How ironic ... In 2002, I first thought about what team will one day overcome Braves' consecutive division streak and be the first team in a like a million years to win NL East. I thought about the 1994 season being cancelled in August when Expos were the best team in baseball and Braves were only 3 or so games behind that maybe that would have been the year the streak ended (early). In 2002, however, I imagined the irony and had a gut feeling that Expos would be the next NL East team to win the division title.

Now that Expos have moved to Washington to become Nationals, my prediction is becoming a much more possible reality. I still think that they will end Braves division streak. My Braves are reeling right now, and I honestly think the season has just ended for them and they need to start rebuilding for next season. With all the hitting problems and lack of a great bullpen, as well as injuries to Chipper Jones, Hampton and struggles of Hudson and others will definitely put them out of reach for contention. They might fix the team up by late July, but by then they might fall back too far.

They are still my #1 MLB team, and will be as long as Bobby Cox, Mazzone and Schuerholz run the team, but I just dont think this year they are even making the playoffs. They got serious issues right now.

Plus who likes Braves baseball in Atlanta anyway? Their attendance for the past several years have been brutal and declining since. I am ashamed ... probably Blue Jays have a higher attendance than a NL East team [Braves] that has been winning division titles since 1991.

In fact, I think Braves have the worst attendance record in the whole NL East.

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Originally posted by Magnetonium My Braves are reeling right now, and I honestly think the season has just ended for them and they need to start rebuilding for next season. With all the hitting problems and lack of a great bullpen, as well as injuries to Chipper Jones, Hampton and struggles of Hudson and others will definitely put them out of reach for contention. They might fix the team up by late July, but by then they might fall back too far.

Hmmm a bit early to say your season is over when you are merely 4 1/2 games back. Washington will go through a bad spell, every team does. To be hitting as poorly as the Braves are yet still have a winning record just shows that once the hitting gets sorted the Braves could go on a run of their own. Whenever I see the Braves this season (vs Cardinals) their pitching looks ok and defensively they have been fine.

i like how a lot of the media outlets (espn with john "one nut" kruk and harold reynolds) are pretty much rooting against most of the division leaders right now. these are pretty much the arguments that they keep making against the teams:

orioles: well they cant win it because of boston and new york. thats the only argument that they really make about them. baltimore is a tough team right now and i think they should take them seriously.

white sox: well they haven't been able to hold off the twins in the past so its going to happen again this year. it seems like its the same argument they make against the orioles.

nationals: they've sucked for so long that sooner or later they are going to start sucking this year. i think they will fall but its just a case of atlanta and florida being better teams. its nice to see the nats actually making moves to improve themselves instead of unloading players.


it'll be interesting to see what kind of trades these teams can pull off before the deadline.

haha Marlins kicked some Cubs ass today at Wrigley.15-5
Maddux just dosnt have it anymore

Mike Lowell has been hitting well lately, Ive said if he heats up , so will this team, stay tuned.

the nationals are playing great ball (reminds me of the twins of last year with johan santana and *their closer* .. forgot who it is ) ..

but the nationals are getting great ball from livan hernandez (who should be mvp this year .. he keeps throwing 8+ innings for the nationals, and never breaks down) and cordero .. their hitting has been very good, especially with jose vidro out currently .. nick johnson and brad wilkerson have been hitting the ball well ..

we will see later .. they don't call the summer the "dog days of baseball" for nothing .. ..

and how about dem san diego padres also ?? .. playing some good ball also .. good hitting, and their pitching is starting to look good also .. some stiff competition for the dodgers ..

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pitchers are very unlikely to win the mvp since they have the cy young. its about as likely as a closer winning the cy young (gagne). they would have to have a remarkable year and hope that no hitter has a great year. right now, derrek lee looks like the front runner. even though i hate the cubs i have to admit hes having a great year. pujols would probably be a close second.

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Originally posted by LeopoldStotch the nationals are playing great ball (reminds me of the twins of last year with johan santana and *their closer* .. forgot who it is ) .. but the nationals are getting great ball from livan hernandez (who should be mvp this year .. he keeps throwing 8+ innings for the nationals, and never breaks down) and cordero .. their hitting has been very good, especially with jose vidro out currently .. nick johnson and brad wilkerson have been hitting the ball well .. we will see later .. they don't call the summer the "dog days of baseball" for nothing .. .. and how about dem san diego padres also ?? .. playing some good ball also .. good hitting, and their pitching is starting to look good also .. some stiff competition for the dodgers ..

+1, i'm surprised about how well they've been playing (10 games in a row) despite the fact that most of their players are on injury.

Everyday i read the Washington Post sports section and there was an article about how the strenght of the ballclub comes from Frank Robinson's managerial duties. The article desribed how the core group of players are molded just how Robinson wants them to be and they're playing better then ever.

And it shows too. Unfortunately that whole bullshit thing with Comcast and the Orioles broadcasting makes it difficult to catch games unless you have DirecTV or a baseball package.

Anyways, Tuesday's game did anyone see the benches clear between Anaheim and Washington? i'm sure you've seen all the coverage on ESPN, but i like the quote Guillen gave:

quote:

“ Mike Scioscia to me is like a piece of garbage. I don't care if I get in trouble. He can go to hell. ”

A day of rest and then on to Texas to play the Rangers

seriously...Scoscia has to stop this nonsense with Robinson calling him out. It's just dumb to defend your own player who was caught CHEATING!!!!!1111oneone


just suck it up, let Donnelly serve his suspension and get on with the rest of the season...this really shouldn't be made this big of a deal

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[11:58] Bas //: fuck he's hot

Soscia is just acting like a litle kid. He was in the wrong and now he's resorted to name-calling and shouting matches.

Its quite funny actually. Robinson is a hard man. He's been around in baseball for so long. He was coaching the Giants at the same age Scioscia is now. I just find it funny that Soscia tried, and failed, to outwit a distinguished, soon to be Hall of Famer, and a man who knows the game of Baseball like his own hand.

Robinson was quoted as saying:

"There's nothing [Scioscia] can say to me now. Nothing. I don't even want him to approach me. I don't want him to try to apologize to me. If he even thought about it, I will not accept it."

it's a shame that a minor offense like this has to be taken on such a higher plane now.

How can anyone not respect Robinson..he was the first player to win Mvp in both al and nl and actually played during a time of racial turmoil(unlike barry "you all are racist" bonds.i had read Cal Ripken saying if he hadn't had Robinson as his manager when he came up with the orioles that he wouldn't be half the person or player that he ended up being

I declare that the white sox dont even make it past the first round of the play offs... Even though they are kickin ass now, they will fall apart later

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