At this point, Braves are what their record says they are

The Atlanta Braves had great expectations ahead of the 2024 season. They were returning a star-studded lineup with the reigning MVP in tow and a rotation that had just added another dominant arm. Appearances indicated a seventh-straight division title and a World Series run were within their grasp.

The results have been... underwhelming, to say the very least. With 16 games remaining in the season, the Braves find themselves looking up at both the Phillies in the East (9.0 games back) and the Mets in the Wild Card (1.0 games back).

Atlanta has been smothered by injuries, and they have been fighting to piece things together on a week-by-week basis. Four different waiver wire acquisitions were making the start for the Braves in the series with the Washington Nationals, and three of them had been acquired within the last two weeks.

Ahead of the weekend series with the Dodgers, The Steakhouse discussed why fans need to see this team for what it is: an elite pitching team with bats incapable of picking up any of the slack.

"We know what we are offensively, we're one of the worst teams in baseball," Steak said. "You have to be able to look in the mirror."

The rotation has been dominant, headlined by Cy Young frontrunner Chris Sale, but the bats have consistently failed to hold up their end of the deal. Just one season removed from being one of the greatest lineups in baseball history, they are now below league average in runs, hits, RBIs, and on-base percentage.

He likened it to what Bill Parcells famously said about being what your record says you are, "That's exactly what you are."

Could the bats suddenly get hot and secure a seventh consecutive trip to the postseason? Absolutely. Perhaps they get there and make a run.

On the other hand, it might be foolish to think of the Braves as anything more than what they have been in 2024: an average baseball team.