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The Top 5 Ways the Atlanta Braves Contend in 2017

By Stephen Tolbert

Sep 9, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson (2) celebrates a run with first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) off of a RBI single by third baseman Adonis Garcia (not pictured) in the fifth inning of their game against the New York Mets at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson (2) celebrates a run with first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) off of a RBI single by third baseman Adonis Garcia (not pictured) in the fifth inning of their game against the New York Mets at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 5, 2017; New York City, NY, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Matt Kemp (27) celebrates with Atlanta Braves right fielder Nick Markakis (22) and Atlanta Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte (11) after defeating the New York Mets in twelve innings at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2017; New York City, NY, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Matt Kemp (27) celebrates with Atlanta Braves right fielder Nick Markakis (22) and Atlanta Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte (11) after defeating the New York Mets in twelve innings at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

4. The Veterans are Collectively Better

The flip side of number 5 is that the older players the Braves brought in to bridge the gap to the future simply preform better than expected collectively. Matt Kemp, Nick Markakis, Adonis Garcia, Brandon Phillips, and Tyler Flowers are expected to be worth about 5 wins combined.

If instead those 5 guys are worth something closer to 8 or 9 wins combined, it changes the equation. And that reality does’t require any of one of those guys to play out of their minds in 2017. If each guy simply improves upon is projection by 0.5 wins, it can happen.

Same goes with the pitchers. Bartolo Colon, Jaime Garcia, and R. A. Dickey are projected to be worth about 5 wins.  Would it really be a shock to the world if those 3 guys end up closer to 7 wins? All 3 have a track record of getting major league hitters out and if they can stay healthy, it’s definitely plausible.

Players out preforming their projections by 0.5 wins doesn’t require some great leap in performance and it’s possible Atlanta could have some hidden wins in their more seasoned players.

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