Today’s Topic:  Win one for Cox….or…come one Braves, do it one more time

Mood Music:  Golden Age by TV on the Radio

Folks, I’m a Braves fan.  Hard to believe, I know.  and folks, it’s so very hard to explain what that means, because the Braves, in my lifetime have been like 2 warring siblings that are so different, it’s almost impossible to believe they are related.  That’s the Braves (in the 80s) and the Braves (in the 90s)….and amazingly we’ve just been through another decade (which is stunning honestly) that displayed both the best (early 00s) and the worst (mid to late 00s).  At the head of a lot of those ups (mainly the ups) and downs, was Bobby Cox…..and folks, he’s retiring after this season……and as the actor who was US president for most of the 80s uttered in the 1940 film, “Knute Rockne:  All-American”…..it’s time for the Braves to “Win one for the Gipper”.

I know, I know…..sappy at best…..and for those of you that know me, I have had plenty of criticism for baseball’s all-time most ejected manager, but no one can argue that Bobby Cox helped usher in the “Golden Age” of Braves’ baseball….and a run that we will most likely never see again (from any team, in any sport, not just the Braves).  But when you hear about the legacy of Bobby Cox’s Braves…..it’s one of mixed emotions.  His run has been compared to that of the Buffalo Bills, overlooked by the run of the 90′s Yankees teams (led by former Brave player and manager Joe Torre, which was annoying in itself), screwed by the addition of the “wild card”, and a minor asterisk attached to a comment about the streak of 14 straight division titles.  Folks….come with me for a second while I talk a little shit about these so-called sports authorities:

The Buffalo Bills…..and I repeat myself…..the Buffalo Bills?  Someone please explain to me how the Braves (who won a Championship in 1995) can even remotely be compared to a team that really shouldn’t have even been on the field in 3 of the 4 Super Bowls over their consecutive streak (losing 37-24, 52-17, and 30-13 in those 3 games….god).  The fact is:  (and all of you NFL over MLB fans will disagree…but, you know what I say…..blow it out your ass(es)……it is a “HELLUVA” lot harder to even get the opportunity to play in a World Series, much less win, than make it and possibly win a Super Bowl.  Period.  You can argue if you’d like, but having to win 1, 5 game series, and 2, 7 game series, is astronomically harder than winning 3 or 4 football games.  Seriously, I mean the Panthers with Jake Delhomme at the helm even made a Super Bowl.  Just had to say it didn’t I (and for another day, that guy really cried a lot at his exit press conference didn’t he?  Jeez). 

The Yankees of the 90s…..well, I don’t like to talk about those guys….because I genuinely loathe everything Yankee, but let’s just say that Steinbrenner’s “non-stop spending” finally “paid” off in the 90′s….unfortunately it was at the “expense” of the Braves. 

I’m going on a tangent here for a second so bare with me……how can you, realistically, view baseball historically (as far as the champions, greatest teams, etc….) when it has been so skewed because of the teams like New York that can literally buy a championship?  I mean, don’t get me wrong, I know the Braves’ payroll isn’t the lowest in baseball by any means, but I believe that you can directly relate the Yankee’s run to the fact that they spent the most money. 

  (for those that are wondering….these are the “Mermaids….Florida Marlins cheerleaders you could say….so why the pic?  Cause they were more deserving of a playoff spot in 97′ and 03′ than the baseball team)

The Wild Card.  What can I say about this travesty.  I know, most people love the “wild card” team in baseball.  What a great idea.  It gives more teams the chance to make the playoffs.  Yeah, it does.  Undeservedly.  Let me give you a little insight into what the “wild card” has cost the Braves over the course of their divisional run….shall I?

From the “Wild Card”s inception in 1995, it directly affected the Braves post season hopes consistenly from 97′ to 05′.

97′ – the Marlins…..in the Braves’ division…..won the World Series….never would’ve happened if the Wild Card didn’t exist…..the Braves finished 9 games ahead of the Marlins in the regular season….9…..and lost the NLCS to the Marlins, 4 to 2……which is utter bullshit

00′ – the Subway Series….blow it out your ass…..again, the Mets win the Wild Card, forcing the Braves to play the Cardinals in the divisional series….and I remember looking out the window during Game 1 of that NLDS and seeing a cardinal land on the patio at Ellen’s apartment…..I knew the Braves were screwed

02′ – Braves lost to the Giants, yep, the Wild Card team

03′- gem of a year here, the aforementioned Marlins do it again (this time after finishing a mere 10 games behind the Braves in the regular season) and on top of that forced the Braves to play the Cubs (during the one year they actually had Wood and Prior healthy) in a 5 game series…..when was the last time the Cubs won a playoff series?  Yowsa.

04′ – Braves lost to the Astros, yep, the Wild Card team, and a team that finished 13 games behind the Cardinals in the regular season

05′ – Braves lost again to the Astros, and yes, they were the Wild Card team

Sorry for the detour…but I just had to get that off my chest…..it’s always annoyed me….Major League Baseball has always (well, until the effin’ wild card) been predicated on the importance of the regular season.  That’s why, originally, there were 3 series, an NLCS, ALCS, and World Series.  The 4 best teams….by record…..battled it out.  If there’s a wild card, why not shorten the damn season?  Is there really a need to play 162 games, win your division by 13 over the next best team, only to turn around and lose the 1st playoff series to said team in less than 2 weeks.  It’s ridiculous.  The Braves and Marlins of the 97′ and 03′ seasons are prime examples of why the Wild Card sucks.

Where was I?…..whoooo…..oh yeah, this season….Bobby Cox….and the resurgent Braves……it’s going to be fun folks……Heyward slamming the ball (might have the fastest bat I’ve ever seen….and he’s 20)….Hanson, Jurrjens, and Hudson lighting it up on the mound, McCann hopefully continuing his streak of All-Star seasons at catcher….plenty to be excited about…..but I tend to view this season like this (and I’ll stop after this, I promise):

It’s like a Grand farewell tour for the Braves this season.  Cox’s last season….well, we’d all like to see him go out on a winning note….with a middle finger to all the critics and a “blow it out your ass” to the Phillies.  Billy Wagner, who’s potentially closing in on the end of his career….can he give us one last surge and lead the NL in saves?  If last night was any indication, he’s on the right track….I like Wagner…I just do, Troy Glaus…..this guy’s seemingly been around forever….and had some injury issues…..can he swing that tree trunk for one more great season and smash 30 plus homers one more time?……and finally, Chipper Jones, he says he’d retire if he has another season like last year…..here’s hoping that doesn’t happen….for many, many years……

so how will it play out?  If I had my choice (although not sure who I’d be willing to concede the division to)…..I’d have to say it would be nice to see the Braves make the playoffs as the Wild Card…..beat the division winner (the Marlins, I guess, if fate would allow)….and play the Yankees 1 more time in the World Series……and give all of us a chance to hold up our middle fingers (aimed directly in the direction of Jeter/Rivera/Teixiera/Steinbrenner (just take your pick) and utter…..blow it out your ass Yankees….as Bobby Cox makes a victory lap……..here’s hoping!

I’ll talk at you all again later.

“up your happy ending understanding”