The Braves aren’t in this World Series, but they’ll make it soon
It didn't end well for Michael Bourn's team, but there's next year. (AJC photo by Hyosub Shin)
A World Series is set to begin Wednesday without the Atlanta Braves, which has been the case with every World Series this millennium. And I know some among you were so disgusted by the Braves’ collapse that you can’t see this team reaching the Fall Classic for the next thousand years, but that’s just disappointment talking. In truth, the Braves aren’t far away.
Last October, the Braves were one out from taking a 2-1 Division Series lead over San Francisco, which would win the World Series. This fall the Braves were two outs from forcing a play-in game against St. Louis, which just won the National League pennant. I know most of you wouldn’t have given a farthing for the Braves’ chances in such a game, but consider: The Cardinals would have started Kyle Lohse in Game No. 163, and in his two postseason appearances he’s 0-2 with a 7.45 ERA.
That said, the two seasons were different. In 2010, it was a wonder the diminished Braves steadied enough to slip into the playoffs. In 2011, the wonder was that they didn’t steady. The chief reason — well, that and the 8 1/2-game lead — that the Braves’ flop was so stunning was the composition of the club itself. From April through August, this looked every bit a playoff team.
Come February, it will look like one again. Relative to the other NL contenders, the Braves enter the offseason without much to do. The Cardinals have to re-sign Albert Pujols, and the Brewers need to keep Prince Fielder, neither of which might be possible. And the Phillies, who have won five division titles in succession, but who were gone in Round 1 this October, face the impending loss of Raul Ibanez and perhaps Jimmy Rollins and the injury rehab of Ryan Howard, who tore his Achilles on the final play of the final game.
The Braves? They need to secure a shortstop — Alex Gonzalez is a free agent and the prospect Tyler Pastornicky isn’t quite ready — but that’s about it. The bulk of this team’s decisions have to do with projection: Will Chipper Jones be healthy enough to play 100 games? Will Tommy Hanson’s shoulder be OK? Will Martin Prado remember how to hit? Will Jason Heyward remember he’s Jason Heyward?
The Braves didn’t really challenge Philly this season — they finished 13 games back — but that day is coming. Among the Phillies’ everyday eight, only Hunter Pence is under 30, and the touted outfield prospect Domonic Brown hasn’t done much. (If he had, the Phils wouldn’t have needed Pence.) The great rotation likewise has some age on it: Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt 34; Cliff Lee is 32. The Phillies weren’t built to win in 2015; they were built to win in it all in 2011, and they failed.
The Braves’ failure wasn’t one of composition — on paper, they had enough good players — as of follow-through. Some excellent hitters stopped hitting for bewildering stretches. The team has moved to help correct that by firing Larry Parrish, whose season as hitting coach was a bad idea that turned out worse, and next year we should get at least a partial answer to that great imponderable: Does a hitting coach really matter?
There wouldn’t seem to be a Braves’ buying spree coming this winter. Kenshin Kawakami is finally off the payroll, but Derek Lowe remains — for one year more at $15 million. The Braves might have enough money to re-sign Gonzalez for a short term at a modest price, but they surely can’t afford the big-name shortstops (Rollins or Jose Reyes) who’ll become free agents. Even so, will keeping Gonzalez and hoping for better elsewhere be enough to turn this team, which has won 180 games the past two seasons, into a bigger winner?
Yes, because they have a phalanx of young pitchers who are big-league ready. That’s the greatest currency there is, and Wren was right to hoard it at the trading deadline. But there will come a time when one or two of these pitchers will need to be moved — can’t really have a seven-man rotation — as simple asset management.
The Braves, believe it or not, are very close to a World Series. They’ll need to get beyond the memory of this season’s fold, but that’s why there’s an offseason. They had enough talent to win 89 games in a season when they didn’t hit a lick, and they have enough to offer in trade that they can go buy whatever they lack. If even a few of those hitters return to form, they won’t lack much. Why, they even have a leadoff man now. Can world domination be far behind?
By Mark Bradley
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383 comments Add your comment
BRAVESNATION4EVER
October 21st, 2011
11:30 am
Hey JT Grace Every baseball fan and especially us Braves fans act like this is the end of our Mighty Brave Baseball World,despite the Braves missing October postseason by just a game because anything but a World Series title or a October postseason appearance will has always been a total disappointment in Atlanta, especially with the Braves always being a totally winning oriented tradition that gets into October ,whether they win the World Series or not.We want to see World Series titles and playoff appearances in Atlanta because these are the Braves,these are not at all the Cubs or the Marlins.GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Klaus
October 21st, 2011
11:39 am
Look the AJC is almost part of the PR dept for the Braves.
Rarely do they call the team on the carpet, ask mgt tough questions, stay a GM or manager should be canned, etc. This is not NY or Boston where reporters are cheered when they make mgt uncomfortable.
If the AJC doesn’t toss softballs at the Braves they lose access to mgt and the clubhouse for interviews etc.
They let their bloggers express justifiable disappoint or outrage. It works for them and no one who gets paid to cover the Braves gets hurt.
Fans taking the pro or con side of these discussions can just beat each other up and then wait to watch the same face plant each year with soft news coming from AJC along the way.
If you want an accountable and transparent FO it will have to wait until a Mark Cuban or similar owner steps in.
Liberty, McGuirk and JS will dance around things or stay invisible.
If Braves were in NYC, Boston or similar city with a private owner Bobby is fired by 1999, JS shortly thereafter and McGuirk never even sniffs a job with the team.
The Braves tag line should be “never has a team with so much done so little” But these are all just words and opinions in the end.
Braves FO prove the naysayers wrong. A good start would be hiring Francona and moving Fredi to the minors to save face.
Klaus
October 21st, 2011
11:46 am
…say a GM should be fired (cor)
BRAVESNATION4EVER
October 21st, 2011
11:47 am
YO rob in fayetteville and mitchell YOU TWO LOSERS are TOTALLY SAD and PITIFUL–not to mention those lovable LOSERS known as the Chicago SNUBS HA HA HA HA HA HA LMAO.Let’s get get this totally straight the Braves are currently going through something what the NATION from BEANTOWN and those Chicago WhiteSox went through for 80-plus years of failing to win in October and yet these 2 teams have won 3 World Series titles after all that October heartbreak.The Braves have been losing in October since 1991 and after 1995 since winning the World Series and I can guarantee anyone on the face of this earth[OH YES and especially YOU TWO LOSERS known as rob in fayetteville and mitchell] that the Braves will start winning the big ones in October year after year sometime in the very near future.GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BRAVESNATION4EVER
October 21st, 2011
12:00 pm
I’ve always been totally sick and tired of totally idiotic losers criticizing the Braves of losing in the postseason-the Braves are this-the Braves are that and I have always known this Braves team will start winning the big ones in October every year sometime in the very near future-HEY the RedSox have already won twice in 2004 and 2007 since once last winning in 1918 and the WitheSox have already won once since once last winning in 1917.Zero worries if you’re the Braves in general or if you’re a Braves fan because their time is COMING SOON.GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
B-Fan
October 21st, 2011
12:24 pm
I’d rather be The Braves going into 2012 than the Phils. Phils made desparation moves to win now before most of their stars start hanging out with “Father Time.” All the bold moves got them was an early playoff exit (still immensely enjoying that!) and a huge bloated payroll. BTW, with Ryan “I like to pad my stats when the games don’t count” Ryan likely to be out much of 2012, I doubt that dufus Hunter Pence will be able to carry the Phils.
BRAVES SUCK
October 21st, 2011
12:25 pm
Braves, will NEVER be World Series contenders, Just PRETENDERS/WANNA B’S
Ekim
October 21st, 2011
12:38 pm
Way to step up with a reasoned, well-thought-out and expressed opinion, Braves Duck…
BRAVESNATION4EVER
October 21st, 2011
12:39 pm
The Braves picking up Micheal Bourn turned out to be a total steal according to what it seems like because who knows the phillies may have been playing these texas rangers in the World Series instead of those LOSERS from the SHOW ME STATE known as the DEADBIRDS.I wish those texas rangers ALL THE BEST in this WORLD SERIES and I hope they win their first WORLD SERIES TITLE.
edmond burks
October 21st, 2011
12:45 pm
Been watching the WS, and was wondering just how many players on the two rosters were either former Braves or Braves prospects? Thanks much!
BravesFanSince80's
October 21st, 2011
12:47 pm
BRAVESNATION4EVER: I hope that you’re not as foolish as you sound, some of the guys you’re putting down have far more respect on here than you ever will unless you change your tune a bit and stop with the ridiculous predictions. Besides that, nobody said we don’t WANT the Braves to start winning in October. We’re Braves fans just like you, however more realistic is up in the air I guess since we won’t really know anything for certain until next October rolls around…
BravesFanSince80's
October 21st, 2011
12:51 pm
BRAVESNATION4EVER: we all want the Braves to start winning in October, nobody is saying that, particularly the guys you keep putting down on here (who happen to have more respect on here than you I might add). Stop with the silly, unrealistic predictions man, nobody is taking you seriously anyway…
murph2hof
October 21st, 2011
1:08 pm
I don’t get Braves fans sometimes(much of the time). We do have some great ones though, I do need to say. I read all the articles on the Braves home page as well as on Bleacher report and every article has so many people bashing the Braves-non stop. If the Braves make a move, they bash the move. If the Braves don’t make a move, they’re bashed for that. They bashed Bobby, now Fredi. Mark writes articles for us Braves fans to read(and give us some inside info) and you so-called fans bash him. No matter what he writes or what side of the fence he is on about subjects you jump all over him. When are you bandwagon fans going to be happy about anything? Mark gets on here and gives his opinion and that is sometimes what it is. But he also gets on and lets us know what is going on behind the scenes and I like that stuff. I don’t always like or agree w/ all the moves the Braves make and I don’t always agree w/ everything Mark says but I am a true Braves fan and hope for the best and I also hope that that move(I might not agree with) works for the Braves. Don’t get me wrong, we have some great fans too. Guys like OldMilwBravesFan, Hitstick, 76years, VincentP, BgBraves7, LeeC, EddieMathewsFan and others. I don’t always agree w/ everything they say either but at least they come on here and talk Braves, give opinions on what they think we should or shouldn’t do, and just discuss topics. You won’t see these guys come on just to start bashing everyone. I haven’t read an article by Mark or others where someone doesn’t come on just to say something negative. To the guys I mentioned above and others who come on w/ good discussions(as well as Mark) I say thank you for your intertaining Braves talk. To you negative bashers…I say keep it to yourself!!! GO BRAVES!!!
BRAVESNATION4EVER
October 21st, 2011
1:12 pm
YO BRAVESFANSINCE 80 ZERO apologies for 2 guys I have already totally put down for talking totally idiotic and pitiful nonsense about the Braves,especially when all they should have said was,the Braves are one of those teams that lose in October postseason,but they just need to start winning the big ones in October, there was zero need for them to put down the Braves and I have always respected those totally worthy of respect and put down those totally deserving of being put down BRAVES 80′S man.
gotigers72
October 21st, 2011
1:14 pm
I was sick last night watching Elvis Andrus making those great defensive plays and showing savvy baserunning, then Feliz coming in and closing with that blazing fastball. Harrison going tonight as a starter. Three ex Braves traded to the Rangers in the Teixera deal. You gave up wayyy too much JS for a guy that only stayed a year, then was traded for Casey freakin’ Kotchman. See where the Rangers are now? Where the Braves would be if you had not given up those future superstars.
I know that you were trying to win a pennant by grabbing Tex, but you were fleeced by the Rangers. You should have been more patient, not given up so much. Pretty much everyone knew Elvis AND Feliz would be great players in just a couple of more years. Don’t say “well, we have Kimbrell as closer, we don’t need Feliz.” Kimbrell is a choker. His choke jobs in 3 different games in the last month will make him a head case along the lines of Rocker and Wohlers. He basically admitted that his last blown save was a choke by saying he was “rushing”. He was walking hitters as he was when he blew those saves early in the year.
Just answer one little question. Would you trade Kimbrell for Feliz right now? Of course you would. That’s a no brainer. BAD TRADE FOR TEIXERA JS! REALLY BAD TRADE! So was the Wainwright for the one year rental JD Drew. He had his best year in his career, but did it help you to the World Series? NO it didn’t. Then he was gone and now Wainwright is a Cy Young candidate every year.
Everybody praises you for the work you did keeping the Braves on top for 15 years, but to me, those two HORRIBLE TRADES made all of your good works a wash. Now your guy Frankie is following in your footsteps with McLouth, KK, Linebrink, Proctor, etc. Why can’t we have a decent GM in Hotlanta? Why?
Murph2hof(Cle)
October 21st, 2011
1:14 pm
SP-entertaining, sorry misspelled above
BravesFanSince80's
October 21st, 2011
1:16 pm
murph2hof: would that things in Bravedom always remain so Chipper, where real baseball players Prado each other into winning instead of losing, fruity managers wake up and actually have an impact on the game, defense is never so Uggly, and Heyward would wood if he could, OOOOOOO Flaherty!
BravesFanSince80's
October 21st, 2011
1:18 pm
BRAVESNATION4EVER: ’tis better to be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt…
BRAVESNATION4EVER
October 21st, 2011
1:19 pm
HEY MURPH a BRAVES fan being totally negative regarding the Braves is just a few because most Braves fans have always TRUE BRAVES FANS no matter how much the BRAVES are winning or not winning.Don’t let those few negative BRAVES bashers get to you at all because I have never at all let anyone get to me no matter what. GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
alex
October 21st, 2011
1:50 pm
to all the non-syncophants: as long as FW is using the limited money from liberty we have little chance of more than the WC. …
Klaus
October 21st, 2011
2:43 pm
Being a fan doesn’t mean being blind. Also they rarely make moves of substance. Name the last substantive move (not a 1yr bench hail mary or human book mark) that has paid off in a meaningful way apart from Hudson (which was a JS move)
JJ cannot make it past July.
Lowe is terrible.
Uggla played amazingly well at the plate for a whopping 33 days our of a 6mos season.
Glaus – two month wonder
Lee – waste of space
Ankiel – ditto
Kotsay – a little better than ditto
Melky – sucked here good everywhere else
Vaz – great for a year traded for Melky and a prospect who is good but raw (still)
KK – disaster
McClouth – mediocre to face plant to mediocre
Frenchie – mismanged badly traded for a guy who no long plays pro ball
Schafer given CF twice (blew it twice now caught selling pot (with Houston) after he was “framed” around HGH)
Really apart from Ross and Hinske Wren has either made terrible contracts, 1yr waste of money band aids and poor trades (Vaz not so much b/c he was terrible after ATL). If Uggla carries the offense and drives in 110 RBIs then he will be worth his deal but I dont see that happening.
Uggla did not earn his salary in 2011 and he will need to do a whole lot better in 2012 to earn his new salary.
This team continues to nibble, sign cheap players to 1-2 year deals and waits patiently for some kid in the minors to get hot with the bat. Then he is hyped up the pole and brought to ATL only to struggle. FF is the only guy to avoid this fate so far.
I say that b/c many are thinking we need a 1-2yr dude at SS while Pats tweaks his defense a bit.
He too will be a near miss.
not a sap
October 21st, 2011
3:57 pm
Enjoy the kool-aid, “bravesnation” – you’re a sap.
Bad Bad Leroy Brown
October 21st, 2011
5:30 pm
When I watch the World Series, I see that actually the Braves are in the World Series this year–there’s Elvis Andrus scoring a run, Neftali Feliz striking out the side, Matt Harrison getting the start, Rafael Furcal stealing a base, even injured Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright cheering on his team (after apparently inspiring his team’s September run)–all former Braves that could have been contributing to the team for years if the front office hadn’t let them go for next to nothing. That short sightedness is the main reason more Braves, in actual Braves uniforms, aren’t in the World Series this year.
Adam
October 21st, 2011
6:12 pm
Ricky, did you just get done reading Money Ball? The Braves are on a downturn because they overvalue batting average? Hardly, they have a stable full of young ++ arms, so much so that they can use a few of them to correct the only real weakness they have on the offensive side. If Prado and Heyward come even close to the median offense they are capable of, this team wins 95 games THIS year. They are getting better, and Wren getting Dan Uggla proves they aren’t centered on .avg as much as production and talent…
Murph2hof
October 21st, 2011
9:08 pm
Thanks Bravesnation4ever, I always try to stay positive. But if you read the articles on atlantabraves.com every article throughout the whole year has guys saying something negative, It might be about a player, maybe a coacing move or just ripping Mark B about his writing. But you are right we do have great fans. Have a great weekend, thanks again. GO BRAVES!!
Casey
October 22nd, 2011
2:20 pm
Everyone keeps saying we need a superstar, we need a 40 hr man, we need more power. Has everyone forgotten about Ugla? If it weren’t for his horrendous start to the season, he would have had 45 homeruns easily. That would have also helped the braves win another 5-7 games. Ugla turned it around at the end and all signs point to him continuing in 2012. A new hitting coach should help improve some of the other guys that struggled. Mark is dead on by saying the Braves are close. Strong and Deep pitching staff, big slugger, young core, speed, lock down bullpen. The Braves have everything they need to be a team to beat next year, the only question is, can they put it all together? Great article Mark.
alexcox
October 22nd, 2011
7:47 pm
a
alexcox
October 22nd, 2011
7:56 pm
yo haora no me preoucupo por los filis m consentraria en wren q pueda haser movimiento utiles q puedan d una ves llenar los puntos d biles dlos braves si wren logra negosiar a lowe y contratar un jardinero d poder y un lansador lf y ss y un relevo d primera y si walker logra areglar losdemas chicos estaremos 2012 en WS
Plate Appearance
October 23rd, 2011
3:03 pm
NOT WITH FREDI!
The premise of your article title sounds fine and good. I’d like to believe it.
However, I can’t believe it — based on what I saw from Fredi as the Braves manager this year.
I just don’t think the Braves will get to the Series with Fredi at the helm.
The Bird Dog
October 23rd, 2011
7:47 pm
Dreamer
Packer Ed
October 24th, 2011
7:23 am
Mark, correct me if I am wrong, but aren’t the Braves owned by Liberty Meida who are a divsion of Time Warner?
Neither Liberty Media or Time Warner care less about the Braves.
The Braves will win when the Braves get a new owner that has 2 things:
1. Will to win
2. American Dollars to put into the Team
marlborough
October 26th, 2011
10:17 am
B
marlborough
October 26th, 2011
10:20 am
Been a Braves fan since the fifties, and once again they flatter to deceive. Great pitching when they are healthy but no batting to speak of. Chipper cannot do it every day anymore and the rest, well they all seemed to fall asleep. We need a big bat that can produce. The Cards got Holliday and Berkman, cannot we find similar? What about Prince or are the owners too mean to build a contender.