- 2 days ago
The Braves blew another tremendous Chris Sale start by failing at the plate, highlighted by some of their highest paid players who've left fans with zero confidence in crucial situations. What does Alex Anthopoulos need to do to get the team back to playing the baseball that was among the league's best through the first 40 games? Dukes and Bell discuss.
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00:00No, man, it's a lot of storylines we've been going back to.
00:02And look, Acuna needs to get back here ASAP.
00:05Okay, we need our former MVP.
00:07But in the case of Riley, he's a low-key guy, so you can't read him.
00:12He's not one of these guys who's going to do like a strider where he's like,
00:15I'm getting paid a lot of money, man, and I'm not getting the job done.
00:17I'd like to hear that.
00:18It won't change anything, but it may make you feel a little bit better as a fan, right?
00:22But Austin Riley has no personality.
00:24I'm sorry, guys.
00:25It's not a prerequisite for success in the major leagues.
00:27He just doesn't have anything.
00:28There's no juice there.
00:29So every week it's the same.
00:31Oh, yeah, I've got to get to work.
00:31I don't know.
00:33I'm just frustrated.
00:34Okay.
00:35You know, paying you some decent loot by brave standards.
00:38The other guy is Kim.
00:39You know, the Korean president.
00:41Who'd you say?
00:41Kim.
00:41Who's that?
00:42H.S. Kim.
00:43As in, holy S, this guy can't hit or do anything.
00:46The Korean president launched an investigation over Korea's getting eliminated in the World Cup.
00:51And they literally digitized out the face of the coach of Korea
00:55when he gave his final comments after their final loss in the World Cup.
00:59Or draw whatever it was.
01:00I mean, I'd like to see us maybe, can we ship him back to Korea?
01:04They'd probably say no.
01:05This guy can't hit.
01:06Same thing happened with him with the Rays.
01:08They put him on waivers.
01:09You know, I'd like to see an investigation of why the Rays gave this guy $20 million guaranteed
01:13and the absolute garbage.
01:14Because there's no more excuses.
01:16Well, he missed spring training.
01:17Well, he had a late start.
01:18So now what?
01:19You can't send him down.
01:20We talked about this with Grant a month ago.
01:22Veterans like that, you can't send down to the minors.
01:24Anybody else, you would to get it right.
01:26You can't do that.
01:27Sunday's game, Mike Riley, in the ninth inning, I'm like, zero confidence.
01:33Zero confidence.
01:34And part of this is, you know, again, I think Walt Weiss is not forced.
01:41But he is playing this hand where I'm just going to keep throwing him out there and things
01:44are going to turn around.
01:45I'm going to keep throwing him out there and things are going to turn around.
01:47I'm going to keep throwing him out there.
01:49Guys, at some point, Mike, and again, he's making a lot of money.
01:53But you've got to try to do what's right for the team.
01:55And I think he's done a lot of that by not playing Kim, to your point.
01:58But the Riley thing has come to a head.
02:00And then this pitching thing.
02:02Look, I know you guys are tired of us talking about it.
02:05But let me give you what this week looks like for us.
02:07And this should tell you everything you need to know.
02:09Now, T-B-A, to be announced, we don't even know who's going to potentially start this
02:17week as they come back home to take on the Cardinals.
02:18And then this weekend, 4th of July weekend against the Mets, Mike.
02:21And so you start going, all right, well, who's available?
02:23Well, Lopez and Waldrop, I think, maybe.
02:27And then you go, well, what about, you know, Holmes?
02:29Well, he could possibly start.
02:31Well, what about Elder?
02:32Well, Elder's velo was down.
02:33So he probably is going to get some extra rest.
02:36Who the, what the, who's pitching?
02:38Yeah, you never get enough pitching on this team.
02:39They never, they never put the money into it.
02:41And you hope on a wing and a prayer.
02:42Waldrop has looked good the other night.
02:43You know, he looked, certainly looked good at extended relief.
02:46But you're right.
02:47You got a whole lot of like, uh, T-B-A, you know, and just other than trying to get
02:51some
02:51guys off of waivers, you know, that's it.
02:53You know, Walt Weiss was asked about the Phillies, cutting the lead to three games.
02:56I don't care what the lead is.
02:57I could care less.
02:59We had a big lead out there early.
03:00Several months to go.
03:01I'm not worried about anybody else but ourselves right now.
03:03Okay.
03:03I understand that.
03:04Because there's definitely something to be worried about.
03:06But I mean, there's like five, normally we have one or two things that we, you know,
03:09we get worried about.
03:10This is just like, this is becoming 24-25.
03:13Don't you feel it?
03:14It is.
03:14It is.
03:14Look, Mike, this is an epic collapse right now.
03:16If this continues.
03:18You had a 10-11 game lead.
03:20And I know it was early in the season.
03:22But again, we were playing so well that even when the Phillies went on their run, they weren't
03:26gaining any ground.
03:27Now, we're not hitting.
03:29So, on top of the pitching issues, our bats are cold.
03:33The key guys in this lineup, some of them, not all, one is not healthy in Acuna, but
03:37some of these guys are just not producing.
03:39And you're going, what the hell is going on?
03:41404-726-0929.
03:44We're hot garbage right now.
03:45That's just where we are.
03:46Will we be that in a month?
03:47Mike, I don't know.
03:48And by the way, by the time we get to the trade deadline, what does this look like?
03:52And for Walt Weiss, who says he doesn't pay attention to the standings, Walt, love you.
03:55Mike, don't believe you.
03:57I've been around baseball guys.
03:58You guys look at the standings all the damn time.
04:00You're trying to see who did what, what your boys did, and more importantly, Mike, who's
04:03in front of you.
04:04You guys understand what it potentially means to lose a lead like this, Mike, and then have
04:09to battle back to potentially make the playoffs.
04:12And by the way, this whole thing about not winning the division, it's the best and quickest
04:16way to the playoffs.
04:17You don't want to be caught up in a wild card situation.
04:20Look, I mean, I can hear every Braves fan's argument.
04:22You know, well, sometimes we've had that time off and it doesn't help us.
04:25Okay, well, keep playing like this and you won't have any time off because you're going
04:29to be in the same boat you were in just a scramble to play the Padres two years ago.
04:32And that was a year where the injuries just became too much.
04:34And last year, it was, I mean, by the All-Star break, you just knew it wasn't your time.
04:38So it's just, it's a combination of things.
04:42They never allow Anthopolis or just Anthopolis' mindset to go spend big money on front line starting
04:48pitching.
04:48They always try to do it on the cheap.
04:50You know, Raldo Lopez, you know, that was a reclamation project, Carl, getting out of
04:53the bullpen back to being a starter.
04:55Sale has worked out.
04:56Everything else is a work in progress.
04:57Young arms get hurt nowadays.
04:59So you're hoping that Waldrop comes back, Schwellenbach can come to the rescue.
05:02But in the meantime, the Phillies have gained all this ground.
05:06You're 3-7, they're 7-3 last 10 games.
05:09So, and another thing is you just don't pass the eye test.
05:11There's no juice with this team.
05:13No, not right now.
05:14And oh, by the way, wait, did we leave this out?
05:16How could we leave this out?
05:18I mean, it's amazing.
05:19You guys see who they signed over the weekend?
05:21It's so amazing.
05:23Carlos Santana?
05:25Who?
05:26The big heavy hitter?
05:29How old is this guy?
05:30We got like five guys that look like they're in a beer league.
05:32Like, remember we had Rowdy Tellez?
05:34I mean, we brought all these guys back that looked like, man, they should be playing in
05:37shorts for the White Sox back in like the late 70s.
05:39I'm just like, wait a minute.
05:40The 40-year-old Carlos Santana to a minor league agreement?
05:46Alex, I get it.
05:47I really do.
05:48I mean, you're just, you're saying, hey, it's worth the risk reward.
05:51But Mike, this is not how you're going to get it done.
05:54He's going to go to triple A Gwinnett.
05:56The bottom line is this guy's trying to prove he can get back in the bigs.
05:59That is not a significant move, guys.
06:01But again, that's like Rowdy.
06:02Rowdy Tellez had a couple good years.
06:04I mean, one great year for Milwaukee about, what, five years ago, three years ago.
06:08Yeah.
06:08By the way, can I do some Chris Berman on you since it's like Carlos Santana?
06:11Give it to me.
06:12Oh, the Braves on Santana.
06:13I sure hope our hitters change their evil ways.
06:17And we start winning.
06:20Meanwhile, we'll, oye, como va?
06:24Here where it goes.
06:26Here what happens.
06:27Dede, you follow me on that?
06:28You get the cheesy Berman reference?
06:30Okay, gotcha.
06:31You never know Fourth of July weekend who's with us and who's against us this week.
06:34You guys on vacation yet?
06:35Come on, work with us.
06:36All right, man.
06:37By the way, Chris Sale had, what, 10 strikeouts.
06:4010!
06:40Yeah, yeah.
06:4110 strikeouts.
06:41No, they can't hit.
06:42Dede, can we hear Sale talking about those strikeouts?
06:4610 Ks, by the way.
06:47His line was good.
06:48Now, the other pitcher, the opposite side, there was a great pitching matchup on Sunday.
06:53But there's no way, man, when your guy strikes out 10 and gives up one earned run that you
06:59should lose that kind of game with this lineup.
07:01The problem is, right now, who do you trust?
07:03404-726-0929.
07:05We'll get some of your phone calls, because I don't trust pretty much anybody in this
07:08lineup.
07:08It was Drake.
07:09I was all about, yeah, Drake Baldwin, let's do it.
07:11Not so much.
07:13Ozzie.
07:14Riley, forget about it.
07:15No, I mean, Ozzie, like, Ozzie, Dubon has been solid.
07:19I mean, technically, Riley.
07:20Money's cooled off.
07:21Yeah, and again, Drake Baldwin's been, just has not been able to hit since the injury and
07:25being off.
07:25He was doing so well.
07:27I mean, he was just having an unbelievable season carrying this team, and he's struggling
07:30mightily.
07:31Ozzie is still solid.
07:32Well, now, Riley did give you a, you know, did move the runner in.
07:36Yippee, you got an RBI.
07:37But again, just, Riley looks lost at the plate.
07:39There's just, you know, it's almost like the All-Star break can't get here soon enough.
07:43Maybe a mental health break is what these guys need.
07:45I mean, look, it's not like Walt Weiss can send anybody.
07:48What do you call this for Austin Riley?
07:49This is a mental health break.
07:51I mean, everybody we talk to, I mean, the jokes every week, we get Chipper on the job.
07:55Yeah, okay.
07:56Chipper's like the, like, literally, Chipper is the elixir.
07:59Chipper can fix anything.
08:00He's already had a round with Austin Riley a couple years ago.
08:03Yes, I would love to see Chipper, you know, be the troubleshooter for the squad.
08:08It's a lot of trouble to shoot.
08:09I remember Chipper Jones joining us here on Dukes and Bell.
08:11I do love him.
08:12A lot of trouble to shoot right now with the squad.
08:14Yeah, man.
08:14Chipper, you can come back anytime you want, man, on this show.
08:17It is the number one show in town.
08:19404-726-0929.
08:20Here's the deal, too, guys.
08:22Braves, welcome back home.
08:23You guys didn't expect us to act or feel this way?
08:26You go one and five on this road trip?
08:29You can't score?
08:31Here is when sales struck out.
08:34This was his 10th strikeout.
08:35This is what it sounded like with the guys, Brandon Gauden and Company.
08:38Did he go around?
08:40He did.
08:42More gas, 98.
08:44He goes.
08:45It won't matter.
08:4699, elevated from sale to strikeout Devers.
08:51One-two sliders, swing and a miss.
08:53Down goes Willie Adamas.
08:54And he gets 95 by a frustrated Eric Haas.
08:59That time, 97 on the fastball.
09:02He strikes out the side, does sale.
09:05He strikes him out with a 98-mile-per-hour heater.
09:10Struck him out.
09:11And it looked like it did clip the zone.
09:13There will be no challenge.
09:15And that will do it.
09:16Ten strikeouts for sale.
09:18Pretty impressive.
09:20Did he say 99 for Chris Sale?
09:23Look, Chris is doing his job, man.
09:25It's the other guys, man.
09:27Yeah, I mean, and you've got a guy that you feel like you lose a sales start.
09:31It felt like you lost twice the way the rest of the starting pitchers in the bullpen look.
09:34It does.
09:34You know, because you've got a couple of guys.
09:36If you start Grant Holmes, he had a decent outing last time.
09:38He's never going to get you through the fifth inning.
09:39You know, he's Mr. Four and Two Thirds.
09:41So the bullpen gets taxed.
09:42Suarez gets hurt at the wrong time.
09:44There's just, I mean, there's...
09:45And by the way, Braves fans, I don't know what...
09:47If you can't see how lost Austin Riley is, the guys who just put the ticket,
09:50well, what are you going to do?
09:51Yes, I would get rid of him.
09:52But there's no intrinsic value right now on Austin Riley.
09:55You know, $17 million a year for a guy that can't hit.
10:00Power numbers are awful.
10:01So, Chuck in Atlanta, you're listening to Sports Radio 92.9 The Game.
10:04Thank you, sir.
10:05Hey, man, what's on your mind?
10:06What are you thinking about the Braves?
10:08Hey, how y'all doing?
10:09You know, I usually disagree with y'all on everything, especially the Falcons.
10:13But right now, I'm about 80% with you with the Braves.
10:15First of all, I'm not panicking because of the record,
10:18because you just got to get hot and a little lucky in September.
10:22The Dodgers were on 120 and got bounced that around.
10:24What I want to say is, this is what I said three and a half, four weeks ago,
10:29good turnout reinforces bad decisions.
10:32Walt Weiss has been making bad decisions the whole season, but the Braves are winning.
10:37Whoa, whoa, whoa.
10:37Explain.
10:38Explain.
10:38What bad decisions?
10:39Explain.
10:41First thing, take ball and it's your catcher.
10:44Let him catch.
10:46We can't keep switching up batters, lefty, right-hand pitching.
10:49These are professional hitters.
10:50Olsen is a left-handed batter.
10:52Don't matter who he faces.
10:54Ozzy can switch it, but Drake Baldwin and Michael Harris are left-handed hitters.
11:00They hit against anybody.
11:01Let Don Smith be your DH.
11:03He's a left-handed batter.
11:04So what?
11:05We've been lucky because Eli has been playing well.
11:09The Shrepsky has been playing solid.
11:11And Mateo and DuBois have been playing out of his country.
11:14I mean, but again, your Shrepsky's a platoon guy.
11:16I mean, again, your lefty-righty crap makes no sense.
11:18Your lefty-righty crap makes no sense.
11:21They're giving Drake a break because he came off an oblique injury.
11:24That's why he's DH-ing.
11:25That's why.
11:26He was playing DH to begin with at the beginning of the season.
11:29I hear what you're saying about the catching stuff.
11:31You are right that guys that you didn't expect to have great seasons are having great seasons,
11:35which is one of the reasons why we've gotten out to this lead.
11:38But you can't sustain that.
11:39And that's not on Walt Weiss, by the way.
11:41That's the brilliance of Walt, is that he's been able to play those guys,
11:45and they're coming through for him.
11:46Yeah, I mean, Yastrzemski really can't hit lefties.
11:50You know, and sometimes he'll come up, and that's a one out of a hundred.
11:53But, I mean, the rest of the lefty-right, like Olsen's, yeah, he's a left-handed hitter.
11:56What's your point?
11:56What does it have to do with Drake Baldwin catching?
11:58Okay, they gave Drake some breaks.
12:00That's why they've been bringing some of these bums through it, or some of these guys,
12:03up because they're trying to give Drake a little bit of a break with the physical.
12:05Because, remember, Murphy's probably never going to play again for this freaking team
12:08the way it feels now, Carl.
12:09So, it would be good that Drake could, you don't want to take the bat out,
12:12but Drake's really struggling right now.
12:14Now, if you want to say, yes, keep Dominic in there, what are you going to do?
12:17I mean, this is the conundrum when you've got half your lineup not hitting.
12:20Yeah, remember, we moved on from Ozuna.
12:23The reason was Drake was going to be your DH, okay?
12:26Plain and simple.
12:27That's it.
12:27And then Murphy's injury got worse, or whatever you want to call that.
12:31That's why we had like eight guys playing catcher at one time on this team this year.
12:34But, Chuck, I am glad that you agree with us 80% on this.
12:37It should be 100.
12:39This team sucks right now.
12:41I'm not sure.
12:41What can you disagree with us on this team?
12:4380%?
12:44It should be 100%.
12:45But what was the disagreeing with us on the Falcons?
12:46I mean, we've got a pretty good defense.
12:48We feel good about the skill position.
12:49We don't know who the quarterback is.
12:50What's wrong with that?
12:51I'd be a Pinnock's guy.
12:53Dukes and Bell.
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