Atlanta Braves' September Outlook: 5 Things to Watch For
Aug 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte (11) and right fielder Nick Markakis (22) celebrate their win against the San Diego Padres at Turner Field. The Braves won 8-1. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Both trade deadlines have now passed. The Braves have the second worst record in baseball. More lineup turnover is coming this off-season. So why watch baseball in September? There’s a lot more reasons than you might think.
50-83. That’s the record as the calendar page was turned this morning. But for the first time all season, there’s a team with a worse record than the Braves. That fact alone is driving more than a few people a little nuts… the disappointing bit being those agreeing with the proposition that losing 100+ games for the sake that #1 overall draft slot is a goal worth pursuing.
During the month of August, the Braves produced the 12th-best team WAR (not counting pitching) in the majors. That’s on par with teams like the Blue Jays and Cardinals… and certainly not what we saw at the beginning of the year when the offense couldn’t seem to get out of its own way.
So for September, injuries are healing, players are returning, and several have gotten into a second-half groove that had been sorely missing through June.
Over the past couple of weeks, there’s been reason for optimism with the pitching as well with starters actually getting beyond the 5th inning with some regularity.
Still, this is a last place team and all of the “interesting” wheeling and dealing is over until probably late November. So let’s take a look at the hand we’ve been dealt and see which cards might be of particular interest to watch down the stretch.
1. Nick Markakis
Markakis is still due $10.5 million per season for 2017-18. Now approaching 33, he has declined this season (.268/.343/.388) though his second half has been much closer to career norms (.299/.372/.439). But he also leads the team in RBI with 73 and probably will get to double-digits in homers.
Atlanta is still looking for another “bat”. They would prefer that it come from the third base or catching positions, but there’s no guarantee for either. There’s a hope that an off-season workout regimen might renew Matt Kemp, but that’s also speculative.
Then there’s Mallex Smith… what to do with him?
In Markakis, you have a steady performer who is getting on base and driving in runs. If you opt to remove that resource, then you’d better be certain that the replacement can replace that production.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Evidence that Nick is worth keeping around and not being shopped during the off-season for pennies on the dollar.
Aug 7, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski (15) looks on as his team plays the St. Louis Cardinals during the seventh inning at Busch Stadium. The Braves won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
2. The Ends of Their Lines?
There were a bunch of “stop-gap” players brought in this season in an effort to …. well, keep from losing 100 games this season. That may come down to the wire (an attainable 13-16 is required the rest of the way), but certainly the vets still with us are trying to “give the team a finish” as the Summer wears on.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: I hope that whenever his last plate appearance happens… hopefully in October on the last day of the season… the Turner Field faithful will give him a proper send-off on behalf of Braves Country, plus absent Twins and White Sox fans that he honored with excellent play for so many years.
More from Tomahawk Take
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Not so much now as at the end of the year. Beckham likely will not retire as he turns 30 this month, but it could be difficult for him to latch on elsewhere for 2017. Might have to settle for a role-player situation.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Again, this will be an off-season thing, but watch for key free agent catchers and where they land. Atlanta will need to be aggressive early to pick up a better target to be their #1 catcher for 2017. In the meantime, appreciate what Recker has been bringing to the team this year.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: How strong does Garcia finish and will that effort by good enough to get him a full-time gig for next season… whether at SunTrust or somewhere else?
Aug 19, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) doubles driving in two runs against the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning at Turner Field. The Nationals defeated the Braves 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
3. Ender Inciarte and Freddie Freeman
Both started slow, but both are also on a tear.
4.4 WAR and 2.8 WAR – these easily lead the Braves. In fact, Freddie Freeman is now the number 1 first baseman in all of baseball in that category.
Better than Anthony Rizzo. Better than Paul Goldschmidt. Better than Miguel Cabrera, Joey Votto, Adrian Gonzalez, Edwin Encarnacion, Chris Davis… all of them.
Inciarte derives much of his “value” in that WAR figure from his defense, but that’s also true of many center fielders not named Trout. Still, he’s 9th in the majors here and if you isolate his season to the portion after the All-Star break, he’s 2nd only to Mike Trout (2.4 to 2.3).
Wanna know why the Braves have been winning more often lately? It’s because of this pair tearing up the league.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: In this case, just watch both play. They are performing are elite levels and that’s worth a look-see in every game that remains. (P.S. – that was all written before Freeman punched out his 28th homer!)
Aug 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Matt Wisler (37) delivers a pitch to a San Diego Padres batter in the first inning of their game at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
4. Matt Wisler and Mike Foltynewicz
braves
Tomahawk Take 1 wWith Atlanta Braves Coming to Town, D-Backs Disastrous Season Comes into Focus
More headlines around FanSided:
1 w - Atlanta Braves Minor League Weekend Wrap Up August 22nd1 w - Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: McCann Rumors Won't Stop1 w - Atlanta Braves Freddie Freeman Out Because Of A Finger Injury1 w - Sunday Game Recap: Braves Finally Come All the Way Back1 w - Atlanta Braves Call Up John Gant and Send Tyrell Jenkins To GwinnettMore News at Tomahawk Take
Both of these pitchers have fought through some difficult stretches this season. In the case of Wisler, the team opted to give him some AAA time to get his focus back. He’s acknowledged that this was needed and that it has worked for him and he’s emerged with 2 starts and 2 wins.
For Folty, there had been several up-and-down starts, but since August began, the consistency has been there along with the stuff of a top-of-the-rotation starter.
The Braves are still looking to fill out a stable of reliable starters. This pair looks to be stepping up to join Julio Teheran as the team’s top 3. 11 other pitchers have started at least one game this season. Four of those are no longer with the club and the rest have not had a great degree of sustained successes (though notably: John Gant has a 3.38 ERA as a starter in 4 attempts_.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Look to see if Wisler and Folty build on and extend their recent performances. Also look for Gant or others to see if they make a case to get slotted in for next year. The audition docket is filling up: cast members are needed.
Aug 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson (2) throws to first base for an out in the eighth inning of their game against the San Diego Padres at Turner Field. The Braves won 8-1. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
5. The Callups
Sure: it’s Dansby Swanson, but it’s not just him, either. There are others that are certainly worth a look… and the Braves are going to be looking:
Biggest Coppy steal of 2016… https://t.co/xhw8aB0A0G
— Benjamin Chase (@biggentleben) September 1, 2016
What Ben is referring to is LHP Jed Bradley, who you should read about here in case you missed that. Jedidiah Custer Bradley (full disclosure: born in my current home region of Huntsville, AL) has paid his dues, but has also has suddenly seen everything come together this season as well after floundering with the Brewers… likely shocking their fans after Milwaukee gave up on him in June.
We don’t yet know if Atlanta will add Ozzie Albies or any others from the minor leagues to the roster for September or not – given the numbers crunch, it’s quite possible the answer might be “not”… but maybe 1 or 2 more should get the call.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Justification for “The Call” when it happens. Bradley isn’t coming in just to get a cup of coffee: he’s earned the gig with an outstanding 2nd half.
Likewise, if Albies or others are called in, it’s because their play has gotten them to Atlanta: not merely because it’s customary to do so at this time of the year. For sure, that coveted 40-man roster slot is a precious commodity and isn’t to be treated lightly.
That isn’t everything to watch for, of course:
This Braves team has been priding itself on finishing strong at the end of each game. There’s no indication that this will be any different in September – which is certainly a refreshing change from a lot of the play we’ve seen over the past few Summers. Definitely worth a watch.
This article originally appeared on 
