Welcome to Bartlanta

I've been a Braves fan my entire life.  There have been some amazing teams and franchise moments over the last 33.5 years of my memory, but none like what we're all about to witness in 2017.  I have literally never been this excited about baseball.  Ever.  And I know I'm not alone.

With the sting of Chipper's retirement now gone, and the bittersweet journey of a rebuild that includes saying goodbye to Turner Field, the Atlanta Braves are back.  They are strong and they are ready for baseball.  Sun Trust Park and the Atlanta Braves in 2017 will not disappoint.

Matt Kemp was perhaps the most valuable addition in the whole ordeal, jump-starting a sputtering offense and bringing with him a youthful exuberance that everyone needed, fans included.  His letter to Atlanta struck a cord; I identified with the Christmas photo of a kid wearing his Braves jacket.  My Christmas's were filled with Braves stuff too.  Freddie Freeman finished the 2016 season strong with MVP-caliber numbers.  Dansby Swanson made a memorable debut.  Ender Inciarte took home the first of many Gold Glove awards.  While spectacular, their season finish in 2016 is only the half of it.

With Snitker now as Manager, Coppy's most significant move this off season was hiring a couple of senior citizens to hurl a whopping 82 mph combined average.  Weird, yes, even risky.  The handful of other moves this winter finalized the roster, and put the Braves one season closer to the dynasty they will once again become.  But out of all that Atlanta has done to rebuild, cementing the inaugural season at Sun Trust Park with "Big Sexy" on the mound has to be the most genius thing any franchise has ever done.

The enigma that is Bartolo Colon will earn every penny of the $12.5 million contract he signed in November, and he will bring more than just veteran leadership to Atlanta.  Colon and his many hashtags are trending on Twitter and fans are busy making posters in anticipation of opening day.  Merchandise sales will be through the roof, I can already tell.  Butts will be in seats.  All eyes are on Colon as he chases history at the age of 43.  Big Bart has stirred the baseball world into a frenzy, and Braves Country is loving every minute of it.  I know I am.

With our minds long past the rebuild, we are now mesmerized by the sight of Colon running drills at Spring Training.  Fans can marvel at the chance of being competitive this season and can look forward to a memorable beginning of a new era in the Braves baseball.  The chemistry of this 2017 team is unmistakable.  The talent and heart that Kemp, Freeman, Swanson and Inciarte bring is simply magical.  Hell, even Walter Banks couldn't miss this!  But of all we have to look forward to this season, one person brings it all together like no one else can.  Bartolo Colon is the gravy to our mashed potatoes.  The Braves are back.  Welcome to Bartlanta.