Americas Team?

**Illusion** · 06-22-06, 10:28 AM

It's a combination of everything you mentioned. Mazzone leaving is the biggest key of their decline in my opinion.

**bigboydan** · 06-22-06, 11:51 AM

Mazzone's departure didn't help matter at all. although, i don't think we can chalk it up to that being the reason of there free fall.

i think it's more of those 6 rookies they had playing everyday last year that might have over exceled, and didn't carry it over to this year.

**SBR_John** · 06-22-06, 03:11 PM

Combination

I think you guys are right.
Theres a combination of things that are going wrong for the braves.
No one seems to remeber one of the pitchers that they were counting on the most is gone for the year. (Hampton)
I can understand why they are behind the Mets but trailing Florida is just unforgivable, the Marlins are a dissapearing franchise.
I think its also a matter of attitude.

**bigboydan** · 06-22-06, 03:59 PM

john, who's to say hampton would have made this situation better though.

there bulpen is the real problem with the braves. it's been so bad these past few weeks, that chipper,andrew, and smoltz had public admitted having strong doubts of making the playoffs this year.

**Bulldog** · 06-22-06, 05:42 PM

I dont see things getting better either.
2night they face Burnett, they sent Sosa to the Bullpen.
Who's gonna pitch?
Lately even Hudson and Smoltz have struggled!
All of this while the Mets keep on rolling.

**moses millsap** · 06-22-06, 06:59 PM

Sosa's the new closer. Hopefully he'll excel in that spot for them.

**Willie Bee** · 06-22-06, 07:51 PM

Originally posted by Bulldog

Did Mazzone leaving had so much to do?
Did cutting payroll 3 years in a row finally cought up to the Braves?

These are the most interesting points to me. I'm not buying the Leo Mazzone departure right now. Certainly there's a change just in personalities between him and Roger McDowell. But they had a system there, so that shouldn't be a big factor in this year's flop unless more people than just Mazzone are suddenly not doing their job(s).

Trimming the payroll might be the single most obvious answer. That will catch up to you. The Braves have basically confounded the the 'experts' for a few years now as every year was supposed to be the year some other team toppled them in the NL East. They caught some breaks, had some better-than-expected years from a few players that replaced higher-priced vets, and managed to win it the last 2-3 years with far less talent than they had in the 90s at times.

**bigboydan** · 06-22-06, 09:05 PM

Originally posted by OWNED

Sosa's the new closer. Hopefully he'll excel in that spot for them.

he can't win a game, but they expect him to close