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Atlanta Braves Analysis: Q&A with GiraffeNeckMarc

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1973 All-Stars: Outfielder Willie Mays #24 of the New York Mets talks with first baseman Hank Aaron #44 of the Atlanta Braves. (Photo by: John Vawter Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
1973 All-Stars: Outfielder Willie Mays #24 of the New York Mets talks with first baseman Hank Aaron #44 of the Atlanta Braves. (Photo by: John Vawter Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /
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When will we see Truist Park even this full again for an Atlanta Braves game? (Photo by Logan Riely/Beam Imagination/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) /

MLB Restart: Who’s got the upper hand with this?

Question: Will there be any advantages or disadvantages toward certain teams with this new setup?

Marc: So I think if you did this setup you would definitely have to go all DH. I don’t think you can have the pitcher hit because if you’re gonna mix the two together, you put the American League teams at such a disadvantage because they put some of their money towards signing DHs or trading for these guys, so that’s just a disadvantage right there.

So give everyone a DH. I think, for the Mets, of course this will be huge, this will be great because you could have [Yoenis] Céspedes be a DH. You could have Dom Smith. You give a lot of guys a day off. They have a deep bench this year so a DH would be super beneficial to them.

But the way that I am seeing the divisions right now… the Braves are in a weird one because they’re in the Central, but I think besides them, the Indians, and the Reds, I believe they would be the only team in the Eastern Time Zone. Everyone else would be at least an hour behind.

This would be a little weird… an hour’s not anything crazy, so that’s not the biggest thing. But I think the travel for the Braves seems like it would also be a big thing just because there is nowhere that is relatively close to them [in the Central division].

Everywhere is a good bit of travel so that’s gonna be tough for them. Honestly, out of all of the teams, I think that the Braves have the biggest disadvantage just based on travel alone.

Question: If the season were to start right now, how do you see the Braves performing?

Marc: I think the Braves are in a really good spot. I still think they’re the best team in the NL East. Even though the Nationals won the World Series last year, I still thought the Braves were the best team.

I really like what they did at the end of the season with the deadline picking up [Mark] Melancon, Shane Greene, Chris Martin coming back too… those are three legitimate bullpen arms that are gonna be a huge addition.

I really like the pickup of Cole Hamels, I think that’s just another consistent arm… people were going crazy about the price tag but it’s one year. He is a good starter. His numbers in Chicago went back to normal after pitching in Texas and not looking great. I think he is definitely more of a National League pitcher.

And, I think Marcell Ozuna is a really good pickup because they have guys that can play third base that can put out pretty good offensive numbers with Johan Camargo and I think Austin Riley is gonna have a nice little season.

So, you strengthen your outfield for the one year because, obviously, you have Pache and Waters coming up, so [those guys] are the future. You have Ozuna to be that stop-gap, and now you can get Austin Riley back onto third base which is really more of his position.

The Braves scare me, man. They’re so scary.

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