House That Hank Built
Fansided

Assessing the Atlanta Braves as pitchers and catchers report

By Alan Carpenter

An Atlanta Braves jacket, flowers, and mementos are left at a makeshift memorial in front of the Henry Aaron statue at American Family Field Saturday.Aaron Statue 06327 (No photo credit reported)
An Atlanta Braves jacket, flowers, and mementos are left at a makeshift memorial in front of the Henry Aaron statue at American Family Field Saturday.Aaron Statue 06327 (No photo credit reported) /
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Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) celebrates after hitting a two run home run. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

The greatness that was Freddie Freeman

(Q2) Freddie Freeman went from early COVID case to MVP.  How much fun was it watching him play last year?

(A2) There are players who you count ahead to find as the lineup rolls through.  It used to be “okay, 2 more batters until Chipper’s up”.  Now Freeman is that kind of hitter.

I am convinced that the best hitters rise to challenges.  They simply play better and raise the games of all around them when times call for it.  Hank Aaron was a master of getting runners home when in scoring position.  Chipper Jones had that quality.  So does Freddie Freeman.

Every team needs that “dude” – a player that is the unambiguous leader in the lineup.  The player whose name pitchers circle on the lineup card.  The batter that opposing managers will bring the game to a halt for while carefully considering which reliever to bring in in an effort to save the game.

Yeah – in 2020, Freddie Freeman was that dude… completing the process of rising to that level over the past 4-5 seasons.  And yet he was just a part of the best Atlanta Braves offense in at least a couple of decades.

What we ultimately saw emerge in August, though, was a fully healthy Freeman and what he could finally do without a nagging wrist or impinged elbow.  He was really good before that.  In 2020, he was great.

Having Acuna, Albies, Freeman, and Ozuna together as the top four?  That was excellent.  And they’re back together again to try a full 2021 campaign.  These are must-see ABs.

Braves add new arms

(Q3) The Braves brought in some rotation help in Charlie Morton and Drew Smyly.  What do you think those guys will bring to the table?

(A3) In short, it’s innings.  It may not be 400 innings total, but it should be at least 300, and that’s clearly what this rotation needs.

The offense should support itself well enough, but the Braves were literally cobbling together a rotation last Fall – especially after Mike Soroka went down.

I also expect the “veteran leadership thing” to be in full vogue with them around:  the kids (Fried, Anderson, Wright, etc.) had the pressure of needing to perform well with every single outing.  Hopefully, Morton and Smyly will blunt that pressure – or at least deflect it.

By the time August and September roll around, we certainly hope that Atlanta will be in a playoff position again.  So by October, the Braves could have an available rotation of Soroka, Fried, Anderson, Morton, and Smyly (in some order), which would keep them relevant in every single post-season contest.

Could that be better?  Maybe.  But maybe it doesn’t have to be, either.

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