re: Braves season long in-game thread

magic #4

With authority.

Nice change to see.

I saw the gif's people were asking for (scared mgr and ozzie's ATL popcorn) on Braves' twitter btw but it wouldn't let me copy paste them here.

Looks like he's trying to shake a DB at the line of scrimmage

Uh oh, Philly nation starting to panic and eat their own:

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An indefensible decision by Gabe Kapler in Phillies’ biggest game in years

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Kapler’s decision Thursday night — in a must-win game — to use Luis Garcia in the eighth inning with the Phils trailing the Braves by a run? Indefensible.

In that situation, a one-run deficit has to be treated like a tie. With how shaky Atlanta’s bullpen has been lately, a one-run deficit is far from insurmountable. It’s the kind of scenario that calls for a team’s best or hottest reliever. Worry about the ninth or 10th innings if/when they arrive. But instead of using Seranthony Dominguez or a locked-in Hector Neris, Kapler used Garcia, who allowed three runs in his previous outing and had allowed 11 runs in his last 10 2/3 innings. Garcia allowed four runs in the eighth and the Phils lost handily.

After the game, Kapler explained that the Phillies liked how Garcia profiled against the bottom of the Braves’ order, righties they believed Garcia could handle. But it wasn’t exactly the bottom of the order. It was the Braves’ 5-6-7 due up. And, quite frankly, it hasn’t mattered this season whether a Phillies pitcher is facing the top or bottom of Atlanta’s order. Kurt Suzuki has killed the Phillies. Ryan Flaherty has killed the Phillies. Johan Camargo has hit them. Dansby Swanson has hit them. There has been no pocket of the lineup the Phillies have handled.

Edubray Ramos, Victor Arano and Tommy Hunter had already been used. Pat Neshek was unavailable after pitching the previous two nights. But still, Garcia is clearly behind Dominguez and Neris in terms of recent performance. Neris has a 2.57 ERA with more than two strikeouts per inning in 16 appearances since returning from the minors. Even if you burn one in the eighth, you still have the other.

This decision from Kapler was equivalent to a manager saving his ace in Game 6 of a playoff series so he can pitch Game 7. Well, you have to get to Game 7 first. That’s the priority. Especially when said manager is treating every game like Game 7 of a playoff series, removing starting pitchers in the third or fourth inning and optimizing platoon matchups all night.

Kapler managed Thursday night with his back against the wall ... until the bottom of the eighth. The Phillies’ playoff hopes are on life support. Two more losses in this series and the division goes to the Braves.

If and when that happens, we’ll remember two instances — opening day and Thursday night — in which Kapler’s team lost an important game with one of its lesser relievers on the mound.

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finish them

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finish them

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Absofrickinlutely.

On the way to the game can't copy paste the lineup, but it's: Ronald, Ender, Freddie, Nick, Johan, Tyler, Ozzie, Dansby and Julio.

In the 3rd Freddie got a hit with Acuna on 2nd... 1-1

Crazy 7th with Julio giving up unearned runs and the Braves trying to comeback. 4-3 Phillies

Minter gave up a run but still saved it. 6-5 Braves. Magic number 2