Tuesday, October 16, 2001
Braves not an October surprise
Another NLCS for Atlanta
By Mike Lopresti
Gannett News Service
Introducing your Atlanta Braves.
Stop me when this starts sounding like a team with a World Series trip in its crosshairs.
The new first baseman, Julio Franco, who was Plan D, used to be in the Mexican League. For that matter, he might be as old as the Mexican League. He's 43.
The new second baseman, Marcus Giles, is a 5-foot-8 rookie.
The new shortstop, Rey Sanchez, hit .227 during the season.
The new catcher, Paul Bako, is with his fourth organization in four seasons in the major leagues.
The new closer, John Smoltz, wasn't even a reliever until this summer. He changed his job description when John Rocker was traded, gas can and all.
The No.3 starting pitcher, John Burkett, was once cut by Tampa Bay.
The Braves' final record of 88-74 was their worst in 11 years. They lost more games at home than they won.
Could we have a show of hands on whether this was in many ways a down season in Atlanta? Motion carries. But ...
“I think the contrary,” general manager John Schuerholz said the other day. “I think this has been a remarkable season.”
Same old formula
Whatever. It's really the same old Braves. Pitching their way past trouble and age and any fools who doubt, right into October.
It has grown too easy to understate their enormous run. Their 10 straight division titles, a feat unmatched in any professional sport, ball or puck.
And yet, there has not been enough gold at the end. The Braves have suffered the peculiar pain of coming close.
Here they are again, with less praise than normal. But while the other three division series needed the full five games to find a winner, the Braves brushed off the Houston Astros as they would a thread from their lapel.
Another failure?
The irony would be considerable if the Braves, who have just missed with one acclaimed team after another, do it with a patchwork lineup, after a season of doubt.
But maybe they fall short again. Arizona is waiting with home-field advantage and two grim reapers for starters. Last time these two teams met in August, the Diamondbacks won three games by a combined 19-2.
No matter. The Braves keep reinventing themselves and never stop showing up this month. If there is not a trophy for that, there ought to at least be applause.
“To me, this organization over the last decade has been the model organization,” Houston general manager Gerry Hunsicker said.
“Yes, they have the money to spend and that's an asset most of us don't have. But it's pretty obvious that in itself doesn't make you a winner.”
“We've had some problems,” manager Bobby Cox said. “But I've never been afraid to try something new.”
“It takes time when you mix and match during the season,” outfielder Brian Jordan said. “But now that we've come together, forget about the past.”
Credit Cox, a cantankerous and gifted manager. Also Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, Smoltz, Chipper Jones, et al. “They're used to winning. They're not used to anything else happening,” Burkett said. “I think it rubs off on everybody.”
Atlanta's secret to an unforgettable decade.
Mike Lopresti is a columnist for Gannett News Service.
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Braves not an October surprise
