Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: On a Mission?
This 2017 version of the Atlanta Braves are still a team in transition and thus are being overlooked by a whole host of people. They’re okay with that.
It’s also not changing their approach. In fact, there’s a chance that some ‘attitude’ might be at work at the Atlanta Braves take the field for their first spring contests at the end of the week.
Even Las Vegas is ignoring the Braves… which they could probably be forgiven for, given back-to-back seasons with 68 and 67 wins. In both of those years, the “under” would have won, as the over-under wins were around 73-74 each year.
So for 2017, the expectation numbers have actually been lowered further:
- World Series odds: 125:1 (7th worst)
- World Series omnibus list: from 80:1 to 150:1
- 2017 wins: 71.5
- USA Today Wins: 70
Somehow, I don’t think those numbers are impacting how this team is going about its business of getting ready for the season:
These aren’t players doing extra work to try and impress the coaches for a chance to make the team. These are the offensive leaders of the club.
Nobody was really supposed to notice these things going on … but notice was paid anyway, thanks to a couple of reporters that were paying attention (it wasn’t just these two, either).
But when the clubs stars – the leaders – do this extra work, it becomes infectious around the clubhouse. It gets into the culture. It gets into the attitude.
Around the Diamond
It is clear that scenarios exist that would see some of the stop-gap veterans on this team traded around mid-season. Such moves would have a decent chance of impacting the bottom line win total.
But there’s also a scenario in which Coppy might want to ride these horses to the end. A look around the projected lineup by position could tell you why:
1B – Arguably the best at the position in the NL,
Freddie Freemanis already getting after it, as noted above. It would be hard to repeat his 2016 breakout, but a full season of consistent support might make that happen.
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So there’s definite, projectable upgrades at 2B and SS with lesser upticks at every other position except 3B.
Beyond that, virtually the entire pitching staff should also be better… so all of that suggests a team that’s hitting, scoring, and holding the opposition down enough to win early and often.
Next: Rizzo Better Than Freeman? That's Cute
It seems this club already is believing that, too.