From the comment of “shopping in any aisle” to acquiring just one big-splash position player, you couldn’t blame those who expressed disappointment that the Atlanta Braves hadn’t kept up with the Joneses in the division.
However, perhaps Alex Anthopoulos had the best grasp of anyone on what to expect from his team in the 2019 season with this very simple belief: Atlanta didn’t need to keep up with the Joneses — the Joneses needed to keep up with Atlanta.
Fast-forward several months later, and here’s where we stand: The Braves, despite that largely stagnant offseason, are not only leading the National League East – they’re starting to run away with it.