No Excuses: Braves' season will be defined by any October success
Mar. 28—The calendar has almost turned to April. The weather is starting to feel like spring (even though the rain could calm down a little bit). It must be time for baseball season.
The start of Major League Baseball should once again have Atlanta Braves fans hyped about the potential of this year's squad. A seventh straight National League East Division championship should be a given. A second straight Most Valuable Player Award for Ronald Acuna Jr. is not out of the question, while a first Cy Young Award for Spencer Strider is a real possibility.
But let's face it, the success of this year's team will not be determined by what it accomplishes during a long 162-game season but what it does come October. The last two seasons have ended miserably for the Braves, losing to the division rival Philadelphia Phillies in both years.
It would be disappointing if the Braves made it to the National League Championship Series and lost, especially on the heels of a World Series title in 2021. But these Braves have not been able to make it out of the divisional round when they have had homefield advantage.
Braves fans have a right to feel frustrated with the endings to the last two years, but they should feel a renewed optimism heading into this season. The lineup is once again loaded from top to bottom and should feel re-energized after last year's postseason offensive collapse against the Phillies
The pitching staff has been retooled and features a dominant ace in Strider, a crafty left-hander in Max Fried, a veteran presence in Charlie Morton and the team's prized acquisition during the offseason in Chris Sale. And as I have written about in the past, the team has young hurlers in the minor leagues ready for their shot if and when the team encounters the injury bug.
The bullpen is considered one of the best in baseball and the bench features a heavy hitting presence in Adam Duvall who will platoon with Jarred Kelenic in left field.
Anything short of a National League Championship Series berth would be considered a massive disappointment at this stage for these group of players. The Los Angeles Dodgers bought several high-priced talent and probably are the favorites out of the National League.
A berth in the World Series is not a guarantee for the Braves. But there are no excuses for not winning a playoff series this year. They are too good, too deep and too experienced. But we could have said that the previous two postseasons, couldn't we?
Let's hope this year ends differently.
