At a macro level, here's why anything seems possible for the Atlanta Braves | Bill Shanks
There was a time when the Atlanta Braves’ record of winning consecutive division titles looked as unapproachable as Cal Ripken’s record for consecutive games played. The Braves won 14 division titles between 1991 and 2005.
Critics may say the Braves would not have won the division in 1994, when the Montreal Expos led the National League East when the players’ strike hit in August of that year. And some may say the record isn’t as impressive since the Braves won only one World Series championship during that run of playoff appearances.
Make no mistake about it, though, winning division titles is not easy. It’s a long grind of six months, surviving injuries and struggles that every player (except Ronald Acuna perhaps) goes through.
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Ask the New York Mets. They’ve won their division only six times in the 55 years since division play started in 1969. The Philadelphia Phillies have done it 11 times.
The Braves lead the way with 23 division titles, including the last six NL East titles in a row.
How has this happened, especially for a franchise that won two division titles in its first 25 years in Atlanta and was considered one of the worst organizations in the game in the 1970s and 1980s?
Well, it all starts at the top.
When John Schuerholz took over as Atlanta’s general manager in 1990, he replaced Bobby Cox, who had rebuilt the Braves organization around pitching. Long gone were the days of “The Launching Pad” of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium and believing pitching could not work there. Cox started the trend and Schuerholz continued the emphasis, which resulted in an unprecedented run of success.
Of course, Cox returned to where he was most comfortable, the dugout, and managed the Braves for a great two-decade run. But the relationship between Schuerholz and Cox was one of mutual respect, understanding completely what the other was trying to do to help the Braves win each and every year. They got along, which is not always easy in a game full of egos.
Fast forward to 2017. The Braves had a scandal, which led to the architect of the latest rebuild, general manager John Coppolella, getting fired. In comes Alex Anthopoulos, who had success earlier in the decade leading the Toronto Blue Jays.
Like Schuerholz inheriting Cox years ago, Anthopoulos inherited Brian Snitker, a lifelong Brave who got the chance to manage a MLB team late in his career. Anthopoulos and Snitker didn’t know each other, but it didn’t take long for them to find that mutual respect that Schuerholz and Cox had decades earlier.
Yes, Snitker and Anthopoulos get along. Sometimes it is that simple. And when there is a common goal and approach at the top of any organization, it creates an atmosphere for success.
The players see it. They know Snitker respects them and how hard it is to be a Major Leaguer. He might not have been one himself, but he’s been in big league clubhouses on and off since 1985, so he’s well aware of what goes into being a successful big leaguer. And the players know Snitker and Anthopoulos are not in a power struggle or battle for credit. They just want to win.
That atmosphere permeates throughout this clubhouse. It’s what winning organizations seem to have. Sure, some teams can just buy pennants, but the Braves have built this from the ground up, with minor leaguers and draft picks coming up together. And along the way, some of them played for Snitker in the minor leagues.
His calming approach, even in the face of adversity, has been the hallmark of these last six seasons of division titles. Snitker never wavers, never changes. He is what he is after all these seasons in the game, and his teams have taken on his personality.
Many clubhouses would have crumbled after losing stars like Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson. But the Braves haven’t missed a beat. Snitker’s leadership, along with the decisions Anthopoulos made to replace those players with perfect fits, have allowed the Braves to not only survive those defections, but to thrive.
Back in spring training, many believed Vaughn Grissom would replace Swanson at shortstop. Instead, Snitker wanted to go with a veteran, Orlando Arcia, knowing Arcia’s defense would be much better. Arcia had lost his starting job in Milwaukee two years ago and was relegated to a reserve after being traded to Atlanta. But Snitker had confidence the veteran would fit his club.
And look what has happened. Arcia has played great defense all season. He made his first All-Star team, and while his batting average has slipped in the second part of the season, Arcia is still a threat at the plate in the best lineup in the sport.
Many may think this year’s Braves were easy to manage, with the lineup that will rival the 1927 Yankees as one of the best in the game. Yet Snitker had to deal with two of his main starting pitchers, Max Fried and Kyle Wright, combining for only 21 starts. Sixteen different pitchers have started games for the Braves, and that’s something that could crumble many teams.
Snitker is the common thread in the dugout the last six seasons. Sure, Fried, Acuna and Ozzie Albies have been on all six rosters, but other positions have seen players come and go. Snitker has orchestrated all the players, knowing that as the names on the back of the jerseys may have changed, the “Braves” on the front represents something special that he believes in to his core.
Of course, if the Braves don’t win the World Series this year, who will likely get the blame? Probably Snitker. That comes with the territory. But fans should feel great confidence knowing the Braves are going into the crapshoot postseason with someone as steady as Snitker.
Maybe this group of Braves won’t approach the 14-division title streak, but with the main players locked up for many years, they may have a better chance than we think. But as long as leadership remains constant at the top, anything seems possible for the Braves, including finishing this tremendous season with a championship.
Listen to The Bill Shanks Show on 104.3 FM in Savannah and online at TheSuperStations.com. You can email Bill at TheBillShanksShow@yahoo.com
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Here's why anything is possible for the Atlanta Braves | Bill Shanks
