Last night, the Red Sox beat those putrid Yank Me's 6-2 to advance to the NLDS against Tampa. I adopted the Sox years ago as my American League favorite, but that was mostly as the antithesis of the Yankees. Honestly, I don't give two shits, just so no NY team makes the Series.
I heard one of the analysts this morning answer the question of what's wrong with the NYY. His answer was very telling and made me immediately think of the Braves. He said the Yankees took their home run, or strike out mentality into the playoffs, and you simply can't do that and be successful long term.
That describes the ATL perfectly. We have 4 guys with 30 or more HR's. Dansby Swanson has 27. And while Freeman and Austin Riley both ended the season as .300 hitters, the overall approach of this club is come out of your cleats on every swing. The rest of the line up is batting .220 to .257. I get so frustrated even listening to the Braves announcers, who have that mentality. "Well, let's get a couple of long ones here and go home."
Yes, I'm old. And old school. Your 3-4-5 hitters drive the ball and go yard. Everybody else's job is to get on base and go station to station. The lead off hitter gets on by walk, drag bunt, slapping the ball to left etc. If he doesn't steal, the 2nd place hitter moves him into scoring position any way he can. Then your boppers get him home.
Not anymore. And I don't see the Braves advancing too far because of it.