The Atlanta Braves have found an impossible problem when it comes to keeping Sean Murphy's bat in the everyday lineup. Rookie catcher Drake Baldwin took full advantage of Murphy's early-season injury, making it impossible for the Braves to pivot back to Chadwick Tromp or veteran James McCann as the team's primary backup. In the weeks since, Baldwin has taken things a step further, continually turning up the heat on Sean Murphy and manager Brian Snitker.
Most notably, Drake Baldwin has offered late-inning pinch-hitting heroics, walking off Thursday night's game in Atlanta and attempting to fuel a comeback the next night in Pittsburgh. Baldwin's contributions demand that the catcher's bat stays in the lineup. Yet as Saturday's starting lineup was unveiled, it is yet again Sean Murphy starting in the middle of Atlanta's order.
Braves Manager Brian Snitker Can No Longer Continue to Ignore Drake Baldwin’s Contributions
Baldwin has spent the last two weeks proving himself to be a superior offensive asset than Murphy. Despite the veteran catcher's power surge upon his return, there is no question who the better hitter has been in a small sample size. Atlanta continuing to ignore this while the team is struggling to create runs is complete mismanagement.
Yes, Murphy is an important piece for this team and a player the team has heavily invested in. However, if this is truly about doing everything in Atlanta's power to turn the season around and climb back into the postseason race, you cannot afford to continue to pull Baldwin's bat out of the lineup.
The offensive ceiling the catcher has flashed is beyond already lofty expectations for the young prospect. The Braves owe it not only to Baldwin but to an increasingly frustrated fan base to do the right thing and find ways to put the hitter into the lineup.
If Murphy were producing at an elite level, this wouldn't be a discussion. Looking at the veteran's numbers since returning, things have trended in the wrong direction after an incredibly hot start. With this in mind, it is even more alarming that Baldwin isn't at least platooning with the veteran catcher.
His offensive performance and much-needed energy are assets that Snitker and Atlanta's coaching staff cannot continue to ignore. Baldwin must be a far more consistent contributor if Atlanta is going to continue to turn their season around.