‘It’s definitely the culture here’: How the Braves keep moving forward — no matter what gets in their way
-
Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff Writer
Just over two weeks into the MLB season, the Atlanta Braves are exactly where they’re expected to be: atop the National League East standings. But any thought that the coming months would be about coasting through the regular season until the real challenge begins in October quickly went out the window when Spencer Strider felt discomfort in his right elbow during his second start earlier this month.
On Saturday, a team news release confirmed every Braves fan’s worst fear: Their ace needed season-ending elbow surgery, leaving Atlanta to navigate the rest of 2024 without the pitcher who set the franchise strikeout record a year ago. The situation is similar to last season, when lefty Max Fried left Opening Day because of a hamstring ailment then later missed much of the year because of a forearm strain. The Braves not only survived that blow but went on to win their sixth straight division title while providing a blueprint for their latest challenge.
“You can never replace frontline, Cy Young-caliber starters with internal depth,” Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos told ESPN on Saturday. “But it’s not like the NBA where one guy can dramatically change the impact, you’re going to have to do it as an entire 40-man group and beyond.
“I know it’s a cliché, but we really are going to take it day by day. People will get opportunities, no doubt about it. At some point if someone seizes that opportunity and gets a long period to start, that’s fantastic.”
Anthopoulos cited righty Bryce Elder’s opportunity, after Fried went down last season, as an example of what can come of a bad situation. Elder made the All-Star team, flourishing in the first half.
So on one hand, it’s a devastating blow to a perennial powerhouse. On the other, overcoming adversity is exactly what the franchise has excelled at doing. Instead of dwelling on the negative, the Braves just keep moving forward, owning the NL East in part by savvy management, continuity among their players and a history steeped in winning that began in the 1990s. It begins with an organizational mindset that Strider described in the days before his injury.
“It’s definitely the culture here,” Strider told ESPN. “It starts in development. They told us they’re trying to create championship pitchers, not just big leaguers. It’s an interesting thing to hear verbalized in Low-A.
“Your goal isn’t just to be a big leaguer, it’s to help the team win the World Series. That’s what they’re looking for.”
Winning in October is always the expectation in the Atlanta clubhouse, but only once over the past six seasons have the Braves finished the postseason atop the baseball world. And that title came in the most unlikely year, when the 2021 Braves caught fire late in the season and won the World Series despite entering August with a sub-.500 record.
Better regular-season results and greater expectations going into the next two postseasons only led to playoff disappointment, with the Braves bowing out in the past two division series rounds.
The constant, though, has been Atlanta’s ability to turn the page and dominate the division during the next regular season. Raising a World Series trophy in 2021 didn’t bring a hangover in 2022 — instead it was yet another division win, this time running away with the NL East by 14 games. And falling short during the 2022 playoffs didn’t stop Atlanta from winning its sixth straight division title last season, also by 14 games. Even after watching their ace get hurt during a series opener earlier this month, the Braves went on to sweep the Arizona Diamondbacks and moved into first place once again.
“We have a great team,” first baseman Matt Olson said. “We absolutely feel like we should be playing in the postseason. but you have to earn it. It’s the build-up throughout the season that gets you to that spot and gives you the confidence to go perform in that setting. Nothing is given.”
It’s a practice preached by their 68-year-old father figure of a manager, Brian Snitker. In some ways, his situation is a manager’s dream: He has a talented team filled with self-motivated players he’ll have to drag out of the lineup for a day off. Keeping stars happy while prioritizing daily goals, instead of fixating on the big picture, is harder than it seems. Under his leadership, the Braves excel at not fast-forwarding their brains to October.
“I talked to the guys about that early on,” Snitker said. “It’s easy to do. It’s easy to say — but you have to win today. You can only control today. If you want to fast forward, you’ll realize it doesn’t work that way. Our guys know what’s ahead of them.”
With that message preached to them from the first day of spring training through the sometimes monotonous grind of the 162-game season, the Braves have learned to embrace that winning each day along the way makes reaching their loftier long-term goals taste even sweeter.
“When you’re playing MLB The Show, you can just simulate the playoffs, it’s human nature,” Morton said. “You want your ‘want’ now. Thankfully, we’re still in reality. We have to go through the process so if and when we win the division, we’re looking around the room and they have the tarp up and there is a toast and a feeling of satisfaction and it’s like we’ve been here before. Now let’s find a way to get it done this year.”
Anthopoulos and the rest of the Braves’ front office have learned that roster building is about focusing on the entire picture in a profession in which you are ultimately judged on the final result. The elation of winning a World Series in 2021 lasted about three days before the GM meetings and offseason ahead demanded their full attention. In the early October exits that followed, they learned that the simple difference between winning the World Series and losing in your first round is more time to prepare for the winter — but also more time to stew.
“As a front office, you kind of mope and feel sorry for yourself but then, ‘Hey, the offseason is here, we have to build a team,'” Anthopoulos said. “You don’t forget, but you have to turn the page because all your competitors are doing the same thing.”
If six straight division titles sounds impressive, then just imagine walking into work every day and staring up at the 14 banners the Braves won from 1991 to 2005. The standard of success is ever-present motivation within the organization. It also keeps everyone humble, from the decision-makers in the front office to the players on the field.
“We think six is a lot, right?” Morton said. “You can acknowledge the past because you really are standing on their shoulders. But you also have to find your own way as a group. That’s a year-by-year thing. It’s a delicate balance because you want to keep some of the guys involved in that in the room. You have to be careful who you’re moving and what those guys mean in the clubhouse.”
That’s Anthopoulos’ job. Praised for locking down his stars on multiyear deals, he still needs to find the right balance from season to season. Losing in October in consecutive years can distort your vision. The Braves GM tries to remember a simple principle.
“[Former executive] Pat Gillick said this, turning 20% of your roster over each year is a good idea,” Anthopoulos said. “That’s five players. We don’t force moves, but the way the game is set up it’s going to happen anyway.”
This offseason, that turnover came via a spree of trades primarily focused on creating pitching depth. Chris Sale, Aaron Bummer and Reynaldo Lopez joined the pitching staff, while outfielder Jarred Kelenic came over in a trade with Seattle. All told, Anthopoulos made a half-dozen trades this winter to surround the core of the team led by Ronald Acuna Jr., Austin Riley, Olson and Ozzie Albies.
But losing their ace early in the season means the biggest decisions could come in the days leading up to this summer’s trade deadline when the front office will have to decide whether to augment the pitching staff or roll with what the Braves have. The timing allows the front office an opportunity to do whatever it takes to put the best roster on the field when the games matter most in October.
“What team would you rather have going into the playoffs?” Morton asked rhetorically. “The 2021 Braves or the 2023 Braves? We won 104 games last season but came up short. When you get there, there’s just no way to know. There’s no way to know how the first couple games of a five-game playoff series are going to go. All you can do is the best you can do for six months. That’s our goal every year.”
-
Chris Low
By this time in any postseason, talent and depth typically rise to the top.
Now that we’re down to the Sweet 16 in our 2025 mock NCAA football tournament, that’s apparent with 11 of the 16 teams coming from either the Big Ten or SEC.
All four No. 1 seeds are still alive, and No. 12 seed Memphis has engineered two upsets to get this far. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and BYU linebacker Isaiah Glasker all played starring roles in the first two rounds, and Ryan Silverfield has Memphis riding an eight-game winning streak.
To recap, the original seeds were based to a large degree on ESPN’s latest SP+ projections entering the 2025 season, although seeds are a moot point as we tee it back up.
Time to finish the tournament. And the best news? There’s no blaming anything on a committee.
Midwest Regional
Semifinals
(1) Ohio State 28, (5) BYU 23: How do you cover Buckeyes receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate? It’s a question teams asked all season. The Cougars do their best to keep Smith from torching them, but Tate does most of the damage with eight catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns.
(3) Tennessee 34, (2) Oregon 32: The Vols get back to their explosive ways on offense in 2025 with quarterback Nico Iamaleava making a big jump in his third year on campus. Oregon matches that explosiveness with Evan Stewart pulling in two acrobatic catches, leading to a late touchdown. The Ducks get the ball back, but an Arion Carter sack seals the game for Tennessee.
Regional final
(1) Ohio State 31, (3) Tennessee 21: The Vols get another shot at the Buckeyes after getting blown out in Columbus last season in the first round of the playoff. This game is much closer, and Tim Banks’ Tennessee defense holds up most of the way. But the same guy who wreaked havoc on the Vols a year ago does it again. Smith has two of his three touchdown catches in the second half to lead Ohio State to its 10th straight win.
How we got here
First round
(1) Ohio State over (16) Boston College
(2) Oregon over (15) UCF
(3) Tennessee over (14) Pittsburgh
(4) South Carolina over (13) North Carolina
(5) BYU over (12) Colorado
(11) Kentucky over (6) Louisville
(7) TCU over Georgia Tech
(9) Arkansas over (8) Boise State
Second round
(1) Ohio State over (9) Arkansas
(2) Oregon over (7) TCU
(3) Tennessee over (11) Kentucky
(5) BYU over (4) South Carolina
South Regional
Semifinals
(5) Illinois 27, (1) Texas 24: The shocker of the tournament so far, but don’t tell that to Illinois coach Bret Bielema. In his fifth season at Illinois, he had a good feeling about this team all along. The Illini returned 18 starters from their bowl team a year ago, and the two stars on defense, outside linebacker Gabe Jacas and cornerback Xavier Scott, play like stars against a Texas offense that never finds any rhythm.
(2) Notre Dame 31, (3) Miami 20: The infamous “Catholics vs. Convicts” T-shirts are reintroduced to the college football world, and that’s what everybody is talking about in the buildup to this game. Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore steals the show with interceptions in each half, the final one leading to the clinching touchdown for the Irish.
Regional final
(2) Notre Dame 28, (5) Illinois 21: Jeremiyah Love’s development and toughness epitomized Notre Dame’s run to the semifinals last year. He’s even more of a factor this year, and his ability to make big plays and earn the tough yards against a stout Illinois defense is the difference in this Elite Eight matchup. Love’s tackle-breaking 8-yard touchdown run gives the Irish the lead for good and caps a 138-yard rushing night.
How we got here
First round
(1) Texas over (16) Maryland
(2) Notre Dame over (15) California
(3) Miami over (14) Kansas
(4) Florida over (13) James Madison
(5) Illinois over (12) N.C. State
(11) Virginia Tech over (6) Iowa
(7) USC over (10) Minnesota
(8) Texas Tech over (9) Utah
Second round
(1) Texas over (8) Texas Tech
(2) Notre Dame over (7) USC
(3) Miami over (6) Virginia Tech
(5) Illinois over (4) Florida
East Regional
Semifinals
(1) Penn State 35, (12) Memphis 17: Memphis’ improbable run to the Sweet 16 comes to a crushing end as Penn State builds a 21-3 lead, then tees off defensively on a Memphis offense that has to resort to throwing the ball on just about every down. Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen each rush for more than 100 yards for the Nittany Lions, who finish with 290 yards on the ground as a team.
(2) Alabama 27, (3) Michigan 23: In a rematch of the Rose Bowl two years ago (Nick Saban’s final game), Alabama gets a little revenge for its old coach. The Crimson Tide are held to a single touchdown in the first half, but the defense keeps them in it. Trailing 20-17 entering the fourth quarter, Alabama finds its running game. Jam Miller erupts for 72 rushing yards in the final quarter, and the Tide bullies their way into the Elite Eight.
Regional final
(2) Alabama 22, (1) Penn State 19: Ty Simpson has waited his turn at quarterback for the Crimson Tide, and even though they don’t light up the scoreboard in this defense-dominated matchup of blue bloods, he doesn’t commit a single turnover and keeps everybody on offense focused. But on Alabama’s final two drives, Simpson throws a 28-yard touchdown pass to put the Tide ahead and later converts a fourth-and-short to put the game away.
How we got here
First round
(1) Penn State over (16) West Virginia
(2) Alabama over (15) Syracuse
(3) Michigan over (14) Army
(4) SMU over (13) Tulane
(12) Memphis over (5) Texas A&M
(11) Wisconsin over (6) Oklahoma
(7) Indiana over (10) Washington
(9) Nebraska over (8) Arizona State
Second round
(1) Penn State over (9) Nebraska
(2) Alabama over (7) Indiana
(3) Michigan over (11) Wisconsin
(12) Memphis over (4) SMU
West Regional
Semifinals
(1) Georgia 35, (4) LSU 31: Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton got a taste of postseason football last year when he filled in for Carson Beck. That experience proves valuable in this back-and-forth game, with Nussmeier throwing three touchdown passes for LSU. But Stockton is able to spread the ball around with Noah Thomas and Zachariah Branch, both transfer receivers, and tight end Oscar Delp all catching touchdown passes.
(2) Clemson 33, (3) Ole Miss 24: Dabo Swinney and Lane Kiffin have been on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to using the transfer portal. Swinney has barely dipped into it at all, and Kiffin has lived in it. Swinney did bring in three transfers this season, and one of them, former Purdue defensive end Will Heldt, makes life miserable for the Ole Miss offensive line. Heldt finishes with two sacks and a forced fumble, and the Tigers march onward.
Regional final
(2) Clemson 31, (1) Georgia 30: Once upon a time, these teams played every year in one of the South’s best nonconference rivalries. The Tigers, who had lost eight of their past nine games against the Bulldogs, fall behind early in this one. But Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell, flagged for pass interference on the previous possession, intercepts a Stockton pass deep in Clemson territory, leading to a quick touchdown. That’s where the game swings, and the Tigers move a step closer to their third national title in 10 years.
How we got here
First round
(1) Georgia over (16) Oklahoma State
(2) Clemson over (15) Mississippi State
(3) Ole Miss over (14) Cincinnati
(4) LSU over (13) Florida State
(5) Missouri over (12) Rutgers
(11) Vanderbilt over (6) Kansas State
(7) Auburn over (10) Duke
(8) Iowa State over (9) Baylor
Second round
(1) Georgia over (8) Iowa State
(2) Clemson over Auburn (7)
(3) Ole Miss over (11) Vanderbilt
(4) LSU over (5) Missouri
Final Four
(2) Clemson 35, (1) Ohio State 28: The first time these teams played was back in 1978, with Clemson winning 17-15 in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida. It was a blah game until legendary coach Woody Hayes punched Clemson’s Charlie Bauman on the sideline late in the fourth quarter after Bauman intercepted a pass. Hayes was fired the next day. This national semifinal game doesn’t include any extracurricular fireworks that rise to that level, but Klubnik and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin provide plenty of fireworks on the field. They both pass for more than 300 yards, but freshman running back Gideon Davidson delivers the winning 24-yard touchdown run for the Tigers.
(2) Alabama 33, (2) Notre Dame 27: Here the Irish are knocking on the door of a national championship for the second straight season under Marcus Freeman, who’s the subject of countless reports that NFL teams are lining up to hire him. Freeman never gives any credence to those reports, and his Notre Dame team fights its way back from a two-touchdown deficit. Driving inside the Alabama 45 with just under four minutes remaining, Notre Dame tries to run right at 326-pound defensive tackle Tim Keenan III. Big mistake. Keenan blows up the play, forcing a 5-yard loss. Notre Dame has to punt and never gets the ball back, as Alabama’s offensive line takes control of the game.
National Championship
(2) Alabama 30, (2) Clemson 24: It’s not the first time Swinney has gone up against his alma mater in the national championship game. It happened in 2015 with Alabama winning, again in 2016 with Clemson winning and then in 2018 with the Tigers claiming their second national title under Swinney. So, now, welcome to Part 4. All the gnashing of teeth in Tuscaloosa over Kalen DeBoer’s first season as coach when he lost (gasp) four games has quieted. Alabama is playing its best football of the season with some of its younger players and veterans stepping up in key roles. But it’s the most electrifying player on Alabama’s roster, receiver Ryan Williams, who wins it for the Tide, their 19th “claimed” national championship. After Antonio Williams gives Clemson the lead with a 46-yard touchdown catch down the right sideline, Ryan Williams caps a 77-yard drive for Alabama with a 2-yard touchdown catch on a pick/rub play. Sound familiar? With Clemson fans cursing the play the same way Alabama did back in 2016, DeBoer breaks through in his second season. His statue on the Walk of Champions is up by the start of the 2026 season.
-
Eli Lederman
Four-star defensive tackle Trashawn Ruffin, No. 238 in the ESPN Junior 300, flipped his commitment from Texas A&M to North Carolina on Monday, marking the Tar Heels’ highest-rated new pledge since coach Bill Belichick took over the program in December.
Ruffin, the 12th-ranked prospect from the state of North Carolina in the 2026 cycle, announced his decision via social media. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound defender had been committed to Texas A&M since October 2024 and was the fourth-ranked member of the Aggies’ latest class prior to his flip. Ruffin is now the No. 1 prospect pledged to the Tar Heels’ incoming class in 2026, Belichick’s first full recruiting cycle in college football.
Ruffin, ESPN’s No. 17 defensive tackle prospect, initially committed to Texas A&M last fall over offers from schools including Ohio State, Georgia, Texas, Michigan and Florida State. Yet Belichick and his staff — which has placed an emphasis on in-state recruiting since the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach arrived at North Carolina — made Ruffin a priority target in 2025.
The flip comes weeks after Ruffin took an unofficial visit with the Tar Heels, during which he attended a North Carolina-Duke basketball game and met former North Carolina All-American defenders Lawrence Taylor and Julius Peppers.
Ruffin, who plays at North Duplin High School in Mt. Olive, North Carolina, is the ninth prospect committed to the Tar Heels’ 2026 class. He joins Charlotte, North Carolina, quarterback Zaid Lott as the second in-state prospect pledged to the program in the cycle.
Belichick and the Tar Heels signed the nation’s 45th-ranked recruiting class at the close of the 2025 cycle last month. That group of high school signees included four-star quarterback Bryce Baker (No. 200 in the ESPN 300), who initially committed to North Carolina coach Mack Brown before affirming his pledge to the program shortly after Belichick’s hiring.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports12 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway