Show #475: A Winning Week, After A Devastating Sta

You're listening to Atlanta baseball talk, your weekly podcast for all things at Atlanta Braves. Welcome to Atlanta baseball talk show number 475. Today is Sunday, August 9, 2020. My name is Steve. I'm joined by both Hamming Curtis and folks. Please help out the show by telling your friends, sharing links and writing reviews if you don't. More ender coming up with bases loaded. What a bad day

for Ender. I mean, even by Ender's standards. That stat you tweeted about about the worst of exit velocity of all batters who qualify. Yeah, so bad. Not very good. It's it's what it was our worst case scenario with him. And he's right. It is playing out. And it needs to stop. Right. The conversation was at how long do you let him go when he has days

like this. And I think he's gone. Well, and we started to see it already. I mean, Snickers. I started not starting him against. Righties. Yeah, this week, you know, and said, I'm my I think the quote was I might roll with this for a while. I mean, I really think his days are numbered. And there's some day coming up this week where. They can call a

Pache and it won't impact his service time. Oh, nice. So we can still manipulate service time. Actually, yes. Because those those rookies get so much. All right, folks. And tonight's show we'll discuss. Broca's Achilles Aussie's wrist. Marquesis return and the braves at the 25% mark of the season. But first, a quick break. So the highly anticipated matchup of aces and Mike, Soroka and Jake DeGrom this

past Monday night became as big a nightmare as possible with Soroka sprinting off the mound only to crumple to the ground as the result of a season ending ruptured Achilles tendon. I mean, the, you know, it's it's like that. It's like the, you know, for you older folks. It's like that. That Lawrence Taylor Joe thiz. Uh, injury, you know, I'm Monday night football. Like when he

stumbled and then under his uniform, you know, his pant leg. You could see his leg ripple. You better sit. You're absolutely. Oh, oh, like that. I mean, since we're doing this, that Louisville college basketball guy was for me, the, the most grim. I've ever seen anything. And that's where younger kids as well. Just want to include everybody. I want everyone to feel completely skewed out right

now. I, I banned the word ruptured from my house for the next month. I just gave myself permission to say it that one time. The R word. So feel terrible for him. What a nightmare, right? I feel terrible for us. And it just completely sucks. That's my now. That's it. I mean, well, just like we were, um, we were really rolling last week against the Mets.

And it was the rematch, right of DeGrom and Soroka. Uh, and a chance, you know, we felt like the offense had sort of caught up and we were just really well positioned. And, um, it, I mean, anything you say is a cliche. Like the wind out of the sales, a gut punch. I mean, it just the whole, it felt bottomless, like a bottomless free fall, that

whole Monday of like, oh my God, that's that, you know, that's it. That's the season. You could see it on the faces of all the players. I mean, how could you not, right? And, and just, um, and for him also, you said that, right? I mean, just for just at this point, his career to have been, you know, to one, the youngest opening day starter for

the Braves and, you know, modern era, whatever. Um, I just feel so bad for him. Um, but, you know, I got to say, um, as much of a gut punch as it was. And I like didn't want to watch the games for like three days. It was really hard. Um, we picked ourselves up. You know, I mean, I think we, uh, I mean, what are we

going to do? Right? Uh, it's a really a gun punch. But like, you know, like, for, I mean, Freddie said it well is like, it's the worst news. This team could happen and it doesn't matter because we got to go play tomorrow. And we're going to go do that. And it's going to create a lot of opportunities for other guys. And it sucks. And that's what

it is. Yeah. I mean, the dude had arrived, you know, the dude had arrived as the ace of the team, sort of on the national stage. People, I mean, it was, he was here. Like it was the start of that sort of skyrocketing of his career. And it's, you know, it's a big pause on it. Um, and the, um, you know, the starter rotation was in

such a shambles, so to speak, after he and freed anyway. I mean, it's, yeah, I mean, right. We had a speaking event or right a few weeks ago, we did that. We, we had the question about. What would be the worst, you know, slow start of the season. You can include Soroka and Akunya or Freeman or Freeman. And, and here we are. Um, kind of cool.

How freed the next night came out. Like, I'm going to pit. Which well enough for two aces on this team. Yeah. I mean, he was so determined. You could just see it all over his face. And again, on Sunday. He was, just he was the man. Like, it. I honestly think it maybe I'm just projecting and putting this on him. But, and I, I felt like

really on Sunday today. That I like just have complete confidence and freed, he like took another step with the Soroka injury. I totally. I put in the team on my back. I'm a train and I feel like I'm going to take my time and I have this on my seat. I mean, yeah, good. Well, I was just going to say it almost seems like all of

the young starting pitchers sort of. Got their act together a little more this week. I know we're going to get to that in a minute. But it seems like they all sort of stepped up. I think that this injury, obviously, it's. It's might be worse than Freeman or Akunya getting knocked out. Just because of the importance of having your number one. I mean, free. Has stepped

up to be a number one caliber pitcher right now. But I think that the long term of this might not be felt until. If when the Braves make the playoffs where you don't have. The guy. Second pitchers that can go through the playoffs for you. You really will only have one that's really an ace. Even if you have Col Hamilton's back. I think that that's really

sort of where it's going to fall. He did have a successful surgery today or yesterday. I think Saturday. Yeah. And Green Bay, which I guess that's. Yeah. You go to Alabama for your your elbow. And you got a green Bay for your kill. Is so that's how the saying goes. The old song to coin a phrase. Yeah. But yeah, it was it. Like, hand, you said,

I really. There was it was just it was sickening. And even the Metz players. They interviewed some Metz players. And they were. Discussed by it to I mean, I don't think anybody wants to see a talent of that level. I'm taking out. Yeah. That's situation. You know, so. But I think. So I mean, all right. We're going to talk about freedom. We still want to talk

about. Oh, go, go to free. Well, just I mean, his pitching today. Like he looked great. The earlier this week. But just. I mean, a couple of things that stood out is that he was getting strikes up in the in the strike zone that the other pitchers were not. Because I like like beat showing. Respect. Yeah. Just because he was putting it. Putting it where he

wanted to, right? And it was just all making sense. And he wasn't such complete control. Um, and even that inning, you know, where he sort of unraveled. Um, was it the fifth basis? It was basis loaded. Yeah. Was that the fifth or the sixth? Maybe I think it was the fifth. But, um, right. Cause he went through five. Yeah. Um, but he, you know, he calmed

down. He faced Harper. He, uh, he threw all that he had at him. And he won. And he looked great. I mean, that's what you got to do. You have to be able to be dominant for for innings when everything's cooking. And then when you get out, you know, like, uh, Darnell dropped a call third strike or swinging third strike, right? And then I'll say he's

got, you know, that added two more base runners. And he didn't let that get away from him. It was a great moment. He was great today. He was great. And right. And when things got a little out of control, he was, I mean, he didn't in the first inning. Right? When he had two on it. Well, it's snapping that curve ball off that hits that inside

bottom corner, like time after time after time again. And it's just unhittable for a right-handed hitter. It's, I mean, did the fact that I feel like I should know better. But that he sort of struggled with his location last year too. He did. He would miss eye a lot. Yeah. And, uh, he, you know, that's obviously the big development for pitchers is that they start to

command better. And he's just, yeah, it's, yeah. I would love. I highly anticipate enjoying P and Sir Rooka being at the top of our rotation for a while. For sure. Steve, you done printing out the problem. No, yeah. I have wonder who it is. I'm curious as to if my wife is actually printing stuff or this printer also decides it will hold stuff and save it

for the so print. And then two days later, you'll be online. It'll be printing out. Yeah. Nice. Sorry about that. Oh, that's all you use it. I hope it's good stuff. Yeah. Find those documents. School check list. I got to make sure we have highlighters for when school starts. Perfect. All right. So we talked about one and two, but let's talk about two, three, or sorry,

let's talk about three, four and five. Um, two, I mean, now two, three and four. I mean, well, whatever. Well, sorry, right. Yeah. Yeah. That's what I meant. So, so Curtis, you know, last week we were talking about, well, guys like Newcomin, right, get more starts in this Sir Rooka injury kind of answered that. And it's, well, we have to because we have no other choice.

But let's talk about that two, three, and four that we saw this week with Nukem, right and Tookie. What'd you like? There was lots to like. Um, Nukem, I still is not going as long as we would hope that he would go, but it clearly has best started the year. The Braves just got completely shut down by review. But, um, he pitched a really good game.

I mean, I think he was a little bit more, you know, what we've sort of seen from him this season. He, um, I don't think he had any walks in that game. One walk, um, one walk, four Ks, one walk. Yep. But a lot more strikes, a lot more pounding the zone. Um, and, you know, that it was my far, his best, uh, game of the

season. He was throwing more forcing espals and Darno was talking about the success that he was having that. And maybe that you get a catcher matchup for him. That he really likes. And maybe that will be the answer for him kind of getting through his, um, his wildness. Um, obviously, Tookie was amazing. uh, correlation. Yeah. Uh, you know, that that's a guy that. I don't know

that we've. You guys have probably talked more about him than I have because I feel like I sort of have given up on him because he just he's, he's been so erratic when we've seen him. Big part we. thinking the same thing about wire and he was such a big part of that trade where we got him, right? And he was so like we were like,

oh my god, this is like, you know, another world, otherworldly talent, but it was so early. I think it was just too early for him. I think he is coming into his own when he should, you know, when he should have. Well, and he's also been up against a tough situation in they've, you know, success at AAA, not given a ton of chances at the majors

and throne between starting and long relief and that, you know, they haven't really sort of given him the time. Right. Um, and we've seen these, we've seen these games of brilliance and moments of brilliance. And he put it all together. I mean, and all the like weird quick pitch stuff he was doing and I mean, he was, he was just everything is arsenal was working. He's

our number two. I mean, if he can throw like he did, he's our number two. Yeah. Yeah. Which is insane that we're at that point. I mean, well, you know, it might be, it might be like Medlon was. Medlon, yo, you had back and forth between being a starter and being a reliever and you'd see glimpses and you'd get really excited. And then they throw him

back in the bullpen. And I could never understand why he was back in the bullpen. Um, and at some point, obviously that amazing season that Medlon had, not that I'm trying to throw that on tokey now, but whenever when Medlon went like 13 and one to start that season or something before he blew his arm out. Um, and maybe it's just you know, like, like you

said, it's just a moment where it's, it's all just going to come together. Um, and he really looked amazing. And it was a lot of off speed stuff. But then he would come back with a 95 mile an hour fastball. And he was just mixing it up really well. Um, yeah, revelation. That's a perfect word for it. Um, and he went and said, Hey, almost once.

Yeah. That which was huge. Yeah. None of these guys are giving us any endings at all despite how great our bullpen is. We can't continue to expect that they're going to be able to push five or six endings every single game sort of like where they are right now. I mean, at one point, and it was earlier in the week, the bullpen had thrown more innings

than the starters at, which is probably not a stat you want, even whatever it is, 20 games into the season. So, um, and Cal write, you know, again, his best start of the season. It was really a couple of bad pitches. He got a bad break on a, on a, on a pitch that really should have been a strikeout that he got a walkoff of that

added a run when Bruce hit that, that Homer. Um, but same deal with him, but much more active in the strike zone. Seems like he was much more confident with that start. Um, and you hope that all the stuff he and Duke, obviously, Tuky's got a ton to build on, but that Duke, and, and right can both build on what we're clearly their best starts of

the season and take that forward. I mean, you know, rights going to have to have his next start against the year. Yankees, which probably not ideal, but, um, you know, I mean, it's just you just, we are totally dependent on these guys now. So we, we hope we have to hope that we can get something out of them. I don't think they want to dip into

Ian Anderson right now. He's not good enough. I mean, by all I can't say, I don't know. He's not ready. He's not ready. If the season started to really go in the tank, I think you might see him, but it just doesn't make sense now. Yeah. And it seems like they would go to Matt Sik or, um, somebody like that, maybe Bryce Wilson before they're going

to go to that level and fullty. I don't, I think what feel like we talked about it last week. I think you guys are right that we probably never seeing him pitch the braves again. Yeah. Well, before we get to that, like, I think, um, I thought right was great. I mean, so Tuky had nine K is no walks and he, no hits until the fourth,

which was amazing. And then came back after he gave it that run and struck out the side and the fifth, which I thought was where he looked as best in the game was the fifth inning of that game. So I think, um, and it's said it too, right? That because of COVID, he, you know, is another reason that he never got all the other stuff that

all the other starters get for some reason. He's the, you know, the person who's left out in the cold or something. And so I think when we give him his due and let him really just sort of get five starts in a row, I think he'll start to be amazing. And I think right will do right looked really good. What impressed me about right is he

had a lot of traffic early. He had that fourth inning where he gave up the runs. But then he had two shut down innings after he gave up, you know, those four runs and that fourth inning, which just his maturity, he, he went six, finished it, you know, that was a quality start. We need quality starts and these guys and both those guys gave him. Nukem

just, you know, through 92 pitches and four and two thirds, that has to stop. But I think we're, I think we should feel good about one through four. And not about curts ability to mute. He heard his now opening the, yeah, and changing out the, he called the printer repair company. Nice. Kurt, you good? All right. So, yeah, welcome back. Thanks. Right. Yeah. You can mute

next time. I know you're afraid of anyone that I can view. So. But anyway, go ahead, Steve. So, Ham, what do you think happens with the fifth spot, right? Well, we're recording the suns on day. We had a Noah's start, which was really a bullpen game. You look good and sort of out of nowhere, by the way, that Noah was the guy that started on Sunday.

Yep. You know, the Braves have actually their first scheduled day off this coming week. So, you know, they might could actually skip the starter, the fifth spot. But what do you think happens to the fifth spot? I mean, yeah. Who's going there? Does it become the bullpen start? Every fifth day. I mean, the reality is, and, um, Bowman had a good article on this around that.

There's nobody out there. Right. The Braves would just have to overpay. Um, for a starter from another team. Right. I mean, just to get like a Robbie Ray or anyone who could fill that void. So. There's a bunch of names. Mike Minor, right. So, um, and nobody, you know, and everybody's in it, right. There's nobody who's out of it. And plus it's just such a wonky

scene. And you're not being able to see any of the prospects, you know, because there's not all the triple. So it's just a trade is unlikely. Um, we probably have. I hate to use this word about my man jewel shaken. There's probably no more retreads out there to give a look at. We probably would have heard of them. But, you know, that would be a pool

of players that we would look for. I think it's pretty tapped. Unless we want to make more jokes about Bartola Colon or leave on Hernandez. Um, so the answer has got to be on the right. It's got to be an Atlanta run. And it's, I don't think it's anybody. I think so having said that, I think we're going to have the fifth day is going to

be a popery of the bullpen. Um, I bet knowing, you know, how snicker likes to put players in positions where they're thriving. I mean, I've been really, I don't know, say this later on. Tyler Matt's, it's been amazing, right. And he's been a good solid. I mean, he's given up no runs. Um, nine strikeouts, no walks and six innings pitched. So I see something where maybe

you start with a Tomlin or a Winola or an O'Day even, right. A veteran. Um, see if you can get two out of them, hand it over to Matt Sik for another two or three and then you're into the strongest part of our team. So that's what I bet happens. So you don't think there's any Bryce Wilson, we go Tucker Davidson walking through that door. I

feel like I mean, I feel like they beat here. Those are the three starting pitchers that haven't seen them out yet. Yeah. I mean, I, I don't, I guess, I just feel like how do you stretch those guys out? I mean, there's no gains outside of the majors, you know, so. Well, and we have no idea what they're doing. Equinette, but they're playing interest squads. They

may be stretched out, right. We don't really know. I feel like we want to just, yeah. You know, Bryce Wilson has the most experience of those three. He was also sent home really early during spring training. Like, you know, sent back to Quinette. Yeah. Like it didn't seem like he was, he was really, you know, thrilling anybody, right. I think our best better chances are with

the guys that we have up here now. Yeah, it's interesting. It's interesting. But, you know, the, the problem with the bullpenning every five days is what Kurt, you mentioned with, you know, all the inexperience we have in the starting rotation as it is now and how many innings the bullpen's being asked to throw as it is. Like it makes that worse. Yeah. You're right. I'm not

saying you're crazy. I mean, it may, it, they may bullpen, but it's that complicates. Yep. I imagine I honestly think we're going to see one of those guys. At some point, you know, sort of depending on how the season goes. And how do you think we skip the start? How the, you know, standings look in that kind of thing. Do you think they skip a start?

I mean, do you think they just roll over and go right back to freed? After our updates. Yeah, my God, I would. You know, just get more starts for free. Yeah. Kurt, is anything to add there? No. And, you know, I think a lot of this might be dependent on if the braves or have it for bed, you know, get shut down for a little while.

If there's some issue, I mean, the braves have been pretty lucky that they've played pretty much all of their games so far. You know, there's other teams, I forget what they were, what Chip Carrey was saying today about the Cardinals. They've played like seven games or 10 games or something like that. So if something like that would happen to the braves, it might change the dynamic

where they really were forced to bring Patrick Wigel or somebody like that up to fill in. But I think that they feel like they probably got the pieces here where they could cobble something together if they needed to to pull off a fist. Yeah. Well, certainly all bets are off when, you know, games start getting postponed and all that. Yeah. Yeah. It'd be interesting to see

how that plays out. So, all right, guys, Ozzy Albe is on the injured list with a right wrist injury. So we knew about his injury. And he was certainly struggling at the plate. Right. 159 batting average, 189 OBP. I mean, like bad, bad. But the craziest part of it was in Tuesday night's game. When an blowout, Ozzy comes up against the lefty. And of course, he's

like unwirably good, hidden from the right side. So he comes up against the lefty and bats lefty. First time in his career because it hurt too much to bat from the right side. Did I mention this was a blowout? So Snickers explanation for leaving him in during this blowout makes zero sense. Snickers said the braves will consider resting all these whose wrist was co-biting him a

little. And hence the lefty at lefty at bat against the lefty. Snitz said that he might have hit for him in a close game. But as it was wanted to keep him in to play defense in a blowout with the hurt wrist, I mean, talk about none of that making sense. And the next day, he goes on the I. L. You know, I saw jokes about

it on Twitter. Maybe they weren't jokes. And I think there's an element of truth into it was that Anthopolis was like, okay, I have to step in here because Snickers not managing this player. Well, I've got to take him off the board. It's really down. Founding the Snickers. It was it would that whole that that whole night. Yeah. Yeah, he's too important to. Well, we have

options. We have Etchia Maria. I mean, we've got people who can fill in for him. Right. Now, it's just it the whole that whole thing was nuts. And I don't. I don't know that there's an explanation. Yeah. So hopefully, I'll say hopefully this is not a big deal. And 10 days is all he needs. And we see him soon. And the I mean, imagine the offense.

If he came back healthy, but yeah, just craziness. So in Nick more cake is his first start of the year. He came up in the bottom of the night on Thursday. It was first start. Right. He had a pinch hit appearance. I think on Wednesday. But Thursday was his first start. And as you can imagine, Twitter's reaction was a mix of happiness for the win to

Euphoria because Marquaykis, professional baseball player that he is had elevated the entire team, the offense, the pictures, the clubbies, the camera crew. Everyone was better because even our show. That's right. That's right. Well, that's why the show is so good tonight. Yes. Nice. Like a well-oiled. Wow. This is because of Marquaykis. It all makes sense now. Yes. There would have been three printers in Kurtz Basin

and at Marquaykis. Seven kids at my front door ringing the doorbell. Nice. So Kerr, what do you think about the whole like Marquaykis is this really divisive figure and people really sort of fall on, you know, one side or another? I don't get it at all. The guy came here to be a veteran leader when this team was terrible and needed a veteran. He came to

be the Terry Pendleton of this generation of braves to show them how to be professionals, to show them how to go about their business. And from every report, from every teammate, that's what he does every single day. You know, has he fallen off a cliff after the All Star break some? Sure. The last two years, yes. Has his defense diminished? Has he's gotten older? Yes. Significantly.

But is he deserving of this visceral anger about his presence on this team constantly? And I mean, I, there are points where like when they resigned him, I was myself a little frustrated thinking it was time to move on from Marquaykis because clearly he was showing his age. But, you know, the guy's done nothing but exactly what you would want from him and exactly what the

braves have wanted from him. And clearly they love him for what he does to the clubhouse. And so that's why they continue to bring him back. And because he can still hit a double or a walkoff from run for the braves when needed. Yeah. It's really interesting. I think that it's like an old school versus new school thing that like Marquaykis is a really solid baseball

player. The fallen off a cliff, which he really did the last two years. And the second half, part of that is on snicker for never resting guys. Yeah. I think it's how he's talked about with such reverence that it rubs the new school guys who don't put a ton of value on the clubhouse presence. Right. That it's that, you know, it forces, it forces the new

school guys into a corner to be like to be more naked. And I think it's more naked than Marquaykis deserves. And they think that the old school people are talking about him more positively than he deserves. And it sort of sends people into corners about him. I really think that's what it is. Am? I don't know. I mean, I think it's because he performs poorly against

right handed pitchers or left handed pitchers and has fallen off a cliff. And he's old. And I think people just feel like he takes away. He's a lot of bad at bats for him. You know, he's a solid ball player. Yeah. He's solid, but he's not great. And he has bad. And he also has a lot of not so solid times. And I mean, I think

if you were going to make a case for it is by resigning him, it's keeping us from going out after another outfielder and maybe just spending some money there and upgrading. And so he is sort of blocking progress or growth by saying on the team is how they would feel, I guess, the new school people. I mean, I think that's what I think is the most

important thing to do. My question is, who would you, do you, I mean, right now would you rather have Matt Adams up there? Like, who would you rather have? Like, what are our options? The roster we have? No, I'm happy that Mark. Me too. And I'm happy about it. Me too. Me too. And I think I'm with Kurt. I think that it's overblown. I think Markeka

says given, you know, he plays harder and preps harder and takes it more seriously than anyone. And maybe he gets knocked for that. I mean, he's always talked about me and the hardest working guy on the team. And he's doing that for the brunt. He's doing that for us. And I'm grateful for that. And we've had some big moments with him and all the stuff you

don't see, I'm sure he has a very steadying and also sort of encouraging hand in. So I get it. I get it though. I mean, he's not an all star. And he's keeping us from investing in an all star. But is he, I mean, we're paying him no money. So it's not like he's the one holding us down on our payroll. But he's not, but we

will not, I mean, up to this year, we're looking for a lot of things that we can do. Like, no, we're good on the outfield because we have Markeka's right or he's something and we've not refused. We've refused to sort of cut bait with him and try to upgrade there. I mean, not to like, but two years ago, he was an all star. He won a

gold glove. And he was, he anyone a silver slugger award. That was in 2018. So it wasn't like that. Was in 2013 or something like that. I mean, his career as a brave 284 358 403, which is not lighting the world on fire. But it's not like split. So he's right. Oh, and his splits are right. I mean, if you look at him, like right hand

versus let me, I mean, I'm not. You ask why is he divisive. So you're arguing against someone who's not on the call. If you're trying to convince me that because I'm with you. I think he's completely valuable. Um, well, I mean, there's better options out there. But I'm grateful for the Markeka's tenure. I, I, I'm guilty of it too. Like when you know, I made that

joke about made the starting pictures better. But we legitimately got to tweet this. week with no irony saying that after his walkoff home or he had elevated the hitters and the pictures with his presence. I don't know if it's. And that, and that does make me like hate. Mark. It's like it really does. Because that's just so stupid. But so. Yes. Right. But it was nice.

After the blow that was Siroka to have something positive coming back and have marketing. And I think everyone felt like it was corining out of, I mean, that the season was over. So certainly, Markeka's is not Siroka. Right. I mean, he's, he's maybe not mad at him. But, um, it wasn't nothing. Him coming back. Yeah. No doubt. Again, this is, this actually doesn't have anything to

do with his actual play on the field in a way. Yeah. It's well, I think it's also his demeanor too. I mean, he looks joyless. He looks like he's just. You know, out there breaking rocks with a sledgehammer or something like that. I mean, he, he, he, he never smiles. He never breaks character at all. He did have a huge smile and was very happy after

that walkoff home run. But I mean, it's just something he doesn't really talk to the press a lot. He doesn't put himself out there a lot. So all you see is a very stern looking guy. And he doesn't give people the warm fuzzies. And so I mean, if he was a kind of a. Bright, Juby one guy and he put together a slash line like that

over his career as a brave. I think people would probably be a lot. If he looks like. I'm sure like Charlie Culbersen does. So, all right. Is better with the beard or without a beard? Hmm. I prefer the beard. He sort of looks like the actor and his name. I can't think of right now. Mark. He's in everything. He was in Shazam. He was the bad

guy in Shazam. If that is a reference that anybody can know. All right. I'm really going to move on. Yes. Thank you. All right. So heading in the Sunday's double header. The Braves had 15 games in the book. The exact, you know, quartermark of the season. They were nine and six. Put two more in the wind column. Of course on with Sunday's sweep of the D

H. So ham at the quarter mark. What are your biggest positives and biggest concerns with the team? So lots of positives. I think. I mean, we talked to some of these. Max Fried is the biggest positive. I think he is, you know, dominant. And like if Soroko was here, it would be like Garrett Cole and Verlander last year on the Astros. That's what we're building. So

Roker would be back. I think Azuna, especially early on before Acunia and Freeman and everybody else would have warmed up. He carried us as did. He really as did Danesby. And Danesby, which is my third. And so. I have, you know, I have more positives and concerns of four positives. So it's Fried, Azuna, Danesby, and then the bullpen who have just been amazing and who are,

is the strength of this club and the reason that we're 11 and six. I'm concerned about starting pitching for all the reasons we just said. And they're lack of depth. I think we can't really afford any more injuries. We're pretty thin. I think all squads are thin. But I, I were, you know, I hope that 10 days is all that it needs to get Ozzy back.

And then it's just a bruise because we're very thin right now. So I don't agree with the thin. I mean, I don't, we don't need another starting pitching injury. But the bullpen's deep and the role players. I mean, we're not even touched. You know, Camargo played second today. We haven't even seen Culberson that much. We have, we have some depth on the little. We can't withstand

another injury. I don't think to one of our starters that were our opening day starters, which I guess I don't know half our outfit. We weren't even sure who was going to be opening day starts. I don't even know what that means. But like, I don't know. You're starting, I mean, Camargo and Riley have not been great. I know. And there, they are one of my

biggest concerns. Yeah. And so, and I guess maybe that gets to my depth, right? Is that, I mean, it's a very as fine. But he's not, you know, a starting part. He's not a starting player on a championship team. I mean, Culberson's out there, but Ender's not good. Right. I mean, Marquayka is we just talked about. You know, at the 30 game, Mark, I guess is

that halfway point is he going to start collapsing. So I just, I mean, I feel like we have a lot of options. There's a lot of versatility out there. And that Culberson and Camargo can play almost anywhere in the field. I'm Riley's playing first, but it makes me nervous. You know, and obviously this week, the, the offense sort of went in the tank. Dan's be started

to fall off. But I'm really, I'm quite bullish on the offense, honestly. I mean, Acunia Dan's be Freddie, O'Zuna, Dar no, Duval, Marquayka's, you know, it's not even with Aussie back. I got feel really good about the offense. And, you know, Acunia, my God, had a, and Freddie both had just monster. Yeah, the bullpen knockout in the Cardinals who've only played five games. What a train

wreck that is. The bullpen second in the NL and ERA, FIP, both to the Dodgers, second and walks per nine. You know, the bullpen is, is really amazing. Yeah, I mean, the biggest concerns, right? Starting pitching, I feel a little better today than I did on Monday night. Like we kind of talked about third base. I mean, Riley, you know, Riley, we talked about Riley having

good looking A B's to start the season, but having nothing to show for. I mean, I think that's a lot of things. The good looking A B's are going away now too. And he looks like he's pressing, he looks like he's lost. Camargo, I don't think it's looked good. Really all season. They're both racing to, you know, a 100 batting average. Third base is bad. It's

bad. Yeah. And there's no real relief in sight there. Curtis, anything to add there? Yeah. You know, not really. I think Duval should get a lot more playing time. Yeah. And we started to see it at least. Get rid of Ender and let, let, what a king of play and let Duval play right. Darnos have been a bright spot for me as far as secondary guys

that, but I, and I think that he and flowers have both really done a great job with the young pitchers. I think that they've called really good games for these guys. Yeah. I mean, obviously, the concerns are the same that you guys have. I am sort of worried about the long term, despite positive steps this week. I just, you talk about championship caliber teams. I just

don't know that beyond free that we can navigate through the playoffs with Tukki and Nukum and Wres. I mean, I think that's a great way to get the right and potentially co-hammers coming back. I mean, I, I mean, that just seems very tenuous. Even if our goal, and as as great as it is, I just, it just seems like you're going to need more than that

out of a starting rotation. And there's, we've discussed it. There's not really many options. I don't know that, I mean, do you guys get the sense that the braves would make a move this year? Look, I think that Anvopolis is aggressive and he would do it if he sees something that makes sense. And Kurt, for sure, if the playoffs started tomorrow, I think that's a great

way to do it. I would not feel great about the starting pitching. The hope is gotta be that by the end of September, the starting pitching looks better, right? That one or two guys have really become dependable behind freed. And then you feel a lot better. Right. And Hamilton's coming back in September will almost be like a trade. That's what they kept talking about today, assuming

he's back and can, can provide something for them. Yeah. And after no news on Hamils, we actually got news on Hamils on Sunday that he's scheduled to throw a bullpen at the end of this coming week, which is huge. Like I did not expect to hear that. And you know, the depth in their form system now, they had, I think it was five guys that made

the top 100, but they're all basically braves now. So they're depth, you know, if they were to make a trade, you worry that it's gonna dip into somebody at the top of this group that we're familiar with. Because they don't really have much to offer beyond that. But we have seen that, that Anvopolis is really hesitant to trade from his prospect capital. So I wouldn't worry

that he would do something. Short-sighted, you know, right? That's just my perspective. So anybody not see the braves despite our concerns? Anybody not see them not winning the NL East? No. Because I feel actually more confident than when the season started. Yeah. I mean, the Nats are. Yeah. The fillies are not great. They're cool. They're terrible. After Nola, and they don't have, I mean, Arietta make

does look bad, but he's not great. No. Fits the last guys is not great. Nope. You know, and you've got, you've got the nationals who are four and seven right now. Strosper just pitched his first game on Sunday and got slapped around by the Orioles. Yeah. For five. Strike, you know, break up the Orioles. What's his name? Surezer left his last star. I mean, they don't

have a ton of offense. Yeah. I'm not too concerned about the NL. And you got a figure. I know that Miami's off to a great start. You got a figure that they're going to come back at you. Yeah. They're coming back on the earth. There's no doubt. There's just no doubt. There are offenses and good enough. So to answer on my behalf, no, I don't see

that the braves. Yeah. I mean, us being able to obviously we've only seen the fillies once. We've seen the Metz a lot, but these wins against the NL East that we've been piling up will really pay dividends long term. What is it like a win against these is like two, but this year it's like 5.4 or something, right? Yeah. Yeah. That's right. Nice. 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, let's see how we did for the week that's come to an end. We'll start with our listener pick. So first up Noah predicted that the braves would extend their winning streak to nine games and that the Atlanta

outfield will combine for six home runs. So unfortunately, the streak stopped at five last Sunday with the lost Monday night and only four homers from the outfield, Duval and Markega's hit one, Akunya hit two. Next up, Skylar hide predicted the Mike Soroka and Max Fried will combine to give up four earned or less in their four starts. Of course, tough one for your scholar with only

three starts. Soroka was also charged with four earned in that Monday night loss. Fried gave up only one earned across his two starts. So that was close. Elliot Probe predicted the braves would go five and two and score 37 plus runs this week. And Freddie would lead the team in RBIs. So the braves went four and three. I realized I did not count up. Oh no,

I did. The braves scored 30 runs this week, not 37. And Freeman did lead the team in RBI tied. With Akunya for six. And then Henry K our last listener pick, he predicted that Akunya would lead would have two lead off homers this week. Two homers from Akunya today both on Sunday. Neither of the lead off variety. So thanks for playing everybody. And let's see how

we did. So I predicted that a starter not named Soroka or Fried would complete at least six innings. And Thursday night, Tukki did go six and two thirds. So I am on the board. I'm going to play the lead off. For August, Ham, you predicted that the braves would outscore opponents by 15 runs this week. The braves scored 30, opponents scored 20. So not quite there.

what we've got this week. I predict the Tukki and Wright who were assuming will make the two starts in New York. We'll go back to the next one. We give up five earned or less than that the braves sweep the two gamer against the Yankees. Ham, where do you go? Take that. I have that Kamargo and Riley turning around this week, where they both have a

homer. They both have a double. And that collectively, they hit over 275. Very good. Curtis, we've got to come up Kamali. Kamali. You're like that. Rargo. Rargo. Rargo. We'll Smith back in action. And immediately taking over closing jobs, according to me, he'll get this week two saves. And by doing that, he will give up no hits. That would be good. You must not know our manager,

Kurt. Yes. Melon. All right, folks. Remember, you get to play each week to get your shot in the dark. And before first pitch on Monday via Twitter. If we pick yours, we'll discuss it on next week's show. And you could win an ABT KUZI if you hit it exactly. So let's talk about the week ahead. Six games this week and actual schedule day off on Thursday.

One more of the Phillies, two at the Yankees and then three at the Marlins. Let's take a look at the pitching matchups. Newcom versus Phillies ace, Aaron Nola in his 397 ERA and sub one whip. Onto New York, Tukki should face Jay Hap, who's given up four earned in each of his two starts this year. So not off to a great start. Then we assume Kyle

Wright versus Massahiro Tanaka, who, you know, despite getting hit in the head during spring came back and as a 117 ERA through two starts this year. And then the three in Miami, where none of the Marlins starters have been named because it's actually mattingly has no idea who's on the team. Yes. Are you sick? No. Okay. Pitch. So the three starters were assuming if they do

take it advantage of that day off and don't go with the fifth starter would be freed, Newcom and then Tucson. We'll see, right? But none of that could be right. So six games this week. Curtis, what do you think? I got four or two beat the Phillies split with the Yankees. Take two of three from the fish. All right. I'm going. Well, I'm going five and

one. What? Well, you already committed to the sweep of the Yankees. I committed to the sweep of the Yankees. So they're going to beat Philly. They sweep the Yankees and take two or three in Florida. I mean, if the beginning of the week happens, Ham, then it's an easy five and one. Yes. If you can get past Aeronola, I say three and three. I say we

lose to Nola tomorrow. We split with the Yankees and then we win two or three with the Marlins. Pretty exciting to face the Yankees. I mean, we talked about this earlier. In the year, right? That we want to see. I wish they were coming here. I want to see the raise and let's see how we stack up. So they're four and one at home and six

and five on the road. I wish they were coming here. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And just a tremendous offense. Of course. Yep. Man, it might as stand. Right. Stand who went on the aisle today. That's right. I just stopped on so many pitches. What's that? Just please, Newcombe stop throwing so many pitches. That's that's the week. They could. Monday. They could set the tone for the whole

week as we know from this week past. Just just, just, Newcombe, don't get just outclass. That's all I want. Just, just don't get outclass. It would be such a good start for him. And let's grind out at bats in the beginning and get no loud and then get to the bullpen and just cruise. Yep. All right, guys, that is the show. We are back to our

normal every Sunday schedule. You can find us at speaker, iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play and Spotify. As always, you can find us at AtlantaBaseballTalk.com. Be sure to follow us on Twitter at ATL baseball talk and to like us on Facebook. Thanks again for listening and go braves! Thanks for listening to AtlantaBaseballTalk. Your weekly podcast for all things at Atlanta Braves. To find new shows, to post in

our forum or to send a comment, please visit us at AtlantaBaseballTalk.com. We need to roll for you quick. Adam make peace with my enemies. Accept the power. Great as it might.