Yes, the Atlanta Braves need pitching. But here's something else to add | Bill Shanks
With the Atlanta Braves losing to the Philadelphia Phillies for the second year in a row in the Division Series, everyone seems to be asking one critical question.
What does a team that won 104 games in the regular season and set a number of offensive records need to do to beat one particular team?
Well, there may not be one true answer, and it’s difficult to say if the Braves do one thing in particular it will guarantee they will get past the Division Series round next year. They need to make changes, including another starting pitcher (or two), reshaping the bullpen, and getting a new left fielder.
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Let’s add one more item to the thing-to-do list for General Manager Alex Anthopoulos this winter. The Braves need to go find a jerk to add to the roster.
The 2023 Braves roster included a lot of great guys. They were nice. They were solid. And maybe being “great, nice and solid” creates an environment that may make people think they are soft or too business-like.
That was a regular criticism of the Braves that won 14 straight division titles from 1991-2005. Some believed the strait-laced Braves were too stiff, that they didn’t have enough fun. Well, this year’s team had fun, had swagger, but occasionally, like last week, something was missing.
Take the situation with the report that after Monday’s win over the Phillies, Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia said, in the clubhouse, “…ha ha, attaboy (Bryce) Harper.” A Fox Sports reporter printed that and talk shows in Philadelphia ran with it. It got back to Harper, and when he hit two home runs in Game Three, he did classic stare downs to Arcia as he rounded second base.
Let’s stay out of the journalism debate about whether or not it should have been reported or not. Fact is, who cares. Do you think after making a play like that to end a playoff game there wasn’t going to be jubilation in the Atlanta clubhouse? And since Harper is Philadelphia’s best player, you know there was extra happiness he was the one caught too far off first base.
Why was it such a big deal? What were the Braves players supposed to say after a play like that? Sure, you never want anything to get out to inspire another player, but do you think Harper, one of the best players in the sport, really required extra inspiration to do well in the playoffs?
The only real comment by a Braves player that got traction the next day was from Travis d’Arnaud, one of the great guys on the team. He basically said it was unfortunate that was printed and that the clubhouse should be a sanctuary.
It’s a shame (and this is not a direct criticism necessarily on d’Arnaud) no one in the Braves clubhouse came out and said, “Who cares? Dang right we were happy we doubled-up Harper!” Someone perhaps needed to say, “Look, we’re not ashamed of being excited after we finished the game with one of the best double plays you’ll ever see.”
And it wouldn’t have hurt if when Harper was staring Arcia down that someone on the team shouted at him to keep running. Good thing Brian McCann wasn’t at home plate waiting on him. There might have been an incident.
Go back two years ago when the Braves won the World Series. That would not have happened if Anthopoulos had not acquired Joc Pederson. He was the one that rallied the team when they were struggling to put together a win streak in late-July that season. Pederson was the personality that clubhouse needed to not be so button-down and instead have fun playing baseball and to believe in themselves.
Pederson was the one that coined the phrase, “We are those….,” which became a rallying cry that was even inscribed inside the Braves World Series rings. He wore pearls and inspired many Georgians to do the same thing – at a ballgame no less. Other Braves players said Pederson was the one to give them confidence they could go all the way, with an attitude that had been lacking.
That’s what’s lacking now. Even after all the wins, all the home runs, the Braves didn’t seem confident playing a team that was oozing with confidence. The Phillies were not intimidated to play a team that finished 14 games ahead of them in the regular season standings. They knew they could beat the Braves, since they did it last year. They had personalities and practically took on the persona of their crazy fans and their city.
The Phillies players seemed to dislike the Braves. There’s nothing wrong with that. That’s sports. Maybe the Braves need someone to hate in the other uniform, kind of like the fans do.
Spencer Strider has a great chance to be that type of leader, that type of personality. Strider was visibly upset after the Braves were eliminated. He took responsibility, took the blame, and vowed to do whatever needed to do better next season. Strider has that hard-edge the pitching staff needs, but someone who plays every day might help create that same attitude and environment.
Maybe it’s Pederson. He’s a free agent again. He plays left field. Maybe there’s someone else who is available that would be the perfect fit. Maybe, mixed in with all the great, nice and solid guys the Braves have on this team, they just need someone else who can move the needle.
Maybe they just need a jerk.
Listen to The Bill Shanks Show weekdays at 3:00 pm ET 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 what the Atlanta Braves must add in the offseason | Bill Shanks
