Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: The Point of Must Return

Was it one pitch that derailed the Braves last night?  Not so much that as a total inability of eight hitters to push across any runs.

Who’s at fault?  The one pitcher who made one mistake pitch or the 8 hitters who failed the entire night* – most egregiously in the 9th inning?

* – note that it was Julio Teheran himself that got the lone RBI.

Check this out – it’s the Win Probability Added chart for last night’s game with the Reds.  Of course these have little statistical value, but it does show how much a ‘normal’ team should have capitalized on the bases-loaded, none out situation.

Once the Braves got the three base-runners, the WPA dropped all the way to “pick em”… even though Atlanta hadn’t scored… and of course never did.  That’s because ‘normal’ teams manage to at least get one run in such situations, and very often more.

Not this club.

So do you want Julio Teheran or do you want hitting?  I used to say that good pitching will keep you in every game.

But that was before we had an offense that takes you right out.

Next: Out of Time