Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman, right, is high-fived by teammates after hitting a three-run home run in the third inning of the Braves’ win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.The Atlanta Braves are 82 games into 2013, and Sunday’s 6-2 win over Arizona was the first step beyond the halfway point.
The Braves are 48-34 and entered Monday’s off day with baseball’s largest divisional lead at 6 1/2 games in the National League East. That distinction is as much about the dysfunction of the NL East as a function of the Braves functionality.
Remember that this club has been beset with injuries, especially to the bullpen that was penciled in as the team’s overwhelming strength to start the season. Plus, the lineup has been forced to play through injuries to Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward and Brian McCann, plus extended slumps to the underwhelming and overpaid right-handed strikeout conglomerate of Uggla, Upton and Upton.
So 14 games over .500 with as comfortable a cushion possible in the division race is worthy of praise. Success despite hardship almost always is.
But is this success worthy of the trust of a fan base in need for continued success?