re: Official 2021 Atlanta Braves Season Thread.(88-73)

Muller has been so good - and not fluky - I just don't know how you send him back to Gwinnett. DoB and Bowman seemed to be hinting at Ynoa coming back in the pen a few weeks ago because it would be quicker for him to ramp up, but who knows what they've decided with that. Some damn good options to have, though, which sure is nice after the year we've had.

Touki regressed after his first 2 starts but like you mentioned earlier it was good to see him mentally grind through issues last night. He definitely feels like a bullpen piece (if you decide to hold him and not deal him), but like you said that's probably a 2022 decision.

I know they don't want to cut Greene after they signed him late, but at this point I'm not sure what else there is to do. He can't get MLB hitters out with his stuff.

Tomlin is never leaving, I've just accepted that.

Since June 1st - SP Stats (> 20 IP, out of 159)


FIP
19. Kyle Muller (3.06)
25. Charlie Morton (3.22)
39. Ian Anderson (3.45)
43. Max Fried (3.53)
62. Drew Smyly (4.00)
101. Touki Toussaint (4.64)

WAR/IP x 150
25. Kyle Muller (3.7)
32. Charlie Morton (3.5)
37. Ian Anderson (3.3)
47. Max Fried (2.9)
54. Drew Smyly (2.5)
100. Touki Toussaint (1.4)

The sticky stuff ban has been pretty devastating for Sliderman unfortunately. That unnatural movement isn't happening without it.

Also, the worst starting pitcher in major league baseball the last 2 months?

quote:

---

But the guy throws strikes, which is something our relievers have struggled with often this year. He may not be elite, but he's not going to give a game away either and that's the kind of relief arm we needed since we weren't going to pay for someone like Kimbrel.

---

I love him - it was a great move. Guy pumps strikes and his fastball is clearly hard to see/pick up. Like you said, he's not an elite closer or anything but he's a rock solid trustworthy 7th/8th inning guy. Those are invaluable.

AA's work at the deadline was pretty damn masterful.

quote:

---

My big concern with him as a GM going forward is that he overvalues his own assets, and that's going to result in a lot of our prospects dying on the vine because they either stop developing or simply get stuck in the pitching logjam when they could have easily been moved for someone who can actually help us.

---

Yep

The flip side is he held on to Touki, Kyle Wright and even a guy like Bryse Wilson too long and their value declined. The job on the bullpen this offseason was a disaster. He has ups and downs, like most GMs.

The recent surge in the young minor league pitchers is a pretty huge long term development, though. All of the individuals below have proven to be capable, if not very good, major league arms for at least 2-3 starts:
- Max Fried (27)
- Tucker Davidson (25)
- Mike Soroka (24)
- Ian Anderson (23)
- Huascar Ynoa (23)
- Kyle Muller (23)

When you then throw in Touki, Wright, Tarnok, Strider, Shuster, Estes, Vines, Cusick...........you feel pretty good about the fact that you have an internally developed (and cost effective) rotation lined up for at least the next 3-4 years.

Combine that with Acuna/Albies contracts and Riley under team control until 2025.......that's a lot of room to work with, fiscally.

Ynoa and Touki added to the bullpen could be a gamechanger.

Opposing offenses would struggle to hit Touki if all he had to do was concentrate on getting three outs. He has filthy stuff at times.

If Ynoa regains his form hard to imagine hes not one of your five best.

Duvall's 1 clutch fella.
Happy he's back.
Braves last 11 runs all with 2 outs.