Click here to read the transcript of today’s chat with Tim Dierkes.
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who cares if the Phils or Braves are the better team in April? and to call Jeff an idiot? wow.
Why so serious?
LOL. I don’t even recall saying, specifically, that the Phillies are better than the Braves. Not going to go back and find it, but I’m sure at most I’d have stated that I felt they were better positioned to win in the near-term, or something.
But I agree with Tim, it’s pretty much a coin flip. And I’m not (generally) an idiot. (Or, at least, the fact the Braves have taken 6 of 9 from the Phils doesn’t demonstrate that.)
If the phillies want to make the playoffs this season . they need to beat the braves.
What has held up the Phil so far is Arrieta and Nola, combined with an improved bullpen…
However, if they are going to contend this season, they’ve got to establish the rest of their rotation…
If they are to contend, and stay abive .500, they can’t continue to solely win the games started by Nola and Arrieta, and then hoping they can just win one of the next 3 games pitched by their #’s 3-5 starters….
If one of their other starters can step up, or if they can add one more solid starter, they should be pretty viable contenders for the remainder of the season…
Regardless though, it has been pretty fun seeing the NL Easy race this season…
First, let me say, I wholeheartedly agree about how moronic it is to call Jeff an idiot!!
Jeff, Tim, and the other writers offer up their time to answer our questions, and we, as fans, reward them with that kind of nonsense?!?..SMH, someone seriously needs to grow up!!
However, I disagree with your sentiment that no one cares about the current April progress of the Phillies and Braves…Obviously, the Braves care, the Phillies care, both teams’ fans care, and fans around the league whose teams are competing should care as well..Simply because, so far, both teams look like they just might have enough to contend for a Wild Card spot!!
Also, as a fan of baseball in general, fans should be excited about all the young and talented players on each of the Braves and Phillies rosters…
Phillies fans can speak for themselves on this topic, but I absolutely LOVE seeing the young talent coming up for the Braves..
You have a 21 year old in Ozzy Albies, whose putting his name in the hat for the player of the month award in April.. As he’s either leading or near the top of the league in R, H, XBH, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, AVG., OBP, SLG., etc. Then, the #1 prospect in baseball in Ronald Acuña Jr., who is lighting the league on fire so far, showing off his extremely talented mixture of power and speed!! Also, you have two lefties out of the bullpen, who have previously struggled with injuries, but now that they’re healthy, they are dominating at the ML level..Jesse Biddle and AJ Minter are both showing off their talent thus far, and both should help anchor the bullpen going forward. Also, the next great Braves starter may be on his way soon in Mike Soroka.. Talking Chop just did an EXCELLENT article on the 20 year old pitcher, And with his mixture of maturity, command, control, finesse, intelligence, and sheer talent, he should instantly become a fan favorite and one of the best young pitchers in the NL..
DEFINITELY EXCITING TIMES!!
Also, what’s helped the Braves off to their fast start is their unsustainable offensive success…Then again, is it all that unsustainable?? Only time will tell, but they just added the #1 prospect in baseball to their line-up, and he is a STUD!!
The Phillies at least have Arrieta and Nola they can count on…The Braves don’t have an ace #1, nor even really a stud #2. For that to happen, Foltynewicz and Teheran have to continue taking steps forward to solidify the top of their rotation. Folty so far looks locked in, and he’s been a top 10 NL starter thus far..But his big key is CONSISTENCY!!
.Also, to compliment those two, the Braves are seriously going to need Newcomb to continue making progress..Then it’s going to come down to the success of Brandon McCarthy and a 20 year old rookie in Mike Soroka…McCarthy has been EXACTLY what the Braves were hoping for this year, keeping them in games, and giving them quality outtings time in and time out…
Even so, Soroka will be the key to the Braves making a real run for a playoff spot. If Soroka can come up, continue to excel, and round out the Braves rotation with Folty, Teheran, McCarthy, and Newk, then they should be able to get enough from their offense to win plenty of games..
AND with the offense being paced by two players UNDER 22, Acuña Jr. and Albies, their future is intensely bright!! Add in Freeman’s special bat, and the steady and timely hits from Suzuki/Flowers, Markakis, Swanson, and Inciarte, (whose also leading the league in SB, while providing GG, CF defense) and you have a very steady 1-8…which includes the suprising starts from Flaherty and even Camargo…
Their bench has also produced, (hat tip to Preston Tucker), and their bullpen has so far held up pretty well…Vizzy, Minter, Carle, Winkler, Biddle, and Freeman have all combined to do some serious work thus far..Hopefully they can hold up over the course of the season!!
There isn’t an ACE walking through their doors anytime soon, unless Soroka really comes in dealing..But, they can add Soroka, add another bullpen piece, and possibly add another power bat, and then, if health permits, the Braves may be one of the more complete teams in the NL..
Like I said, they have the line-up, they have the speed, they have the defense, they have the bench, and the bullpen, it’ll all come down to their starters and how well Soroka can solidify this rotation…That’s ALOT to ask from a 20 year old rookie, but Albies and Acuña Jr. are holding up just fine this year..Heck, Albies very well may be the early leader for NL MVP!!