ROUNDTABLE: Will any Atlanta Braves win MVP or Cy Young awards in 2023?

We can't wait for the season to start.

After 164 days of agonizing wait since the Atlanta Braves were eliminated by the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Divisional Series, we're just days away from real baseball that matters.

We polled the writers of Braves Today to find out who they liked on this year's team for to either be a statistical leader or get award votes (or both, in some cases.)

Statistical Leaders

Who leads the team in home runs this season?

Leading vote getter: Ronald Acuña Jr (4)

Also receiving votes: Matt Olson (3)

I've gotta be honest, I'm stunned no one said Austin Riley. The Braves 3rd baseman finished last year with 38 homeruns (4 more than Olson), his 2nd straight year with an OPS over .875. Yes he had a minor slump, but it coincides with the birth of his child - in the 19 games after Eason Michael Riley arrived on April 20th, Austin batted just .203 with only 15 hits in 83 plate appearances, with only eight RBIs and seven walks to 23 strikeouts.

As a dad, this is explainable by the perfectly natural fatigue that comes with the birth of your first child. Babies don't care that you're professional athletes; they're not sleeping through the night.

I like Riley here, although RAJ or Olson would not surprise me in the least.

Who leads the team in RBIs?

Leading vote getter (Tied): Ronald Acuña Jr & Matt Olson, with three votes each

Also receiving votes: Austin Riley (1)

This one feels easy to me that it should be Austin Riley - batting 3rd in the lineup, behind both the leading vote getters, it feels like he's most likely to come up with runners on base to collect RBIs.

Really, any of the trip seems like a safe bet.

Who leads the team in stolen bases this season?

Leading vote getter: Ronald Acuña Jr (3)

Also receiving votes: Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II

I understand the idea of giving votes to Albies and Harris, both guys with good speed that like to steal.

But Ronald's on a mission.

Which pitcher leads the team in wins?

Leading vote getter: Max Fried (5)

Also receiving votes: Spencer Strider (2)

I understand this one and completely agree - Strider's incredibly impressive rookie campaign has put the entire league on notice, but Fried's the runner-up for Cy Young and appears to be at his absolute peak as a pitcher - I'm not betting against the lefty.

READ: What a Max Fried extension with the Atlanta Braves might look like

For Atlanta to win the World Series, ___ has to do ___:

This was a really interesting one for responses. Surprisingly, the most common answers were pitching-related. Some combination of seeing Spencer Strider dominate again and getting Ian Anderson and/or Michael Soroka back to form was seen by our writers as being the most critical need, although I was reminded that the playoffs are a crapshoot and the goal should be just to get there healthy and hot.

Who gets the most starts at shortstop?:

Leading vote getter: Orlando Arcia (4)

Also receiving votes: Vaughn Grissom (3)

Being honest, this one surprised me. For as much as Braves fans were ready to anoint Vaughn Grissom as the heir apparent based on an offseason of working with "Wash" in New Orleans, Orlando Arcia leads in the voting. This group definitely has faith in Brian Snitker and Alex Anthopoulos.

Does anyone get award votes for:

MVP? Ronald Acuña Jr led this with seven votes, followed by both Matt Olson and Austin Riley with five each

(Note: Austin Riley's last two seasons have seen him finish 7th and 6th in MVP voting)

Cy Young? Max Fried narrowly edges out Spencer Strider for this one, four votes to three. As the NL Cy Young runner-up last year, Fried is in a great place entering 2023 as the unquestioned ace of this rotation and one of the top ten pitchers in all of baseball...but Strider isn't far behind.

READ: Max Fried, Spencer Strider ranked amongst the top pitchers in baseball by The Athletic

Rookie of the Year? Jared Shuster got one vote, from our own Jake Mastroianni.

Comeback Player of the Year? Ozzie Albies (4)

The star second baseman missed 98 games last year between foot and hand injuries - in his stead, Atlanta cycled through five different options at the keystone. A full season of standard production from Albies should not only dramatically help this team's playoff chances, but also lock down a Comeback Player of the Year bid.

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