Atlanta Braves normal supervisor Alex Anthopoulos held a media session earlier than a recreation — which type of says all of it about how the workforce has been taking part in.
“I do not usually do scrums through the season, as a result of we have performed properly,” he informed reporters Wednesday. “If I am doing them, meaning we’re not taking part in properly.”
That is, after all, all relative. The Braves have the fourth-best document within the Nationwide League. However they entered Wednesday night time’s recreation at Baltimore on a four-game shedding streak (which they prolonged to 5 with a 4-2 loss) and 10 video games behind NL East-leading Philadelphia. So Anthopoulos was out there to debate that disappointing actuality.
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He acknowledged that, by their requirements, the Braves aren’t wanting good, however there’s clearly loads of season left. Proper now three groups within the NL — Philadelphia, Milwaukee and the Los Angeles Dodgers — have vital division leads. Atlanta (35-30 with Wednesday’s loss) is the most effective of the remaining. In actual fact, solely 5 groups within the league entered Wednesday above .500.
Three seasons in the past, the Braves went 88-73, however that was sufficient to take the division. They went on to win the World Sequence.
“The Phillies are clearly taking part in exceptionally properly — greatest workforce arguably within the recreation proper now — but it surely’s about ensuring you get to the playoffs come what may,” Anthopoulos stated. “Proper now, the NL, I wager you when you took loads of these groups and these entrance places of work, they’d inform you a similar factor. Nobody’s taking part in the way in which they thought they might — barring Brewers, Dodgers, Phillies.”
Nonetheless, Atlanta hadn’t dropped 5 straight since 2017, the final time the Braves did not win the NL East. Two years in the past, the Braves got here from behind to win to win the division after the New York Mets had an enormous lead.
An identical comeback this 12 months shall be robust, since reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. is out for the season due to a knee harm. Anthopoulos stated he is been extra lively than typical when it comes to pursuing trades, however nothing is imminent.
“The offensive points look like they’re unfold throughout the league,” Anthopoulos stated. “Quite a lot of GMs are saying the identical factor. Folks really feel like they don’t seem to be hitting the way in which they will.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
