The Braves haven’t had consecutive losing seasons in a quarter of a century, and they know that a consensus among pundits is they have little chance of avoiding that dubious distinction this year.
After finishing 79-83 in 2014 and trading three of the top hitters from one of the majors’ worst offenses, many expect the Braves to lose 90 games for the first time since consecutive 97-loss seasons in 1989-1990. Some even suggest they could lose 100.
But they Braves aren’t buying it. Not in the clubhouse, where they seem, somewhat improbably, rejuvenated.
In their inner sanctum, the Braves have taken quite a different view of their chances. They relish the underdog role they’ll have against teams including the Marlins, whom they face Monday on opening day at Marlins Park.
Most of them can’t remember the Braves ever being picked to finish behind the Marlins in the National League East.
“Yeah, it’s kind of weird,” Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman said, smiling. “I haven’t been on this side of it; they’re always picking us to compete with the Nationals. But obviously that’s not the case this year. But it’s our job to go out there and prove everybody wrong, and that’s what we’re going to try and do. We’re going to go out there and play hard.”
Freeman added, “Can’t worry about the Nationals, just got to worry about yourself. Can’t worry about the Mets and their pitching staff, or the Marlins and their pitching staff, you’ve just got to go out there and take care of what you can control, and I think that’s going out there and playing hard nine innings every single game.”
Truth is, they believe they can do more than just avoid embarrassment. They say their goal is making the postseason.
One of the biggest reasons for the collective confidence is a conspicuous new guy. The bearded, heavily tattooed veteran with the piercing eyes and intensity seemingly oozing from his pores. Left fielder Jonny Gomes.
The guy who announced on the day he reported to spring training, “I’m here to win, and I’m here to win it all. That’s where I’m at.”
They might not believe they’re ready to win it all just yet, but Gomes has helped infuse a level of confidence most Braves didn’t display a year ago — when they actually had a team many picked to win the division.
“We all believe in ourselves, and I think Jonny Gomes coming in – I think he’s changed the clubhouse culture,” Freeman said. “We believe in ourselves because of how he goes about his business. He’s the ultimate pro and he’s changed this clubhouse culture, in my opinion. He’s made everybody believe we can win.”
Can one player really have that much of an effect on an entire team, including on a two-time All-Star like Freeman? Another well-traveled veteran, Kelly Johnson, believes so.
“That’s his mindset, that’s what makes him special,” said Johnson, who has known Gomes since the two were teammates in the Arizona Fall League in 2003, and faced him frequently the past two seasons when Gomes was with the Red Sox – they won the 2013 World Series — and Johnson was with the Rays and Yankees.
Johnson related a story about a beginning-of-spring team meeting where bench coach Carlos Tosca spoke about intensity. These Braves know they will need to have that, and do things right on a regular basis to have any real chance to be successful. Now more than ever, they need to play with energy and focus. Signing Gomes was done with that in mind.
“Carlos Tosca had a chance to say a few words, and he was absolutely right – not everybody gets to do what we do, so bring it every day,” Johnson said. “And that’s Jonny’s mentality. That’s got to be it, every day. Not only just show up and play the game, exude it. When you walk around the clubhouse, it needs to be about what you’re going to prepare to do. Have your routine, go in the weight room, do your work. All that leads to performing on the field and winning.”
Johnson, played with six different teams, including the entire American League East, in five seasons between his first tenure with the Braves and his return this year. He’s seen all sorts of clubhouse chemistry, and said it’s hard to overstate how important it can be to have veteran set a tone of energy and intensity as Gomes does.
“I would say out of the travels I’ve had and playing with guys in different places and picking a little bit of that up, just for personally it’s been huge,” he said. “Jonny’s all about that, and for him to bring that to the whole team, I think it’s a big deal, and guys just need to realize that’s special and to buy in.
“Guys who’ve been here before – David Ross, and (Eric) Hinske, and Mac (Brian McCann) was like that too. (Eric) O’Flaherty and Billy Wagner and guys like that. It’s a new group now and it’s something that’s extremely important to winning. We’ve seen that with the Giants, Cardinals, Red Sox – the same teams are in it every year, and that’s a huge part of why, because of their culture.”
