Although doom and gloom began being predicted from the 2001 season (when Kevin Millwood left) and again in 2002 (Tom Glavine left), and 2003 (Greg Maddux left), yet Atlanta continued winning their division, no one was THAT surprised, as the Braves GM John Sheurholz(sp?) was able to still put a solid replacement lineup together. But for this season, after losing MVP-favorite Gary Sheffield, Greg Maddux, and Javy Lopez, without getting any real replacement value (JD Drew was the only one they got with some major league success, though he has been missing at least 1/2 of each season for the past 4-5 years)
No one has pointed out as yet that the Braves are back in 1st place, and on course for their 14th consecutive division title!
And yet they don;t really have any player that is enjoying an MVP-type year. In fact, if one were to select league all-stars, the only ones with somewhat of a chance to make it are the aformentioned JD Drew, who's managed to stay healthy, and remotely catcher Johnny Estrada, who has no power but has been phenomenal all year long in getting hits with men in scoring position.
In fact, going around the field, the Braves have actually been below-average in performance, but somehow they are getting it done as a team. 1st base is a platoon of ageless Julio Franco and rookie John LaRoche, neither has eye-popping stats, and certainly none of the power one expects from a 1st baseman. 2nd base was handled by Marcus Giles, who actually WAS having an MVP-type season, until he got injured for 2 months and rookie Nick Green stepped in. ss, Rafael Furcal is ok - decent leadoff hitter, decent fielder, but again, he missed a big chunk of the season, and journeyman Jesse Garcia played short. At 3rd, Mark DeRosa began, struggled badly, which necesitated moving Chipper from left field to 3rd - but Chipper is only hitting .240. LF, when Chipper went to 3rd, yet another rookie - Charles Thomas. CF is Andruw Jones territory, but he too is hitting below .250; RF is Drew.
Pitching, you have ace Russ Ortiz, having a typical season for him. But after him, Jaret Wright is having a great year, but here's a guy that hasn't pitched since 1997 because of numerous arm problems! John Thomson is a consistently below average pitcher; Mike Hampton is being hit for a .310 batting avg by opponents. And Paul Byrd is back, after missing the past 2 yrs with arm woes also.
What impresses me is with no one really having an outstanding year - in fact, looking above, it seems most of the Braves are posting below-average stats, how this team is ahead of the Phillies and Mets, who both spent a ton of monmey in the off-season to become contenders, is beyond me. Not to mention the World Champion Marlins.
Bobby Cox truly is one of the best managers in the history of the game - and lets not forget that the Blue Jays' first ever real success in the form of post-season berth came with Cox as manager in 1985.
No one has pointed out as yet that the Braves are back in 1st place, and on course for their 14th consecutive division title!
And yet they don;t really have any player that is enjoying an MVP-type year. In fact, if one were to select league all-stars, the only ones with somewhat of a chance to make it are the aformentioned JD Drew, who's managed to stay healthy, and remotely catcher Johnny Estrada, who has no power but has been phenomenal all year long in getting hits with men in scoring position.
In fact, going around the field, the Braves have actually been below-average in performance, but somehow they are getting it done as a team. 1st base is a platoon of ageless Julio Franco and rookie John LaRoche, neither has eye-popping stats, and certainly none of the power one expects from a 1st baseman. 2nd base was handled by Marcus Giles, who actually WAS having an MVP-type season, until he got injured for 2 months and rookie Nick Green stepped in. ss, Rafael Furcal is ok - decent leadoff hitter, decent fielder, but again, he missed a big chunk of the season, and journeyman Jesse Garcia played short. At 3rd, Mark DeRosa began, struggled badly, which necesitated moving Chipper from left field to 3rd - but Chipper is only hitting .240. LF, when Chipper went to 3rd, yet another rookie - Charles Thomas. CF is Andruw Jones territory, but he too is hitting below .250; RF is Drew.
Pitching, you have ace Russ Ortiz, having a typical season for him. But after him, Jaret Wright is having a great year, but here's a guy that hasn't pitched since 1997 because of numerous arm problems! John Thomson is a consistently below average pitcher; Mike Hampton is being hit for a .310 batting avg by opponents. And Paul Byrd is back, after missing the past 2 yrs with arm woes also.
What impresses me is with no one really having an outstanding year - in fact, looking above, it seems most of the Braves are posting below-average stats, how this team is ahead of the Phillies and Mets, who both spent a ton of monmey in the off-season to become contenders, is beyond me. Not to mention the World Champion Marlins.
Bobby Cox truly is one of the best managers in the history of the game - and lets not forget that the Blue Jays' first ever real success in the form of post-season berth came with Cox as manager in 1985.
