MLB: An Overview of the Most Popular Teams – Part 5
Craig Kimbrel has been one of the most surprising packages at the mound this season. With just one year into professional baseball, Kimbrel is already dictating terms to the batters. He has played 50 games this season for the Braves and now acts as a backbone
of their pitching staff. Craig’s job of saving games in critical situation has earned him this quick rise to fame as he has duly stood by his task, unscathed by the fame.
He is still 23 years of age and has the world open to him with the kind of talent he possesses. The starting pitchers now have a sense of belief that Kimbrel can sustain their hard work as a reliever. He has pitched 49 innings this season for just 13 runs
at an ERA of 2.20. In addition to this, Kimbrel has bagged 77 strike-outs and has thus been able to save a record 29 games. At this pace, he is set to complete 50 saves this season.
In addition to saving games, Kimbrel has stepped up and won three games for his team too. He is a star wonder and that has been a reason why he has already made a name for himself among the youth. With the youth entering baseball and performing too, more
people who have lost taste for this sport are expected to be attracted to the ballparks once again.
Success does not come with pitching alone and batting has to compliment if a winning combination has to be made. Brian McCann has filled in that spot for the Braves and has been consistently doing it for six years in MLB. This season alone, the bearded McCann
has already scored 39 runs and is just three hits away from completing 100. His all-round abilities are evident from his 16 home-runs and 53 RBIs, all of which have come in crucial time for the team.
McCann’s batting average of .310 and slugging percentage of .509 is unarguably one of the best in the business and he needs to continue if the Braves are to give the Philadelphia Phillies a tough time to stay at the top spot. McCann’s fan following is marked
when he makes way at the plate. The crowd jumps up frequently when the magnificent catcher hits the ball.
One name which almost every man in America is aware of is Chipper Jones. He has 17 years of experience in professional baseball and he has been phenomenal throughout. Jones has scored 1540 career-runs and is nearing the 3000 hits mark. He surpassed the 2500
hits landmark this season with his tenth hit and has gone on to amass 75 hits thus far.
Many players at his age are done with the home-run business but Jones continues to amass home-runs and is just six away from completing 450. He would be itching to be activated from the disabled list and make his presence felt to the millions of fans who
cherish him. Like Derek Jeter, Chipper Jones is appreciated by every baseball fan. They are living legends who do not require or need a team name to be supported. They themselves have a name which is a household commodity.
The Braves have been among the top three most popular teams since 1999. They surpassed the Yankees to take the top notch in 1999 but since have not been able to achieve that spot again. Their success this season will determine how popular they get in the
next.
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