The Morning Chop: Let the Atlanta Braves' Off-Season Begin!
Oct 2, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves interim manager Brian Snitker (43) and first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) celebrate a victory against the Detroit Tigers at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Tigers 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
The 2016 baseball season ended for 20 teams yesterday. Many were left with the ‘what could have been’ feeling; Braves fans exit with thoughts of ‘what could soon be.’
As bad as we felt about things in May, could you possibly have imagined a better scenario to finish the year? A better record than 2015. A career year for Freddie Freeman. An offense to be reckoned with. Our Atlanta Braves gave us a finish… for more than two months.
Sure – there are things to work on. But the list seems to be a lot shorter now than we’d feared back in the Spring. Heck: this club just mowed down four playoff teams (oops: two of them aren’t playoff teams… mostly thanks to Atlanta) over the last two weeks when they each needed to win some games for their own purposes. That was just remarkable.
I will dispense with reviewing the game – we have a full recap, plus multiple Turner Field eulogies are either posted are soon will be. So let’s just bask in one final happy box score that will hold us until the end of February when Spring games start up again.
Oh… and this:
The final chop at The Ted. pic.twitter.com/LDGMaEcUYu
— BravesAndBeer (@bravesandbeer) October 3, 2016
Sep 26, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) rounds the bases after a two-run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the sixth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jon Heyman: Your Bias is Showing
Last week, Jon Heyman at Today’s Knuckleball let us in on his ideas for NL MVP. It’s an odd list:
Heyman further undermines his own list with an honorable mentions-like list that includes 3 more Cubs’ players. 5 MVPs in the top 20 or so? Sure, they were good, but does that allow for a single player to be the ‘most valuable’ for the league? Especially when compared to others?
My Top 10 players adding the most value to their respective teams:
Oct 1, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Minnesota Twins left fielder Logan Schafer (left) and center fielder Byron Buxton (center) and right fielder Max Kepler (right) celebrate after their victory over the Chicago White Sox U.S. Cellular Field. Twins won 6-0. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Preliminary Draft Order for 2017
More from Tomahawk Take
This list, of course is prior to the position jockeying that will take place after Qualifying Offers, free agency, signings, or the inclusion of Competitive Balance Picks.
Those top 10 picks are protected: if a team in that group opts for a QO-offered free agent, then they will lose their second draft pick – but not that premium selection
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