It was the end of the 2017 season and the Atlanta Braves just wrapped up another miserable season as they finished in third place with a 72-90 record, But there was room for optimism. Just 28 games into the 2017 season, the Braves fired manager Ferdi Gonzalez, in came Triple-A manager Brian Snitker, who has been with the Braves organization in one capacity or another his entire baseball career. Snitker was suppose to finish the rest of the 2017 season and then the Braves would hire a full time manager. Well, the Braves extended Snitker for the 2018 season. Fast forward one year and all the baseball expects kept on saying give the Braves one more year, year 2019 will be the year the Braves turn everything around. Well, those baseball experts were wrong. Braves turned it around and went 90-72, won the East, and won a playoff game versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. Dodgers ended the Braves run as they won the NLDS 3-1.The Braves also turned around and signed a full time manager for a three year deal. Oh, did I mention that manager was Brian Snitker?
Fast-forward to the 2019 season and the baseball experts were about the same, saying the Braves would take a step back. The race would come down to the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies. The National Juan Soto would take the league by storm and the newly signed Bryce Harper would put up a 40+ hr season for the Phillies. Yes, both of those players are great, and I have much respect for those players on the field. But a division is not won by words or on paper. All the Braves did was go out and win the NL East with seven games left in the regular season. The Braves are currently 95-60 and have a chance to 100 wins if the team goes 5-2 these last seven games.
This team is built for the next decade. With the extensions of 2018 Rookie of the Year outfielder Ronald Acuna, Jr., and 2019 Gold Glove prospect second baseman Ozzie Albies, the Braves get a one, two punch in the lineup as well as in the field. The Braves signed third baseman MVP Josh Donaldson for a one year, $23 million stop gap at third until prospect Austin Riley is ready to takes the reigns at the hot corner. But as it is, Riley was called up to the majors and has played well in left field, while hitting 18 homers and backing up Donaldson at third when need be. All Donaldson has don is hit .260 with 30+ homruns. My take is the Braves will re-sign Donaldson with a two or three year extension and when Riley is ready for everyday play, he will play outfield and back up third as well, as he has done this year.
Now the end of this 2019 season for the Atlanta Braves has yet to be written, but the regular season has. The Atlanta Braves are 2019 NL East champs for the second year in a row. Stay tuned for what’s to come. Good things for the team with the A on their cap.
Courtesy of MLB, Atlanta Braves via Youtube
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