When the Cleveland then-Indians advanced to the 1995 World Series, the question was simple: would the high-powered Cleveland offense hit against the Hall-of-Fame trio of the Atlanta Braves? After six games, we had an answer. Cleveland was shut down by the Braves and the celebration was on at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
While neither the stakes nor the storyline were the same in the 2022 NLDS pitting the Phillies against the Braves, the result was quite similar.
One of the major's best offenses with an NL-leading 243 homers got absolutely humbled when it mattered the most. Certainly, the pitching staff did little to help with the trio of Max Fried, Spencer Strider, and Charlie Morton all having short starts where they didn't look themselves. But they could have been excellent and it may have not mattered. The offense was completely missing in action.
While every media type seems to want to make the loss about an inside-the-park home run that maybe, maybe (but probably not), could have been limited to a triple by the Braves right fielder, the sad reality is that the Braves were doomed by the thing that got them to the playoffs. Sure, the pitching was a big part, but the Braves offense bludgeoned opponents in route to a division title. They'd hit five more homers in the DS, but the Phillies, unlike the Braves, limited the damage when the homers came. The Braves offense couldn't buy a hit. For that matter, they couldn't even make contact.
And yes, some of that was the excellent pitching by the Phillies, who very much came to play when so many Braves' arms didn't or couldn't.
Dansby Swanson went 2-for-16 with 7 K's. Austin Riley had one single in 15 at-bats, striking out five times. And dynamic wunderkind, Michael Harris II, managed a seeing-eye single in 14 trips to the plate. The bottom of the lineup largely didn't show up, either. Marcell Ozuna and 2021 NLCS hero, Eddie Rosario, were a combined 0-for-16 with 5 K's. Outside of Matt Olson, Travis d'Arnaud, Orlando Arcia (!), and, yes, Ronald Acuña Jr., the lineup was listless, pathetic, and unproductive. You can't win like that.
Just ask the 2019 Braves. Again, we heard only about what Acuña Jr. didn't do in that series - namely not run out a single into a double. But the reason the team ultimately lost was that Josh Donaldson, Brian McCann, Nick Markakis, and Freddie Freeman were nowhere to be found.
The playoffs are won by the guys who show up. Sadly, only a handful of the 2022 Braves did.
But there's a good chance this is a mere speedbump.
Returning will be six-of-the-seven starting pitchers who made at least five starts in 2022 and that doesn't include Mike Soroka. Also returning will be five relievers who made at least 25 appearances last season plus Kirby Yates. The All-Star duo behind the plate is back. As is all but one position player starter. Harris II, Strider, Vaughn Grissom will all be a year older. Acuña Jr. will have a normal offseason. As will Yates and Soroka. Ozzie Albies, a forgotten man because of so much time missed in 2022, will be healthy. And guys like Justyn-Henry Malloy, Jared Shuster, and Victor Vodnik will be waiting for their first shots while Kyle Muller and William Woods will look to stick.
The bottom line is the 2022 Braves were part of something bigger. This team is built for the long run. Does that make 2022 not sting? No, of course not. It absolutely sucks to lose in the playoffs and, especially, to lose to a team that the Braves should have beat. But the Braves will be back in 2023.
And 2024.
And beyond.
So, let's turn the page and move on. When the Braves win another ring in 2023, you'll laugh off 2022 as a weird thing that just sort of happened.
///// Blog News /////
Thanks to everyone who has read my material since my return to blogging. Thanks especially to those that have subscribed here. It means a lot to me.
Currently, I have plans to continue my look at the recent drafts (2019 is on tap for Friday with three more in the tank). Further, tomorrow, I hope to publish the first of a five-part free agent preview series where I will take stock in what the Braves have at every position and what might be of interest on the free agent market. I plan to publish two of those articles this week and next before finishing it in early November.
At that point, my plan is to start my Top 30 prospects run-down. I am leaning to doing five prospects each article. That way, I can focus more on each prospect as I count down to #1.
I also have some other plans I’m not ready to announce.
I have a number I am looking for in terms of free subscribers before I consider adding a paid option. Again, it won’t be much, but my #1 goal is to cover my costs related to baseball. I am under no illusion that hundreds will opt for a paid subscription and again, I WILL CONTINUE to provide free articles in addition to paid ones. I am still iffy on which articles to put behind a paywall and which not to, but I will publish both free and paid articles every week. The financial support is simply to cover my costs and, frankly, make me feel like I am using my time wisely when I sit down to write. I have three kids and a disabled wife. Every little bit counts, ya know?
Anyway, with the season over, I just wanted to go over some of my thoughts with this new blogging venture. Thanks for reading. I truly mean that it means quite a lot to me.