Atlanta Braves Have Been Good, But Massive Improvement Is There

The NL East leading Atlanta Braves (43-30) have surpassed pre-season expectations. Curiously, they have room for vast improvement.

It’s easy, when things are rolling, to get caught up in the pretty surroundings. It’s like a summer drive with the windows down, music blasting, and the sun on your face. No worries. No problems. Life is good. In spite of this afternoon’s loss in Toronto, that kind of describes the vibe around our beloved Atlanta Braves these days. But, if you look at it closely, there is vast improvement that could be had, which is a good thing.

This isn’t going to be some sort of quantitative exposition and exhibition that pulls a stat curtain back, and shines light on an area never before seen. In fact, it is going to be simplistic.

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The Braves are a full 13 games above .500, as of June 20, 2018. That is remarkable. And fantastic. Were you to ask someone how or why did this happen, there are a number of responses that would surface. Timely hitting and better patience at the plate? Improved defense? Exponentially improved Starting Pitching? Maybe even better Bullpen play?

Most, I think, would point to hitting, though. It is an instinctive response to that question, because it just seems like they’ve been hitting very well this year. Actually, they aren’t.

Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis are not a part of this conversation. They’ve straight up killed it all year. Take a quick look at the rest of the team, though.

Ozzie Albies has been a boon for this team with his glove and his bat. He’s an integral part to Atlanta’s success. Dude has a .249 BA. Yes, he led the NL for a while in extra base hits, and he does have 16 HR. That’s stout. But a .249 BA isn’t.

Dansby Swanson, former #1 Draft pick, came into this year needing to improve in the field and at the plate. The glove is working. The bat? Right behind Albies at .248 BA.

Ender Inciarte, in many ways, has become the engine that drives the Braves train with Gold Gloves and a swift stick. Dude is hitting at a .252 clip.

Suzuki and Flowers give a respectable .281 and .261, respectively, at the plate. That’s pretty good plate production from a platoon at the Catcher position.

Camargo has always struggled at the plate, and still does while floating a flaccid .234 BA.

Those other guys? Think about it. The Atlanta Braves are 13 games above .500 in late June and they have three of their most important players hovering around .250 at the plate. That’s with phenom Ronald Acuna Jr. still on the DL, and LF is another platoon.

If those three ever get to a .275 average, or somewhere thereabouts, this team would truly become a post-season threat. The kind of post-season threat that would leave no doubts and raise eyebrows around the league.

The Atlanta Braves are winning, and that’s with four every day positions under-performing still.

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If that changes, this team could get scary good before year’s end. Like “hanging things at the stadium” good.

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