We’ve reached the halfway point of the 2010 regular season in Major League Baseball and some might find it quite a surprise to see the Atlanta Braves back to their familiar perch atop the NL East. The team went into this year with little expectations, in part due to General Manager Frank Wren’s less than exciting offseason maneuvers. Folks in Atlanta saw Wren’s acquisitions of Troy Glaus, Billy Wagner, and Melky Cabrera as nothing more than roster shuffling. Speculation was that Glaus was washed up and Wagner was over the hill and past his prime. Cabrera seemed a last ditch effort to fortify a thin outfield.
April was true to predictions, seeing the Braves finish 10-14 and 4 games back of the division lead. The end of the month saw a 9 game losing streak, and all seemed lost. But as the team grew a little more comfortable and confident things seemed to click. Suddenly Wren looked like a genius. Glaus started cranking the ball, Wagner became lights out, and his rookie right fielder Jason Heyward started turning heads.
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The Braves enter the break with a National League best 52-36 record and 4 game lead in the East. Five Atlanta Players made the NL All Star team, including leading vote-getters Jason Heyward and Tim Hudson.
Suddenly a team that had little to no expectations, and zero excitement surrounding them is in the thick of the hunt for October. This team may not be as talented as Atlanta teams in the 90’s and even early 2000’s, but this team is sure fun to watch. Guys like Martin Prado playing small ball, Omar Infante moving all around the diamond and still producing, “older guys” like Glaus and Wagner looking like they’re ten years younger, and a manager on his way out getting one last shot at a title. We still have half a season to play, but the Atlanta Braves are in a good place.
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