AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2005 > September > 27 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWinning theme bears repeating, even for the 14th consecutive time
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
No writer in Cleveland has ever faced this dilemma, nor has any scribe in San Francisco or Cincinnati or anywhere else. Only here is it an issue: How do you write about a team about to clinch its division for the 14th consecutive full season without repeating yourself for the third time, the fifth time, the 14th time? How, at this ridiculously late date, do you say something new about the Braves finishing first?
“I don’t envy you that one,” said Frank Wren, the assistant GM, but Wren had an indirect hand in offering a partial solution. The former journalist John Schuerholz — his column for the Towson State Teachers College student paper was headed, “Under The Bench” — passed along an analogy made by the broadcaster Josh Lewin that Wren had relayed to his boss.
Said Schuerholz: “Lewin said, ‘I’ve run out of ways to describe the Atlanta Braves, and all I can think of is a stone crab. If a stone crab loses one of its claws, it regenerates another one. That’s what the Braves do — they regenerate themselves.’”
Here Schuerholz, not entirely modestly, offered his own editorial comment: “When the rest of baseball thinks the end has come, we regenerate ourselves.”
They do. They do it every year. They’re incredible that way. And how many times have these fingers typed this exact same paragraph? Five? Ten?
(Yeah, yeah. The Braves wasted a four-run lead and lost Monday night. Courtesy of the Mets’ late, late comeback against Philadelphia, the Braves also clinched a tie for the NL East title. They’ll win it outright tonight. And now, back to today’s topic.)
Said Jeff Porter, the trainer: “I know you’re trying to write something different, but there’s a pretty big common denominator.”
Yes. He wears No. 6. He’s the best manager we’ll ever see. (And yes, that’s a sentence that was written last September.) Porter again: “How many other guys could have taken all these rookies and made them into a team?”
The longer this run of titles goes, the clearer it becomes that Bobby Cox is a disproportionate part of the winning. Put it this way: If you handed the hugely gifted Florida Marlins to Cox, where would the Fish be today?
“Popping the champagne,” said one voice in the Braves’ clubhouse, and that’s a powerful image but not really a revelation. We said the same about the Phillies last season, when Cox managed circles around Larry Bowa, and about the Mets when the preening Bobby Valentine was in charge. News that Cox is without peer at running a team and a clubhouse no longer stops any presses. So where’s the novelty in No. 14?
Said Bill Acree, the equipment manager: “You start with all the new faces this year, but everybody’s going to say that.” And there have been, truth to tell, new faces almost all along. Acree again: “The first four or five [division winners] were pretty much the same guys, but not since.”
Sure, there have been more rookies than usual this season, but rookies have always been a part of this. (Chipper in 1995, Andruw in 1996, Furcal in 2000, Giles in 2001.) Even the improbable success of Jorge Sosa has antecedents in the pitching restorations of John Burkett and Jaret Wright. Put simply, the Braves have been doing this for so long there’s no way they can do it completely differently.
But if every regular season ends the same, each one takes a separate track to reach its appointed destination. This season could have been lost in May, when 60 percent of the rotation was hurting and Raul Mondesi was released, except that Braves’ seasons are never lost. They are only won. No, there’s nothing new about it, but there’s something majestic. Who knew the stone crab could be such a handsome creature?
Permalink | Comments (38) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Mark Bradley
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By Lawrence D. Cannon
September 27, 2005 07:53 AM | Link to this
What a jackass. No apology for your disparaging comments about Starkville, yet you praise a team that ALWAYS CHOKES in October. Without any bullpen help, look for the Bravos to do their standard folding job again this year, yet you’re doing Lewinsky’s about Bobby Cox, the most overrated managers in the Major Leagues.
By mountain_jim
September 27, 2005 08:25 AM | Link to this
Nice column Mark.
Speaking of jackass’es, Lawrence above qualifies. If you can’t keep your imagery clean in this most public of forums, well nevermind, I will not stoop to your level.
Will it be Bobby’s fault this year if the bullpen collapses Lawrence? Was it Bobby’s fault when could not run the bases in 91, Lawrence? Was it Bobby’s fault when his closer blew the series, Lawrence?
Sure, you could point to decisions or management style that have not worked out in playoffs over the years, but in a 5 game series dominating pitching wins, and the Braves have not had that in years.
You think Philly or Florida or the Mets think Bobby is ‘the most overrated’?
Great job Bobby and great season!
Go Braves!
mj
By Brad
September 27, 2005 08:27 AM | Link to this
So whats your answer Lawrence? This team has just done something that no other team in ANY sport has ever done. How do YOU handle it? You going to fire COX? Just ignore the story altogether? Continue to grind your ax? Grow up.
By Charles Warren
September 27, 2005 08:30 AM | Link to this
Mr Bradley I enjoy your columns. Here is an interesting question — over the 14 year run with all the contributors — Who would you put on the outfield wall of fame — along side Spaun, Niekro, Murphy? Schuerholz, Cox — seems obvious but what about Ted Turner, Leo…. Smoltz, Maddux, Glavine — yes Chipper and Andruw — yes
but what about the others — TP, Justice, Jordan, etc
Interesting question…
By Jay Wilson
September 27, 2005 09:05 AM | Link to this
Great column. There are high school kids today that have never known the Braves to be in anything other than first place. Having grown up in the 70s and 80s, when the Braves were the definition of horrible, I just find their current run amazing.
By kudzu
September 27, 2005 09:07 AM | Link to this
Nice article Mark. I will always remember the joy in my life watching my hometown baseball team win. Yeah, it makes one proud, and yeah, a couple more WS titles would have been great, but dangit, to put the wammy on this National League East year after year; just wonder what the other divisional teams must be thinking. I’m happy the “shoe is on our foot”.
It will all end one day (this streak) and I suspect it will be when Cox and JS are retired. But because they are good at what they do and are able to win with different players every year, this streak will continue. When they are gone things will change.
Until then- I’m loving it! While some of you are going to complain regardless, I love being the beast in the east, it jacks up my hormone level, gives me something to feel good about (these days). I’m grateful for these great years of memories. Hopefully I’ll have them to share with the grand-kids some day. It’s totally awesome.
By ATL Transplant in NYC
September 27, 2005 10:00 AM | Link to this
Kudos to Kudzu. I couldn’t agree more. I grew up going to Atlanta FulCo and watching terrible Braves teams, but loving them with every fiber of my being. One of my fondest childhood memories is running into Brett Butler at Lenox Square. He, like a true gentleman, took the time to talk to me and sign a paper plate from a nearby restaurant.
We all remember the thrill of ‘91. I was there on October 5th when the Braves clinched and it was the most unbelievable atmosphere in the world. Who could have expected that feeling would come another 13 times? Up here in New York, I constantly get ridiculed for the single WS title, but always respond that I would much rather have 1 WS title and 13(14) Division titles than 2 WS titles and a terrible fan base with inconsistent results (a la the Florida Minnows). That being said, I would like to see more Atlantans get out and support the Bravos. From what I hear, the energy at Turner Field is reminiscent of ‘91 at Atl FulCo. As silly as it sounds, the fans can make a difference, particularly with these fantastic, enthusiastic, energetic kids playing now. I went out to Shea to watch them and could just sense a different attitude among the team. Sorry to ramble, but I just wanted to congratulate both the Braves and Atlanta for consistently breeding winners and doing so with class and dignity; not by gluttenously spending or trading for whatever is best on the market, but by applying good, Southern values: build relationships, work hard, and always do the best with what you have.
By George
September 27, 2005 11:05 AM | Link to this
My son was born 10/6/91. While waiting for delivery my wife and I watched the Braves clinch the division for the first year of this amazing run. As his 14th birthday approaches we will watch them clinch their 14th. The Braves have been a big part of our summers, my son and I enjoy the games together as fathers and sons should. His first major league experience was a Braves-Twins pre-season game here in Ft Myers. He still talks about that day. Keep up the good work guys. Baseball memories last a lifetime.
By dannycardwell
September 27, 2005 11:51 AM | Link to this
nice article. all those wanting cox out should look at history. cincinatti got rid of sparky anderson and has only had 2 good seasons in 25 years. he went to detriot and won another title. marve levi left buffalo and they never recovered. jimmy johnson left dallas. the list goes on and on. i love baseball in october.
By coachdan
September 27, 2005 12:28 PM | Link to this
Given a choice how many of us would trade the 14 titles for one more World Series championship? Two more? Three?? Winning so many years in a row is much harder than simply being the hottest team in baseball for a two week period every four or five years. We have been honored to witness one of the greatest runs in the history of sports. Too bad some folks are too blind or ignorant to realize it….
By Dublin Dave
September 27, 2005 12:37 PM | Link to this
Lawrence - Want to find the real jackass? Look in the mirror. The only fans in all of any sport who wouldn’t trade places with us are at Yankee Stadium. And what’s their payroll? If Bobby said tomorrow that he would like to move to NYC, Joe Torre’s bags would be on the street in a heartbeat. You’re a nimrod. I’ve been a Yankee fan since 1959 and a Braves fan since 1966 (when they move to Atlanta). I lived in NYC from 1977 to 2001. I loved the success the Yanks had over those years, but it doesn’t match the fun the Braves have given us since ‘91. As much as I love the Yanks (I grew up on Mickey, Yogi and Whitey) I can’t wait for the day the Braves avenge themselve in the WS. At least every year there’s a chance it may happen. Why don’t you try rooting for the Cubs?
By LJG
September 27, 2005 12:50 PM | Link to this
I agree with all the posters - Lawrence - you are an idiot!! Sure, it has been disappointing when the Braves haven’t done as well as we would like in the post season…but I wouldn’t trade 14 straight titles for another year of success in October. Just ask the Philly fans who watch their more “talented” team collapse during the regular season every year and I guarantee they would trade places with us in a heartbeat! Congratulations to the entire Braves organization for once again providing Atlanta with a WINNER!! Go Braves!
By MEB
September 27, 2005 01:07 PM | Link to this
Thanks Lawrence for firing up a bunch of Braves fans. Let the corks fly tonight. Can you believe 14 in a row! GO BRAVES!!!
By mchurch
September 27, 2005 01:44 PM | Link to this
Regardless of what October brings, this season will be what the rookies that have been part of another great (14th) run take with them in their careers. What a better way to get your career started than knowing that your contributions kept a great dynasty alive. My two cents:Jeff Franceour for Rookie of the Year
By D-man
September 27, 2005 02:22 PM | Link to this
Ah, yes…my 2 cents here..the Braves are without comparision - in ANY sport. No one can claim 14 straight division titles..not even the Yankees. Yes, they have records of their own and so do the Boston Celtics, etc…But I am proud of our Bravos and look forward to the 20th straight division title (Bobby Cox can you see us through?) As long as we have Cox and Schuerholz it can happen. The best duo in the majors without a doubt! Go Braves…And Lawrence..get lost.
By greg
September 27, 2005 02:26 PM | Link to this
Let’s hope Lawrence picks A.J.Burnett in his fantasy league next year, and A.J. signs with the Phillies and their genius manager. There will be a monument of Bobby outside the Ted someday, and Lawrence will walk by it buying tickets to see his beloved Nationals when they get their first taste of post season play in 2525.
By HAHAHAHA
September 27, 2005 03:16 PM | Link to this
Looks like the Craplanta Braves and Bobby Cox are in fine October form.
The other day, Cox did something perfectly October-like for him in leaving Hudson in.
Now, the Braves are playing like it’s October… with their fingers firmly enclosed around their necks!
You Craplantans are delusional and pathetic fans.
I can’t wait to see you guys play Houston or Philly, and have half of your amusement park pretending to be a baseball stadium filled with Houston or Philly fans.
The worst fans in the country rooting for the worst October team and manager ever.
Well, not really rooting. To do that, you’d actually have to sell out!
You guys all suck!
HAHAHAHA!
By Lew Hartman
September 27, 2005 03:22 PM | Link to this
I said it last week in another column, but apparently it bears repeating. You can’t get to the World Series if you don’t make the playoffs and for fifteen consecutive years the Braves have been the ONLY team in this position. There’s definitely a possibility or even a probability that the Braves won’t make it past the first round again this year. But I still remember 100 loss seasons that USED to happen as frequently as first round disappearing acts. Believe me, if I have to wait until next year still again, I’ll do it as a fan of the National League East champs, not a team like the Pirates, looking forward to another rebuilding program. And I’ll do it with a smile on my face, proud of their accomplisments!
By Lew Hartman
September 27, 2005 03:24 PM | Link to this
Oh yeah, HAHAHA is a real a*****.
By BB FAN
September 27, 2005 03:36 PM | Link to this
There was standing room only this past weekend. Like I said before, People work during the week. Getting home at 11Pm or later during the week is not practical for people. Especially with kids.
I have been to Atlanta only once (a few years ago for the division series against the Giants) and it took forever to get to and from the stadium.
Oh well, I’ll (and all other GM’s) would take the Braves organization any day. And at least they do from within by making intelligent moves. They don’t just trade for or sign whoever is hot each year. The Braves are a REAL baseball organization.
By Tim Anderson
September 27, 2005 04:04 PM | Link to this
Somebody ought tp call 911 for HAHAHA. Just don’t give them the right address. Man, those grapes are really sour, LOSER!!
By mountain_jim
September 27, 2005 05:26 PM | Link to this
Here’s another post for Lawrence the jackass who calls our best columnist one… but Lawrence knows so much more than those paid to observe and write about sports… well here’s today’s ESPN column from Jason Stark entitled ‘Cox no doubt the best in the biz’ http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2173271
maybe you should demand his job since you know so much, eh?
Lawrence the Jackass! :P
mj
By Gumbo
September 27, 2005 09:56 PM | Link to this
Mr. Lawrence D. Cannon has set a new standard for stupidity (hard to do in the Blog world).
Imagine, calling a man who has won 14 straight Division titles the “most overated manager in the major leagues”.
You should have your blogging privileges revoked FOR LIFE.
IDIOT
By barry
September 27, 2005 11:43 PM | Link to this
Lawrence the Jerck off-what remarks about stankville are you referring to?I would love to read that column.Anyone know which remarks he is referring to?please let me know.Lawrence must be a Miss.State fan.Not much winning going on there.Great job on the column,and great job Bobby Cox and the mighty Braves.Lawrence probably thinks Jackie “the liar and cheater” Sherrill was a great coach too.Always consider the source.At least in Atlanta you can take that cowbell out of your a**,and ring it 14 times!
By Reno Ursal
September 28, 2005 12:50 AM | Link to this
I started watching Braves teams that included Dale Murphy, Bob Horner, Glenn Hubbard, Bruce Benedict have some success in the early 1980’s. I loved ‘em from 1984-1990 when we were horrible. I emulated every move I could from my Braves heroes when I played Little League ball.
But what the Braves have done since 1991 is simply unmatched.
Not all of Schuerholz’s moves have worked out (e.g. Kolb, Modesi this year), but trades for Hudson (Charles Thomas, Juan Cruz, Dan Meyer, where are ya?) exemplify his willingnes to take chances and keep this dynasty going as long as possible.
The baseball environment in Atlanta maximizes each player’s potential (ahem, Jared Wright, John Burkett), and creating a blueprint that all organization’s covet is Hall of Fame worthy. Bobby Cox is the best manager in baseball, and I only can wish for Glavine & Maddux to be on this year’s team for it to feel like everyone in the family is a part of this.
Another WS Title will force all the haters to shut up. Let’s make it happen this year!
By barry
September 28, 2005 12:58 AM | Link to this
Lawrence-i owe you an apology.i don’t agree with you about the braves,but i read mb’s article about starkville and just lost any respect i had for him.I am used to making fun of msu because my girlfriend is a huge fan of state and we have a rivalry.i’m an Auburn fan,so i make fun of her knowing that she will have her day.Mark Bradley wrote a terrible article about Starkville.The town is great,and so are the people.That was simply the worst article i have ever read.Bradley is an ignorant man.I was too,for my initial comment.bradley should issue an apology.I called a friend of mine and asked about him.My friend,a uga fan,said that Bradley has been the worst writer in ajc sports history.so,i am sorry for my comment.Bradley seems incapable of an apology.that’s the kind of guy he is.Mark-you must have a small p***.Probably bigger than your brain,though.
By PreyDawg
September 28, 2005 08:53 AM | Link to this
ATL Transplant THANK YOU!! What a great post!!
Thanks to you Mark and many others here for reminding me why I used to love the Brave’s. I say used to because it would be hypocritical to say otherwise. I gave up on them 2 years ago and did not get on board this year till about a month ago.
The support here is really refreshing and energizing.
Barry…Calm down man. The Starkville article was meant in jest. Bradley is neither ignorant nor mean spirited.
By College Park
September 28, 2005 10:09 AM | Link to this
This is the problem with ATL fans…WE don’t DEMAND excellence. Sure 14 division titles is nothing to shake a stick at, but do you think Yankee fans and media would stand for “just” 14 division titles? I don’t think so.
Its not enough to make the playoffs…we have mastered that feat. I just hope that this mentality does not spill over to the new look Birds who could easily slip into this syndrome of “just enough”. But somehow I don’t think Vick, McKay and Mora will allow that.
By KD
September 28, 2005 10:55 AM | Link to this
PreyDawg I totally disagree with you about Bradley’s article about Starkville, MS. That was a very, very mean spirited column. For starters suppose you walked into a total strangers house and pointed out how small dismal and unattractive their house was especially compared to yours then walked out without indicating he was “just jesting”. Think they would be offended? Think they would consider that mean spirited? Of course they would and it is no different here except it is 10 times worse in that it was published in the newspaper. People, including barry, are right on to be totally outraged by that column.
By Braves fan
September 28, 2005 11:47 AM | Link to this
Who gives a rat’s a$$ about Starkville? Why does anyone care whether an old article from a week ago offended some jerk from Miss.? This is a Braves story and blog. Go find some place else to complain.
By Braves fan
September 28, 2005 11:51 AM | Link to this
And for this HAHAHAHA jerk, why don’t you grow some stones and reveal who your team is since they are obviously so much better than Atlanta? Or could it be that your team isn’t even in the playoffs and so rather than post and discuss with your own fellow fans you come here to vomit your garbage about the Braves? You suck, your team sucks and you’re a coward cause you drop in some derrogatory remarks and never return.
By Lee
September 28, 2005 12:16 PM | Link to this
Of course Sunday’s column was mean-spirited! Of course it was ignorant! Neither Bradley nor the AJC have given the slightest indication of regret or apology. Someone claiming to be the CEO of Cox Enterprises posted a disclaimer (not the same as an apology) but it was removed quickly, so I assume it was fake.
Mark Bradley is capable of writing good columns, like this one about the Braves 14th division championship. I can’t imagine why he felt it necessary to unload on a small town (not a team or a school, but a town) the way he did.
Bradley and the AJC may not feel like an apology is necessary, because they don’t have a lot of subscribers in Starkville. But that would be missing the point. It wasn’t just MSU fans who were offended.
The vast majority of AJC readers are small-town people at heart. They either grew up in a small town or have friends and relatives there. Heck, metro Atlanta itself is really just a big collection of small towns! It’s who we are. When you throw mud at Starkville, it lands on everybody with connections to Milledgeville or Madison or Newnan or Rome.
Southern hospitality is based on two things - the Golden Rule and knowing your neighbors. Mark Bradley, at least on that day, showed stunning ignorance of who his readers are and what matters to them.
Team loyalty among SEC football fans is the stuff of legend. The only thing that trumps it is loyalty to family and home. You can trade shots all day long about rival schools, but when you start insulting Momma, you’ve crossed the line.
Bradley insulted all of our Mommas. If he doesn’t understand that, then he doesn’t understand who he’s writing for.
By PreyDawg
September 28, 2005 12:33 PM | Link to this
Lee and KD. I am a small town guy too. I used to live in Milledgeville and now live in Kentucky. I really like it here but it still aint home. Georgia is and always will be. I will be a Braves, Falcons, Bulldog fan even if I live here 100 years. But a downside of moving up here is the near CONSTANT ribbing my family and I get about being a hick because we are from Georgia.
Yes. I know that is comical being heckled about being a hick by a bunch of ridge runners from Kentucky. But you know what I do? I give it right back to them. I remind them that the good people from my home State were signing a little document called the Constitution when their ancestors were still running around in what was then a territory with Raccoons on their heads and calling them hats.
We go back and forth all the time. I give as good as I get. Sometimes I get enough of it and add a little extra barb to my comebacks. What I dont do is demand an apology or get as bent out of shape as y’all are getting.
If you dont like what Bradley wrote I dont blame you. But nowadays you have these blogs as an avenue. Fire on his butt. He can take it. Heck he asked for it. But I read the article that day and just read it again and it was just that type of ya ya stuff that people do about the other guy’s hometown. I happen to like Mississipi folk. Have had some great times in that fine state. But I have slammed Auburn fans many times and likely will again. It’s as old as the south. It’s a part of that rivalry type mindset.
So tear Bradley up on these blogs(as you both already have in my opinion). I’ll laugh with you. But don’t expect an apology.
By Paul
September 28, 2005 01:25 PM | Link to this
Nice article Mark. There are many times we diverge in viewpoint and there may be different points of view for discussion now, but J/A’s like Lawrence are out of line.
Just remember, he still drops his two quarters in the machine to buy the newspaper to pay your salary unless he’s too cheap and rips a paper off someone’s doorstep.
By derek
September 28, 2005 03:39 PM | Link to this
Lawrence, i couldnt agree more. i seem to be the only one here who does. except for one thing; the braves do not ‘choke’in the playoffs. they get beaten because they are not the best team.
By T Robb
September 29, 2005 07:02 AM | Link to this
Bingo, Derek, with a few exceptions. It’s been a long time since we were the best team.
It’s also been a long time since the best team won the World Series. Three straight wild card winners - what more do you need to know?
It’s more like SEC basketball. There’s a champion, and then there’s a tournament champion.
This is our year to win. Why not? Relative strength of teams making the playoffs means nothing. It’s who gets hot and lucky. It’s our turn.
By Tammy Ray
September 29, 2005 11:35 AM | Link to this
I just received a copy of your article from Sunday written by Mark Bradley. It came from a very close friend of mine who happens to be an Ole Miss fan. She was offended, and rightly so. Even though we cheer for separate teams, we pull for all of our state schools when we aren’t playing each other. This Mark Bradley does not have a clue about small university towns; the hospitality, kindness, and overall friendliness that one can receive when they at least put forth an effort to act like they have some sense! This guy is a boob, and I hope he never comes back to Starkville, MS. He should do a little research before he writes about a town as beautiful and charming as my home town and university.
By robert
September 29, 2005 05:20 PM | Link to this
Being a Brave fan in Phoenix I just want to say to the people in Atlanta enjoy this team and the braves organization it is truly one of the finest in all of professional sports. Bobby Cox is the best manager in baseball the way he deals with his team and how he handles all the roadblocks that come his way is amazing. He believes in his players and that is why they love to play for him. You never hear him rip a player in the paper or criticize them publicly you rarely find that in pro sports. Listen atlanta make the TED loud for these playoff games the team needs you and I want to hear here in Phoenix. Oh yes before I forget Andruw Jones MVP enough said