jaysblue

What about Albies? You're completely ignoring and not acknowledging other factors that made the 2021 Braves team successful during the Postseason. Yes the 2022 Braves team overall is way superior on paper, not arguing about that. Though I don't think the 2021 team heading into the Postseason was all that bad.

Those turds actually produced though and that's all the matters haha. Soler actually hit well once he was acquired by the Braves and held his own during the Postseason. Also, that turd hit 48 HR's in 2019 so it's not like he was a nobody. Long term, obviously it's night and day.

Yes the 2022 team was far superior during the regular season than the 2021 team and moving forward they will continue to be one of the best teams in baseball possibly for the next decade. A lot of their young guys took the next step forward which you expect with that talent and Strider/Harris became superstars when they were called up. They also beefed up the bullpen like you said. The 2021 team still had Freeman, Albies, Swanson, Riley as an infield, all who were still solid during the regular season and peaked at the right time in October. In terms of their rotation, Fried, Morton and Anderson were still pretty solid. Sure they were underdogs, though they had young elite talent on the upswing along with some solid veteran pieces they acquired at the trade deadline who were productive. I don't consider them fluking it.

Other than the bullpen, was there much of a difference between the Braves 2021 and 2022 Postseason roster? BTS said the Braves didn't have Acuna, which yes hurt and impacted their success during the regular season, though AA made some solid trades who paid off. This 2022 team was without Ozzie Albies. As for the rotation, I don't see much of a difference between Fried/Morton/Anderson from 2021 versus Fried/Morton/Wright in 2022. Spencer Strider was a big part of their success this season, though he was not relevant in the Postseason unless the team was going to move on.

Was there a huge difference between the 2021 and 2022 Braves Postseason teams? Other than the bullpen, though the lineup and rotation IMO were close. Over the 162 game season, sure the 2022 Braves were vastly superior though come Postseason I don't think there was a huge disparity between both rosters. The 2021 Postseason team was without Acuna. The 2022 Postseason team was without Albies and Strider pretty much. Strider wasn't going to be utilized fully coming back from an injury and had no impact at all. They still had Fried, Wright and Morton, which is no different than last years rotation when you think of it (swap out Anderson with Wright).

Morton and Fried were very solid last season lmao. They're not the best #1-2 punch obviously, though they were solid all season. Anderson was always a solid young arm coming up and held his own last season. Braves actually had a solid rotation. As for their bullpen, agreed it was pretty mediocre and had question marks. A lot of their arms strung together good outings in the Postseason. In terms of their lineup, they still had Freddie Freeman and Ozzie Albies (who was healthy). AA made some solid under the radar trades and guys like Soler/Rosario produced for them down the stretch. Even Joc Pederson. They did a solid job at replacing Acuna. Based on their record in the 162 game season, yes they were one of the weaker teams in the 2021 Postseason, though they had a solid roster built for October and it's not like they completely fluked it.

There is a lot luck involved in the Postseason. Any team that makes it in can go the distance. Even the Blue Jays could have.

You can apply ifs and buts to both lineups. Pretty much the entire Postseason. Agree, Jays have a better lineup on paper and are much deeper. Phillies lineup does have some serious pop and for whatever its worth they do have some balance between left/right handed bats which is nice, which I know you don't think makes a difference. What you see with the Phillies lineup this postseason is everyone is healthy, they've had some big hits and they have Harper hitting like a beast. So definitely some luck going their way and hitting at the right time. It's worked in a short series thus far. In terms of bats at positions: Kirk/Jansen < Realmuto Vladdy > Hoskins Biggio/Espinal < Segura Bo > Stott Chapman > Bohm Teo > Castellanos Springer > Marsh Merrifield/Tapia < Schwarber Jansen/Kirk (DH) < Harper I give the Blue Jays the advantage in 5 of the 9 lineup spots. It's pretty even in terms of catchers and even at 1B (though give Vladdy the advantage still). In terms of disparity, Phillies lineup is weaker 1 through 9 overall. Casty, Marsh, Stott and Bohm are pretty much non-existent.

Yeah Bellinger isn't keeper worthy in a 12-team league. You can make the case in a 20-team or 30-team league using a final keeper spot on him. If you have an NA slot where you can stash Marte, that's even better.

Defensively, it's not close for sure. Phillies are awful. Offensively, when you have Bryce Harper the way he's hitting, along with some power in Hoskins, Schwarber and if Realmuto heats up, the lineup is actually pretty solid. I still take the Jays lineup on paper over the Phillies, though you probably need one of Vladdy, Bo, Teo or Springer to go on a tear like Harper did.

Was Atlanta really mediocre last season?

Wow what a steal.

Do you need a bat or pitching? Tylor Megill likely will be in the rotation next season, pitches in a nice pitchers park, and has some solid upside. He could put together a breakout season with the Mets. Megill is a safer bet than Pearson IMO. If you need some MI help, Noelvi Marte can be a nice bat at SS. I still like Bellinger as well and think he can rebound somewhat especially with a change of scenery, though it's always easier to find a 1B/OF bat than a young SS.

Yeah the CS was awful. Some good and close games between the Padres and Phillies, but otherwise would have been nice to see some of these series go 6 or 7 games.

Can't believe he has already been with the Phillies for 4 years. In 2021, he was putting together a monster season (6.6 WAR) though he missed some time with injuries. He's always been like Jekyll and Hyde even when with the Nats. One year he can go all beast mode and post 7-8 WAR, the next have nagging injuries and look human posting 3-4 WAR. Even still in his down years, he's been very good. The issue is him staying healthy. He definitely is a special talent and when he's healthy and 100% you can make the argument he's one of the best players in baseball. Considering what Aaron Judge could get as a next contract at the age of 30, Harpers contract signed at the age of 26 doesn't look too bad at all. He'll still be productive likely as a DH with some pop/OBP skills like Laika mentioned in the last couple years of his contract. Just needs to stay healthy and avoid significant/nagging injuries.

Hoskins power wise has. He's had some big hits. Defensively though he is awful haha.

Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler one of the best #1-2 punches in baseball. Bullpen is meh, but they have some high K guys in Alvarado, Dominguez and Robertson for the late innings. Bellatti and Brogdon both have real solid K numbers as well. Otherwise, they have a lot of guys that can give them length when need be such as Eflin, Gibson and Falter. Lineup wise, they have some big power bats. Harper is having an awesome Postseason and is a stud. Phillies aren't too bad of a team. They have two awesome aces. Suarez only needs to give them 5 innings when he starts and he has been somewhat decent. Lineup has some serious pop and they have some bats that could put the ball in the play. Their top bullpen arms have been effective, can stay fresh and rested since they have other guys with length.

I love busting your chops haha.

I saw his interview on Tim & Friends. Tim did ask him about pulling Gausman early. Sounded like it was a collective decision pulling Gausman the way Schneider phrased it.

Nah it's the truth. I love how some posters on here use those excuses when the Jays lose or struggle, but when teams in other sports lose or struggle early, we're already talking about firing the coach!

It's still early. Bad luck and randomness. Can't blame the coach. Thatcher Demko will turn it around soon.

How about Jeremy Hermida? Haha.

Just bad luck. He was one of the best relievers in baseball this season.

Sounds like how some posters on here were looking for excuses for Game 2.

You would use him only in relief. I know its a very small sample size, but he was pretty impressive out of the pen during his short stint with the Giants in September. 18.00 K/9, 0.40 FIP, 1.67 xFIP and 0.4 WAR in 7 innings. Included a 7 strikeout performance in 2.2 innings. Worth a minor league deal.