There are few similarities between 1980s rock/pop musician Bryan Adams and Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker, other than first names spelled differently.
However, there is a musical and baseball belief in learning from past mistakes. The overriding common theme for Brian and Bryan is This Time.
This Time, Everything is All Right
Or Is It?
The song’s chorus asserts that the singer has learned a lesson from a love lost. Adams is presumably pursuing the same woman.
I think about her all the time
She’s my fantasy
An image burnin’ in my mind
Callin’ out to me
For Snitker, the pursuit is returning to and winning the World Series.
To get past their first round, the Braves look to increase their intensity while waiting for a playoff opponent. Atlanta will play a trio of simulated games against some of the organization’s Minor Leaguers this week at Truist Park in preparation for the NLDS. They will field two separate teams and operate as they would in a spring training exhibition.
The Braves will face the winner of the Miami Marlins-Philadelphia Phillies Wild Card series. After losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS a year ago, the Braves don’t want to leave anything to chance this time.
Fans Invited
The Braves will open these workouts to fans at Truist Park. Fans must register at the Braves’ website to attend a workout and will be limited to just one of the three workout days. Children under 18 won’t have to register but must be accompanied by an adult.
Max Fried is expected to test the blister on his left index finger by throwing at least four innings in one game.
It appears Spencer Strider will start Game 1 of the NLDS on October 7, and Fried will get the call in Game 2 on October 9, but the team hasn’t announced any official rotation plans yet.
Record Books
“This Time” appeared on the 1983 album Cuts Like a Knife and was released as the third single. The single went to number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 that year.
The Braves look to use their lesson learned to propel themselves even higher.
Under the playoff system implemented last year, teams with a bye have five days off between the wild-card round and the start of the division series. Last year, the Braves earned the bye and subsequently lost to the Phillies in four games, averaging just over three runs per game.
A record-breaking regular season resulted in the highest team slugging percentage in MLB history (.501) and a tie for the most home runs by a team in a single season (307).
It looked promising last year. Atlanta followed up its 2021 World Series title with a 101-win campaign in 2022, but the postseason ended sadly. The Braves want to continue their role this time.
To again quote Mr. Adams:
This time everything is alright
No way she’s gonna get away
This time everything is easy
Any day, I’m gonna make her mine
Yeah, I’m gonna make her mine, oh yeah
This time
Main Photo Credits: Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports
