Atlanta Braves: Have they now arrived?
By Jason Evans
The Atlanta Braves are in first place in the National League East this late in the season for the first time since 2014. Are they for real?
I have a good friend whom I work with who is from Georgia and a huge Atlanta Braves fan. He has consistently said to me “Hey, we’re close. We’re going to be right there in the NL East.” I’d laugh it off, thinking 2019 would be the year.
You know what? I may have been wrong, and with the way the Atlanta Braves have played, it may be a huge disappointment if they don’t make the postseason this year.
The Atlanta Braves share similar characteristics to how some of the best teams over the past few seasons have been built — young, athletic, stud position players. Freddie Freeman may be the “old man” of the group but he’s still 28 and right in his prime, even though it’s felt like he’s been around forever. Ender Inciarte is just 27. The main guys are Ozzie Albies who’s just 21, Dansby Swanson who’s 24 and uber-prospect Ronald Acuna Jr who’s just 20 who’s already hit a couple of 450-foot bombs.
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It’s not just the Atlanta Braves offense. The pitching is there too. Sean Newcomb and Mike Foltynewicz are taking the next steps in their development. If healthy Brandon McCarthy is healthy and been solid and this is with staff ace Julio Teheran off to a so-so start.
They called up one of their many top pitching prospects in Mike Soroka, who won his major league debut early in the week. Their bullpen has been solid with Shane Carle, Dan Winkler, A.J. Minter and Arodys Vizcaino all 28 years and under.
There are questions though. Third base is one, so much so that Jose Bautista was signed and is AAA right now to possibly be an option there. Could top prospect Austin Riley, who’s off to a hot start in AA be an answer should that continue?
Can the young kids continue this throughout the season, some of which who have never played a full season in the majors. The Atlanta Braves have a stocked farm system, so they can trade for whatever they need, or use prospects who are the 40 man like Max Fried and Luiz Gohara as extra starters or relievers.
Alex Anthopoulos has never shied away from trading prospects to help a contending ball club. While the GM of the Toronto Blue Jays, he added David Price and Troy Tulowitzki at the trade deadline and it almost got them to a World Series.
The Atlanta Braves may be for real, and it could be an October where the Atlanta Falcons may have to take a back seat for the first time in a long time.