ESPN.com – MLB – Recap – Marlins at Braves – 04/05/2003
I don’t want to talk about this, but I suppose I have to. Greg Maddux had absolutely nothing. The Marlins batted around in each of the first two innings and scored nine runs. Maddux’s ERA is now 11.00, which actually underestimates how badly he’s pitched, because he’s given up three unearned runs.
The Braves did have eight hits, but no extra base hits, resuming the pattern of the first three games. Not that it mattered much.
And riding to the Braves’ rescue? Paul Byrd, who gave up 6 runs on 8 hits in 4 and a third innings against AA Birmingham.
Oy.
I’m not going to suggest that I’m a baseball genius and that based upon my vast knowledge of the game I’m qualified to predict the following, but being of sound mind, atleast at this point, the Brave’s will be cellar dwellers until vast changes are made at almost every level of management.A fish rots from the head down, and this one smells real bad. GM, Mgr., Vinny, Bird,and the rest. Bad trades, bad choices, bad players, old players, washed up players, not developing good players Etc. Back to the 80’s, it was a pretty good run, but hello to loser town once again. It’s not so much that the team has declined as it is HOW it has declined. I’m in mourning. And if anybody says its too early to draw such a dank perspective, get in touch with reality.
Wallace, i’m checking my surroundings, and i do think they constitute reality. Let’s see; the Braves have won 11 straight division titles, an unprecedented feat in any major sport. They are 2-4, 2 games back of the division lead — roughly 1/28th of the way through this season.
I understand where the pessimism comes into play, with a lot of the blows the team roster has taken and i agree with a lot of the moaning and venting that sometimes takes place on this site. But all things considered, I dont see how you can possibly make such a blanket statement like ‘the Braves WILL BE cellar-dwellers’. I mean, come on! They have just as good a chance as anyone else right now to win the East in 2003 or at least field another playoff team. Why would you even bother being a fan of the team if 11 straight titles and the promise of a new season with some new faces and some old doesn’t make you the slightest bit optimistic? It’s baseball – it’s supposed to be fun.
If wins are that important to you, go cheer for the Yankees 🙂
Ah,the eternal optimust. Troy, you are a great Brave fan, my hats off to ya. Yes, it is fun to rag sometimes, kind of vent… at heart I still am a fan and will continue to chop for the red, white and blue. It’s not totally about W’s, see how many world championships that has got us, (ONE). I am convinced that their management is challenged, you know the specifics better than I. Keep Mazzone and retire the rest. As far as cellar dwellers, perhaps alittle too strong in terms. Lets say they will not make the playoff picture for awhile mostly due to the competition within the division. See, everybody else is improving and sadly the Braves are declining, that is crystal clear. I certainly could be wrong, but I don’t think so. Anyway, this season will be interesting….hoping for the best,ready for the worst.