Mycampusplug
Dead Cat in the Road: Braves Suffer Another Shutout Despite Costly, Efficient Management
Well, when you throw that dead cat, sometimes he bounces, but he eventually settles to bottom. After last night, my senses all tell me I have been observing a dead cat, not a merely stunned cat. And among those senses is smell. It smells a little like rotting flesh. Although it is theoretically possible this team drags itself into the playoffs, that possibility seems heavily dependent on somebody else coughing it up.
You figure you have a chance with Max Fried pitching. You know this bunch only scores more than 5 runs about once a month, so you have to keep the other guy down. Well, Max did O. K., but this Braves offense needs perfection, and rarely gets that. 6 IP, 7 K, 3 H, 4 BB. That is WHIP under 1. But add a run scoring wild pitch and an HBP and overall, mediocre. 3 “earned” runs.
So, 3 to zero entering 7. Daysbel Hernandez, one whom many of us have wondered why he has been staying in Gwinnett, brough a gasoline can to the mound. He got one out. Then, he walked three guys and got pulled for Aaron Bummer. Well he gets a ground ball to Merrifield at 2nd. Merrifield comes home with the force in play and the runner beat the throw. So, still 3 on and one out. Then Mookie Betts hits a sacrifice fly to raise the stakes to a “Double Grybo” for Bummer. But why stop there? Then Teoscar Hernandez singles to get one more in. Then, Freddie Freeman homers. 6 runs in one inning. At 3 to 0 you figure it is over. It is kind of like Richard Pryor said, “you can kick my ass, but don’t be hollering at me, too!”
Our offseason question is usually driven by that great classic of 70′ song, “Rock on.” “And, where do we go from here?” Well, I think I will attempt to use my telepathic assistance to another team that might have a chance. With this one, it just depends on how much the parts get obliterated and how long they smell. I know it is a strange picture choice, but if this isn’t “The Twilight Zone.” I don’t know what is.
