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Atlanta Braves postseason: How do they spell relief?

By Fred Owens

MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 26: A.J. Minter #33 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on August 26, 2018 in Miami, Florida. All players across MLB will wear nicknames on their backs as well as colorful, non-traditional uniforms featuring alternate designs inspired by youth-league uniforms during Players Weekend. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 26: A.J. Minter #33 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on August 26, 2018 in Miami, Florida. All players across MLB will wear nicknames on their backs as well as colorful, non-traditional uniforms featuring alternate designs inspired by youth-league uniforms during Players Weekend. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /
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Jesse Biddle became a dependable arm in the Atlanta Braves bullpen this year. He’ll need to continue that during the NLDS if the Braves are to win. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
Jesse Biddle became a dependable arm in the Atlanta Braves bullpen this year. He’ll need to continue that during the NLDS if the Braves are to win. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /

Bullpen

My last posted hinted at a possible bullpen crew but things have changed slightly so, it’s time to take a closer look at the candidates.

Twelve position plus four starting pitchers equals sixteen roster spots filled leaving us nine bullpen spots.

LHP RHP
Jesse Biddle Brad Brach
Jonny Venters Shane Carle
A.J. Minter Chad Sobotka
Touki Toussaint
Arodys Vizcaino
Dan Winkler

No Sam Freeman or Luke Jackson and Toussaint as the long reliever. That’s not my preference but it appears to be the way the signs point now.

This week, Sobotka forced himself into consideration because of pitches like the ones shown below:

Although he’s young – isn’t everyone on this team? – and inexperienced (11 major league appearances) he brings 98-100 mph heat backed up with and 84 mph curve everyone calls a slider (because they’ve forgotten what a curve does I guess) that no one’s managed to do much with so far.

After one-inning outings on back-to-back nights, Sobotka caught everyone’s eye. In the Bowman post linked earlier, Snitker explained why.

"“If you pitch like that, it’s kind of hard to ignore  . . . He threw strikes and attacked the hitters. His stuff was really good.”"

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