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Atlanta Braves Spring Chop: Don’t Mess With Nick

By Alan Carpenter

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL - FEBRUARY 22: Nick Markakis #22 of the Atlanta Braves poses for a photo during photo days at Champion Stadium on February 22, 2018 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL - FEBRUARY 22: Nick Markakis #22 of the Atlanta Braves poses for a photo during photo days at Champion Stadium on February 22, 2018 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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A lot of Braves’ twitter users that seem to have it out for manager Brian Snitker.  If you’re one of these, then you’d better not mention that in front of Nick Markakis.

I recall a time in the 1990’s in which the Atlanta Braves players surveyed themselves as to what they thought their peers would be doing in life if not for baseball.  Now – 2 decades later – I only remember one of the results reported:  John Smoltz… Proctologist.

I have a suggestion for Nick Markakis:  hired assassin.

He kind of looks the part.  Often expressionless… other than the beard, not a lot memorable about his features.  That’s perfect for a secret operative — blending in… not being noticeable.  He would probably make a good poker player, too.

We already were aware that the Braves’ players seemed to like Brian Snitker as manager.  We may have underestimated the degree that this was so.

We know that Freddie Freeman acted as at least one spokesman to make sure he stayed on the bench – even as a lot of other things were being shaken up around him.

Until today, we hadn’t heard about Markakis’ input, though.

Witness this as recorded by Dave O’Brien (subscription required):

"…perhaps nothing better exemplifies Nick Markakis and what he stands for than the veteran right fielder’s reaction upon hearing what Hart said to Snitker [after a particularly egregious Jim Johnson meltdown game in August], who appeared almost ashen and uncharacteristically sullen minutes later when reporters entered the office, and really was never quite himself again the rest of the season.Markakis made it known, had the message sent up the chain, that if Hart ever treated the manager that way again that Markakis would, in so many words, kick his ass."

So if Hollywood wants to continue the ‘Taken’ series without Liam Neeson, then perhaps Nick might be your guy.  If you’re his buddy… he will definitely have your back.

So Nick Markakis is the guy that simply goes out and does his job – faithfully, properly, consistently, and generally without comment.  Well, now we know that under the surface, there’s an attitude and a fire.

Nick Markakis knows this is his last Braves’ season.  Whether it’s his last season, period (he will be 35 in 2019), is all together another question.  He has been declining in production:  from 2015’s 2.5 to 1.5 to 1.1 and to 0.9 fWAR in 2017.  That’s predominantly a measure of a power outage since (a) he hit 30 years old and (b) he neck was operated on.

How much that is the result of the injury or the age is unknown.  What is known is that he doesn’t want to finish as part of another losing Braves squad.

Again, quoting O’Brien:

"“He’s on a mission, I can see it,” Braves hitting coach Kevin Seitzer said. “He’s on a freakin’ mission. He wants to get 200 hits. And the way I see him swinging, just the adjustments that he’s made this winter – his swing looks as good as I’ve ever seen it since I’ve been with him, right now. Which, this early in spring training, is amazing. And he could be 0-for right now and I’d say the same thing.”"

Markakis is telling people that that he wants to win.  He wants to win for Freeman, for Snitker, and for everybody else.  He’s not saying that he wants it for himself, but that’s because Nick Markakis is the ultimate team guy.

I am among those that was recommending that the Braves trade Markakis to make room for others – Acuna, perhaps a trade acquisition.  It doesn’t look like that’s going to happen… at least not yet.

But I didn’t want him dealt because I simply wanted him gone – it was instead because I actually thought (a) he’d offer some value to another club, and (b) because I just knew trading Matt Kemp was going to be nigh impossible.

Never mind.

So he’s still here… and so is Snitker, and Freeman, and… a lot of ‘kids’.

Maybe Markakis can show them about properly channeling that attitude into clutch hits, throws, and plays.  If so, he could turn into the assassin of the East.

Baseball Information Access Problems

I’m just gonna throw out a plea:  can y’all throw us a bone here?

It’s about subscriptions and baseball “insider” information and those who need them to maintain the services they provide.  We – especially in the blogging world – really like the information doled out by the professionals in this industry, but the costs are getting nutty.

Let’s just list a few:

So that’s kind of a lot… $437.70 for everything to be precise.

More from Tomahawk Take

That doesn’t even count MLB.tv ($115.99 annually) or their single team rate or $89.99 per year.  Or something like an XM Radio subscription (minimum $119.88 per year for the Sports package).

I have to wonder if perhaps all of these web-content providers shouldn’t get together and maybe come up with a Baseball Box Seats Pass (or … name it whatever you like).

Under my idea, $12 per month ($144 annually) would get you access to all of the above (sans the MLB streaming).  I would have to think that such a price would pull in a lot more subscribers than these sites are enjoying today… much more offsetting the 67% price reduction.  That would include a lot more fans too – not just bloggers.

Next: 1st Roster Adjustments

It’s just an idea to throw out there… hopefully somebody from those organizations are reading our free (ad-supported) blog to see the thought.

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