Immaculate Team?

[Runnin]

Is this the best Braves team ever? If not the best, they've put themselves in the conversation. I don't know all the history but there haven't been many teams who have played a better first half of the season. And they don't seem to be over-performing that much. They are just very good.

The offense is clearly the best in the league, by a lot. And the pitching, starting pitching anyway, has proven to be way deeper and way better than anyone expected. If Fried comes back and can remain healthy for the rest of the year it almost won't be a fair contest.

Still plenty ball to be played this year and a lot of things can happen and it usually does, but so far it's hard to remember a team this dominant. I keep expecting reality to return with a series of bad breaks.

Snit and the whole coaching staff deserve a ton of credit for keeping the team level-headed and focused when they step onto the field.

unjinx

 

[striker42]

They have a non zero chance of breaking the record for most wins in a season ever. It's not likely but it's a legitimate possibility.

 

[Runnin]

They have a non zero chance of breaking the record for most wins in a season ever. It's not likely but it's a legitimate possibility.

That's just a record, not necessarily the best team. We're at .678 winning percentage. That's 109 wins. And the team looks to be settling in to a very high level of play.

I'm not saying they are the best ever, just that they are damn good and seem to be getting better. They've been very good now for several years. Just curious what folks would say.

 

[Southcack77]

That's just a record, not necessarily the best team. We're at .678 winning percentage. That's 109 wins. And the team looks to be settling in to a very high level of play.

I'm not saying they are the best ever, just that they are damn good and seem to be getting better. They've been very good now for several years. Just curious what folks would say.

Hard to say that the team less its #1 and #3 starter is the best.

Maybe if they come back and are great you could say that.

The Gwinnett rotation dealing in the majors seems like something that could fall off.

 

[Carp]

Elder leading majors in ERA with a FIP of 3.80 is not sustainable. On the flip side Strider has a 3.66 ERA and a 2.98 FIP. So hopefully any regression in luck from Elder is off-set by a revert in luck from Strider.

And obviously getting a healthy Fried back is key as well. Soroka looks good enough to hold down the 5th spot imo, even if he never quite gets back to his former glory.

 

[thewupk]

This squad might be better than the 98 team. Hard to say. IMO the 98 team was the best complete squad the Braves have ever had.

 

[CyYoung31]

Not even as good as the 2022 Dodgers.

 

[SJ24]

Not even as good as the 2022 Dodgers.

The Braves get Wright and Fried back and they cook, we could very easily win more than 111.

And we are built for the long haul. You could see consecutive seasons of 110+ wins.

 

[bravesfanforlife88]

Not going to get ahead of myself. If we get typical Max Fried back, we are dangerous. Not expecting to get Wright back. But if we do, perhaps move him to the pen to take some pressure off his shoulder.

Another impact BP piece at the deadline would set us up really well.

 

[SJ24]

This squad might be better than the 98 team. Hard to say. IMO the 98 team was the best complete squad the Braves have ever had.

1998 Atlanta Braves on July 8th: 59-29

2023 Atlanta Braves on July 8th: 59-28

The 1998 Braves finished the rest of the month of July 13-9.

The 2023 Braves are 26-5 since the beginning of June.

That's an 83.8% winning percentage, or a pace of 136 wins over a full season.

 

[SJ24]

Braves offensive stats at 87 games (fewer than Rangers, who are at 89, and the Rays at 91):

Runs: 3rd
Hits: 2nd
HRs: 1st
TB: 1st
AVG: 2nd
OBP: 2nd
SLG: 1st
OPS: 1st

6 of the 9 guys in the lineup are All-Stars.

Acuna is going to win the MVP, and Olson leads the NL in HR and RBI.

You have the best catcher in the game, your 2B will hit 40 bombs, and your 9 hole hitter is hitting .350+ over the last month.

Austin Riley will hit .265 with 30 bombs and he's a mere afterthought.

 

[Nerfherders]

I saw a stat I almost couldn't believe. Since this run started in June 1st (and through Wednesday) the Braves had a .577 SLG AS A TEAM. Only three PLAYERS have a better SLG, and two are on the Braves.

 

[thewupk]

I saw a stat I almost couldn't believe. Since this run started in June 1st (and through Wednesday) the Braves had a .577 SLG AS A TEAM. Only three PLAYERS have a better SLG, and two are on the Braves.

Here is another way to look at it. In that same time period the Braves hit 306/368/574 - 941 OPS

Chipper for his career hit 303/401/529 - 930 OPS

Our entire team hit like Chipper for a month plus. That's wild as ****.

 

[CyYoung31]

Here is another way to look at it. In that same time period the Braves hit 306/368/574 - 941 OPS

Chipper for his career hit 303/401/529 - 930 OPS

Our entire team hit like Chipper for a month plus. That's wild as ****.

Cheating.

 

[Runnin]

This patchwork pitching staff has allowed fewer runs than every team except the Twins.

 

[Enscheff]

All this “we” talk aside, this offense is likely the best ever to wear a tomahawk, but even a fully healthy rotation doesn’t compare to the Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz rotations.

However, if AA can somehow land a guy like Nola this offseason, and he joins Fried and Strider in the rotation, we could be looking at the best team ever

 

[thewupk]

All this “we” talk aside, this offense is likely the best ever to wear a tomahawk, but even a fully healthy rotation doesn’t compare to the Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz rotations.

However, if AA can somehow land a guy like Nola this offseason, and he joins Fried and Strider in the rotation, we could be looking at the best team ever

The real solution is to back the truck up for Ohtani and backload it to where the 2024 hit isn't much. Use Frieds and Ozunas expiring 2024 money to pay for it.

 

[Heyward]

The real solution is to back the truck up for Ohtani and backload it to where the 2024 hit isn't much. Use Frieds and Ozunas expiring 2024 money to pay for it.

This offseason will be... Umm rather interesting. Assuming TDA's option is picked up, we're set at C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, CF, RF, and Ozuna is back. Eddie at 9M seems like a lock to pick up unless AA has someone he wants in free agency. A rotation piece certainly seems like the most possible option to spend on. I like the Nola mention but i can see AA try to plan for Fried's eventual exit.

There's some interesting LHP due to hit FA: Jordan Montgomery, Julio Urias, Blake Snell, James Paxton, ERod has an opt out i would figure he uses as well. I could see AA throw a 1 year big offer at a guy like Jack Flaherty if he'd take it. Spotrac has us at 154 in luxury tax payroll for 24 but can clear 31 if we decline Yates, McHugh and Charlie's options. But Yates and McHugh 5.7 and 6M arent terrible value for how they've been. If we win the WS, i can see Charlie hang it up. We have a decent amount of guys in arb so that'll offset some.

 

[Heyward]

To the topic at hand, they gotta take home the WS to be mentioned with that fair or not. As stupid as playoff baseball is as we all know.

 

[SJ24]

All this “we” talk aside, this offense is likely the best ever to wear a tomahawk, but even a fully healthy rotation doesn’t compare to the Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz rotations.

However, if AA can somehow land a guy like Nola this offseason, and he joins Fried and Strider in the rotation, we could be looking at the best team ever

Of course Enscheff focuses on something as silly as FANS using "we" when talking about their favorite team.

I love Enscheff.

He's a pedant nerd's pedant nerd.