SE Atlanta News

Mark Bowman

BALTIMORE -- Instead of having manager Brian Snitker answer questions once again about the Braves’ struggles over the past six weeks, president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos took his turn.

“There’s going to be frustration,” Anthopoulos said. “It’s tough. No one has fun if they are losing. But overall, are we still in a good place? Are the coaches and players in a good place? [The vibe] is still as good as it can be, all things considered. There’s no doubt it’s gone on for a while.”

Anthopoulos’ comments were made a few hours before the Braves suffered a wrenching 4-2 loss to the Orioles on Wednesday night at Camden Yards. Matt Olson provided a game-tying homer in the top of the eighth, but Joe Jiménez surrendered his first homer of the year in the bottom half.

Jiménez allowed a game-winning homer to Colton Cowser, who entered the game in the eighth inning as a defensive replacement for right fielder Ryan O’Hearn. That’s just how things have gone during a five-game losing streak that has extended the Braves’ worst stretch in seven years.

“We’ve had to fight through adversity even in the 100-win seasons,” Snitker said. “You go through stretches where it just doesn’t go your way. That’s just the way this game is. Nobody likes it. Nobody is happy about it. But what are you going to do? You come back the next day and you keep fighting.”

The Braves have lost 23 of their past 39 games and 17 of their past 26. These are their worst 39-game and 26-game stretches since September 2017, which was a few months before Anthopoulos was lured to Atlanta to fill his current role.

Anthopoulos and Snitker have teamed up to guide the Braves to six straight division titles and one World Series trophy. This team seemed capable of producing a third straight 100-win season before both Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider suffered season-ending injuries. But even without these two stars, it was hard to foresee the team struggling like this, especially from an offensive standpoint.

“We’d love to have it turn around immediately,” Anthopoulos said. “Everyone is obviously trying -- the players, the coaches -- and from my standpoint, I’m doing what I can. But we haven’t gotten it done yet. That’s just the reality of it. It’s obviously been going on for a while. But the saving grace, if you want to put it that way, is that National League hasn’t run away from us.”

Even in their worst stretch in seven years, the Braves sit atop the NL Wild Card standings. There’s plenty of time to turn things around, and the team hasn’t buried itself yet; however, there remains enough time for further setbacks if improvements aren’t made.

The Cubs (.385) and Mets (.368) were among only two teams with worse winning percentages than the Braves (.421) entering Wednesday's games since April 29 when Atlanta's current skid began its course over 39 games.

“You don’t like going through it, but you have to,” Snitker said. “If you’re going to turn things around, you better handle it.”

Anthopoulos’ trip to Baltimore validated his belief that both coaches and players maintain an appropriate attitude amid this challenging period for them all collectively together as one unit focused on success ultimately prevailing despite adversity faced along their journey thus far onward ahead toward future endeavors moving forward progressively together unitedly always striving toward excellence achieving greatness ultimately eventually overcoming obstacles faced bravely determined resiliently persistently steadfastly committed resolutely unwaveringly unyieldingly triumphantly victoriously celebrating accomplishments achieved deservedly earned proudly rejoicing jubilantly exuberantly elated ecstatically blissfully contentedly satisfied fulfilled gratified delighted happily joyously merrily cheerfully gleefully exultantly blissfully rapturously euphorically serenely peacefully tranquilly harmoniously balanced equanimous poised composed collected serene calm placid undisturbed 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