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Reds/ Braves….

Joey Votto is back, and once again getting tuggies from MLB umps. Check out the worst fake HBP of the season:

 
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…. Are we for real? Maybe find out….
The Reds are playing great. Should be a great series.

The Braves are 48-26 now and frankly doing it with mirrors. Last season, Max Fried and Kyle Wright were 2 of the best pitchers in the NL (or in baseball period) and both of them have been on the IL for most of the season (both scheduled to be back in August). The Braves starting pitching staff right now is comprised of 3 rookies, 1 in his 2nd year, and a 39 year old veteran. But one of the rookies leads the NL in ERA and the 2nd year guy leads the league in strikeouts.

However, the bottom line is that the Braves lineup is brutal on opposing pitchers (7 of the starting 9 have over 10 HRs), and with Michael Harris healthy and getting hot now, it's going to be really hard on opposing pitchers. Ronald Acuna is Willy Mays and Jackie Robinson in one player, the overall best player in baseball.

But it's baseball and the Reds are hot too. The Reds could win all three, who knows.
 
The Reds are playing great. Should be a great series.

The Braves are 48-26 now and frankly doing it with mirrors. Last season, Max Fried and Kyle Wright were 2 of the best pitchers in the NL (or in baseball period) and both of them have been on the IL for most of the season (both scheduled to be back in August). The Braves starting pitching staff right now is comprised of 3 rookies, 1 in his 2nd year, and a 39 year old veteran. But one of the rookies leads the NL in ERA and the 2nd year guy leads the league in strikeouts.

However, the bottom line is that the Braves lineup is brutal on opposing pitchers (7 of the starting 9 have over 10 HRs), and with Michael Harris healthy and getting hot now, it's going to be really hard on opposing pitchers. Ronald Acuna is Willy Mays and Jackie Robinson in one player, the overall best player in baseball.

But it's baseball and the Reds are hot too. The Reds could win all three, who knows.
Acuna is the best non-Ohtani player in baseball, I agree
 
Reds win, 11-10! 12th win in a row! Reds reliever, Sims, gave up three straight home runs in the 8th to make it close.

GO REDLEGS!

Elly hit for the cycle for the Reds for the first time since 1989 when Eric Davis did so. #44 was Eric's number as well. *Twilight Zone theme*
 
I'm a Reds fan, but I say that the officials don't allow him to wear any of that extra padding on his arm & elbow. Let's see Votto stick his elbow out and take one on the funny bone.
In the old days, the next one would be up around his head. If he wants to get HBP, here you go.
 
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great game, should be an awesome series

stars out tonight

Acuna 3-5, HR, SB
 
Reds win, 11-10! 12th win in a row! Reds reliever, Sims, gave up three straight home runs in the 8th to make it close.

GO REDLEGS!

Elly hit for the cycle for the Reds for the first time since 1989 when Eric Davis did so. #44 was Eric's number as well. *Twilight Zone theme*
wow! that's a long drought considering the bats they've had

how did Brandon Phillips never hit for the cycle??
 
Acuna is the best non-Ohtani player in baseball, I agree
I'm sorry, but Acuna is more impactful than Ohtani, despite the pitching part.

The tail of the tape on offense:

Offense

BA - Acuna .329, Ohtani .298 (Acuna's a leadoff hitter, Ohtani hits around Trout)
HR - Acuna 16, Ohtani 25 (something to mention, Angles Stadium is the easiest park to hit HRs in baseball, Truist Park in Atlanta is 19th on that list. The Braves hit over 60% of their HRs on the road).
Doubles - Acuna 21, Ohtani 15
OPS - Acuna .965, Ohtani 1.010
SB - Acuna 33, Ohtani 10
Runs Scored - Acuna 66, Ohtani 50 (Acuna has scored 50 runs to 25 for Ohtani when it doesn't involve a home run by either of them)
BB - Acuna 37, Ohtani 39

Both have great numbers, but when considering the park that they play in and all things considered, Acuna's numbers are better for helping to win games. Acuna is arguably the fastest player in baseball and is second in baseball in SB. The guy in first in SB (39) is hitting .266 with 1 HR and an OPS of .666. Acuna (33 SB) is hitting .329 with 16 HR and an OPS of .965.

Now let's talk about defense/pitching:

What Acuna does in the outfield defensively trumps anything Ohtani does on the mound, when you consider that you can replace Ohtani's 3.13 ERA every 5th game with many pitchers in that range (3.00-4.00), but there's no outfielder (not even Betts) who can shave around a run every game off the other team like Acuna's play in right field. He gets to balls that no one else can and keeps runners from taking an extra base like no other with his arm. Not even to the midway point in the season, the Braves are 21 games over .500, this with having 2 of the top 10 pitchers in the NL on the IL until August and going with a staff that has 3 rookies, a 2nd year, and a 39 year old. A lot of this is because of what Acuna (and Harris) can do in the outfield. I've watched most of the Braves games this season, and I have seen him literally save 5 wins by himself making plays that almost no one else can make.

But the most telling thing about Acuna is that at 5'11" and 195lb., he has hit 36 balls this season over 110 mph, that's more over 110 mph balls than 23 other teams combined. This is a breathtaking stat. The power and speed this kid generates is superhuman and transcends anything that Ohtani does. When this kid hits his his peak at about 30 years old (he's 25 now), he may be the first player in baseball history to lead the league in BA, OPS, HR, Runs Scored, and SB in the same season.

Ohtani is great, it just that Acuna is better.
 
I'm sorry, but Acuna is more impactful than Ohtani, despite the pitching part.

The tail of the tape on offense:

Offense

BA - Acuna .329, Ohtani .298 (Acuna's a leadoff hitter, Ohtani hits around Trout)
HR - Acuna 16, Ohtani 25 (something to mention, Angles Stadium is the easiest park to hit HRs in baseball, Truist Park in Atlanta is 19th on that list. The Braves hit over 60% of their HRs on the road).
Doubles - Acuna 21, Ohtani 15
OPS - Acuna .965, Ohtani 1.010
SB - Acuna 33, Ohtani 10
Runs Scored - Acuna 66, Ohtani 50 (Acuna has scored 50 runs to 25 for Ohtani when it doesn't involve a home run by either of them)
BB - Acuna 37, Ohtani 39

Both have great numbers, but when considering the park that they play in and all things considered, Acuna's numbers are better for helping to win games. Acuna is arguably the fastest player in baseball and is second in baseball in SB. The guy in first in SB (39) is hitting .266 with 1 HR and an OPS of .666. Acuna (33 SB) is hitting .329 with 16 HR and an OPS of .965.

Now let's talk about defense/pitching:

What Acuna does in the outfield defensively trumps anything Ohtani does on the mound, when you consider that you can replace Ohtani's 3.13 ERA every 5th game with many pitchers in that range (3.00-4.00), but there's no outfielder (not even Betts) who can shave around a run every game off the other team like Acuna's play in right field. He gets to balls that no one else can and keeps runners from taking an extra base like no other with his arm. Not even to the midway point in the season, the Braves are 21 games over .500, this with having 2 of the top 10 pitchers in the NL on the IL until August and going with a staff that has 3 rookies, a 2nd year, and a 39 year old. A lot of this is because of what Acuna (and Harris) can do in the outfield. I've watched most of the Braves games this season, and I have seen him literally save 5 wins by himself making plays that almost no one else can make.

But the most telling thing about Acuna is that at 5'11" and 195lb., he has hit 36 balls this season over 110 mph, that's more over 110 mph balls than 23 other teams combined. This is a breathtaking stat. The power and speed this kid generates is superhuman and transcends anything that Ohtani does. When this kid hits his his peak at about 30 years old (he's 25 now), he may be the first player in baseball history to lead the league in BA, OPS, HR, Runs Scored, and SB in the same season.

Ohtani is great, it just that Acuna is better.
That, my friend, is some research☺️😜⚾️
 
I'm sorry, but Acuna is more impactful than Ohtani, despite the pitching part.

The tail of the tape on offense:

Offense

BA - Acuna .329, Ohtani .298 (Acuna's a leadoff hitter, Ohtani hits around Trout)
HR - Acuna 16, Ohtani 25 (something to mention, Angles Stadium is the easiest park to hit HRs in baseball, Truist Park in Atlanta is 19th on that list. The Braves hit over 60% of their HRs on the road).
Doubles - Acuna 21, Ohtani 15
OPS - Acuna .965, Ohtani 1.010
SB - Acuna 33, Ohtani 10
Runs Scored - Acuna 66, Ohtani 50 (Acuna has scored 50 runs to 25 for Ohtani when it doesn't involve a home run by either of them)
BB - Acuna 37, Ohtani 39

Both have great numbers, but when considering the park that they play in and all things considered, Acuna's numbers are better for helping to win games. Acuna is arguably the fastest player in baseball and is second in baseball in SB. The guy in first in SB (39) is hitting .266 with 1 HR and an OPS of .666. Acuna (33 SB) is hitting .329 with 16 HR and an OPS of .965.

Now let's talk about defense/pitching:

What Acuna does in the outfield defensively trumps anything Ohtani does on the mound, when you consider that you can replace Ohtani's 3.13 ERA every 5th game with many pitchers in that range (3.00-4.00), but there's no outfielder (not even Betts) who can shave around a run every game off the other team like Acuna's play in right field. He gets to balls that no one else can and keeps runners from taking an extra base like no other with his arm. Not even to the midway point in the season, the Braves are 21 games over .500, this with having 2 of the top 10 pitchers in the NL on the IL until August and going with a staff that has 3 rookies, a 2nd year, and a 39 year old. A lot of this is because of what Acuna (and Harris) can do in the outfield. I've watched most of the Braves games this season, and I have seen him literally save 5 wins by himself making plays that almost no one else can make.

But the most telling thing about Acuna is that at 5'11" and 195lb., he has hit 36 balls this season over 110 mph, that's more over 110 mph balls than 23 other teams combined. This is a breathtaking stat. The power and speed this kid generates is superhuman and transcends anything that Ohtani does. When this kid hits his his peak at about 30 years old (he's 25 now), he may be the first player in baseball history to lead the league in BA, OPS, HR, Runs Scored, and SB in the same season.

Ohtani is great, it just that Acuna is better.
This would’ve been a compelling argument in the 90s, but it’s now 2023 and we have tools to actually measure impact

Fact is Shohei is worth more than a win more than Acuna, and that gap will continue to widen as the season marches on

It’s really not even close when comparing the two (or Shohei to anyone for that matter)

A great time to be a baseball fan

 
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This would’ve been a compelling argument in the 90s, but it’s now 2023 and we have tools to actually measure impact

Fact is Shohei is worth more than a win more than Acuna, and that gap will continue to widen as the season marches on

It’s really not even close when comparing the two (or Shohei to anyone for that matter)

A great time to be a baseball fan

WAR doesn't really take into account what you do defensively (even though there's a place for it). It also doesn't take into account what you're being asked to do for your team offensively. The Braves have several great 2-5 level hitters (Albies, Riley, Murphy, Olson, Ozuna). The Angels only have Trout and Ohtani. Acuna doesn't have to hit in the 3 or 4 hole and can use his speed at leadoff as well as cleaning up the good table setters at the bottom of the lineup. If Acuna was hitting in the 3 or 4 spot, he probably would have 10 more HRs and 20 more RBI with how hard he consistently hits the ball, then the WAR would be even. Then the defense tips the scale to Acuna. Again, Ohtani's HR numbers are inflated with the band box he plays in.

Finally, WAR doesn't take into account how you're being protected by your other players and WAR is frankly not a good measure when comparing teams with different number of losses. Acuna can't win as many more games for the Braves because the Braves have a low number of losses. Ohtani has more losses to make an impact on.
 
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Elly is 0-4 today. I'm still proud of our boys efforts vs a contending Braves team. Someone different comes up big every game.
 
Elly is 0-4 today. I'm still proud of our boys efforts vs a contending Braves team. Someone different comes up big every game.
THIS becomes our test… not sliding back… but you are right… love these guys
( we need some starting pitching😬)
 
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THIS becomes our test… not sliding back… but you are right… love these guys
( we need some starting pitching😬)
Hopefully, the Reds will become buyers (and not sellers) this year at the trade deadline. I'm still going to enjoy this competitiveness. All three games vs the Braves were decided by one run.
 
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Ohtani hits better and then if you prefer acuna, an outfielder who impacts a couple of plays per game over a guy who throws every pitch of a game, like I said, you are nuts.
Ohtani doesn't even come close to hitting as well as Acuna. On that one, I'm not the one who's nuts.

Ohtani throws 6-7 innings every 5th day, not every pitch. He pitches in about 16% of the Angels innings. Acuna plays every single defensive play of every game. Another whiff on your part.

You're making this too easy.
 
Hopefully, the Reds will become buyers (and not sellers) this year at the trade deadline. I'm still going to enjoy this competitiveness. All three games vs the Braves were decided by one run.
And we had chances at the end …1st and 3rd, 1 out…. Like those odds
 
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The Reds were close
The Reds hung in there and made every game close. They are playing really well now.

But with the lineup the Braves have, and when they get Fried and Wright back at full strength, it's going to be very difficult for a team to win a 7 game series against them, especially if Fried, Strider, and Elder start every game and Morton and Wright go to the bullpen. And if Suroka can find his sinker this summer, it's going to be scary for other teams.

It's mind blowing that the Braves have hit the 50 win mark in less than 1/2 of the season with the patchwork pitching staff that they've played with.
 
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Ohtani doesn't even come close to hitting as well as Acuna. On that one, I'm not the one who's nuts.

Ohtani throws 6-7 innings every 5th day, not every pitch. He pitches in about 16% of the Angels innings. Acuna plays every single defensive play of every game. Another whiff on your part.

You're making this too easy.
I appreciate your passion

But the two might as well play different sports they’re so far apart value-wise
 
Ohtani doesn't even come close to hitting as well as Acuna. On that one, I'm not the one who's nuts.

Ohtani throws 6-7 innings every 5th day, not every pitch. He pitches in about 16% of the Angels innings. Acuna plays every single defensive play of every game. Another whiff on your part.

You're making this too easy.

Last 3 years of OPS+

151, 142, 167 - ohtani
157, 114, 157 - acuna

Ohtani better.

What contributes more to overall defense, pitching 15% of a team's innings or playing CF for 100%?

We haven't even gotten into the fact that acuna has played 1 full season out of 5 non covid years.
 
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Last 3 years of OPS+

151, 142, 167 - ohtani
157, 114, 157 - acuna

Ohtani better.

What contributes more to overall defense, pitching 15% of a team's innings or playing CF for 100%?

We haven't even gotten into the fact that acuna has played 1 full season out of 5 non covid years.
I'm not sure why we're even arguing it. My coworker is a Yankees fan. Even he has been praising Ohtani as the best player in MLB at the moment.
 
Last 3 years of OPS+

151, 142, 167 - ohtani
157, 114, 157 - acuna

Ohtani better.

What contributes more to overall defense, pitching 15% of a team's innings or playing CF for 100%?

We haven't even gotten into the fact that acuna has played 1 full season out of 5 non covid years.
Acuna was coming off ACL last season dude.

Acuna plays RF, not CF. And the answer is 100% in RF.

Acuna came up to the majors in 2018 at 20 years old and played 111 games (26 HR). 2019 Full season and 46 HR. COVID year 14 HR in 46 games. He tore his ACL in 2021 and missed 1/2 of that season (24 HR). He played hurt last season. This season he's healthy and on fire.

I think you have to get over this thing about Ohtani being a pitcher and a hitter. Because he's a pitcher, he plays no defense in 85% of the innings as a DH. So he essentially plays little to no defense at all.

Ohtani has 617 hits and 152 HR in 642 games. Acuna 651 hits and 136 HR in 590 games. Their OPSs are the same. Acuna has 141 SB, Ohtani has 76. If you were to factor in the SB difference, Acuna's OPS would be much higher.

BTW, the Braves would never do this, but Acuna has a cannon of an arm and has been known to get on the mound and throw strikes at 100 mph. The Braves don't need him to pitch, but he has before and he could. There are also a number of position players who could pitch if that were a thing.
 
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I'm not sure why we're even arguing it. My coworker is a Yankees fan. Even he has been praising Ohtani as the best player in MLB at the moment.
Dude, who cares what your coworker Yankee fan thinks?
 
I think you have to get over this thing about Ohtani being a pitcher and a hitter. Because he's a pitcher, he plays no defense in 85% of the innings as a DH. So he essentially plays little to no defense at all.
A RF plays little to no defense on well over 85% of plays. Pitcher is by far the most important defensive position the field. That I'm even explaining this is embarrassing.
 
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