First of all, yes, the Braves are most certainly an improved product in 2017. How much they will actually end up improving in the win column is yet to be written. This has been a more interesting summer, but I can’t help but think we will look back at this summer as a wasted opportunity.

The Braves got to 45-45 on July 16th and things were looking up. Optimism was running high and they continued with the experiment of getting weaker at 2 defensive positions by moving Freddie Freeman to third base to keep Matt Adams in the lineup. The race deadline has passed and they failed to move veteran assets like Brandon Phillips and Jim Johnson. They held onto Adams and his production after an amazing run is bottoming out to his normal levels. It appears that the Braves held on too long instead of moving him while he still had a hot hand. 

Considering that we are just now getting to see players like Ozzie Albies and Lucas Sims with the big league club in August, what have we learned about 2018? We aren’t sure what Dansby Swanson will ever become and if he can play the short stop position competently. The rotation doesn’t have a lot of solid answers going forward IF there are dreams of 2018 contention.

The Braves are 3-11 since that .500 record in mid-July. They have the worst record within their divisional games at 18-26, including a 2-9 record vs. the Phillies.

My guess is that unless there is dramatic turn of events, Brian Snitker will take the bullet for the struggles that turned this season from one of great promise to another of massive question marks. In the last 2 months, the Braves need to find answers for 2018. If not, this summer was nothing more than spinning their wheels.