Braves: Mets fans can’t stop crying about Spencer Strider’s comments
By Mark Powell
Despite losing four of five games to the New York Mets, Braves pitcher Spencer Strider had a simple message to his rival — see you in October.
Technically, the two teams meet several times before then. But after New York answered an early-August challenge at Citi Field, Atlanta rookie pitcher Spencer Strider made sure his team kept matters in perspective, as well as the opponent.
“[There were] a lot of weird hits,” Strider said of the outing, per Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “[The Mets] seem to be having a lot of luck right now offensively. That’s great. It’s August. (We’ll) see what things are like in October.”
Braves: Spencer Strider offers plenty of blame for rough weekend vs Mets
Strider went on to blame the umpires for some long Mets at-bats, as well as inflating his pitch count.
“It helps when they’re getting calls and 1-1 counts turn to 2-1 counts instead of 1-2 counts, and stuff like that,” Strider said. “When your BABIP is .330, .340 as a team, it’s tough to get quick innings and get quick outs.”
Strider reached three-ball counts in six of the batters he faced over the weekend. In just over seven innings pitched, he’s thrown 182 pitches, per the New York Post.
Mets fans, of course, latched on to these comments and then some. While Strider is technically correct in saying that the division race (and more) won’t be decided until October, he could give the Mets some credit for their performance thus far this season.
Instead, he went with the alternative.
Spencer Strider watching this replay: https://t.co/mG4d2sZkJZ pic.twitter.com/TcUuxhSrnu
— The 7 Line (@The7Line) August 8, 2022
Wake up with what “Spencer Strider” likes to call “a lucky hit” pic.twitter.com/P6MAu1tF5H
— We Gotta Believe (@GottaBelievePod) August 8, 2022
According to Spencer Strider these are the two luckiest pitchers in baseball today: #metstwitter pic.twitter.com/PQw6eqgYMo
— Manny S. (@MMS0272) August 9, 2022
https://twitter.com/KFCBarstool/status/1556631035919605761
Spencer Strider has thrown 182 pitches in 7.1 innings against the Mets this season.
— Tyler Gallo (@TylerAGallo) August 8, 2022
Today, he had three-ball counts on six of the batters he faced. Shouldn’t be crying about luck when you’re struggling to record outs against a team that’s known to work counts. https://t.co/sxoWpVaZlM
https://twitter.com/metsstan1996/status/1556453224953036800
nobody show this to spencer strider pic.twitter.com/nn1Bz4dasz
— steph (@whutyearisit) August 8, 2022
Spencer Strider vs the Mets pic.twitter.com/OLe4jjPCLq
— Master flip 🇩🇴 (@Masterflip_) August 8, 2022
Yo @SpencerSTRIDer,
— GENY Mets Report (@genymets) August 8, 2022
You do realize you got through 2.2 innings today and threw 79 pitches right? Asking for a friend. #LGM
BREAKING NEWS:
— MVPolar Bear Pete Alonso (@EDSdt1234) August 8, 2022
I hereby award Spencer Strider the first annual Chris Paddack award for making the dumbest comment of the year by an MLB player
There were plenty more where that came from.
Strider’s comments come from a good place — he wants to take the onus off his poor performance and his teammates after a tough series on the road. However, it’s okay to just admit the Braves will get ’em next time, rather than blame everyone but yourself for a poor performance.
By deflecting blame, it gives New York fans the ammo they crave.
Next. Braves avoid potential disaster on controversial Pete Alonso play. dark