Spencer Strider to the bullpen?
Atlanta Braves fans the nation over are probably entertaining the idea today, mulling it over in their heads as they pound their red foam tomahawks into the palms of their hands in disgust, frustration and extreme nervousness about the team’s suddenly leaky bullpen.
Or is there any other way they should feel after watching closer Kenley Jansen implode during Saturday night’s ninth-inning loss at St. Louis thanks to Jansen walking in the winning run after the Braves had entered the bottom of the frame up 5-4?
Yes, not only did Jansen, the former Los Angeles Dodger, walk in the winning run in that defeat, he also surrendered the tying run. And before Braves Country had a chance to shrug that one off as just one bad day at the office, along came Sunday night’s prime time meltdown against the Cardinals on ESPN.
Having watched Dansby Swanson swat one out of Busch Stadium for a 3-2 lead in the seventh — a lead at that point in an Atlanta game that usually spells victory — the Braves bullpen once more collapsed, this time done in by two home runs surrendered by lefty A.J. Minter. To be fair, only one of the four runs he allowed was earned, but it still calls to mind so many past bullpen struggles when it matters most. Especially since the relief corps was once believed to be one of the defending world champs’ greatest strengths.