re: The ATL Thread 9/19: Hey, Let’s Win A Game Edition

Well hell, looks like Ronnie’s 2nd homer and Ozuna’s 3rd hit and RBI both came in the 6th. I saw both of them, but guess I wasn’t paying attention to the score at that point.

Maybe just securing the win and ending the losing streak was more important than getting Jesse some work tonight, regardless of the score. I’m sure he’ll go soon, likely tomorrow. The whole point of bringing him up was to see if he’s ready to get big league hitters out consistently to determine if he’s on the playoff roster.

Anderson just got sent to Gwinnett to begin his rehab appearances. Any chance there’s time to get him up and ready or is that pushing it? You can change the roster after each series, though, right? He may not be ready for the NLDS, but could theoretically be added for the NLCS? Be kind of a gamble, though, if he can’t get a few innings in in Atlanta the last week of the regular season. He can look great in bullpens and simulated “scrimmages,” but I’m not sure that translates confidently into the bright lights of the postseason.

Been kinda disappointed in Tonkin lately. He was nails there for a week or so, especially in L.A. Pitching with a lot of fire and emotion and somehow blowing 95 right by people.

But we basically won the World Series with just Smith, Matzek, Jackson, and Minter throwing the high leverage innings. I’m sure they’ll whittle it down to a handful Snit feels like he can trust (Iglasias, Minter, Jimenez, Yates, Tonkin/Jesse?) Maybe Johnson? Do we keep Hand just to have another LH, but only to come in to face just 1 LH bat or 2 if they’re back-to-back? I don’t think I trust him for more than that unless the game’s out of hand and he’s just eating innings.

I fear our only having 1 high-velocity LHP in Minter may cause problems against left-handed heavy lineups. That may scare me more than anything.

Or maybe we flip a switch like the ‘97 LSU team and just rake our way to an undefeated postseason, cementing this team as one of the greatest of all time.

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There is a day off between every game in the NLDS except 3/4. No need for 4 starters. Fried and Strider can both pitch twice on normal rest.

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I’m not so sure they will set it up for Strider to pitch twice.

With 4 days rest this season:

Morton: 9 starts, 2.85 ERA
Fried: 4 starts, 3.15 ERA
Strider: 7 starts, 5.45 ERA

I would be very surprised if they deem Elder on extra rest to be a better option than Strider on regular rest.

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The more I think about it, I think there’s a decent chance they let Morton go game 2 & 5.

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No. Strider will 100% pitch game 2. But the more I think about it, the more I say we just sweep and not have to worry about Games 4 or 5.

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The more I think about it, I think there’s a decent chance they let Morton go game 2 & 5.

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