Uncustomed Heroes of 2024: Braves

 

In a different blink of an eye, the 2024 Braves might not have even made the playoffs. Which is a wild sentence considering that the Braves have been one of the best teams of the 2020s, and have a World Series title, which they won without many of the players that made the current incarnation truly great. And honestly, it wouldn't have been unheard of for them to take another ring this year, despite being without Ronald Acuna, Spencer Strider and Austin Riley for the stretch run. But ultimately, the magic that unfolded in late 2021 was not to be repeated, and the Braves were bounced from the playoffs almost immediately, thanks to a run-in with the San Diego Padres.

Being without Acuna for the majority of the year is one of the main factors in why this Braves team wasn't  as lethal as before. Not only was Acuna a wash after May, he wasn't exactly playing his best ball during his healthy two months. In 49 games he hit .250 with 4 home runs, 15 RBIs and, thankfully, 16 stolen bases. The idea is that Acuna's incredible 2023 may have overworked him and left him without much for an immediate follow-up. That's not to say he's completely cooked, as he is still Ronald Acuna Jr., but it's another setback for a career that still could be great.

2025 Prediction: Well at the very least he'll hit 30 home runs. I'm just not sure how many games he'll make but he'll make up for lost time.

Speaking of lost time, Spencer Strider, after two absolutely incredible seasons of 200 strikeouts or more, felt the drawback to hurling at an MLB level so consistently. He was rough in his first two starts of 2024, with a 7 ERA in 9 innings, despite 12 strikeouts. Upon examination, Strider needed another Tommy John surgery, and thus was lost for the rest of the year. Ultimately the Braves would be able to string together a rotation, but this happening a week and a half into a season which began with the Braves dealing away excess arms [Kyle Wright, Marco Gonzales, Jackson Kowar, all of whom would be hurt anyway in 2024] was a sign of things to come.

2025 Prediction: Like Acuna, Strider will make up for lost time with another 200 K year, it's just a matter of how many games he's able to get to the mark in.

A year after his first All-Star Game, Sean Murphy found himself struggling with injuries and ultimately playing second fiddle to Travis d'Arnaud. In 72 games, Murphy hit .193 with 25 RBIs and 10 homers, which means it was only his defensive catching abilities that gave him an edge this year. With d'Arnaud gone to Anaheim and no immediate competition at the moment, Murphy needs to reestablish his dominance or else he'll be a high-priced backup for a few years.

2025 Prediction: An improvement over 2024, no doubt, but I don't think he'll reach the heights of 2023.

Like Murphy, Orlando Arcia started an All-Star Game last year, and also like Murphy, Arcia was the victim of diminishing returns, despite a full season of play. Arcia hit .218 this year with 17 home runs and 46 RBIs, with no real fielding perks. After trading away Brayden Shewmake and Vaughn Grissom, the Braves were left with a subpar-hitting infielder. We'll see if they made the right choice, or if Grissom turns into anything in Boston after all.

2025 Prediction: Sees some competition for SS and can't quite stave it off.

Adam Duvall was back in Atlanta for a third stint. If you recall, his first stint was tumultuous but charming, his second was a needed offensive lift for the 2021 postseason, and he was coming off a strong-but-shortened year in Boston. Needless to say, we were back to 2018 levels of futility for Duvall this year, as with Harris and Acuna's injuries he got a lot of playing time, and blew a lot of opportunities. Not only did he only hit .182 this year, despite 11 homers, but he was dreadful in the outfield. The Braves brought a lot of people back to recapture the 2021 vibes, like Eddie Rosario and Jorge Soler, but Duvall couldn't even muster much excitement this season.

2025 Prediction: If anyone signs him, it'll be in a DH type role for a rebuilding team, and he might not make it to September in that case.

The Braves' bullpen was honestly pretty sharp this year, with a lot of strong options having excellent years backing up Raisel Iglesias in the ninth. Joe Jimenez, in his second year since coming over from Detroit, continued his reign as one of the most underrated relief pitchers in the game. In undeniably his best season yet, he had a 2.62 ERA in 69 innings, as well as a 0.990 WHIP and a 1.8 WAR. Jimenez also went scoreless in his sole postseason appearance this year.

2025 Prediction: Same amount of innings, perhaps not quite as consistent but still very reliable. 

Dylan Lee, a former proposed starting prospect for the Braves, had a full season of relief similar to his 2022, only this time he flexed his longer relief skills and proved his worth as a versatile relief pick. In 52 games, Lee had a 2.11 ERA with 76 Ks and a 1.106 WHIP. He was also a suitable mop-up man in his sole postseason appearance, leaving without any earned runs.

2025 Prediction: Will lead the bullpen in wins.

Late in the season, with their own options wearing thin, the Braves relied upon waiver deals and free agent signings to beef up the roster, including three different players who'd been cut throughout the year. Ramon Laureano was cut by the Guardians on their way to an ALCS [in favor of Jhonkensy Noel, mostly], and the Braves, knowing Laureano's CF prowess, jumped at the opportunity. Laureano was a surprise hit in Atlanta, hitting .296 in 67 games with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs. Unfortunately his outfield skills have slid to 'average', meaning the guy they got for his arm was mostly used for his bat.

2025 Prediction: I think his whole thing now is just being a replacement OF type when a big star gets hurt, so...look for him to not pop up til then.

Whit Merrifield was seen as a great pickup for the Phillies, but his year in red pinstripes was a disappointment, and he was cut shortly after the deadline. The Braves, after just losing Riley, jumped at the chance to add the gold-glove talent. In 42 games, Merrifield hit .248 with 34 hits. His defense is alright but not at Royals/Jays levels.

2025 Prediction: Does decently in a backup role somewhere small.

And after the Tigers released him to make room for Trey Sweeney and Jace Jung, Gio Urshela quickly found his way to Atlanta, where he platooned with Merrifield to cover third. Urshela hit .265 in 36 games, with 15 RBIs and 4 homers, plus two starts in the Wild Card series [which were unfortunately non-noteworthy]. This was Urshela's most relevant moment since his year with the Twins, and it may lead to a slightly more active free agency case.

2025 Prediction: You're gonna think I'm crazy but someplace like Pittsburgh would be really good for him. Plays everyday til July, maybe platoons with Triolo or somebody, phased out over time? Somebody like that gives him a chance to be above-replacement-level for a bit.

Coming Tomorrow- Picks from yet another Brewers team that couldn't get past the first rung.

Less Money, Mo Problems

 

Year Four of the Chaim Bloom experience, and we're back to low-budget Sox everybody! Corey Kluber and Reese McGuire are crucial starting options, baby! Go Sox!

Obviously people aren't happy. Bogaerts left, Vazquez left, Eovaldi left, Martinez left, the big new pieces are people like Masataka Yoshida, Justin Turner and Kenley Jansen, and so much money is going towards people like Trevor Story and James Paxton who are hurt and have nothing to contribute. 

But...at least Adam Duvall's hitting a lot of home runs, right! 12 RBIs, that's pretty great for a guy who they took a flier on, right? Bet you guys want more of stories like that and not, y'know, young players coming up and inheriting the team or something.

The shitty part is the Red Sox have TRIED to develop people over the past few years, and have tried bringing people like Michael Chavis, Jeter Downs, Josh Winckowski, Brayan Bello, Triston Casas and Jarren Duran into the fold, and a lot of them just haven't worked out. The Sox have had like 10 prospects in a row that just haven't worked in the majors, and a lot of their current team is made up of great players like Garrett Whitlock, Nick Pivetta, John Schreiber, Zack Kelly and Alex Verdugo, NONE OF WHOM actually came up in the Sox' organization. 

I was walking the backfields of Fenway South in Fort Myers last month, watching some of the Red Sox prospects warming up, taking fungoes and BP, and I genuinely wondered how many of them would actually perform to expectations in Boston. Somebody like Rafael Devers or even Tanner Houck is an anomaly these days, as we get people like Bobby Dalbec and Triston Casas who just can't keep it together at the MLB level. All Boston has to do is look over at the Rays, Orioles and Yankees, who've had exceptional development programs as of late and have ALL been producing great prospects lately. The O's just had Grayson Rodriguez start a nice game against Texas, the Yanks had Jhony Brito throw a gem against the Giants, and the Rays have Taj Bradley waiting on their 40-man for Josh Fleming to screw up again. Who do the Red Sox have? Casas is hitting .130, Yoshida's a 29-year-old rookie, and there's nobody on this team younger than Rafael Devers who's looking to make a huge impact on the team.

For right now, the Sox kinda have to get their kicks with performances like Duvall's, or people like Kenley Jansen or Justin Turner. There's not enough to really think 'long run' right now, and they just need to make sure they're performing well enough as is, with who they've got. The kids'll be there eventually. This probably means the Sox might be a last place team again, but for the amount of rings they've had since 2004, they're due, I think.

Coming Tomorrow- A guy that hit a home run today in a rare moment where his team isn't making me giggle.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2022: Braves

 

It is insanely hard, in this current playoff climate, for there to be repeat World Series winners. The playoffs now last so long that it's impossible for the 'best teams' to hold onto momentum the entire way through. The era of the Yankees or Braves winning every year may be behind us.

That being said, if anybody was gonna go back-to-back, I thought it was gonna be the Braves.

The 2021 team was a feel good come to prominence that no one expected, and it was a season I knew they'd be able to build on. Sure enough, the Braves outdo the Mets in the 11th hour for the division, make smarter decisions, call up killer pieces like Spencer Strider and Michael Harris, and look like a more confident, more pronounced team. 

...and then they got trounced in the playoffs by the Phillies of all people. I sure do know how to call 'em.

The Braves have a lot to be proud of, though, and still probably have the strongest team in the NL East [sorry, Mets]. As much as some pieces are leaving in free agency, the big guns that make this team can't-miss baseball are tied up for most of the decade. 

Adam Duvall, fortunately, is one of the aforementioned free agents. Not that his season was bad, as he did nearly make the All-Star team, and he hit 12 homers, but in a shortened 86-game season he still struck out 101 times and hit .213. Duvall is still very much a one-dimensional power hitter who is good to you when he's surging, and this year he really wasn't surging. Then he got injured, missed the playoffs and spent the rest of his contract at home. As much as he helped the team in 2021, I doubt he'll be missed. 

2023 Prediction: A middle of the road team signs him to a 1-year deal, he does okay. The big years may be over.

Then you have Marcell Ozuna. After the battery charges, the Braves haven't really decided what to think about Ozuna, even if he did have a monstrous 2020 season as a DH. With the team growing up and more outfielders and power hitters settling in, there's less of a place on this team for someone like Ozuna, and despite that he's still signed until 2024. This season, in 124 games he hit 56 RBIs and 23 homers while still being phased out as much as the Braves could.

2023 Prediction: Similar numbers. I don't even think the Braves WANT Ozuna to have anymore good seasons. If he does, he'll likely be trade bait for somebody. 

After being a respectable, consistent closer for the Los Angeles Dodgers for 10 seasons, Kenley Jansen took the free agency period to find a new place to play, and landed in Atlanta, who...moved Will Smith over to make room. Jansen, despite a 3.38 ERA, is a rock in the ninth, and led the NL in saves with 41, bringing his career total to 391, bringing him within 10 of 400 overall, and bringing him to 8th overall on  the all-time saves list, and three under former Braves closer Craig Kimbrel. It's clear that Jansen is etching his name in the history books as a closer, and while he wasn't perfect for the Braves, he did exactly what they signed him to do- dominate the ninth by any means necessary.

2023 Prediction: Similar to this year, somebody signs him, he gives them the traditional Jansen material with another 30-40 saves, and we might be doing this for a bit. I dunno if anyone wants to give him a long-term deal.

A few favorable bullpen heroes for the Braves this year. First, Collin McHugh, former Astros starter, has become a pretty efficient bullpen arm since stints with the Red Sox and Rays. In 58 appearances he sported a 2.60 ERA and 75 strikeouts, in addition to notching a considerable amount more innings than most relievers due to his starting experience. McHugh was a much-needed long-man presence for a varied relief squad.

2023 Prediction: I'm not sure who is on the Braves' shortlist to close, or if they're getting anybody, but...guys, Collin McHugh might be working the ninth for some spots this year, and that's alright with me.

 

A.J. Minter, the perennial Braves bullpen favorite, had another strong year this year, with a 2.06 ERA, 94 Ks and 5 wins in 75 games. Minter is a workhorse and a club favorite, and the Braves are lucky to have him.

2023 Prediction: The way Minter has swung recently, 2023 is looking like a down season, but I still see big postseason moments coming his way.

Even with a packed rotation, the Braves gave a few starts to rookie Bryce Elder, who already looks like he's been living in the woods for some time. Elder impressed for the most part, with a 3.17 ERA and 47 Ks in 10 games, 9 of them starts. Ultimately I think he was just low on the depth chart, and once Anderson came back he was back down in the minors.

2023 Prediction: Either there is room for him, and he has a Kyle Wright-esque breakout, or there isn't and he's a big piece in a trade deadline deal. It kinda depends on whether or not Mike Soroka is gonna be a thing in 2023, and I'm honestly not sure if he will be.

This story you've already heard, but...for the purposes of this post. So Ozzie Albies gets injured, right? The Braves do what they did when Acuna was injured and bring up a rookie who's ready to take on MLB work to take his place for a bit. Like Michael Harris before him, Vaughn Grissom took to the majors like a trout to water, and hit .291 with 18 RBIs and 5 homers in 41 games. Mind you, the man is 21 years old. Yes, Albies eventually rejoined the Braves lineup and Grissom became a bench man, but ooooh boy is this kid valuable. The good news for Braves fans is he can play shortstop, and might have to considering who might be leaving town.

2023 Prediction: Vaughn Grissom will be the next Brave to be locked up for the foreseeable future. 

Onto the trade deadline acquisitions. Robbie Grossman was the most useful guy they got, as he'd been a durable, contact-hitting favorite in Detroit, and Oakland now that you mention it, for the last few years. Just a guy that's good to have around. In Atlanta, Grossman improved on a slow 2022 start and hit .217 with 30 hits and 22 RBIs in 46 games. He also posted some of his best defensive numbers since his 20s. 

2023 Prediction: Back to what he was doing before, signing with non-competitive teams and having great seasons for them.

In a very interesting move, the Braves traded Will Smith to Houston for Jake Odorizzi, as they were better off with rotation security than bullpen security. Now, we know how this went, considering Smith got his second consecutive World Series ring with the Astros, but Odo was no slouch either, striking out 40 in 10 games, despite an ERA over 5, and giving up 2 runs in 3 playoff innings. He's still a reliable depth piece at this point in his career.

2023 Prediction: Well, he's at the back half of a rotation led by Jacob deGrom. The odds are, if he stays healthy, and he probably will, he will get a ton of starts next year. I'd love for deGrom to stay healthy, we all would, but...I feel like Odo is gonna get a lot of work next year in Texas. A lot like Jordan Lyles and Kyle Gibson once Kluber got hurt.

And in the second baffling trade the Braves made this July, they shipped Jesse Chavez and Tucker Davidson over to LA to have Raisel Iglesias work the eighth...which is odd, because working the ninth is more his thing. I think it was just in case Jansen fell apart. Still, Iglesias was excellent as a Brave, allowing only 1 earned run in 36 innings, and striking out 30/100 batters. Iglesias is still scary when he's on, and his back half numbers gave the Braves some good feelings about their long term bullpen security.

2023 Predictions: I'm thinking Iglesias is just the Braves' new closer, so he's gonna be really good at that for a couple years.

Tomorrow, a few members of a Brewers team that were so close to a playoff run.

Division Series' Day 5: Startling Developments

 The Red Sox-Rays series was, undoubtedly, one of the most tense upsets I've seen in a while. Because as the Sox annihilated the Rays, they never stayed down, and always fought back to the point where you figured they could take the lead at any second. And yet the Sox always had another trick up their sleeve, like Christian Vazquez hitting a homer or Enrique Hernandez's contact olympics. 

So watching last night's game once again go down to a tie and almost go to extras felt like the next logical step. Of course the Rays aren't done, not with Wander Franco and Randy Arozarena playing like this. But...again, it came down to Kiké Hernandez putting it where they ain't, the runner advanced, the Sox were in, and the four seed just obliterated the one seed.

Honestly, I'm here for it. I have no idea why I've been so prone to root for Boston in this, maybe because they're less of an alpha than Tampa, but it was satisfying seeing the unsung heroes of the Sox rail down on the young, likable kids of the Rays. I don't know what this means for whoever wins the other series, but I doubt that one's gonna be any easier for Boston.

Meanwhile, I genuinely thought the Rays were going to another World Series this year. I'd resigned myself to it and everything. Once Shane McClanahan had the strong game 1, and Shane Baz had the strong first few innings of Game 2, I just assumed the rest of the series would go the same way. And then the Sox found it, turned things around, and pummeled this team in Boston, for the fans. 

I don't think this loss is gonna change much of the hierarchy in the AL East. I still expect the Rays to do well next year, though the ownership and control issues will eventually hinder them somewhere down the line. It'll be fun to see what Baz and Franco do in full seasons, and it'll be great to see Vidal Brujan finally come into his own. 

As for the NL series'..

The Braves being the first team here to 2 wins is not something I called, especially as the Brewers were looking like a under-the-radar World Series pick in the NL. And the Brewers' pitching did seem to look like the x factor here. But for the second game in a row, the Braves' lineup has been able to get through it, with Joc Pederson getting through Adrian Houser for the sole runs of the game. It was down to people like Ian Anderson and Adam Duvall to just keep setting the Brewers off balance and riding it out til the end.

The Braves are in position to advance today at home, which I did not see coming. Let's see if the Brewers still have some life left, or if the Braves' September momentum is gonna push them all the way.

Much like the Braves-Brewers game, the Dodgers-Giants series came down to just one RBI, and it was one little home run from Evan Longoria, but the rest of the game hinged on stellar defense and pitching. Max Scherzer, regardless of the run, still had 10 Ks in 7 innings, an astonishing start for the 37-year-old future Hall of Famer. Alex Wood just needed four and a half strong innings on the mound before the bullpen, and Camilo Doval, could do the rest. And the Dodgers' lineup would have done something if not for the LA winds, and Brandon Crawford's leaping catch.

The Giants are in position to advance, but the Dodgers have the home crowd, and possibly Walker Buehler, on their side. 

Three more win-or-die games today. Should be interesting. 

The Clock Strikes Midnight in Miami

 The Miami Marlins surprised lots of people last season by making the playoffs and taking down the Chicago Cubs in order to get eliminated by the Braves. The fact that the Marlins could make October and win a playoff series was unheard of, as they hadn't even made the playoffs since 2003. 

Now, it's a new year, a new NL East, and already it's not looking great.

The first week or so of the season, the Marlins only had two NL East opponents to worry about, the Braves and Phillies. However, they had to play the Rays for their first series of the season and dropped all but one game to them, with their bullpen struggling mightily against the terrifying Rays lineup. Meanwhile, the Phillies swept the Braves. So they went into last night, with four teams in the division thanks to the Mets being out of Nats jail, second in the division and now are looking at around third. 

And now the Nationals are toe-to-toe with the Braves so they might fall further.

The issue is that all four of the NL East rivals might be looking at being good this year. The Nats and Phils might be lower-key, but the Braves and Mets intend to compete. Meanwhile, the Marlins are struggling to get people like Adam Duvall, Corey Dickerson and Brian Anderson to start hitting, and they already have several relievers that haven't been able to keep runs down [even competent guys like Richard Bleier, Anthony Bass and John Curtiss]. 

If they're gonna pull this stuff all season, they need to decide now rather than get their fans excited. Because even with a lot of the pieces that made last year great, like Anderson, Starling Marte, Jesus Aguilar and Pablo Lopez, I don't know if they have the full momentum that made them a factor in the first place. Look, they have two starters that I fully trust right now, Lopez and Sandy Alcantara, and they have to rely on people like Trevor Rogers, Daniel Castano and, I'm assuming, Nick Neidert until Sixto Sanchez comes back, and they just don't seem to have the rotation strength, or even bullpen strength, they had last year. 

They finish this series with St. Louis, which I'm guessing won't end very well for them, and they go home to play the Mets, who I'm still trying to figure out, especially after blowing a deGrom start against Philly last night. They need to convince me, and people, that they can still be a factor in the NL East this year, because I'm not feeling it at all.

Coming Tomorrow- All of you shocked that the Royals are good weren't paying attention during spring training. Here's one of their young pitchers.

Wild Card Series' Day 3: Wrap-Ups and Intrigue

The Braves beating the Reds was an outcome I had predicted, but not so mercilessly.

This was a series of two pitching battles, with great work from Trevor Bauer, Luis Castillo, Max Fried and Luis Castillo, and while the Reds had the better starters arguably, the Braves did what the Reds couldn't- they had their offense show up. And this time, it came in the form of Adam Duvall, Marcell Ozuna and Ronald Acuna. Three members of this team's core. And it proved that the Braves are a playoff team, and are ready for just about anything.

They play the winner of the Cubs-Marlins matchup which won't be decided until tomorrow or Saturday. I think they're gonna be very tough to beat.

As for the Reds...this was a fun playoff team, and a great team as usual to root for, but...in a playoff scenario with a lot of teams better than them, this was sadly bound to happen.

I love this team, I love Castillo and Bauer, and I love the youth slowly being ingratiated into the core of the team, and I really hope they can improve for 2021, because...it's much more fun when they're competitive. 

In a series where literally whichever team won would be rooted for in a series against Houston, a surprisingly sharp Oakland team tied it in Game 2 and won Game 3 against a hydra-esque White Sox team, ensuring that no AL Central teams would make it to the next rung of the playoffs, which is kind of heartbreaking considering how tough that division looked this year.

Olson, Pinder and Canha, the usual suspects, pulled off a nice win over the Sox, and ensured a date with the Astros for the ALDS. I...really...REALLY hope the A's can beat Houston. It would make my day. Hell, maybe they can head to a World Series as well. 

The White Sox should not be ashamed of their season, they made it further than most people thought, and despite a drop from 1st in August, they hit their way into the playoffs with a phenomenal lineup. They just didn't have as much going for them as Oakland, even with Jimenez surging. I'll be hoping for an improvement next year, perhaps with a stronger bullpen.

Just when I was fearing an early exit from these guys, the Padres' bats woke up, Myers, Machado and Tatis beat down on the Cardinals' bullpen, and the series was tied. Even if the Padres are running out of suitable starters, I'm still hoping they sneak a win out of the Cardinals. Yes, this means they'll have to play the Dodgers [or the Brewers but probably the Dodgers], but it's a better outcome than the Cardinals winning yet another playoff series.

All of y'all saying Kershaw's a bad postseason pitcher can shut up now. Clayton Kershaw absolutely owned the Milwaukee Brewers, shutting them out in 8 innings with 13 strikeouts and only 3 hits, then left it to Brusdar Graterol to close it out. Yes, Austin Barnes and Mookie Betts helped, but this was Kershaw's game to own, and he cemented more of his own legend. 

The Dodgers will play either the Cardinals or Padres. Either way, a great series to be had.

As for the Brewers, the team that snuck into the playoffs and then had to face the biggest, baddest team of them all...they did what they could. But they really didn't have it this year, and I think they knew it. Next year, with Lorenzo Cain back and a full-capacity Yelich, maybe they'll top this performance. I hope they do.

Tomorrow, hopefully we put a cap on at least one more series. And then we ease our way into Division Series' and make this one even more real. 

Uncustomed Heroes of 2019: Braves

 For the second straight year, the Atlanta Braves advanced in the standings with enough leeway to make the playoffs, only to be eliminated in the first round. This was a bit more heartbreaking, as this was a better team this year, with a lot more depth, despite the usual bullpen dysfunction.

Austin Riley was a smart call-up for the Braves, despite missing some time and lowering his average. Riley still had 49 RBIs in 81 games, and proved to be a nice late-lineup bat for the majority of the summer.
Why Him in 2019?: He was probably the best rookie on this team, and could be a perennial performer for Atlanta for a while.
2020 Prediction: A higher average for a fuller season, and a 25-homer year.

2019 was a down year for Mike Foltynewicz, especially compared to his monster, breakout 2018. Folty's ERA ballooned to 4.54, and he only had 105 strikeouts. His postseason numbers were a little more balanced, but he still started that notorious Game 5, which was a multi-run parade for St. Louis.
Why Him in 2019?: His downslope led to the rise of Dallas Keuchel, Max Fried and Mike Soroka.
2020 Prediction: Folty will be back to peak numbers, and Hamels' influence will help him immensely.

 After a modest start in Queens, Adeiny Hechavarria made his way to Atlanta late in the year, and upon arriving, he started tearing things up like it was Miami again. In 24 games, Hecha had a .328 average with 20 hits and 15 RBIs, and got some starts at short instead of Swanson in the playoffs.
Why Him in 2019?: Hecha was a valuable infield presence when #1 draft pick Dansby Swanson couldn't be.
2020 Prediction: Someone with some heft will sign him, and use him as a backup infielder...til the starter gets injured and he returns to dominance.

A surprising development was the rise of Matt Joyce as an outfield option, especially after Austin Riley's DL stint. You don't expect Joyce to be in the mix with Acuna and Markakis there, but until Billy Hamilton got there, he was a strong bench/starting bat. Joyce's .295 average was his highest EVER.
Why Him in 2019?: Because this was Joyce's biggest crack at a starting gig since Pittsburgh
2020 Prediction: He'll be a late-offseason signing, and he won't get nearly as much playing time as he did in 2019.

 Another young pitcher who struggled after a strong 2018, Sean Newcomb had a rocky start starting games before being moved to the bullpen, where he fared slightly better, posting a 3.04 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 51 relief appearances.
Why Him in 2019?: Proof that there are good relievers in Atlanta...they're just all failed starters.
2020 Prediction: Will start some games, possibly 5th in the rotation, and reclaim some of his goodwill before being moved back to the bullpen following a July acquisition.

 And then there's Adam Duvall, who's been very Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde in Atlanta. Last year he was awful, with a .132 average in 33 games. This year, in 41 games post-callup, Duvall did a lot better, with a .267 average, 10 home runs and 32 hits. Now to Cincinnati levels, but not bad.
Why Him in 2019?: Proved he could still hit for distance after last year.
2020 Prediction: Will get some starts, but will mostly be a sturdy, reliable bench bat for the Braves. And he might have one big postseason moment.

Now, onto more deadline acquisitions. Shane Greene was set to jump right into the ninth and solve Atlanta's closing pitching problem. That didn't happen. After a few blown saves and a VERY bloated ERA, Greene was passed over in favor of Mark Melancon. Still, Greene did fine in middle relief, ending the half with a 4 ERA.
Why Him in 2019?: Because every strong first half needs an epilogue, and if I didn't make one of his Braves tenure, I'd be pretending it didn't happen.
2020 Prediction: He gets the ninth back and ends 2020 with 25 saves.

 The most intriguing waiver deal for Atlanta was landing speedster Billy Hamilton from Kansas City, despite his middling numbers. Hamilton thankfully improved upon landing in ATL, ending the year with a .268 average, 11 hits, and 4 of his trademark stolen bases.
Why Him in 2019?: Billy got his first postseason steal ever with the Braves.
2020 Prediction: I wouldn't be surprised if KC re-signs him, or at least someone similarly out of the conversation. And he'll do reasonably well for them.

And yet the best story of the Braves' year might have been Francisco Cervelli. After missing some time for Pittsburgh  due to concussions, Frenchy swore he'd never catch again, and resigned himself to possibly ending his career. Then the Braves claimed him off waivers, and he caught fire for them instantly, with 3 RBIs in his first three games as a Brave, and with a .667 average in August.
Why Him in 2019?: Because he triumphed when he could have quit, and made it to the postseason.
2020 Prediction: Will probably be a backup somewhere. Possibly Seattle?

Coming Tomorrow- They just missed another postseason run, but the Brewers are far from out of it for 2020.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2018: Braves

The 2018 Braves were a very fun team, with a ton of eccentricity, some heroes, some rookies, and some brilliant late-season pickup planning. Unfortunately, this playoff run seemed to go as far as every playoff attempt since 2002, despite brilliant showings all over.

Firstly...Anibal Sanchez had his best season since the Tigers were contenders, and was a solid third-starter for most of the year.

 Charlie Culberson was the team's Bench Player Extraordinaire this year, coming in at most positions, hitting fantastically off the bench, and essentially quarreling with Tommy La Stella over 'Bench Player of the Year 2018'. Which is an award I just made up but should exist.

Tyler Flowers spent the season as Atlanta's backup catcher, while Kurt Suzuki was starter. He's not as hot as he was a few years ago, but he's a solid backup. He'll be sharing plate time with Brian McCann next year, so...I'd expect a young catching prospect to cause him to be traded.

Brandon McCarthy spent the year being traded from one playoff contender to another, and had a relatively nice year, regardless of his usual injuries piling up. He's said that 2018 will be his last year, and with a fine career of being an unsung starter for countless teams, he's had a nice enough, if not exactly Cooperstown-worthy, career.

 After Arodys Vizcaino got injured, AJ Minter was a solid replacement in the ninth, doing a pretty nice job with closing games, and pitching well into the playoffs in relief. In the absence of, at the very least, Brad Brach, I expect him to get nice relief numbers in 2019.

 Mike Soroka had a fantastic debut start, and kept teams rolling for his first few starts, but unfortunately his season was halted with an injury. A shame, too, as he could have been a strong piece during the postseason. He'll be great for 2019, though.

And then there's Touki Toussaint, who, despite some fantastic material during the September stretch run, was unceremoniously left off the Braves' playoff roster. As good as he is, the Braves had trouble finding a place for him this year, and looking at a 2019 where Teheran, Newcomb, Folty, Gausman AND Soroka will all be back, I'm thinking Touki might be trade bait this year. I could be wrong, but it seems like that's what the GM might do here.

 Brad Brach was one of the many impressive pickups the Braves snagged during the stretch, and he delivered by being an impressive relief piece into the playoffs. He's a free agent this year, so I expect his Braves tenure to be limited, but you never know.

 Lucas Duda was an inspired choice, as he was a backup for the unstoppable Freddie Freeman, but in his few games in Atlanta he was fairly decent, though not to the caliber of his Mets numbers, or even his Rays numbers.

 But Duda was Hank Aaron compared to Adam Duvall, who was absolutely listless in several at-bats for the Braves, continuing his rotten luck from Cincinnati. He's still slated to be on the roster in 2019, so unless he gets his bat back, the Braves will be in trouble.

And then there's this heartwarming story, of a reliever who hadn't pitched since 2012, put up great numbers for the Rays, and then found his way back to the team that gave him a chance in the first place. With the Braves, Jonny Venters was able to reclaim his former glory, pitch into the postseason, and cement his fantastic comeback. I hope he's able to keep it going.

Coming Tomorrow- An even more impressive playoff team, this one coming so close to a World Series.