[Lefty Noob]

The Atlanta Braves improved to 7-1 with yesterday's 8-3 win over the Nationals. That's their best start since 1995, which happens to be the year they won the World Series. Chipper Jones, who was part of that '95 team, downplayed the significance, telling reporters that their record just means that the Braves have "played well for the first eight games of the season... "We're not reading anything into it. We're not anointing ourselves as the team to beat." Still, this is a good sign for Atlanta, isn't it?

[BowlinBob]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

The Atlanta Braves improved to 7-1 with yesterday's 8-3 win over the Nationals. That's their best start since 1995, which happens to be the year they won the World Series. Chipper Jones, who was part of that '95 team, downplayed the significance, telling reporters that their record just means that the Braves have "played well for the first eight games of the season... "We're not reading anything into it. We're not anointing ourselves as the team to beat." Still, this is a good sign for Atlanta, isn't it?

The biggest thing about the braves start to me is the fact that they opened this way against division rivals...I think the fact that they missed out on Postseason play last year really struck a nerve for the guys that had gotten used to being there constantly...John Schuerholz I think plays a big part in this too. The fact that they are off to this great of a start after having a down year last season says a lot...The farm system is stacked with talent to get the Braves through the next decade with the ability to field quality contending teams...It is not going to be easy though..New York has a great team and Florida is becoming a force to be reckoned with....

[vincesanity82]

The biggest difference is pitching. The offense has always been there but last season they lost leads and games due to pitching. Whats positive is that they won the mets series. The mets are a good team who will be their biggest rival in the NL.

[MJHMarc]

Will be?

The Mets are their biggest division rivals.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

The Atlanta Braves improved to 7-1 with yesterday's 8-3 win over the Nationals. That's their best start since 1995, which happens to be the year they won the World Series. Chipper Jones, who was part of that '95 team, downplayed the significance, telling reporters that their record just means that the Braves have "played well for the first eight games of the season... "We're not reading anything into it. We're not anointing ourselves as the team to beat." Still, this is a good sign for Atlanta, isn't it?

Didn't the 1982 Braves start with 13 straight?...and well...what happened to them?

[BowlinBob]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

The biggest difference is pitching. The offense has always been there but last season they lost leads and games due to pitching. Whats positive is that they won the mets series. The mets are a good team who will be their biggest rival in the NL.

The additions of Gonzalez and Soriano to set up Wickman in the pen will pay huge dividends...The fact that it only took Horacio Ramirez to get Soriano in a Braves uniform still boggles me to this day...A lot of people like to say that oh its because Soriano is oft-injured which is not true..He had the Tommy John surgery which seems to be happening to a lot of pitchers these days, and then he took a line drive off his face which really doesnt fall into the always hurt department...I look for exciting things to happen this year with the Braves...Oh yeah I wanted to spin off a seperate question though real quick..Why is the press making such a big deal about the Braves losing Hampton for the year? He really isnt that great anymore and the Braves seem to have the arms to cover his loss..

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by BowlinBob

The additions of Gonzalez and Soriano to set up Wickman in the pen will pay huge dividends...The fact that it only took Horacio Ramirez to get Soriano in a Braves uniform still boggles me to this day...A lot of people like to say that oh its because Soriano is oft-injured which is not true..He had the Tommy John surgery which seems to be happening to a lot of pitchers these days, and then he took a line drive off his face which really doesnt fall into the always hurt department...I look for exciting things to happen this year with the Braves...Oh yeah I wanted to spin off a seperate question though real quick..Why is the press making such a big deal about the Braves losing Hampton for the year? He really isnt that great anymore and the Braves seem to have the arms to cover his loss..

I know, I even had high hopes for hampton, but was not shocked when I heard hes done for the year, its not really a loss though when you think about it, chuck james is pitching awesome, and kyle davies has turned it around pitching very good as well. then you have smoltzy, hudson ( who is starting to pitch like he did in oakland) though I'm not impressed with redman and dont see many starts in his future..