Christmas is here, which means it’s time for my annual Christmas wish list for the Atlanta Braves. It’s been a disappointing couple of years in Braves Country. Despite back-to-back seasons with 100+ wins, the Braves haven’t been able to figure it out in October, falling to the Phillies in the NLDS twice in a row, which almost feels like a nightmare. However, I’m not going to let the past impair my judgment in regard to just how brilliantly the Braves are set up for success now and in the future. This team doesn’t need wholesale changes, but Christmas wish lists are about shooting for the stars, so that’s what I’m going to do again this year.
An Offense That Shows Up In October
The Braves offense has been the highlight of their team in each of the last two seasons, culminating this year in which they were quite literally one of the most explosive offenses in the history of the game. However, when the lights have been the brightest, they’ve looked much more like the Oakland Athletics. Credit has to be given to the Phillies pitching staff for that, and some of it can also be chalked up to the randomness of baseball. However, this lineup is too damn good to be scoring less than three runs a game in must-win situations. It’s time for them to show up when it matters, or all of their regular season success is going to be forgotten.
A Ronald Acuña Jr. Extension
There’s certainly no rush for this to get done this offseason. Ronald Acuña Jr. isn’t a free agent until after the 2028 season, and I understand why some might be hesitant to pay him after the season he just had. Acuña’s value is the highest it’s ever been following a historic 2023 campaign, and there has to be at least some concern about his injury history. However, it’s Christmas, and it’s not my wallet. I don’t want to even think about Acuña playing for another team during his career, and if they get this done earlier, they can probably end up saving a bit of money. Let’s hope the Braves leave a blank check under Acuña’s tree for Christmas.
A Ronald Acuña Jr. 50/50 Season
Sure, 40/70 was cool, but there were still some trolls attempting to take away from the feat because of the new rules. Let’s put all of that to rest in 2024 with some new history. Nobody has ever come close to 50/50, and Ronald Acuña Jr. has a real shot to do it in the future. He’ll have no problem reaching 50 steals again, but 50 homers would be nine more than his current career high. However, there’s no doubt he has the power to make it happen, and when it comes to Acuña, the bar of expectations needs to continue to be raised.
Another Frontline Starter
I’m not quite as worried about the Braves rotation as some others. The top three of Max Fried, Spencer Strider, and Charlie Morton is as good as any. Bryce Elder was elite for half of last year and could potentially build off of that. AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep have shown a lot of promise, and Ian Anderson and Huascar Ynoa should not be forgotten. As constructed, I’m confident this group can get the job done, especially if the offense decides to hit come the postseason.
With that being said, you can never have enough pitching, and the Braves have made it known they are after another frontline starter. They made a serious run at Aaron Nola, and they’ve been involved in trade talks for several of the top candidates. Eventually, something should come to fruition, but I’m running out of patience and it’s Christmas. Adding another frontline starter to this group would make the Braves a terror for teams in October, capable of winning behind their offense or one of best pitching staffs in baseball.
Ten Straight Division Titles
In most sports, championships are the only thing that matters. That exists in baseball, but I would argue that thinking that way will only drive you crazy. The randomness in the postseason is unmatched, making it impossible to win the World Series year after year like we see in basketball or football. The regular season and winning the division is the true mark of the best teams, and the Braves have done it six straight years. Let’s make it ten, and by that time, I’ll be thinking about breaking the Braves own MLB record of 14 straight division titles. The NL East runs through Atlanta, and everybody should take pride in that. Fans of other teams within the division may try to take away from the pure dominance the Braves have exemplified over the last three decades, but that’s the jealousy talking. They can’t even dream of the amount of success Atlanta has experienced, and I want to shove their faces in that for at least another four seasons.
Andruw Jones In The Hall Of Fame
I mean, what are we doing here? The gatekeepers of the MLB Hall of Fame need to get a life. Andruw Jones is the best defensive centerfielder in the history of the game. Any time someone is the best at something ever, that person belongs to be enshrined in Cooperstown for eternity. Oh, and he also hit 434 homers, most of all of which came before he was 31 years old. For a 10-year stretch, Jones was as good of an all-around player as anybody in the game. The fact that he has had to wait this long is a travesty. Hopefully, that will change in 2024.
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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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