let's do it. See it. All right. So, Hammie, what do you got? How many wins and losses this week? Four and three, I think I think we go one and one at the raise one and one here. And then we take two of three from the Mets. Curtis. Ditto. All right. So I think they're going to split with the raise and sweep

the Mets. Oh, do we already jump in on the Mets already so down on the Mets. Well, you know, seeing the, seeing the terrible defense is pretty jarring. I mean, they are not a good defensive team. And their offense is not, I mean, we have good pitching, but the offense is not great. I mean, there's, there's some guys, but it's, you know, that there's, there are

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