Oct. 1: Swanson didn’t take any swings Monday, Bowman tweets, adding it “seems highly unlikely” he’ll end up on the Braves’ NLDS roster.
Sept. 30: Swanson felt discomfort while taking dry swings on Saturday, manager Brian Snitker said (Twitter link via Bowman). The Braves will further evaluate Swanson on Sunday, though they may not know until Wednesday whether he’ll be available to play, per Bowman.
Sept. 28: Swanson’s hand has improved in the past couple of days, tweets MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. There’s no determination yet on whether he’ll be healthy enough for postseason play, but he could hit off a tee this weekend. The organization remains hopeful that Swanson will indeed be ready for the NLDS.
Sept. 26: Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson has been diagnosed with a partially torn ligament in his left hand, the team announced today on Twitter. He’ll receive daily treatment over the season’s last few days before being reevaluated prior to the start of the National League Division Series. It’s the same hand that sent Swanson, 24, to the Disabled List for two weeks this May.
Swanson, the first overall pick in the 2015 draft, was in desperate need of a rebound following his disastrous 2017 campaign, which saw him post below replacement-level marks in nearly a full season’s worth of time. For the most part, he eased concerns, upping his ISO from .092 to .157 and posting career highs across the board defensively, where his 11 DRS was good for 6th among all Major League shortstops.
His bat, though, projected by many to deliver perennially above-average marks in the average and on-base departments, has again failed to deliver on its promise. Swanson slumped to a miserable .213/.296/.376 over the season’s second half, struggling mightily against left-handed pitching and striking out nearly 23% of the time. His .283 xWOBA ranks 198th out of 205 players with at least 400 PA in 2018, which certainly doesn’t augur well for seasons to come.
Despite the struggles, though, Swanson has established himself as a legitimate regular in the middle of the diamond for the NL East-Champion Braves, who rode a coterie of hype-exceeding prospects to their first division title (and winning season) in five years. Swanson, to be sure, will be afforded ample opportunity to right the ship, what with his four years of team control remaining and not-too-distant status as a former #1 overall prospect.
In the interim, the Braves will almost surely turn to a mix of Charlie Culberson – he of the startling .279/.330/.484 line this season – and Johan Camargo, whose 117 wRC+ has wildly surpassed any available preseason projections, to man the position, with the other figuring to receive the bulk of the time at the hot corner.
Ugh. Worst possible timing.
Correct, and also a lot of baseball analysts want to be down on Dansby, and the offensive year he’s had in 2018, BUT you cannot deny how amazing this kid is when it counts the most!!
With two outs, with RISP, and he’s especially clutch in late/close game situations. When the game is on the line, Dansby is hitting an INCREDIBLE .371/.416/1.030!!!
There’s a big reason the Braves are able to score so many runs in the latter innings, and that starts and ends with Dansby Swanson!!
Even though he’s a younger player, with limited experience, and even though he’s struggled a bit at the plate at times, none of that seems to matter when the lights get the brightest for Dansby..He’s a natural born leader, and he would be a huge blow if he’s unable to go in the playoffs.
I wouldn’t be the least bit suprised if Dansby were to perform at a very high level during the postseason…In fact, if he is able to go, and if he gets a clean bill of health, I fully expect Swanson to use this postseason as a springboard heading into the 2019 season..
Now, even though they’d be losing an extremely clutch and young SS, that’s capable of hitting 15+ HR’s, scoring 75+ runs, driving in 75+ runs, and stealing 15 bases. Even though, they’d be losing a team leader, and one of their most improved and overall extremely gifted defenders, all wouldn’t be lost for the Braves chances at making a postseason run…
That’s because they’d be replacing Danby Swanson and his beautiful locks of hair, with his just as handsone twin, Charlie Culberson!! lol…
Everyone saw him as an unnecessary throw-in in the Matt Kemp-Brandon McCarthy savings trade, and A.A was constantly questioned for acquiring him, and using him to take up a roster spot. Well, he got off to a slow start, but Culberson has single-handedly won the Braves at least a handful of games this year. He’s had walk-off HR’s, timely clutch hits, and he’s been especially amazing on the road, versus RHPs, in the second half, and when he is hitting with RISP..
All of those situations can prove to be troublesome at times for the Braves, where they can struggle offensively. So, the fact they’ve been able to count on Culby in these times, has been an extremely beneficial boost for their ballclub..
Let’s take a closer look just how good Culberson has been in these types of situations.
Away Games: .316/.354/.553
2nd Half: .297/.339/.559
Vs. RHP: .283/.342/.500
RISP: .385/.446/.646
Two Outs: .294/.381/.494
Again, all are very solid numbers for an extremely versatile, utility, bench player. Not to mention, he’s also brought some unexpected pop off the Braves bench, basically averaging a HR about every 23 at-bats…
Not good
There goes one of the late inning spark plugs.. Think this has been hampering him most of the season, he was a completely different hitter the first month or two of the season until he got hurt. Godspeed dansby and we will need that energy and leadership in the dugout!
Better performance despite more K’s and less walks.
Ugh, now Braves are to rely on the defense of Camargo/Culberson headed into the playoffs.
Camargo was considered a better defensive ss then Swanson in the minors! It was his bat that they were afraid wouldn’t develop!
Camargo is a premier defender and Culberson is not a liability on the field.
Either way braves stand no chance against anyone in the nl. Question truly becomes can he pitch? Outside of foltz their rotation is bellow average.
Lol ok. Just don’t be salty when they beat the Dodgers in the first round.
Dodgers have to make it to playoffs before thats even considered. With roberts at the helm wouldnt be suprised to not make playoffs.
While I know where you are coming from and I don’t wholly disagree with you about their chances, I wouldn’t go as far as to say they stand no chance. Their starting rotation ERA is 5th overall in baseball, I wouldn’t call that below average.
You’re name fits you at least..
Most teams rotations are below average when you take out their top pitcher. Anything can happen in a best of 5 or 7 series, so don’t suggest they have no chance
Um… so the Braves’ league-leading BAA and forth-lowest ERA are due to the amazing bullpen combination of Winkler, Biddle, and Minter? Their staff is FAR from lights out, but the top three starters have ERA’s under 3.00, and Folty’s in NOT the lowest, it’s Gausman. No one should fear the Braves pitching, but that “no chance” of beating anyone in the playoffs must be the same “no chance” they had of MAKING the playoffs. 🙂
Nobody is beating the Brewers. Facts! And then the American League will tear them apart. Facts!
A wise man said you don’t judge a league by its best teams, you judge it by its worst. High records are a product of poor ones, I believe it will be more competitive than most think.
I believe you are wrong, but you are entitled
Whew. Thanks for the clarification on both fronts.
They never stood a chance. They walked over an easy division that’s all that happened
I think you meant NL East champion Braves.
Sit Dansby then trade.
Made of glass.
How do you figure he’s made of glass?
Injuries happen and can’t control however he needs to figure it out. Texas not the place
Kinda wish Riley was up and already had some experience. Maybe he could have manned 3rd while camargo takes ss. I’m just not high on CC like everyone else is. He’s fine and glad we have him as a replacement. But idk…
I am not saying I’m extremely “high” on him, but he has been “Charlie Clutch” this season! He is a great reserve….and this is why he is here! If Dansby can’t go Culberson will do fine starting for him!
I love all the haters who say we don’t have a chance
I am not coming out and saying we are running thru the playoff comp but the fact of the matter is if the pitching throws strikes we are dominate but I do know with the young staff that is a big if
I also do know that the strike zone expands come playoff time so hopefully we can get some strikes that may not be called in regular season
Let’s Go Braves !!!!!!!
It’s not haters to say that. I like the Braves but chances of getting past Milwaukee or Los Angeles is pretty slim
Rockies scare me more than any of the other teams
I still think the Dodgers then the Cubs are the teams to beat in the NL. I’m hoping for Braves then Rockies then Brewers, however.
Maybe the Dodgers but the Brewers are on fire right now
Rockies aren’t scary, meaningful games at Coors field are
Total bust. The Diamondbacks are lucky they got rid of him and found someone to take him.
u know nothing about baseball if you think he has been a total bust.
He is average at best for a 1 overall pick. Very light hitter.
I wouldn’t cal him a bust, but definitely not living up to the unrealistic high expectations coming up so quickly through the system. I’ll even admit, I thought he was gonna single handily turn around the franchise. He was certain the one who started the turn around, but definitely not what I was really hoping for with that kind of potential
He hasn’t been a total bust, not at all, but the MLB draft is much more of a crapshoot than the other major sports.
Of the last 11 #1 overall picks, 6 have been good and 5 have been busts or below-average.
I’m only counting 2005-2015 draft picks, btw – I think anyone drafted after that still deserves some more time.
BRAVES should trade for Arenado and sign Grandal,R.Ray,C.Morton,T.Rosenthal and K.Herrera. play Albies at SS and Camargo at 2B. Switch Iley to LF.zed