Oct. 14—And just like, that it is over.The season that had so much promise that was filled with so many broken records, so many historical achievements, so many memories ended with a thud this week for your Atlanta Braves.Gone is the season of what might have been with the six-time National League East Division champs. Gone is the potential for a second World Series championship in three years. And again we have the Philadelphia Phillies to thank for the Braves’ postseason demise.For the second straight season, the team that ruled the division was shut down by a team that finished a whopping 14 games back in the division standings and survived the Wild Card Round just to be in the National League Division Series.So much for the team that ruled baseball with its barrage of home runs, not seen since the 2019 Minnesota Twins. It managed just three dingers against the Phillies along with just eight runs and 24 hits. The best hitting team in baseball was reduced to mediocre status in four games, twice in a “bullpen game.”Let’s face it, if not for a sensational catch by Michael Harris II and unbelievable game-ending double play, the Braves could have easily been swept. The Phillies were that much better than the Braves, which continues the trend of baseball postseasons. It is normally not the best but the hottest team that wins in October. That is what happened with the Braves in 2021.While it is easy to blame the current playoff format, which allowed for five days off for the Braves, there should be no excuses for an Atlanta team that was dominant up and down the lineup. It is hard to fathom that the layoff would impact all nine hitters. But let’s be real, not one of these great hitters hit.Not the presumed National League Most Valuable Player in Ronald Acuna Jr. who managed just two hits in 14 at-bats. Not the league leader in home runs and RBIs in Matt Olson, who failed to drive in a run this week. Marcell Ozuna managed only two hits but struck out four times. Austin Riley provided the closest resemblance to his regular season self with six hits, including two home runs, but he still struck out six times.The pitching staff was okay. Spencer Strider certainly did his part in game one, and to some extent, in game two as well. But his slider was left up on multiple occasions Thursday night and the Phillies made him pay with three solo home runs. Max Fried wasn’t completely healthy, and Bryce Elder was in over his head.Manager Brian Snitker should have had a tighter leash on Elder and especially not let him give up a three-run homer to Bryce Harper in game 3.There is plenty of blame to go around but it was once again a failure by the superior team (according to the regular season standings) to advance in the playoffs. You can just chalk it up to October baseball.

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