It won’t be easy for Braves to turn fans back into believers
Fredi Gonzalez and Frank Wren have a lot of damage to overcome. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
This has been, as a general rule, a pro sports market of misery and hangovers, not celebrations and … well, hangovers.
The Falcons lost an NFL playoff game in 1980, and it evolved into some perceived mutant voodoo curse for the next two decades. The Hawks last won an NBA title in an era of canvas high tops (1957-58), and when they were based in St. Louis. The NHL – two teams, come and gone (the first winning a Stanley Cup after it moved to Calgary).
Even when the Braves’ lone World Series title in 1995 is referenced, it’s usually with some verbal slap about 13 other Octobers when the team fell flat, fell short or outright imploded (1996 vs. the Yankees)?
It’s for that reason that Fredi Gonzalez, Frank Wren, Terence McGuirk and the corporate weasel owner behind the curtain should be aware of something: This city-wide vitriol that they’re hearing, seeing and feeling in the aftermath of a late-season self-immolation is going to linger for a while.
Through the winter. Through the spring. Probably even through next September, because we’ve learned not to make assumptions with 8½-game leads.
Martin Prado's batting average dropped from .307 to .260 this season. (Curtis Compton)
In 22 years of living in Atlanta, I’ve witnessed the area’s sports fans being sad, distraught, shocked, confused, frustrated and numb. But I can’t ever remember this level of anger directed at a team, at least not outside of Athens, where it can be a weekly occurrence. (Eugene Robinson submarined the Falcons at the Super Bowl with a late-night mission of lust, but nobody could blame the team for that.)
By unraveling in the season’s final weeks, the Braves just firebombed much of their audience. It took five years to get people excited again in 2010, and that has been undone. Few will listen now to grand proclamations about this team contending for titles, until it actually does. Certainly, nobody will assume greatness of Fredi Gonzalez, at least until he can exorcise memories of a 9-18 September.
This is not an-easy-to-please sports town — not because fans have been spoiled, but because they’ve been conditioned to assume the worst.
In theory, the Braves should still be a strong playoff contender next season. But in theory, they had a playoff team this season (yes, even after injuries).
Fair or unfair, almost every assumption we made about this team now seem off. Dan Uggla, a career .263 hitter in Florida and .287 in his last season, came to Atlanta, signed a $61 million contract and needed every bit of it for therapy. He hit .233, and that, folks, was close to the high-water mark. So now we must wonder: Was he a great player on a bad team and in an invisible market who can’t take the pressure on a bigger stage?
Jason Heyward hit .227, 50 points lower than his rookie season, lost his swing after injuries and then lost his starting job. So we ask: Was 2010 an aberration, the scouting reports bunk?
Martin Prado’s average dropped from .307 to .260, he had the second-worst on-base percentage (.302) among regular position players on the roster, and he scored 34 fewer runs (66) than a year ago. Alex Gonzalez, the only player with a lower on-base percentage, hit .241, far below the shortstop he was acquired for, Yunel Escobar (.290), who also happens to be six years younger. Brian McCann, a perennial All-Star, faded late for the second consecutive season despite a new offseason workout plan.
Gonzalez? He was manager of the year with the Marlins three years ago. But is getting a cheap, young team to overachieve with 84 wins his strength?
All of this might seem unfair. But it’s not like most of this bunch has a long resume. The burden of proof is on them.
The Braves built up a lot of good will in 2010. They made the playoffs after a four-year absence and a season filled with an almost cartoon-like string of injuries. They were fun to watch, simply because they never stopped playing hard, even when X-rays, MRIs and logic told them the year was over. They lost in the playoffs, but it seemed acceptable because those box scores included the names Melky Cabrera, Troy Glaus, Rick Ankiel, Nate McLouth, Brooks Conrad, Diory Hernandez and Kyle Farnsworth.
There was momentum coming into 2011. There won’t be momentum going into 2012. Or assumptions. It’s going to take a while before people believe again.
By Jeff Schultz
•
Last 3 Braves blogs:
– Braves reverse field, make right call firing Larry Parrish
– Braves collapse, and the shine just came off of Fredi Gonzalez
– Poll time: Who should get most blame for Braves’ collapse?
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302 comments Add your comment
Mitchell
October 1st, 2011
4:28 pm
Good thing Fredi didn’t risk going with an untested rookie on Tuesday in a must win game.
Always go with the veteran, Derek Lowe.
I mean, who does Joe Madden think he is?
Dan
October 1st, 2011
4:30 pm
Random thoughts:
Roger not going out to talk with Kimbrel.
Fredi insulting Braves Nation by saying that all the staff would be back.
Ross just sitting in the dugout, not given many chances to help.
Hudson, class act, taking more than his share of the blame.
Except for O’Ventbrel and a few young studs, there were way too many washed up bullpen retreads.
Fredi (again) in the dugout, stone faced in the dugout. NO FIRE in his belly.
etc., etc., etc.
jim
October 1st, 2011
4:37 pm
Archie on page 1 makes many of the same comments I have made.
I would add the “going cheap” in the last couple of drafts also. Once the top 4 pitchers — Teheran, Delgado, Minor, and Vizcaino reach the majors for good, there is not a lot of high prospect talent left in the organization.
The Braves would be better off playing for 2013. Trade Prado — a man without a true position who is approaching free agency, and even trade McCann — defensively challenged, eyesight problems?, and history of fading in the 2nd half for the last couple of seasons. If Uggla could be moved, it would be a good idea to do it. Currently the sum of the prats is greater than the whole. This lineup dows not fit together well, and is not a playoff type roster. Too many free swingers, unable to string good ABs together and bunch hits. It was telling that in those last 5 games only 2 runs were scored that were not the result of HRs (all but 1 solo). The Braves need to plan for 2013 and start that season with a new look — a new manager, a new 3Bman, and a new approach at the plate.
bravesfanforever
October 1st, 2011
4:38 pm
Medlen takes place of lowe.He has a bulldog mentality and doesn’t like to lose.I am not sold on MCcan as eveyday catcher.He is not an alstar and he is very weak on defense.If Chipper can play 130 games he hits 20 to 25 hrs and drives in between 90 and 100 runs and bat close to 300,but you must have a base and that is his knees.Freeman is really the only starter that showed emotions most of the season and kimbrell and venters and O flarithy will be okay.All starters need to give the team 7 innings instead of six.Heyward needs to play winter ball and get his swing right and I still think he has vision problems.D. Lowe please go away and take fredi g with you.Come on Frank Wren lay the hammer down on fredi g.We really need a fire breathing manager who doesn’t coddle and hates hugs that will kick some chairs in the clubhouse and put a life into this team.If there is no balls to the wall then they need to be denutted and then they all can wear pink tights.Dang to much hugging going on you would think it was an old lady tea social.
JTH
October 1st, 2011
4:40 pm
Fredi G is too passive. He doesn’t protect his players enough. How many time did he get tossed? Very few I bet. He needs to show some passion. He also needs to pay attention to situations better. He got lost that last game, he had no clue and that’s bad preparation. He makes rookie mistakes and doesn’t really seem to know how to handle the lineup. He doesn’t know how to handle young pitchers. He over works everybody. Just generally a unimpressive, below average manager.
bravesfanforever
October 1st, 2011
4:40 pm
How can you get intensity when all you do is hugged.
braveone
October 1st, 2011
4:44 pm
The problem with this team is that it cannot decide if it is in the process of rebuilding or playing for the playoffs:
A rebuilding team has time to develop young players over a few seasons (it took Glavine and Smoltz 2-3 years to become stars). It can afford to have young starters only go 5 innings or have them only last 150 innings in the season. It can put a rookie closer in a tight ballgame knowing he may lose it since he is young. It can afford for a great rookie to have a bad sophomore season.
A playoff team would only have 1 young or rookie pitcher (maybe as #5 starter). It would get solid veteran starters at every position no matter the cost. It could afford to dump a worn out veteran pitcher in the offseason or during the season. It would have a manager (and coaches) who has led the team several years with a proven winning record. It would be willing to make a late season trade as early as necessary. Its bench would be solid veterans who could hit the late home run.
The Braves are caught between playing for a World Series title now or 3 years from now. Part of it comes from the ownership’s ridiculous payroll ceiling it gives the team. But the other part is just the constant mentality every year that says “oh well, wait until next year when our new youngsters will arrive”.
The Braves need to grow up to be like the Phillies and be a major league team not live in its major-minor halfway version.
Mitchell
October 1st, 2011
4:51 pm
Brewers about to wrap up a victory in Game 1.
It should really be this easy to win a playoff game should it?
It takes an act of God for the Braves to win a playoff game.
We are the worst f*ing most underperforming, over-talented, decent enough payroll, candy @$$, loser mentality, deer in headlights, , over-inflated ego, foolish pride, sorry @$$ team in baseball history.
Mitchell
October 1st, 2011
4:52 pm
shouldn’t
Sons of Rick Matula
October 1st, 2011
4:52 pm
If I might, I want to tip my cap one more time to Bobby Cox. After watching this team collapse under the fish-eyed star of Freddi Gonzalez, I decided to see how the Braves did in September under #6. Beginning with 1991, in games played on and after September 1 – Bobby was 325-229 – a winning percentage of .586. Under Bobby, the Braves had only two losing Septembers – 1996 (they went to the World Series) and 2010 (they made the playoffs.) And, let it be said, Bobby wasn’t playing for wild cards. He was winning pennants (but for the 2010 team).
I understand the frustration people felt when Bobby’s penchant for guiding a team thru 162 games didn’t translate to the frantic pace of the post-season – but there is a skill to what he did for almost 20 years. And we saw none of that this September.
You can say Bobby had better players and pitchers … really? Do you remember Luis Polonia, Mike Deveraux, Julio Franco, Paul Bako etc etc. He won pennants with John Burkett, Shane Reynolds and Andy Ashby.
We never had it so good and won’t soon again.
Mitchell
October 1st, 2011
4:53 pm
That stadium looks like a giant food court in a galleria shopping mall.
TN Jeff
October 1st, 2011
4:55 pm
Nobody questions McCann’s pathetic defense since he can’t throw anyone out at second. But more importantly nobody questions his game calling. I heard that Huddy was 9 & 3 in games Ross started and only 7 & 7 in games McCann started. Ummmm – seems like McCann’s offense even before the all-star break does make up for his poor game calling. When you take in consideration that the Braves relied on a number of green starting pitchers, it begins to make sense why they struggled the third time through the opposing team lineup. These guys were young & used to pitching late in games so they weren’t tired. It was a matter of them NOT shaking off called pitches by McCann and the results were other teams began to hit them (usually around the 5th inning). I DON’T think McCann does his defensive homework to call good games.
Mitchell
October 1st, 2011
5:05 pm
You’re right, Rick.
I really miss him. I just can’t quite bring myself to admit it.
He also never had a team enter the month of September in first place that didn’t finish the season with a division title.
Oh, except 2010. But that was the only time so, you know. Just the one time.
Otherwise he did a really great job especially leading the Braves to back to back third place finishes in 2006 and 2007 followed by a fourth place finish followed by another third place finish.
Miss that guy.
u got to be kidding
October 1st, 2011
5:15 pm
pay chipper/lowe and say thanks
Matt Websters
October 1st, 2011
5:17 pm
Hahahaha I told you so in March. Fire Fredi Gonzales NOW. Retire NOW Larry. Get a real manager and quit playing Booby Ball.
Hy Ronatt
October 1st, 2011
5:20 pm
“We are the worst f*ing most underperforming, over-talented, decent enough payroll, candy @$$, loser mentality, deer in headlights, , over-inflated ego, foolish pride, sorry @$$ team in baseball history.”
Wow. I bow to your superiority. Newsletter/subscribe, etc.
Dawg Whisperer
October 1st, 2011
5:23 pm
Most folks have a real hard time understanding how any team (whatever the history of the franchise) can lose a 10.5 game wild card lead in one month. Personally, I think Wren put the Braves in position to win down the stretch with the acquisition of Bourn but this horse race did not seem to have the right jockey to ride it to victory. A wise man learns from his mistakes and grows from negative experiences. Let’s hope Fredi is wise enough to re-evaluate where errors were made in managing this team.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 1st, 2011
5:28 pm
I am unwilling to cast any judgment on any of the Braves’ offensive players until I see what they do next year under a new hitting coach.
I wonder if the training staff could do something better though. Seems like the Braves have been hit with untimely injuries in each of the last two years which have really derailed their momentum.
Chop Chop
October 1st, 2011
5:33 pm
Good job on this one, Schultz. Most Braves fans are apathetic about this team now. I’m a longtime regular over at O’Brien’s blog who can say with a great degree of certainty that the percentage of Braves fans who are happy with winning baseball sans postseason glory is very small.
This season did some damage because, let’s face it, Bobby Cox wasn’t around to blame. The people who loved Bobby are now confirmed in their opinion of Fredi as a second-rate replacement. To top it off, the Braves choked like (expletive deleted) at a (expletive deleted) in a room full of (expletive deleted) who (expletive deleted) themselves with a (expletive deleted).
(I don’t know which expletives I’ve deleted, but I’ll let my fellow commenters do their own perverse Mad Libs with that.)
The Braves will continue to be competitive, but being competitive isn’t enough for most fans.
We'll get 'em next year
October 1st, 2011
5:34 pm
Jeff hit the nail on the head. I love the Braves and will always root for them but now that I think about it – I always seemed to feel like I needed to hold my breath waiting for the other shoe to drop. How can we find a way to lose this game/series/season.
Spring training will see me with smile on my face in anticipation of what could be and a touch of dread at what might be again. There are answers and I hope they find them. Until them I still say go Braves!
BravesFan79
October 1st, 2011
5:42 pm
Like any true fan, i realize the Braves lost their first and third best starting pitchers. That being said, i did not like the managnment decisions made. From batters striking out over trying to draw walks, to choosing to start D Lowe over the hot rookie pitcher, to ALWAYS using Venters, Kimbrel in the 8th, 9th (even if the guy brought on in the 7th did excellent). Would the Cardinals or Tigers managers (the 2 best in the game) have started Lowe in a MUST win game?? I dont think so! They would of had the balls to start a rookie.
George Allen
October 1st, 2011
6:23 pm
For any BONEHEAD that thinks that the Problem is financial & Remedy is spending more money simply isn’t paying attention…just ask Boston. The only thing that baffles me is a lack of systematic strategy by Fredi; only whims, “hunches”, haphazard guessing; almost like throwing something against the wall in the hopes that it sticks (i.e. musical batting orders).
braveone
October 1st, 2011
7:02 pm
Spending more money is not the answer. However, having the ability to spend more money is part of the answer. The Braves are essentially on a credit limit and Wren cannot afford to dump a contract like Lowe’s. They also must rely on a young player to develop instead of being able to spend for a good solid veteran starter or reliever. They also know they would not be able to keep any young player who develops into a star. Instead, they stockpile their minors with youngsters without playoff experience and then seem surprised when these youngsters get overwhelmed in tight division races.
painter
October 1st, 2011
7:38 pm
After watching the Braves on the edge of my seat for parts of five decades, I say the problem is the culture. It’s a good-ol-boy conglomerate with no real internal accountability. Until the Braves change the culture, truly shake things up by doing something drastic, nothing will change. Winning comes from above. No matter how well the players do, even if they win in spite of their coaches, managers, owners, those same people in power will inevitably do something to screw it up. These Braves “exit stage left.”
Dontavius Supremo
October 1st, 2011
7:48 pm
Not only that but they’re keeping your $48 “handling fee” if you were stupid enought to buy playoff tickets. Like me. Screw you Braves.
Robert
October 1st, 2011
8:21 pm
“He doesn’t protect his players enough. How many time did he get tossed?”
Arguing with umps does not protect your players. If a player’s temper gets him in a sitaution where he might be tossed, then it’s up to the manager to get him out of there. It is NOT the manager’s job to then carry on the argument with the ump. That is unprofessional and puts the club at risk for being on the wrong end of close calls (not necessarily deliberately)
Joseph Allen McWhorter
October 1st, 2011
8:34 pm
All of these low batting averages for these good Braves hitters has a lot to do with the poor job of the batting coach Parrish, who was just fired by Wren. That was a very smart move. The Braves had the fewest number of rbi’s with runners at third and less than two men out in the majors. And with all of the good hitters they have, there were no excuse for that. A good batting coach next year will change that. The Braves will return a very solid starting pitching staff in 2012. It will probably be Hudson, Hanson, Jurrgiens, and Beachy I am thinking. Not sure whether Medlen will be a starter or go to the bullpen. We need to give Fran Wren a lot of credit. He has already started making changes for the 2012 season. He fired the batting coach which was a smart move and has already announced that Lowe and Heyward are not guaranteed of spots on the 2012 roster. I definitely don’t see Lowe coming back. He pitched terribly in 2011. Heyward may be traded. Not sure. And I will also add that Atlanta fans are too easy to get really mad when the team isn’t performing up to expectations. They need to think about how much the city of Chicago gets behind the Cubs and they haven’t won a World Series since 1908 and the Braves fans think they are frustrated? Hello?
Milwaukee Brave fan since 1957
October 1st, 2011
9:04 pm
Sad Reality, Very Tough times ahead for Brave Fans. Team is owned by Liberty Media who is a divison of Time Warner. The Braves were bought by Liberty Media for tax reasons only. The Braves spend around 80 million per year and that can not win anything. No one in top management has any emotional attchment or much history to the Braves. The Atlanta Braves are destroying young talent by turning them into losers.
Do you think Liberty Media or Time Warner cares about the Braves winning? They could care less.
The Braves need a single owner that has a big ego (big egos like to win and hate losing) with lots of pride and loves the Braves and hates to lose. I love the Braves and hat eto lose but I have no money.
If the Braves had a great owner with pride and an interest in winning championships, clowns like Frank Wren and Freddi Gonzalez would not be around. Blaming a htting coach is not the answer now or ever. Wren and Freddi should be let go.
Pray for a new owner, pray for a new owner and pray for a new owner Brave fans. Brave fans, stay away from the park, do not support ridiculous mediocrity as it prepetuates continued losing; example, Chicago Cubs.
John Renshaw
October 1st, 2011
9:06 pm
Atlanta is a hard to please sports town? Kind of hard for most people to give a crap when idiots like and Bradley spew out your negative colums day after day. When we turn on the radio we hear Kincade talking about how great Philadelphia is. Why don’t you people go back to wherever you came from. If the Braves went 159-3 you people would focus on the 3. Thank God for charlotteobserver.com and Tom Sorenson.
Milwaukee Brave fan since 1957
October 1st, 2011
9:06 pm
Enter your comments here
Datominator
October 1st, 2011
9:06 pm
Does this collapse hurt? Sure. But will true Braves fans immediately become jaded? Seems like something written for lack of anything else to say. Hope springs eternal, it’s always darkest just before the dawn, blah, blah, blah. We lost two prime starters, the offense didn’t produce the last month to carry us, and the bullpen was overworked. The real key will be how Wren addresses our holes – if he does his work in the offseason, we’ll be ready to go next spring. I know there are Wen haters, Chipper haters, etc. but for my money if he does the things I hope in the offseason I’ll be back for more Braves baseball next year.
Ray Goff
October 1st, 2011
9:09 pm
True dat, Mr. Jeff. Da Braves will have a hard time overcoming the latest dissappointment. They lost me a few years back.
South Georgia
October 1st, 2011
9:20 pm
“Fire in the belly” and Atlanta teams do not coincide. We need a Lou Pinella or Jim Leyland who will get in a player’s face when he is complacent. By the way, one of Bobby Cox’s legacy is complacency.
South Georgia
October 1st, 2011
9:22 pm
All the hugging hurt us.
athdog
October 1st, 2011
10:04 pm
You’re right, Benjamin…reading these comments is depressing. And enlightening. I now see why Georgia schools are ranked 49th in the country in grammar and composition scores. I’m surprised it’s not 50th.
The Braves? Give Wren a competitive budget, let’s see what he can do.
And Archie? Fairly good post. I disagree with your assessment of Prado, I think having to play a different position weekly hurts his defense and his offense, and I disagree with your McCann ideas, as well. The rest, especially the comment on J-Hey, were spot on, except you forgot to add ‘and jogging down the first base line’ after ‘king of grounders to second base.’
athdog
October 1st, 2011
10:05 pm
Yeah, we’ll all be back next year. It’s just a raw wound…it’ll heal. If not, you’re not good fans anyway. Good riddance.
PeaceDog
October 1st, 2011
10:09 pm
The bigger question whether the AJC can turn Atlantans back into believers. Braves fans I am not so worried about.
Anybody can see that when you lose your 2-4 starting pitchers, the season will falter. Unfortunately, there is no such excuse for the AJC.
Brava
October 1st, 2011
10:09 pm
Heyward arived in the majors with a nice swing and elite level plate discipline. Then he listened when Boby Cox hee-hawed about him being too patient at the plate. Since then, he’s been slowly unravelling
Robert, you’re still revising history to try and convince folks Bobby is responsible for Heyward’s woes? The truth is, Heyward went on a tear after Bobby told him to be more aggressive at the plate, but keep making stuff up. It’s entertaining to watch you make a fool of yourself with your Bobby Derangement Syndrome.
vabravo
October 1st, 2011
10:13 pm
Jeff, great article. What you talk about is exactly how most of us Braves fans feel. I went to the Braves/Nats series last week and right then and there figured out for myself this team would not make the playoffs.
Since the end of 2008 every year I’ve had high hopes going into the next season, but after this collapse I feel apathetic and numb. That says a lot because I’m not one of these ‘Fire Everybody’ fans after a loss. To get over this I’m going to have to forget about baseball for five months until spring training begins. And even then I may still feel apathetic toward this team. Hopefully they’ll come back with a chip on their shoulder and play fundamental baseball.
cattle dawg
October 1st, 2011
10:16 pm
Dear fans, please boycott yhis team till changes are made
Train Wreck Bystander
October 1st, 2011
10:19 pm
Uggla had a decent year at the plate – did he not have a career high in HRs? Is that not what he was brought on to do?
It’s not Uggla’s fault the tables weren’t always set ahead of him. When someone has a career high in HRs (which he did) and a career low in RBIs (which he did), don’t you have to put some blame on the table setters ahead of him?
I admit he’s no gold glover – but he’s good enough in the field.
Pete
October 1st, 2011
10:20 pm
How can any rational baseball fan be expected to support a franchise that featured Derek Lowe as a starting pitcher ?
Lowe single handedly destroyed Braves team morale and confidence during September making the run to the playoff wild card impossible.
He is as qualified a MLB pitcher as Pee Wee Herman……………………….and Herman probably has a lower ERA.
phil
October 1st, 2011
10:24 pm
Mike Dawg
October 1st, 2011
6:34 am
oly way it gets better is for people stop going to games and force Liberty media to sale to some one who wants to spend money and hire a good general manager and coach
<<<<<<<<
Correct. Stay away like me until we fire FG….what a fraud.
phil
October 1st, 2011
10:33 pm
Dontavius Supremo
October 1st, 2011
7:48 pm
Not only that but they’re keeping your $48 “handling fee” if you were stupid enought to buy playoff tickets. Like me. Screw you Braves.
<<<<<<
Are you serious? What a bunch of cheap, pathetic you name its for doing that to those dumb enough to buy em in the first place. Wow!
I am becoming more embarassed by the day to be a fan of this team! Refund these people their money, for crying out loud!!! Unreal.
phil
October 1st, 2011
10:37 pm
athdog
October 1st, 2011
10:05 pm
Yeah, we’ll all be back next year. It’s just a raw wound…it’ll heal. If not, you’re not good fans anyway. Good riddance.
<<<<<<<<
If you go support this team with FG still in charge, then you must have manure for your brains….use some sense and stay away. Use your money for good, not evil.
GOP Cannon
October 1st, 2011
10:41 pm
Great article Jeff, you are absolutely right about the Braves fire-bombing the support of the fan base with their September performance.
Over the years, the Braves have come up with new and creative ways to disappoint me in the playoffs; however, this monumental collapse is unlike anything that I have ever seen in professional sports. This one is going to take me a long time to get over.
Hillbilly D
October 1st, 2011
10:48 pm
To really understand the situation, you have to watched the Braves and Falcons since 1966.
NO MORE ?
October 1st, 2011
11:08 pm
My anti Parrish campaign seemed to work. I love how you are saying everything real Braves fans are thinking and not the kiss up people on the DOB section. Thanks for keeping it real but I say if they bring in Francona to replace fat Fredi a lot of people will buy into this team. Time to get rid of the Bobby connections and start fresh. Ya hear me Wren?
John Renshaw
October 1st, 2011
11:20 pm
Leo would not have burned out his bullpen. Why is no one pointing their finger in that direction. The hitting coach didn’t blow the save in game 162.
Professor Moriarty
October 1st, 2011
11:36 pm
The good news is Wren seems to grasp the situation. Whether he’s got enough power to blow up the complacency that has been the Braves’ trademark the past several years remains to be seen. I won’t believe it until I see it, and I’m damn sure wouldn’t spend a nickel on those clowns until they straighten up and fly right.
And I agree with archie: it won’t get any easier next year.