Members Only Game Thread- Phillies vs Braves
Welcome to our Open Game Thread for the Phillies-Braves Wild Card Game 3. Chat with fellow readers as we watch to see who will advance to take on the Dodgers in the NLDS! Only Members can participate, and unlike our usual game chats, your messages will be posted immediately.
Our Member community is made up of thousands of incredibly knowledgable baseball fans, and we think this is a great way to follow a game with like-minded baseball enthusiasts. We might even have some FanGraphs Staff drop in and join the fun. Please be courteous to your fellow Members, or you may find your chat privileges revoked.
Hello Everyone!
Hi!
Which of these teams has a better shot against the Dodgers?
I'll say the Braves because I think they were just better this year. The Phillies do have the "built better for the playoffs" thing since they're so top heavy. I think the Dodgers would be heavily favored either way of course.
JT Realmuto implies the existence of a TJ Fakemuto
I appreciate this even if no one else does
This gambit is pop on toast
I've got Steelers on the TV and baseball on laptop. So much PA.
Aaron Nola feels like a bad idea, but sometimes bad ideas work out hilariously well in the playoffs.
Short leash presumably
How many outs do we think Nola and Holmes get combined? 15?
Hard to see both of them pitching that well for me
I can make that poll. At least an O/U poll. Set at 15?
14.5
As I said in chat, I'm interested in seeing if they try to keep Kerr in there through second time Harper/Schwarber instead of start burning Dylans
They give him quite a few three inning stints
I thought this bar didn’t have the game on and now it’s on and now I’m here everyone!
If Kerr allows Schwarber or Harper to get on, that'd be pop on toast
Guessing he'll walk at least one of them
I'm going to continue to use pop on toast from chat
Oppo schwaboo makes me feel like it'll be a big night for him
Good piece of hitting ™ by Schwarber
Oof
How much does the 1pm start times theyve had negate the home field advantage? Smaller and quieter crowds
I've never actually looked at day vs. night home field
Or attendance based.
Certainly a different atmosphere
that's an interesting question
Maybe I'll add to that the to do list for Things to Write About in a Very Long Offseason
Can this be a mailbag submission?
If you were a doordasher and saw a note that said "Only buy the Chessmen cookies if they have the chess shapes, I don't want to eat the limited edition shapes like those stupid gardening theme they had in the spring" would you swipe by, assuming I'm a psychopath?
We don't need to assume, Dan.
I don’t really have anything to add right now, but hey, members only!
Not a gambling gal myself, but I would be interested in a "more liberty biberty ads than hits" line
Take the over, only because we're watching Aaron Nola vs. Ray Kerr
Oh, hey Doug! You already knew I was a psychopath because of the Boyardee note.
We still love ya buddy!
I think they would write your name in on election day
Hey everybody! I'm working on my Yanks-Rays preview right now, but I'll try to keep an eye on the chat as well.
Hello again, Jack.
And I'm here until Davy finishes his Yanks-Rays preview — then I'll have to edit it
Dan, is this the first time you've participated in two chats in the same day? It's kind like pitching in both games of a double-header.
One thing fun about these chats is that sometimes Sean updates the software in real time
I'm in Zanzibar
Howdy Davy
I once did eight hours of a chat in one day for one of these playoff megachats. And that was when ESPN was paying me!
JU, the country or the club in New Jersey?
Actually, I do have something. What’s it going to take to get an Atlanta fans to stop doing performative caricatures of indigenous human beings? It’s the 21st century and people shouldn’t suck this much.
hell freezing over. they have stuff at their park about how "it's actually totally fine and indigenous people actually like it"
At what point does it just become a "sports" thing? Chiefs, Florida State, and Im guessing other college schools do it too. I wish it wasnt a thing, but intent has to be factored right?
I edited this piece from Stephanie Apstein during the 2021 World Series at SI, and it got a lot of ppl talking about it for a bit, but then nothing happened https://www.si.com/mlb/2021/10/28/atlanta-braves-tomahawk-ch…
Dammit. I'm in Zanzibar. It's 3:30 AM I'm supposed to go away (to another part of the island) for the weekend with someone I met here tomorrow. If I don't go to sleep soon I'm going to be very tired tomorrow. Should I go to bed or watch baseball?
Might be the wrong crowd to pose the question too, JU!
As a Cubs fan, I guess I root for the Phillies solely for Schwarber.
My lost son, how we miss you so.
Our collective Large Adult Son.
aaron nola in a playoff game is a wild time
Or the right one
If Nola walks Harris, they should probably pull him
wait until you hear what happened
looks like they keep him in
Mattingly should let him die out there. none of that whimpy reliever BS
If you see Bert Lahr's Christopher Columbus Lay's commercial, the Tomahawk Chop chant seems tame by comparison https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R139Gf-Xf4
That was quick
Didn't walk him
Well…
Nola feels like a bad idea
Boom
that pitch was in the dirt lol
Well this was fun.
Zach Wheeler seems like he might've been a better choice to start the game
hell, i'd take zack on two hours of rest
huge shout out to the announcers for just shutting up and letting the crowd go nuts
Aaron Nola's pitching like someone who knows he's like 30 minutes away from having diarrhea and he needs to get out of the game quickly
I don't think 3 will be enough tonight. But it's a good start
Grant Holmes will give up some, but how many?
Nola' s pitching like he accidentally ate some pop on toast
That pitch was two inches below the zone. That's a gutsy swing after two straight walks.
Wasn’t even a strike
If the Phils lose, can Kruk just rove and be in a DS booth?
They showed Dubon making a face like I do when I hear about free tacos
Nola may already have tickets to NOLA
that pitch was absolutely tipped
Hi Meg!
These chats are absolutely fantastic y'all, a tremendous perk to being a member!
Hi Matt!
Hello, Meg!
It's funny how this seems to be the most FG writer-dense chat, more than the ones actually designed to be
Hi Davy!
As a Dodgers fan (yeah, yeah) I'm just rooting for this to stay close so the winner exhausts their pen.
I figured I'd pop in and say hi since I wasn't able to yesterday.
What do you even do here if you're Mattingly? Too early to put in Wheeler, you can't keep Nola in, non-Duran pen stinks.
Chopped meat vs tomahawk chop. No easy answer..,
Philly has some GREAT pizza. Easy choice.
I prefer the Phillies’ pretzel game
Anyone else get a little bit sad watching end-stage Aaron Nola?
Yes. He’s done well with what he has and sometimes it’s still enough. Not today tho…
No, 46, I find the inevitable decay that awaits us all quite enjoyable.
Feature idea @Sean, reaction flags! Such as an "!!" for Anonymous' message
Definitely a good idea.
I love that Harris is just on the iPad watching himself rock that pitch again.
Davy, I saw an interview with Roger Federer where they asked if he watched film of his matches. He said 'Yes I do, but to be honest, it's mainly for my own enjoyment.' Really stuck with me
Justin Morneau on Twins broadcasts often talks about how before a game/AB he'd watch video of himself hitting homeruns to identify what he was doing mechanically well. Apparently teammates made fun of him for it a lot.
Yeah. They should change the [Enter] as submit function.
We can possibly change that, but Enter to submit and shift + enter for a new line is somewhat standard. Maybe we can make that an option.
Are people on mobile devices really using shift+enter?
How many people are on mobile vs computer?
This is such an odd series. Neither team feels “good” in the old playoff sense.
And then I remember that’s what wildcards are!
I really don't get how the braves won 94 games
My brother is in his lucky chair with his lucky hat ans 2 backup hats. So if the Braves lose, it's his fault.
I'm so happy that there's not a Line of Fire commercial every single break
"I'm a little teapot, short and stout" for Stott is great
If there's such thing as a wipeout cutter this might be it
Is there hope still that Kruk says "slutter"?
what do y'all think: is nola coming back out for round two?
No one was even warming in the first, so yes
I was gonna say it chews scenery
Surprised to see Sosa. He looked like he came up lame in Game 1
Do they make Liberty Biberty pinatas?
WHY DOES IT HAVE TEETH
Meg, your comment says it's awaiting review, and I wonder who gets to review it.
I do.
It didn't like that I was yelling
but also, why does it have teeth!?
TESTING THE YELLING
I appreciate MH2 just admitting "I was trying to homer there" haha
It doesn't have a digestive system, does it? Why does it need to chew?
It eats up airtime, Meg!
It’s giving Sonic The Hedgehog teeth
thankfully I don't think most mascots have teeth right?
which would be most horrifying with teeth
i mean, it has to be the phanatic, right?
eww yep
Hi Sean!
Gritty and the Phanatic don't
How do we think Votto has been in this “on the field” role?
I've been digging it.
Yeah I've liked Votto
Does your comment have to await review if you talk about BUTTS? (Just checking.)
Extremely uncertain as to why Mattingly has a low leverage lefty up if not for Smith, this is perplexing
Mattingly making perplexing pitching decisions? More at 11.
5/6 balls in play off of Nola have been hard hit
Hi, Jon!
I'm going to say hi to everyone.
Once the Phillies season is over, remember they have the incredibly awkward dynamic of Don Mattingly's son deciding if his dad should keep his job
Did Ryan Dempster pioneer the glove shake mid windup?
Meg saw the commercial and wondered why the mascot had teeth. I saw it and started wondering how Liberty got from a commercial of a struggling actor flubbing his lines and saying "Liberty Biberty" to now having a Biberty mascot.
They too seem to be doing a weird version of throwing **** at the wall. They’ve got that whole other set of ads with the cheesy 80s cop and the emu. Is this maybe just the game in advertising these days? They’re trying to find something that’ll go viral and they got some focus group data that a mascot from Critters 2: The Main Course tested well.
Don Smith looks a lot sadder than he actually is
Man, what a weird season for Nola..
Liberty Biberty? Jason Benetti’s interviewee?
Well, I guess Dom doesn’t exist as a name and I’ve spent no time in New Jersey
The phanatic but with the mouth of a sea lamprey
I am never recovering from this visual
I'm fascinated by the decision to start Nola
If Wheeler is available tonight, why didn't the Phillies just start him?
well why would you not want 1.2 high-quality innings from prime aaron nola?
It just kinda felt like this was the inevitable conclusion to starting Nola- trailing by multiple runs before your best pitchers even get a chance to throw, and still having to go to the pen early
Great, now there’s ANOTHER word in that stupid Liberty song…
They had to have known Nola wouldn't last line. Baffling
Mattingly’s reasoning was that they think Wheeler profiles better out of the bullpen, which may well be true, but it’s gonna matter a helluva lot less down three than tied
Was there a case to start someone like Bowlan? Feels like a much likelier clean 6 outs.
If I'm Philly, I want Wheeler and Duran getting the maximum # of outs possible, then praying that your line up gives you enough that you feel comfortable piecing together the end of the game
Yes, Wheeler profiles better as a reliever than Nola, but he also profiles as a better starter
Do you think the Phillies considered Mayza opening for Nola? Feel like it would have made plenty of sense with the top of the Braves order being quite LHH heavy.
Yeah, my feeling was that if they were only going to use Wheeling for an inning or two, it makes sense to strategize where you deploy him. If you're willing to use him for four innings, I think you just start him
Why not start Duran, have him go 2, then Wheeler?
Heck, why not start 2008 Joe Blanton?
Do….. do you have a time machine and you aren't sharing it with the rest of us?
I used it to introduce Liberty Biberty into this timeline
Oh no
Has Bowlan pitched at all this series?
No but he warmed up multiple times in game 1
There should be a limit on political TV ads. Like only within 4 weeks of an election. Or none
We started getting them in AZ in July lol.
Isn't bowlan out with a groin injury?
edit: i am wrong
I gotta say, the incessant promoting makes me want to watch The Traitors even less than I did, which was zero
My only guess is that they thought Nola’s been good enough of late that they could get at least once through the order with him.
Well that was fun
I can't believe I am saying this, but I miss the days of Big Bang Theory promos
Phillies IF doesnt make that play.
Was just thinking this. That was an incredible play.
I dont remember which jabroni wrote the series preview for this, but they didnt mention defense at all. Its been a story all series though.
Check this pun out: Dubie Thursday
The brothers would be proud
Mauricio Dubon is fantastic
As a Dodgers fanatic, I'm thrilled with the Harris homer. Respectfully, of course.
Interesting. I'm a Dodgers fan and I'd much rather face Philly!
Yeah, I'm probably misremembering the season. The Braves probably smoked us. But I'm thinking that, after Sale, the Braves starters aren't particularly scary…
Sean, we need to get upvotes in here so my humor can be feted
I'm leaning toward emoji reacts or something. So you can get 😂 instead.
Maybe this is Ray Kerr’s moment before he goes back to groundskeeping
Please don't tell me that just anybody can play 1st. Olsen is as valuable a defender as there is on the team.
Do we know if first base defense ages well? I love the idea of Matt Olson being an elite defender into his 40s
Looked like Ray Kerr said he wants to keep going as he walked into the dugout, love that
Goldy's defense is still good.
Does Kerr get Schwarber and Harper in the 4th now?
He's got to
Ray Kerr goes 5 and gets the win.
The warning that it's from the *commissioner* of baseball really makes me want to broadcast the transmission without expressed written consent
That guy just implies EVERYTHING
THIS Dodger fan thinks the Phillies are a slightly bigger risk than Atlanta. Because pitching
I love how TV show commercials tend to discourage me from watching the advertised TV show
I remember when Arrested Development debut way back. The commercials for it were *awful* and made it seem like a schlocky sitcom.
I didn't watch it until several episodes in and only then by accident
Braves defense makes that play.
Oh hey another defensive play not made by Philadelphia
In his defense, they hit the ball RIGHT at him. Must be scary.
It's been awhile since Mattingly has managed; I hope he's not saving Wheeler so he can be fresh for Game 4…
Hey hey, party people!
Turner is turning into Story, heaven forbid.
Hi Jay!
yo jay
Hi, Jay!
So, if Mattingly Jr. has to whack Mattingly Sr., does that f-up Thanksgiving?
Oh Jay is here! I was just about to ask the chat if we think Acuna is on a Hall of Fame trajectory? Feels like it could go either way at this point, and health could be the most important factor
Dubon gets my vote for most underrated player. He is just so valuable.
Did the Phillies need Nola at all tonight? Not completely tracking their bullpen usage minus Painter and Duran
Zack Wheeler's gray beard makes me feel very old.
These two pitching staffs feel so thin I could read a newspaper through them
What an image
Haven't we as a society progressed beyond the need to make a Scrooge movie starring Johnny Depp in 2026?
Haven't we progressed past the need for Johnny Depp at all?
Acuña got a great start to a HOF trajectory but he's totaled 5.0 bWAR since his MVP season — that's 3 years worth. He's still got a decent shot if he can get back on track but his bat has rarely been special lately, his defense has deteriorated, and he can't stay on the field.
I'm sorry but the rationale being that "Wheeler is a better relief option than Nola" is still so confounding to me!
"Why are you eating garbage?"
"Because I thought food would be a better dessert than garbage."
I think the problem is they didn't really have any good options if Wheeler can't throw 5 innings.
I'll be honest I had never heard of Ray Kerr before today. And I follow baseball very closely. Could probably name 500-600 current major league players. But not him
Samsies
I had barely heard of Kerr either.
One thing about covering Yankees-Red Sox WCS with those 8 pm games is that you really don't get to watch much of any of the other series, particularly not with sound because you're just catching glimpses of it during stray moments.
If there's one player you could read a newspaper through, it's Kerr.
he's a Giacometti sculptue on the mound
Ray Kerr may just be Cristopher Sanchez
Halloween isn't for 30 days, Jack!
Haha good point
As an expert at the obvious. I don't think Weiss expected to get 3 1/3 from Kerr.
Do we think the booth makes a Kenny Powers reference?
The only good progressive commercial these days is the one where she warns college kids about how they’ll have to decide what to have every night for dinner for the rest of their lives
Fun play there by Holmes
That play was sick
Grant Holmes arriving late because he spent a million dollars on two chicks at the same time.
that fan new exactly how to make an out call
Does that go down as 1-1-1-1-3?
We need that laugh react
I was waiting for Holmes to throw up his hands because the ball got lost inside his hair.
Bohm being slow has helped the Braves twice tonight
I need to assign Baumann a mailbag question about a hypothetical rule for when a ball gets lost in a player's hair
His hair looks like it’s attached to his hat
So someone step up and submit one!
My brother's late wife's sister is a hairdresser in Conway, SC. I wonder if she did Holmes hair when he was in high school?
I know that game was much closer but this feels like 2011 all over again for the Phillies. I hope it goes differently
How are we still talking about "rest vs rust" on these broadcasts? Like why would you want to have to play an entire extra series where you can lose?
the discourse about whether it's good to play in a wildcard series is infuriatingly stupid
<broad gesture at everything>
Hear, hear. But just to be clear, I'm not deleting that paragraph from my Rays-Yanks preview.
Both those teams will be pretty rested
This isn’t the Wheeler I remember from Taxi
if you win, is the momentum worth not being able to rest your pitchers? Maybe, probably not, but you can also lose
welp
Joey "The Braves aren't going to score any more runs" Votto
Uh oh
This might not be an electric finish
I think if Ozzie Albies is hitting dongs against you in 2026, might not be your series…
Listening to the Atlanta radio broadcast. They are a bit worked up. "Ascend into the heavens. . ."
This one feels like it's over
is this what a window slamming shut sounds like?
Surely you know what that sounds like.
I'm usually fairly gentle with my windows
he's more of a Dorfman than a window guy
Votto really should give up on doing Romo predictions during the broadcast
Ozzie Albies may be only four feet tall but he can hit the ball a long way once in awhile.
He hit that 104.75 Albies (if he were actually four feet tall)
Ouch…
Nice swing from Ounce-Pound
OZ LB, for those raising their eyebrows
Harris catches that
I'll not have you impugn the Phillies defense!
<checks notes>
Ok, I'll allow it.
Im going to harp on it until Dan apologizes for not covering defense at all in the series preview
Umpire cam on these homers during WC has been great
Now I miss How Many Altuves
I've always wondered what will happen to Albies' fish if he ever gets traded.
Isn't he finally a free agent in a month?
their own wing in the Georgia Aquarium
Braves have a 7m option for next year
option's cheap, they'll pick it up
A dedicated moving truck with full garbage cans full of water?
Just read the Ray Kerr wiki page and wow what a story he's got
It's really amazing – night of that dude's life.
there's already a paragraph for this start, those editors are on the ball
I googled "aquarium movers." Apparently there's a company called Tank Me Later LLC. Of course.
Do they list the Rockies as a part owner?
I wonder what positions his fish would play on the diamond? Potential mailbag or offseason EW question
Oooooo, other than them being labeled as vaguely "exotic," do we know what sort of fish?
he's got a youtube channel dedicated to the fish: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClRj8Cp2HHjXrqRIdy6SvYw/vid…
How am I just learning about this now?!
He lists a lot in here too: https://richeisenshow.com/read/exotic-fish-expert-braves-2b-…
Saltwater?
Or freshwater not actually sure
"Fish."
Confident in that at least
Can I repeal my opinion that I want the Braves to play the Dogs? Forgot about the tomahawk chop crap.
The lack of frizz on Grant Holmes' curls is so impressive to me.
I Holmes related to Weird Al?
Anyone else watching the CBS reality lineup on a different screen?
Have Thursday Night Football on the small TV, and boy is it a throwback bad Thursday game…
I forgot there’s football too! We’re TV rich tonight it seems
I was just thinking of Weird Al too
That Realmuto contract is lookin pretty bad
Man the bottom of this Phillies line up is brutal
That might have been the Phillies last gasp.
Before they enter Ozzie's fish tank?
Alright, time for dinner. Back later!
It's going to take a lot of Schwarber and Harper solo home runs to pull this one out. A third hitter would be helpful
I don't mind the Traitors commercials as much as the Line of Fire commercials since you don't hear the same song over and over again
With Ohtani leaving stage left, a case could be made for Harris to be second to PCA in the MVP voting.
Elly De La Cruz was 2 wins better and went 30-30, he's a much more plausible runner-up to PCA than Harris
Grant Holmes looks so much like Rod Beck from the back, and that makes me nostalgic.
Where do you think Miz finishes in MVP voting?
I'd put him behind Turang but I'm biased against pitchers for mvp in most circumstances
I forgot the Reds were still in the league.
Some days I wish they weren't. But then I remember that I have bills to pay.
There's the Kenny Powers!
The O/U is final, at 12 combined outs from Holmes and Nola
This was closer than I thought. 68.18% of those who responded to the poll were right!
This game is really the Phils philsing as hard as they can phils.
Anticlimactic double
I feel like Schwarber had a shot at home if he’s really booking it? Idk feel like they need the run there
Feels like you need these 2 here to have a chance
Not a ton of urgency from Schwarber on the bases
Dylan Dodd to face those two looking like a missed opportunity
Kyle Schwarber was running the bases there like I was running after knee surgery.
Does anyone else think the sound mixing is off? Seems like the stadium noise and organ are so loud you can’t hear the commentary
Bohm rolling over one to kill the rally feels apropos
I certainly expected to see Dodd.
Haven't heard from Juicy Drop Pop in a while
I hope the screen unfreezes before the game starts again.
I realize that the sequencing is unlikely to be in alignment, but if we're moving on to a Braves-Dodgers NLDS, who would you rather have as a SP: Sale or Yamamoto? I would say the latter, but it could be a generally fun series for fans who enjoy ace-watching.
Sale's got the better numbers since Yamamoto came over, but the 2 CGs in the playoffs last year were crazy. I'm biased but give me Sale and the Ks
To me, Sale has raw dominance (better in topline stats this season) and Yamamoto has consistency (most QS in MLB). I like Yamamoto, because he gives you the best distributed probability of a G1 W. I can understand the other viewpoint, though
Not to beat a dead horse but…how do you not start Wheeler?!
When you have the opportunity to start a guy with one of the highest HR/9 in the league in a win or go home game, you simply have to take it
Mattingly implied that he favored Nola's rest over Wheeler's potential output. I understand that rationale, but you would think that they could have skipped a rest day or two in the past month to ensure that the timing was aligned
They had him lined up to start game 1, but then they had to run him out in game 162 cause they failed to lock a playoff spot before that. Oops!
The rest thing is crazy to me though. Did he not watch Yamamoto in the World Series last year?? This is the playoffs, dawg, there is no tomorrow. Leave it all out there.
Exactly, Dan! Give him a 70- or 80-pitch limit and the start
I'd argue neither will even be the best pitcher in the series
Ray Kerr >>
Justin Wrobleski!
Mr. Regression to the FIP
Wheeler throwing 70 pitches , at least, makes the Phillies decision to start Nola very suspect.
Ray Kerr's name is wasted on a pitcher
When I was a kid I didnt think Kruk was an actual major leaguer. I thought he was an actor like the mean guy in Rookie of the Year. Still not sure
The Wheeler situation shows what a huge disadvantage it is to be in a race that comes down to the last day.
that's part of the penalty of getting in via the Wild Card. You may not be able to set up your pitching and you have almost no margin for error.
I just realized you can edit your typos now! Don't think Sean is here but someone please praise him for that.
Oh I'm here! I'm just working on mobile app integration. And making sure everything else is working.
Why would you throw Chris Sale in a four-run game here?!
If Schwarber/Harper come up this inning, it'd be huge. But next inning? I dont know why. Maybe just 15 pitches?
I just knew Sale would play a role.
Sean did an incredible job with this
Sale is throwing up 4 runs with 8 outs to get…?
This is such an added bonus. I can't thank everyone involved enough.
I dunno how you would justify Sale unless the game was closer maybe even then.
Dodger fan here: thank you, Mr. Weiss, for foolishly warming Sale!
You have to play the long game if you're the Braves. Assume that you don't need Sale today, and keep him ready for the Dodgers. Long way to go, esp on the NL side
Right now, you'd just burn him to be a mopup. I don't like the idea. It's too cute
Are they Alcantara-ing Sale?
Except that it is not his throw day.
Gotta have other arms they trust besides Sale
Is there a remote chance that Sale in the bullpen is a decoy? Has he done his throwing session yet today?
I certainly hope this is just weird 3D chess and not a real plan
If Weiss sees ShwArper as such a threat, just pitch Iglesias?
I feel like the Braves could really use Strider and Schwellenbach
Ya' think.
even if they don't want Lee, which is probably wise, you've got Suter and Dodd who haven't thrown this series. If 2 reach, you go to Iggy
Great play by Bowlan there
really important to scratch a couple across here with the top of the lineup agaisnt Bowlan, if only to keep Sale in the pen
Ask and you shall receive.
hit it in the pen too so you could see Dodd warming. what a guy
Sit down, Sale
That'll do it
The guy who kept giving up hrs so frequently that he was effectively shelved, gave up a hr. I, for one, am shocked.
But seriously, why not Duran and McFarlane? There is nothing to lose.
It's an interesting question
Dubon tried something there
I don't see how Mattingly can survive this game
Mattingly manager or Mattingly general manager?
Do you prefer "Gone-y Baseball" or "Done-y Baseball"?
I can't wait for the Phillies to come back here and have the Dubón kicked ball be the turning point
that'd be fantastic
Not great by Acuna there
Does the wind swirl extra in RF there?
Does Harris catch that? /s
In his hip pocket.
Yes
Sale up again
Is this really necessary
Wtf why
Needlessly cute
This is a bit ridiculous
this makes no sense
Why
No way
There is nobody else who can get 4 outs before giving up 4 runs???
Memories of 2018.
Here he comes! For some reason!!
I’d think they want him for Saturday more than now
I do love watching Sale pitch but come on
Up four with two out, nobody on in the eighth inning — why?
One of many problems with this is the 3-batter minimum. If Sale doesn't get him he could throw many more pitches than is probably planned.
so dumb
Dodgers day thankx.
I guess the idea is this just pushes his start from game 2 to game 3 of the DS? But, maybe even game 4?
Does this do anything at all to the psyche of the other bullpen arms?
Bringing Sale in here is cool as hell and also wildly unnecessary
Did he just insist, Scherzer-style? And no one can say no?
haha might be that actually
Sale? Wow that's a choice
I would think it’s for the one out/three hitters but what if that takes 20 pitches? I would’ve just left Dodd in for Harper and gone to Raisel after
Well, he looks sharp at least
maybe he's just in to face Harper? Would make more sense, he just has to get him out
That's poor by Harper
Not great, Bryce
If Harper was awake Sale would have had to throw more pitches.
All right Chris great work, your day should be done now
Now I'M the one saying, "BOOOO-urns"
Just watched Spencer Jones reach off Crochet that way last night. I'm sure Harper not running will go over well in Philly
He didn't even run hard when he did get goin lol
The pitching decisions this game have been baffling
I mean if this were the Nationals, Phillies would have like a 60% win probability down 4 with 3 outs to go.
Does Weiss know that if Sale starts game 2 of the LDS then he can also start game 5?
Can someone explain to me Brandon Marsh's hair? Does he fill it with some kind of slime before each game? I have long hair, my head sweats plenty when I exercise, my hair has never looked like his
He pours water all over it constantly
Jake Mintz wrote about it back in 2022! https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/why-brandon-marshs-wet…
I believe Marsh just dumps water on himself
Does he do this when it's cold out too? Sounds miserable in a cold weather October game
Well, I guess I'm pleased it's just dumb not gross
I don’t love using Sale for the 9th, if that’s the plan. When you ask guys to do stuff they don’t normally do, it’s always a risk. But Iglesias for a third day in a row is also risky.
If Sale somehow blows this there will be a narrative
Even if he doesnt, if he cant pitch until game 3 thats a story. If he gets hit hard in game 2 thats a story.
Grady Little would get off the hook.
Just dumb
The managerial decision making in this series has been… interesting. You can't say that often anymore with the homogenized modern strategy.
Don Mattingly brings the juice!
Sale was throwing a sweeper before anyone knew what a sweeper was.
And that is that
Sale didn't need many pitches
cyall for the next ones
Can't believe we gotta wait til Saturday for more baseball
Thanks for doing this, guys.
Been a pleasure, everyone
excited for the DS!
Great to watch with y'all
See you everybody!
We know you have many choices when you watch baseball; we are glad you chose to spend it with us!
I build things here.
Fangraphs just keeps getting better! Thank you to everyone who organized and participated and I will be back Saturday to enjoy more great baseball chatter.
Is there any way we could sign up to get email notifications when these go up or something like that?