When the Braves got back to a process of player development___grooming future stars like Chipper ... [+]
The Braves go into the All-Star break in first place in the National League East, enough proof on top of last year’s division championship that there is some permanence to this ascension. There was some thought the Phillies and Bryce Harper were going to make the Braves a one-year wonder. It’s not happening.
So the question keeps getting asked, “Who gets the credit?” Was it the previous regime, disgraced by scandal, or the current GM and his crew?
Do away with all you think you know about the Braves’ renaissance.
It’s neither.
The founding fathers of this comeback are the 1991-2005 Braves. The chosen___Chipper, Avery, Glavine, Lemke, Andruw, Justice____made the blueprint, which was to scout, draft, and develop players....build from within. The Braves got back to that culture and you can see the results.
The streak of 14 straight playoff berths came on the backs of home grown talent like Tom Glavine, Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Javy Lopez, David Justice, Mark Lemke, and Steve Avery, among others. There was a smart trade for John Smoltz and a free agent pickup in Greg Maddux, but the mantra was grow within. Super scout Paul Snyder and GM John Schuerholz, aided by manager Bobby Cox, were expert forecasters and drafted mostly high school players and set them on a path. It produced an unprecedented run.
The organization went off the rails in 2011-2014 with high-priced free agents, Dan Uggla, Melvin Upton, and B.J. Upton. It was not the Braves way.
Now look.
Schuerholz forced out GM Frank Wren and declared the Braves would return to their foundation of draft and develop. The prospect-to-starter list is overflowing: left fielder Austin Riley, second baseman Ozzie Albies, first baseman Freddie Freeman, centerfielder Ronald Acuna, pitchers Mike Soroka and Bryse Wilson, among others.
The Braves prospect pool was rated 21st , or lower, in baseball by a number of outlets in 2014. It was No. 1 in 2017 and 2018. It is No. 3 in 2019.
The organization had doubled-down on that build-your-own with a dazzling spring training/player development facility in North Port, Fla. (Cool Today Park).
The Braves have done their best to wipe away the memory of the John Coppolella Era. Coppy was banned for life for assorted offenses that occur in Major League Baseball, but not all at once like he attempted. The Braves fired scouts, including the one who signed Acuna and Albies. They fired members of the public relations staff who had nothing to do with the scandal. They fired a scouting director.
Coppolella and John Hart traded for Dansby Swanson, is going to be an All-Star, and lefty pitcher Sean Newcomb. They scouted and signed Acuna and Albies. They locked up Freeman and drafted Riley. They restocked the farm system with arms, arms, and more arms. They took a chance and drafted a dinged lefty reliever, A.J. Minter, who has been up and down, but reckons to be a force in the bullpen. Coppolella flew to Maryland to sign Nick Markakis, who has been more than a steady right-fielder. He was an All-Star in 2018.
Alex Anthopoulos, the current GM, has kept the wheels on with efficient use of money. He settled on manager Brian Snitker, who is revered in the clubhouse. Anthopoulos maneuvered around other clubs for lefty starter Dallas Keuchel. He got sweet deals done with Acuna and Albies and brought back catcher Brian McCann, who has exceeded expectations.
After a rough start, third baseman Josh Donaldson is starting to hit home runs in the middle of the order…another win by AA. The current GM did not panic over a rough patch for the bullpen in May when it issued bushels of walks. Work continued. Prospects were retained, not traded in a panicky move. There was progress. That bullpen is now very good (3.63, 2nd MLB).
But the turnaround was ignited by the return to dependence on the farm system. The Braves are deep, so deep they might be able to swing a deal for another pitcher come the trade deadline.
Thank the Braves of 1991 to 2005.
