Somebody needs to go
Well, last night was something. The Braves never really got off the ground last night. Ten runs allowed, nine earned, from Bryce Elder in the rain is no bueno. No one actually covered themselves in glory last night, save Michael Petersen. And he’ll likely be shipped to Gwinnett tomorrow for his trouble. Because save the bullpen blah blah blah.
Who else isn’t returning to Truist Park tomorrow? Someone’s not surviving this. Is it Bryce Elder, who has spiraled since dominating the Giants? It wouldn’t surprise me, honestly. But when you have some many below replacement level players, there’s no penalty to releasing them, only gain. If it’s a lost season, let’s see who can play. If you want to replace Alex Verdugo and his -0.8 WAR with Stuart Fairchild for the defense, you’re not exactly losing anything. It may not happen this weekend, but I suspect Marcell Ozuna may hit the IL with his hip issues.
The last time the Braves embarrassed themselves so thoroughly they compounded the error and added Fredi Gonzalez. So maybe I shouldn’t ache for changes. But something has to give.