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Home > Mark Bradley > Archives > 2008 > March > 21 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USOne title still left in these Braves
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There’s one more division title left in these Braves, one more to prove that consecutive third-place finishes weren’t quite the end of the road, one more to put a big fluffy bow on a era that has spanned nearly two decades.
They would have finished first last season if they’d had any starting pitching beyond Tim Hudson and John Smoltz, and now they do. The key to the offseason wasn’t so much Tom Glavine, who’ll help, but Jair Jurrjens, who should do more than help. He should galvanize a rotation that has been in recycle mode. He’s the Live Young Arm this franchise hasn’t had since … who? Kevin Millwood? Steve Avery? Smoltz himself?
Pitching is what long ago made the Braves the Braves, and pitching is what will make it 15 division titles over 17 completed seasons. The rest of the bunch doesn’t have long to run: Glavine will be 42 Tuesday; Smoltz is 40, Mike Hampton is 35, Hudson 32. Jurrjens, who’s 22, could be the link between the aging staff that will squeeze out one more first-place finish and the new group that will keep this team in contention beyond 2010.
The discrepancy in those ages is the reason these Braves have one more title left in them, one only. This could be Glavine’s last season, and surely Smoltz’s isn’t far behind, and how many different muscles can Hampton pull before he gives it up for good? Among the everyday eight, Chipper Jones turns 36 next month and Andruw Jones is gone and Mark Teixeira is probably going.
Teixeira is primed to have the best season of a stellar career. He’s obviously tickled to be a Brave, but throughout baseball Teixeira is regarded as the truest believer of all Scott Boras’ famous clients. Even if the Braves reach the World Series and he’s named MVP — both of which could well happen — there’s not apt to be any hometown discount offered or even considered.
“With the Rangers,” Teixeira said this spring, “there was so much unknown. You were always hoping you’d have a good season. With the Braves, you expect to have a good season.”
Even if Teixeira departs for bigger money come the fall, that doesn’t mean the Braves were wrong to trade for him. It was the right deal at the time: Andruw Jones was about to exit and leave a hole behind Chipper Jones in the order, and the prospect of stacking Chipper and Teixeira back-to-back — two splendid switch-hitters, neither of whom is going to strike out at Andruw’s numbing rate — was too good to pass up.
If a miracle occurs and the Braves somehow find the money to keep Teixeira — or, miracle of all miracles, if Boras decides to ask for less instead of his customary more — then that trade will give this team a flying start on the next decade. If not, it was still a risk worth running. The past two seasons have taught us that the Braves can no longer count on winning just because they’re the Braves and they win every single season. They had to make a big move to maximize what’s left of this run of excellence, assuming anything is.
And there’s one more division title to be plucked. The Mets, the advent of Johan Santana notwithstanding, must live with the knowledge that they blew a season that was all but impossible to blow. The Phillies nearly fired Charlie Manuel a year ago and are still a combustible enterprise. These Braves can do this: They can win one more for Bobby Cox, one more for their legacy.
“What they’ve done over here is absolutely incredible,” Teixeira said. “It should go down in history as one of the greatest achievements in the history of the sport.”
The great run isn’t quite done. There’s one more postseason berth out there, one more to show everyone that the Braves aren’t yesterday’s men just yet, one more before the rebuilding begins in earnest.
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By pvickery201
March 22, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this
I hope the rest of the fans out here agree with me when I say I know there will be than one more title coming…the braves are overloaded with great prospects, and what holes they can’t fill themselves they have more than enough players to trade..John, Bobby, and Wren wouldn’t lead this club into a dead end.
By chase
March 22, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this
With the young talent on this team..I don’t see why they can’t win MORE than JUST ONE MORE!
By pvickery201
March 22, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this
And besides, Chipper is far from done, if they need to he can just scoot over to 1st base and then his bat is practically garunteed to be healthy all season. And who knows how long Smoltzie will last, the man is miraculous.
By D-Cider
March 22, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this
The Braves best chances are far behind them…96, 97, 98 stand out as squandered opportunities..but you can go back to Leibrandt in game 6 in 91. Also, yes the Braves have prospects, but they could have more if A. Jones, Furcal and others had been dealt instead of walking away with supplemental draft picks as the only compensation. of course, JS gets a pass, the same as Cox gets one for winning division titles and not WS titles.
By Howard
March 22, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this
Mark…you pandering little twit…when are you and the rest of the Atlanta media and the Braves’ fans gonna stop reflecting on those damn division titles won by the American Braves over the last 14 years or so??? How many World Series titles did winning those divisonal crowns get you?? How many wild card teams won the Series during that time? Several if I’m not mistaken! Bobby Cox, once the Braves do win another division crown should go somewhere during the playoffs and take a nice vacation and leave the post-season managerial duties to his assistants. Maybe the Barves would win a World Series title…instead of just resting and crowing on their laurels of “Hey, we just won another division title!” Whoopee!!!
By Scott
March 22, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this
The key to another division title will be the team’s health. The Mets and Phillies too. If they stay injury-free, and Hampton can answer the bell, this pitching staff is the best in years. I’m not worried about the everyday players, and the bench is shaping up as a much improved bunch.
When you look at this team, essentially all the players are either young or near retirement…really only Hudson and Texeira are in their prime. That’s why it will be critical to re-sign Tex.
The question of keeping him isn’t really whether they can afford the $20 million or so, it’s whether they WANT to pay any player that much.
I won’t pretend to know team salaries or Liberty’s budget going forward, but consider that over the next couple of years Glavine ($9m), Smoltz ($12m), and Hampton ($15m) will be gone, and Andruw ($13m) is already history. All of these guys will/has been replaced by cheaper & younger players, so even with the bigger contracts for Frenchy and McCann coming up, they’ll have plenty of money available over the next 5 years or so.
The future looks bright for the Braves - its up to Wren to make it happen.
By Eric from MO
March 22, 2008 6:06 PM | Link to this
I get so tired of so-called “Braves fans” complaining about how the Braves only won 1 World Series in our run. Other than the Yankees, Marlins, and Blue Jays nobody won more titles than one in that stretch. I would rather have our one title and all of those years of actually being in it, than having 2 good seasons as the Marlins and Blue Jays. Really only the Yankees had a better stretch than us. So out of 30 teams we had the 2nd best stretch for 15 years, I think that is pretty damn good!
Granted we should of won in 91’, and probably in 96’, but we didnt, get over it! All the other years we were not the best team. Even those 2 years I dont think we were the best team. However, we were in position to win those two series.
By Earl
March 22, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this
I agree Eric. I would rather have a contending team each year than have the Marlins and their two championships.
By Johnny B
March 22, 2008 7:10 PM | Link to this
I totally agree Eric…
I am very proud of the Braves and all of their accomplishment! Yes, it would have been great to have more World Series titles but to have a winning team year in and year out has meant more to me.
I’ve been a fan since the team came to Atlanta and can remember when it felt like an accomplishment for the Braves not to finish last, not to lose 100 games, or simply not get swept in a three game series!
My expectations for the Braves have certainly increased with their success, but my appreciation for their accomplishments have increased as well. Be thankful we’ve got a pro team in Atlanta, the only pro team in Atlanta, who consistantly gives us a winner and athletes whom our children can look up to as role models!
GO BRAVOS!! Win or lose you will always be my team!!
By Marc in FL
March 22, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this
Blah, I got an error when I submitted my first comment and I’m not going to rewrite all of it.
I went to Braves and Nats game today - we lost 4-1, but I saw a lot to be happy about. Jurrjens, despite what reports may lead you to believe, was very good for most of it. He got tired in the 6th and you could tell by watching him he started over-compensating. If not for that he would have had a tremendous day. He reassured my confidence in him as an opening day pitcher.
Soriano and Moylan were both solid too; no reason to believe their in poor health or in danger of going under the knife.
I got to see our vets and a lot of rooks (some of which I didn’t even know).
We’re set folks. We’re set for a good year and for many more to come. With what this office and management staff has done - being a Braves fan will still be cool 5 years from now.
By hop
March 22, 2008 10:08 PM | Link to this
this has been one great and wonderful run and it also makes it so exciting to be a contender every year for 16 seasons.
braves have the money to sign tex and they will,but the club is playing close to the vest since they are dealing with boras.
the future is very bright and we still have the very best front office in all of baseball.
By uga95
March 22, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this
What’s going on with Gonzalez?? He was the real deal last year before he got hurt!! He was our most impressive reliever! How long before we have him back at full speed?
By TPM
March 22, 2008 10:32 PM | Link to this
I am not impressed with the pitching or the defense on this club.
Glavine and Smoltz have had great careers but to think they will give anywhere near 200 innnings is a pipe dream. These guys will you 5 or 6 innings a start maximum. The bullpen will have dead arms by August.
They will not miss Andruw Jones swinging at low and away fastballs, but they will miss his defense.
Chipper is also a liability at 3rd base. He has had issues staying healthy in the post-steroids era.
This team will be a .500 team at best.
By Mets Fan
March 22, 2008 11:22 PM | Link to this
Dream on Braves fans. Your Braves will not win another NL East Title in the next 15 years. With Santana and Pedro, the Mets are going to dominate the NL East for at least six or more years. Last years collapse by the Mets was a fluke. It will not happen again. The Braves are trying to win with Met rejects. The Braves will be lucky to hang on to third place this year.
By Madley
March 22, 2008 11:48 PM | Link to this
Bark!!!!! Bark!!!!! Bark!!!!!
By Santa3247
March 22, 2008 11:58 PM | Link to this
Babylon(Mainly working in Samsung Electronic Company)’s demon send order to their friends to expel Javy Lopez for their friend Joseph Sammon. This tyke is culprit for Jarrod Saltalamachia and Javy Lopez’s expel. You got it? whole kind of unfair stuff can be made by friends of Babylon using neutron waves of particle radiating from Seoul Tower’s anthena.
May the force of Messiah be with you.
By Jeff
March 22, 2008 11:59 PM | Link to this
Why don’t we just get rid of Mike Hampton in October and use that money for Teixeria? It solves so many things
By Bravesfan79
March 23, 2008 12:50 AM | Link to this
Damn Right Mark!!
As long as we have Smoltz and Chipper…ANYTHING is possible… GO Braves!!
By Bravesfan79
March 23, 2008 1:15 AM | Link to this
I can actually see the Braves being really good and competitive for the next 3 seasons. Move Smoltz BACK into the closers role if he starts showing more age symptoms after this year. And have Glavine as the 4th or 5th starter, bring in another frontline starter to go with Hudson, and the Braves will be just fine. Of couse having Tex for another couple of years would help put us over the edge! Mark your right…time is running out on this version of the Braves, thats why every bad bench move (woodcrap and orr over Escobar to start last year) just p** me off because i know what this team is capable of!!
By Bravesfan79
March 23, 2008 5:00 AM | Link to this
Santa3247: man a brain is a terrible thing to waste, lay off the acid bro..
By Atown
March 23, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this
I agree. This is the year!
By vesaversa
March 23, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this
of cource the brave will win more than one more championship ae you crazy man . they only need to put some peices togetther with the young talent that they have on their farm clubs and there is a lot of talent . go braves
By vesaversa
March 23, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this
of cource the brave will win more than one more championship are you crazy man . they only need to put some peices togetther with the young talent that they have on their farm clubs and there is a lot of talent . go braves
By vesaversa
March 23, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this
of cource the brave will win more than one more championship are you crazy man . they only need to put some peices togetther with the young talent that they have on their farm clubs and there is a lot of talent . go braves
By bullwinkle
March 23, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
Andruw Jones WAS a hole in the batting order behind Chipper. He will not be missed.
By JC from UT
March 23, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this
I believe Frank Wren would like to begin his own legacy and show that he was short changed in Baltimore. He will do everything he can to re-sign Tex. I think he has already made subtle changes that JS would not have made. FW has brought in some much needed speed to a very stagnent offense. Although I really like Matt Diaz, I would love to see Josh Anderson play left field everyday and lead off and have KJ hitting behind Texeira. I know KJ doesn’t have the power of McCann or Frenchy but he makes good contact and you know Tex may be walking quit a bit.I just think KJ could keep a rally going.
By jeffc
March 23, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this
Love the Braves but disagree with this opinion. If Cox couldn’t win more than one championship with three Hall of Fame pitchers in their primes, he won’t win with the current pitching. The current G.M,, too, is WREN OVER HIS HEAD.
By D-Cider
March 23, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this
I am soooooooooo glad so many braves fans are happy that a team with one of the best starting rotations in the history of baseball actually won ONE WS title to go along with all those divsion titles. A lot of Atlanta fans are content with a team that doesn’t win the ultimate prize but have a good showing. BTW, Eric from MO, 93 was another year the Braves should have won and were shown the door by the Phillies. Also, the Braves run ended two years ago and the Red Sox have won a couple of titles. I have been a Braves fan since they moved to Atlanta and have grown tired of watching other teams celebrate while the Braves hit the showers and Booby hobbles home to drink and do a little wife punching.
By jeffc
March 23, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this
To MetFan: Lippy New Yorkers are not welcome on this blog, or in the Atlanta area. Feel free to take your neurotic whining back to that cesspool you call home. The muttcollapse of ‘07 is proof positive that there is a God.
By Gene
March 23, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
I spent the last week in FL, and saw the Braves play three games. They have plenty of talent, but we can expect some injuries to the aging pitching staff. Even with injuries, the Braves have an excellent chance of winning the division and more. I was really impressed with Anderson. His speed and energy will be a great addition. I hate to see Lopez go, but he had a great career and should make the Hall of Fame. It is nice that Javy left baseball in a Braves’ uniform. It will be a good year.
By 30YrBravesFan
March 23, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this
I agree with Eric.
By MT BravesFan
March 23, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this
Mets will be good for 6 years because of PEDRO and Santana? Pedro is a curveball away from having his arm fall off, and you can only get away with throwing change-ups for a little while. Oh, and Glavine isn’t a Mets reject, he wouldn’t have gone back to pitch in that dump for $20 million. Don’t be surprised if your Mets start dumping some of these old, worthless players (Delgado, Alou, Castillo) at the deadline, as the Braves and Phillies run away and hide with this division.
By Eric from MO
March 23, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this
Glavine and Smoltz have had great careers but to think they will give anywhere near 200 innnings is a pipe dream.- TPM They have both pitched for over 200 innings for the last couple of years. They may not this year but it isnt that unrealistic.
that a team with one of the best starting rotations in the history of baseball actually won ONE WS title to go along with all those divsion titles.- D-Cider
I also get tired of hearing about this. We had 3 hall of famers on the team, they just happened to be in our starting pitching. None of our offensive players in the 90’s will go to HOF. Justice wont, McGriff wont, and unless Chipper move to the A.L. to DH he wont. Our bullpin was always horrible, other than 02 when the rest of our team wasnt that good. You need to realize just cause we had the best starting pitching didnt mean we had the best team.
Also, the Braves run ended two years ago and the Red Sox have won a couple of titles.- D-Cider
Why dont you read my blog before you try to tear it apart and make me look like an idiot. I said,”Other than the Yankees, Marlins, and Blue Jays nobody won more titles than one in that stretch.” Our division stretch ended in 05’ and the Red Sox didnt win their second until 07’. So like I said only the Yankees, Marlins, and Blue Jays won more titles than us in our stretch. Besides the Red Sox went 86 years without a title, would you want that history? Which brings me to another point, even with all those bad seasons the fans still went to games, why cant Atlanta fans be that supportive? I live in MO but when the Braves come to St. Louis I make sure Im at all 3 games.
By gayle
March 23, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this
Great run? What great run?
This city is so easily satisfied with mediocrity. The Florida Marlins, an expansion team, have won twice as many World Championships as these Braves.
Winning a division title, all those pretty flags, means nothing without the title to go with it.
They were so close. Up on the Yankees in 1996. Win there and it would be a repeat. All this would mean something. But Wohlers melted and Cox and the Braves wilted. They have not won a World Series game since.
The Braves have one title. That’s it. That is their legacy and the legacy of the “great” Bobby Cox.
Get over it. There’s no run to continue.
By Jeff
March 23, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this
As a Braves fan, I take great offense at the idea of one more title run (or one more playoff run). The Braves have made changes to their roster every year. The foundation of this team is not with the older players but rather with the young guys who will carry the team forward.
By John
March 23, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this
I’m sorry Gayle, but you’re an idiot … winning all those division titles is not “mediocrity”.
Also, those Florida Marlins teams got dismantled … I would hate to be a fan of the Marlins and suffer through that twice.
I’m very happy w/ the Braves and the fact that they are in contention every year. I still recall the 91 series and sitting there w/ my dad listening to them on the radio, and the 96 series where we got knocked out b/c of leyritz. I’ll always cherish my memories of the games. Being a hometown fan, I also root for the Falcons, Thrashers and Hawks. So, don’t tell me i’m settling for mediocirity. Take you’re fairweather butt somewhere else.
By Alex Smith
March 23, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
I just have to state—after growing up in Georgia my entire childhood, I moved to Maryland for college. Then I was in California & Japan in the navy. I loved the Braves, like everyone did in the 60’s & 70’s, and just accepted with resignation that we were losers. Then came the miracle season! I was back in Georgia again & I remember with utter amazement watching hot, hot shots to 3rd base actually being CAUGHT. Terry Pendleton was something we couldn’t even comprehend, after all those years of Bob Horner. And they actually did it—made it all the way to the World Series—probably the best one ever! But what John & Bobby gave us, along with the Young Guns, was so much more. I have to say, I love them even more for the extreme effort they collectively gave to give us the past decade & 1/2. Would Fitzcarraldo’s effort be so enigmatic to us had he actually succeeded? Would the stand at Thermopolea be an iconic moment in history had the Spartans actually won? My fathers died during this stretch. I also lost a fiance during this stretch, later married, and my kids were born during this stretch. Then I moved away to Iowa, and later Ohio during this stretch. Everyone, everywhere, in every sports analogy in every corner of this country references “the Braves’ way”—in all levels of sports, in business, in politics. I am immensly proud to be a fan of this organization—I’ll wear my braves cap north of the Mason Dixon for the rest of my life & be proud to associate my alliegance to what John Sheroltz, Bobby Cox, Terry Pendleton, Dave Justice, Greg Olsen, Francisco Cabbrera, John Smoltz, Tom Glavin, Greg Maddux, Andruw Jones, Javy Lopez, the Big Cat, and all the rest. They made me proud & I love them. I’ve used a Braves’ analogy for those I lead in business for all my career: If you tune into a game just as it was over & the teams were walking off the field shaking hands, you wouldn’t be able to tell if the Braves won or lost. If they lost, they would come back tomorrow with errors corrected & play with even more determination. If they won, they were professionals & expected to win. Life is not full of World Series trophies…but these Braves have made me very proud for a very long time, and I’ll always be loyal to the ideal they’ve set for all of us Georgia folks.
By SadFan
March 23, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this
I am so sorry to see that Javy is gone. Talk about busting my bubble. I am glad he left in a Braves uniform. Maybe we will see him in some other capacity with the Braves organization. Thanks Javy for the good times!!
By Marc in FL
March 23, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this
If winning 14 division titles in a row was easy then why haven’t the Yanks done it?
Some people don’t recognize greatness even when it slaps them in the face.
We shouldn’t have won that many WS over the years, because quite frankly, we haven’t had the best team(s). The accomplishment is going to the post-season 14 years in a row with several WS apperances; and doing it without a playoff quality team.
By eddie
March 23, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
Alex Smith (2:02) Great post. I am in the military at an age most are long retired. I, like you, have moved, married, had babies, grand babies and divorce. Mix in numerous trips to the Sandbox, where Internet was my only connectivity. Our fair weather friends/fans would be very surprised to experience the breadth and depth of Braves support with the troops. It is much as you related. We can depend upon the Braves to put a competitive, classy team on the field. Often times there’s not much to believe in and pull for over there. And a big segment of support comes from our women in important support roles. One more title would be fantastic.
By Alex Smith
March 23, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this
I just have to state—after growing up in Georgia my entire childhood, I moved to Maryland for college. Then I was in California & Japan in the navy. I loved the Braves, like everyone did in the 60’s & 70’s, and just accepted with resignation that we were losers. Then came the miracle season! I was back in Georgia again & I remember with utter amazement watching hot, hot shots to 3rd base actually being CAUGHT. Terry Pendleton was something we couldn’t even comprehend, after all those years of Bob Horner. And they actually did it—made it all the way to the World Series—probably the best one ever! But what John & Bobby gave us, along with the Young Guns, was so much more. I have to say, I love them even more for the extreme effort they collectively gave to give us the past decade & 1/2. Would Fitzcarraldo’s effort be so enigmatic to us had he actually succeeded? Would the stand at Thermopolea be an iconic moment in history had the Spartans actually won? My fathers died during this stretch. I also lost a fiance during this stretch, later married, and my kids were born during this stretch. Then I moved away to Iowa, and later Ohio during this stretch. Everyone, everywhere, in every sports analogy in every corner of this country references “the Braves’ way”—in all levels of sports, in business, in politics. I am immensly proud to be a fan of this organization—I’ll wear my braves cap north of the Mason Dixon for the rest of my life & be proud to associate my alliegance to what John Sheroltz, Bobby Cox, Terry Pendleton, Dave Justice, Greg Olsen, Francisco Cabbrera, John Smoltz, Tom Glavin, Greg Maddux, Andruw Jones, Javy Lopez, the Big Cat, and all the rest. They made me proud & I love them. I’ve used a Braves’ analogy for those I lead in business for all my career: If you tune into a game just as it was over & the teams were walking off the field shaking hands, you wouldn’t be able to tell if the Braves won or lost. If they lost, they would come back tomorrow with errors corrected & play with even more determination. If they won, they were professionals & expected to win. Life is not full of World Series trophies…but these Braves have made me very proud for a very long time, and I’ll always be loyal to the ideal they’ve set for all of us Georgia folks.
By jeffc
March 23, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
Gayle,
Go back where you came from.
By UGADawg16
March 23, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
Maybe it’s the two year hiatus from the playoffs or the nearly decace absense from the World Series but I can’t really remember being this excited about the start of a babsball season. All the ingredients are there as well as the same old heroes….what’s not to love about this team and it’s chances? Javy retiring was a bit of a bummer but he didn’t exactly fill the need of the backup catcher as well as he fit the “good ole Braves plus a little extra” manifestation.
It is a long season but I have as much hungry enthusiasm as I did in the early 90’s and as much confident optimism as I did in the mid to late 90’s.
Bring on the Nats! Go Braves!!!
By swolf4810
March 23, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
I’ve loved the Braves since way back when it wasn’t cool to admit it. I still love’em now…..and I will in the future too! I’m expecting good things in this upcoming season, and if that includes a World Series win…mores the better!
By mark
March 23, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this
I hope the Braves take it all this season im in the battle of my life health wise Id like to see that World Series one more time.This looks like a fine bunch of players. I beleive and have written before that its about if the starting pitching stays healthy and performs.Secondly who s the closer.
By Brandon
March 23, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this
I would have to say that the Braves have alot more than one more title run left in them. Smoltz can play for as long as he pleases, as can Chipper and the rest. Personally, I believe they can do incredible things this upcoming season, and for many years to come, as every Braves team has done for the past 20 years.
By BM
March 23, 2008 6:06 PM | Link to this
I still say the fact that they only won 1 world series with all of these great teams overshadows winning 14 division titles.
Division Titles means NOTHING. The playoffs is when the real season begins and they only won the playoffs 1 time.
By BravesFan
March 23, 2008 6:33 PM | Link to this
BM, does that stand for Bowel Movement because your comment is crap!? 14 yrs of ruling the NL is not something to scoff at Mister. And when operating @ the budget they are given, I think it says a lot! I just love Mets fans or Braves haters blogging when they do not have a clue about how the Braves organization is such a leader in MLB! GOOOO BRAVOS! Thanks Mark for a good article.
By Dan
March 23, 2008 7:50 PM | Link to this
If you aren’t going to stay on the bandwagon get off the bandwagon. The Braves with another run? Why not? I think Yunel will shock people with MVP numbers. The lineup is impressive 1-8. Pitching? Stay healthy and lookout MLB. For all of you naysayers-go back to NY. AS Lewis said: Delta is ready when you are. Santana is over rated. 15-13 in 07 with a 4.33 ERA. Big Deal. They’ll choke again, after all they’re the Mets.
By pvickery201
March 23, 2008 8:05 PM | Link to this
Anybody who puts more weight on the playoffs than the regular season isn’t a real baseball fan…everyone in baseball will tell you, all the coaches, all the players, all the writers…the regular reason is the real competition, it’s a marathon and shows the true strength of an orginization.
The playoffs are just a crap shoot.
By John
March 23, 2008 9:46 PM | Link to this
The Braves will not win this year because they did not go for the starting pitching they have lacked in the last several years. Pitching,not Patching is the need.. Until they change their budgetary attitude they will have no future either.
By ScottBravesfan
March 23, 2008 11:44 PM | Link to this
The Mets are going to dominate the East for the next six years with Santana and Pedro? How the hell long do you think Pedro is going to continue to pitch? The guy is DONE!!! The Red Sox were smart to let him walk. No need wasting money on a arm that is shot.
By Kevin
March 24, 2008 2:22 AM | Link to this
Be nice Gayle n BM at least be glad Ny mets will struggle n marlins will move to Montreal in 2011.yes we know they get a new stadium big deal owner still be cheap….Tampa bay will move in replace Marlins in there new park in 2012 so there n be rename the flordia devil rays!Oh n atlanta will win 101 Games n choke in first round for Cox then he can go home beat his wife!
By Kevin
March 24, 2008 7:00 AM | Link to this
Well lets see for atlanta win East u need have all players 100% ready not hurt. So since smoltz is hurt again must caught hampton illness.But no fears if braves do win east are Bobby cox will lose anyway…He good at blowin games like to cubs n Giants n St.louis when are great 3rd basemen chipper(error)jones overthrew 1st base u all remember that n 3-0 we were gone…n rest is chokein history empty seats in playoffs u all know why losein in best of 5 starts.So after the great 101 wins in 2008 the leaderless Cox will bow out n go back to Farm laughin n drinkin n beat his wife still…as we again watch someone else go play redsox in world series n By the way its not the Cubs so U cubs fans stick a rock up u oh where sun never shines…..
By BravesFan
March 24, 2008 7:41 AM | Link to this
Kevin. you are an illiterate. Learn to spell and learn that Bobby Cox “beating his wife” is getting old. At least he loves animals and doesn’t kill animals like MV7. AND the players love him as manager. Kevin go back to sleep and go back to being useless .
By David
March 24, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this
Gee it’s cheerleading time again! Anybody that knows anything about baseball knows we don’t have enough money to win anything. Now the Met’s and the Phillies, they paid for the right to get excited. You are a fool to think we will be in post season. The question is whether we can hold on to 3rd place.’
By Matt
March 24, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
@ David: and you call yourself a Braves fan? Keep your pessimistic crap to yourself, not only do fans have the right to get excited, we actually do have the pieces for a run this season.
By Keeping It Real
March 24, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
There are two things missing from this team.That is speed and good young pitching.The only way that the Braves can win consistently this year is to average 8 runs per game.Smoltz has already gone down. Next will be Hampton. Glavine will get killed every other outing. That leaves only Hudson. Jurgens may be the key. As for next year, forget about it.
By Joan
March 24, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
Santa3247—there are lots of really good rehab centers in and near Atlanta. You should try one
By Kelley
March 24, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this
I so hope that there will be one more championship for Bobby before he retires. No one deserves to go out on top more than Bobby. We all need to pray that our pitchers stay healthy, if they do, we will be alright.
To Mets Fan: Who are the “Mets rejects” on the team? If you are speaking of Glavine. He was and is always a Brave. Kind of funny that the Mets offered him MORE money than the Braves and he would still rather play for the Braves.
It is a well known fact that when he went to New York, all everyone in the organization wanted to know was the Braves’ secret of success from him, that’s how envious they are of this club. For you crazy Bobby haters, the most asked question he got was “Is it as good as it seems to play for Bobby?”
People actually IN MLB respect what the Braves and Bobby Cox have done for the past 15 years; it’s a crying shame some people in ATL don’t.
And one last thing METS FAN: I’m an educator. We had to order new dictionaries for our kids this year. We had to get the new ones with a picture of the New York Mets next to the word “choke” in the dictionary after last year’s season!
By Mark Bradley
March 24, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this
“Patching is not pitching:” That’s a good line.
By FatlantaDave
March 24, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this
Why are there so many Braves haters in the ATL. When I lived in Texas as a kid everyone was a Rangers fan, even before Nolan Ryan, and we never made it anywhere. I play Fantasy football and baseball with 10-12 guys, most of who grew up around here. There’s not a Braves, Falcons, Bulldogs, Yellow Jackets or Thrashers fan in the bunch. When did it become cool to hate the home team?
By FatlantaDave
March 24, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this
Why are there so many Braves haters in the ATL. When I lived in Texas as a kid everyone was a Rangers fan, even before Nolan Ryan, and we never made it anywhere. I play Fantasy football and baseball with 10-12 guys, most of who grew up around here. There’s not a Braves, Falcons, Bulldogs, Yellow Jackets or Thrashers fan in the bunch. When did it become cool to hate the home team?
By Frank
March 24, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this
By jeffc
March 23, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this
To MetFan: Lippy New Yorkers are not welcome on this blog, or in the Atlanta area. Feel free to take your neurotic whining back to that cesspool you call home. The muttcollapse of ‘07 is proof positive that there is a God.
jeffc….I still think it was QUITE harlious that the Mets ended up losing on the last day of the season and the Phils got swept by the Rocks in the playoffs.
As you say….there IS a God. :>)
By Tim
March 24, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this
there is definitely another title coming. It saddens me to think that anyone that is a true Braves fan would think otherwise! Just because you load up with big name players don’t mean you’re going to make the playoffs,just look at the Mets. They fell apart at the last minute.But our team will once again prevail as they have before.
By Mopie
March 30, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
Tim are you eight years old? “Our team will once again prevail as they have before”. And Santa will once again bring toys for all good boys.
By Workinlkeadawg
April 2, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this
This is the Braves last chance. If the Braves don’t win the WS I see Chipper,Smoltz,Tex and Glavine saying F this. I hope I’m wrong. Cox and JS did all they could. TP will have Esco, Frenchie, McCann and Shafer to build with. So it’s now or next yr with TP as mngr. Like I said I hope I’m wrong.
By stanley sisson
April 3, 2008 6:25 AM | Link to this
TERRY PENDLETON WILL BE OUR NEXT MANAGER.
By mets.
April 9, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this
the braves will never win another W/S.there just an average team at best.it will be 2030 and people will still be saying wait til next year.
By stanley sisson
April 13, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this
TERRY PENDLETON WILL BE OUR NEXT MANAGER.
By Keaton
April 20, 2008 3:03 AM | Link to this
Hey Howard, you’re a moron, we did win a World Series in 1995. You should check your sources before idiots like you put things up on the internet. I’m questioning your fanhood if you don’t even know that we won a Series.
By officeboy
May 5, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this
Dave Brundige will be the next manager. Wren has everything in order just waiting for BC to step down. TP and McDowell will also be gone.
sisson: TP ‘s not a good hitting coach much less mgr.
By Davidawg
May 7, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this
Mark, How would a guy like the Cubs Rich Hill fit in with our needs for a starter? he was just sent down and he clearly is not a minor leager. I would think he could step right in and make a good impact. Any feedback?