do you think the braves really earned 14 straight titles?
830769
Not really. They hardly ever got past the first round. I mean now that they have competition in the Mets they didn't even make the playoffs. I don't like the Braves for several reasons. The main reason is  Chipper Jones. He really gets on my nerves. The man makes millions but yet he can't play for little things for example his toe hurts. Johnny Damon played with a broken toe. I think Chipper is just a spoiled babied player. \n\n14 straight titles is impressive but not when you really look at how far they actually go...NOWHERE!
318546
No.\n\nand what do you mean "again"?\n\nI thought the white sox won the american league championship?\n\nIf you mean "Division Title" then No.\n\nMy money is on Oakland to win the West.
1113091
Chi Cubs 6, Cincinnati 5\n\n Greg Maddux threw fewer pitches than usual, and got another milestone win. Ryan Dempster threw a lot more than usual, and got a heart-pounding save.\n\nIt takes a lot of the unusual to beat the Cincinnati Reds these days.\n\nMaddux beat baseball's hottest team for the third time this season, and Dempster survived a scare while closing out the Chicago Cubs' 6-5 victory Friday night, ending the Reds' eight-game winning streak.\n\n"Ain't never easy," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "Dang, it was a tough one. We needed this one badly. We were due to win one of these."\n\nThe Cubs emerged from a three-game losing streak with Henry Blanco's three RBIs and a short but solid performance by Maddux (7-5), who has beaten the Reds three times this season. He gave up four hits, including solo homers by Adam Dunn and Scott Hatteberg, in 5 1-3 innings.\n\nADVERTISEMENT\nMaddux's 325th career win broke a tie with Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton for 13th on the career list. Eddie Plank is next on the list, one victory ahead.\n\nMaddux took a grounder off his lower right leg in the third, and Baker didn't hesitate to go to his bullpen early when the Reds threatened in the sixth. He lifted Maddux after only 66 pitches.\n\n"I didn't like the way he was throwing in that one inning," Baker said. "He was getting everything up."\n\nMaddux didn't second-guess the decision.\n\n"That's just trying to win," Maddux said. "Our bullpen's done a great job all year. I didn't see a problem with it."\n\nThe problems came when Dempster got into the game in the ninth with a 6-4 lead. Dempster, who had blown three of his last five save chances, loaded the bases with no outs, then walked Ryan Freel to force in a run.\n\n"Early on, I wasn't fully committed. I don't know why," Dempster said. "I just wasn't there. It took me walking in a run to finally calm down and get it done. It was definitely exciting. My heart's still going."\n\nCincinnati Reds right fielder Austin Kearns misses a double hit by Chicago Cubs' Aramis Ramirez in the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, June 9, 2006, in Cincinnati. Kearns left the game with a hamstring injury on the play. Chicago won 6-5.\nAP - Jun 9, 10:37 pm EDT\nMore Photos\nDempster struck out Felipe Lopez, got Brandon Phillips to line out, then retired Ken Griffey Jr. on a routine grounder to end it for his 10th save in 13 chances. He threw 35 pitches in that one dramatic one inning.\n\nThe Reds were stunned after their first loss in June.\n\n"We knew we were going to win, but things happen," Phillips said. "When Freel got on base, I said, 'It's over."'\n\nThe Reds got back into the NL Central race with their longest winning streak since 1999. On Friday, they drew their first capacity crowd since an opening-day loss to the Cubs.\n\nThe 41,064 fans cheered loudly for Griffey, back in the lineup after missing two games with a sore thigh. The All-Century outfielder was a .417 career hitter off the four-time Cy Young winner, but grounded out and flied out in their two head-to-head match ups.\n\nBlanco had a two-run double and a sacrifice fly off Elizardo Ramirez (2-5), driving in one run more than the Cubs had managed in their last three games combined. Blanco, one of the NL's top defensive catchers, also threw out Lopez as he tried to steal second base in the sixth inning, undercutting a rally.\n\nMaddux is having a season of extremes. He opened 5-0 for the first time in his career, winning all of his April starts and turning 40 years old along the way.\n\nOnce the calendar turned, so did his fortunes. Maddux went into a 1-5 slump -- the only victory was over Cincinnati -- with a 7.75 ERA in his next seven starts. He was back in form on Friday, which started with more bad news for the Cubs.\n\nRight-hander Kerry Wood went ba
1048163
Well, after a 13 year domination of the NL East I think it's safe to say they've established their dominance. In all sports, champions come and go whether it's due to free agency, retirement or management changes. Parity is huge part of baseball anymore, as it should be. I'm a Yankee fan and we're struggling this year too, but fear not my tomahawk weilding fan....it's a long season and anything can happen.
999580
Wow, some very in depth analysis so far, let me see if I can add something to all the great dialog\n\n1) starting pitching had been giving the team quality outings\n2) the defense has not committed an error during the streak\n3) most of their line-up is on a hot streak right now\n4) they are getting clutch, 2-out hits throughout the line-up\n\nThat all adds up to good baseball (and sometimes even winning streaks).  Even if they do not win another 9 in a row, they will consistantly win many ball games if they play like they are.
916343
They're not mathematically eliminated.\n\nBut unless they win 4 of 5, no (That includes vs CAR @WAS @NYG @DAL vs ATL)\n\nThey'll be lucky to get to .500.  But they do hold their own destiny, thats a good thing.
433660
They absolutely deserved to be in the World Series last year.  They peaked at the just the right time, and they had better pitching than anyone else in the NL....and as we know, pitching wins championships.  They had 3 very quality starters, and (at the time) the hottest closer, and that combination carried them.  Not to mention, Berkman and Ensberg were tearing it up as well.  The only other deserving team would have been St Louis, but they're pitching wasn't 1/5 of Houston's.
1158158
yes i did it was a good game. Wilson Betimit(sp) and Scott thurman(sp) made to great plays and that sucks that Smoltz and another pitcher from the braves(forgot his name) were injured but Villareal pitched very well and there bullpen only gave up 1 run which is awesome. Hopefully the bullpen can keep that up. Go Braves!!! \n\nThat was pretty funny when A. Jones took a tumble going for the catch, good thing Edgar was there to make the catch.
219707
YES! Beyond a shadow of any doubt whatsoever! Right On Dude for speaking your mind and telling it like it is! I mean, like seriously, 14 years is a long time to sit on your butt and not do anything to improve a team that was in bad shape. Now, because of mike ilitch, The Tigers are the laughing stock of Major League Baseball. What really cracks me up is that he says he cares--PHOOOEY!\n\nYeah right, he cares---more about the stupid deadwings!\n\nAnd dont give me this crap that he built Comerica Park either. We all know why he built it (look at where it is located, and tell me he is NOT a selfish greedy punk!)\n\nAll I can say is I will be glad to see him vacant 2100 woodward ave FOR GOOD!
1083904
It is very possible, and, if they did, would be very ironic.  Back in 1987, the Tigers traded away a young minor league pitching prospect to the Atlanta Braves, in order to obtain Doyle Alexander for their pennant run.  Alexander went 12-3 for them that year, and they would not have won the American League East (the division they were in before the MLB went to the three division format for each league) and pitched for them one more season before he retired.  Who was this young prospect the Tigers gave up their future for their pennant run?  None other then John Smolts himself.  \n\nSmolts has Michigan ties (he's a MSU graduated who is from East Lansing) and he and Dennis Eckersely are the only two pitchers in the history of baseball to have won and saved more then 200 games.  Where Smolts amazes me the most is he went from the starting rotation, to the bullpen, and then back to the starting rotation with the Braves though his career.  Eckersley stayed a bullpen closer once he left the starting rotation.  I think this is the main reason why the Tigers should make a serious bid to pick him up.  They can make him their fifth starter, or, in a pinch, have him come out of the pen.  With they being in a heated neck and neck race with the White Sox having a reliable pitcher who could go either way could be the final piece of the puzzle that would make them the AL Central champs.
434976
I do! I like Bobby Cox.  I think he has to be one of the greatest managers in MLB.  Not to mention two of MLB greatest player's...Chipper and Andruw!  Go Braves!
972945
I hope so, NL Central had like 10 teams going for it, and AL Central was a fight between 3 really good team, and at the end of it, the Twins climbed from 12 games below .500 to aprx 30 some games above, and won the division by one game.\n\nFun\nFun\nFun\nBoth
688415
If our pitching stays the course, yes.\n\nThe Tigers have the LOWEST era in MLB.\n\nI can't wait to visit "The Cell" and return the favor (sweeping them at home).\n\nIt is going to be an interesting year.\n\nHistory has shown the WS champs hardly repeat, so to all you white sox fans that "claim" you can repeat, I say "Good Riddance!"\n\nWe'll talk more in September.
705220
Two games comes to mind:\nGame 7 of the 1960 World Series or Game 6 of the 1993 World Series. Both games were World Series clinchers won by Home Runs and both were exciting games. Both were historic as well as Bill Mazeroski is still the only player to hit a game winning home run in a game seven. While Joe Carter was the first and only player to hit a come from behind homer to clinch a series. \n\nPlus it was pretty good games as well. In 1960 the lead changed 3 times before Bill Mazeroski's home run hit his solo homer to left feild to win the game and the series. While in 1993 the Jays came out to early 5-1 lead before the Phillies scored five runs in the 7th to lead it 6-5 . And it stayed that way until the bottom of the ninth with Paul Molitor and Rickey Henderson on base. Joe Carter hit a three run homer of Mitch Williams to win the series 8-5.\n\nI'm sure there has been more exciting games, better played games or historic games. However I'm sure that all baseball fan onced imagined winning a World Series  with one swing of the bat, like "The Natural" did (p.s. the book that the movie was based from had "The Natural" Ray Hobbs actually took the bribe and strike out), Granted that none of us has, unless your name is either Joe Carter or Bill Mazeroski, being witness to it is one of the greatest feeling you can get as a fan.\n\n\nA Close second Harvey Haddix  near Perfect game. Haddix had a Perfect game going into the 13th ining. 36 up 36 down. But lost it in the 13th when the Braves finally break through in the 13th. When Felix Mantilla reached on an error. and Hank Aaron was intentionaly walked. Than Joe Addock homered but he passed  Aaron who was called out and Addock adwared a double to win the game 1-0. What was even more fantastic was that the Braves was stealing signs from the Pirates but couldn't get a runer on base for 36 batters in a row. And than only reached on an error and a walk.
631495
Well, I hope so(I am a Mets fan, but live in Atlanta) but I don't think they are ready with the pitching staff they have now, but to make the playoffs they will have to win their division. The player who I hope will contribute the most is David Wright. But if they win I would let any of them be the main contributor.
890954
I think you are correct.\nI seriously doubt they win 80 games.\nAll the while I can hear their fans\ncrying "it's not fair, we're better\nthan The Tigers!"\n\nI found it amusing that in the 2006 regular season\nthe whinny sux beat The Tigers 15 of 19 games\nand still couldn't make the playoffs!\n\nYou are absolutely right, the southside crybabies\n(aka the whinny sux) are looking towards several\nconsecutive season of sub .500 ball!
721945
I would say that they would. Even during the horrible 17 game streak that they have just been through, they still won 3 out of the 17. Baseball is a game where it is possible for even uncompetitive teams to win games during the season when they have a very good day and the opposition has a shocker.\n\nEven the worst teams of all time such as the Cleveland Spiders of 1899 (20-134) or the 1962 Mets (40-120) managed to win some games. Given that the season will last for several months yet, the Mets will win some games.\n\nReasons for Cubs fans to retain some confidence are that they play the Washington Nationals who are playing worse than they are. They started the recent horror streak at 12-8 so they can win games if they play well. Whether they can overcome the big lead they have given rivals over this streak is another matter but take heart.