Friend of Nordhagen

This version of Eloy is not part of the post-season plan. Hoo boy.

At this point, I am willing to consider that Yermin Mercedes would be a better playoff option at DH than Andrew Vaughn. (Shudder.)

Sheets, Vaughn, and the lack of a DH and RF is going to kill this team in the playoffs. Michael Brantley sure would look nice in this lineup.

Wow.

Was married with one *extremely* small human offspring in the house. Now married with two mid-size human offspring in the house.

Timmy and Eloy never adjusted in their at-bats -- completely susceptible to sliders away because they're flying open. Tim should know better, as he's ALWAYS been a better hitter when he goes to right-center. Eloy's locked in when he's driving the ball between the alleys, too. Robert is the only one of the 3 who saw what was happening and shortened up, despite pulling the ball most of the year. He went to right on the slider. He has really grown this year.

Yes -- after the first 2 swings, Robert adjusted! Man, he is nails this year!

JFC, stop trying to pull this guy!

Definitely dropping the back shoulder. Overloading.

Baez "the best tag-guy in the business." Et tu, Stoney?

Lemme guess, Dallas . . . the heat? The day of the week? Grandal being back? The position of the outfielders? The infielders? The Cubs fans? The Sox fans? Whose fault is this one, Kuechel?

Mike Wright, you're gonna get some work tonight.

Thank goodness Dallas has been, in his description, slowly ramping up throughout the season -- so he can be at his best in August and September. I shudder to think what his less-than-best looks like.

But they've underperformed. (And I'm not counting Marshall and Foster; they were always fool's gold.)

If we think Katz should be pitching coach of the year for what he's done with Rodon and Cease, he should be fired for his work with the bullpen. I mean, not really -- but man.

Scotty Pods is Marquee-level quality on the postgame. That ain't good.

A CLOSER PUNCHED OUT THE OPPOSITION WITHOUT INCIDENT

This team looks a lot like vintage 2003-2004 White Sox right about now. The hitting approaches are absolutely miserable.

The worrisome thing is that this team seems to have a bit of a loser's mentality in the late innings -- waiting for the stupid thing to happen. I don't care how much you're "pacing yourself" for October . . . that's a hard habit to break.

Aaron Bummer, March 2021: "I want to be 90-0 with a lead after six innings."

Once, maybe just once . . . try to shoot the ball the other way -- keep your head down on the ball. Stop pulling off sliders. Make a goddamn adjustment. Jesus.

Stop. Trying. To. Pull. The. Ball.

Thank goodness Kuechel strategically ramped up so he was peaking late in the season -- would hate to see how he would look at less than peak.

Joc Pederson is at .800 OPS for the Braves . . .

I'd tell Kimbrel: you want shots at closing games, pitch a clean 8th inning once in awhile. Jesus.