Acuna Matata
It's a fairly common refrain among Johnny Braves Fans, referencing the popular song form the Lion King that is translated to mean no worries.
(Side note: Timon and Pumbaa were serious contenders for last week's Rushmore of movie side story characters that could carry their own movie. They got their own show eventually. Here's the duo doing there thing It's a problem free philosophy, after all. Side note to the side note: There are two types of people in this world - people who are fans of Lion King and losers. This is not up for debate.)
Anyhoo, life was anything but problem free for the Braves wunderkind outfielder. The 20-year-old as plunked with the first pitch he saw and was forced to leave the game with a sore left arm. (It originally looked like he got hit on the elbow, which would have been worse, because a 97-mph heater on that bone trends to break things.)
It ended Acuna's amazing power rampage in consecutive games. For that a lot of Braves fans were hot Marlins starter Jose Urena plunked Acuna and did not give the 20-year-old a chance to hit a lead-off homer in what could have been a record-tying fourth consecutive game.
It also showed a couple of emotional signs that showed how close this bunch is. For that a lot of Braves fans should be quite hopeful for the final six weeks and for the next six years.
Let's start with manager Brian Snitker, who charged out of the dugout like a teenager told not to use their iPhone. Man he was hot. He also took on the role of leader in that moment. And protector. There are a lot of Johnny Braves Fans who have their doubts about Snitker. We understand that. Heck, there obviously a lot of Johnny Braves Frontoffice folks who have their doubts about Snitker, since he still is operating on a year-to-year contracts.
But last night, Snit looked the part right? He was out there pointing and screaming and having his players' collective back.
He continued it in the postgame presser, too, saying "He's my kid. I'm going to protect him." Cue chills. "I've never felt like that in a baseball uniform," Snitker said of his anger. Not since Lou Brown led the Indians into the playoffs in Major League has there been an underdog manager story have a moment like this for a team like this one.
And it did not end there. Dansby Swanson hit a go-ahead home run and finished it with Acuna's familiar celebration as he touched home plate. Ender Inciarte - a guy who hit .300 last year and won a Gold Glove but who has lost at-bats and the lead-off spot because of Acuna's greatness - was the first on the field, hopping the rail to lead the Braves from the dugout.
Friends, there are times that overachieving, potentially uncertain teams meet a crossroad in a pennant race. That road is normally hallmarked by a tough loss or an emotional event.
The Braves looked the part of galvanized playoff team last night, collectively getting the back of the youngest among them and the hottest player in baseball.
Time for change
That there are even discussions about the "old-school" rules of the game that some are saying defend or at least justify Urena's cowardly and bush league move of hitting Ronald Acuna means it's time for another chapter of "How the 'Unwritten' Rules of Baseball are Bad for the Game."
Mets announcer Keith Hernandez - a former NL MVP mind you - said the Marlins absolutely should have hit Acuna in his first time to the plate. Let's say that has not been reviewed with positive feedback. Here's a very pro-Braves thread. Also worth noting in that thread, someone called Hernandez and "ArseHat" which is a grand insult. It's also worth adding the great Seinfeld scene of Kramer and Newman detailing their takes on Keith Hernandez.
He likely will not be alone as folks will say, "Back in my day" "Blah-Blah-Blah" "Turn down that loud Rock-n-Roll" well you get the idea.
When are we going to get to a place that intentionally hitting folks with 95-pmh-heaters is not a good idea? Yes, pitchers have to be able to pitch inside. We grew up pitching, and taking that away would add a full run to the league ERA. (That said more offense would be entertaining, but we're not advocating for that.)
In truth, pitchers intentionally hitting batters takes away the option of pitching inside and a batter's uneasiness way more than beanballs.
Once Urena hit Acuna last night each team was warned, meaning the next hit batsman - intentional or not - was going to lead to an ejection.
There are extra layers to this that run from this that cover social to racial discussions, but the truth is it's just plain stupid.
Acne's lead-off plate appearance last night was the most exciting regular-season moment not involving Shohei Ohtani this season. And it was ruined by some wannabe, old-school tough guy who is trying to operate under some standard written when Babe Ruth was playing and scribbled in invisible ink.
PUH-lease.
If you want to analyze this a step further if you think Urena or any of the others using old-school tactics of hitting someone for enjoying success and/or celebrating baseball greatness to hit and potentially injure the sluggers going deep, ask yourself this:
Is this 'old-school' or 'tradition' or is just cowardice and fear because Urena had nothing for Acuna? Is this 'setting some arbitrary standard of behavior for other players or realizing that the pitcher simply is not good enough to hurt the batter in the most painful way possible - strike his arse out? Or why is this even possibly considered acceptable when if an NBA player who could not stop LeBron did the equivalent of throwing a 97-mph-fastball at his back and tackled him in the open court?
If you are going to be a gutless, punk, coward, then intentionally walk him and let everyone know you're a gutless, punk, coward. Don't hide under the cover of unwritten rules and some other mumbo-jumbo.
Now factor in the very real possibility that this 'old-school' move - if it leaves Acuna on the shelf for six weeks or so - changed the perspective and perception of an entire playoff race.
This is no longer old-school and unwritten rules. It's cowardice and stupid.
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant dribbles in the first half of Game 3 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Wednesday, June 6, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)Between the diamond and the hard place
There are a lot of folks who have thrown shade at players for ring chasing.
People got mad at Kevin Durant. People got mad at Boogie Cousins. (That last one was proven to be hollow since Boogie had no firm contract offers and negotiated a one-year deal with Golden State for $5 million.)
The crux of the argument is that Golden State is so loaded that NBA fans everywhere already believe we know the outcome for next season.
Now at least one player is coming out saying that ring chasing is "disgusting" and bad for the sport. C.J. McCollum's podcast - one of the better ones out there among the still-active players friends - said he would never do something like joining a super team like the Warriors.
OK, and we get the unrest. We even understand the frustration of general NBA fans fans of specific NBA teams who have no chance of beating the Warriors and all that firepower. (If you took an all-star team of Mavericks, Hawks, Nets, Kings, Heat, Magic and Hornets, the Warriors are still a 7.5-point favorite.)
But if you take a step back it has to make sense right. What is every great player judged on? Rings. Number of championships is the starting point when you want to transfer the conversation from today's great players to all-time great players.
The analytics overwhelming support LeBron James >>>>>>> Michael Jordan. A lot of the stats and numbers do the same for Peyton > Brady.
But the fall-back opinion is the rings are the things, and MJ and Brady are the GOATs because of the number of titles.
So if you are a player concerned about legacy and place - and let's face it, if you have the chance to be an all-time great, why wouldn't you be - why would you not look for every possible way to be on the best possible team to give yourself the best possible chance to win a ring.
Why leave it to luck or stupidity, like previous all-timers were blessed by to get on super teams or acquire superstar teammates.
Face it, if Larry Bird was in Indiana or if Golden State had not traded Kevin McHale and Robert Parish for Joe Barry Carroll, there's a real chance Bird could have been a rich man's version of Chris Mullin.
If Magic had gone to Milwaukee rather than landing with the Lakers, his legacy is not anything close to what it is and his championship pedigree would be very lucky to be at one.
If Seattle had not been dumb enough to deal Scottie Pippen for Olden Polynice, maybe MJ wins three titles instead of six. Or maybe less, especially if Len Bias had not croaked.
If Brady was the 197th pick rather than the 199th pick and went to the Titans instead of the Patriots, what would his legacy be?
The if game is fun. And pointless. But those players were fortunate to find themselves in championship situations.
Today, these players are taking luck out of it and grabbing control of their own narratives in the present and for the future.
This and that
- Jalen Ramsey had lots of hot takes on the quarterbacks around the NFL. Gang, you guys know me. I love guys willing to answer questions honestly - and put their name on it - and who are willing to have the same confidence off the field as they do on it. If those QBs dissed by Ramsey's takes, well, light him up. If you can that is, because after all, Ramsey is about as good as there is at his position in the game today.
- The parents of Jordan McNair, the football player who died during drills earlier this year at Maryland, were on Good Morning America on Thursday morning. Jordan McNair Sr. called for Maryland head coach D.J. Durkin to be fired. The Maryland Board of Regents has called a closed-door meeting to discuss this situation for Friday.
- Man, from the files of having money to make money comes this: Kobe Bryant invested $6 million in BodyArmour a few years ago. (Yes having $6 million to invest in anything would be sweet.) Well, earlier this month when Coca-Cola came on board and bought into BodyArmour, Bryant's $6 million became closer to $200 million. Egad.
- Yes, all of us - me included - have had a little fun at Da Gronk's expense. It's fun. And easy. And, at least in terms of money management, it's misguided. Rob Gronkowski has lived and spent his endorsement money during his eight-year career and saved every dollar of signing bonuses and game checks. Since 2010, Gronk has made more than $60 million, and he has not splurged until this offseason when he bought a dope necklace.
- Here's CBSsports.com Preseason All-American team. Interesting to see the names - and the schools with multiple picks - on the first and second teams. Johnny Vols Fans should note that West Virginia has the first-team QB in Will Grier and a first-team receiver in David Sills. Johnny Tigers Fans should note that Washington has three first-teamers - including two dudes in the secondary - heading into the openers for Tennessee and Auburn. (Side note: We'll take Jarrett Stidham over Trace McSorley, the Penn State quarterback who was the second-team pick.)
Today's questions
Lots happening today.
It's national rum day. (Ah, Rum is an acquaintance, not friend nor foe.) It's also national roller coast day. Big-time friend. It's also national tell a joke day.
We support that, and feel free to share one of your go-tos here with friends. Please remember the "family-oriented, interweb-based" (aka FOIB) mantra around these parts.
On this day in 1954, Sports Illustrated hit the streets for the first time.
Madonna is 60, Steve Carell is 56 and director James Cameron is 64 today.
Elvis died on this day in 1977. Babe Ruth died on this day 70 years ago.
Taking some of the above names, who makes the Rushmore of all-time one-named musical superstars?
Go and remember the mailbag.