ALL DECADE BRAVES

The Braves were indisputably the NL's "Team of the 90s" and their NL East dominance carried through the better part of the 00s too. However, they weren't quite the dominate force in the past decades, although they finished with a new NL East title streak.

Acuna's rookie year was something special... but his Super Sophomore season made the All Decade squad!

LINEUP: Honestly, this was a tricky lineup to put together and whether it meshes will likely determine whether the Braves contend for the playoffs or fall to the rear of the NL East. Outside of Acuna, there's a lack of elite power... and there aren't any fact OB 10 players either. So the team feels a little wonky in comparison to other All Decade teams... BUT there remain some dudes! I love putting Inciarte on my squads - great defense and speed, plus amazing 3B results for a solid OB 8. People really underrate OB 8 hitters! The future MVP/Hall-of-Famer Ronald Acuna hits second and what a MONSTER second season he had!! With his 16-20 HR pop, A speed and 11 1B+ range, he's an absolute MVP candidate in the All Decade league!!! A trio of solid OB 10 hitters come next, and I love the 18-20, 15-17 2B combo in the 3/4 spots. Also, it's really nice to sneak Chipper Jones in here, especially since his MLB Showdown 00 card is (v possibly) the best looking card ever made. Ozzie Albies is a shockingly good #6 hitter, even if people will be warded off by the OB 8. Also soooo many triples! This team should definitely lead the way in triples. Brian McCann and Jason Heyward bring fairly "ho-hum" OB 9 cards to the 7 and 8 spots, and Andrelton Simmons can definitely field the position and run, but isn't a real threat at SS. Overall, a lineup that feels manageable for the aces of the other NL East squads.

ROTATION: Although not as legendary as a Maddux-Glavine-Smoltz rotation would be, the Braves are still running out a foursome of Tier 2 studs. People forget how good Tim Hudson was in Atlanta, and he made for a fearsome duo with Jiar during the Braves 90+ win campaigns at the turn of the 2010s. 2018 ace Mike F comes in at the 3 slot, and I'm a big fan of his 18-19 walk. Rounding it out is stud performer Julio Tehran, a stalwart who's been providing (mostly) consistent starting pitching to the Braves since at least 2013!

BULLPEN: WOWZA I would not want to give the Braves the lead by..... oh, the fourth inning or so. It's easy to forget what a stud Kimbrel was, as you can see from his card made by Colby for his 2012 set. That 3-15 K range is INSANE and he's a Tier 1 with no doubles. The Control 4 will scare some but, like Aroldis, he's so good that it shouldn't matter. Setting things up for Kimbrel are O'Flaherty (Tier 1, no doubles), Venters (Tier 1, no doubles), and Wagner (Tier 1). That gives them the chance to go 6-7-8-9 with Tier 1 arms when they need to!!! Oh, and just in case, they've got a Control 6, no doubles, Tier 2 pitcher in the fifth bullpen slot! Definitely a surplus in pitching riches for the Atlanta bullpen and, if used aggressively, could definitely keep this team in a playoff hunt!

Overall, the Braves come in at a respectable, albeit underwhelming, 6790 points!! Honestly, I'm shocked they only topped the Marlins by 40 points... and shocked I may pick the Marlins to finish ahead of them. I really hope the offense works better than the mismatched pieces seem to suggest -- with Acuna, all victories are possible (especially with all the high control Tier 1 and 2 pitchers they're throwing out there). So now, after 23 teams, here's the point rankings:

1.   Dodgers              8010 points
2.   Yankees              7920 points
3.   Red Sox              7770 points
4.   Nationals            7670 points
5.   Astros                 7420 points
6.   Reds                    7220 points
7.   Phillies                7200 points
8.   Blue Jays            7140 points
9.   Rockies               7090 points
10.   Rangers              7070 points
11.   Rays                    7060 points
12.   Cubs                    7000 points
13.   Indians                6880 points
14.   (T13) Mariners  6880 points
15.   Orioles                6830 points
16.   Giants                 6800 points
17.   Braves                 6790 points
18.   Marlins               6750 points
19.   Tigers                  6710 points
20.   (T19) Cardinals 6710 points
21.   Athletics             6670 points
22.   Royals                 6570 points
23.   Padres                 6510 points