When A Clinch May Be A Concern
18 de Septiembre de 2019 a las 13:44
Photo courtesy of Carmen Mandato, Getty Images
By Jon Nelson
OSG Sports
It’s no secret that Atlanta Braves General manager Alex Anthopoulous assembled a group of players
around the young stars on the roster (Ronald Acuna, Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, and insert-young-pitcher
here) to make a run for a flag.
The post-season bid has been clinched, but the NL East “magic number” is still 4 after a Sunday loss to
the Washington Nationals, 7-0.
Bringing in the likes of Brian McCann, Matt Joyce, Josh Donaldson, and Dallas Keuchel has reinforced the
youth on parade. Having Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis protects Acuna and Albies at the top of the
batting order… but if you’re manager Brian Snitker, how much are you taking with you as you head
home to clinch a division…?
Nats reliever Fernando Rodney threw a four-seamer at beloved jack-of-all-trades Charlie Culberson
Saturday afternoon as he squared to bunt and it turned into a scene that only makes you flinch when
you watch the video of the contact. Culbertson has been diagnosed with multiple fractures, but will get
more of a diagnosis and a plan to heal once he gets back to Atlanta.
Who takes over his spot in the interim and how long he’s out is anyone’s guess at press time?
Have the young pitchers hit that proverbial wall and, even if they’re nowhere close, how will they
respond to the pressures of a post-season…? Max Fried, since the end of July, has been up and down so
does Snitker rely on his veterans to get them through in short-rest situations that the team most surely
will face…???
For the record, for those who missed it, Fried only went 2-and-a-third innings Sunday- giving up 5
earned runs on 6 hits. Add Mike Soroka’s and Julio Teheran’s double-digit win seasons to the successes,
but can Mike Foltynewicz be counted on for depth and support as the team has used 31 pitchers to-date
this season…???
There are always intangibles that can help from an emotional standpoint to carry you through if things
feel a bit of a grind. And the main intangible you can see is that Brian Snitker will defend his players.
Let’s go back to the Culberson hit-by-pitch. First and foremost, the fact that Nats manager Dave
Martinez checked with umpires as to whether or not the bunt attempt was going to be called a strike
didn’t sit well with the visitors. The ensuing rant at umps that eventually got Snitker tossed should have
been a reinforcement that he’ll absolutely go to the wall for his guys. It was a solid minute-plus of letting
umps have it with any thought on his mind.
If rookies or younger players like the star power the Braves have available now had any doubts, they
shouldn’t anymore. Snitker was emotional in his post-game press conference about Culberson and what
he means to that locker room.
It’s a time for young stars to reinforce their place and Atlanta’s chance couldn’t be any more ever present…
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