Before playing the Tigers in their Florida spring-training finale Sunday, several Braves talked about what an encouraging spring training it’s been for a team that believes it can make significant progress this year after three consecutive seasons of at least 90 losses.
The Braves have exhibition games at SunTrust Park Monday against the Yankees and Tuesday against Braves prospects, then open the regular season at home Thursday against the Phillies.
FREDDIE FREEMAN
On whether a prediction of 80 or more wins seems high for this Braves team
“I don’t think so at all. I think we’re going to have a lot of young guys that can make impacts that can influence a lot of wins coming up. We can get (Luiz) Gohara back; that’s a big piece. And with the way the starting pitching has looked this spring, why not (80 or more wins)? We need to score runs and hopefully pitch well and our bullpen looks great. So, why not?”
Is it a matter of not necessarily getting career years from guys, but just what they’re capable of and avoiding injuries?
“Yes, and that’s with most teams. A lot of things have to go right. And we’ve got the chance that if things go right we can win way over 80 games. I think with the way (starting pitchers) Julio (Teheran), Folty (Mike Foltynewicz), Brandon (McCarthy), (Sean) Newcomb and everybody has looked; everybody has looked great. So hopefully we can score some runs for them and we’ll be right there.”
You leave Florida this year feeling excited about the team, like you’ve done what you wanted to get done this spring?
“Yeah. More excited today to go home, but I think we’re all ready (for the season). We’ve played real good baseball. We’ve implemented a lot – pick-offs, we’re doing that; we’re stealing a lot more bases, putting pressure on teams. I think everybody’s taking notice in this league that we’re playing a different game this year and hopefully that can translate to a lot more wins.”
More on pick-offs and little things
“(Saturday) we picked two guys off. Everything we’ve been working on in spring training before the games, we’re not just doing it to do it. We’re actually practicing it and putting it into games. Hit a double like Aaron Hicks did (Saturday for the Yankees against the Braves) and get picked off, that changes the whole course of the game. I think that’s going to be huge. We’ve got to do those things to be competitive all through the year.”
On Braves phenom Ronald Acuna and where he might hit in the lineup once he’s called up, if not in the first week he comes up then in a month or two later
“I mean, he’s going to be play himself into where he should be hitting. You can’t just put somebody in a lineup (at a specific fixed spot), you’ve got to let them come in and get settled, he’ll let you know where he’s going to hit in the lineup. You can’t say he’s going to hit here, here or here after a week or two. He’ll let everybody know where he should be.”
NICK MARKAKIS
On wrapping up spring training and what team has accomplished and worked on
“You use spring training for what it is, just to get ready for the season. Work on situations, let our pitchers work, get at-bats, play defense and prepare for the season. I think everybody here’s done a good job doing that.”
On Freeman saying the team has implemented or worked more on little things like pick-off plays and base-stealing
“All aspects of the game like that are important, you have to do the little things throughout the course of the season. You’ve got to cover all your bases and take care of all that stuff, because you never known when it’s going to be used in a game situation. It’s important to cover that stuff, and our coaching staff has done a great job in preparing us. It’s up to us now.”
Do you feel good about the team leaving here, like it’s further along than the past couple of years?
“Absolutely. It’s hard to say they’re not. We’ve got a lot of younger guys coming up now and they’re making impacts. That’s what you want to see; it’s good to see that. It’s been awesome and hopefully in the future a lot more can do that and get this organization to where it wants to be.”
SAM FREEMAN
On how much the team has accomplished this spring
“The games started about five days sooner and I was pleasantly surprised for the amount of work that we’ve been able to get done.”
On the team and the influx of young talent, moving forward
“From the talent perspective with the young guys we’ve got coming up, it’s exciting. It’s exciting to be a part of. It definitely seems to have been taken in the right direction, in my opinion.”
On the bullpen and how A.J. Minter thinks skeptics are wrong and that this can be a great bullpen
“I would agree, man. Obviously it all depends on us pitching to our full potential, but if we’re able to do that we’ll catch a lot of people by surprise.”
CHARLIE CULBERSON
On working on the fundamentals that Freeman talked about and implementing them in games, the pick-offs and base-stealing, etc.
“Those are the little things that teams do to win. So for a coaching staff to see things like that happening, I’m sure it’s nice; for us to execute some of those things it’s huge. You can’t just think about it and not do it, so it’s good to see.”
Coming from an organization (Dodgers) that had World Series in mind from the outset of the season, do you get a good feeling around the Braves this spring?
“Yeah, I think there’s definitely a good mixture. A lot of young guys that bring a lot of energy, and then obviously the veterans that lead by example too. You need everybody pulling at different ends. Not everybody is going to be your All-Star and you’ve got to have everybody be on the same page and have the same goal in mind. That was an easy thing with the Dodgers, everyone had the same goal. You have to have it to win or succeed. Just keep that mindset and keep it every single day.”
DANSBY SWANSON
On the excitement of leaving here and working on little things in camp like bunts, base-stealing, defensive positioning
“I think the easiest way to sum it up is details, paying attention to details. Especially with having standards change, just with positioning defensively and even offensively with different positioning and base-running and things like that. When you pay attention to those details and work out those kinks now so you can go into the season and work on the same plan and put into practice what we’re trying to accomplish. Focusing on those details makes those things come more naturally.”
On how the newcomers – players and coaches – have melded during spring training
“What we just talked about (working on details) has helped because it keeps everyone in constant communication. And when that happens, I feel like everyone has a better understanding of what’s expected and personalities and how to communicate with one another. So I think we’re in a good spot and I think that we’ll only be able to build off of that moving forward.”
Do you like where things are as you guys leave here, for the team and yourself?
“Everything. I think that this year, having focused on those details we’re in a better spot and we’re more prepared and we have a better understanding of how to be prepared for each day and each game in order to win. That’s the biggest thing is we all want to win, and we’re definitely taking the right strides to do that. And as far as myself, I feel really great with where I’m at. With the adjustments I’ve made, I’ve been able to work on it and hone it in. Like we talked about before, statistics down here are somewhat meaningless. It’s all about how you feel and the rhythm, and I feel phenomenal with those kinds of things. I’m excited, and I think everyone is, to to get back home and be able to sleep in our own beds.”
KURT SUZUKI
On wrapping up spring training in Florida and heading back to Atlanta
“It’s always exciting. I mean, you’re here for six weeks or whatever and you get to the time to break camp and go to the place you’re going to be for six months and get ready to start when it really counts.”
Do you leave here with a good feeling about this team?
“Yeah, you’re always optimistic when you leave camp. It’s just about going out there and performing.”
