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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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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 /

3. Atlanta’s Core Takes Their Big Step

When I look a this team, I look at it in 3 parts. There are the veterans bridging the gap and playing out their careers, the journeymen taking advantage of playing time situations, and the core.

You can figure out which guys belong to the first two groups but the essential guys make up the core.

I define the core as:

These are the guys I think we’ll be a part of the next great Atlanta Braves team. Or at least most of them. And these guys taking big steps forward can drastically change both the present and the future..

Julio adding more strikeouts and becoming a 5 win pitcher instead of a 3 win pitcher. Dansby adding more power and possibly becoming a 4 win SS.  Folty turning into that ace he shows flashes of being. Freddie and Ender can’t reasonably be expected to improve on what they’ve done but they certainly could maintain their level.

At some point in this rebuild, Atlanta is going to need stars. Freeman is one and anyone of those core guys could eventually join him as a 5 or 6 WAR player. And if that happens in 2017, the win total is going up and contention absolutely becomes realistic goal.

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