The Atlanta Braves could have easily called it quits on their season. With two days to go in the month of July, they held a record of 51-53. Sure, they were coming off a season where they were one win away from the World Series, but there were many things wrong with the 2021 Braves that made it seem that were nowhere near that good.

Superstar outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. out for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL, Mike Soroka suffering a setback that would keep him out all season, Marcel Ozuna’s off the field issues, and more lead to an uninspiring treading water Atlanta Braves team.  But Alex Anthopolus was aware of the circumstances that impacted his team and the teams playing in the National League East. 

Aware that the New York Mets offense was not producing enough offense to keep them afloat atop the division for much longer. Aware that the Philadelphia Phillies simply could not lock down a game if their season depended on it, as they would finish the season with the second most blown saves in the MLB. Aware that the Washington Nationals would be selling in just a matter of hours, shipping out stars like Max Scherzer, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber. 

Most importantly though, aware that just 5 games stood between them and first place with two whole months of baseball left. Despite everything that had gone wrong so far during four months of baseball, there was a very real chance. 

So when many, including myself (and this is why no one is calling me to work in their front office), would have moved on and played for 2022, Anthopolus and the rest of the Braves front office got to work before the 4 p.m. eastern time trade deadline on July 30th. 

They had already traded for Joc Pederson about a week prior, sending to Chicago a low-level prospect that would have had no immediate impact. It was essentially a no risk move for Atlanta, as Pederson could just leave in free agency if things didn’t really pan out. 

One outfielder was not enough though for a team that needed bats. Not one, not two, but three more outfielders were brought in on deadline day. All of them, like Pederson, cost next to nothing. Adam Duvall, Eddie Rosario, and Jorge Soler would all be major pieces in a Braves team that would soon go on a run. 

You know the rest of the story. The Braves get hot, win the NL East, and then proceed to beat the Brewers, Dodgers, and Astros en route to a World Series victory. But how did these four players impact an improbable playoff run?

Well, if you saw fans in Braves gear wearing pearl necklaces, Pederson is to thank for that. His own pearl necklace, which he donned in every playoff game, seemed to give a sort of “magical spark” to a team that was the underdog in every round on paper. Throw in the multiple moonshot home runs in the NLDS, and it became very clear that the Braves wouldn’t be missing the low-level prospect that they gave up to get Pederson.

Then came the NLCS, where Rosario had one of the best championship series of any player all time. Rosario would finish the series with 14 total hits, and one NLCS MVP trophy to show for it, along with a trip to the World Series.

To wrap a bow on everything, Duvall and Soler each hit multiple home runs to beat Houston in six games. Soler’s game six bomb that I still do not think has landed added to his tally of multiple go-ahead homers in the four Braves wins. Soler would be rewarded with a World Series MVP for his efforts.

So once again, the Atlanta Braves being aware of the circumstances surrounding them at the MLB Trade Deadline ended up working out. Obviously, the players still had to go out and win, but there is no opportunity to do so if Anthopoulos and company punt on the season in July.

The Atlanta Braves should be applauded for their decision making over the last few months. They went all in on a group that they truly believed in, and it paid tremendous dividends. While other teams sat back, content with their rosters, a tremendous amount of aggression was taking place down in Georgia.

Sure, you can say that the Braves only had this opportunity because they were in such a weak division. But sometimes that’s just how baseball works. Every once and a while a special set of circumstances arises, and Atlanta was aware of those. And now I sit here having just watched them win more playoff games in one year than I’ve seen my Cincinnati Reds win in my entire lifetime.