from an espn.com article debating whether the braves 13 division championships with one world championship is a success or a failure:

 

"It's both. Applaud the Braves for winning 13 consecutive division titles, but you have to criticize them for not winning more championships."

 

"In sports, championships count the most."

 

"You can't discount 13 straight, though, because that's a long time."

 

"I bet Bobby Cox would trade four of those division titles for four World Series."

 

I can't believe he gets paid to write this. Although I guess we didn't have to sit through another reference to the Big Red Machine.

 

(full article at http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2004...joe&id=1896426)

 

By the way, as my two cents, I think its an incredible success. I am a Marlins fan and cannot stand the Braves, but I think you have to hand it to them. Marlins and Phillies fans have seen how tough it is to win a division title, even when you've got a good team on paper, and to do that 13 consecutive times (in a division that has produced 3 other pennant winning teams) is a major accomplishment.

 

As for the World Series... well, of course they've been disappointing in the postseason by and large. That's undeniable. But I think a lot of folks in Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, San Francisco, Houston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Baltimore, and Seattle (to name a few) would be ecstatic to have had "only" one World Championship in the past 13 years.

 

Now, I think it is an interesting debate of how what the Braves have done stacks up to what teams like the Marlins or Blue Jays have done in that time period. But I think that when you step back and see what the Braves have done you've got to give them some serious respect, however grudgingly.

I believe we have a flip flopper here.

I think you ask any "true" Braves fan and they'd trade six of those division titles for 2 WS titles.

 

I think that for me, the Braves feat is amazing, but a huge "overrated" stat because of the frequency with which they were "one and done." Personally, I think the Yankees 1995-2004 stretch is much more impressive, even the 2001-2003 stretch because the Yankees were always eliminated by the eventual world champion, and in those three years, they were in the WS twice, something the Braves can't say.

Atlanta has only been 1 and done 3 times during this stretch I think

Atlanta has only been 1 and done 3 times during this stretch I think

585610[/snapback]

 

'93-Lost to Philly (No wildcard yet)

'00-Lost to Cards in NLDS

'02-Lost to Giants in NLDS

'03-Lost to Cubs.

 

And they were swept twice, and only forced one game 7 during this stretch, meaning that they had a lot of series where they only won one or two games.

My Favorite Morgasms from last night.

 

Called Jon Lieber -- Lieberman. -- I guess he was wrapped up in the all the recent political coverage.

 

Called Mel Stottlemyer Todd Stottlemyer. Which is OK, but I think he realized his mistake, and continued on calling him Todd.

 

He also questioned Garndenhire's use of Nathan. When Joe Morgan is questioning your managing decisions you know you're in trouble.

I questioned the fact that he left Nathan waaaaaay too long ... now he didnt get the win and wont be able to pitch Nathan on friday

 

J.C. Romero is a fine pitcher and could have done the job ... im still mad at Garndehire