The Atlanta Braves were 2021 World Series champions because of ice cream.
That might be overstating it, but there’s something about the Braves and their connection to soft serve that's special.
Last season, Braves players were quick to point to the soft serve machine that got put in the clubhouse midseason as the source of their incredible turnaround, which, of course, culminated with them winning the Fall Classic.
But the machine hasn’t been there this season, apparently to the chagrin of some players. Thanks to some nudging from catcher Travis d’Arnaud, the Braves are knocking on the door to get the machine back for the stretch run.
All they have to do is beat the Mets on Thursday.
"Obviously there was a lot of talk last year about how we had the ice cream machine in the clubhouse," Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos told "The Steakhouse" on 92.9 The Game. "When I was in Miami, Travis d’Arnaud came up to me and he said can we get another soft serve ice cream machine in the clubhouse. I said if you guys win three out of four against the Mets, the ice cream machine is back. So these guys were so fired up after they won the first two that tonight is obviously a big game for them."
The Braves won the first two contests of their pivotal four-game set against the Mets before losing Wednesday.
A win Thursday will bring the Braves to 3.5 games back of the Mets in the National League standings.
Clearly, though, there are far more important things riding on Thursday’s result.
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