Talking Chop’s favorite stories of 2018

The Atlanta Braves returned to the playoffs in 2018 coming out of nowhere to win the NL East. It was quite a season from beginning to end and was satisfying given that the 2017 season ended in scandal.

We at Talking Chop had a great time chronicling the season as it happened. What follows is a look back at our favorite stories of 2018. As you can see, there is a lot and we hope that 2019 brings even more.

This is also the time where we thank you the reader and everyone who took the time to click, comment or share our work in 2018. The community here is Talking Chop’s best attribute and we appreciate you all.

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Braves win the NL East and return to the postseason

Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images

Atlanta came out of nowhere to win the NL East and returned to the playoffs for the first time in five years. The Braves exceeded expectations and arrived perhaps a year earlier than many were expecting. They got off to a good start and never wavered from beginning to end.

• We were all wrong about the 2018 Atlanta Braves
• The Braves are shattering projections, individually and collectively
• How the Braves beat projections to put themselves on the verge of a division title
• Braves clinch playoff spot for first time in five years
• Braves celebrate division championship
• There is nothing fluky or fraudulent about the 2018 Atlanta Braves
• “We” Did It! The Braves are in the playoffs and you owe it to yourself to be optimistic
• In one year, things have come full circle for Charlie Culberson

Ronald Acuña Jr. lives up to the hype

Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images

Ronald Acuña Jr. was such a huge part of the 2018 season for the Atlanta Braves and it is not surprising that wrote plenty of words about his Rookie of the Year season.

• Let Ronald Acuna be Ronald Acuna
• The case for putting Ronald Acuña Jr. on the Braves’ Opening Day roster
• Ronald Acuña Jr: What to expect from the newest Braves’ outfielder
• So you want to pitch to Ronald Acuna?
• How has Ronald Acuña’s rise affected the baseball card market?
• The evolution of Ronald Acuna’s autograph over the past year
• An inside look into Ronald Acuña’s exclusive memorabilia deal with Phil Dahling
• Ronald Acuña excelling in move to leadoff spot
• A look back at Atlanta Braves’ players to debut at age 19 and 20
• Comparing Ronald Acuña Jr. to other young stars historically
• Debating the great rookie campaigns of Ronald Acuna Jr. and Juan Soto
• It’s time to get rid of the unwritten rules of baseball

Nick Markakis puts together one of the best seasons of his career

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Nick Markakis turned in a career-best season in what might be his final season in a Braves uniform. Markakis made his first ever trip to the MLB All-Star game, brought home a Gold Glove award and a Silver Slugger Award.

• Launch angle and the best Braves month of Nick Markakis
• Nick Markakis and Lonnie Smith: Renaissance Men
• Putting Nick Markakis’ season in context

Mike Foltynewicz, Sean Newcomb takes steps forward on the mound

Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

• Sean Newcomb’s whiff rates are not that weird
• Evaluating pitcher performance by count
• Change in pitch sequencing leading to early success for Foltynewicz
• Mike Foltynewicz: A Lesson In Patience

Johan Camargo becomes more than just a utility player

Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

Third base was a huge question mark for the Braves coming into the 2018 season. It seems like forever ago but Ryan Flaherty was in the starting lineup on Opening Day and eventually gave way to Jose Bautista. Johan Camargo finally got his shot and he made the most of his opportunity establishing himself as a piece of the team’s puzzle moving forward.

• The Evolution of Johan Camargo
• Camargo is no longer a conundrum

Alex Anthopoulos, Brian Snitker guide club in right direction

Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

It was a rocky road for Brian Snitker who went from nearly out of a job at the end of 2017 to being named NL Manager of the Year while be rewarded with a contract extension. The arrival of Alex Anthopoulos as the team’s GM has provided them steady leadership and stability at the top. Anthopoulos subscribes to a deliberate approach when it comes to team building but the Braves are in a good place for it.

• Braves make improvements (if not impacts) with addition of Gausman and others
• Grading Alex Anthopoulos’ first trade deadline in Atlanta
• Alex Anthopoulos and shopping in the bargain bin
• Anthopoulos discusses the possibility of Kimbrel, plans for the offseason, and more in recent A-List Q&A
• Brian Snitker has earned the opportunity to further evolve as a manager
• A big move is coming for the Braves

Atlanta Braves Prospects

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

A staple of ours has been our coverage of the Braves’ prospects and minor league system. That didn’t change in 2018 with more and more prospects advancing towards the major league level. Still there are some big names that remain in the minors. Austin Riley, Cristian Pache, Drew Waters and many others will still be giving us plenty of things to write about in 2019.

• Talking Chop 2018 Pre-season Top 30 Prospect Rankings
• Talking Chop Mid-Season Top 30 Prospects List
• A Pachexploration: Part 1
• A Pachexploration: Part 2
• A Pachexploration: Part 3
• The Braves have a real logjam in the minors, and its becoming a problem
• Atlanta Braves Prospect Profile: Touki Toussaint
• Scouting The Call Up: Touki Toussaint
• Mike Soroka is the Braves’ best pitching prospect and he is nearly ready for his debut
• Bryse Wilson is latest Braves’ prospect to make his way to Atlanta
• An interview with Atlanta Braves prospect Ray-Patrick Didder
• Braves Prospects Who Could Be Ready in 2019
• Despite being deep on talent, the Braves’ minor league system has had plenty of dysfunction

2018 MLB Draft

Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Coverage of the MLB Draft goes hand in hand with our prospect coverage. It was especially relevant this season given that Atlanta would be without a third round pick due to penalties invoked by Major League Baseball for the international prospect signing scandal under former GM John Coppolella. It was also significant given that the Braves failed to sign their first round pick Carter Stewart.

• As the MLB Draft draws near, the Braves’ loss of a draft pick looms large
• Atlanta Braves 2018 Draft Pick Signing Tracker
• Atlanta Braves Full 2018 MLB Draft Recap
• Scouting Atlanta Braves 6th round pick OF Andrew Moritz UNC Greensboro
• Scouting Report on Atlanta Braves 3B prospect CJ Alexander
• Scouting Report on Atlanta Braves LHP prospect Jake Higginbotham
• An Interview with the Braves’ 11th Round Draft Pick Jake Higginbotham
• Scouting Report on Atlanta Braves RHP prospect Victor Vodnik

Carter Stewart saga

• In Depth on Braves First Rounder Carter Stewart
• What not signing Carter Stewart means potentially for this offseason and the Braves’ 2019 draft
• A Chronology of what happened with Carter Stewart and the Braves

Chipper Jones gains Baseball Immortality as member of Hall of Fame

Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

• Chipper Jones will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot
• A look at the most iconic Chipper Jones cards of his career
• Chipper Jones takes his place among Baseball Royalty
• Andruw Jones needs support, and not just from the BBWAA

Signing Josh Donaldson shows Braves aren’t finished yet

Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images

Anthopoulos didn’t waste any time this offseason making a splash early signing Josh Donaldson and Brian McCann to one-year deals before the Winter Meetings. While the team has been quiet since, they still have holes to fill and things should pick up again after before the start of spring training.

• The Josh Donaldson signing was a move that the Braves absolutely had to make
• Projecting 2019: Josh Donaldson and Brian McCann
• Despite what you may think, Johan Camargo is still a big part of the Braves’ plans
• A slow Winter Meetings may not mean a slow offseason for the Braves
• Risky, rotten business: relief pitchers and free agency
• Examining the Braves’ remaining outfield options
• The next big move for the Braves will likely come out of nowhere, again

More stories from the 2018 season

Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

• When does player performance stabilize?
• The Braves, Liberty Media, and the risks of broken promises
• Are defensive shifts the way to beat Freddie Freeman?
• Shift smarter, not harder: the Braves’ strong improvement in infield positioning
• Openers: Intriguing idea, but the Braves may not have the right personnel
• What should the Braves do about Dansby Swanson
• Which Braves hitters have been hurt by the de-juiced ball?
• Braves’ defensive improvement has been significant and key
• Blast from the past: Looking for a Leo Mazzone effect
• Braves TV Broadcast Crew has sorely needed the refresh they just got