They kept telling us, as the trading for and the drafting of arms reached the level of obsession, that this Braves rebuild would be a pitcher-based process.
A return to glory must start on the mound and radiate outward, we have all been told. No matter what Copernicus said, that bump in the middle of the diamond is actually the center of the universe.
Well, look at the Braves now. They occupy first in the NL East. And, as a result, they are sure to be well represented in July’s All-Star Game. After all, the Braves did not get here, after losing 90 games just a season ago, by failing to trot out a few stars.
But what the Braves representation in Washington is likely to underscore is the fact that this half-season of possibility has had much to do with those players who do everything but pitch. While one-third of the starting National League position players may be Braves – Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies and Nick Markakis – what about the Braves pitching prospects in the Mid-Summer Classic? There’s no ballot box-stuffing to be done on their behalf.
Certainly no one from the bullpen is fit for All-Star duty. That particular unit is appearing more patchwork, and getting more frayed and worrisome, by the day.
More encouragingly, two young starters have raised their hands as possibilities.
Starting Wednesday afternoon against Cincinnati, Sean Newcomb was called upon to set the Braves right after a loss. He had gone into that game 6-0, with a 1.34 ERA, in eight starts following a Braves loss. He had been one of the steadying influences on a starting staff that was short on stability. Alas, he left Wednesday’s game with the lead but took a no-decision in a 6-5 Braves loss (see previous slight of the bullpen).
Mike Foltynewicz is a more complex case. He doesn’t pitch particularly efficiently. His starts are sometimes like abstract art – yes, it’s good, I guess, but can’t say I understand how or why.
Yet here he is, coming off the DL, second in the National League in batting average against (.191) and putting up a splendid ERA, 2.14.
Certainly one of them is worthy of a little All-Star love. But might the Braves success in landing position players on that team work against Newcomb and Foltynewicz? If there’s a notion that the Braves are adequately – or more than adequately – represented, those 12 pitching spots could get passed around to other arms from other teams.
However that plays out, in this part of the season dedicated to celebrating stardom, it is clear that the lead actors of this team are coming from the everyday ranks. Which remains a bit off message, given the philosophy of the great rebuild.
Yes, the Braves have embarked on a frantic arms race. We even have joked about it with every draft pick and every trade – oh, there’s a big surprise, another pitcher.
And, yet, as the All-Stars of the bunch are being identified, this much is clear about the state of the Braves pitching:
They need even more.
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