GDT 10/12/23 Atlanta Braves (Strider) @ Philadelphia Phillies (Suárez, R)

[HopeSpringsEternal]

A few weeks ago, we watched the Braves celebrate clinching the NL East at Citizens Bank Park. I remember seeing Ronald Acuna taunting the Philly fans. What goes around, comes around.

[schillingfan]

For years people here complained about using your closers or best relievers for the ninth inning. We now have a manager who uses his best for high leverage situations. Cool to see. In our case the unorthodox works. Not with giving us heart palpitations.

[EastFallowfield]

Had 'em all the way, Harry!

Late one, was at the game. My playoff record is pretty good:

Kim Batiste Game
1st time beating the Braves finale
Harper Game
3rd time beating the Braves finale

Will not mention my World Series record.

[donaldorc]

I am so thankful for these game day threads! For various reasons I couldn’t watch the game last night in real time, so being able to read these comments I could get a sense of the tension and excitement of the game. With replays on the MLB app I could get a good picture of what happened.

[andyb]

I have not been live to a playoff game since game 6 in the 1993 NLCS. Dave Hollins 2-run HR was the big blow. Every year I say I should come up but I just have not been able to swing it (mostly because of work).

[zambonir]

I have been extremely fortunate in both opportunities and results

2008: NLCS Games 4 and 5 in Los Angeles, all three WS games (the last one only due to the rain-out).

2022: NLCS Game 5, WS Game 3

2023 NLWC Game 1 NLCS Game 3

Only blemish was 2010 NLCS in SF

[Patchmk88]

I traveled up from Louisville for game 4 last year - owner of company I work for got me really nice tickets. Of course we proceeded to get no hit.

[bkox]

IOW we shouldnt allow you back in the state until after the post season..

[Austinfan]

They never should have let this bullpen watch Mitch Williams highlights.
They're all competing to see who can dig the deepest hole and then climb out of it!

[BaseballCat]

The Dbacks will be another battle, but I believe in this team. 8 more wins Topper!

[zambonir]

Ironically I reckon the bullpen was actually underused/not sharp. Some of them just hadn't gotten that much work/had been off for several days. Strahm and Seranthony, who both pitched in Game 3, were the most dialed-in. Kimbrel hadn't pitched for four days. Soto pitched Monday but only one batter.

Alvarado, conversely, had warmed up yesterday and was asked to pitch across two innings and just kind of lost it with Pillar. It's pretty crazy he failed to get Arcia and Kimbrel failed to get d'Arnaud to bring up the top of the order and they survived (both in that inning and the next).

[MichaelJackSchmidt]

I know he's highly regarded, but Alvardo's mechanics drive me nuts. He seems to fall off the mound with every pitch. This is why sometimes he can be lights out and other times he can't throw a strike. I'm not sure what causes these mechanical failures, but I suspect it's because he's overthrowing.

[Philsmania]

I was there! Certainly was tense but a lot of fun as well!

This Phillies team is just different in October. They give me so much angst April through September but then make it look easy in the Postseason!

[gmwannabe]

I did not see any pictures of Mr. Middleton in the locker room after the game. he is usually in some photos. I'm sure he was there.
gm

[BostonRoss]

Thinking about this more, I think Thomson didn't bring in Hoffman to start the ninth because he didn't want Rosario, who would sure have pinch-hit for Pillar in that situation, to face a RHP, quite possibly with runners on base.

Of course, it was also playing with fire a bit to leave Soto in. Soto has had command issues all year and was not throwing a lot of strikes to Olson in the 8th. It seemed almost inevitable that he would walk someone and bring the tying run to the plate. I guess in that case he would have brought Strahm in to face Pillar.

In retrospect, there were risks no matter how Rob played it. We have to say now that he made no decisions in this game that resulted in a bad outcome.