Who’s on the Winning Base Path in 1^st Half of the 2017 MLB Season?

The Atlanta Braves got a new pad this year, Sun Trust Park. They already have surpassed the million mark in attendance and are averaging 6,000 more fans at home games then last year. This is not too shabby for a team that has lost over 180 games over the last two seasons. Nobody expected Atlanta to be in second place at the halfway point and only three games under 500. There have been bright spots and disappointments. 

Mr. Brave goes to Freddie Freeman. Before Freddie’s injury, he led the National League in home runs and was Mr. Clutch. The man is dedicated. He should have been out ten weeks, but he returned in eight and making an impact right away. In six games, back Freeman has three doubles and two home runs as well as the .385 batting average.

We have to acknowledge the Braves front office. Bringing in Matt Adams from the St. Louis Cardinals was a great move right after Freeman went down with a fractured wrist and was placed on the disable list. Adams had several walk-off hits and with the Braves is batting .292, has 13 home runs and 35 runs batted in. Matt has made the Braves aware he needs to stay in Atlanta.

Again, the front office is realizing what they need to do to win. Letting their young pitchers pitch. Mike Foltynewicz and Sean Newcomb are showing they can throw the rock in the MLB Show. The top brass finally realized that Bartolo Colon was a disappointment. The Braves released Bartolo Colon and must face the fact that sticking with Colon was not a good move.

The Braves veterans have been holding their own.  The Braves brought in experience last year with Matt Kemp, Brandon Phillips, and Nick Markakis. All three players have been clutch at one point or another this season. We can’t forget about the Braves Only All-Star Ender Inciarte. Ender leads the team based on at-bats in batting average, on-base percentage, and hits. The Braves are still waiting for local product Dansby Swanson to shine with his bat, but he has saved some games with his glove with some top ten defensively plays.

Overall, the Braves were not supposed to compete and were projected to lose another 90 games. Atlanta enters the second half three games under .500 and has shown a lot of bright spots. If the young pitchers improve, and the veterans hold the team together. The Braves are on the winning path in the 2017 MLB season. The second half will be interesting for “Da Braves.”