Atlanta, GA
Ronald Acuna Jr disappoints in Atlanta Braves elimination and avoids media interviews
The Atlanta Braves‘ elimination in the National League Divisional Series against the Philadelphia Phillies marked the end of the 2023 Major League Baseball season for the team.
However, one of the most notable moments after the loss was the reaction of Ronald Acuna Jr., the team’s talented outfielder who disappointed in this series and left without speaking to the media.
After the series, as usual, several reporters waited anxiously to interview the players and get their impressions of the elimination.
However, it came as a surprise to many when Acuna Jr., one of the Braves‘ most prominent faces and a frontrunner to win the National League Most Valuable Player award, opted not to speak to the press.
MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reported that Acuna Jr. walked straight back to the team bus without offering any statements or impressions of the loss. This was in stark contrast to the habit of many athletes to face the media, both in victories and defeats.
Acuna disappointed against the Phillies
Acuna Jr.’s decision to remain silent may have been driven by frustration and disappointment over the elimination, where he came up short. His performance against the Phillies was disappointing for Atlanta fans, as the team’s star was unable to live up to his tag in those decisive games.
During the four-game series, Acuna posted a .143 batting average. Despite scoring three runs and stealing two bases, he failed to produce runs with the bat and went 14-2. This lack of offensive production was especially painful for a team that expected so much from its leader in the field.
Acuna‘s underperformance in the series highlighted how baseball is a sport full of ups and downs and that even the best players can face tough times at the most critical moments. Despite this disappointment, the Venezuelan has a bright future and remains a key pillar in the team’s success.
Atlanta, GA
Hurricane Helene: Boat rescues underway at flooded Atlanta apartment complex
A boat rescue is underway for residents of a flooded Atlanta apartment complex.
The Peachtree Park Apartments on Peachtree Park Drive are feeling the impacts of Hurricane Helene as it comes through Georgia.
Heavy rain ahead of Helene’s full arrival in the metro area led to the apartment complex seeing lots of water, leading to the need for an evacuation.
A Channel 2 Action News photographer was at the scene, where first responders were using boats to help residents leave the apartment complex.
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Details on the exact number of people impacted were not immediately available.
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm on Thursday evening and early Friday was downgraded to a Category 1 storm.
However, rain is still coming in and wind speeds are still reported at about 90 miles per hour, meaning the storm will still likely impact the area as it moves through.
Channel 2 Action News is working to get more details about the rescue underway.
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Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Hunkers Down As Helene Approaches – Videos from The Weather Channel
Atlanta, GA
Major League Scouting Report: Atlanta Braves’ Spencer Schwellenbach
Atlanta Braves right-handed starter Spencer Schwellenbach kept his team in the National League Wild Card race with a huge victory September 24.
Schwellenbach, 24, improved to 8-7, with a fine 3.47 ERA, and 1.07 WHIP in 20 starts for Atlanta.
Schwellenbach has thrown 116.2 innings in 20 appearances for the Braves.
Impactful Injuries:
The Braves have endured some very serious injuries this season, and they still have a chance to make the playoffs.
All Star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. required surgery for a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament on his left knee. He has missed almost the entire season.
All star right-handed starter Spencer Strider, considered one of the best pitchers in baseball, has been sidelined since mid-April with elbow surgery that required an internal brace.
And to make matters worse for Atlanta, highly regarded third baseman Austin Riley’s season is over, due to a fractured hand.
Starter Reynaldo Lopez, who was having a very solid season on the mound, has been disabled with shoulder inflammation since September 10.
About Spencer Schwellenbach:
The Cleveland Indians selected Spencer Schwellenbach in the 34th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft. He did not sign with Cleveland.
Schwellenbach, who attended Heritage High School in Saginaw, Michigan, chose to attend the University of Nebraska, where he spent one season.
Schwellenbach, who also played soccer in high school, was named the Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year, as well as Mr. Baseball in his senior year
Schwellenbach played three years of shortstop in high school, and was a two-way player at Nebraska.
At Nebraska, Schwellenbach appeared in 18 games on the mound, all in relief. He earned 10 saves.
Schwellenbach earned the John Olerud Award as the best two-way college player.
Schwellenbach was chosen in the 2nd round of the 2021 draft by the Braves.
Atlanta gave Schwellenbach a $1 million signing bonus.
After the draft, Schwellenbach underwent Tommy John surgery, keeping him off the mound in both 2021, and 2022.
Schwellenbach missed a month of pitching in 2023, with shoulder inflammation.
His injury history dictates care in his use by the Braves staff.
This old scout was fortunate to see Schwellenbach in the 2023 All Star Futures Game in Seattle.
In that game, Schwellenbach threw one inning in relief; yielding one hit, while striking out two.
Scouting Spencer Schwellenbach:
Even though he was an award winning closer in college, the Braves have always used Schwellenbach as a starting pitcher.
Before his big league debut May 24, 2024, Schwellenbach made 24 minor league starts for Atlanta. He threw 110 minor league innings before he graduated to the Braves rotation.
Schwellenbach has a strong frame at 6-1, 200 pounds. He’s an excellent athlete.
A true power pitcher, Schwellenbach relies on both two-and four-seam fastballs as the foundation of a six-pitch mix.
According to brooksbaseball.net, Schwellenbach’s four-seamer sits at 96 miles per hour, but he can increase velocity when needed.
Schwellenbach’s sinker has a bit less velocity, sitting at 95 miles per hour.
Schwellenbach also throws a curve, a slider, a cutter, and a split.
One of the best aspects of Schwellenbach’s approach is his ability and desire to use any pitch at any time in the count. And his pitch distribution is very equal. Here are the percentages of Schwellenbach’s pitch use:
Fourseam fastball-37.24%
Sinking fastball=6.09%
Split (also a form of fastball)=10.77%
Cutter=14.52%
Slider=18.50%
Curve=12.88%
While he strikes out an average of 9.4 hitters per nine innings, Schwellenbach is only walking 1.8 hitters per nine, showing fine command and control of his arsenal.
Schwellenbach has yielded only 14 home runs in his 116.2 innings, which is outstanding.
Schwellenbach is the fifth starter in a solid Braves rotation that includes:
Chris Sale-LHP
Max Fried-LHP
Charlie Morton-RHP
Grant Holmes-RHP
Spencer Schwellenback-RHP
Scouting Grade: 55
For this old scout, Spencer Scwellenbach is a Grade 55 starter, which is a better than average performer.
Perhaps due to the Braves pitching injuries, Schwellenbach graduated to the big leagues quickly. However, he has earned the trust his team has placed in him.
If the Braves do make the playoffs, we may see Spencer Schwellenbach on the roster as pitching depth for a team on a mission.
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