Will Braves first baseman Matt Olson be the utmost MLB Iron Guy of the Twenty first century?

It used to be 29 years in the past this presen that Cal Ripken Jr. confirmed us what a Twentieth-century Iron Guy seemed like. Wherein we heartless this.

OTD in 1995, Cal Ripken Jr. took a victory lap for the ages then enjoying in his 2,131st consecutive duel and formally breaking Lou Gehrig’s historical streak pic.twitter.com/hzfFD2ciNz

— MLB (@MLB) September 6, 2024

However when you hadn’t spotted, it’s an overly other year to be a baseball participant in North The united states. So on that notice, right here’s what a Twenty first-century Iron Guy looks as if.

That’s Matt Olson, who will not be as iconic as Ripken however nonetheless is a person with two flow Iron Guy claims to status:

1) He has been an Atlanta Courageous for 3 seasons now. It’s good to find him to start with bottom in each darned duel the Braves have performed in that span — all 473 of them, essentially the most video games performed through someone in baseball for the reason that get started of 2022.

2) However that’s now not all, as a result of in the event you roll the Iron Guy clock again to his year in Oakland, Olson simply blew month an overly cool spherical quantity: 600 video games performed in a row.

So … handiest any other 2,000, and he’ll be respiring indisposed Ripken’s neck hairs. Proper? You suppose he’ll jerk a kind of Ripken-esque victory laps when he breaks the Iron Guy listing … in 2037?

“What is that — like, 18 years?” Olson mentioned, with a mathematically wrong giggle. “Yeah, if I’m playing when I’m 48, I’ll take a victory lap.”

Aw heck, it’s handiest any other 13 years. So he’s virtually there. Or now not. However put out of your mind that Ripken stuff. We’re in fact calling your consideration to Olson’s streak as a result of he is about to cross any other mythical identify. And as soon as he does, he’ll carve out a slice of Iron Guy historical past that might be all his.

This Thursday, in line with STATS Carry out, Olson is in sequence to play games in his 477th consecutive duel as a primary baseman. And why is that so particular? As a result of he’s going to fasten Pete Rose that era for the longest streak of video games performed to start with bottom within the utmost 80 years.

As soon as Olson passes Rose, he’ll personal the second-longest streak to start with bottom since Lou Gehrig — at the back of handiest Frank (Dollar) McCormick of the 1938-42 Cincinnati Reds (652 in a row). And it is going to give Olson the fourth-longest streak to start with of someone within the fashionable generation now not named Gehrig, trailing simply McCormick, Fred Luderus (533) and Gus Suhr (505).

“Those are some cool names for sure,” Olson mentioned. “Especially nowadays.”

Thankfully for us, he after helpfully provided his personal definition of “nowadays.”

At the moment, load leadership has turn out to be a factor on this recreation, although, in Olson’s perceptible, “we’re not full NBA.” And at the present time, matchups have additionally turn out to be a factor. By no means in historical past have there been fewer true on a regular basis avid gamers, as extra groups play games platoon-advantage, mix-and-match lineup bingo everywhere the diamond.

So let’s consider this. Will there ever be any other Ripken? Will there ever also be any other Matt Olson? Is the entire Iron Guy idea death earlier than our perceptible? And whether it is, is {that a} excellent factor — a subtle, clinical, health-driven factor? Or is it any other once-romantic baseball phenomenon this is being pushed out of the game through the up-to-date tide of deep, analytical pondering?

All Olson got down to do when he started this streak used to be play games, and be there for his staff. However his streak has additionally given us a explanation why to dig in on what this all approach. So let’s do this, OK?

Let’s communicate historical past

Prior to we get into why Matt Olson does what he does — and why the Braves are all-in on him doing it — let’s glance deeper into simply how uncommon that is.

Moment then Ripken — Do you know that since Ripken’s streak of two,632 consecutive video games performed resulted in 1998, Olson is handiest the second one participant to have a consecutive video games streak of 600 video games or longer? The alternative: Miguel Tejada, who performed in 1,152 in a row from 2000-07.

He’s smartly situated — However it’s the selection of video games Olson has strung in combination, life enjoying protection at his place, that really separates his streak from virtually each alternative contemporary Iron Guy streak.

Even Tejada performed “only” 807 consecutive video games at shortstop (from 2000-05), in line with STATS. So Olson may cross him, for the longest streak at any place since Ripken, through April 2027.

And through the top of this season, handiest six males would rank forward of Olson for the longest streaks at any place within the utmost 80 years:

(Supply: STATS Carry out; *projected overall at finish of season)

A related facet notice about that record: Simply two of the ones six avid gamers (Ripken and Tejada) compiled the ones streaks within the 162-game generation, now six a long time vintage.

Cal Ripken Jr. jokes with Miguel Tejada throughout the tenth yearly birthday celebration of his record-breaking 2,131st consecutive duel. (Matthew S. Gunby / Related Press)

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The place’s Garvey? We all know what you’re pondering: What about Steve Garvey, who famously strung in combination a 1,207-game streak from 1975-83, as the primary baseman for the Dodgers and Padres? Skillful query!

Garvey’s streak is one in all 3 1,000-gamers (or longer) within the utmost half-century. However it didn’t construct the record above as a result of he prolonged it seven instances with pinch-hitting appearances. Subsequently, it doesn’t qualify for the leaderboard of longest streaks enjoying first bottom. And that’s an notable difference.

Who’s on first — Would it not trauma you to grasp that it’s now not out of the query that Olson may catch Gehrig himself? It surprised us. However we’re now not speaking about Gehrig’s fabled 2,130-game streak that Ripken handed. This may be handiest his longest streak life enjoying first bottom.

Do you know that Gehrig now and again wore an outfield glove when the Yankees wanted him to? Glance it up.

And since he did, his longest consecutive-games streak life enjoying first used to be “only” 885 video games, from 1925-30, in line with STATS. That signifies that if Olson can conserve going, he may grind month that Gehrig streak in July 2027 … and (amazingly) rank Negative. 1 within the fashionable generation. That might in fact occur.

At that time, handiest two males within the fashionable generation would arise in entrance of Olson at any place:

(Supply: STATS Carry out)

Are we getting forward of ourselves? In fact we’re. However what the heck. Olson has refuse purpose of pulling the plug in this streak any year quickly. So he’s nearer to big-time Iron Guy historical past than someone turns out to have spotted. Now let’s have a look at what drives him.

Why Matt Olson simply assists in keeping on posting

Lengthy earlier than Matt Olson started streaking towards Rose and Gehrig, he performed all 162 video games for the A’s again in 2018. He used to be 24. It used to be his first complete season within the gigantic leagues. However he didn’t connect the 162-Sport Membership simply for the reason that A’s had nobody else to play games first. Negative, even again after, Olson used to be a person with a goal.

“It’s kind of how I was wired, growing up, a little bit anyway,” he mentioned. “But when I got to the big leagues, Marcus Semien was there in Oakland. And he was adamant about playing every day.”

You listen Semien’s identify a batch when this topic comes up. Perhaps for the reason that Rangers’ moment baseman is ready to rack up his 8th season enjoying 155 video games or extra, in simply 10 seasons as a usual within the gigantic leagues. What number of alternative avid gamers have accomplished that over those utmost 10 seasons? Yep, none.

Semien has had 3 seasons in that span when he performed all 162 video games. That’s fasten for essentially the most amongst all lively avid gamers. Wish to assumption who’s fasten with him? Proper. Matt Olson.

So at the same time as he used to be nonetheless understanding how you can be an on a regular basis participant, Olson had Semien’s tonality in his ear, preaching the that means of actually enjoying each era. A majority of these years upcoming, that tonality remains to be there. He used to be so aware of Semien’s choice to will his approach into the lineup each era, it used to be withered for Olson — and the left-overs of the ones A’s — to examine what would occur if someone even attempted to construct Semien jerk a era off.

“I don’t think anybody wanted to find out,” Olson mentioned. “I remember he had, like, a little wrist thing going on one time — some inflammation, that sort of thing. The staff wanted to give him a couple days off. I don’t know exactly how it went. I just know there were some words exchanged. Then sure enough, he’s in the lineup that night.

“What Marcus always preached was: You owe it to your teammates and the fans (to be out there). And you get paid to play. You’re not going to be 100 percent every game. But you know, a lot of times, Marcus Semien at 85 percent is better than a lot of other people’s 100 percent. So you just have to be able to find how to navigate it, maybe cut some workload down before the game … so you find a way to be out there.”

Now, that’s precisely what Olson preaches to the avid gamers round him. He says that since he arrived in Atlanta, he hasn’t ever as soon as needed to battle his approach into the lineup — and hasn’t ever been bodily hurting plethora that his fitness even changed into a query.

“The way I look at it, you’re either hurt hurt, or you’re able to go,” he mentioned. “So knock on wood, I haven’t had a lot of those, like, halfway injuries — you know, something where they tell you rest would help but you’re not totally hurt.”

So he’s a company believer within the vintage Marcus Semien adage: If it’s now not damaged, you’ll be able to play games. However he additionally has noticeable plethora of his teammates advance indisposed round him that he is aware of how lucky he’s that each one that stuff that may occur in baseball hasn’t took place to him.

“There’s a ton of luck involved with that,” he mentioned. “You know, shoot, just look at our last 30 games, of (all the) guys getting hit by pitches.”

There used to be one era in September 2022 when his supervisor, Brian Snitker, didn’t get started him, on a Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia. It used to be Sport 152 of Olson’s first season in Atlanta. So his streak wasn’t an issue but. And Snitker said he sought after to offer his first baseman some roughly breather — however knew getting into it virtually definitely wouldn’t be for all 9 innings.

“I said (to him): ‘You know what? We’ve got to win, like 12-0, for you not to play in that game,” Snitker recalled.

So certain plethora, he subbed Olson in for protection within the 8th inning. Olson has began each era since. However that may handiest occur if his staff buys into the that means of that. So let’s have a look at …

Why the Braves are on board

Matt Olson respects a house run. “The players are the ones that set the culture,” Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos mentioned. (Brad Penner / USA Lately)

Is much less truly extra? Society might suppose that approach now within the inside sanctum of maximum franchises. However in Atlanta, they have got a distinct motto:

Extra is extra.

Nowhere else in baseball is the concept that of posting up extra ingrained within the tradition than it’s within the heartbeat of the Atlanta Braves. Take into account 2021, when their complete settingup infield performed between 156 and 160 video games, lacking 13 video games blended? That wasn’t an divergent. It’s what they do.

So a part of why he’s so dedicated to going available in the market, Olson mentioned, is that he grew up in Georgia as a Braves fan … “and that’s just what they’ve done forever. Maybe it’s because maybe I grew up watching the Braves, and I loved seeing the guys in the lineup every day.”

That paintings ethic used to be preached through Chipper Jones, again when he used to be enjoying greater than 150 video games in 8 seasons in a row. It used to be handed right down to Freddie Freeman, who had six seasons as a Courageous through which he overlooked 5 video games or fewer. Now, it’s Olson … and Austin Riley … and Ozzie Albies … who conserve that tradition alive, damaged bones however.

“I don’t believe that it’s the organization that’s setting the culture,” Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos mentioned. “The players are the ones that set the culture. That’s impacted by what players we acquire. But look, the ‘Games Played’ column is something we looked at with Matt Olson. … Obviously, he’s a very good player, but that’s part of what drew us to him as well.”

And not have the Braves favored that feature greater than this hour, when it feels as even though some kind of freak shock has knocked out everyone at the roster … except for Matt Olson.

However it isn’t simply the Braves’ shock epidemic that Olson has needed to dodge this hour. It’s a drive that may occasionally be even tougher to steer clear of:

The Noise.

Whilst you accident 54 homers with a .993 OPS one hour … and after sag to twenty-five homers with a .764 OPS the then, it’s wonderful how all the ones status ovations can turn out to be The Noise. When your OPS plunges through greater than 200 issues, The Noise can flip a man’s willpower to enjoying each era into a complete other narrative: He’s egocentric. He wishes a left-overs. He’s killing that staff. Blahblahblah.

That noise is available in the market. But when the Braves listen it, or assist about it, they’re doing an magnificient activity of disguising it.

“I hear it,” Snitker mentioned. “But I don’t pay attention to it, because I’ll talk to the player. And if he feels like he needs a day off, then I will. But I never (thought that), watching (Olson) and how he handled everything. It wasn’t going like he really wanted. But you know what? He came to work every day, the same guy, and I never saw that he was tired. … So I just never felt like he needed it.”

Olson, now not unusually, seconds that movement.

“You never know when your day is going to be,” he mentioned. “You know, if it’s going bad, sure, I can see the benefit of sometimes sitting back and watching the game. But it doesn’t solve the problem. The only thing you can do is go out there and work your way out of something that’s not going well. So it’s never been something that’s really crossed my mind.”

However there’s a larger query available in the market — and it isn’t handiest about Matt Olson. So let’s simply ask it …

Is it OK to forget about load leadership?

If Cal Ripken Jr. used to be simply arriving within the gigantic leagues in 2024, what would the percentages be that he’d be chasing indisposed Lou Gehrig’s listing sooner or later? What do you suppose … 10 p.c? … 5 p.c? … 0 p.c?

I requested that query of one in all baseball’s brightest workload-management government, Casey Mulholland, the alternative era. He discovered it simply as shrewd as you’d believe.

“It would sort of depend on what organization he’s playing for,” Mulholland mentioned. “It would depend on how much they value the idea of him being a franchise player for them.”

Would he be enjoying for a staff that didn’t consider any one will have to play games greater than 150 video games? Or would he be enjoying for a staff that did what Ripken’s Orioles did again within the era — concentrate to him all the ones instances when he mentioned: “I’m not really hurt. Let me play. I can do this.”

“Players are still having that discussion,” mentioned Mulholland, the founder/top developer at KineticPro Efficiency in Tampa, Fla. “Just now, it’s becoming much more scientific, a much more mathematical discussion, versus, ‘Hey, I feel good,’ and we’re going to talk (about those) feelings and put them back out there on the field. I think that’s the difference.”

You most likely can assumption the place the Braves arise at the load-management spectrum. But if Snitker used to be requested, level unfilled, whether or not he believes in load leadership, he didn’t hedge.

“No,” he responded, succinctly. “I think these guys train to do this every day, right? Because (that’s) the Braves’ culture. … We’ve had guys with broken bones and things like that. But (that mindset of playing every day), I think that keeps them from getting the soft-tissue stuff and pulled muscles and everything.

“I’ve learned that over the years. I used to think that, but after being with these guys and talking to the guys that are doing it every day, yeah, they’ve made a believer out of me.”

 You will have to know that although Snitker is 68 and a baseball lifer, he steadily shows a steadiness between new-age analytic ideas and age-old baseball knowledge. However which of the ones is “Less is More”? We ask as a result of there’s refuse more effective approach to provide an explanation for the theory at the back of load leadership than that: Much less truly may also be extra. And the science proves it.

Mulholland steadily makes use of the analogy of a man operating a marathon who had by no means educated to run the ones 26 miles. Everyone knows how that works out.

“So then guys get fatigued, and then guys get hurt,” Mulholland mentioned. “And that’s the idea of load management. We’re trying to avoid fatigue.”

However to be accomplished proper, load leadership must be nuanced. Wearable era can grant notable, clear data on what athletes are and aren’t able to. However Mulholland asks: Are groups in fact the use of that information? Are the ones athletes even granting them permission to importance it? And if now not, and groups are simply the use of arbitrary limits — 100 pitches for each pitcher, 150 video games a hour for each place participant — that may develop a complete other i’m ready of problems.

Or after there’s the much more plain query: What if this man has educated to run that marathon?

And that’s precisely how Anthopoulos seems at Matt Olson — as simply the unedited celebrity participant he’s been round who has faithful his year, off and on the grassland, to the concept that it’s notable to play games each era.

“So if he’s not on the injury report and he’s not complaining of anything,” Anthopoulos mentioned, “we’ve just had too many years and too many examples of (what he’s capable of). The guy was a top-four MVP candidate last year, and played every day. … He’s been an elite player with all those games played. So it’s hard to just all of a sudden point to that and say he needs a rest.”

If fatigue used to be the condition this hour, how will we provide an explanation for why August used to be Olson’s absolute best presen (8 house runs, .573 slugging share, .912 OPS) of the season?

The Braves have regarded lengthy and withered at the concept that of load leadership. However in addition they consider within the price of a centerpiece participant who sends a message to everybody round him that the search for greatness starts with paintings ethic.

“It’s all just been a mentality,” Anthopoulos mentioned. “And look, obviously, some of it is luck. You can get hit by a pitch, and so on. But those guys that post and play every day, year after year, I don’t think it’s a coincidence. I don’t think it’s luck. There’s definitely a common trait to all these guys.”

And Matt Olson is all about that constituent. He is aware of his streak will finish sooner or later, as a result of all streaks do. But if it does, it received’t be as a result of he and his staff have found out a newfound trust in load leadership.

“I’m not a fan of it,” Olson mentioned. “I mean, I can see the reasons for it. It’s a long season. But it’s also a game of rhythm and flow. And I would rather just continue to go.”

— The Athletic’s David O’Brien contributed to this document. 

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(Govern picture: Nick Wosika / Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures)