State of the Braves

The Braves are blessed with the two most valuable players in baseball as we speak. Sean Murphy and Ronald Acuna have been nothing short of awesome. Despite multiple injuries continuing to plague the Braves, these two along with key contributions from the rest of the team have helped the Braves to the best record in the National League. However, concerns still linger especially over the health of t...

After winning eight straight, the Braves hit their worst losing streak since 2021. Losers of four straight, the bullpen has begun to falter and several in the lineup have gone cold. But it's not all bad. Acuna and Murphy have been terrific while the starting rotation has rounded into form nicely. Here's hoping another winning streak is right around the corner.

Despite a rash of injuries and key players on the IL the Braves have played well in the first few weeks of the season. Some unlikely players including Bryce Elder, Sam Hilliard, and Jesse Chavez have stepped up and proven to give the Braves great depth that should lead to success for the long season to come.

There are a ton of positives from the first week of the season for the Braves, but none bigger than the play of Ronald Acuna, Jr. He looks faster and more explosive than ever, showing all five tools at an elite level. Braves fans have a lot to be excited about this season.

Take a listen to several brave predictions of what I expect from the Braves this year. Beyond some individual player predictions, I also give you my playoff predictions. Then I give you my take on the opening series against the Nationals. Yes, there were some disappointments, but it largely left me encouraged.

Let's dive into player predictions for the upcoming season. Will Acuna be back to his dominant self? Will Michael Harris have a sophomore slump or continue to be a beast? Will time finally run out on Charlie Morton's arm or will he turn back the clock one more time? I break down every key player for the Braves and give an over/under prediction on Fangraphs projections.

Everyone was a mix of shocked and confused by the Braves' shortstop decision. What went into it? Is it all about 40 man roster depth or is there something else to it? Also, beyond the shortstop issue, there are a lot of good things going for the Braves. We'll talk about those too.

As we get closer to opening day the position battles are coming into focus with several surprises. Ian Anderson and Bryce Elder were underwhelming in their spring performances and were unceremoniously sent down to minors camp, putting Jared Shuster and Dylan Dodd competing for the 5th starter spot. Meanwhile the 4th outfielder battle has gotten interesting as Sam Hilliard and Eli White have outper...

Let's talk about the new pitch clock rule. I give my thoughts on the pros and cons of the rule and especially the potential downsides. Meanwhile, the fifth starter competition hasn't gotten off to the best of starts but that doesn't mean you should be worried. And finally, Vaughn Grissom looks good in the early goings of spring training. Will he be Dansby Swanson? No, but he doesn't need to be. He...

On the eve of spring training, we take a break from baseball news to talk about the best baseball movies of all time. Do you agree with my list?

In this weeks episodes we cover the departure of Chip Caray to the Cardinals. Are you going to miss Chip or are you excited about who might replace him? We also update how Vaughn Grissom's workouts have been going with Wash, who got an invite to spring training, and what the ZIPs projections think about the Braves chances this year.

The Astros hire away Braves' scouting director Dana Brown. We take a look at his impressive tenure with the Braves. Meanwhile, Brian Snitker deservingly gets an extension, signing through 2025. Join as we discuss these developments and other recent news.

First we discuss the complicated legacy of John Coppolella after MLB lifted the ex-Braves GM's lifetime ban. Many of the Braves' core players were added by Coppy, yet his tenure was still a stain on the organization. Next, we analyze why Vaughn Grissom should be given a chance to be starting shortstop for the Braves this season. The Braves keep saying they believe in him, and it will be interestin...

The Braves have done a great job over the last few seasons to lock up some of their best players, mostly position players. Left Field is obvious area of immediate need, while Shortstop is a big question mark, with the Braves seemingly placing their hopes in the promise of Vaughn Grissom. But looking a little deeper, the biggest area of concern long-term may be at starting pitcher. Join me as I div...

The Braves extend yet another member of their young core, locking up newly acquired catcher Sean Murphy to a 6 year $73 million dollar contract. We discuss the value of the move and how the Braves continue to be able to lock up players on "team friendly deals."

With the signing of Carlos Correa (we think) the Mets may be the favorites on paper to win the NL East. Of course, baseball isn't played on paper, so we dive into the strengths and weaknesses of each team. We discuss where the Braves can get better and what weaknesses may be lurking for the Mets.

Dansby Swanson leaves Atlanta for Chicago as he accepts a 7 year $177 million deal from the Cubs. The Braves likely never made a competitive offer for the long time Braves shortstop. We discuss why and talk about about the ramifications of the holes left by Dansby's departure. He leaves with 1 world series ring, a gold glove, an all-star appearance, and 5 NL East division titles.

The Braves make a surprising trade for Oakland catcher Sean Murphy. While Murphy is a great player, this move deserves some scrutiny as the Braves part ways with the talented, young, and controllable William Contreras. We analyze the move and discuss how it could shape the rest of the offseason for the Braves.

The Braves weren't very active during the winter meetings, but that doesn't mean there aren't any take-aways. It's becoming increasingly likely that the Braves don't resign Dansby Swanson, and if that happens then what do the Braves do to replace his production? Several free agent targets are off the board. Do the Braves turn to the trade market? We'll look at their options.

Beyond the shortstop question (Dansby) what else might be Braves do this offseason. Could they go big to improve left field or will they go with internal options? Will they venture into the waters of the massive free agent pitching options like DeGrom and Verlander or do they like what they have already?

Will the Braves resign Dansby Swanson? While that is yet to be determined, let's break down the Braves' shortstop to get a better feel of his value and how he compares to other shortstops in the league.

Before the season began I made quite a few predictions regarding the Braves. I got a few right and a few wrong. But I think a few of these were pretty darn good! Take a listen.

The Braves are given an early exit by the Phillies. We dive into what went wrong for the Braves, but also consider all the takeaways from the 2022 season. Don't forget how much this team accomplished, and that they will be good for years to come. Bring on the offseason and 2023, because the Braves will be right there with the best teams in baseball once again.

After disappointing pitching performances in games 1 and 3 and lackluster offense most of the way, the Braves find themselves needing to win two straight games from a Phillies team that is riding high with confidence. The bulk of the responsibility falls on Charlie Morton, who hasn't been very good lately, but has a history of coming up big in big games. If the Braves are going to advanced, Morton...

The Braves accomplished their first major goal of the season of winning the the NL East in dramatic fashion. By sweeping the Mets in Atlanta (including beating deGrom and Scherzer on back to back nights) and finishing the task with a win against the Marlins, the Braves earned a pivotal first round bye in the newly constructed expanding playoff format. How did they do it? By overcoming a lot of div...