Atlanta Braves and 2018… is this really looking like 2017 again?

With this stagnant off-season continuing, there’s this generally nauseating feeling that the Braves haven’t improved themselves since last year.    Is this so?

72-90.  That was the record of the Atlanta Braves in 2017.  But since the end of last season, this is how the team has changed:

• Matt Adams – gone
• Matt Kemp – gone
• Adonis Garcia – gone
• R.A. Dickey – gone
• Jason Motte – gone
• Jim Johnson – gone
• Jace Peterson – gone
• Brandon Phillips, Bartolo Colon, Jaime Garcia – gone early
• Danny Santana – gone… but back in a minor league role
• Adrian Gonzalez – was never really here
• Scott Kazmir – acquired via trade
• Brandon McCarthy – acquired via trade
• Preston Tucker – acquired via trade
• several minor league signing, claims and trades – most for bullpen looks

So if you’re looking for an impact deal… there really isn’t one.  Meanwhile, at least 54 homers left the building and the entire team only hit 165 in 2017 to begin with.

Where’s the upside?

There’s a few things:

• Dansby Swanson.  Hopefully he can’t be any worse… any that’s on both sides of the ball.  That sounds particularly back-handed to say, but he will come in 2018 without the burden of Rookie of the Year expectations and with a full year of knowing exactly what to expect.  That and a couple of hitting adjustments could get him back on track.

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• Ozzie Albies.  Of those wanting the season to continue in 2017, he’s probably at the top of the list.  He was on fire, and now thinks he can scald the National League this season.  Go for it!
• Johan Camargo or (insert PTRNL here),  I want to see what Camargo can do full time.  We may not find out due to a trade or signing, but a full year of hit bat could be interesting.
• The Matts are gone.  The braves might not score as often, but defensively, they should shorten some innings, and that’s just as good.
• Young Guns.  Who’s going to step up into the rotation?  With a year of experience behind them, Folty/Newcomb/Gohara/Somebody should do markedly better.  Can’t wait to find out.
• The division should guarantee a lot of wins by itself.  Hey, that’s how the Braves lost 90 and still finished third in 2017.  We’ll take those too.
• More-or-less favorable schedule to start.  Open vs. the Phillies after a long ‘homestand’ to end Spring training.  After that is a big road trip:  Rockies/Nationals/Cubs.  That won’t be easy, but then they come home to get the Phillies (again) and the Mets before going to Cincinnati and… yep:  Philadelphia.  That takes us to the end of April.
• Ronald Acuna.   I don’t care when he arrives.  Enough said.

Yes – there will be weak areas.  Yes, the lack of obvious hitting power will be evident.  There will be more growing pains.  But there is truly upside to consider over last season.

Next: A chance to exploit that LA connection again?

Are we looking at a wild card contender?  That’s a reach.  But better than 72-90?  Right now, that could be bested by at least a few games.