Everyone is buzzing with lists about The Best Braves All-Time Lineup. How can you put someone who’s never DH’d at DH? Acuna has had a glorious but injury riddled 8 years. He has yet to accomplish as much as Murphy, Andruw, or Aaron, who all won multiple gold gloves in addition to their offensive achievements. Compared to Murphy, Acuna one fewer MVP and 5 fewer gold gloves. Being the GOAT is not who is most talented, but who accomplished the most.
I love Maddux and Niekro, but Spahn accomplished more as a Brave. Kimbrel saved more games as a Brave than Smoltz. Javy had a higher average and hit more homers than McCann. With a quick review of accomplishments, here’s my group. Of course it would be different if it was just the Atlanta years.
C Javy Lopez: most HR, highest avg
1B Freddie Freeman MVP GG
2B Felix Millan 2 GG
3B Chipper Jones HOF MVP
SS Rabbit Maranville HOF
OF Dale Murphy 2 MVPs 5 GG
OF Andruw Jones 10 GG
OF Hank Aaron HOF MVP 3 GG
DH Eddie Mathews HOF 512 HR
SP Warren Spahn 363 wins HOF
RP Craig Kimbrel: saves leader
Not sure why or how that I became such a devoted Braves fan. Braves games are much easier to attend than Falcons, Hawks, Bulldogs, or even Tech games. Also much less expensive. Less planning involved. Easier to get to. Baseball can be exciting but is more pastoral. Nice to sit out in the early evening. Commissioner Bart Giamatti’s description of how baseball “begins in the spring…” The movie Fever Pitch, where the main character’s calendar revolves around the Red Sox schedule, and his apartment is full of memorabilia. It’s fun, but I am really not as much of a fan as most people think.
Looks like the Braves may trade Ozuna and the closer. Not sure of the closer’s contract status, but they have another closer waiting in the wings. Ozuna’s contract is expiring, so they might as well get something for him while they can. The Braves can always re-sign him for next year if they want. Thing is, with the immergence of Drake Baldwin, they may not need Ozuna going forward. Will be interesting to see whether the Braves will keep Ozzie Albies long term. They could eventually trade him, or let him go free agent.
Love me some Freddie Freeman, but Matt Olson has been one of the most prolific first basemen in baseball this year. Freddie was having a good season until late May, when his production dropped almost to Michael Harris levels. Not sure what the Braves will do about Harris, who draws fewer walks that any player in baseball. Its almost of he goes up to the plate and swings at the first three pitches, and either hits the ball or strikes out. No walks from May 18 until today...178 plate appearances. So all the pitchers know to not throw him pitches near the strike zone.
Its as if Harris has always gotten by with his athletic ability up to now. But as Yogi used to say, “Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical”. Harris may have tons more athletic ability than Berra, but Yogi was tons better at getting his bat on bad pitches than Harris. Many think Harris needs to be sent back to AAA Gwinnett to regroup. Of course I write bad about him, and he hits a home run.
Finally watched the pregames from Monday and Tuesday - and goofy old me showed up right behind the talking heads both nights. That's me in the kaiki shorts over on the left.
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