Uncle Charlie Become Great Uncle Charlie Morton
Charlie Morton will turn 50 in November... of 2033. That still means he's old right now (in terms of professional athletes). We all know he has had a great late-career surge. His best years came in his 30s. However, his 30s are nearly finished. The joy ride has to come to an end sometime. In his past four starts, he has a 7.32 ERA.
You have to go all the way back to 2012 to find a WHIP as bad as Charlie Morton's current 1.44 WHIP. Sure between 2008-2012 this was the norm for him, but that was when he was in his 20s, before he hit his prime at 35. When I wrote that, I picked a mid-thirties number at random that seemed funny because I knew it was probably about true. Turns out, his age-35 season was actually his best season. It was his prime.
The last time Morton's walk rate was as high as it is in 2023, he pitched four games for the Phillies in 2016. That was back when he was still just a kid trying to figure things out in the big leagues at 32 years old.
Morton still has a really good fastball and one of the best curveballs in baseball. However, we've seen stretches from Morton where he just isn't good. He has been in one of those stretches over the past four games. He's more than just a luxury this season. He is a necessity. The Braves are not really in a position to lose the consistency Morton has provided all season.