The Atlanta Braves

[StPetersburgHoya (Inactive)]

The Braves are making a move in the NL East having won their last 5, while the Mets and Nationals are floundering. They don't look like they are going to make a trade and seem to have found some help in the bull pen in their rookie fire-baller McBride. They still don't have Hampton healthy - but most of their other missing players are back in the line up with Francour, Marte, and Johnson having defined their ability to play for Bobby Cox. Oh and speaking of Bobby Cox, he is still probably the best managers in MLB and that is worth some W's down the stretch.

The only factors I see really impacting the Braves are whether the Mets can actually steal Ramirez from the Sox for only Mike Cameron and a pitcher from the Devil Rays - what are the Sox thinking? I didn't know that Steve Philips was their GM.

[StPetersburgHoya (Inactive)]

Btw, did anyone see the Braves reliever (I don't know his name) screw up his elbow in the 9th against the Pirates today? - that injury looked disgusting

[SFHoya99]

Are the Braves the least likeable team in sports these days? Certainly not the most hated, but least likeable? For the non-Southern part of America, I would just like to ask them to lose, so we don't have to see them choke in the playoffs.

[the_way]

sfhoya99 said:

Are the Braves the least likeable team in sports these days? Certainly not the most hated, but least likeable? For the non-Southern part of America, I would just like to ask them to lose, so we don't have to see them choke in the playoffs.

The Braves don't choke, they just get beat by better teams once they get in the post season.

[nodak89]

I think that the Braves are prefectly designed to get the results that they do.

(I can't believe I just dropped that load of faddish biz book buzzword BS.)

They have traditionally a deep pitching rotation. Their #4 and #5 starters were as good as anyone's 2's and 3's. However in a 5 or 7 game series, there is no advantage to having great 4/5 starters. Over 162 games those guys can win a division, but not a series.

[TBird41]

sfhoya99 said:

Are the Braves the least likeable team in sports these days? Certainly not the most hated, but least likeable? For the non-Southern part of America, I would just like to ask them to lose, so we don't have to see them choke in the playoffs.

I second this. The playoffs are starting to shape up into my worst nightmare. It's very possible that there won't be a single team I like in the playoffs--I hate the White Sox, Angels, Red Sox (Boston fans are obnoxious and I'm sick of Red Sox-Yankees) and Yankees in the AL and the DBacks, Cards (LaRussa overmanages and I'd hate for the Cards' fans I know to get to celebrate a WS championship) the Braves (boring) and the Astros (Clemens is a prick--25 is the oldest you should legally be able to highlight your hair).

If the A's make it, I'd be rooting for them--same with the Padres (though they don't have much of a chance of advancing). My Twins need a miracle right about now to have a shot at the WC, especially w/ Torii hurt and Boone doing his damndest to cause the Twins to lose. I hate Bret Boone (always have--steroids and frosted tips are not a good combo in my opinion). The Nats and O's seem to be fading as well (I'd love the Nats to make it, and anything that keeps either the Red Sox or Yankees, or both out of the playoffs would be great)

[hoyarooter]

Of course, the Braves choke. Any team with the pitching they have had over the last 13 years that has had the results they have had in the playoffs can't be labeled anything other than a choke. They may not choke every season (they actually beat an Indian team that looked better than the Braves, but hell, what can you expect from a team from Cleveland), but I guarantee that there are at least half a dozen instances where they lost to a team they were favored to beat.

Hey, TBird, haven't seen you on the Sox thread lately. Too damn bad. It sure can't be worse than seeing Maryland and Syracuse win back to back national championships.

[TBird41]

Looks like I was wrong about the Twins/Sox this year. Just wasn't our year. And it looks like it is the White Sox year. Hopefully they pull a Mariners in 2001 choke in the playoffs.

[hoyarooter]

White Sox are experts in choking. It doesn't appear they will have an opportunity to choke during the season this year, but the playoffs could be another story. How about cutting us some slack? The Twins won two championships with decent (but by no means great) teams, how about a little balm for we Sox fans who have waited our entire lives for a similar result?

[TBird41]

It's more that I don't want most of the players winning anything--I don't really have anything against the fans. I just hate how the Sox players have whined and complained and trashed the Twins the last three years (ex: Everett complaining about the schedule this year, most of the team--except Ozzie--whining about Torii running over Burke, Buerhle talking trash after the Twins clinched last year, etc).

Though I have to say, this year the playoffs are pretty wide open--no real dominant teams, which is why I thought the Twins had such a good shot of going all the way. So the Sox definately have a chance.