Monday, October 10, 2005
The sporting scene
Atlanta Braves in a world of their own
The Atlanta Braves are a modern sports phenomemon, having quietly put together a streak that may never be equaled in professional sports. It is a mixture of consistent excellence in regular season play combined with unparallelled futility in the post season.
In losing 3 out of 4 to the Houston Astros to get dumped in the first round of the playoffs, the Braves have made it six years in a row (and 8 of the last 9) in which they have won their division and failed to reach the World Series.
Since 1991, when the Braves began their modern winning era, they've won the National League Pennant five times -- a figure that seems impressive until you realize that they've lost in the first or second round of the playoffs, and failed to win the pennant, nine times.
The Braves have won the NL East Division title 14 years in a row, an incredible accomplishment. (I exclude the 1994 strike year with no post-season.) Yet they've won the World Series just once in that time period, back in 1995.
And it can't be argued that the Braves have usually faced stronger teams in the post season. In 8 of the last 14 seasons, the Braves had the best regular season record in the National League. And their regular season performance has been getting better as their post season performance has gotten worse: they had the best record in the NL in four of the last six seasons, during which they've failed to win the pennant.
In recent years, Braves stars like Chipper Jones have been quoted after losing post season series with comments to the effect that they don't care: they're quite satisfied to win their 90-100 games each regular season and then essentially call it quits in the playoffs in anticlimatic fashion.
Only their hated rivals the Mets seem able to get them motivated -- the one time they've made it to the series since 1996 was by beating the Mets in the 1999 NL Championship Series. Otherwise, they play with a listlessness as consistent as their regular season winning.
Don't be fooled that the dramatic 18 inning marathon that capped the Astros series showed the Braves to have post-season guts. They had to blow a 5-run lead in the eighth inning to allow the game to go into extra innings.
I hate the Braves. In their post-defeat shoulder-shrugging interviews, they mouth sentiments that would otherwise sound zen and make them seem smug. I would like to say I admire their organization, which turns out winners year after year, but then they don't win. Why don't you guys get some players who have whatever it takes to win in the post-season? Otherwise aren't you just taking up space from teams who want to be there?
How about a rule change: from now on, if the Braves win the division, they get a special trophy, and the next best team gets to take their place in the playoffs.
A No-Win Situation
The Green Bay Packers ended their four game winless streak by beating (drumroll)... the New Orleans Saints. Packer fans can't really feel too good about that one, on a couple of levels. I didn't see the game, but do you think opposing players do all those cheesy celebretory moves when they score a touchdown or get a sack? Seems like it would be especially tacky now. A more solemn gesture of "there but for the grace of God go I" seems appropriate this season.
The Atlanta Braves are a modern sports phenomemon, having quietly put together a streak that may never be equaled in professional sports. It is a mixture of consistent excellence in regular season play combined with unparallelled futility in the post season.
In losing 3 out of 4 to the Houston Astros to get dumped in the first round of the playoffs, the Braves have made it six years in a row (and 8 of the last 9) in which they have won their division and failed to reach the World Series.
Since 1991, when the Braves began their modern winning era, they've won the National League Pennant five times -- a figure that seems impressive until you realize that they've lost in the first or second round of the playoffs, and failed to win the pennant, nine times.
The Braves have won the NL East Division title 14 years in a row, an incredible accomplishment. (I exclude the 1994 strike year with no post-season.) Yet they've won the World Series just once in that time period, back in 1995.
And it can't be argued that the Braves have usually faced stronger teams in the post season. In 8 of the last 14 seasons, the Braves had the best regular season record in the National League. And their regular season performance has been getting better as their post season performance has gotten worse: they had the best record in the NL in four of the last six seasons, during which they've failed to win the pennant.
In recent years, Braves stars like Chipper Jones have been quoted after losing post season series with comments to the effect that they don't care: they're quite satisfied to win their 90-100 games each regular season and then essentially call it quits in the playoffs in anticlimatic fashion.
Only their hated rivals the Mets seem able to get them motivated -- the one time they've made it to the series since 1996 was by beating the Mets in the 1999 NL Championship Series. Otherwise, they play with a listlessness as consistent as their regular season winning.
Don't be fooled that the dramatic 18 inning marathon that capped the Astros series showed the Braves to have post-season guts. They had to blow a 5-run lead in the eighth inning to allow the game to go into extra innings.
I hate the Braves. In their post-defeat shoulder-shrugging interviews, they mouth sentiments that would otherwise sound zen and make them seem smug. I would like to say I admire their organization, which turns out winners year after year, but then they don't win. Why don't you guys get some players who have whatever it takes to win in the post-season? Otherwise aren't you just taking up space from teams who want to be there?
How about a rule change: from now on, if the Braves win the division, they get a special trophy, and the next best team gets to take their place in the playoffs.
A No-Win Situation
The Green Bay Packers ended their four game winless streak by beating (drumroll)... the New Orleans Saints. Packer fans can't really feel too good about that one, on a couple of levels. I didn't see the game, but do you think opposing players do all those cheesy celebretory moves when they score a touchdown or get a sack? Seems like it would be especially tacky now. A more solemn gesture of "there but for the grace of God go I" seems appropriate this season.
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Why don't you guys get some players who have whatever it takes to win in the post-season? Otherwise aren't you just taking up space from teams who want to be there?
In their defense, they really have dug into their own farm system and severely changed the makeup of their roster. Sure, some of the stars are old news, and I'm not a Braves fan either. But I hate the Yankees even more, and I have little respect for the occasionally successful belief that a World Series can be bought.
How about a rule change: from now on, if the Braves win the division, they get a special trophy, and the next best team gets to take their place in the playoffs.
Despite what I just said, I think the Phillies would have given the Astros a little more trouble.
In their defense, they really have dug into their own farm system and severely changed the makeup of their roster. Sure, some of the stars are old news, and I'm not a Braves fan either. But I hate the Yankees even more, and I have little respect for the occasionally successful belief that a World Series can be bought.
How about a rule change: from now on, if the Braves win the division, they get a special trophy, and the next best team gets to take their place in the playoffs.
Despite what I just said, I think the Phillies would have given the Astros a little more trouble.
Excellent! I am all over the "special trophy now get outta the way" idea for the hated Braves.
# posted by 
: 7:23 AM, October 11, 2005
: 7:23 AM, October 11, 2005
Evidently, a curse was placed on the Braves when they abandoned Milwaukee.
Admittedly, it's a pretty wimpy curse compared to the Cubs' Billy Goat Curse or the Red Sox Bambino Curse, but it's about what you'd expect from Wisconsin.
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Admittedly, it's a pretty wimpy curse compared to the Cubs' Billy Goat Curse or the Red Sox Bambino Curse, but it's about what you'd expect from Wisconsin.
# posted by : 9:56 AM, October 14, 2005
: 9:56 AM, October 14, 2005 Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
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