The Atlanta Braves were the best and most consistent team in the 2023 regular season in MLB, with a 104-58 record.

They were so good that they got a first-round bye and returned to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Division Series in the National League.

There were quickly eliminated, in four games, and will now go home empty-handed after achieving so much from April to September.

Some people have stated that spending nearly a week without playing affected the Braves, the Baltimore Orioles, and the Los Angeles Dodgers (all eliminated in the Division Series, all with 100 wins in the regular season).

The Braves ace, however, is trying to dismiss those notions and focus on what matters the most: the team was always in control of its own destiny.

“Spencer Strider with a masterclass on accepting defeat, responsibility (it’s been lacking from certain players, execs this postseason): ‘The people trying to use the playoff format to make an excuse for the results they don’t like are not confronting the real issue. You’re in control of your focus, your competitiveness, your energy. If having five days means you can’t make the adjustment, you have nobody to blame but yourself,’” MLB analyst Travis Sawchik tweeted.

While the days of rest may have affected these teams negatively, they could have come up with ways to stay active and keep the required level of focus to succeed in the postseason.

Strider’s message, in any case, is a positive one: don’t try to come up with excuses, but rather accept failure, learn from it, and move on.

When teams and players start accepting blame instead of looking for excuses, that’s when the resurgent process begins.

Accountability is important.