Decade on top
The Atlanta Braves have enjoyed more than a decade on top of the National League East. Their winning ways are pretty much the only thing MLB fans remember about the team. The thing is that last year the Braves finished third. Yes, remember the Braves finished third. It appears the team has run out of gas in Bobby Cox’ last season. Which is fine considering their incredible run, but it is going to take some time getting used to.
No longer will Turner Field be the first place baseball fans expect to see playoff baseball. No longer will MLB experts almost automatically put the Braves in the World Series. No longer will Atlanta fans save up for World Series tickets. This is not to say they are bad. The National League east is far from an easy division.
Braves tickets, at least for now, still promise good baseball at Turner Field. Chipper Jones is making a run at .400 this year. His career with the Braves has been a long one. He has overlooked often times in the MLB All Star game, but this season may be the culmination of a great career. A terrific slugger and great hitter, Chipper Jones is now the face of the Atlanta Braves.
The funny thing is that the rest of the team, statistically, is having a pretty good season. With their rankings in pitching and batting MLB experts would expect that the Braves were leading their division…again.
But the Phillies have emerged as the team to beat in the East. The Phillies are young, so maybe the Braves can continue their tradition of selling Turner Field tickets in the fall for the playoffs.
Before those hope and dreams are made real the long MLB season will put Chipper Jones run to the test and the arms of Tim Hudson and Jair Jurrjens will have to last and the arms of Tom Glavine and Jo-Jo Reyes will have to improve.
The Braves may be the only sports option this season in Atlanta, so buying Braves tickets may be fans only chance to see a good team. The Falcons are not going to be good this year. No chance. The Hawks have a lot of players to resign to return that playoff team from last season, so you cannot count on them.