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What’s behind the shine of Mike Foltynewicz’s gem?
Saturday’s Say Hey Baseball looks behind the curtain of Foltynewicz’s one-hitter to reveal what you already knew was there. And also baseball romance. It looks at baseball romance.
Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images
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Mike Foltynewicz (whose name I refuse to learn to spell and will be copying and pasting into the remainder of this) provided stability to a shaky rotation with a performance that was almost the Atlanta Braves’ first no-hitter since 1994. Foltynewicz capped off a successful June by climbing to five starts out of his last six without allowing more than two runs. His ERA is now down from just above 4 to 3.83, which tops his current and former 2017 rotation-mates, minus Sean Newcomb and Rex Brothers, who are both recent call-ups. Since Foltynewicz was acquired from the Houston Astros in 2014, he’s been striding into position as a sturdy middle-rotation guy. For now, he seems to be there, but his team is the Braves, so they don’t seem to be on the same page just yet.
Any trade value Jaime Garcia built up during a four-game stretch in May and June, during which he posted a 1.23 ERA, has been thrown away over his last few starts. Julio Teheran can’t seem to prove that his disappointing 2016 season was a fluke. Just like he couldn’t prove that his underwhelming 2015 season was an anomaly. R.A. Dickey has cozied up to command issues, which contribute to a 4.10 ERA. Though, recent improvement is why it isn’t still at 5.10 like it was after his first 11 starts. Bartolo Colon (may he rest in peace) and his 8.14 ERA were DFA’d. Colon was informed after he returned from the DL and made a courtesy start in which he gave up six runs in four innings pitched. The starting rotation’s 4.80 ERA puts the Braves at 23rd in the majors, and so Atlanta has turned their lonely eyes to their top-rated farm system.
Six of the Braves’ top prospects coming into the 2017 campaign were pitchers. Three of those six are fire-balling lefties currently in AA. Braves fans won’t be seeing them for a while, given that GM John Coppolella said on Thursday, “[Pushing young arms ahead of their timetable] has happened in the past here, and we didn’t do any favors to our players. So we’re trying our best not to do it again.” So, that likely leaves Newcomb, who owns a measly 1.48 ERA in his first four starts, as the only return the Braves will get on their prospect investments for now.
Newcomb can impress, Foltynewicz may continue to stride, and even defensive whiz Ender Inciarte can continue to dazzle. But factors like a lackluster start from supposed-to-be (and still could be) hero Dansby Swanson still leave the Freeman-less Braves’ long-shot playoff hopes as just that. But, I’m sure I don’t have to tell yoU. Foltynewicz’s start was a joy and a gem, and given the circumstances, that’s more than his fair share.
- Grant Brisbee has compiled a very important list of players who must participate in the home run derby as it stands in its current format. The list must be followed to a T. No one else is permitted. Unless he is forced. Which he apparently was. Also, Aaron Judge is a mythical creature.
- Tim Arakawa, a minor leaguer in the Angels’ organization, leaped (fell?) into the berm after making a running catch. It is spectacular. What kind of prospect evaluation system doesn’t take this sort of berm-jumping into consideration? None that should be taken seriously, that is for sure.
- The Mets finally admitted that they did not sign Tim Tebow for his graceful swing or gazelle-like defense. What this means for Brisbee’s Tim Tebow Watch Watch is unclear. However, if the Mets are signing players for the entertainment, might we interest them in one Bartolo Colon?
- Dave Roberts and Andy Green went at it because of sign stealing or something. Whatever it was, they got their petty on. The ordeal ended with Roberts pointing and yelling, “You and me,” which is pretty romantic no matter how you look at it.
- Remember when a very talented, wonderful, and smart writer of this thing told you the Braves have a lot of pitching prospects? BUT WAIT, there’s more.
- Pick up the phone because it is time to call every single one of your friends that has ever complained their way through a nine inning baseball game. They were right. You were wrong. Baseball is actually more boring.
- You could write monologues, poems, and epics about the Texas Rangers maybe. But Lone Star Ball won’t.
- The Giants scored many runs and hit many hits. It was their fourth straight win! Good job, Giants! We are very proud of you.
- Please watch Yasiel Puig kiss a baseball. He makes a pretty good catch, too, but watch the baseball kiss. Pre-teens everywhere are throwing away their pillows.
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