I’ll admit I’m not that big of Major League Baseball fan, but recently I sat down with my father and watched an Atlanta Braves baseball game. He still enjoys the game, and the Braves actually beat Kansas City 5-0. If it had been the first time I had followed the Braves this year ( yea I still check the scores ), I would have thought that was a really good team.
It took me back to a time when baseball was a must see event for me. I lived in Atlanta, Georgia for a number of years in the 90s, and just like everyone I got caught up with all those great Braves teams.
There’s still not much major league baseball in the Southeast, so the Braves are still the team of choice. Just check out the lines and odds from RealBet.eu and you’ll see the Braves enter the majority of their games this year as underdogs. They have trouble scoring runs. They don’t hit home runs. The Braves rank last in the National League both categories. The pitching isn’t that great either. Only three National League teams have an ERA worse, than the Braves 4.50.
Their manager, Fredi Gonzalez was fired on May 17. This was following a 63-99 2015 season, that saw the Braves finish 23 games behind the New York Mets. Many thought this season could be worse and it has been so far with the Braves sitting at 12-31.
This is a far cry from the glory days, that I remember so fondly. From 1991 – 2005, the Braves won a whopping 14 Division Titles. The Braves won so much, division titles were expected every year under manager Bobby Cox. My era of Braves baseball is one where you can get into the game for less than $10 and move around at will. I was in for a rude awakening when visited the New York last season and a pair of Yankees tickets wan me $250.
Even as the franchise slipped there were 3 more post-season appearances, including three out of four years from 2010-2013. Future Hall Famers like John Smoltz, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine pitched for the Braves during that time. I still remember the Ron Gants, David Justices, and another future Hall of Famer Chipper Jones.
While the Braves were criticized for not winning more titles, they did win the one World Series title in 1995 as I sat in pizza parlor in downtown Atlanta watching the game. That seems like an eternity ago with the current shape of the Braves franchise.
The lesson here is never take winning for granted.
Make sure you follow the All Sports Discussion Twitter account at @AllSportsDACC and please like our Facebook Page
Leave a Reply