A week later, like most Phillies fans, I am still thinking about the loss in the World Series that came at the hands of the New York Yankees. The Phillies winning it all last year, and then losing the very next season to the Yankees felt eerily similar to another NL East team. So, I thought about it for a second, and then I realized that the Atlanta Braves had done the exact same thing thirteen years ago! After confirming this on baseballreference.com, the Braves were in fact the last National League team to appear in back-to-back World Series, but not only that, they won their first year in 1995, and then they lost to the New York Yankees in 1996, just like the Phillies did in 2008 and 2009. 1996 was of course the start of the Yankees dynasty. But, here’s the odd thing, not only did the Braves lose to the Yankees in 1996, they lost in a six game series, just as the Phillies did this year.
I find this even more intriguing, because if a few things go right, the Braves and Phillies could be the two main teams competing to knock off the ’09 champs in 2010. Right now the Phillies are definitely better positioned for a repeat pennant run, but if the Braves add a bat in the offseason, they could be dangerous. The Braves certainly have the pitching to at least compete in the NL East, and they didn’t miss the wildcard by that much this past season. At the very least, it is possible that the Braves could give the Phillies the toughest competition in the NL East in 2010. I said it before, and I’ll say it again, it should be a very interesting offseason, and the make-up of most of the teams the way they are currently configured will most surely look very different come spring training.
Topics: Atlanta Braves, Bat, Champs, Dynasty, Exact Same Thing, Game Series, Lost, National League Team, New York Yankees, NL East, Offseason, Pennant Run, Phillies Fans, Spring Training, Thirteen Years, Wildcard, World Series
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It definitely depends on what kind of bat the Braves get. I hate to put so much emphasis on one or two moves, but Frank Wren’s performance this winter will determine whether the Braves have a chance or not.
It’s not a secret the Braves need a bat and this is Wren’s top priority. But whether he will be able to get the one the Braves need is the question. We’re in the same situation we were coming into this past season: we’re one bat away. I said it then and I’m still saying it now.