They've won 3 games out of 4 without the top of that order doing anything, imagine if they do!
You can't change the roster without an injury, won't be seeing Hall before NLCS. (I mean, I know you are being your usual over-the-top self suggesting Rhys also get benched, you've been saying that for years!)
I know, Zamby. Love the kid. Just wishing he would go on one of those 5,6,7 game hot streaks he can have. They could sure use it right about now.
gm
Well now I'm going to take back some disappointment. I didn't get to see the game after the 5th inning. I just watched that 6th inning. Wheeler didn't lose too much during that inning. That grounder, Hoskins left the braves back in the series. Pancho Herrara could have made that play. absolutely horrible. weak infield hit and another run. Should have been out of the inning without anything. Wow!
We still did not score any runs though. And our better bullpen arms would all be pitching back to back without much recent history, so unfair to pin this on a bad defensive play completely.
They are nuts if they extend Hoskins, he is what he is and isn't going to get better.
Which is ok, but not if you give him good money on a 5 year deal starting at 31 years old.
Not really worried about that happening. Neither side has ever talked about an early contract extension. It will presumably come up this off-season but doubt anything happens. IMO still more likely that he's traded than extended. But most likely he just hits free agency.
Websites say Strider is getting the start for the Braves in Game 3 today. He has dominated the Phillies, but he has to be due for a bad day at some point, right? Right?
They are saying he won't go more than 2 or 3 innings and he hasn't pitched in almost a month. It's probably a good strategy for the Braves. Try to steal one against Nola with the de facto bullpen game and then come back with a proven starter against the Phillies' own de facto bullpen game (I'm sticking with calling it that, if we had a surefire choice to start the game we'd already know who it is) in Game 4. Game 5 obviously favors them in every way. Phillies might have Wheeler in a pinch but Braves will also have Strider again.
Strider won't pitch again in the series--after a month off that's playing Russian roulette with his arm.
You're probably right, even as a reliever in the beginning of the season he was still on more of a long man/starter schedule. But all the reporters have said that a positive side-effect to him going short today would be potential availability Sunday.
But it also depends on the context. We're not likely to see Wheeler on Sunday either but if it's the 9th inning of a tie game and the best relievers have already pitched, or if it goes to extras, who knows.
For all the talk about Falter and a potential opener in Game 4 I still think a RH opener for Suarez in a potential Game 5 would not be the worst idea either. But you'd have to be particularly courageous about it and actually use Eflin (assuming Thor pitches tomorrow). Ideally you don't want the mid/lower-end relievers ever facing the top of that Braves order, whether it's the 1st, 5th or 8th.
I think Wheeler in the bullpen Sunday is definitely an option. They are not going to start him on 3 days rest given his late season arm issues, but an inning or two late has certainly got to be on the menu.
I think everything hinges on whether the Phillies can generate offense today. We have seen they have games where they simply don't hit, and sometimes in consecutive games. I think that if they hit today, they'll win behind Mr. October.
If they win, then I think they can take one of two. The current version of Charlie Morton doesn't scare me, and while we can't count on another clunker from Fried, the Braves can't assume he'll be his ace-like self either. I do think the Phillies will use Wheeler on Sunday if the situation warrants it.
I'm not sure about that. If they are tempted to use him, it is because they have a solid shot to win this series. In that case they will want him to start the next series. Not being a reliever, pitching on less than full rest may not be a good option
But if the Phillies are winning 4-3 in the 9th inning and Ranger only went four and you already used Bellatti, Seranthony, Alvarado and Eflin (as well as Falter and Thor on Saturday) are you going to send Connor Brogdon or Kyle Gibson out there to hold back Wheeler for a start he never gets to make?
It's definitely harder to do this in the expanded playoffs/short-series but it's still all-hands-on-deck in any clincher/elimination game, to a point.
