Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves Mourning Chop: The Day After, Dozier

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:13 p.m. ET

Fansided, Alan Carpenter/FanSided via Tomahawk Take

Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots middle linebacker Dont’a Hightower (54) knocks a pass out of the hands of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) during the fourth quarter during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Falcons’ defensive meltdown last night raises the bar on the term ‘epic collapse’

Sure – this is an Atlanta Braves baseball site. But as we stand with our brethren the Falcons, most of us here in Braves Country are still numbed by what we witnessed in the space of just over an hour last night.

So I guess Tom Brady is pretty good at his job. Give him a few power-ups (A.K.A. defensive penalties) and he’s good to go.

I won’t be attempting to analyze the game itself – that would be foolhardy. But it is fairly evident that with no remaining margin for error, the Patriots played a near-perfect game for the last 25-28 minutes after spotting the Falcons an enormous lead.

They did this despite a missed extra point and botched onside kick. Despite starting most of their possessions with poor-or-worse field position. Despite being forced to use properly inflated footballs.

Normally you can coast with a 25 point lead. I don’t really believe that the Falcons did, though their intensity level dropped in the second half even as New England’s ramped up.

But the pain was felt.

Next: Please Make it Stop

Sep 10, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier (2) hits a single during the twelfth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Target Field. Minnesota Twins won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Five trades that should happen, but likely won’tMIKE AXISA / CBSSPORTS.COM

Brian Dozier to the Atlanta Braves

“…Dozier trade with the Dodgers. Los Angeles grew impatient and instead acquired Logan Forsythe from the Tampa Bay Rays . Dozier remains with the rebuilding Twins even though his trade value can realistically only go down from here. He’s two years away from free agency and he just hit the most home runs ever by an AL second baseman (42). How is he supposed to improve his trade value?

“… Dozier would require trading top prospects, something the Braves have in spades.

“Keep in mind Atlanta is currently slated to start Jace Peterson at second and Adonis Garcia at third, with Sean Rodriguez splitting time at both spots. There’s definitely room to add Dozier without blocking top prospect Ozzie Albies, who will be big-league-ready fairly soon. The Twins want young pitching — at least that’s what they sought from the Dodgers for Dozier — and the Braves have plenty to offer.

“It’s not often a rebuilding team goes out and trades top prospects for a veteran, but it’s also not often a high-end middle-of-the-diamond player like Dozier becomes available. He’d speed up Atlanta’s rebuilding schedule and still leave them a place to play Albies, not to mention plenty of pitching prospects. Dozier would be an enormous upgrade these next two seasons.”

More from Tomahawk Take

[ Ed. note: Well at least the title admits the truth.

Let me get this out of the way first: is there an extra infield position that was created under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement that I’m unaware of??

I’m sorry, but unless Brian Dozier is playing third base – which the author never mentions – then I have no idea what he means in saying “still leave them a place to play Albies”. That’s after mentioning Peterson, Garcia, and Rodriguez as being the placeholders at 2nd and 3rd base.

This is why the whole “Braves interested in Dozier” thing never made a lot of sense – if Albies is healthy, then it would seem that there’s little point in even checking in with the Twins. That part seems settled (and frankly, a lot more than I’d have expected at this point) with word that Albies is already taking hacks with his repaired elbow.

So unless there’s a trade in the works, there’s simply no place for a keystone man with 2 years on his contract. Additionally, he’s never even played third base – at least not since arriving in the majors in 2012, so it’s just not going to happen. ]

Meanwhile, the Braves are still looking for that 4th outfielder, so do expect some movement on that front… probably this week.