Battery Power - August 4: Braves 7, Cardinals 4Your one stop shop for everything Atlanta Braveshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52890/favicon-32x32..png2021-08-04T23:44:24-04:00http://www.batterypower.com/rss/stream/223740142021-08-04T23:44:24-04:002021-08-04T23:44:24-04:00New additions, Dansby Swanson lead Braves to 7-4 comeback win over Cardinals
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<img alt="MLB: Atlanta Braves at St. Louis Cardinals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/w-p19g4dHu91z_nOGrYcLImvmwg=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69681293/usa_today_16512246.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Swanson recorded four hits in the game. </p> <p id="sot9SM">The streak is over! The <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> have won two-straight games for the first time since the All-Star break after a 7-4 comeback win over the <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals</a> Wednesday night. </p>
<p id="OnaCPV">Things didn't get off to a good start for Drew Smyly who retired Tommy Edman but was then nearly lit up by a line drive off the bat of Dylan Carlson that went for an infield single. The ball was 99 mph off the bat and Smyly just did get his glove on it to protect himself. The trainers came out to check on him but he stayed in the game, but it appeared to rattle him a bit. Paul Goldschmidt singled on the next pitch to bring up Nolan Arenado. Smyly fell behind 3-1 in the count and then left a curveball up that Arenado deposited to left center for a three-run home run. </p>
<p id="Cr7Oll">Smyly settled in from there and retired seven straight before Arenado doubled in the third. Tyler O’Neil worked a walk but Smyly retired Yadier Molina on a fly out to strand the runners. </p>
<p id="58xadR">The Braves finally got on the board in the fourth as Dansby Swanson reached on an infield single with one out. Swanson stole second and then came around to score on a double by Guillermo Heredia to cut the deficit to 3-1. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Guillermo Heredia doubles down <a href="https://t.co/HTQayTcIY6">pic.twitter.com/HTQayTcIY6</a></p>— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) <a href="https://twitter.com/BravesOnBally/status/1423093734921674754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2021</a>
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<p id="k2kmIZ">Smyly allowed an infield single to Harrison Bader to lead off the fourth but retired the next three hitters in order to leave him stranded. That would be it for Smyly as Brian Snitker would call on Abraham Almonte to pinch hit to begin the fifth. Almonte struck out and then Ozzie Albies flew out to left for the second out. Jorge Soler would make sure the Braves wouldn’t go away empty handed though as he blasted a home run to straight away center to cut the lead to 3-2. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/solerpower12?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@solerpower12</a> is strong.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/analysis?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#analysis</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForTheA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForTheA</a> <a href="https://t.co/xjkfsJieoh">pic.twitter.com/xjkfsJieoh</a></p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1423098182096019456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2021</a>
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<p id="fLvnFp">Smyly exited the game having allowed six hits and three runs in four innings. He walked one and struck out two while throwing 75 pitches. Richard Rodriguez came on to face the heart of the Cardinals order and retired Carlson, Goldschmidt and Arenado on just nine pitches. </p>
<p id="Z2QlQY">The Braves would move in front in the sixth. Swanson got things started again with a solid single to center with one out off of reliever Ryan Helsley. That would bring Adam Duvall to the plate who would square up a high fastball and drive it out to left for a two-run home run to give Atlanta the lead 4-3. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Duvall aboard!<a href="https://twitter.com/aduvall123?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@aduvall123</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForTheA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForTheA</a> <a href="https://t.co/LZUV2OA4bg">pic.twitter.com/LZUV2OA4bg</a></p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1423102628205056001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2021</a>
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<p id="TMVwcp">Tyler Matzek pitched around a two-out walk while striking out two of the four batters he faced in a scoreless sixth. </p>
<p id="YaWOyA">Chris Martin quickly found himself in a jam in the seventh. Pinch hitter Matt Carpenter began the inning with a solid single to center. Martin then jumped ahead of Tommy Edman 0-2 but then hit him with a 2-2 pitch to put runners at first and second. After Carlson flew out to left for the first out of the inning, the Cardinals pulled off a double steal on Martin’s first pitch to Goldschmidt. Goldschmidt then lifted a fly ball to Soler in right, Carpenter tagged and scored on the play to tie the game back up at 4-4. Martin would escape further damage as Arenado grounded out to Riley to end the inning. </p>
<p id="8q26H4">The Braves went back to work in the eighth as Austin Riley led off the inning with a single off of Giovanny Gallegos and then moved all the way to third on another hit by Swanson. Adam Duvall struck out for the first out but Heredia worked a walk to load the bases. Stephen Vogt fell behind in the count but lifted a sacrifice fly to center that scored Riley to put Atlanta back in front 5-4. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Vogt-ahead run puts the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Braves?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Braves</a> back on top!<a href="https://twitter.com/SVogt1229?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SVogt1229</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForTheA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForTheA</a> <a href="https://t.co/wSG77S7DrB">pic.twitter.com/wSG77S7DrB</a></p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1423119620999888896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2021</a>
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<p id="OtxwVe">Joc Pederson would then pinch-hit in the pitchers spot and would hit a sharp line drive to right that caromed off Carlson’s glove in right. Carlson and Bader then collided trying to pick it up as Swanson and Heredia scored on the play to extend the lead to 7-4. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">So how about the newest members of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Braves?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Braves</a> tonight?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForTheA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForTheA</a> <a href="https://t.co/YhLyglWpIs">pic.twitter.com/YhLyglWpIs</a></p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1423120959981096961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2021</a>
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<p id="kTE7yT">Luke Jackson hit Tyler O’Neill to begin the eighth but then retired the next three hitters in order to close out the frame. Will Smith retired the side in order in the ninth to seal the win. </p>
<p id="iu0iKk">With the win, Atlanta climbs back to the .500 mark for the first time since July 10 at 54-54. They will try to complete the sweep when the series concludes Thursday night. </p>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2021/8/4/22610475/braves-vs-cardinals-final-score-dansby-swanson-adam-duvall-stephen-vogtKris Willis2021-08-04T19:30:00-04:002021-08-04T19:30:00-04:00Braves vs Cardinals game thread
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<img alt="Atlanta Braves v St Louis Cardinals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZnRndUjFz161Tt64U3RzoFF6QdM=/0x101:3000x2101/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69680548/1234440621.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="FpeDz0">The <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> will try to make it two straight wins and get back to the .500 mark Wednesday night when they continue their series against the <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals</a>. Drew Smyly will get the start for Atlanta while St. Louis will go with lefty J.A. Happ who was acquired from the Twins at the trade deadline. </p>
<p id="Mh9bp9">Wednesday’s game has an 8:15 p.m. ET start time and can be seen on Bally Sports South.</p>
<p id="wI0gYs"><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/e/22373235">PREVIEW</a> | <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/e/22374131">LINEUPS</a></p>
<h3 id="IvBlcJ"><strong>Series Recap</strong></h3>
<ul><li id="LGWqH5"><a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/2021/8/3/22608252/august-4-braves-vs-cardinals-preview-lineups-recap">August 3: Braves 6, Cardinals 1</a></li></ul>
<p id="73RmCV">More Pregame Reading</p>
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<li id="wc2A1h"><a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/2021/8/4/22605727/dansby-swanson-improvement-atlanta-braves">Why this version of Dansby Swanson is different</a></li>
<li id="g2cwRO"><a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/atlanta-braves-prospects-minor-leagues/2021/8/4/22609185/atlanta-braves-2021-midseason-top-30-prospects-list">Talking Chop 2021 Midseason Top 30 Braves Prospects List</a></li>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2021/8/4/22610121/braves-vs-cardinals-game-thread-discussionKris Willis2021-08-04T19:28:35-04:002021-08-04T19:28:35-04:00Eddie Rosario to begin rehab assignment soon, Ian Anderson pitching at Gwinnett Thursday
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<img alt="Houston Astros v Cleveland Indians" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Hc-9uUZMUCRsco5IwwmGAARHv5U=/0x0:3300x2200/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69680542/1234235905.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Rosario is with the club in St. Louis</p> <p id="mcbjjd">The news on the injury front has been improving for the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> who could get another round of reinforcements for their roster soon. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reported Thursday that injured outfielder Eddie Rosario is currently in St. Louis with the team and has taken batting practice the last two days. He is feeling good and could be ready to begin a rehab assignment as soon as next week. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Eddie Rosario (abdominal strain) has taken BP with the Braves here in St. Louis the past couple days and says he feels good. He'll likely begin a rehab stint within the next week.</p>— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) <a href="https://twitter.com/mlbbowman/status/1423059267670642689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2021</a>
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<p id="FyIulL">Rosario hasn’t played since July 5 when he suffered an abdominal injury while with Cleveland. The Braves acquired him in what amounted to a salary dump at the trade deadline. Once healthy, he will add another lefty option with some power to the outfield and the bench. </p>
<p id="NMBarf">There was also some good news on the pitching front as well. Ian Anderson will began his own rehab assignment Thursday for Gwinnett. Huascar Ynoa is also currently scheduled to pitch for the Stripers on Friday. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ian starts tomorrow and Ynoa on Friday in Gwinnett <a href="https://t.co/xDyDWGuWfL">https://t.co/xDyDWGuWfL</a></p>— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) <a href="https://twitter.com/mlbbowman/status/1422999378210566148?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2021</a>
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<p id="dtHc3U">Anderson went on the injured list following the All-Star break due to what was called shoulder inflammation. He resumed throwing and recently progressed to throwing off the mound. Ynoa began his rehab stint this past Sunday at Rome. </p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2021/8/4/22610401/atlanta-braves-injury-updates-eddie-rosario-ian-andersonKris Willis2021-08-04T16:37:35-04:002021-08-04T16:37:35-04:00Guillermo Heredia, Stephen Vogt return to the lineup for Wednesday’s game in St. Louis
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<img alt="Atlanta Braves v New York Mets - Game One" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oWa1GMPjsU0BkfseH4pekgS9R_k=/0x273:1389x1199/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69679558/1331337134.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Joc Pederson îs out of the lineup against left-hander J.A. Happ. </p> <p id="aYEyXV">The <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> will try to clinch a series win Wednesday night when they continue their series against the <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals</a>. Atlanta took the opener Tuesday 6-1 and will begin play Wednesday 2.5 games behind the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> for the division lead. </p>
<p id="8E1Flz">For the Braves, Guillermo Heredia returns to the starting lineup replacing Joc Pederson in center. Stephen Vogt gets the start behind the plate and will be hitting eighth. </p>
<p id="PMtVFS">1. Ozzie Albies - 2B<br>2. Jorge Soler - RF<br>3. Freddie Freeman - 1B<br>4. Austin Riley - 3B<br>5. Dansby Swanson - SS<br>6. Adam Duvall - LF<br>7. Guillermo Heredia - CF<br>8. Stephen Vogt - C<br>9. Drew Smyly - LHP</p>
<p id="ZgzJCQ">Paul Dejong returns to the lineup for the Cardinals who will otherwise roll out the same crew as Tuesday. Dejong is hitting just .201/.292/.390 and is 0-for-10 over his last three games.</p>
<p id="GHvym5">1. Tommy Edman - 2B<br>2. Dylan Carlson - RF<br>3. Paul Goldschmidt - 1B<br>4. Nolan Arenado - 3B<br>5. Tyler O’Neill - LF<br>6. Yadier Molina - C<br>7. Harrison Bader - CF<br>8. Paul DeJong - SS<br>9. J.A. Happ - LHP</p>
<p id="ZUu9ik">Wednesday’s game is scheduled to get started at 8:15 p.m. ET and can be seen on Bally Sports South. </p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2021/8/4/22610090/braves-vs-cardinals-lineups-guillermo-heredia-stephen-vogt-paul-dejongKris Willis2021-08-04T14:00:00-04:002021-08-04T14:00:00-04:00Drew Smyly, Braves will try to make it two straight wins over Cardinals
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<figcaption>Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Braves are trying to put together a win streak for the first time since the All-Star break. </p> <p id="cV9V7m">After a win on Tuesday, the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> will try to earn their first two-game winning streak of the second half when they continue their series against the <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals</a>. Atlanta jumped on newly acquired Cardinals lefty battering him for six runs as they coasted to a 6-1 in in the series opener Tuesday. The victory once again pulled the Braves to within one game of that illusive .500 mark at 53-54. They will begin play Wednesday a game back of the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a>, who are in second place in the NL East, and just 2.5 back of the division leading <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a>. </p>
<p id="QlqXJu">The Braves will get their chance at another of St. Louis’ recent acquisitions as lefty J.A. Happ is scheduled to make his Cardinals debut Wednesday. Happ was acquired from the Twins at the trade deadline and is looking to reset his season. He was solid over his first four starts for Minnesota in 2021 but the wheels fell completely off from there. He posted an 8.49 ERA in May, a 6.93 mark in June and a 9.22 through five starts in July. He was battered in his last start allowing 10 hits and nine runs in just three innings against the Tigers. </p>
<p id="Kj7A73">For the Braves, Drew Smyly will make his 19th start of the season and will be looking to rebound from a short outing last time out. Smyly wasn’t sharp in his last start allowing nine hits and a walk but was able to limit the damage to just three runs in four innings. He faced St. Louis back on June 20 where he allowed one hit over 5 2/3 scoreless innings. </p>
<p id="I5Z10I">Wednesday’s game is scheduled to get underway at 8:15 p.m. ET and can be seen on Bally Sports South</p>
<h3 id="DLKw5D"><strong>Game Info</strong></h3>
<p id="g9iQ58"><strong>Game Date/Time:</strong> Wednesday, August 4, 8:15 p.m. ET</p>
<p id="FirGio"><strong>Location:</strong> Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri</p>
<p id="RodZAG"><strong>TV:</strong> Bally Sports South</p>
<p id="mqg6N6"><strong>Streaming:</strong> MLB.tv</p>
<p id="jvfJQm"><strong>Radio:</strong> 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, WNNX 100.5, Braves Radio Network</p>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2021/8/4/22609194/braves-vs-cardinals-preview-time-tv-streaming-radio-drew-smyly-j-a-happKris Willis2021-08-04T11:00:00-04:002021-08-04T11:00:00-04:00Why this version of Dansby Swanson is different
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<img alt="MLB: Milwaukee Brewers at Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KqYSH-uueKuTo8g65SenFbI2fPU=/0x0:2295x1530/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69677533/usa_today_16490193.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Why what we have seen over the last two seasons is more signal than noise</p> <p id="o28cuN">Ever since his debut in 2016, you’d be hard pressed to find a more inconsistent player in baseball than Dansby Swanson. </p>
<p id="aurlja">The peaks and valleys of his production have become the stuff of legend among Braves fans. If you’ve never seen this incredible chart, here’s Swanson’s 15 game rolling wOBA for his career:</p>
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<cite>FanGraphs</cite>
<figcaption>Dansby Swanson’s 15-game rolling wOBA</figcaption>
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<p id="LrwGWL">This is Dansby Swanson. Crazy ups and downs, three weeks of elite performance followed by four weeks of replacement level play. This has been the story of his career. Or at least it was. </p>
<p id="Nruub0">If you pay close attention to that chart, you’ll notice a slightly different trend the last 160 games or so. More peaks, less valleys. There are still ups and down, like with every player, but the slumps aren’t quite as pronounced and their duration no where near as long. </p>
<p id="uGTH5s">At 27 years old, and some 2500 PAs later, it looks like we’re finally seeing some real improvement from Swanson. So what’s changed? </p>
<p id="T1ASko">Swanson’s problems have always originated from the fact that he has a mismatched offensive profile. Dansby has always struck out at the rate of an elite power hitter but without the elite power and walks that are suppose to come with it. Tons of strikeouts by themselves aren’t enough to kill your offensive production, as long as the rest of your game is set up to offset them. Aaron Judge, Joey Gallo, even Ronald Acuña Jr, strikeout at high rate. But Judge, Gallo, Acuña, and players like them, hit for mammoth power and take plenty of walks. That’s the formula when you strikeout so much. Because the number of at-bats where you can do damage goes down, the quality of that damage (power) has to go up. And the walks help maintain a plus on-base percentage. This is the part Swanson was always missing.</p>
<p id="ECgvpu">But over his last full season, we’ve seen a different player, specifically when it comes to power. From his debut in 2016 through the 2019 season, Swanson posted a .140 ISO, well below league average. Since the start of the 2020 season, his ISO has jumped to .210, a substantial increase. Over that time, that represents a higher power output than Xander Bogaerts, Trevor Story, Bo Bichette, Carlos Correra and Fransisco Lindor, just among shortstops.</p>
<p id="e1U1Ek">And it’s not a fluke. He’s actually hitting the ball harder. When hitting a line drive or fly ball, Swanson’s average exit velocity since the start of 2020 is 94 mph, up 2 mph from his career number. Two miles per hour might not seem like much but that’s a significant jump when talking average exit velocity and it means more damage. </p>
<p id="Vf5DEH">The easiest way to see these improvements is in the expected numbers. The first 3+ years of his career when hitting a line drive or fly ball, Swanson’s xwOBA was .506 and his xSLG was .789. Since 2020, on line drives or fly balls, his xwOBA is .610 and his xSLG is .993. Those are massive jumps. When he hits the ball in the air, Swanson is hitting the ball harder than he ever has and doing more damage because of it.</p>
<p id="158mDA">This is a critical point. His production this year is not a product of some absurdly high batting average on balls in play like previous years. It’s not luck. Swanson has actually improved some of his raw skills, which means this increase in offense is more sustainable than years past. When the reason for your production is an increase in skill instead of an increase in luck, it’s less likely to be subject to randomness and should lead to more consistency. And slowly, that’s what we’ve seen from Swanson, as the chart at the top shows.</p>
<p id="B7kBfo">When you strikeout as much as Dansby does, power is an incredibly important facet of the game. The gains we’ve seen from him over the last full season or so are arguably more important for him than other type of player. This had to happen. The strikeouts had to go down or the power go up. </p>
<p id="eiyTSI">The next step will be the walks. His on-base percentage currently sits at exactly .300, which is why someone who’s on pace for almost 30 home runs only has 100 wRC+. Walking more means a higher OBP, and when you add that to his new power game, it take his offensive profile to another level completely. But even if the walks never really come, this iteration of Swanson is perfectly fine. A decent defensive shortstop with good power can easily be 2.5 or 3 WAR player and the Braves will take that all day. </p>
<p id="tbl0hz">This is all is coming an opportune time for Swanson as well. As he’s now arbitration eligible, his yearly salary is going from cheap to much less cheap quickly. Another year without much improvement and this off-season could’ve gotten dicey for the Braves’ shortstop. With so many other areas to address, spending eight or nine million on Swanson would’ve been a real decision for the club. A non-tender would’ve certainly been in play. But this version of him makes it a relatively easy decision, and they may even look to do an extension. </p>
<p id="HOjWlr">Swanson, of course, still has to maintain this level of play. But the fact that there’s been real improvement in his baseline skills should mean what we’re seeing the last two seasons is more signal than noise. And if that’s the case, the Braves have one less position to worry about come this winter. </p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2021/8/4/22605727/dansby-swanson-improvement-atlanta-bravesStephen Tolbert