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Atlanta Braves: STP Stumbles Raise Warning Flags

By W. M. Lawson

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 04: A member of field security stands near right field wearing a shirt commemorating the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination prior to the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals at SunTrust Park on April 4, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 04: A member of field security stands near right field wearing a shirt commemorating the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination prior to the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals at SunTrust Park on April 4, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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The Atlanta Braves (26-17) lead the NL East Division. This is in spite of a frustratingly tepid home win/loss record.

It sounds persnickety. The idea that someone is going to write something negative about a team that, by all accounts, is way ahead of where they were predicted to be, this far into the season, just seems pedantic, and well, persnickety. The Atlanta Braves are nine games over .500 and lead their division. It’s great. But one would have to be naive not to notice what’s happening at home. The Braves’ continued struggles at SunTrust Park (STP) should worry a little.

Going into this season, as a fan and someone who is given a platform to write about our Braves, I was all ready to complain about an early schedule that kept us on the road an inordinate amount of time. A young team, on the road, early in the season? Great. Thanks, MLB.

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Per usual, though, I had it wrong. There were two things that I didn’t realize. First, the team is just better. They aren’t championship caliber yet, per se, but they are a tough out most every night. Second, because of the first point, the road doesn’t bother them as much. In fact, their current road record is (17-8). Who saw that coming?

Simple math then lets you know that the home record currently sits at a facile (9-9). The problems were evident again last night. For some reason, the Atlanta Braves are finding it hard to play well at home. STP, which is supposed to be a harbor, is choppier water than some road stadiums. And not in the good way.

The Park is a really cool place to see a baseball game. They did a nice job of creating “an experience”. That has to be given.

But, the field itself? Atlanta has always had trouble winning at STP, but that had more to do with dudes wearing our jerseys than where they were doing it. Bad pitching is bad pitching.

The micro-point here is that the road record will even out over the course of the season. That means the normal axiom that “all successful teams win at home” becomes true again. It’s self-correction of trends. The team will need to self-correct and figure out how to win at STP.

The macro-point here is a question. What if they can’t? What if the Atlanta Braves just pulled a “Cincinnati”, and built a park that their own team can’t win in? The thought is chilling.

Now, it is true that, in the entire division, only Philly has a winning record at home, thus far, this season. So, it isn’t just our Braves.

Next: Atlanta Braves Giving Sean Newcomb a Well Deserved Rest

And, yes. The Atlanta Braves currently lead their Division, and that is awesome. But the lagging home record is becoming a warning sign. One too important to ignore.

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