Atlanta Braves
The Braves have not enjoyed a lot of success over the last three seasons.
The past three years have been bad for the #Braves, but things are looking up in 2017. pic.twitter.com/PcF4I19mT9
— Sportsnaut (@Sportsnaut) February 7, 2017
So, why the optimism?
It really comes down to how the 2016 record came to be.
After 37 games in 2016, Brian Snitker replaced Fredi Gonzalez as manager. Under Snitker, Atlanta played at a .476 clip. That may not seem great, but the winning percentage under Gonzalez was a paltry .243.
Things got even better for Snitker and the Braves once rookie Dansby Swanson rolled into town. Swanson was with Atlanta for the season’s final 42 games. While he was there, the Braves played .571 baseball.
We wouldn’t be surprised to see playoff baseball return to Atlanta in 2017. At the very least, though, this is a team on the rise and stands ready to make the last three years a distant memory.