House That Hank Built
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The top 10 moments of the Atlanta Braves 2018 season

By John Le

<> at SunTrust Park on September 22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia.
<> at SunTrust Park on September 22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. /
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ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 31: Atlanta Braves mascot Blooper celebrates after the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at SunTrust Park on March 31, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 31: Atlanta Braves mascot Blooper celebrates after the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at SunTrust Park on March 31, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

10. A Year Of Accolades

Many thought that 2018 would be another rebuilding year for the Braves where no one expected them to be the NL East champions at the end of the season, let alone get much awards and accolades. Maybe a couple All-Stars, a gold glove for Ender Inciarte and if he stays consistent than possibly a Rookie Of Year award to Ronald Acuña Jr.

However, they took almost everything off the board:  4 All-Stars (Freddie Freeman, Nick Markakis, Mike Foltynewicz and Ozzie Albies as a reserve), ROY for Acuna Jr., 3 Gold Gloves for Freeman, Markakis and Inciarte, a Silver Slugger Award for Markakis, Wilson Defensive POY at 1B for Freeman. *Whew*

To add to that, manager Brian Snitker was recently announced as the NL Manager Of The Year.

It was the first Gold Glove award for Freeman who seems to finally be getting the recognition he deserves defensively and offensively, with talks early in the season that he could be the NL MVP.

It’s the 3rd career GG for Inciarte, getting all of them with Atlanta and also 3rd time for Markakis but his 1st with this club.

Though some didn’t agree with this recognition, Markakis added to his strong 2018 with a silver slugger award. No complaints here.

I list this as #10 even though it isn’t really an event but rather a collection of moments throughout the season:  each person doing their best to earn those awards.

While those players getting the All-Star selections played some of the most inspired baseball Braves Country has seen in the last few years, the same goes for the GG’s and Silver Slugger Awards. Albies took the game by storm in the 1st half of the season and he was followed by Acuna Jr. who played like an absolute superstar.

Acuna Jr. is the kind of player Braves (and most baseball) fans usually see become the star that they wish they had on their team.

It’s still early but if 2018 was a tease of what’s to come, he could become a player LIKE Mike Trout, Miguel Cabrera, Albert Pujols, Bryce Harper, Buster Posey…get where I’m going with this? Some fan wishing there but many predicts so.

9. Batting Party At SunTrust

MARCH 31, 2018: This was one of the super fun games the Braves played where there wasn’t any seat clenching or heart stressing. Instead, they had an absolute hitting fest against Phillies’ Vince Velasquez and others out the bullpen.

A total of 19 hits for a 15-2 blow out win! Every starter in the lineup had at least one hit.

The game also set team records for hits and runs on the season, and tied on margin of victory with a 14-1 game against the Padres on June 5th.

Itcontributed to the Braves owning the division this season and winning the NL East, especially given that this entire initial series set the tone for contest against a 2nd place team that hung closely by for most of the season.

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