Atlanta Braves Season Could Be Different If Freeman and Kemp Stayed Healthy

Injuries to two of the Braves stars affected the season

Okay, so the headline of this article seems pretty obvious, right?  But if you think back to how well the Atlanta Braves were playing when their star was on the DL, is it that perceptible?

A season for a sports team can take so many twists and turns, it is almost impossible to say at the beginning of the year exactly what the season is going to look like.

Teams could go into spring training with the highest rated chances of making and winning the World Series and then that one little thing comes along, derailing any chance of winning the World Series and causes the outlook to be for the following year.

By no means were our Atlanta Braves picked to win the World Series, or even make it to the playoffs entering 2017, they were at least still two to three years out from being the powerhouse franchise once again.

But, after a promising start, it appeared as if the Braves could at least make a push for one of the wild cards spots.  Next thing you know, the Braves are sitting eight games under .500, losers of seven in the past 10 games ultimately eliminating them from playoff talk.

Actually, as we sit on August 5th, the Braves currently hold the 8th worst record in the MLB.  Should we tank in August and September and reap the benefits of one more high draft pick?

Could the Braves not even be in this position?

Yes, there needs to be all around team play that wins games, however, the injury bug has bitten the Braves this year to two of their big players – Freddie Freeman and Matt Kemp.

Are you freaking kidding me, Aaron Loup?!  Forever your name will be remembered.  Freeman was off to an MVP season and Loup destroyed those thoughts.

In the first half of the season, Freeman hit 14 homers with 46 hits in 135 at-bats.  Our first baseman was crushing and sailing away from everyone.

Freddie Freeman spent seven weeks on the disabled list with a broken wrist.  While he was out, Matt Adams — who the Braves acquired because of the injury — did a remarkable job filling in at first base.

The Braves traded Juan Yepez to the Cardinals for Adams — and the Cards sent us cash.  HA!  Score another one for John Coppolella.

But even with Adams success, you can’t take away what Freeman would have brought.

When Freddie Free is in the lineup in 2017, his WAR is 3.3, and he has a 25.4 WAR for his career, this immediately shows the Braves would have more wins.  Adding that with just him being in the lineup the Braves consistently win more.think if he is in the lineup at third base as he was when he came off the DL and you have a guy at first base in Adams who is hitting .281 on the year with 16 home runs and 49 RBI’s, you immediately have production from both sides of the diamond.

More from Braves News

• Atlanta Braves 2012 Prospect Review: Joey Terdoslavich
• Braves News: Braves sign Fuentes, Andruw’s HOF candidacy, more
• The Weakest Braves Homers Since 2015
• Atlanta Braves Sign Joshua Fuentes to Minor League Deal
• Braves News: New Year’s Eve comes with several questions about the 2023 Braves

Think if he is in the lineup at third base as he was when he came off the DL and you have a guy at first base in Adams who is hitting .281 on the year with 16 home runs and 49 RBI’s, you immediately have production from both sides of the diamond.

Kemp on the other hand has had two DL stints — and he’s currently on one right now.  Those damn old hamstrings have been hurting Kemp’s season.

The veteran outfielder’s first DL stint for a right hamstring injury lasted for twelve games, seeing the Braves go 5-7 in that stretch.  Now Kemp is back on the DL with a sore right hamstring, again, and the Braves have only won two games in his absence.

Sure if Kemp’s playing right now with those hammies, he’s not winning many games for us.  But a healthy Kemp is a different story.

Having the 32-year-old in the lineup has produced more power for the Braves this year as when he has been healthy, he has hit .290, with 14 home runs and 48 RBI’s with a slugging percentage of .477.  Plus, not only is Freeman’s WAR significant, Kemp posts a career 21.2 WAR when he is in the lineup and hot.

Kemp’s addition to the Braves lineup makes it so much deeper.

Next: Atlanta Braves: Knockahoma Nation Episode 18

So, Freeman missing seven weeks and Kemp having spent at least two 10 day DL stints, if the injury bug does not hit two essential players to the Braves lineup, could the Braves be in the postseason hunt?