The Atlanta Braves are red hot, the hottest they've been in almost two decades. There's no reason to shy away, there have been a couple of World Series mentions already. Maybe not this year, but is a World Series appearance on the way for a Braves team that is young, experienced and already clicking despite missing some offense?
The first obvious thing to look at is this 8-1 start. You can call it somewhat magical, all though far from the mystique surrounding the New York Yankees dynasty that dominated baseball in the late 90's, but the Braves have something stirring in Atlanta. This past weekend, their latest offseason acquisition, Brothers B.J. and Justin Upton teamed up to tie the game and the win it in the bottom of the ninth, with Freddie Freeman on the shelf, the Braves are relying on a 27-year-old Evan Gattis, a rookie, to man the cleanup spot and he's come up big. The Braves are getting everything they need at the start of 2013.
The last time they were this hot? Maybe I'm jumping the gun by writing this article now, but in 1994 the Braves went 13-1 to start the season.
What happened a year later? (Aside from the late start to the season) The Braves won the World Series in 1995, their first one in Atlanta. They've got the power, the bullpen and a mix of veteran pitchers with younger guys in their rotation. Currently, Tim Hudson and Paul Maholm are at the top of the rotation. Though far from a Greg Maddux/Tom Glavine connection, they are 3-0 in the season with a combined 1.55 ERA. That's a great way to go into any series.
MLB.com's Matt Yallof couldn't stay away from the omens of a possible World Series appearance and championship. He went back to a trade that took place in 1993 that helped the then Florida Marlins, an expansion team at that time, acquire Gary Sheffield from the San Diego Padres. Then four years later, the Marlins won the World Series. Now, the Braves are far from an expansion, but they won 94 games in 2012 and made the playoffs. They were also in the postseason in 2010. The question is obvious, can Upton give the Braves the push they need to get out of the first round?
Of course, now, getting out of the first round means clinching a playoff spot, so can Justin lead the Braves to a N.L. East title? It would be the franchise's first since 2005. Winning the division would mean they automatically play in the NLDS increasing their chances of making the League Championship Series and eventually the World Series.
Of course, there are some setbacks. Some might say the Braves strikeout way too much. So far in 2013, they are second in strikeouts (83), ninth in runs scored (44) and second in home runs (15). However, if their pitching's 1.89 ERA continues, the Braves might not need to score too many runs at all, meaning their strikeout total might not impact the team negatively.
The Braves will get their first challenge of 2013 against the Washington Nationals on Friday as they get ready to meet in a three-game series. Can the Braves continue their hot streak winners of six straight games or will the Nationals remind them who the 2012 N.L. East champions are?
What do you think of the Braves season so far is it a fluke or are the Braves true World Series contenders?
