Braves Country has become so privileged that a trip to the West Coast that resulted in a 1-5 record, including a sweep by the Dodgers, is disastrous.
Granted, no one has relished watching Atlanta play baseball in recent weeks, particularly the lifeless lineup, but there should not be so widespread worry when the calendar has only turned to May. This is a six-month marathon in which clubs must never go too high or low; even keel is the goal.
Having said that, the Braves’ offense hasn’t been outstanding. That will be the case for any team with three greatest hitters who are underperforming expectations, such as Ronald Acuna Jr., Matt Olson, and Austin Riley.
However, the pitching has mostly been excellent, keeping the club afloat, if you can call a 21-12 team afloat, which is my entire argument. It’s really bizarre that Braves supporters are acting as if the sky is falling.
So, it’s refreshing to see a national publication like ESPN knock some sense into ignorant Atlanta supporters through a stock watch of expectations so far:
Expected: To be one of baseball’s two best teams.
So far: The Braves are probably one of baseball’s two best teams.
The Braves and Dodgers entered their showdown last weekend positioned as expected. Of the numerous injuries we’ve seen so far, Atlanta losing Spencer Strider for the season is perhaps the biggest gut punch of them all. Yet the Braves have chugged along with plenty of momentum so far with offseason acquisitions Reynaldo Lopez and Chris Sale coming up big for the rotation. As with L.A., there are reasons to believe we haven’t seen Atlanta’s best, as Ronald Acuna Jr., Matt Olson and Austin Riley have all fallen well short of projection. That is not likely to last for any of them.
The Braves were 22-10 after 32 games last year, while they are 20-12 this season. If you’re concerned about Jarred Kelenic or Orlando Arcia, I understand. They’re wild cards, but if you’re concerned about the team’s top three, I can’t help you.
Ronald Acuna Jr., Matt Olson, and Austin Riley’s respective track records should be enough to elicit a little more patience from Braves supporters than 30-something games of struggles; again, if a 21-12 record is considered struggling.
