ATLANTA — As the Braves wilted in Philadelphia last October, most people watching the series noticed something. It might be impossible to quantify, but it seemed to affect the series. The Phillies had it, the Braves did not.
An edge. A spark. Fire.
These are often terms used by writers, broadcasters, fans and armchair quarterbacks. Often, they cannot be measured. It might be foolish to base any analysis on these traits.
At the end of December, when the Braves acquired Chris Sale, they rounded out the top four in their starting rotation.
But they also brought in a game-changing personality. Forgive the sports clichés — Sale, because of his personality, could push the Braves forward because of the attitude he brings.