Atlanta Braves 2026 season discussion. (1st half)

[selmaborntidefan]

Yep, everyone was scratching their heads trying to figure out why the Braves went with Suarez before the season and after last night, still don't understand why, they went with a guy that didn't look great before last night.

I guess we'll have to settle for 160-2 now.


I think the toughest years as a Braves fan are the ones where we don't really have any idea how good or bad we're going to be. It was EASY to be a Braves fan in the late 70s - and mid to late 80s - in the sense that the idea of going to the World Series never once crossed our minds (save for 1982 and 1983). And then in the 90s - especially once they added the wildcard round - it was incredibly easy because we were going to go, period.

Same with a couple of years ago.

But now?
Who knows?

It's also become clear we are trying to win on the cheap by letting everyone leave when it's payday time.

 

[CrimsonNagus]

It's also become clear we are trying to win on the cheap by letting everyone leave when it's payday time.

This is the worst thing about the AA years, becoming a farm system for the Yankees and Dodgers.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

on the brightside, Drake Baldwin is on pace for 100 homeruns.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

I don't think things have changed much with a new manager.

 

[CrimsonNagus]

Lots of strikeouts today, 9 through 6 innings, but at least they are scoring runs.

Acuna 0-2 with 2 BB, and he got picked off at 1st again. If he had slid, he might have been safe, but he tried to quick-step it back to the bag. Something is in his head right now.

Riley is not far behind him either; his average is dropping as he hasn't done much of anything for a few games. Hasn't had a hit since the second game of the season. Those low sweeping outside pitches, Riley will swing at them every time. I don't know why pitchers throw anything else to him.

5-1 Braves through 6.

 

[BhamToTexas]

On the bright side Drake was fantastic at the plate. Sale had another good outing and the staff gave up 0 walks.

2 series played, 2 series wins.

 

[CrimsonNagus]

Braves win! 5-1


All in all, not a bad start to the year, taking 2 of 3 in each of the first 2 series.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

On the bright side Drake was fantastic at the plate. Sale had another good outing and the staff gave up 0 walks.

2 series played, 2 series wins.

Drake has been the only brightspot. Something is just wrong with Acuna. I have watched 2 games this year, and he doesn't seem as focused.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

Didn't realize we had that early of a game today.

Jeez. I could have watched it before going into work for the afternoon shift (just this week).

 

[BhamToTexas]

Didn't realize we had that early of a game today.

Jeez. I could have watched it before going into work for the afternoon shift (just this week).

I guess they had to get out of town quickly. No travel off day today.

 

[BhamToTexas]

Are we just supposed to use this thread for the whole season?

It doesn't seem like there are enough comments to warrant every series to have it's own thread. I tried to make home stand/road trip threads last year but was told not to make mega threads.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

Are we just supposed to use this thread for the whole season?

It doesn't seem like there are enough comments to warrant every series to have it's own thread. I tried to make home stand/road trip threads last year but was told not to make mega threads.

We could probably make threads for each series. I was just piggybacking this general thread, but this should be more of a team news thread. I think Brett is fine with series threads.


The Braves are starting the season with 13 straight games with no off days.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

I thought we must have lost last night for sure when I saw no new comments in this thread.

Did anyone happen to see how in the world Bido was credited with a Save in a 17-2 win?!

Maybe I’m stupid or they changed the rules and I missed it but that makes no sense.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

I thought we must have lost last night for sure when I saw no new comments in this thread.

Did anyone happen to see how in the world Bido was credited with a Save in a 17-2 win?!

Maybe I’m stupid or they changed the rules and I missed it but that makes no sense.

12-1 when he came in and he pitched 3 innings. Still don't get how that is a save.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

12-1 when he came in and he pitched 3 innings. Still don't get how that is a save.

I don’t either.

I religiously watched MLB in the 80s-90s and played MLB video games all the time and never remember a Save happening like that.

It always had to be a 3 run lead or less.

If the lead was bigger you didn’t get credited with anything.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

I don’t either.

I religiously watched MLB in the 80s-90s and played MLB video games all the time and never remember a Save happening like that.

It always had to be a 3 run lead or less.

If the lead was bigger you didn’t get credited with anything.

AI says if you pitch the final 3 or more innings of any game, you can be credited a save regardless of the score. Didn't know that.

Apparently it is called the 3 innings rule.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

AI says if you pitch the final 3 or more innings of any game, you can be credited a save regardless of the score. Didn't know that.

Apparently it is called the 3 innings rule.

We need Selma to weigh in lol

I swear I’ve never heard of this rule exception.

This feels like a Mandela Effect

 

[CrimsonNagus]

I fell asleep right after the Braves went up 3-1, then woke up as the post-game show was starting to see the 17-2 final. I immediately went back and watched the 5th and 9th innings to see what I missed.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

Why don't we just do ONE THREAD PER MONTH? That would keep that manageable, not tax the grid, and most likely not exceed the 500 post limit. Just my two cents.

On SAVES, I think people have a fundamental misunderstanding of the rules. Not that I can blame them, how often have we sat there and listened to an announcer say, "This is a save situation and wondered WHAT THE HELL?"

The non-negotiables:
a) must be the last pitcher of the game
b) must not be the winning pitcher
c) team must win the game
d) he must record AT LEAST one out.

Then we get to the flexibles:
a) enters the game with the tying run on base, at bat, or on deck.
b) pitches ONE INNING with a lead of NO MORE THAN THREE RUNS
c) pitches 3 innings REGARDLESS OF LEAD SIZE and satisfies the non-negotiables.

What makes it confusing is you so rarely see the latter one - as happened yesterday.

These have been the same save rules since 1975. But prior to the adjustments to the save rule,
you saw crap like this:

Retrosheet Boxscore: New York Mets 20, Atlanta Braves 6

Ron Taylor came on with a 20-6 lead, got three fly outs to center - and got one of the cheapest saves you will ever see. He could just throw the ball down the middle of the plate, he wasn't going to give up 14 runs.

For the sake of size, I'm gonna put up an additional post on the save development real quick, because it's important with the game we have now.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

AI says if you pitch the final 3 or more innings of any game, you can be credited a save regardless of the score. Didn't know that.

Apparently it is called the 3 innings rule.

yeah, it's always been that way. You just RARELY see it.

The reason(s) you rarely see it are this:
a) there aren't that many blowout type games
b) in a blowout, a manager likes to throw his untested pitchers in and give them work (remember how you almost never saw Marvin Freeman pitching for the Braves unless they were UP BIG or DOWN BIG?)
c) to have that big of a save, the team has to have that huge lead after only six innings

So it's not "really" fair to call it an exception, it's just not something you see very often. And nowadays if you DO see it, it's not going to be the ace closer, it's going to be a guy they're not sure is going to be around next month usually.