The Atlanta Braves clinched the National League East title Saturday, with a 5-3 win over the Phillies! Trust me, back in April, nobody saw this coming, especially me. How’d they do it?
Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ender Inciarte (Quad-City Times)
- They stayed healthy. Except for relatively minor injuries to Tyler Flowers, Johan Carmago and Ronald Acuna Jr, the daily starting lineup was usually intact. During the past few years, that was not the case. With the exception of Matt Adams’ stellar performance during Freddie Freeman’s absence in 2017, the Braves back-ups of nightmare seasons past provided little or no help. In 2018, Charlie Culberson stepped in wherever needed, and the team never missed a beat. Closer Arodys Vizcaino was missed for several weeks, but A.J. Minter was a solid fill-in.
- They played up to their potential. This is the secret recipe to a winning team. Almost every major league roster has a basic core of players who are –capable- of having a great year.From 2014-17, most Braves did not do that. Players like Nick Markakis, Mike Foltynewicz, Brandon Phillips, Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and others had All-Star potential, but rarely performed at that level for a full season. This year, several position players and pitchers exceeded everyone’s expectations. I didn’t think that would happen, and that’s why I expected a 4th place finish, and a possible 3rd place finish would have been a step in the right direction. After all, the Mets and Phillies were supposed to be much improved. No one predicted the Nats’ downfall. I even complained at the beginning of the season that the Braves had failed, yet again, to provide Freddie Freeman with any help. I’m glad I was wrong.
- Starting pitchers did their part. Yes, they walked too many people, and there were few starts longer than six innings, but compared to the disasters of 2016-17 (Bartolo Colon, Matt Wisler, Aaron Blair, etc.), this year was pretty solid. Julio Teheran had his ups and downs, as did Sean Newcomb. But Folty, Anibel Sanchez, Kevin Gausman, and several spot-start “kids” with great potential (Max Fried, Touki Toussaint, and Bryse Wilson) more than lived up to the hype.
- Speed. Even if the Braves had fallen apart during the division title drive, fans would have to admit, the 2018 team was fun to watch. A Braves team that has been painfully slow (and painful to watch) for many years turned into the Go-Go Braves. Ozzie Albies alone is often worth the price of admission, just watching him fly around the basepaths. Acuna is another exciting baserunner, and Dansby Swanson stretched several singles into doubles. Freeman and Ender Inciarte go from first to third about as well as anyone. Culberson and Lane Adams also added a few bursts of speed.
- Improved defense. I admit, I was president of the “Find a Real Shortstop” club at the end of 2017. I didn’t think Swanson had it in him. His performance at the plate was average at best, but his glove work was worse. Again, I’m glad I was wrong. He played some mighty fine defense this year. Camargo was also impressive at third base. The outfield seems revitalized with Acuna in left. Inciarte is always outstanding in centerfield, and somehow Markakis covered more ground in right field, and made better throws than during his previous three years in a Braves uniform.
Now, on the other hand, this is still a work in progress. The bad news is, the experts are not expecting them to go far in postseason. The good news is, those same experts didn’t think the Braves would be playing meaningful games after July. (I’m certainly no expert, but I thought they were right.)
Still, I’m sure Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos has a lengthy shopping list for 2019, and I hope he addresses these issues:
Stolen bases by opposing teams. Braves pitchers can’t hold runners on, and catchers can’t throw them out at second base.
Walks issued by Braves pitchers, especially (but not limited to) the relief corps. As Forrest Gump would say about the bullpen, “You never know what you’re gonna get.”
The bench. Culberson has been awesome (again, no one saw that coming), but there were long dry spells among the reserves. Lucas Duda has been a welcome addition, but he provides little defensive versatility.
Management must decide whether to re-sign Nick Markakis, or make other plans. Bring up surefire third-base prospect Austin Riley, and teach Camargo to play right field? Go after a big-ticket free agent stud like Manny Machado or Bryce Harper? Trade for a proven hitting-fielding catcher like J.T.Realmuto?
And what to do about all of those almost-ready starting pitchers who have been lighting up AA and AAA mounds for the past couple of years? The aforementioned Toussaint, Fried and Wilson, plus Kyle Wright, Kolby Allard are either MLB-ready, or on the cusp. Anibal Sanchez has been a godsend, ending the Braves previous track record of rolling the dice on a veteran pitcher, with no appreciable results. Do you bring him back? What about the perennially mediocre Teheran? And will Sean Newcomb follow “Folty” in reaching his potential over a full season? Finally, what about Craig Kimbrel? He’s available to anchor the Braves bullpen again, for a price. Even then, someone trustworthy must emerge to hold a game in the later innings to get the ball in a good closer’s hands.
Brian Snitker (Valdosta Daily Times)
So kudos to Brian Snitker, who should win NL Manager of the Year with no debate. A surprise choice to replace Fredi Gonzalez in 2016, he has proven to be a players’ manager, but until now many fans haven’t viewed him as the man who could lead this team to a first-place finish. You can credit any and all non-Snitker factors, but the fact is, he did it. He has earned the chance to do it for a few more years. Clubhouse chemistry is often pooh-poohed by baseball purists. You can pooh-pooh all you like, but the Braves clubhouse and dugout are bright, cheery places. You think they’re saying that in Washington, Philly, and New York? I don’t think so.
One thing is for sure. The fact that we can even discuss these options for 2019 is a major sign of improvement. I can’t see the current leadership allowing this club to deteriorate as, (take your pick), John Schuerholz, Frank Wren, John “Coppy” Coppolella and John Hart (or all of the above) did after 2013.
Chop on Braves fans! No one knows how long this team will last in the playoffs, but for fans who didn’t expect baseball in October, we have something to celebrate!
