The Braves: Worst to first...and back to worst?

The Braves lost to the Red Sox yesterday in agonizing fashion by giving up six runs (and the lead) in the eighth inning. They have now lost seven straight games and 17 of their last 20. They are 30-40 and 14 games out of first place in the National League East. As far as baseball goes in Atlanta, this is about as bad as it gets.

Of course, the Braves weren't always expected to win. They were atrocious for much of their history in Atlanta prior to the 1991 season. In 1990, they finished last in their division -- and a showing like that was neither unexpected nor uncommon at that time. Then, in 1991, something miraculous happened. The team started winning...and winning...and winning. When the dust settled on the 1991 regular season, the Braves were in first place in their division. They went on to win the National League pennant and face the Minnesota Twins (another last place to first place team) in the World Series. The Braves lost in seven games that year, but things had changed. Atlanta had a winner in the Braves.

What has followed since then have been 14 consecutive division titles and one World Series championship. Every year, critics have predicted the demise of the Braves. Still, the Braves continued winning. They would trade for and trade away all-stars, but they kept winning. They would call up rookies to fill empty spots, but still they won. They would bring in journeymen who became stars in Atlanta (and who, very often, reverted to obscurity after they left the Braves). They would have devastating injuries to key players and, yet, they continued to win. They saw other teams in their divisions spend more money on big-name superstars. Still, those other teams could not win the division.

Fast forward to June of 2006 and the Braves are in unfamiliar territory. Last place. In June. Is this it? Is this the year that the Mets' or the Phillies' investments finally pay off? Is this the year that the rookies and younger players don't exceed expectations? Is this the year that the injury bug finally brings down the Braves?

I wouldn't write them off yet. Are they bad right now? Yes, they are AWFUL right now. However, we all know they aren't as bad as they're showing at this point in time. Heck, NO ONE is this bad. There are options. They can make trades. They can bring up folks. The Mets won't stay as hot as they are now. The other teams will revert to mediocrity. If the Braves can turn the ship right now, they can cut into this deficit before the all-star break and have some momentum heading into the second half of the season. It can be done. It HAS been done...by the Braves...many times before.

Here's a interesting thought. When the Mets and the Phillies and the other players in the division watch the scoreboard each night, they almost certainly look at one score first - the one involving the Braves. They know. They've been here before. They know that no lead is safe. They've seen the Braves lose and get written off prematurely -- only to step up and seize control of the division. I don't care if the Braves are in last place right now. Everyone knows what the Braves can do -- and have done -- year after year after year after year after... (well, you get my point).

Now...with that being said, if the Braves' miraculous streak of consecutive division titles does come to an end this year, I'll be okay with it. It has been a remarkable ride. They deserve credit having a level of success that no one else has ever attained. And I'm optimistic about most of the elements on this year's team. A couple of quality pickups and they will be just fine for the next decade or so.

However, there is still a lot of baseball to be played this year -- so keep your eye on the Braves. We're in the 4th inning of a long season. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see the Braves batting with the tying and lead runners on base by the time this season reaches its ninth inning.