While everybody wonders if the Atlanta Braves can possibly win a 14<SUP>th</SUP> consecutive division title, they’re only thinking about capturing a sixth National League pennant since 1991 and that elusive second World Series.
Question their corner outfielders if you like. Wonder about the payroll decline under tight-wad Time-Warner cutting into the bench and depth if you must. Look at Carlos Beltran, Pedro Martinez, Carlos Delgado joining the Braves’ top competitors, and be leery. But before you pick against the Braves in the National League East, also be advised:
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</TD><TD class=boxHC_3053751 noWrap width=*>EASTERN DOMINANCE
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=boxB_3053751 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=460><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD class=boxBI_3053751>The Atlanta Braves have dominated the NL East the past 10 seasons
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cccccc" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=460><TBODY><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD class=textMed align=left>Team</TD><TD class=textMed align=left>Record</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD class=textMed align=left>1. Atlanta Braves</TD><TD class=textMed align=left>977-623</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD class=textMed align=left>2. New York Mets</TD><TD class=textMed align=left>801-800</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD class=textMed align=left>3. Florida Marlins</TD><TD class=textMed align=left>759-841</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD class=textMed align=left>4. Philadelphia Phillies</TD><TD class=textMed align=left>759-842</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD class=textMed align=left>5. Expos/Nationals</TD><TD class=textMed align=left>733-869</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=boxF_3053751 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=460><TBODY><TR><TD class=boxFI_3053751>
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The Braves are only 65-63 in the postseason during this run, and that makes it easier to line them up for a fall in 2005. It has been six years since the Braves even reached the World Series, and they were swept by the Yankees in that one. In the past five seasons, they have only one League Championship Series appearance. In each of the past three years, they exited meekly in the division series. And in the last two offseasons, they have lost Gary Sheffield, Greg Maddux, Javy Lopez, Vinny Castilla, J.D. Drew, Russ Ortiz, Jaret Wright and Paul Byrd.
So no, these aren’t the same Braves who went to four of five World Series from 1991 to 1996. Or even the same Braves who won 310 games in a three-year span 1997-1999, only to be left with two NLCS losses and another in the World Series.
Not that general manager John Schuerholz hasn’t tried to recreate those better days with a back-to-the-future attempt at putting together a dominant starting rotation. In fact, Schuerholz has said he thinks this rotation could be as good as any the Braves have had during their run. That’s a stretch when there are a couple of health questions to be answered. But if we’ve learned anything over the last decade-and-a-half, it’s not to doubt Schuerholz.
Tim Hudson is the best starter the Braves have had since the vintage days of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz. Smoltz also is back in the rotation, and even though he hasn’t been there since 1999, there are few better athletes and competitors on a major-league mound, so don’t doubt Smoltz, either.
But Mike Hampton will be coming off knee surgery, and might be a bit behind schedule in spring training. And the same goes for Horacio Ramirez, who underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery in October. Hudson and John Thomson had oblique muscle issues last season, but are 100 percent at this point.
Good bullpens have been a staple throughout the Braves’ run, and this one appears no different – other than the fact that it may be more finesse than power with Dan Kolb as the closer and only Roman Colon as a potentially big strikeout guy. Smoltz, for one, thinks the staff one-through-11 is as deep as ever.
And corner-outfield question marks notwithstanding, you also can look to the everyday lineup and find more reasons for No. 14 in a row – namely in the games played department. Marcus Giles missed 60 games last season, most due to a broken clavicle. Rafael Furcal missed 19 games due to a jammed finger, and will be playing 2005 for a new contract. Chipper Jones missed 25 games with a hamstring injury, and then struggled through his worst season. And the Braves still won the division by 10 games.
Assuming those three play close to full seasons along with middle-of-the-lineup hitters and up-the-middle defenders Johnny Estrada and Andruw Jones, the Braves have five potential All-Star regulars. Young first baseman Adam LaRoche is yet another emerging player from the game’s most-productive farm system over the last 15 years, and given Cox’s track record, you have to assume he can coax a productive season out of flighty Raul Mondesi. That leaves left field to some combination of injury-riddled Brian Jordan, rookie Ryan Langerhans, and possibly top prospect Jeff Francouer. And yet another hitting prospect is about ready in third baseman Andy Marte. Just leave it to Schuerholz and Cox to find a way. They always do.
MSNBC
Question their corner outfielders if you like. Wonder about the payroll decline under tight-wad Time-Warner cutting into the bench and depth if you must. Look at Carlos Beltran, Pedro Martinez, Carlos Delgado joining the Braves’ top competitors, and be leery. But before you pick against the Braves in the National League East, also be advised:
- <LI class=textBodyBlack>Since their division-title streak began in 1991 (and including their second-place ‘finish’ in the strike-shortened 1994 season), the Braves are an astounding 486 games over .500, good for a .610 winning percentage. During that time, Bobby Cox has added 1,341 regular-season victories to his total, giving him 2,002 for his career. <LI class=textBodyBlack>Their average season over that span is 98-63, they have won 100 or more games six times, and their worst season was 88-74 in 2001.
- In the last 10 completed seasons under the current three-division format (remember, the Braves’ first three titles in their streak came in the old NL West), here is how much they have dominated the NL East:
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=boxB_3053751 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=460><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD class=boxBI_3053751>The Atlanta Braves have dominated the NL East the past 10 seasons
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cccccc" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=460><TBODY><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD class=textMed align=left>Team</TD><TD class=textMed align=left>Record</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD class=textMed align=left>1. Atlanta Braves</TD><TD class=textMed align=left>977-623</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD class=textMed align=left>2. New York Mets</TD><TD class=textMed align=left>801-800</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD class=textMed align=left>3. Florida Marlins</TD><TD class=textMed align=left>759-841</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD class=textMed align=left>4. Philadelphia Phillies</TD><TD class=textMed align=left>759-842</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD class=textMed align=left>5. Expos/Nationals</TD><TD class=textMed align=left>733-869</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=boxF_3053751 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=460><TBODY><TR><TD class=boxFI_3053751>
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The Braves are only 65-63 in the postseason during this run, and that makes it easier to line them up for a fall in 2005. It has been six years since the Braves even reached the World Series, and they were swept by the Yankees in that one. In the past five seasons, they have only one League Championship Series appearance. In each of the past three years, they exited meekly in the division series. And in the last two offseasons, they have lost Gary Sheffield, Greg Maddux, Javy Lopez, Vinny Castilla, J.D. Drew, Russ Ortiz, Jaret Wright and Paul Byrd.
So no, these aren’t the same Braves who went to four of five World Series from 1991 to 1996. Or even the same Braves who won 310 games in a three-year span 1997-1999, only to be left with two NLCS losses and another in the World Series.
Not that general manager John Schuerholz hasn’t tried to recreate those better days with a back-to-the-future attempt at putting together a dominant starting rotation. In fact, Schuerholz has said he thinks this rotation could be as good as any the Braves have had during their run. That’s a stretch when there are a couple of health questions to be answered. But if we’ve learned anything over the last decade-and-a-half, it’s not to doubt Schuerholz.
Tim Hudson is the best starter the Braves have had since the vintage days of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz. Smoltz also is back in the rotation, and even though he hasn’t been there since 1999, there are few better athletes and competitors on a major-league mound, so don’t doubt Smoltz, either.
But Mike Hampton will be coming off knee surgery, and might be a bit behind schedule in spring training. And the same goes for Horacio Ramirez, who underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery in October. Hudson and John Thomson had oblique muscle issues last season, but are 100 percent at this point.
Good bullpens have been a staple throughout the Braves’ run, and this one appears no different – other than the fact that it may be more finesse than power with Dan Kolb as the closer and only Roman Colon as a potentially big strikeout guy. Smoltz, for one, thinks the staff one-through-11 is as deep as ever.
And corner-outfield question marks notwithstanding, you also can look to the everyday lineup and find more reasons for No. 14 in a row – namely in the games played department. Marcus Giles missed 60 games last season, most due to a broken clavicle. Rafael Furcal missed 19 games due to a jammed finger, and will be playing 2005 for a new contract. Chipper Jones missed 25 games with a hamstring injury, and then struggled through his worst season. And the Braves still won the division by 10 games.
Assuming those three play close to full seasons along with middle-of-the-lineup hitters and up-the-middle defenders Johnny Estrada and Andruw Jones, the Braves have five potential All-Star regulars. Young first baseman Adam LaRoche is yet another emerging player from the game’s most-productive farm system over the last 15 years, and given Cox’s track record, you have to assume he can coax a productive season out of flighty Raul Mondesi. That leaves left field to some combination of injury-riddled Brian Jordan, rookie Ryan Langerhans, and possibly top prospect Jeff Francouer. And yet another hitting prospect is about ready in third baseman Andy Marte. Just leave it to Schuerholz and Cox to find a way. They always do.
MSNBC
arty: 
:toast:
