Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris spent much of the weekend on the team's bench, sitting down in the middle of a dismal season. To say that Harris is one of the league's most disappointing hitters isn't hyperbolic but hard to dispute by almost any metric. To take the outfielder's glove from center, you know things have to be truly dark offensively.
All of this added up to Atlanta sitting Harris down and allowing Eli White a chance to start. While the results weren't drastically improved, it was easy to see why the team needed to try something. Still, there are many in the fan base who view it as a failed half measure.
You're not doing Harris any favors by not making the decision to go ahead and demote the struggling hitter. Putting Harris on the bench is only adding more mental stress, allowing time to evaluate what has gone wrong. Perhaps this will work, and some rest will unlock what has been a productive offensive source.
Still, it seems the best path is demoting Harris and allowing the outfielder to attempt to work out whatever has gone wrong with the Gwinnett Stripers.
Braves Must Decide to Demote Michael Harris to Gwinnett
Harris needs time to work on his swing and regain a level of patience at the plate. A demotion doesn't mean you're giving up on the outfielder or don't view him as a building block of the future. Rather, it deals with the obvious reality that this level of struggle simply cannot exist in Atlanta's lineup.
While this season is an outlier in a solid career, it is concerning enough to demand a demotion. One that doesn't hide the problem on the bench but allows Harris to work on fixing his approach.
It seems like Atlanta is doing everything in its power to avoid this decision, understanding the optics and frustration. Add in the team's lack of depth at the position, and it is understandable not to want to make the move. However, Harris has given the team little choice with the last month of the season.
Unless the time on the bench sparks a surprise turn, it is time to make a decision that is long overdue.