A few minutes ago, my favorite baseball team, the Atlanta Braves, clinched the 2004 National League Eastern Division Championship, which is their 13th straight division title in a row. With the exception of the year they won the World Series in 1995, I have not been more proud of this team since they won their first of these 13 in a row in 1991. As many baseball fans know, the Braves sustained major personnel losses in the offseason when, due to payroll limitations imposed by AOL, they were forced to part ways with long time pitching ace Greg Maddux, and slugger Gary Sheffield. However, due to the contributions of their new personnel, and their wonderfully shrewd General Manager John Scherholtz, and top notch field manager Bobby Cox, they were able to overcome, and bring home division title 13 in a row.
I know there are many who say, "They have all these division titles and only one World Championship, and while that may be true, no team in the history of any sport has had as much success over such a long period of time as they have. Not even the old great Yankees teams went to the postseason 13 years in a row.
As a fan of the Braves since 1983 through last place, the division titles, the World Championship, and all that has happened inbetween and since, I have never been more proud of them then Iam this year. Written off after losing all the major personnel, Bobby Cox and John Scherholtz used the diminished payroll inposed on them by AOL, did patchwork roster work, and through great planning, some good luck, and excellent years from unexpected sources, were able to bring home this sweet and unexpected title number 13. Of course, as a fan, I hope to be back on here in about four weeks time posting congratulations to the Braves on a World Series win. For now, congratulations to Bobby, John, and all the Braves. This is awesome, and good luck to the team in the playoffs. You can be sure I'll be watching it all.
Mitch
I know there are many who say, "They have all these division titles and only one World Championship, and while that may be true, no team in the history of any sport has had as much success over such a long period of time as they have. Not even the old great Yankees teams went to the postseason 13 years in a row.
As a fan of the Braves since 1983 through last place, the division titles, the World Championship, and all that has happened inbetween and since, I have never been more proud of them then Iam this year. Written off after losing all the major personnel, Bobby Cox and John Scherholtz used the diminished payroll inposed on them by AOL, did patchwork roster work, and through great planning, some good luck, and excellent years from unexpected sources, were able to bring home this sweet and unexpected title number 13. Of course, as a fan, I hope to be back on here in about four weeks time posting congratulations to the Braves on a World Series win. For now, congratulations to Bobby, John, and all the Braves. This is awesome, and good luck to the team in the playoffs. You can be sure I'll be watching it all.
Mitch
