Fansided

Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Rams provide blueprint to win

By Kevin Henry |
Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Von Miller (40) raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl 56 between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. The Rams came back in the final minutes of the game to win 23-20 on their home field.Super Bowl 56 Cincinnati Bengals Vs La Rams
Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Von Miller (40) raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl 56 between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. The Rams came back in the final minutes of the game to win 23-20 on their home field.Super Bowl 56 Cincinnati Bengals Vs La Rams

After watching the Los Angeles Rams come back in the final two minutes of the game to capture Super Bowl LVI, all of the moves made by the Rams during the season to “win now” paid off. It was very similar to an aggressive blueprint followed by the Atlanta Braves as the franchise captured the 2021 World Series. Looking back, what the Rams and Braves both did should provide a blueprint for all MLB teams if they really are looking to become champions.

The Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Rams are showing the sports world that being in “win now” mode works

During this past NFL season, the Rams made bold moves that cost the team plenty of first-round picks in the years ahead, but gave Los Angeles the pieces the franchise needed to win … and win now. Those pieces included trading for linebacker Von Miller and quarterback Matthew Stafford, plus signing wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to a contract after he cleared waivers.

The moves may well cost the Rams in the years ahead, but provided one glorious run that resulted in a Super Bowl win.

Los Angeles making aggressive moves during the season brought back memories of how the Atlanta Braves completely rebuilt their outfield and batting order before the 2021 trade deadline, acquiring Joc Pederson, Jorge Soler, Adam Duvall, and Eddie Rosario to transform the team. Rather than sit by after losing Ronald Acuña Jr. to a season-ending knee injury, the Braves decided to be aggressive and “go for it.” The moves were indeed aggressive and paid off with Atlanta’s first World Series title since 1995.

In an era where tanking and looking to build through the draft for the future seem to be in vogue for many MLB teams, maybe what the Braves and Rams have done over the last four months will provide enough incentive for teams to push all their chips to the middle of the table in an effort to bring home a World Series trophy rather than shrugging and saying, “Just wait ’til next year.”

Next. Why the Braves should bring Joc Pederson back. dark

Did the Rams and Braves take chances? You bet. Could those chances have not worked out? Absolutely. But both teams will live in history as winners … and isn’t that chance at immortality one worth taking? It seems like any MLB fanbase would trade potential future glory for a celebration in the present. Ask Rams and Braves fans if you don’t believe that.

Home / Atlanta Braves