If Braves send message to Phillies, it will be done nicely
Braves and Phillies meet for first time since 2010 finale, when Atlanta won to make playoffs.
The Braves and Phillies don’t conjure up thoughts of a great rivalry, probably because the teams generally involved in great rivalries usually have a certain degree of contempt for each other. They think the other brags too much or whines too much or is too arrogant or is just kinda dumb.
Do you ever get that sense when the Braves and Phillies meet?
“We have a healthy respect for the Phillies,” Braves general manager Frank Wren said.
“I think of them as a model club,” Philadelphia general manager Ruben Amaro said.
Group hug.
The 1 and 1A of the National League East Division meet for the first time this season in Friday’s home opener at Turner Field. It’s chapter one of 18 for the mutual admiration society.
It seems difficult for Braves’ fans to work up a good hatred for the Phillies. The problem with the Phillies is, they’re just good. They’re not really obnoxious when they win. They’re not all that much fun to mock when they lose.
They almost don’t belong in Philadelphia. Maybe somewhere closer to Lancaster, with the Amish.
Little did the Braves realize after this division-clinching win over Colorado in 2005 that it would be their last East title for a while.
When the Braves were battling the New York Mets for the N.L. East, that defined a rivalry. Chipper Jones loved tormenting the Mets and their fans so much that he named his son Shea. (Jones was a career .313 hitter with 19 home runs at Shea Stadium. When it was demolished, it was a wonder he didn’t hold a candlelight vigil.)
When Tom Glavine went to New York, the reaction was, “Of all the teams, he signed with the Mets?” But when Glavine went 9-14 with a 4.52 ERA in his first season as a Met, it was much funnier than if he was a Brewer.
Even Wren, who’s not one to take shots at opponents, contrasted the Mets’ rivalry with the Phillies. And he put it so nicely: “I would say in our head-to-head rivalry with the Mets, the teams were not as mutually respectful as in this one.”
Why?
“I just think it always was the tone. I don’t know why. It predated me, starting back in the ’90s. There was a little additional animosity there.”
The Braves won 14 straight division titles, the last nine coming after realignment moved them from the West to the East. The Phillies have won the last four. The Mets had one sandwiched in between in 2006 — kind of like the off-ramp connecting two interstates.
Nothing will be decided this weekend, any more than the results from the Braves’ first week of games in Washington and Milwaukee mean they’re going to be a .500 team (being two-hit by Yovani Gallardo in Milwaukee was not on anybody’s radar). But even Amaro said, “It’s a great gauge for us as far as seeing where we think we stand against the elite clubs in our division. We play each other so many times that there’s no surprises, but obviously both clubs have made some changes. We understand it’ll be a difficult series. They understand it’ll be a difficult series.”
The Braves are 18-18 against Philly in the last two seasons. They won the regular-season finale at Turner Field last year to win the wild card berth. They would rather not make that a habit.
They will officially unveil a wild card banner against Philadelphia, but that doesn’t nearly carry the same weight as if they were unveiling a division title flag. Actually, it’s a little strange, given the team that beat them out will be in the other dugout. The Phillies also have stolen a page out of the Braves’ past by building one of the greatest starting pitching rotations in history — Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt — possible positioning them to extend this streak of division titles for years. But the Braves probably have a better lineup, with the Phillies missing the injured Chase Utley and departed Jayson Werth and the Braves adding Dan Uggla. Amaro acknowledges Atlanta’s bullpen probably is better.
“They have some great young arms,” Amaro said.
“They are the reigning division champions,” Wren counters.
Not expecting a bean ball war.
By Jeff Schultz
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143 comments Add your comment
UGASlobberknocker
April 8th, 2011
7:38 am
Actually, the Braves won 11 straight East titles after re alignment, not 9 (1995-2004).
Schultz points out something that bothers me every year..we dont really have a goof rival..our rival for the season is usually just whoever is a contender that yr. Its not like the old Dodger rivalry we used to have..
I really wish the Braves were in the Central..if we swapped places with the Pirates, then we would be playing the Cards,Cubs,Reds and Astros 6 series a yr each instead of the Marlins and the Nats. Do you realize that almost 25% of Braves games are against those two losers? it makes for an awful home schedule…and if we were in the Central,about half of the road games wold start an hr later which would be a good thing IMO.
UGASlobberknocker
April 8th, 2011
7:38 am
above should read 1995-2005
papadawg
April 8th, 2011
7:51 am
That’s what’s wrong with sports today, not enough hate and contempt for the opposing team. Good Grief even in Fottball they hug and help each other off the ground. I guess it’s the Politically Correct Era
Joey
April 8th, 2011
8:12 am
Boy, if the Braves hitters thought the Brewers pitchers were hard to hit, this weekend could have them all swinging-and-missing.
Heyward may have to break up a couple of no-no’s . . .
Depressing.
But I’ll still be watching.
And hoping.
01HAWK
April 8th, 2011
8:16 am
WELL, WELL, WELL……………………………………So it was Terry Pendleton that screwed the BRAVES bats up all of those years. LOL…………………..They just can not hit, are stubborn, and will not listen.
Blame it on BRAVES management for not doing what it takes to put the best team on the field. Liberty Media is a joke and so is Frank Wren.
The MUTTS dumped 18 million in salary this year in Castillo and Perez, but BRAVES can not dump KAWACRUMMY nor MCOUT.
Say what you want about NYJER MORGAN. He is is the CENTER FIELDER that I wish we had. I know it would have probably not happned trading him within the division, but until we get a speedy leadoff hitter that can disrupt things leading off then we will be 2nd fiddle in the National League.
Instead of cleaning house of all BOOBY COX people we get a disciple of him to run the club. I wish we had Jim Leyland for he would get this sorry bunch in shape. Oh, and if you did not like it, he would ask you if you would like to take it to the tunnel for a little fight if you wanted to undermind his authority.
OK, Gonzalez, you have more payroll to work with now. Will they be better than the MARLINS ?
Joseph
April 8th, 2011
8:44 am
I think by 1 and 1a you meant 1 and 4
Brotherly Love
April 8th, 2011
9:18 am
Lucy, this is America……I don’t know the rules in the sovereign state of Atlanta, but I am free to express my opinion on this blog. If your media people are going to take shots at Philly then we have the right to reply. Tomahawk Chop that and cover it up with a Wild Card banner bc that is all you can hope to achieve this year.
CityofBrotherlyHate or whatever your ridiculous tag name is, Atlanta fans are weak, soft and smile too much. The definition of a fan is one who follows their team win or lose and lets the players know how they are doing. We work hard and deserve to give our opinion if our team is not playing well. As for wearing an opposing jersey, that is anybody’s god given right but if you start talking trash expect to be getting alot in return, that’s just how it works. I mean if you went to another country and were wearing a USA shirt and starting yelling we’re no. 1, wouldn’t you expect to get some flack for that? Personally, if I am away from home I know to try and keep a low profile and not piss off the locals, but hey that’s just me I guess.
BDinFla
April 8th, 2011
9:22 am
I will agree with everyone that says that the braves are playing like crap! And Freddi is already getting annoying “tipping his Hat” to everyone! But all these people getting on here and saying that we should have lost the first game are just stupid. Our pitching pitched good and we hit two HRs! Why should we not have won that?!
Tron5000
April 8th, 2011
9:30 am
Any Braves fan worth his salt should hate the Phillies based solely on the 1993 NLCS. I have a long memory where my teams are concerned. And if possible, I hate Phillies fans more than the actual team. Fans of Philly teams are the rudest, most obnoxious, low-grade dregs of society around.
Philadelphia…You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
papadawg
April 8th, 2011
9:33 am
I really think some of these clowns thought the Braves were going to be 162-0 and now all is lost. LOL
MitchC
April 8th, 2011
9:43 am
Jeff, your column made me chuckle. For the record, this blogger lives in Lancaster, PA, but.. I’m not Amish. Also, I’m a transplanter New Yorker, here since 1999, so, I know all about the Mets and Braves, and their rivalry. For the record, I despise the Mets. Always have, always will. I’ve been a Braves fan since 1983, though, due to TBS. Now, I have the Extra Innings package to catch my team.
I’m glad to see that the Braves and Phillies have such respect for each other. It’s rare in any sport when that happens.
As we know, the Phillies have gotten off to a great start, while the Braves.. well.. they were on the road for a week, and lost a few tough games. Hopefully, home cooking will help us out. I’m at a disadvantage of getting all the Phillies TV stations, including one station with an anchor who I enjoy listening to. All he seems to talk about is the Phillies.
We know that it’s too early for anything to be decided.. but.,. I dont think any of us would want to see the Phillies sweep this weekend at Turner. An 8-1 Phillies team.. and a 3-7 Braves team.. as early as it is.. would look a bit.. bad.. even at this stage.
My hope is that the Braves can win two out of three, even though I concede that the Phillies are capable of winning the division by 10 to 20 games if healthy. As for the Braves… I’m hoping we can just win the wild card.
For now, let’s just enjoy the games. Hopefully, this mutual respect the Braves and Phillies have will last.. and the Braves can play well against them.
MitchC
April 8th, 2011
9:50 am
Tron, 1993 was a long time ago.
While Phillies fans can be.. rough.. One hasn’t seen anything until they’ve gone to a game in NY, with their Braves hat on, as I’ve done. At the old Shea Stadium, people used to curse you out, spit on you, and curse at the team.
Phillies fans have a right to be excited about their team. They are just a good team. There is one guy who works for me, who is a Phillies fan, and he’s an obnoxious jerk, and loves to razz me when the Braves lose.. especially to the Phillies. That’s just his personality, and I dont hold his idocy against the Phillies.. or all Phillies fans.
If the Braves are kept out of the playoffs by losing a big series to the Phillies in Sept.. or Philly beats us in the NLCS, if we both get there, then my emotions will be ramped up, even though I would expect Philly to probably beat us in the NLCS. Until then, it’s so early in the season, that I just want to enjoy the games.
Joe Tess Fish House
April 8th, 2011
9:52 am
OK sum of U seem to thing I hate the Braves and it not true. I hate that they hired a loosing managar with a loosing record. Sum guys just dont have it and Ferdie Gonzolas just aint it. Its like buying a broken doewn car. Just because it came from a bad mechanix does not mean it can be fixed. It just may be a crapy car.
One more time LOOSING MANAGAR
blazerdawg
April 8th, 2011
10:21 am
B Love – Philly does not sell out games even when they loose. Phillies and Sixers attendance is among the poorest in the league when the teams are down – and I do not blame Phil fans for that one bit – but the notion that everything sells out in Philly and the Braves should be back in Milwaukee is ridiculous.
Winston
April 8th, 2011
10:40 am
Simply because I’m tired of seeing it, LOSING is when you lose a game, LOOSING is letting loose.
TommyJack
April 8th, 2011
11:05 am
Simple. It’s not the Phillies I hate. It’s the Philadelphia people. More obnoxious that New Yorkers. And that’s going some.
Allan
April 8th, 2011
11:13 am
The difference between Philly and Atlanta is in the way it supports its teams. Every Eagles, Flyers and Philllies games are sold out . In fact there’s a 3000 year waiting lisf for Eagles season tickets, based on fans not renewing, (they’re usually passed along in wills) while Atlanta often has to bribe fans to show up.
Kommandant Oberst (Colonel) Wilhelm Klink
April 8th, 2011
11:26 am
Shultz, you idiot! What was the purpose of this? Why not talk about the skid in offence and that in theroy the braves could be sweeped by a well stronger pitching match up than the previous Brewers line up?
Kommandant Oberst (Colonel) Wilhelm Klink
April 8th, 2011
11:27 am
Plus, we all know about the trolls……..
Kommandant Oberst (Colonel) Wilhelm Klink
April 8th, 2011
11:31 am
And the fact that the philies are lefty dominate in pitching…
Kommandant Oberst (Colonel) Wilhelm Klink
April 8th, 2011
11:35 am
and the braves are htting under .200 agoinst lefties…
Truth
April 8th, 2011
12:10 pm
Blame Obama for the Braves being 3-4
Truth
April 8th, 2011
12:22 pm
Its Obama fault for the Braves 3-4 starts
Truth
April 8th, 2011
12:23 pm
Joe Tess,
STFU
Truth
April 8th, 2011
12:24 pm
lol we are 3-4 and Atlanta fans are freaking out. I can only imagine Boston fans after their 0-6 start.
We know Boston fans are better fans than Atlanta fans in every sport
ab initio
April 8th, 2011
12:33 pm
“The MUTTS dumped 18 million in salary this year in Castillo and Perez, but BRAVES can not dump KAWACRUMMY nor MCOUT.”
See, there’s this exchange called a ‘contract’, and it’s terms must be met.
Besides, no other team would want either of these bums, and no manager would be stupid enough to sign them.
Except Wren.
GovClintonTyree
April 8th, 2011
12:58 pm
I don’t know, I think Rollins is a bit of a pr!ck. They’re not all nice guys.
Ted M
April 8th, 2011
12:59 pm
This guy filling in for Utley is play great.
I hope Freeman warms up soon
Kommandant Oberst (Colonel) Wilhelm Klink
April 8th, 2011
2:01 pm
Ted M
April 8th, 2011
12:59 pm
I agree with you..
CharlieAlphaBravo
April 8th, 2011
2:22 pm
On the contrary, I hate the godd*** Phillies… I would love to break Utley’s other knee and punch Victorino right in his smart little mouth. But that’s just me.
The only good thing about Philly has been dead 200+ years: Ben Franklin.
April 8th, 2011
2:29 pm
I hate Philthy, and all their teams. The Eagles? Yuck. Philthies? Gag. NBA is meaningless anyway. Their fans are idiots, in a way that rivals those arrogant jerks in NYC.
The problem with the Braves is two-fold:
1) Ownership sucks. There’s noway the Braves would go out and get Cliff Lee right now, too freaking cheap.
2) Too dependent on overblown mediocrity like Tommy Hanson and FreeMan. When Hanson throws 6 innings and gets a win, wake me. As for Freeman, can he outhit Rafael Belliard? Frank Wren says Hanson is some #1 flamethrower and Freeman the next Mark Grace. Is he channeling Baghdad Bob?
Ben
April 8th, 2011
2:39 pm
what isn’t obnoxious about jimmy rollins, everytime i see that guy i want to punch him in his stupid face
gophils
April 8th, 2011
2:52 pm
this series means more to atl than the phils
its not the owners fault your payroll is not high
its your lack of support, you had 2.5 million fans at $17 per ticket, if your tickets were $33 you would draw what 1.5 million? and the braves where in 1st place, so i dont see how new ownership will matter, you would rather watch nascar or something
ATL 2009 attendance 2,365,000 avg ticket $16.5 =$39 million
ATL 2010 attendence 2,510,000 avg ticket $17 =$42.6 million
total 2 years $81.6 million
Phil 2009 attendance 3,600,000 avg ticket $29=$104 million
Phil 2010 attendence 3,645,000 avg ticket $33= $120 million
total 2 years $224 million
wilson
April 8th, 2011
3:01 pm
Dear atlanta and all your lame ass sport fans…
You cant sell out your own ballpark and your management doesnt spend on top quality free agents.You shouldnt hate the philles brass for doing what it takes to be a top contender. You need to direct your frustration at mr wrhen and his team of loser!
JoeBravesFan
April 8th, 2011
3:22 pm
For some reason the Braves have always done better against really good teams, like the Phillies, but struggle against crappy teams like the Nationals…not sure why that is, though. Chipper commented in an earlier interview that they need to win against losing teams.
Duke Fame
April 8th, 2011
3:23 pm
The only reason people hate the Phillies now is because they’re winning. If the Phils were the also rans now that they were for most of the 90s, no one in Atlanta would bat an eye Philly’s direction.
Now, the Phillies have built a winning organization and everybody jumps on the hating pig pile. As a Phillies fan, I don’t hate the Braves. They’re a good team. Not as good as the Phillies though.
I’ll take umbrage with one statement in the article. The Braves aren’t 1A in the NL East. They’re #2. They lost the division by 6 games last year. It’s not like they tied and the division winner was determined by a one game playoff. Then, 1 and 1A would be appropriate.
JoeBravesFan
April 8th, 2011
3:25 pm
The offseason will be interesting because KK’s contract is over, so we’ll have that money, I believe McLouth’s contract is up, so we’ll have THAT money and it’s expected that Liberty Media is going to try and sell the Braves. If we get a buyer who actually cares about winning, look for another run of consecutive division titles.
Duke Fame
April 8th, 2011
3:31 pm
It’s fun to think about the future and what new ownership could do. Lots of owners actually care about winning. Actually doing it is another story.
Besides, I’ve heard the Phillies local TV contract is expiring soon and the Phillies are going to start their own network and start to bring in crazy NYY or BOS revenue. In today’s MLB, more often than not, money equals winning.
Kommandant Oberst (Colonel) Wilhelm Klink
April 8th, 2011
4:19 pm
Duke, its the fans, not so much the team…
LIVE BLOG: Braves try to break out against Phils' Lee | Jeff Schultz
April 8th, 2011
4:21 pm
[...] — who pose the greatest threat to Philadelphia in the National League East — represent “a great gauge for us as far as seeing where we think we stand against the elite clubs in our [...]
Kommandant Oberst (Colonel) Wilhelm Klink
April 8th, 2011
4:22 pm
JoeBravesFan
April 8th, 2011
3:25 pm
So with the extra money and the team sell, we could sign puljos? For a five year contract for $150 million…
Kommandant Oberst (Colonel) Wilhelm Klink
April 8th, 2011
4:26 pm
gophils
April 8th, 2011
2:52 pm
Your are right, but after the braves fan starts to understand the con. The support runs out. Tired of the koolaid stand.
Kommandant Oberst (Colonel) Wilhelm Klink
April 8th, 2011
4:27 pm
If a had multiple personalities, i could have more fun on this blog..