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Atlanta Braves: Taking Page Out of Royals’ Book?

By Matthew Schoettler

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The Kansas City Royals won their second-consecutive ALCS behind a dominant bullpen and contact hitting, but could the Atlanta Braves be the next-wave Royals team?

2013 marked the first winning season for the Kansas City Royals since 2003. The Royals built off of their positive 2013 momentum to catapult them into a World Series contender, registering three-straight winning seasons. Also, the Royals won their second-consecutive ALCS title, propelling them into their second World Series appearance in as many years. With the Royals setting up a blueprint for making the World Series, could the Atlanta Braves be taking a page out of the Royals’ book to set up a run in Atlanta?

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John Hart noted that the Atlanta Braves will focus on revamping their terrible bullpen during the offseason, showing that the team wants a dominant back-end to close out games early. The Royals showed what a strong bullpen brings you. With a one-two-three punch of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis, and Greg Holland (although injured), the Royals possessed the ability to end the game, essentially, after the sixth inning, allowing the Royals to have a sub-par pitching staff.

The Royals pitching staff does not have a perennial “ace” in the rotation, and the closest they come is Edinson Volquez, who they signed this past offseason. Also, the Royals traded for Johnny Cueto at the deadline, but anyone can make an argument that he did no favors to helping the Royals reach their second-consecutive World Series appearance. The Royals’ starting rotation looks a lot like what the Atlanta Braves’ rotation may look like in 2016. The top-three arms in the Royals rotation (Cueto, Volquez, and Ventura) compare to the Braves’ top-three arms: Julio Teheran, Shelby Miller, and perhaps Mike Minor (if healthy). 

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If the Atlanta Braves build a strong bullpen for next season, Braves’ pitchers do not need to pitch deep into games. Shelby Miller suffered a 24-game winless streak last season before earning a win in his last start of the 2015 season. Half of the reason for the dry spell may lie in the weak bullpen of the Atlanta Braves. Danny Duffy, for the Royals, managed to win more games than Shelby Miller (seven wins compared to six), despite starting eight fewer games. You cannot tell me that Duffy is a better pitcher than Miller. The answer lies in the strong bullpen to back Duffy up.

By the Atlanta Braves focusing on their bullpen in 2016, the entire rotation may improve next season, allowing pitchers to give it their all in six-to-seven innings per outing. The Braves’ rotation is one of the youngest and brightest rotations in baseball (outside of the New York Mets), and their rotation should improve each year. Finding comparable arms to Herrera, Davis, and Holland presents the real struggle for the Braves heading into 2016, but it is certainly an accomplishable feat.

Outside of the Royals strong pitching, their lineup rarely strikes out, and they focus on making contact to do their damage. After John Hart assumed the reigns for the Atlanta Braves, he immediately traded his strike out prone bats and replaced them with players who make contact, similar to the Royals scheme. Hart knew the Braves contributed too many worthless outs (i.e. striking out); thus, he traded the Upton brothers (Melvin and Justin) to San Diego. Also, mid-way through the season, the Braves dumped Chris Johnson to the Indians.

As the Atlanta Braves transition from a high-strikeout team to a high-contact team, their lineup compares to the Royals almost across the board (outside of catcher and left field). Freddie Freeman is at-least equal with Eric Hosmer, if not better. Both are impact left-handed bats capable of going yard 20 times a season; however, Freeman possesses the higher ceiling out of the two. Despite Mike Moustakas‘ improved approach at the plate this season, Hector Olivera looks to be a comparable player to his game; however, “Mous” gets the nod for his defensive prowess.

Andrelton Simmons and Alcides Escobar look one-in-the-same. Both players put the ball in play, but neither hits for a high average or a high on-base percentage. However, the Atlanta Braves have the better player in Simmons. Simmons is one of the best defensive shortstops in the game, if not the best, but both players bring forth the same style of play. Before the Royals made a deadline-deal for Ben Zobrist, Omar Infante played second base for the Royals. Jace Peterson compares to Infante, easily. Peterson receives the nod in multiple categories over Infante, including speed and defense. 

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Ben Zobrist provided a boost at the keystone position for the Royals, and Jace Peterson is no Zobrist. However, Zobrist is unlikely to re-sign with the Royals, leaving them with a hole at second base in 2016. The biggest gap between the Royals and Atlanta Braves is at catcher. Salvador Perez is one of the best catchers in baseball; while, the Braves struggle to find an every day catcher to assume the position. The Braves want Christian Bethancourt to take the role, but he looks like a major bust thus far.

However, Matt Wieters looks to be a leading candidate to fill the Atlanta Braves’ void at catcher, and if the team signs him, the gap at catcher shrinks significantly. Wieters is one of the best all-around catchers, possessing a nice bat and sound defense. If the Braves add Wieters to the roster in the offseason, they look to be one of the best defensive infields in the National League. With a potential 2016 infield of Wieters, Freeman, Peterson, Simmons, and Olivera, the Braves present a nice bounce-back candidate for next season.

The outfield, perhaps, presents the biggest gap between the Kansas City Royals and the Atlanta Braves. Alex Gordon brings a Gold Glove caliber outfielder (with a solid bat) to the Royals; while, the Braves lack an every day left fielder. Although the Braves have Mallex Smith in-waiting to essentially assume the left field position, his play translates to that of Billy Hamilton or Delino DeShields. Thus, there is a significant gap between the two in left field; however, Gordon is set to become a free agent after the season. So, the Royals need to address the same concern as the Braves.

The center field nod, also, goes to the Royals. Cameron Maybin, for the Atlanta Braves, is like a poor man’s Lorenzo Cain. Both play similar styles of baseball, capable of making highlight-reel catches and stealing bags, but Cain is the more supreme outfielder. Cain put together his best season of his career in 2015, hitting over .300 while displaying nice power. If Maybin can build off of his strong start to 2015, he vaults himself into the same category as Cain, but that is a big “if” for next season. 

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    • Honestly, the Atlanta Braves have the better advantage in right field. Nick Markakis outperformed Alex Rios this past year, although Markakis’ power was absent. Markakis finished the season with just one home run, but his power likely improves next season due to the fact he has a full offseason to build strength. Many people forget that, last offseason, Markakis underwent spinal-fusion surgery, and it zapped the power from his bat. Expect him to improve across the board next season as the likely number-two hitter in the lineup.

    The Royals built their team around a strong farm system, and the Atlanta Braves are doing exactly that, trading away cogs for prospects. The Braves know that the key to success is building a deep farm system and filling holes from within. Just ask the St. Louis Cardinals, one of baseball’s best at doing just that. Keith Law ranks the Atlanta Braves’ farm system as one of the best in baseball, so better days are ahead in Atlanta. Expect John Hart to pull the trigger on a few moves this offseason, with one of them hopefully bringing Wieters to Atlanta. Stay tuned for another busy offseason by the Atlanta Braves.

    Next: Hector Olivera: 2016 Outlook on Atlanta Braves' 3B

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