It’s been a rough season for the Atlanta Braves, and Monday night’s gut-wrenching 1-0 loss to the struggling Cincinnati Reds felt like rock bottom. For a team that’s been a postseason regular, this year has turned into an unrecognizable nightmare. After a remarkable six-year streak of making the playoffs, the Braves are now teetering on the edge, watching their playoff hopes slip away. Frustrated, Chipper Jones chimes in, which you can see below.
There’s no single culprit for their downfall, but injuries have certainly played a significant role. That said, it’s hard to ignore the major underperformance from an offense that dominated the majors last year. The Braves, who once led the league in almost every offensive category, now find themselves tied for 18th in runs scored, which is a shocking reality. None of the teams below them in runs scored are in playoff contention, and that says it all.
Monday’s game encapsulated their offensive woes perfectly. Nick Martinez, who isn’t exactly a Cy Young candidate, stifled the Braves’ lineup, retiring 17 consecutive batters at one point and pitching seven shutout innings. The Braves mustered a measly two hits and a single walk all night, with both hits being singles. It was a performance that left Braves fans shaking their heads.
Naturally, there’s plenty of finger-pointing, but it was Braves legend and Hall of Famer Chipper Jones who delivered a reasonably frustrated critique. Appearing on the Casa De Klub podcast, Jones didn’t hold back, criticizing the team’s offensive philosophy. He explained how the Braves’ front office, led by Alex Anthopoulos, seems overly fixated on power, perhaps to a fault. “In order to score runs, you’ve gotta get those guys on base,” Jones pointed out, emphasizing the need for more focus on players who can consistently get on base, rather than just aiming for the fences.
Chipper’s insights are hard to ignore. He was a hitting consultant for the Braves not long after his retirement, and he knows a thing or two about what it takes to produce runs. He noted that while slugging is important, it’s crucial to have players who can set the table for the big bats. The Braves’ reliance on power worked brilliantly last season, when they led the majors with 307 home runs and 947 runs scored. But this year, while they still rank fifth in home runs, their drop to 18th in total runs is a massive red flag.
Jones highlighted the need for adjustments, especially in a season when injuries have ravaged the lineup. “When the market corrects, like it is this year, you have to do other things,” Jones said. He isn’t saying the Braves should abandon the home run ball entirely, but he argues that the team needs to diversify its offensive approach. When things aren’t going perfectly, the Braves can’t just sit back and hope for another miraculous homer-filled season like 2023.
The addition of Jorge Soler, who’s known for his power but struggles with consistency at the plate, hasn’t provided the answer. His .229 batting average and .327 on-base percentage aren’t enough, especially when hitting near the top of the lineup. The Braves have big bats in Marcell Ozuna and Matt Olson, but they need to get more players on base in front of them if they hope to turn things around.
For now, Chipper’s advice rings true: the Braves need to stop swinging for the fences and focus on a more balanced, fundamental approach to scoring runs. With their postseason hopes fading fast, it’s time to find a way to manufacture offense—before it’s too late.
