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The Atlanta Braves can’t afford to wait on Craig Kimbrel

By Jake Mastroianni

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 8: Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Atlanta Braves prior to the game against the Washington Nationals at Turner Field on August 8, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin Liles/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 8: Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Atlanta Braves prior to the game against the Washington Nationals at Turner Field on August 8, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin Liles/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – MAY 4: The Atlanta Braves bullpen celebrates a two-run home run by Eric Hinske in the top of the 11th inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 4, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. They proved to be the winning runs as the Braves defeated the Rockies 9-8 in 11 innings. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – MAY 4: The Atlanta Braves bullpen celebrates a two-run home run by Eric Hinske in the top of the 11th inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 4, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. They proved to be the winning runs as the Braves defeated the Rockies 9-8 in 11 innings. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

After another blown lead, the Atlanta Braves can’t continue to ignore an obvious need in their bullpen this season.

The Atlanta Braves have now lost 11 games in which they led at some point. All of that can’t be put on the bullpen, but that’s still a frustrating fact.

Even if we find a way to win five of those games, which is how many losses the bullpen has, we’re 17-9 and sitting atop the NL East.

Our offense is good enough to win, our starting pitching is good enough to win, but a lot of that is being undone because of the bullpen.

The fans know, the league knows, and even the front office knows, but nothing has been done to fix it … yet.

Alex Anthopoulos made a small move Saturday night to acquire veteran left-hander Jerry Blevins.

That’s not an exciting move, and one that won’t save the bullpen, but it’s at least something. You can’t expect much this early in the season when teams are not willing to move key pieces yet.

But there is one move that you don’t have to rely on other teams for, and that is signing free agent Craig Kimbrel.

That is a move the front office can control, and something they can go do right now to improve the bullpen.

And as we’ve mentioned in other articles on here, Kimbrel isn’t the only move that is needed. The Atlanta Braves need two or three guys to try and save this bullpen.

light. Related Story. 3 trade options for Braves bullpen

But Kimbrel is a free agent, and one they can’t afford to wait on any longer.

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