Four Things the Atlanta Braves Should Focus On in 2017
Even after the obvious improvements in the second half last season, the Atlanta Braves will be expected by most to finish at or near the bottom of the National League East again in 2017. So what should the focus be for a team early in the rebuilding process?
Last season the Braves had a goal not to lose 100 games, and they were able to put up a good fight in the second half to beat that mark, finishing 68-93 and in last place in the N.L. East.
Even as a bottom feeder at 26.5 games back in the division standings, Atlanta had only 19 less wins than the wild card clinching Mets, and was one of the hottest teams in baseball down the stretch.
Sometimes a rebuilding process can be a high pressure situation with the manager and front office on edge, making decisions about player management, trades and draft picks with the weight of the world on their shoulders.
The current mood of the Atlanta Braves rebuild doesn’t seem to project a feeling of desperation or despair. In fact, the situation seems to have front office and field staff feeling rather confident and upbeat.
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So what are some realistic goals for a rebuilding franchise carrying a lot of momentum into the upcoming season?
Just get better
It seems that the most obvious goal of the Atlanta Braves on the field in 2017 is to just get better. As with any team, it’s impossible to make a significant run during any season if the fundamentals aren’t there and the players aren’t functioning as a cohesive team.
Sure, it sounds simple and a bit silly, but it’s not always as easy as it seems. If it were, then more teams would just… get better and win more games.
If there isn’t chemistry between fielders on defense, trust between pitchers and catchers, and players can’t get down a bunt, steal a base, and simply play fundamentally sound baseball, a team doesn’t have a chance. Those are the things the Braves can control, and will make the foundation strong.
There’s no doubt the coaching staff and veteran players on this Atlanta team have the ability to motivate and bring the roster together as one, and the fundamentals need to be a big part of the initial rebuild as it happens on the actual field of play.
Win the inning, the game and the series
For the sake of sanity in a season as long as that of Major League Baseball, a team can’t get caught up in the big picture, but has to focus on the inning-to-inning, day-to-day, and series-to-series accomplishment, and build on the small victories going forward.
Nobody is expecting much for this Atlanta club, so outwardly speaking, anything gained over last season is a win, but this club will expect more of themselves, and should.
When you aren’t yet build back up to a championship contending caliber team, it’s important to win the at-bat, win the inning, then the game, and maybe the series. Small, calculated steps, paying great attention to detail will help the young players build for the future.
Get and share experience
Veteran players like Bartolo Colon, R. A. Dickey, Brandon Phillips, and Matt Kemp might not see the fruit of their labor with the Braves, personally speaking, but will play a major part in the rebuilding process with their experience and leadership.
On the other end of the scale, it was obvious last season that low-pressure call ups for big league game experience will be a key part of the process for Atlanta. Look at how many different pitchers go starts for the Braves in 2016, and how many guys got their first taste of the majors. Dansby Swanson‘s rapid ascension was a prime example.
Without the pressure to win 100 games and make a deep playoff run like so many other clubs around the league will be feeling, the upcoming season will be a time for youngsters to continue the learning process, and veterans to start that natural transition into player-coach.
Not to say the big league club shouldn’t try to win a ton of games and make a playoff appearance, but that can’t be the focus yet. Atlanta needs to be a triple-A plus of sorts, where player development remains a focus.
Work the farm and make the right trades.. or not
More of an intangible effort, at least for the casual Braves fan, will be for the focus to remain heavily on growing and cultivating the talent in the minor league system.
With the success of Atlanta’s farm system teams last season, it’s obvious that real results of the rebuilding process are already evident. Top prospects are panning out, and others are already bearing surprising fruit for the franchise.
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At Rome last season, top pitching talent like Mike Soroka, Kolby Allard, Touki Toussaint, and Max Fried trusted the process and made waves in the second half, helping to bring home the South Atlantic League trophy. Patrick Weigel worked his way all the way from Rome to Mississippi, and was a non-roster invitee this spring for Atlanta.
In double-A, the M Braves made the Southern League finals, and Ozzie Albies took home the batting title, while the Gulf Coast and Gwinnett Braves both made playoff runs.
The momentum and winning attitude in the Braves farm system shouldn’t be ignored as the rebuild moves forward, but should be a continued focus. It’s working, so Atlanta shouldn’t abandon the roots as the tree grows tall and strong.
Braves general manager John Coppolella obviously has the gift of patience and waiting on the right player and time to move when it comes to trades, and it goes without saying that this should and will continue as he looks for pieces to supplement talent that the teams has drafted.
Probably just as important as making the right trade, it seems that Coppy also has the gift of knowing when to do nothing at all, even when the temptation to move is there. Either way, patience is key, not only situationally, but for the overall rebuilding process.
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It’d be nice to see the Braves win a few more games than last year, and as crazy as baseball can be at times, a wild card isn’t ever that far fetched for any team, but there’s still plenty of time to get things right and build a long-lasting foundation to support another run like Braves Country is accustomed to.