Sandra Golden | Host 92.9 The Game Atlanta

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Gosh, that's a great question, Amy. The worst part of this is doing this show again today where it mirrors exactly like last year that, you know, the Braves were not the best team in baseball last year, and this year they are. They were, and they are sitting at home again during the championship series.

So we're in a deep state of depression. We were even after Game 1, how it went down here at Truist, it just felt like the wheels had come off, Amy. I just, there's no explanation for a team that was the most prolific you could argue in history at the plate to bat 186 as a team.

It just makes no sense. Did you get that feeling of foreboding that, oh, no, this could actually be a repeat? Yes, and it felt like that in Game 1, and, you know, you have that radio call after Game 1 when they were so bad at everybody, like, this is it, the wheels are, and how they even went, you know, won Game 2.

It was certainly out of the ordinary. You know, they scored, this is the number that jumps out, Amy. So in any four-game series of stretch this year, even three-game series, the least amount of runs the Braves scored was nine. So in these four games, they scored eight. It was the lowest of the entire season. So you just knew it wasn't happening, and Spencer Strider, he had no business saying that. He only allowed four in runs over 12 and two-thirds.

I'll take that every day. So it was just one of those things. Now, I'm not even going to bring up the fact that, you know, the five best records in baseball, they won in 13 in the postseason, and they're all home. So you've got a four versus the six in the NLDS.

So what do you think it was? Well, certainly the fact that they couldn't come through with the big hit or as many big hits as they needed, even last night, going over with runners in scoring position, leaving eight guys on base. And it's not so much Strider did face some pressure in every inning, but to only give up solo shots, I mean, the Braves should be able to cover that. But what blows me away is that it wasn't one game or even two games. It was four games, essentially, because even in the one in which they were victorious, it's not like they scored a ton of runs. So that part blows me away. Did you see anything different from them offensively?

Yeah, they were flat out of a jump. And, you know, and like I said, I don't believe that Braves fans want to make that as an excuse, but I'll just say all of baseball. So, you know, like I know and guys and gals listening, men and baseball players, they are so victims of their victims of habit.

I mean, to the point of what time you wake up, what you eat that day, especially baseball with superstitions, too, when you go to the ballpark, the parking space you go into, you know, all of it. Right. So when that happens, and I'll just speak for the Braves, for nothing about that was normal. That whole five days off, they tried to simulate games. They had fans come in because they were trying to do something a little different from last year because all they did last year was just, you know, have a little walkthrough and media was there. But I just feel like when you are so out of sort, you know, they're at home with their families, you can say what you want about that.

There's a lot of kids and there's a lot of family members in town now. It's just and it's not just the Braves. So when your top five teams in baseball are home, something is wrong.

I hope they make the changes. I thought John Smoltz on the broadcast the other night talking about let's eliminate some of those days off from the wildcard, you know, to make the wildcard be you immediately start that next day. It's just, you know, maybe the wildcard doesn't get home field at all or there's a lot, you know, there's things you can do. But they were flat out of the job. And even after the All-Star break, Amy, Braves lost four of five after being off.

So it takes, you know, think about when you go on vacation, you need a few days to kind of see how this microphone works a little bit. And like I said, I don't believe that. I think the Phillies with a better team, I think the Phillies might win the whole doggone thing. They're that good. And all of a sudden, Zach Wheeler and Aaron Nolan are Cy Youngers out there. And Suarez, too, my God, he was phenomenal. He was. And the bullpen, other than Craig Kimbrel, who makes a living on making it interesting, the bullpen was also good.

Sandra Golden is with us from Atlanta getting set for her morning show on 92-9 The Game. And I'd love to know what you've heard these past few mornings, past few days from Braves fans. How were they feeling about it? Snickers should be fired. Oh, stop. That's the first thing that happens.

Fire the hitting coach. That always comes up. You know, it's overreaction day. And literally, you would have thought, even after we were one and one, and we were about to get going, one and one after Monday, Tuesday morning's show was doom and gloom. And we were one and one.

So it just feels, there's no excuses. He changed the lineup for Game 1 on that Saturday, last Saturday, so it started to dim the noise. And then I think Braves fans, we have eyes. They didn't have it. They just didn't have it.

The energy, you know, the whole Ronald Acuna and Ozzie, and their energy in that dugout is something special. They were flat. They were, and we were at home, and they were flat. So there's no explanation to when you're the best offensive team in all baseball, and you don't show up. Brutal.

Oh, right. Real talk, then. How much worse is it that it's the Phillies with the throat slash and the stare downs? Awful. Terrible. Awful. It's the worst.

Absolute worst. And the Bryce, I mean, I don't think anything about that Orlando Arcea, like, you know, out of Boy Harper and stuff. I think that stuff is talked about all the time, don't you? I think they made a whole lot out of nothing, which, by the way, it worked for them. It worked for them. OK, so then in the offseason, I'm sorry, I know, but it is the offseason. Once the eulogy is delivered, what do the Braves need? I mean, they've got a potent lineup.

It's not like those guys can't hit. But what would you do in the offseason if you were in the front office? Well, you've got to get started pitching and you've got to decide what to do with Charlie Morton. Kyle Wright is likely down for the entire next year. Michael Soroka, you know, look at the aces that the Braves had on that staff, and we wound up having two starting pitchers.

Really, that's it. Bryce Elder, they couldn't count on. So I think they'll make a big splash with a big name pitcher, starting pitcher. And then the lineup is as good as it gets. And Amy, those guys are locked in.

I think Austin Riley through 2032, and they are reasonable. They bought them at Macy's. They were not at Neiman Marcus. They got these. They locked them into deals that are just unbelievable.

So they do have a little bit of money to spend on pitching. But it's too soon, Amy. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. No room for Otani. He can't pitch next year, but he can pitch the year after. Listen, if they get Otani, OK. But I don't think it's going to happen.

I mean, from your mouth to God's ears, what a nice Christmas wish that would be. How much would it be a, I don't know, a healing salve if Acuna is the NL MVP? He is the NL MVP. He is. And, you know, he didn't talk to the media.

So now that's going to be a big story. He left last night after the game. He didn't want to talk to anybody.

I get it. I don't blame him. Two for fourteen with a double in this series. He did not do MVP things. Bryce Harper did. Seven for nineteen. Three home runs.

So, you know, your stars on the biggest stage. He did not deliver. And he had some moments. He had some MVP type moments and it didn't it didn't happen. So, you know, it's crazy is that you think about the three guys who are probably the front runners or at least the names that were thrown out most for MVP. Freeman and Betts go one for twenty one in their series against the Diamondbacks. And then, as you mentioned, Acuna.

Gosh. And also to Matt Olson. So think about literally your top four candidates for the National League MVP. They were six for forty three with no home runs. Wow. No home runs.

I mean, they could have spared a few for the regular season. Hello, Amy. What is happening? It's bizarro world. It really is.

But I say this all the time. If we knew how sports would play out, we wouldn't watch. I mean, it's the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, but it's what keeps us coming back because it never quite goes the way that it's supposed to or that it's expected. Sandra Golden is with us from Atlanta. So how much or how quickly will sports fans transfer their attention to the Falcons? Please don't say Falcons. Let's talk about college football. You know where we are. Listen, the Falcons are another like thorn in my side. What which Falcons teams do we we fill up?

You know, they hate Dezen River for one second and then they love him. So the Falcons are a whole nother. This is a big game against Washington, right?

So you're it feels like three and two and four and two is a drastic change. So the commanders come in here on Sunday. But, you know, down here in Atlanta, we are college football. Of course, Bulldogs. And so we're different things that this show today is going to sting for sure.

I didn't even sleep. I know that sounds silly, but we do this for a living. But more importantly, I'm not I'm not one of those needy people that acts like I'm not biased. I'm 100 percent biased. And I love the Braves.

I was a sideline reporter for six years with them. This is like a lot. This is like family. So it stings a lot. Oh, gosh. And I was just saying to to the audience earlier that it's worse with baseball because of the time that you invest.

Yeah. And then it comes to such an abrupt end. But you played one hundred and sixty two freaking games, not to mention spring training. It's months and months and months. And then boom, right into a brick wall. Yeah, that's exactly right.

One sixty two. And then this it's it's painful. And by the way, let's put it in perspective as to what's going on in the world. I mean, it is it's sports and it's for fun. So certainly not trying to be dismissive and not sensitive to what's going on. It's still a sport and are upset about sports. You know, that's OK. That's OK. Yeah, I agreed. Sometimes it's hard to think about, like, how do we care this much about sports?

But I know a lot of people need the distraction, need some entertainment, companionship. Yeah, for sure. Yes. Yes.

All right. Before I let you go, your morning show is how old now? Couple of years. Oh, yes. Only about a year and a half or so.

State Shapiro. And, you know, we we we've been together like 20 years ago. We have a cool little show because, Amy, we we have three floating hosts. So it's a lot. The stake is there every day. And we have I'm only there three days a week.

And we have Drew Butler and Rusty Mansell, who's the king of college football down here. So it's a great way to do sports talk. It's real. It really is fun.

It's a lot like how the networks are doing it, you know, with that one share and then rotating. So we have a lot of fun and talk sports. We we will not have fun today.

We're going to be in the morning. Do you still do buy or sell? We do. We do buy or sell today with I think it's chipper. So chipper Jones, which I don't think he's going to be very chipper chipper, but not chipper. I'm not chipper chipper.

Exactly. I swear I'm not laughing at your misery, by the way. So I know I know.

And listen, like I said, let's put things in perspective. I am thrilled for you. A little birdie told me you're getting married. Oh, I am.

Two months on an NFL Sunday. I don't know how that happened, but it just did. He must be the luckiest in the land and thrilled for you. And you're just such a terrific friend in what you do. You you have the hardest job in all sports and you rock. You do it by yourself there. And you're just terrific. So I aim to I aim to be you one day when I grow up. Oh, girl, come on. Come hang out any time.

All right. So find Sandra on Twitter at sports, Sandra. And as she mentioned, it's going to be a tough morning in Atlanta on ninety to nine the game. But you can clearly hear the energy that she will bring to help beat back those who are overreacting as depressing as it is. I mean, it keeps us in business. You know that, right? It's so true. It's a freak out.

It's a freak out Friday for sure. Oh, I like that. I wish I could be part of it. All right. We'll talk soon. Thanks so much for a couple of minutes. Thanks, Amy.

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