By Brandon Murphy – Last Word On Baseball
The Atlanta Braves finished with the third-worst record in baseball for 2015. Plans were for the team to be worse in 2016. The season headed that way to start, as they began the season by losing their first nine games, and 29 of their first 39. However, the Braves turned the rest of the season into one of the best in baseball. Atlanta boasted an MVP first baseman, a Gold Glove center fielder, a future shortstop, and a manager that forced the front office to change his interim status.
Atlanta Braves 2016 Season Recap
Freddie Freeman Establishes His Stardom
At the end of May, there were growing concerns about Freddie Freeman as the leader of the Braves. From June on, he was the best first baseman in all of baseball. It’s that simple.
After hitting .177 through April 24, Freeman ended with a .302/.400/.569 slash line and career-highs in home runs (34), hits (178), and doubles (43). He also knocked six triples and stole six bases, and Freeman is not fast. He ended the season with 6.5 WAR, best among first baggers, which is exceptional considering the talent at the position today.
Freeman has now established himself as the leader of the Braves clubhouse for years to come and one of the best first baseman in baseball. His $135 million contract through 2021 is looking more like a steal; Freeman is coming into his prime right as the franchise starts its new chapter at SunTrust Park.
Brian Snitker Gains Trust As Braves Skipper
After a 9-28 start, the Braves fired manager Fredi Gonzalez and handed the reigns to Snitker, a long-time Braves coach.
Snitker never seemed to be anything more than his interim status. However, the Braves turnaround in the second half provided enough reason for the front office to sign him full-time.
Atlanta finished 59-65 under Snitker, posting an 18-9 record in September, while going 50-46 after the All-Star break. Braves players seem overwhelmingly infatuated with Snitker, due to his longevity in the franchise and with these players across all levels.
Although Snitker isn’t the most tactical manager in baseball, his guidance of these young Braves is most important. He salvaged a dreadful season in Atlanta, and now will lead this club into a new ballpark.
New Braves Kickstart Second Half Dominance
The most memorable part of Atlanta’s first half happened in San Diego, where Julio Teheran completed a 1-2-3 fifth inning at the All-Star Game. The Braves second half proved more favorable, as their offense exploded as one of the best in the game.
The Braves offense produced a 112 wRC+ in the second half, good for second-best mark in baseball. The majority of this resurgence came from new or revitalized Braves faces.
Ender Inciarte was the best center fielder in baseball after the break, hitting .341 while playing Gold Glove defense.
Matt Kemp knocked 12 home runs in 56 games with Atlanta, while producing a .307/.365/.584 slash at Turner Field.
Adonis Garcia produced a .293 batting average in the second half and played admirable defense at third base after being the worst defensive player in baseball during the first half.
Dansby Swanson was called up on August 17 and established himself as the Braves future shortstop. Swanson hit .302 with an .803 OPS in 38 games with Atlanta, and played stellar defense.
All of this production, combined with the new leadership of Snitker, resulted in Atlanta producing a winning record after May. They also won more games than in 2015, after pundits picked them to finish with the worst record in the majors before the season.
John Coppolella Is a Criminal on the Player Market
Braves general manager John Coppolella should be charged with theft after the moves he’s made since last December.
First, there is the infamous trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks that resulted in the removal of everyone responsible from Arizona’s end. However, that wasn’t the only move crime-worthy from Coppy.
In July, he traded waiver pieces Lucas Harrell and Dario Alvarez to the Texas Rangers for young, high-ceiling bat Travis Demeritte. Demeritte had an exceptional season in High-A Carolina and has skyrocketed up Atlanta’s system rankings.
Then he was able to trade the abyss that is Hector Olivera to the San Diego Padres for Kemp. Olivera is done as a Major League player, while Kemp is proving to be more productive in Atlanta than San Diego.
Coppollella has transformed the Braves franchise since taking the GM job in October of 2015. The farm system has gone from bottom-five to top-five due to timely trades. The past two drafts have went exceptionally well, with Atlanta drafting three of the top-25 players in this year’s draft. He then signed 16-year old Venezuelan phenom Kevin Maitan during the international period, as well as five other top-25 international players.
With the depth of the farm system, expect more trades upcoming for Atlanta. Coppy has stated that he doesn’t expect to spend much money on the free agent market. With all the success he’s had on the trade market, why try anyway else?
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