3 Atlanta Braves players that fans are already losing patience with
We know the expectations for the Atlanta Braves are high. In the eyes of many, it is World Series or bust. Here are a few players Braves fans are already not trusting.
For the Atlanta Braves, the mindset for the 2024 is abundantly clear: World Series or bust. After a championship followed by two consecutive NLDS exits, Braves fans are becoming extra crticial when players do not perform.
Even though we are just 35 games into the 162 game marathon of a season, there are a few players that Braves fans are starting to lose their patience with. We have put together a short list of three players that could be feeling a little extra pressure from their fans.
It's early, but fans want more from these players
1. Bryce Elder
In 2023, Bryce Elder had a tale of two seasons. He went from leading the National League in ERA and making an All-Star Game appearance to losing his spot in the Atlanta starting rotation. Entering 2024, Elder was in Triple-A and then quickly regained a starting role at the big league level.
It is safe to say that Braves fans are a little extra critical of Elder because of his second half struggles a seaosn ago. So far in 2024, he is 1-1 with a 4.79 ERA across 4 starts and 20.2 innings pitched. He could be much worse but he is not the all-star hurler he was during the first half last season. Really the impatience with Elder comes from the realization he is pitching innings that Braves fans wish were going to a healthy Spencer Strider. But not all is fair in the world.
2. Matt Olson
Last year, Matt Olson played all 162 games and led the majors in home runs (54) and RBIs (139). Many Braves fans are calling for him to get a few games off already less than 40 games into 2024.
Shockingly, Olson has been hovering around the mendoza line all year and is also lacking power. The big left-handed slugger has only hit 4 home runs so far this season and drove in 10 runs. Braves fans are doing their best to keep patient but patience is wearing thin. However, Olson's batted ball profile does suggest he has been one of the unluckiest hitters in baseball.
3. Ronald Acuña Jr.
This may be the biggest surprise of all. Yes, some Braves fans are losing patience with reigning MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. He is the straw that stirs the drink, and the Braves kind of slow last few weeks on offense can partially be attributed to Ronald's semi-slow start to 2024.
2023 was a historic season for Acuna. He became the first player in MLB history to hit 40+ home runs and steal 70+ bases in a single season. Naturally, fans expected an encore in 2024 and the bar may have been set a little too high.
Through his first 37 games this year, Acuna is hitting .252 with 3 home runs and 14 stolen bases. So the positive is that he is stealing bases when he gets on base. Where fans are losing patience is seeing an uncharacteristically lower batting average and extreme lack of power from Acuna.
The most frustrating part of Ronald Acuna's season so far is that he will show flashes of returning to form one at-bat and then strike out on three pitches in his next trip to the plate. 2024 has oddly been inconsistent from Ronald.
Maybe it is because what he feels is a lack of production, but he is not his silly energetic self. Hopefully in the coming weeks, he will start to produce and loosen up more allowing his teammates to feed off of his energy. We have learned by now that the Braves go as Ronald goes.
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