The Braves are coming off their worst two-season stretch in a quarter-century, but one would never know from the upbeat mood around the team and the expectations among team members on the eve of spring training.
This is a still-rebuilding team that most have picked to finish fourth or fifth in the National League East, after a 95-loss season in 2015 and a 93-loss, last-place showing in 2016. However, some pundits — those who paid attention to the Braves’ second-half progress and offseason moves — think it can be among baseball’s most-improved teams in 2017.
“We are extremely excited for spring training,” said Braves general manager John Coppolella, who, along with president of baseball operations John Hart, has steered the franchise overhaul since October 2014. “When we embarked upon this rebuild, we never would have imagined that we would be so far along in such rapid succession. That is through the hard work of many, from our players themselves and our coaching staff to our player development, scouting, and front office.
“We still have a long way to go, but we are getting closer and closer to where we want to be.”
While most in the industry still doubt that the Braves can go from 93 losses to a postseason berth, many at least understand why Braves players and manager Brian Snitker insist they’re aiming high and trying to get back atop the division.
“When we finished the season you could tell — we weren’t that far off,” said Snitker, who took over a 9-28 team on May 17 after Fredi Gonzalez’s firing and guided the Braves to a 59-65 record the rest of the way, including 50 wins in the final 97 games and 20 wins in the last 30.
The Braves did what they did despite getting fewer than six innings most nights from a patchwork starting rotation in the second half. The offense was dramatically improved after the first two months, particularly following a trade for Matt Kemp and the August call-up of rookie shortstop Dansby Swanson.
Coppolella and Hart made fortifying the starting rotation the top offseason priority, and did it by signing former Cy Young Award winners Bartolo Colon and R.A. Dickey and trading for left-hander Jaime Garcia from the Cardinals.
The Braves believe that trio, plus the additions of versatile veteran Sean Rodriguez and former All-Star catcher Kurt Suzuki, will help make their first season at new SunTrust Park successful. They also know how important this spring training can be, to build on the momentum of late last season.
With that in mind, here are five things to watch as spring training nears. Pitchers and catchers report Tuesday.
Starting rotation
The Braves moved quickly in November to sign baseball’s oldest starters, Colon and Dickey, and trade for Garcia. All are innings-eaters if healthy, and Colon was an All-Star season at 43, posting a 3.43 ERA in 191 2/3 innings.
That trio joins All-Star Julio Teheran in a rotation that won’t have to rely on inexperienced or untested pitchers as it did the past two seasons. Mike Foltynewicz, who had some dominant starts in 2016, is expected to round out the rotation.
The additions of Colon, Dickey, Garcia should help the Braves on several levels, allowing the team to capitalize on improved offense and ease the burden on a bullpen that faltered late from the strain of so many early exits by starters.
“Starting pitching is the name of the game,” Coppolella said. “We feel we have a rotation anchor in Julio Teheran, and the rest of the rotation should see vast improvement through the additions of R.A. Dickey, Bartolo Colon, and Jaime Garcia. Mike Foltynewicz has as much potential and upside as any starting pitcher in baseball, and he will get every opportunity. Matt Wisler and Aaron Blair showed us flashes, but they will have to compete for opportunities this season.”
Prospects are coming
Swanson debuted in August and quickly became a fan favorite — and a Rookie of the Year candidate for 2017. He’s just one of many top prospects who’ll get attention from fans, media and team officials at spring training. The Braves will take a look at some of their many top pitching prospects and position players led by second baseman Ozzie Albies and outfielder Dustin Peterson, both of whom could make their major league debuts in 2017, depending on need.
Albies, 20, might’ve had a good chance for an opening-day starting job before he fractured his elbow on a swing in the Double-A playoffs. The Braves signed versatile veteran Sean Rodriguez in November and likely will start with him as the primary second baseman or sharing duties with Jace Peterson, though Albies is expected to be ready for camp.
There’s a lot of buzz around lefty reliever A.J. Minter, who was dominant at three minor league levels in his first season after Tommy John surgery. The Braves kept him on a strict schedule in 2016, but he won’t have restrictions this year. A potential future setup man or closer, he could debut at some point in 2017.
“There is also a chance that, later in the season, we may potentially see the first wave of our young (starting) pitching with Sean Newcomb, Lucas Sims, Max Fried, and Patrick Weigel,” Coppolella said. “That’s just the first wave and, once the floodgates are open, it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Now that’s a legit lineup
Ender Inciarte emerged as a strong leadoff hitter in 2016, and Kemp gave the Braves a needed presence in the cleanup spot behind Freeman. For 2017, Snitker plans to try Swanson batting second after hitting him down in the lineup during his first big-league stint.
The Braves could have a lineup with plenty of speed at the top, power in the middle and quality hitters throughout, with Inciarte followed by Swanson, Freeman, Kemp and a combination in some order of right fielder Nick Markakis, Rodriguez/Peterson, third baseman Adonis Garcia and catchers Tyler Flowers and Suzuki.
Closer situation
The Braves re-signed Jim Johnson to a two-year extension on the final day of the season and said he would enter spring as closer. They also said that could change. If one of the hard-throwing young relievers is ready to close, the role could be shared or Johnson could move to a setup role, where he excelled early in 2016 when Arodys Vizcaino was closing.
If Vizcaino can stay healthy, he and Mauricio Cabrera (102-mph fastball) could form with Johnson a formidable trio. Lefty Paco Rodriguez could also be a major piece, if he returns to the form he showed with the Dodgers before blowing out his elbow in late May 2015.
Chemistry and camaraderie
It would have been easy for the Braves, after a 9-28 start under Fredi Gonzalez, to have sleep-walked through the season and blown past 100 losses. That they turned it around under Snitker and were competitive for the last 3 1/2 months of the season said plenty about Snitker and about the talent and leadership among Braves players.
The key players are back, and the Braves added a few more veterans known as hard workers and good influences. Braves officials say character and reputation were important when they pursued free agents or trades. They wanted guys who would fit in well and strengthen, not disrupt, the major league team’s clubhouse chemistry.
Spring training is when bonds are formed that can help a team overcome adversity during the 162-game season.
THIS WEEK
Tuesday: Pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Friday: Position players report to spring training
Saturday: First full-squad workout
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