Heartbreaking : Atlanta Braves star just announced to leave Atlanta proceed to…..
Sean Murphy’s ground ball with the bases loaded brought home a sliding Eli White in the 11th inning, leading the Atlanta Braves to a tough 4-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.
The Braves now lead the major leagues with 12 extra-inning wins. They won two out of three games against the Blue Jays and are now tied with the New York Mets for the last wild card spot in the National League playoff race.
We don´t know until after they kind of let everything calm down and then they´ll start him back throwing,” Snitker said. “It wasn´t anything structural. It will be just like everything else. You give him a little time and then they´ll start him on a throwing program. Hopefully when his time´s up he could be back.”
The Braves went into the finale of a two-game series against the Nationals a half-game behind the Mets for the NL’s final wild-card spot. New York pulled ahead with a 6-2 victory over Toronto in an afternoon game.
Atlanta has managed to stay in playoff contention despite season-ending injuries to NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. and ace pitcher Spencer Strider, as well as significant injuries to several other key players. Second baseman Ozzie Albies has been out nearly two months with a wrist injury, and third baseman Austin Riley is expected to miss the rest of the regular season with a fractured hand.
Atlanta Braves infielder Whit Merrifield made headlines this week after he was hit in the head by Colorado Rockies pitcher Jeff Criswell. Merrifield was removed from the game and checked for a concussion, which he thankfully does not have.
After the contest, Merrifield made a wide-ranging statement about the state of pitching in MLB. Specifically, Merrifield targeted the velocity with which pitchers are forced to throw to these days, and how it often limits their control.
“Where the game’s at right now, it’s just ridiculous,” said Merrifield. “I hate where the game’s at right now with that.”
Whit Merrifield was right to criticize MLB’s pitching philosophy
Merrifield went on to say his “life was on the line,” while pointing out the number of Braves hitters who have been injured this season as a result of HBPs.
“We lost Riley, we almost lost Mike, we almost lost d’Arnaud in a span of two or three weeks,” Merrifield said. “The way pitchers are throwing now, there’s no regard for throwing up and in. The guys are throwing as hard as they can, they don’t care where the ball goes. And it’s just … it’s bulls—-.”
Merrifield makes a great point, in that pitchers have sacrificed control for velocity. It’s tough to blame pitchers solely for that, as it starts at the developmental level. Pitchers are taught that speed kills from an early age, and because of that ramp up their pitch velocity with little regard for anything else in some cases.
Whit Merrifield’s injury update is more frightening than it seems for Braves
Merrifield is reportedly day-to-day, per the Braves training staff. However, some subtle updates provided by the team’s official website paint a complicated picture.
“He passed concussion tests, but was still feeling groggy when he arrived at Truist Park on Wednesday afternoon. He is also still feeling discomfort whenever he puts on a hat. Braves manager Brian Snitker said Merrifield is day to day.”
Just last season, MLB teams received a rude awakening about the status of concussions in baseball when Anthony Rizzo was placed on the injured list two full months after he suffered a head injury against the San Diego Padres. The Yankees initially said Rizzo had a stiff neck, and he was shut down for the season last August after struggling mightily at the plate.
Unlike the Yankees and Rizzo, the Braves need to be patient with Merrifield, especially if he’s feeling the symptoms listed above