NL Wildcard Race

[Chewbaccer]

Chew, As kind of a new guy on the block here, even though I'm an ole guy, I've read a lot of your posts and I respect your knowledge for the game of baseball and I mean that. I like the Braves a lot too and I have attended many of their home games in the past. The Braves continue to have a big fan base here in NC and I've asked several of my buddies who are huge Braves fans this same question many times and their answer is always "I don't know." Hopefully you can give me a better answer.

How did Bobby Cox win only one championship with Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, and Avery?

I'll go ahead a preface this by saying I was born in 91, so by the time I really started paying attention to the Braves, John Smoltz was a closer and Chipper Jones was a left fielder.

But they were a young team in 91-92, and they didn't have Maddux yet.

Then they got it in 95, and at no point did we have a legit closer option, which IMO cost us the 96 WS, which is where the Yankees dynasty started, and not to sound like sour grapes or nothing, but Eric Gregg kinda buzz killed us in 97.

 

[StanMarsh51]

I'll go ahead a preface this by saying I was born in 91, so by the time I really started paying attention to the Braves, John Smoltz was a closer and Chipper Jones was a left fielder.

But they were a young team in 91-92, and they didn't have Maddux yet.

Then they got it in 95, and at no point did we have a legit closer option, which IMO cost us the 96 WS, which is where the Yankees dynasty started, and not to sound like sour grapes or nothing, but Eric Gregg kinda buzz killed us in 97.

For '95-96, Wholers was one of the better closers in baseball...let's not act like he was trash and the Braves had scrubs closing.

 

[Chewbaccer]

For '95-96, Wholers was one of the better closers in baseball...let's not act like he was trash and the Braves had scrubs closing.

He was trash in the 96 World Series.

 

[StanMarsh51]

He was trash in the 96 World Series.

He allowed runs in just 1 of his 4 World Series gamed in 1996. Plus, he pitched well in the 1995 WS.

It's an overstatement to say the Braves had no closer options because of 1 game.

 

[Chewbaccer]

He allowed runs in just 1 of his 4 World Series gamed in 1996. Plus, he pitched well in the 1995 WS.

It's an overstatement to say the Braves had no closer options because of 1 game.

To be fair, I was 5 years old, and any videos of Wohlers are of that one game.

 

[tomcat1]

Its just really difficult to win championships.

Heck, I remember being surprised when they actually beat the Indians with the WS they actually won

Clayton, You're right about that and I think our Cardinals might have won a couple of championships in recent years that maybe they should not have won.

 

[tomcat1]

I'll go ahead a preface this by saying I was born in 91, so by the time I really started paying attention to the Braves, John Smoltz was a closer and Chipper Jones was a left fielder.

But they were a young team in 91-92, and they didn't have Maddux yet.

Then they got it in 95, and at no point did we have a legit closer option, which IMO cost us the 96 WS, which is where the Yankees dynasty started, and not to sound like sour grapes or nothing, but Eric Gregg kinda buzz killed us in 97.

Thanks for your answer and it's good enough for me since all I have heard in the past when I asked this question is "I don't know." Good luck to your Braves the rest of the way.

 

[Clayton]

Clayton, You're right about that and I think our Cardinals might have won a couple of championships in recent years that maybe they should not have won.

Hard to do the 'should have' game. Baseball players get hot and cold.

Speaking of cold, Cards look like they ran out of gas today.

 

[tomcat1]

Hard to do the 'should have' game. Baseball players get hot and cold.

Speaking of cold, Cards look like they ran out of gas today.

Clayton, Some nights you get the bear and some nights the bear gets you but 18-5 in the month of August is not too shabby. Starting three straight young pitchers who have never pitched at Coors Field is a stretch even for our hot Cardinals but I already consider this six game road trip a success since we have won four with one to go.

 

[obxyankeefan]

@tomcat1 .

From a baseball fan's perspective.

91 Puckett and Morris wanted that one. The Gant BE call at 1st base and Smith's blunder hurt them.

92 Blue Jays were loaded

93 The Phillies were rolling

94 lock out no WE

96 The game 3 comeback and Wettleland.

97 & 98 I don't remember who knocked them out.

99 Tanks matched them in pitching. With Hernandez, Pettitte, Clemens, and Coney.

 

[Myles]

Its just really difficult to win championships.

Heck, I remember being surprised when they actually beat the Indians with the WS they actually won

The Braves of the 90's could be compared to the Bills of the early 90's. Both were great teams who underachieved come playoff time. At least the Braves finally won a championship.

 

[Clayton]

The Braves of the 90's could be compared to the Bills of the early 90's. Both were great teams who underachieved come playoff time. At least the Braves finally won a championship.

I don't think the Bills underachieved all that much. They should've beaten the Giants but the other teams that beat the Bills are some of the best football teams of my lifetime.

 

[Chewbaccer]

The Braves of the 90's could be compared to the Bills of the early 90's. Both were great teams who underachieved come playoff time. At least the Braves finally won a championship.

Braves got to 5 World Series in the 90's. Would have been nice to win more than one, but I wouldn't call it underachieving.

It's not like they're the Nationals and never made it farther than the NLDS.

 

[Clayton]

It's not like they're the Nationals and never made it farther than the NLDS.

Now thats a team that underachieved.

The Braves from that era maybe very slightly underachieved but they still accomplished a lot. IIRC the team with the most wins in the past decade in MLB is the Yankees. Championships are difficult.

 

[Myles]

I don't think the Bills underachieved all that much. They should've beaten the Giants but the other teams that beat the Bills are some of the best football teams of my lifetime.

I understand what you are saying. Getting to 4 Superbowls in a row is amazing. Losing all 4 is disheartening.

 

[tomcat1]

Now thats a team that underachieved.

The Braves from that era maybe very slightly underachieved but they still accomplished a lot. IIRC the team with the most wins in the past decade in MLB is the Yankees. Championships are difficult.

Yes, Championships are difficult in any sport.

 

[Scooby-Doo]

September is going to be a wild ride in the NL. So many head to head series with contending teams. The hot September teams will be playing postseason ball. Could be any team within 5 games.

 

[tomcat1]

September is going to be a wild ride in the NL. So many head to head series with contending teams. The hot September teams will be playing postseason ball. Could be any team within 5 games.

You are correct about that and as an added bonus we've got almost another week of August NL baseball left to be played.

 

[bksballer89]

anyone else ready to waive the white flag on the phillies season?

 

[tomcat1]

anyone else ready to waive the white flag on the phillies season?

The Phillies seem to be fading at just the wrong time but there are still quite a few games left to be played and some crazy things could happen.