What Went Wrong: Remember 2021?

Where were you on the evening of November 2, 2021? You know what was doing? I was switching my TV between two programs. One, the second season finale of Stargirl, which included an awesome moment where we get an evil and possessed Stargirl, and two, Game Six of that year's World Series between the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros. The Braves won that game and locked up their first championship in 26 years, and that was the first World Series I wrote about, game by game, on Vocal.

The city of Atlanta needed that championship, because they were (and still are) recovering from 28-3. However, it's been tough for the Braves ever since. No playoff series wins since, but 2026 changed things. The Braves took the NL East, and the Wild Card Series saw them exorcise two demons. They won a series for the first time in five years, and they beat the Phillies in the postseason for the first time ever.

Next up for the Braves, the back-to-back defending champion Dodgers. A familiar foe to the Braves, especially in recent years (mainly the 2020 and 2021 NLCS). This year, the Braves dominated the Dodgers in the regular season, to the tune of a 5-1 record. But remember, there's the Dodgers between March and September, and then there's the October Dodgers. Two different animals there.

Usually, my "What Went Wrong" stories always centered on something silly and/or boneheaded that the eliminated team did, but I can't really find much. The only thing that went wrong? They ran into a juggernaut. It wasn't personal, it was just business.

It was quite the team effort for the Braves this year. Ronald Acuña, Jr. was definitely at his healthiest, and he absolutely led the team to this point this year. Ozzie Albies truly led the way in the postseason; 6-for-24, two homers, five RBIs, an amazing performance. Michael Harris II hit .407 (11/27), homered, and drove in four. Austin Riley had that clutch three-run homer in Game One against Philly, and Sean Murphy also hit one out when the team needed it. Everybody had their contributions to the Braves.

Well, almost everyone.

I just have one question. Does every talking head in MLB have some sort of illness where they can't see that Matt Olson's dead weight? They put this guy on some sort of pedestal, but he's done absolutely nothing for the team since the Athletics dumped him in Atlanta's lap. They pawned Olson and Murphy on to the Braves, but at least Murphy has produced. Olson has done nothing with the Braves ever since they overpaid him, and this postseason is the latest example of his incompetence. 4-for-27, a homer, 3 RBIs. That's it. People need to admit that Olson is the weak link on this team.

So with that, the Los Angeles Dodgers are back in the National League Championship Series. It's their third straight appearance in the Final Four, and their eighth appearance in 11 years under Dave Roberts. As for the Braves, the quest to get that 2021 mojo back ended very early for them. It will now mark five years since that magical championship run, and in that stretch, Atlanta's won only one postseason series, and it came this year. So the Braves have an interesting offseason to look forward to, and we will see who they add and who they subtract. They should be favorites to win the East again, especially if Philly loses too many pieces. On the bright side, the city of Atlanta does have something else to pull from: the WNBA's Dream (led by Angel Reese) are in the Finals this year!