Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Playing Backups

July 26: Yesterday’s game should’ve pleased lots of fans: No Malholm, BJ Upton, or Heyward. When you play 162 games, players get hurt. With the day game after a night game, Laird replaced McCann behind the plate. Not Gattis, because the rookie Wood was making his second start. Heyward sat out the day game after a night game so he wouldn’t over-exert the hamstring injury he’s coming back from. Therefore Reed and Gattis played outfield. Laird’s batting average is higher than McCann’s or Gattis’s…in the high .290’s. Sure, the all-star break was last week, but several players are still banged up. The Braves have played seven straight games since then, including yesterday’s day game after a night game. It’s good for the bench players to get playing time, to remain sharp. And it’s good for the regulars to get rest every now and then. This will keep everyone fresher come late September.

Wrote the paragraph above to convince Reid that yesterday’s lineup was ok.

With the dreaded nationally televised Sunday night ESPN getaway game AND Saturday afternoon regionally televised FOX game, fans will be disappointed unless the Braves sweep the loaded Cardinals. I do enjoy listening to Tom Verducci.

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