Atlanta Braves vs. the Cubs: series preview

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CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 13: Manager Joe Maddon #70 of the Chicago Cubs talks to players in the dugout during a game against the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field on April 13, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Braves defeated the Cubs 4-0. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Now that the Atlanta Braves have learned all about this new Philly lineup, it’s time for some home cooking… if our fans out-cheer the Cub fans, that is.

This week’s Cubs series matches up 2 teams that both made the playoffs last season, but did so in quite different ways. The Atlanta Braves were the over-achievers, winning the NL East at 90 wins while the Cubs … somehow managed to make a 95-win season look disappointing to their fans.

>> Note: we’ll have some stadium access information on page 2 that might be useful for some of y’all (like me).

Chicago then went on to finish with a wimper. Milwaukee won 8 straight to finish the season – including Game #163 at Chicago – to take the NL Central while the Cubs lost 3 of their last 8 and then lost the NL Wild Card game… also at home.

Compounding things for the fans – you’ll have heard this one before – the Cubs didn’t exactly do much this off-season to improve themselves.

In fact, it’s a bit of a parallel path that Atlanta and Chicago walked:

EARLY: Both teams spend big, short term money.
- Braves get Josh Donaldson
- Cubs pick up option on Cole Hamels
ALLOW AN ASSET TO LEAVE:
- Braves contract on Anibal Sanchez expired
- Cubs traded away Drew Smyly
VETERAN PRESENCE: Both teams sign modest veteran help
- Braves get Brian McCann; Nick Markakis returned
- Cubs get Brad Brach, Daniel Descalso
NOT MUCH ELSE.
- Despite calls from the fans to ‘make a move’, the Chicago Cubs fell back on their desire to keep within luxury tax boundaries and held serve.
- Despite calls from the fans to ‘make a move’, the Atlanta Braves fell back on their desire to maintain some ‘financial flexibility’ for a move toward the trade deadline.

The Cubbies did get Yu Darvish back and it appears he is fully healthy. So with that and the perception that the team generally underachieved in 2018 – despite 95 wins – the public words have mostly been in the direction that this club didn’t need to make many moves to be better this season.

Of perhaps more interest is the drama around manager Joe Maddon and his staff.. or perhaps it’s better to say ‘his new staff’.

"The Cubs are on their third hitting coach and third pitching coach in three seasons after hirings and firings, and they have a new bench coach after the previous two took managerial jobs elsewhere."

Maddon is on the last year of his contract this season and it appears that his own management (starting with Theo Epstein) isn’t enamored with their field general and while they clearly stopped short of firing Maddon, some changes in his approach are evident.

"Epstein also said he wanted Maddon to “coach” more this spring, and to watch Maddon operate, it’s obvious he’s doing just that."

The Cubs began the year on the road, and on the ‘other side of the road’ by visiting the Texas Rangers (the NL Central will match up with the AL West for Inter-league play this season).

The good news here is that the Braves will end up missing much of the Cubs’ starting rotation firepower (though they do have quite a stout rotation.

The better news is that the Braves won’t have to face them in the Chicago icebox this year, either.

Let’s look at the games coming up.

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