The Atlanta Braves are having themselves a series spawned from hell vs. the New York Mets.
As if a much-needed off-day on Monday could not get here fast enough, the Atlanta Braves are doing an absolutely splendid job of playing some terrible baseball vs. the hated New York Mets.
Not since Sal Licata declared NL East victory around Memorial Day have the Braves looked this listless. After a 10-pitch at-bat that resulted in a Brandon Nimmo single, Spencer Strider got Starling Marte to put in on the ground for two … or so we thought. What happened next was seven minutes of not heaven for everybody watching the broadcast on their local RSN. This was moronic.
Recently acquired former/current Braves infielder Ehire Adrianza fielded the should-be double play. Rather than flipping it to Dansby Swanson to get Nimmo out at second for the force, he tried to tag the sliding outfielder. Too bad he didn’t tag him with the ball in his glove. It was in his hand. He then threw it to first, but Marte beat out his thow. Nimmo held Adrianza’s foot on the throw.
Using his brain because Adrianza could not, Braves first baseman Matt Olson threw the ball to Swanson so he could actually tag Nimmo to record a single out. While the Mets would not put a run across in that first frame, it was a struggle fest for Strider all afternoon. He was unable to get out of the third inning, as Braves skipper Brian Snitker pulled him in favor of the lefty Dylan Lee.
This is what I need an off-day yesterday looks like in utterly putrid Major League Baseball form…
Atlanta Braves’ latest brain-fart further illustrates this team needs an off-day
While the Braves are the reigning World Series champions, who could possibly believe this team is going to repeat at this juncture? Though they can more than hold their own against most teams, the Mets have had their number of late in a very embarrassing way. The good news is Atlanta is still almost certainly a top-four or five team in the National League, meaning it will be postseason.
The only problem with that is with the expanded playoffs, only the top two seeds get a bye out of the newfangled NL Wild Card Series. Atlanta may have been a No. 3 seed winning the worst division in baseball a season ago, but last year was so last year and this is now. Right now, the Braves need to flip a table full of snacks Angels in the Outfield style or burn some Dansby sage.
Ultimately, this is just a game in a series where the Braves have to find a way to turn the page. However, being on the precipice of dropping four of five at your arch-rival’s place is a great way to lose any positive momentum you built over the last two months and change. Adversity is part of any game, but the Braves are swimming in the midst of their worst since last year’s All-Star break.
Because these are bitter division rivals, they are absolutely slated to meet each other once again.
