What do you want first, the good news or the bad news?
You don’t have a choice, I’m going over the good news first.
Good News
Michael Harris II is on our team. Money Mike continues to prove every single game, why he was fast-tracked through our system as rapidly as he was. He’s smack dab atop the National League Rookie of the Year leaderboard, thanks to performances like last night. On top of his opposite-field homerun, he ran down a sure-thing double in the bottom of the 7th. Oh, and he did this:
AJ Minter is a thoroughbred & his mullet is his mane. AJ entered the game in the 6th with two runners on in a 3-run game that the Mets were building toward a total comeback. AJ Mane proceeded to sit down the first batter he faced, to end the Mets threat. Then he came back out for the 7th where he faced the minimum & notched two more strikeouts.
Ronald Acuña Jr. appears to be back. The day after talking about how his knee is sometimes uncomfortable, he made a leaping grab to rob Mets 1st baseman Pete Alonso of a two-run homerun. Ronnie also went 4-for-5 with a run scored. His fourth hit of the contest was his 500th career hit.
The Braves offense got to New York starter Taijuan Walker early; touching him up for eight earned runs without getting an out in the 2nd. Walker’s early exit forced Buck Showalter to dig deep into his bullpen to even make it through this game. The mini-comeback that brought the game to within striking distance forced Showalter to use his better relievers, instead of his inning-eaters.
The Braves are one game closer to overtaking the Mets for the NL East lead after winning 9-6 last night.
Last Night’s Homerun Hitters
Eddie Rosario: 1st inning off Taijuan Walker. 2 on, 1 out.
Michael Harris II: 2nd inning off Taijuan Walker. Nobody on, nobody out.
William Contreras: 9th inning off Tommy Hunter. Nobody on, 2 outs.
Bad News
There’s two sides on every coin. Just like there’s a negative to every positive. So let’s get started with the bad news…
Bullpen advantage is no more. After the Braves offense got to the Mets bullpen early, the Braves bullpen wasn’t called upon until the 5th. But once they started, they didn’t stop. Dylan Lee was unable to put out the fire set by Ian Anderson, and Collin McHugh walked one during his 0.1 inning. It took postseason Minter coming in to stop the Mets rally in it’s tracks. The Braves had to use five relievers last night, including both closers, ahead of tonight’s double-header.
It’s time to discuss Ian Anderson. I know I said in an earlier article that Ian Anderson wasn’t going anywhere (referring to the rotation), citing his confidence needing to remain intact ahead of the postseason. But after last night’s struggles, I’m not so sure his confidence is the culprit. It seems to me that it’s a mechanical issue with his release point & being able to repeat it.
The reason I say that is because he missed REPEATEDLY with his fastball in the exact same spot. Up & in to a right-hander (up & away to a leftie). The most notable miss of that ilk was the pitch that knocked Pete Alonso on his back. With a 7-run lead, you don’t throw at somebody; plain & simple. So without there being any history between the two, the only explanation is it was a mistake. A mistake he made time & time again.
Now that we have Jake Odorizzi (rotation insurance), Anthopoulos has the freedom to send Ian down to Gwinnett to find that release point & rejoin the big league club, like AJ Minter in 2021.