Atlanta Braves legend John Smoltz could not possibly be more bullish on this year's squad.
At 58-24 heading into their final series before the All-Star Game, the 2023 Atlanta Braves look be on the verge of something special.
Although the five-time reigning NL East champions won the World Series only two seasons ago, the 2021 squad mostly caught lightning in a bottle after a flurry of July trades made by general manager Alex Anthopoulos in the lead-up to the deadline. It was so awesome because the ultimate payoff was so unexpected. But this year, it certainly feels different for Braves Country…
Two Braves legends spoke to Jeff Schultz of The Athletic. Tom Glavine and John Smoltz still follow the Braves closely in their retirements, calling Atlanta games every now and then. But learning what they said about this lineup as hall-of-fame pitchers themselves, certainly moves the needle. Glavine is impressed, but the money quote comes from Smoltz using an indirect comparison here.
Keep in mind that Smoltz grew up a massive Tigers fan and was drafted by Detroit out of high school. Fate would have it, he would be traded to Atlanta for Doyle Alexander in one of the most lopsided trades in both franchises' histories. Don't take this comment from Smoltz lightly, guys!
When you are being compared to teams like the 1984 Detroit Tigers, the 1995 Cleveland Indians and the 2001 Seattle Mariners, that certainly has our attention. Of course, only Detroit won it all…
Let's discuss if this Braves team is different, or if Glavine and Smoltz are getting swept up in it.
Atlanta Braves legends see this 2023 team being better than the 1995 squad
It is still the same sport, but comparing the 1995 team to this year's team is like comparing apples to oranges. The Team of the 90s era of Braves baseball was all about elite starting pitching and timely hitting. As for the Brian Snitker era of Braves baseball, it is about hitting the cover off the baseball on the reg. The 2021 team's bullpen was elite, but that championship team had its flaws.
The 2023 team lost four games in June. It holds an 8.5-game lead over the second-placed Miami Marlins in the division. Atlanta has won nine of its last 10 games, and18 of its last 20. The Braves have lost a combined five games since May 31, improving its record on the year from a strong 33-23 to a staggering 58-28. Of course, they will face the Tampa Bay Rays before the All-Star Game.
As I watch this team play pretty much every night, I am blown away by how quickly this offense can break the opposition's will to compete. Yes, there will be nights where the bats go silent, the starting pitching isn't there and the bullpen lets me down, but I have a hard time seeing this team not end up with the No. 1 seed in the National League and playing in the NLCS at the very least.
As far as if this is an all-time team, we still have three more months left in the regular season, plus everyone's favorite, which is October baseball. The most important thing for this team is to stay locked into the moment and not get too high or too low. If the starting lineup stays healthy, good luck trying to pitch to that! Of course, the bullpen needs to improve, as does the starting rotation.
The good news for Atlanta is young All-Stars like Bryce Elder and Spencer Strider have taken pressure off the rotation that will be down Max Fried and Kyle Wright for the better part of the campaign. Fried should return sooner rather than later, whereas Wright would only be coming back as an August or maybe even a September addition. Either way, guys have been stepping up.
And I am going to be totally real with y'all. None of this is going to matter if they do not win the World Series. This team has the ability to reach heights no one else in baseball can, but Anthopoulos must address the roster's Achilles heel, which is the bullpen, before the deadline. I know that he will, but even then, you have to be playing your best baseball when it matters most.
I don't know if this team is going to win it all, but is has been one helluva first half for the Braves.