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Home , Atlanta Braves, Austin Riley, Baseball IQ, Bobby Cox, Brian Snitker, Bryse Wilson

GUIDE 2021

AROUND HERE HE’S JUST SNIT PAGE BY MATT CHERNOFF 3

IN HONOR OF THE LATE, PAGE GREAT LARRYKING BY CHRIS DIMINO 5

SO . . .IT’S JUST CARDBOARD? PAGE BY CHUCK OLIVER 7 FROM A GUY WHO WASN’T “SERIOUS ENOUGH” TO “TEAM PAGE LEADER” 9 BY KEVIN MCALPIN

THE BRAVES OUTFIELD IS ONE PAGE OF THE BEST IN THE MAJORS BY BUCK BELUE 11

“OLD SCHOOL” VS. “NEW PAGE SCHOOL” BASEBALL BY CARLOS MEDINA 13 THE “SUFFERING ATL FAN” & WHY THAT SHOULDN’T PAGE APPLY TO BRAVES FANS 15 BY TUG COWART START ME UP!!! PAGE BY NICK CELLINI 17

2 years in the organization, he was never supposed to get a shot at managing the big league club at 60 years old. Well he ALL BRAVES did get his shot and to say he took advantage of it would be a ridiculous understatement! ALL THE TIME!

Now Snit has signed an extension that could keep him with the Braves thru the 2024 . If that happens, Snit will manage until he’s 69 years old which is the same age was when retired as Braves .

If Snit is here thru 2024 that would mean he’s on the job for 9 years. That’s just crazy.

If you polled sports fans I would bet Snit would have the highest AP PHOTO/WILLIE J. ALLEN JR.) “Q-rating” as a or manager in CATCH THE Atlanta since Bobby Cox. BRAVES RADIO AROUND HERE, HE’S JUST SNIT! Think about that... if we ranked the BY MATT CHERNOFF most beloved local coaches and managers in local sports history Snit NETWORK Braves manager Brian Snitker has to a career tip of the cap to him by giving would appear on the same list as Bobby done one of the most improbable things him a chance to manage at the big league Cox. PODCAST ON any coach or manager can ever do. level for the first time. Bobby Cox who managed a World He’s become a lovable sports figure Snit took over a 9-28 team and has Series team and led a team to an without winning a championship. As a gone 353-317 since then with a .578 unprecedented of success for 15 manager or a coach in professional sports over the last 3 years. it’s so hard to become beloved without seasons. winning the ultimate prize but Snit has Snit is a lot like Bobby in that he’s so done just that. Snit has won 3 straight division easy to root for so many reasons. Snit titles, 2 playoff series and was within a wears his emotions on his sleeve. He In fact he’s not Brian Snitker to fans win of the . sounds like you and me and he doesn’t around Braves country. He’s just Snit. fall into boring coach speak or dumb Snit is beloved despite the fact that slogans. Snit is entering his 5th season as he’s not a great tactician and he’s pretty Braves manager which seems improbable old school in his methods at times. Those Snit’s success and longevity as in itself considering the fact he took over things don’t seem to matter. Braves fans Braves manager is as improbable as the Braves as an interim manager at 60 love him because they see the love he has anyone I’ve covered in Atlanta sports. years old. for his players and the organization. Now Snit has to write the perfect ending This is the final chapter of Snit’s Snit’s story was essentially written to the story of his career by leading the THEPODCASTPARK.COM professional career and it was supposed by 2015. As a Braves lifer who spent 40 Braves to a World Series win. 3 4 IN HONOR OF THE LATE, GREAT • Remember when used • and : The to be held in Cuba? two toughest in baseball LARRY KING reside in Washington! BY CHRIS DIMINO • The first two lines of The In honor of Larry King who passed • I'm OK with bat flips...I'm also OK Constitution should read,"Where • would have loved David away earlier this year, I have put together with rib shots. Have You Gone Joe DiMaggio, a Eckstein. a list of things that both he and I feel as Nation Turns It's Lonely Eyes To we get ready to hear "PLAY BALL" You.” • is a heck of a fella! 2021! • I think and Tony • pulling Side note before we start: If you have should just fight! Full-on fisticuffs! killed a small piece of the Baseball to ask who Larry King is,congratulations Lets GO! soul in me forever. on being young! • • is has 12 ABs finally getting into • Welcome back 162 game season...we in the the Hall of Fame. hope! postseason. I'm hoping his family goes • is hitting .299 for his Bobby Cox (Left) • Pardon me against his wishes career and this pains me! (AP PHOTO/DAVID J. PHILLIP while I wipe and attends, but if away a few they don't I would • I wish I had a dollar for every time I tears...I'm like to volunteer heard the phrase " Workload" back! to give his speech this year. I think I’d be able to buy a • I miss managers going nose to nose in Cooperstown. vacation home in Boca. with umpires. • 2021 is officially the (AP PHOTO/RON SCHWANE) • Trevor Bauer • Man...the Astros got off easy! • 20 years ago The Dumbest couldn't hold won 116 games. By that time, Randy moment in the history of the very ' jock, 's, • Welcome back Tony LaRussa. Johnson, Alex Rodriquez AND Ken Dumb situation! or for that matter, 50 other guys that I Griffey Jr. were gone and they could name off the top of my head! • I can't believe its been 32 years since haven't been back to the Postseason • The “HARDBALL PODCAST” is a the film “Field of Dreams” came . since. gift from The Baseball Gods. Trust • Have you seen Fernando Tatis Jr.'s me, it's like you’re in the room with contract? How’s $340 Million after • is the best great • The ballpark pretzel is the only thing ! playing 143 games sound to you? player who isn't thought of that way. in the food world that can range in Consider this: Aaron played in flavor from “life changing good” to • The world needs more scouts not 3298 games and made $2.1 Million • YouTube is in the Baseball Business. “absolutely awful”! mathheads in The Game. TOTAL! What's next? Disney +? Hallmark? The WB? • Remember when we were just • I have no idea what the hell San • They should all kiss the Ass of the counting down to Francisco’s ballpark is called, but it’s ghost of AND the Ring of • There sure are a lot of Ivy Leaguers getting 500 saves? the best ballpark in The Bigs with the the aforementioned ghost of Marvin in The Game. best address in the history of EVER: Miller! • Sandy Koufax is the definition of “24 Plaza”! (Sorry • What ever happened to attending Regal. ghosts of everything Dodgers!) • I'm driving to Vero Beach when this “The School of Hard Knocks” and pandemic thing is over to just sit on being all the better for it? • Trevor Bauer is making HOW • was born to wear a the old pitchers mound and pay my MUCH? Cardinals uniform. respects. 5 6 The mid-90s weren’t a particularly unusually designed mainstream products creative time for card manufacturers, but ever released. SO . . .IT’S JUST CARDBOARD? likely because they were distracted with BY CHUCK OLIVER the idea of, “Just make our cards MORE Buy whatever HOF players you can in shiny than the competition!” with little See that card? It’s nice, one else in the category of goals. That left us of the keys of the 1976 Topps baseball with sets like 1995 Leaf Limited. Foil, set. And a copy of that card is what I saw a kid, maybe 11 or 12 years old, holding in his hand and asked his father, “So . . . it’s just cardboard?”

from 2021, a Topps Chrome card in a throwback design to the 1986 Topps set the highest condition you can afford, any with a refractor base. How did the hobby/ Metal Universe year, any . Love the industry get here? chrome, glitter, sparkle, it mattered little, upside here. just add MORE! 1992 Leaf is a great set to buy HOF As we moved into the 00s card That was at The National (it’s a huge singles from and it was a mild, but An upside to that approach was manufacturers continued to improve the baseball card show every summer) about marked upgrade from 89 UD. Then Topps unexpectedly born in the mid- to late-90s quality and look of the chrome and foil five years back. And if you’re taking skipped ahead several levels with 1993 with Skybox, of all companies, and their products, with even a remade Bowman about a 1976 Tom Seaver or basically any Finest. It was the first true chrome card Metal Universe line. I’ll say two things brand getting into the mix. other card, sports or non-sports, from the and they have only become more 1880s until about 1990, yeah, that’s what Parallels and inserts, relic cards, on-card it was: cardboard. autos, if you have been a collector of only “traditional” cards I would say don’t get A 45-year-old card of an iconic Hall of turned off or intimidated by the way the Fame player is pretty cool, but it’s still card industry has evolved. Until last just cardboard and for more than a summer I hadn’t bought a new release century they all mostly looked the same. card since 1991. Now I may be the biggest Gypsy Queen fan there is, and That began to change with the 1989 Allen & Ginter isn’t far behind. And I Upper Deck issue. Premium card stock, a also have become a fan of more “purely” glossy look without the cheapness of the modern releases like Topps Sapphire. glossy feel, a hologram on each card for security, it was all heady stuff. And it There’s much to love if you’re a vintage only set the stage. collector and just now expanding to respected as time has gone on. When the about Metal Universe and you should modern and ultra-modern. I suggest Today all the rage in the hobby is for Finest line debuted it clearly was also a believe them both: buying a blaster box or two of a few refractors, reflectors and 1/1, 1/5 etc more durable card, not nearly as different issues, seeing which one you limited or autographed cards randomly susceptible to dinged corners or cracked, There are some flat-out WILD designs naturally are attracted to and then realize inserted into packs and boxes. The Jo peeling edges. It was a major on these, very cool backgrounds, waaaaay later how much fun you just Adell rookie card here is an example advancement and customers responded. especially in the and had. sets. These cards were among the most 7 8 It’s what he referred to when the Braves think many other could get FROM A GUY WHO WASN’T “SERIOUS brought in in 2019 and to. the clout ENOUGH” TO “TEAM LEADER” referenced A couple BY KEVIN MCALPIN to former years ago I did a segment on Over the last 11 years, Braves fans ultimate personal award as he was named winner MLB Network, have been spoiled, having a chance to Most Valuable Player. Dallas asking who I watch the career of thought would While all those individual Keuchel evolve into the player he is today. In ten when he be the next Big League seasons, Freeman went from accomplishments are great, there’s one Braves player thing missing from his trophy case that was added a guy who said he wasn’t serious enough midseason elected to the to be a team leader, to a guy who is his mentor Chipper reminded him Hall of Fame. about at the start of Spring a couple the face of the franchise and years ago. Obviously, it’s someone who has made it Training. Freddie Freeman extremely crystal clear that he difficult to wants to spend his Freddie spoke on JOHN BAZEMORE / AP) a brief exchange he project, but the entire career in a Earning the Most Valuable Player organization had gone through quite a Braves uniform had with Jones saying, “I was Award is a big deal, and Freeman joined run with the likes of Glavine, , like his mentor some pretty exclusive company in 2020, Smoltz, Chipper, Bobby and John . talking to Chipper today becoming the first Brave to take home Schuerholz. After a moment of the award since Chipper Jones in 1999. consideration, the answer was clear. I While the and he said, ‘You’ve got The only other players in franchise don’t know what the next decade will 2020 season was history to earn such an honor were Terry hold for Freeman, but up to this point his most every award now, but you’re Pendleton (1991), Dale Murphy (1982, he’s certainly among elite company who memorable to 1983), (1957), Robert Elliott have already found their homes in this point, still missing one thing.’ (1947) and (1914). Cooperstown. Baseball-Reference has Freddie has him listed with and Carl proven to be one of Of course the MVP Award is mostly Yastrzemski as the most similar batters at the most consistent ‘Yup, I know and I’m coming for it,’” based on offensive statistics, but I still this point in their respective careers with players in Major Freddie Freeman believe Freddie is an underrated Eddie Murray appearing to be the closest League Baseball. While Freeman replied. (CURTIS COMPTON / AP) defensive first baseman. comparison by age. superstars like Mike Trout, This was in reference to , Clayton Chipper still having Freddie beat With guys like , Paul Kershaw and others usually are the in the World Series ring department. Goldschmidt, and others Will Freeman’s career continue to ones on the covers of video games and in the NL, his defense was often evolve into one that could land him in magazines, Freddie Freeman deserves to While some players relish in the overlooked, but in my opinion, nobody baseball’s most exclusive club someday? be right there with them. personal accolades, that’s not good makes a 3-6-3 play look easier Braves fans hope they’ll have an enough for the Braves first baseman. “I than Freddie Freeman. His ability to do opportunity to see that career from start Originally a second round pick of the have one goal, and that’s to win the the splits, stretches and lunges as saved to finish with an induction ceremony for Braves in the 2007 Draft out of El World Series” Freddie declared in early countless errors from his infielders over Freddie in Cooperstown as the finale. Modena High School in Southern March. the years, something his teammates often California, the now 31 year old first point out when asked. No matter how things end up, there’s baseman is a four time All-Star, two time Let’s jump back to the MVP thing for no question Freddie Freeman is an elite recipient of the , a just a second. I remember a conversation I had with player. He’s become one of the “faces of 2018 winner and this years ago, and even the game” and should continue to be on past season, Freddie took home the Winning one brings you, as Brian back then, he credited Freeman with that level for a long, long time to come. Snitker often says, “instant credibility”. saving a few errant throws that he didn’t

9 10 of the zone. So, plate discipline will be a man can swing the bat! He also rakes STREAM THE BRAVES big key for him. against the top pitchers. OUTFIELD IS ONE Over in right field, the Also, don’t be concerned THE BRAVES Braves feature the 7th about his play OF THE BEST IN rated player in defensively. It’s ON YOUR THE MAJORS Major League true that Marcell BY BUCK BELUE Baseball, in is not the gold FAVORITE Ronald Acuna, glove fielder The new outfield has Jr. he used to DEVICE FOR a chance to be one of the best in Major be. So the Acuna’s League Baseball, with Ozuna, Pache and Braves will skill set is Acuna in the line-up! Seriously, Braves play him amazing. Country already knows that Marcell and deep with He provides Ronald are ballers, so if the rookie in his feet on FREE! instant center field comes through, this group the warning energy in the could really be special. track, tell OPTIONS lead-off spot. him to flashed his skill set a Acuna can the cut-off AVAILABLE little bit last season and I’m excited hit, hit for man and let about his game, but not enough to really power, run, steal Pache roam into FOR PC, be sure what he is going to bring to the and play the field. the left-center party. His end of the season highlight reel He also has fun Cristian Pache field gap. No is going to be epic defensively, but the doing it, which is (JOHN BAZEMORE/AP) worries, man. APPLE IOS, great unknown is how the kid will hit awesome for the team and major league pitching. the fans. Ozuna is also a super teammate ANDROID and a guy with a High Baseball IQ. I’ve Pache’s scouting report speaks of This also might be the season where seen him holding court in the clubhouse AND ALEXA! him being a “plus-defender.” Think about we get to see Acuna join the 40-40 Club. talking hitting with Albies, Acuna and a young Andrew Jones. Cristian can go That’s 40 homers and 40 stolen bases in . Riley told me later that get it in the gaps and gun down the same season. Only four players have Ozuna can remember in detail, how each aggressive base runners. Fans get ready done it; Jose Canseco, , pitcher he’s faced has tried to get him to be entertained. and . Talk out. about special! Offensively, Pache has worked hard Around the Majors, The Dodgers to improve his swing at the minor league Expect to see Acuna doing more outfield looks world class with Bellinger level. It’s now much shorter & quicker amazing things this season. Can he & Betts as headliners, the Angels with than it used to be. Combine that with this improve? Sure he can. Ronald should Mike Trout, and Justin physical maturation and the Braves settle into right field now, with Pache Upton are impressive, Robles and Soto might have gold glove caliber center taking over in center. That should help give the Nationals some juice, and The fielder, who can hit twenty bombs and Ronald clean it up defensively. Yankees show off big and join the 40 doubles a year club in the signed the multi-year Aaron Hicks. There’s no question these future. deal he has been looking for and is back are all impressive outfield combos. Hitting 8th in the this protecting the N.L. MVP Freddie However, if Cristian Pache delivers season will present some potential Freeman in the batting order. He can in his rookie season, the Braves outfield “Stir It Up” offensively. Ozuna almost INFO AND DOWNLOADS: problems, as far as getting quality pitches can match-up with any in baseball for to hit consistently. Opposing pitchers will won the Crown last season. The years! 680THEFAN.COM/BRAVES be trying to make him chase pitches out 11 12 AP Archive Photo COMPARING “OLD SCHOOL” TO “NEW SCHOOL” BASEBALL BY CARLOS MEDINA One of the takeaways from the 20200 New School Baseball Lineup 3. Atlanta Braves season was that the Quality hitter with power bats here. Braves, for one season, joined the Weighted runs created plus (wRC+) modern analytics baseball lineup. important here. (Marcell Ozuna) With the rule changes of 2020 Old School Baseball Lineup 4. Best including the universal DH, the Braves power hitter bats here. (Ronald Acuna) altered their lineup to get their best hitters the most at bats during the 60- New School Baseball Lineup 4. game season. Slugging Percentage leader, best SLG% available hits here. (Travis d’Arnaud) With the DH now out of the National League for 2021, the optimum Old School Baseball Lineup 5. RBI Braves lineup will change from the one run producer bats here. (Marcell Ozuna) they used last season. But many of the New School Baseball Lineup 5. aspects of the analytics lineup can still be Slugging percentage and wRC+ huge used for the Braves in 2021. here, another dynamic athlete who is one STREAM THE Old School Baseball Lineup 1. of the best hitters on the team bats here. Fastest man bats first () () New School Baseball Lineup 1. On Old School Baseball Lineup 6. Best base percentage (OBP) and ability to take remaining hitter who can produce runs. the extra base is valued. (Ronald Acuna) (Travis d’Arnaud) Old School Baseball Lineup 2. New School Baseball Lineup 6. Consistent contact hitter, bunter bats Good hitter with high on base percentage here. (Ozzie Albies) (OBP) who can run. (Dansby Swanson) New School Baseball Lineup 2. The modern baseball lineup was on Best overall hitter bats here. (Freddie display last season for the Braves. We’ll ALL SEASON Freeman) see what the 2021 version looks like as the organization has become very Old School Baseball Lineup 3. Best comfortable with mixing both new and on overall hitter bats here. (Freddie old school approaches. Freeman) www.680thefan.com 13 14 competitive season in and season out and So, here we are, heading into the BRAVES FANS: NOT THE TYPICAL that Braves fans knew their team would 2021 season with the Braves having won be in the every year. the last 3 Eastern Division Titles. It has “SUFFERING ATLANTA SPORTS FAN” been an absolute blast to watch the BY TUG COWART For a long time I disagreed with “new” baby Braves, like Ronald Acuna, that stance. Nothing compared to Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley taking winning the World Series and playoff their place on the field. Hopefully one appearances seemed nothing more than a day this crop of new Braves will be able “consolation prize”. to cement their place in in Braves championship history. It’s only now that I realize my attitude about the Braves’ past playoff If these Braves continue to go to success was wrong and that the playoffs, to win their division, and an was right. It’s obviously not a huge NLCS like their 90’s counterparts, I will surprise that one of the greatest Braves be a happy Braves fan. If this new pack pitchers of all time had a better of Braves can win a World Series or two perspective than a fan like me. Many over the next ten years I will be an times I have argued against the Smoltz EXTATIC Braves fan knowing from point of view about the playoffs...and experience that I witnessed something now feel foolish for having done so. You incredible again! may have done it too and that’s ok. Just realize, like I did, that you’re wrong. EXPERIENCE THE GREATEST COLLECTION

John Smoltz OF BASEBALL INTERVIEWS ON THE WEB! (JOHN BAZEMORE/AP)

Is there such a thing as the “Suffering In the 90’s at the time all this playoff Atlanta Sports Fan”? It seems like the and regular season success was answer is an obvious and resounding happening, I couldn’t see the forest for “YES,” especially when you re-live some the trees. I kept seeing the Braves get of the pain that has become synonymous close, but continually come up short. with being an Atlanta sports fan. Despite their winning and playoff success, I was not satisfied with the The “pain” started with plays like the Braves always being “relevant”. I wanted base running error in 1991 to see one of those 90’s teams win and grew worse with events like the 1996 another World Series title! meltdown vs. the Yankees or the loss in the 1998 NLCS to a Padres team the Braves pitcher John Smoltz has said Braves were heavily favored to beat. I many times he would have liked to have HOSTED BY 680 THE FAN’S CHRIS DIMINO live and die by the Braves and every time won another World Series title, however they’d come up short in the playoffs, I Smoltz has ALSO said he was satisfied was crushed. I longed for 1 more World with winning an unprecedented 14 LISTEN AT: Series championship. straight division titles, a feat that many believe will never be replicated. Smoltzie WWW.THEPODCASTPARK.COM correctly contends that the Braves were 15 16 (JOHN BAZEMORE/AP) START ME UP! BY NICK CELLINI August 3 was a day that Mike Soroka returns as a would like to forget. It was a play that he completely different pitcher than the one made and practiced thousands of times. who went 4-8 in 2009 during his first go This time though, his right Achilles’ around with the club. Add Morton’s tendon had enough. As Soroka was championship pedigree to “Big Shooter” carried off the field, many thought the ’s hopeful resurgence, and Braves playoff chances went with him. you finally have some stability.

Then there are the tales of Mike Can Fried continue to build on his Foltynewicz, , and Cole special 2020? Some experts don’t believe Hamels. At one point Alex Anthopolous so. Based on what he’s done in spring had to be thinking “What in the name of training, the lefty seems determined to is going on here??!!” prove the stay geeks wrong. PROUD TO BE THE FLAGSHIP

Fortunately in a shortened season, Technically still a rookie, Anderson STATION OF THE the bullpen came through, is considered a dark horse Cy Young did just enough, and got candidate in some circles. hot at the right time. Add in a career year went toe to toe with in from Max Fried and the Braves found the NLCS and looks to hold down the themselves on the verge of a World fort until Soroka is ready to return. The Series. young Canadian says he’s ready now, but there’s no need to rush the man whom Had the Braves played a full season, some consider the true ace of the the bullpen may have flamed out, along rotation. with a postseason appearance. That’s why this year Brian Snitker can ill afford So keep your fingers crossed Braves to play musical chairs with the rotation. fans, for if healthy, another title run could be coming. If not, is WWW.680THEFAN.COM standing by. 17 18