A Curious Stat About '80s World Series Champions

In 1983, Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken Jr. helped lead the Baltimore Orioles to the World Series championship, their third since moving to Baltimore from St. Louis in 1954.  At the time, the Orioles were one of the best teams in the American League.  From 1966-1983, no team in baseball won more pennants than Baltimore's six.  Not the Yankees or the Big Red Machine (they each won four).  Not the Dodgers (they won five pennants, but only one championship).  Not even the Oakland A's dynasty (three titles) could surpass the pennant-winning success of the Baltimore Orioles for an almost two decade span.

Murray and Ripken probably expected more championships following their 1983 title, but in the past 28 years, the city of Baltimore has been left without a World Series championship or an American League pennant.  In fact, they're not the only team to win it all in the '80s and then win nothing since then.

Following the Orioles' run to the championship, the Detroit Tigers spent every day of the 1984 season in first place in the American League East, culminating their spectacular season with a World Series championship.  The Tigers won another division title three years later (1987), a pennant in 2006 and another division title this past season, but have not given Motown another championship since '84.

After Detroit's championship in 1984, the Kansas City Royals were the last team to spray champagne in 1985, albeit with a little help from Don Denkinger's blown call in Game 6 of the World Series.  The 1985 campaign marked the seventh playoff appearance for the Royals in ten seasons, but they have not sniffed the postseason since their one championship season.

We're Mets fans.  We know what happened in 1986.  We also know that the Mets haven't won another World Series in the past quarter century.  We can move on to the next team now.

The 1987 Minnesota Twins finally broke the streak of four consecutive World Series winners in the '80s who have failed to win it all since then.  The Twins repeated as World Series champions four years later when Jack Morris (a key member of the 1984 World Champion Tigers) pitched ten shutout innings in the seventh and deciding game of the 1991 World Series against the Atlanta Braves.  But we can talk about that '91 Twins team later (and we will).

The 1988 Los Angeles Dodgers rode on the coattails of Orel Hershiser's arm and Kirk Gibson's bat to stun the Mets in the National League Championship Series and the trying-to-start-another-dynasty Oakland A's in the World Series.  Unfortunately, the Dodgers have failed to reach the World Series, let alone win it, since then.

Mets fans should remember these faces very well, even if they'd rather forget the 1988 season.  (Photo of Orel Hershiser by Tom Gannam/AP; Photo of Kirk Gibson by Steve Dykes/LA Times)

Remember those "trying-to-start-another-dynasty" A's from the last paragraph?  Sure you do.  Well, they did follow up their loss to the Dodgers in '88 with a championship of their own in 1989, defeating their Bay Area rival San Francisco Giants in four games.  The World Series that was known for the devastating earthquake prior to Game 3 would also be known to A's fans as the last one they would win.

Even after the 1980s ended, the curious stat concerning World Series winners failing to win another title continued.  The 1990 Cincinnati Reds shocked the A's in that year's World Series, sweeping Oakland in four games.  The Reds have failed to win another pennant since then.  The following year, the Minnesota Twins won their second title in five seasons.  Although the Twins have won six division titles in the past decade, they have yet to win the World Series that has eluded them for twenty years.

The 1992 Toronto Blue Jays did win another championship following their six-game defeat of the Atlanta Braves in that year's Fall Classic.  However, that title came the following season (1993).  Toronto has failed to return to the postseason since their mini-dynasty ended.

The 1994 strike killed that year's World Series, but did not kill the streak of World Series winners failing to return to glory following their championship seasons.  That streak had one more season left in it, as the 1995 Braves won their first and only title in Atlanta, defeating the Cleveland Indians (who themselves have not won a championship since 1948, the longest title-less drought in the American League) in six games.

Seriously.  This is a Mets site.  Who authorized the use of this photo?

When the Yankees won the World Series in 1996, it ended a stretch in which ten teams won their final World Series championship in 12 seasons (not including the 1994 season, which had no World Series).  Only the 1987 Twins and 1992 Blue Jays were able to win another championship during those dozen seasons, and both of them have now gone approximately two decades since their last title.

For all the talk about parity in baseball in the 21st century, what with teams like the Texas Rangers, San Francisco Giants and Tampa Bay Rays all competing for World Series championships over the past few seasons when very few experts predicted them to reach the Fall Classic, the real time for parity happened a generation ago.

One-third of the teams in major league baseball all won championships from 1983 to 1995.  None of those teams has been able to scale that mountain again.  It's a curious stat that has been overlooked over the past 20-30 years.  It makes you wonder if the teams that are winning championships now will go that long in search of their next title.

The Braves are happy the Red Sox lost

How happy are the Braves that the Red Sox flopped so badly?
The Braves collapse was almost as bad as Bostons!
And they blew a 9th inning lead and couldn't score a run in the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th which could have forced a playoff with the Cardinals.

And yet it won't get 1/100,000,000,000th the attention as the Red Sox collapse.

I guess there ARE advantages to playing in Atlanta instead of New England.

Imagine if this was happening on Labor Day weekend

The Braves and Red Sox are fighting for their playoff lives.
The Rays and Cardinals are charging and could pull off the amazing upsets.
The Diamondbacks and Brewers are homering their way to potential home field advantage.
Matt Kemp is putting on a show to earn the MVP.

It's an AMAZING end to the regular season.
And it's happening on a Wednesday at the end of September.

Most casual sports fans have moved on to football.
Most parks will be half empty.

Can you imagine if this were happening on Labor Day?
Before football has saturated the sports market... before people's attention has wandered...

Can you imagine if people were actually following baseball how big this finale would be?

But I said all of that already.

10 Reasons why the Atlanta Braves winning the 2011 World Series would be good for baseball

The season is winding down and I still have a few more entries left for my Why Each Team's Potential World Championship Would Be Good For The Game series.

Today it is the Atlanta Braves. I was holding back on the Braves because they were such a lock for the post season that I wanted to get the teams that could fall out done first.

Well lo and behold the Braves could very well be doing a bigger faceplant than the Red Sox are doing. And THAT'S saying something! After dropping 12 of their last 19 games, they have let the Cardinals and maybe even the Giants have hope.

A team that looked like they could challenge the Phillies for the pennant now is playing simply for their playoff ticket.

But if they get in, would anyone care?

They should...

10 Reasons why the
Atlanta Braves
winning the 2011 World Series
would be good for baseball

1. Fredi González would have his revenge on the Marlins!

Fredi González is a good solid baseball man who was absolutely hosed by the Florida Marlins. He managed the Marlins to winning records in 2008 and 2009 despite having payrolls that wouldn't pay for the Yankees hotel room service. His reward was not an increased payroll but a pinkslip in 2010. The Marlins are now reeling and dysfunctional and González is leading a solid team just to the north of Florida. He deserved better than what the Marlins gave him.


2. A World Series title THIS year would improve Bobby Cox's legacy.

A manager has their team fighting tooth and nail to get to the League Championship Series. It's the last year of their legendary career that has had many trips to the post season but only one World Series title. The team loses but the crowd gives him a standing ovation for the memories.

Am I talking about Bobby Cox or Earl Weaver? That's how Earl Weaver's career ended as he fought the 1982 Brewers down the stretch. And last year that's how Bobby Cox called it a career.

Well Joe Altobelli took over the 1983 Orioles and won the World Series. And that title helped Weaver's reputation. Yeah he only won one World Series, but he handed a World Champion over to his successor.

If these Braves win, more than a few people would salute Cox.

(For the record, I know Earl Weaver came out of retirement. But his second act is best left forgotten.)



3. It is good to have a veteran leader named Chipper!

When the Braves won the 1995 World Series, Chipper Jones was the rookie on a team filled with veteran leaders like Fred McGriff, David Justice, Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Tommy Glavine, Mark Lemke, Marquis Grissom and Jeff Blauser.

Now he is the last remaining player from the team. And a National League MVP, 17 seasons and a batting title as recently as 2008 later, Jones is not only going to Cooperstown but now HE'S the veteran leader.

It's nice when things go full circle.


4. A World Series title would usher in the Freeman/Heyward years.

Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward haven't been the MVP candidates that people have projected. But don't forget that they are only 21 years old! They have many years in front of them. Imagine if they get their World Series title out of the way early!

They can build up from a place of substance, then compile some stats for style points. It could be a great era for Atlanta baseball.


5. Speaking of youth... their amazing young staff could become the best in the league.

Will this current staff match the Braves of the 1990s? Probably not. Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz are all Hall of Fame bound.

But 25 year old Jair Jurrjens is already the greatest pitcher in baseball history named Jair. 24 year old Tommy Hanson, 23 year old Craig Kimbrel and 26 year old Jonny Venters all have post season experience already. 20 year olds Arodys Vizcaino and Julio Teheran and 24 year old Brandon Beachy are also big time talents.

The Braves won so often because they stockpiled arms as well as their aces. (Remember how Steve Avery, Kent Mercker, Mike Stanton, Marvin Freeman, Mark Wohlers, Kevin Millwood, Greg McMichael et al contributed over their run?)

A World Series title this year and they will match the Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz years and might build on that.



6. Another World Series title could expand the legend of Eric Hinske!

Seriously this guy is the Forrest Gump of World Series recently. He keeps popping up. He joined Don Baylor as the only person to appear in the World Series three straight years with three different teams. The 2010 Braves couldn't make it 4 in a row (although his Division Series homer gave the Braves a shot last year.)

It's cool to have a Danny Jackson/Mariano Duncan/Lonnie Smith type who keeps winning titles. Plus how can you not love a big burly softball league looking player like Hinske?



7. Tim Hudson could be the last A's ace to get a ring.

The A's won those Division Titles in the 2000s because of their pitching. Yeah yeah yeah, the got walks and somehow Paul DePodesta became Jonah Hill. They had Zito, Mulder and Hudson going 3 out of every 5 games. That will win you a bunch of games.

Both Mulder and Zito have gone on to win World Series rings elsewhere. Perhaps Hudson can be the last of the three to win a ring but the first one to actually PITCH in the World Series! (Mulder was injured and off of the active roster for the 2006 World Series with the Cardinals. Zito pitched himself off of the 2010 Giants roster for the post season.)


8. It's always nice to see Jimmy Carter enjoying a game.

Look, I'm not going to get into Politics. And I don't think Jimmy Carter is holding his breath waiting to have his face carved on Mount Rushmore.

But he seems like a nice guy and he certainly hasn't wasted his post Presidential career. And he is a huge Braves fan.

While we still have Jimmy with us, it would be nice to see him cheering on a champion.

(For the record, I also find it charming to see Bush 41 at Astros games and Bush 43 at Rangers games.)


9. Terry Pendleton would finally get a World Series ring.

This is enough to get me to root for the Braves. Terry Pendleton's post season luck has been horrifying. Three times in his career he played on teams that lost Game 7 of the World Series.

He was on the 1985 Cardinals team that got hosed by Don Denkinger. He was on the 1987 Cardinals team that lost a sloppy Seventh game to the Minnesota Twins. He was the National League MVP with the 1991 Braves who also lost a tight game 7 in Minnesota. And that doesn't count the upset wins by the 1992 Blue Jays and 1993 Phillies.

In 1995, as the Braves won their only World Series in Atlanta, he was a member of the Marlins. The next year he returned to the Braves who were steamrolling the inferior Yankees and his ring seemed inevitable. But then the Yankees won. The next year his other former team, the Marlins, won the World Series.

He's somehow never won a ring. That's insane. I hope he eventually gets one.

10. Could a Braves title create a new regional superpower?

What has prevented the Yankees from swallowing up every free agent?

The Red Sox started spending against them.

What has prevented the Red Sox and Yankees from signing every free agent? The Phillies started spending money.

See a pattern developing? If more teams are rich and open their pocketbooks, it prevents the monster of having just one team spending dough.

Now Atlanta fans don't have the best reputation in the country. They seemed to be jaded by the 14 consecutive post seasons as good seats were available for playoff games!

Well how about a new young team winning it all? And the regional pull of the Deep South winning a championship could help the Braves once again become the crazy draw they were in the early 1990s.

Forget Red Sox Nation. This could be the Braves Confederacy!



Of course all this will be moot if the Braves continue their face plant. But if they get into October, there might be plenty of reasons to dust off the old Tomahawks.




If you liked this then go ahead and read the entries for the other teams.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
CHICAGO WHITE SOX

CLEVELAND INDIANS
DETROIT TIGERS
LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
NEW YORK YANKEES
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
TAMPA BAY RAYS

Well... we wanted an exciting September

Let's look at a hypothetical situation for tomorrow.
Let's say the Cardinals, Rays and Angels all win at home tomorrow.

Not an outlandish scenario.
James Shields is pitching for Tampa Bay.
Jake Westbrook is throwing for the Cardinals.
Ervin Santana is going in Anaheim.

All are capable of winning a game at home.

So what happens if they do.

The Rays would be three back in the loss column of the Red Sox for the Wild Card.
The Angels would remain one back in the loss column of the Rangers for the West and four back of the Red Sox for the Wild Card.

And the Cardinals would be a mere 4 back in the loss column of the Braves for the Wild Card and remain only 5 back in the loss column of the Brewers.

None of them would be at "It's anyone's race" level. But they would ALL be at the "One more bad week and you should start worrying" stage.

What team will summon the ghosts of the 2007 Mets?

I wanted drama this September.
But I also wanted the Red Sox to clinch and get healthy.
I don't like this... not one bit.

17 Games Left: Third Is The Word

With today's loss to the Cubs, the Mets fell to 71-74 on the season.  They remain two thousand games behind the first place Phillies (that will change after tonight's Phillies-Brewers matchup has been completed) and a few hundred games behind the wild card-leading Braves (also pending tonight's game).  However, they do remain four games ahead of the fourth place Nationals and 5½ games in front of the lowly Marlins.

So the question is not whether the Mets can catch the Braves for the wild card or cut the Phillies' lead in the NL East to one thousand games (even though a three-game sweep of Philadelphia in two weeks would certainly help), it's whether or not the Mets can forget that there are 17 games left in the season and hold off the Nats and Fish to finish higher than fourth place for the first time since moving across the parking lot to Citi Field.

The 2007 and 2008 Mets famously went 5-12 and 7-10, respectively, in their final 17 games to lose their not-so-firm grip on first place and the wild card, failing to make the playoffs each year.  The 2009 Mets also went 7-10 in their final 17 games, but managed to hold off the Washington Nationals in their quest for fourth place in the NL East (mission accomplished - yes!)

Last year's team was 72-73 at the 145-game mark, as they were duking it out with the Marlins for third place.  They then proceeded to go (you guessed it) 7-10 in their final 17 games, finishing in fourth place, a game behind the Marlins, but at least ahead of the last place Nats.

So what can we expect the Mets to do this year now that they've reached the dreaded "17 to play" mark of the season?

For one thing, the Mets have what should be a comfortable lead in the NL East over the Nationals and Marlins.  But then again, being four games up on Washington doesn't guarantee anything.  The Nationals still have something to play for.  Since moving to Washington from Montreal following the 2004 season, the Nats have finished last in every year but one (2007, when they finished two games ahead of the cellar-dwelling Marlins).  With the potential for their highest finish in the NL East, the Nationals will surely be playing hard over their final 17 games.  The Marlins, on the other hand, just lost six games over the past two weeks to the Mets.  The demons of 2007 and 2008 have been exorcised and the Marlins should pose no threat to the Mets over their final 17 games (we hope).

A quick look at my once shiny, now falling apart Mets pocket schedule reveals that the Mets will be playing a four-game series with the fourth place (and hungry) Nationals next week at Citi Field.  The Mets cannot lose this series if a) they want to finish .500 or better and 2) they don't want to choke away third place to Jayson Werth and his cohorts.  They must split this series at the very least.  Taking three of four would all but eliminate the Nats from third place contention and a four-game sweep plus drilling Werth in his $126 million @$$ would be the cherry on top of the mediocre sundae.

It would behoove the Mets to do well against Washington because after that series, the Mets will be playing the wild card-leading Braves in Atlanta (they have a worse winning percentage at Turner Field than the Washington Generals have against the Harlem Globetrotters), followed by a trip to St. Louis against the somehow-still-in-it Cardinals, and topped off with a three-game set against the team with the best record in baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies, who somehow are on their way to the best record in franchise history, even without the aforementioned Jayson Werth (guess their key off-season acquisition of Juan Samuel to be their third base coach really panned out for them).

Should the Mets falter against the Braves, Cardinals and Phillies, they'll need to sweep the Reds at Citi Field to close out the regular season to have any realistic hope of finishing ahead of the Nationals for third place.  The lowly Reds surely remember the Mets' first-ever four-game sweep in Cincinnati a few months ago, so they will not be an easy opponent, despite what the won-loss records say.

The Mets have gone 7-10 over their final 17 games in each of the last three seasons (and it's four out of five seasons if you go back to 2006; even that team went 7-10 over their final 17 regular season games).  Doing the same this year would produce a 78-84 record, a one-game dropoff from their 2010 final record.  It would also put them in jeopardy of being passed by the Washington Nationals for third place in the NL East.  Finishing .500 or better should be the ultimate goal for this year's Mets, but finishing in third place is the more likely (and attainable) goal.  It's time to show the rest of the National League East (meaning those teams not named Los Phillies or Los Braves) that this Mets team has had enough of late-season chokes and fourth place finishes.  Say it loud and say it proud!  Third is the word!  And nothing else will be acceptable!

The Problem with bad ass facial hair

I know I've said this before... but when you are a reliever with crazy facial hair, it can cut both ways.

When you save a game you look like a free spirit who craves the pressure and the spotlight and comes through.

When you blow the game, you look like a guy with a dumb ass beard.

Maybe that's why Rivera never crew facial hair.

As soul crushing series go, that wasn't so bad for the Pirates

When a team loses a 19 inning game, it is heart breaking.

When they lose a game based on a horrible call that sparked a national controversy, then that can be agonizing.

When that team is fighting to stay near first place, it can be cruel.

And when that team is trying to change the culture of nearly two decades of sub .500 ball, there's a lot of reason to think that could be the turning point back to Loserville.

Now throw on the fact that the very next night after the 19 inning marathon, the lost ANOTHER extra inning game, then maybe you'd assume that Cinderella's carriage was turning back into a pumpkin.

But take a step back.

Don't focus on the two losses and see that they won the first game and tonight's game.

OK, show of hands, Pirates fans. How many of you would have taken a split of the 4 game series against the Braves IN Atlanta?

I am expecting a lot of hands up.

The Pirates whom everyone predicted would wither in the post All Star Game run against contenders are holding their own.

The only two losses against one of the truly elite teams could have easily gone the other way.

And with the Cardinals dropping their last two to the horrible Astros, the Pirates remain tied for second.

And the Pirates are tied in the loss column with the Brewers for the Division lead.

We are a few days away from it being August, and the Pirates are staying within range of the post season.

Tomorrow is their biggest test. They go to Philadelphia. They will play the VARSITY team of Pennsylvania baseball.

But so far, the Pirates have played half of the most important 20 Pirates games since 1992, and they split those 10 games.

Not bad for a fading team whose spirit should be crushed.

The Pirates and Braves can't go into extras AGAIN, can they?

Last night's goat Jerry Meals is the third base umpire tonight.
Oh PLEASE don't have the game decided on a play at third or an appeal play.

WIPE OFF YOUR GLASSES JERRY!

Only blithering idiots are against instant replay

If you are offended by the title of this post, keep 2 things in mind:

1) You are only a blithering idiot on the subject of instant replay
2) But on the subject of instant replay I am 100% right and my opponents are 100% wrong.

A wonderful game was planight between Pittsburgh and Atlanta.
19 innings.
Both teams left their guts on the field.
Both teams played like champions.
And the Pirates, playing the most critical stretch of games that they have played since 1992, were wiggling out of jams left and right.

Is THAT what we are going to talk about?
No.

The topic will be home plate umpire Jerry Meals blew a call at home plate to end the game.
It happens.
It's 19 innings into the game. Mistakes happen.

But less than 1 minute after the call was blown, the replay clearly showed the tag was made and the runner was out.

The game went on for more than 6 hours. Are you telling me you can't spend 1 minute to make sure it isn't ended on a mistake?

Are you people who stupidly are against Instant Replay going to say this ending was good for baseball?

Where is the HUMAN element of Daniel McCutchen pitching his brains out but being charged with a loss because an umpire made a mistake?

Where is the HUMAN element of giving the Pirates the loss when they just made a terrific play to possibly end ANOTHER game ending rally?

You've got nothing, opponents of instant replay. NOTHING.
You sound insane.

I'm sure on many other topics you know your stuff.
Give up this argument.

Getting overworked is nothing new to Scott Proctor

The game in Atlanta is in its 19th inning and Scott Proctor is pitching in his 3rd.
And frankly there is no end in sight in this game.

I am sure this long outing make Proctor think "Oh please, you think I am overworked? Did you SEE how Joe Torre used me?"

I hope it goes 30.

DJ Joey B Presents: Frankie Knuckles' Greatest Hits

What's up, homies? You may know me as Joey Beartran, the roving reporter and culinary expert for Studious Metsimus. But ever since I met Howie Rose during a Mets game in Texas a few weeks ago, I've begun to dream about a career in radio.

The Mets aren't currently hiring, so I decided to go into the radio business for myself as DJ Joey B. And as a bonus to you, the Studious Metsimus reader, I've decided to give you a firsthand look at my first Top Ten countdown. Today's countdown will focus on a former Met who was just traded to Milwaukee. That's right, Mets fans. I'm talking about Frankie Knuckles.

Now, in case you forgot, Frankie Knuckles is not the name of the newest character on MTV's "Jersey Shore". Rather, it is the pseudonym for Francisco Rodriguez, a nickname given to him by my colleague after he took part in last year's "Beat Your Dad-In-Law At Work" Day.

Now that Frankie Knuckles has been traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for two players to be named later, (I'm surprised they don't have names yet. Their parents are either very slow or expected to have a girl.) I'd like to present to you Frankie Knuckles' Greatest Hits (pun very much intended). These are the top ten infamous moments in Francisco Rodriguez's short Mets career.


10. Justin Maxwell Goes Grand (9/30/09)

With the season winding down and the Mets already having lost over 90 games for the first time since 2004, Frankie Knuckles was called upon to protect a two-run lead in the ninth inning against the Washington Nationals. In what was a microcosm of the Mets' lost season, K-Rod loaded up the bases with two outs, then forced in a run by walking Adam Dunn. He then found the plate and Justin Maxwell found his home run swing. Maxwell's walk-off grand slam gave the Mets their final loss of the season.


9. Second Verse, Same As The First (7/3/10)

Less than a year after his Maxwell Meltdown, it was deja vu all over again for Frankie Knuckles and the Mets. In a game started by Nationals' phenom Stephen Strasburg, it was the Mets who held a 5-3 lead going to the bottom of the ninth inning. Three walks and three hits later (including a two-run double by Adam Dunn that might have been called a walk-off grand slam had it not been for instant replay), the Nationals had the victory and K-Rod had ruined my first Mets game in Washington (yes, I was there...you can read about my experience at the game here.)


8. When A Win Feels Like A Loss (7/18/10)

In yet another game I attended (this time at AT&T Park in San Francisco), the Mets held a two-run lead over the Giants going to the bottom of the ninth inning. Of course, your fav'rit Mr. Knuckles coughed up the lead, giving up two runs in the inning. However, it should have been three runs and a loss for K-Rod and the Mets, but a blown call by home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi on what should have been Travis Ishikawa's game-winning run, gave the Mets a second chance. The Mets took advantage of Cuzzi's call, scoring a run in the tenth inning, before K-Rod got out of a self-induced jam in the bottom of the inning. We gave a courtesy cheer after K-Rod retired the final batter with the tying and winning runs on base, but it sure felt like a loss.


7. The Game Just Kept Going...And Going...And Going (4/17/10)

In one of the craziest games in recent memory, the Mets and Cardinals played to a scoreless tie through 18 innings at Busch Stadium. St. Louis had already used their entire bullpen and utility infielder Felipe Lopez (who pitched a scoreless 18th). Then they relieved their position player with another position player, Joe Mather, who promptly gave up the first run of the game in the top of the 19th inning. Enter Frankie Knuckles. He allowed St. Louis to tie the game in the bottom of the 19th. Fortunately, Mather was left in the game to pitch the 20th inning and the Mets re-took the lead. This time, K-Rod was not allowed to finish what he started, and Mike Pelfrey was brought in to record his first career save.


6. S.D.S.D. (San Diego Slam Dancing) (8/7/09)

Everth Cabrera had hit a whopping one home run in his major league career. Then he came up to bat against Frankie Knuckles with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning after the Padres had already tied the game. Nine pitches later, Cabrera had doubled his career home run total. Another day, another walk-off grand slam.


5. What The 'Eck Is Going On Here? (6/2/10)

Little David Eckstein, all three feet, six inches of him (give or take a few inches) was the Padres' last chance when he batted against Frankie Knuckles with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning in a game led by the Mets, 1-0. K-Rod had just struck out the previous two batters (Matt Stairs, Jerry Hairston) with the tying run in scoring position. First pitch to Eckstein, strike one. Second pitch, strike two. Third pitch, base hit up the middle, tying run scores. Sigh. At least K-Rod didn't lose this game. That "honor" went to Raul Valdes, who gave up the Frankie Knuckles Special, a walk-off grand slam to Adrian Gonzalez.


5. Thank You Sir, May I Have Another? (5/27/11)

The Mets had come from behind against their arch-rivals from Philadelphia at Citi Field, erasing a 2-0 deficit by scoring single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. They kept that 3-2 lead until the eighth inning, when the Phillies tied it. With the game knotted at 3 going to the ninth inning, Frankie Knuckles was summoned from the bullpen, trying desperately to keep the game tied. He started out fine, retiring Raul Ibañez on a fly ball to center. Then the hits kept coming, and coming, and coming some more. Carlos Ruiz stroked a single. Then Ross Gload picked up a hit. Then Domonic Brown did the same. So did Chase Utley. And Placido Polanco. When all was said and done, the Phillies had scored three runs on five hits off K-Rod. At least there was a bright side to this performance, as K-Rod didn't give up a grand slam.


4. A Gift For Mariano (6/28/09)

In this game, K-Rod did not blow a lead. Rather, he was called upon to keep the game close. The Mets were trailing the Yankees by a run in the ninth inning. However, K-Rod decided to give the gift that keeps on giving, walking Brett Gardner and Derek Jeter after allowing a leadoff single to Jorge Posada. Up came Mariano Rivera, the Yankees' closer who had never driven in a run in his storied major league career. After this at-bat, that was no longer the case, as Frankie Knuckles gave Rivera a free pass, forcing in a run. Mariano went on to record his 500th career save after retiring the Mets in the bottom of the ninth, making K-Rod's gift take on a special meaning.


3. Conrad The Barbarian (6/16/11)

In the most recent addition to the list, the Mets appeared to have registered one of their most spirited wins of the year, erasing a four-run deficit against the Braves to take an 8-6 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning. Terry Collins brought in K-Rod to protect the two-run lead, but he gave up a one-out single to Jason Heyward. Up came pinch-hitter Brooks Conrad, who wasn't exactly tearing it up at the major league level (.205, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 17 strikeouts in 39 at-bats) at the time. Too bad Frankie Knuckles wasn't aware of those numbers, as Conrad launched a game-tying two-run homer off the Mets closer. The Braves went on to win the game in the tenth inning, preventing the Mets from going above .500.


2. Two Hands (6/12/09)

Although this moment ranks at No. 2, it was the lack of that number that caused K-Rod to lose the game, as Luis Castillo failed to use two hands to catch Alex Rodriguez's pop-up on what should have been the final out in a Mets victory. Instead, he dropped the ball, the Yankees scored the tying and winning runs (with Mark Teixeira hustling all the way home from first), and Frankie Knuckles probably pondered using those knuckles on Luis Castillo's head. Speaking of using one's fists...


The No. 1 Infamous Moment For Frankie Knuckles As A Met Is...

What else could it be? It's the one moment that didn't take place on the baseball diamond, but got more coverage than anything K-Rod ever did on the field. On August 11, 2010, Francisco Rodriguez earned the name Frankie Knuckles by assaulting his girlfriend's father in the Mets clubhouse following the Mets' 6-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies. He was arrested and did not play for the Mets again in 2010, as the Papi Punch tore a ligament in K-Rod's thumb. It also bought him an anger management course and began the countdown towards his departure from the Mets, which was made official after this week's All-Star Game.

So long, K-Rod. You can leave your time card behind. We'll remember to punch out for you.

The Pat Rockett 1978 Topps Card... A Sully Baseball Salute

I dug up this old card when I was at my parents place.

Pat Rockett. What an awesome baseball name. It's even better when you realize that he was a Texas high school football star. I assume he was a quarterback with a name like that.

He had, according to the card, one of the best infield arms in the minors. Of course he did.

It was a custom name for an announcer.

"Grounder to short... Pat's got to hurry... HE GOT HIM! A ROCKET FROM ROCKETT!"

Seriously players with awesome names who don't become stars seem somewhat tragic.

Rockett was drafted by the Braves in the first round of the 1973 Draft (10th over all.)

It was the same draft that featured David Clyde, whose career was ruined by the Rangers management.

Hall of Famers Dave Winfield and Robin Yount were picked ahead of him.

Hall of Famer Eddie Murray was picked after him.

So were Fred Lynn, Lamar Hoyt and Mike Flanagan. So there were MVPs and Cy Young winners left in that draft.

But he made the big leagues, which Glenn Tufts, Billy Taylor and Lew Olsen never did. They were all picked ahead of Rockett.

In the end Rockett played a little for the Braves in 1976, some more in 1977 and not so much in 1978 when this card was issued.

He's wearing the lower case a Atlanta hat and the blue sleeve uniform. Really only Hank Aaron looked good in that uniform. And of course this was that awful middle zone in Braves history... post Hank Aaron and before the rise of Dale Murphy and "America's Team."

It's a classic Topps "Fake mid swing pose" which I never understood why they were always taken AWAY from the batters box. He's in Candlestick (and I think you can see the shadow of the camera man in the picture.) And he has a great expression. Not QUITE the blank stares a lot of players have in these pics.

Rockett is envisioning it. He is seeing that imaginary hit go into center. I wonder if he hit it out in his mind.

His lone major league homer was hit on Septmber 28th, 1977 against the Astros' Mark Lemongello (another Topps favorite.)

Pat Rockett was eventually traded to the Blue Jays in a deal involving Chris Chambliss, but he never played a day in Toronto.

He finished his career in Syracuse in 1980 as a 25 year old. He was teammates with future Blue Jays stars Willie Upshaw and Lloyd Moseby as well as future Celtics legend Danny Ainge.

He never became a star, but his name was star worthy.

He gets a salute here from the staff at Sully Baseball.

Should you REALLY have a big celebration after a walk off balk?

Seriously Braves... I know it was an extra inning win. I know it is always great to win.

But when you win on a vague technicality, shouldn't the celebration be a bit muted? Or a bit like "Oh boy we got away with one."

Like if a cop let you go on a speeding ticket or you realize that the cashier gave you too much change back.

I mean if you win on an error, at least the ball was put in play.
If you walk off with a walk, a good batter's eye was used.
Even a hit by pitch to end the game means good crowding of the plate.

But a pitcher twitches and you act like Chipper Jones launched an upper deck shot?

It doesn't sit well with me.

Good for Ron Roenicke

Good for him for getting his first win as Brewers manager.

But also good for him for not panicking nor "going by the book."

It's early in the season and everyone is soiling their pants with pitch counts. Meanwhile Yovani Gallardo chucked 8 innings of 2 hit ball in a 1-0 game. Did Roenicke go to the closer like everyone on the planet Earth is told they should do?

Nope. He let Gallardo finish it. An ace is established. Confidence is built. More wins to come.

Also good for him for employing one of the Iorg brothers.

I always confused them. Then again, I also confused the Roenickes.

Maybe that's why he hired him.

Geoffrey Rush, Kirk Gibson and Terry Pendleton

One foregone conclusion about tonight's Oscars is that Christian Bale is going to win the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance in The Fighter.

He's terrific in the film and he does everything you'd expect in an Oscar performance.

He is electric when he is on screen, stealing the spotlight from the star (the underrated performance by Mark Wahlberg.)

He does an accent. (A flawless Mass-Hole voice!)
He plays an addict. (Always Oscar bait.)
He does a physical transformantion. (He looks like he should play The Riddler, not Batman.)

All of the stats are there for him.

While I would not be upset if Bale wins (as I said before, he IS marvelous in the film) I would argue that the award should go to Geoffrey Rush for The King's Speech. Seeing that this is Sully Baseball and not Sully Oscars, I will make my case with a baseball analogy.

Rush, who already has an Oscar on his mantle for Shine, brought the quality of The King's Speech up merely by his presence. Without his performance as Lionel Logue, that movie is just a made for TV movie with compressed history and a lot of people saying expositional dialogue.

But Rush turns what could have been a big pile of nothing (a spoiled man stutters... I hope he doesn't!) into a funny, engaging drama.

It's kind of like the season that Kirk Gibson had with the 1988 Dodgers. Or Terry Pendleton's season for Atlanta in 1991. Both players joined a team that looked rudderless and a mess the year before. They both brought a sense of professionalism to the clubhouse.

The entire team raised the level of their game. Improbably the Dodgers won it all with Gibson getting big hit after big hit (including the greatest home run in World Series history.)

Pendleton's Braves went from last to first and took Game 7 of the World Series to extra innings. (If Lonne Smith hadn't falled for a decoy play, Pendleton would have driven in the go ahead run.

Both players won the MVP even though they didn't have the flashiest stats. Darryl Strawberry or Kevin McReynolds put up gaudier numbers than Gibson in 1988. And Barry Bonds on paper looked like the winner over Pendleton in 1991.

And both players had lots of help from their teammates. Orel Hershiser had one of the great pitching seasons of all time in '88. And Tom Glevine was the 1991 Cy Young winner.

But the Award looked justified because of the clear influence those two players had on their entire team.

Kind of like Geoffrey Rush. Of course he had help. There were great performances by Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce and Michael Gambon among others. And the techincal qualities of the film were fine, if not spectacular.

But the film has become an unlikely box office hit and will probably win the big prize. And I think that Rush, like Gibson and Pendleton, raised the quality in ways that is greater than the stats.

Cristian Bale is like Strawberry, McReynolds and Bonds. He has the stats and I understand why he'll probably get the award. But Rush? He's got the intangibles.

He gets his uniform dirty.
And if he wins the Oscar, lots of people will say "I can't believe what I just saw."

The Tom House 1979 Topps Card is worth a salute

Today the staff at Sully Baseball salute Tom House and specifically his wonderful 1979 Topps Card.

The card is a work of beauty as only Topps could do.

First of all, Tom’s look is working big time. The glasses show he is a smart guy (who later really did earn a PhD in psychology) but the porn stache shows it is the 1970s all the way. (The Larry Wilcox blond hair helps too.)

Clearly shot at spring training, he is styling in the Mariners double knit pull over pajama like uniforms.

And you’ve GOT to love the trident hat. I’ve always been a fan of the classic trident logo without the star. I like the current “S” logo, so I am not saying they should go back to the trident. I’m just saying it is a shame that we never saw a post season game with the trident hat.

And the best part of all… he’s not releasing the ball. I know this was a posed, staged shot… but did they have to use the one where he is clearly not going to let go of it? It’s not like he is showing us the logo. It’s a pitching pose… and as forced and awkward as you will ever see.

This bothered me at age seven. “Why isn’t he releasing the ball?” I kept thinking.

Tom House himself had a career that was more fascinating than the numbers on the back of his card would suggest.

He had a few good years as a left handed reliever for the Braves in the mid 1970s, but his big league playing career was over after the 1978 season with the Mariners. In fact the stats on this Topps card are the final tally of his 8 seasons.

As a member of the 1974 Braves, he caught Hank Aaron’s 715th homer on the fly. He saved 11 games and pitched to a 1.93 ERA over 102 2/3 innings, all in relief that year, his best in the bigs.

He also admitted to experimenting with steroids back in the 1970s, but stopped because his fastball didn’t improve. He’s been one of the most honest people NOT named Jose Canseco on the topic.

House has been an influential coach for many pitchers and was singled out by Nolan Ryan in his Hall of Fame acceptance speech as a great influence.

The “Father of Modern Pitching Mechanics” coaches for USC and has written many book and made several videos about pitching mechanics.

I wonder if he teaches to release the ball in those videos.

The Bobby Cox Post Season Home Grown vs. Acquired Roster

I've never been a big Bobby Cox fan. In fact other than their World Series trips against the Yankees, I have always rooted against the Atlanta Braves in the playoffs. I can't explain why.

But I have tons of respect for Bobby Cox for putting so many winners on the field.
Yeah he has had critics... most of them morons.

"He only won one World Series!" That's as many as Leo Durocher won... that's as many as Earl Weaver won... nobody has any problems with THEM!

"He couldn't win without Glavine, Smoltz or Maddux." First of all he went to TWO World Series before Maddux arrived.

He went to the 2000 playoffs without Smoltz who was injured. When Glavine went to the Mets, Cox took the 2003, 2004 and 2005 squad to the playoffs. And the '04 and '05 teams were also without Maddux.

And he ended his career tonight, in the post season without a single player active from the 1995 World Champs (with Chipper Jones on the DL.)

He kept winning despite a massive rotation of talent. Which got me thinking... I bet I could do one of my Home Grown vs. Acquired rosters using only players who played in the post season for the Braves under Bobby Cox.

For my new readers, between the 2008 and 2009 season, I wrote up the best all time 25 man roster for each team using only home grown players... and then compared that to the best all time 25 man roster using only players acquired from other organizations. It was insane but fun to write.

So here are the rules...
Each roster has 8 starting position players... 5 starting pitchers... 5 relievers... 1 top pinch hitter off the bench... 1 reserve catcher... 2 reserve infielders... 2 reserve outfielders... and a 25th man who could be either a pitcher or position player.

And each roster can only be filled with players who played in the post season for the Braves under Bobby Cox and judged only by their merits on the field for the Braves.

Home Grown means their first professional organization was the Atlanta Braves. Home grown players who were reacquired will still be labeled as home grown.

Acquired means having played for another organization (even in the minor leagues) for any length before coming to the Braves. (Smoltz started in the Tigers organization... ergo he is acquired.)

Got it?

Let's figure out the teams.

First off...

THE ALL TIME HOME GROWN
BOBBY COX BRAVES PLAYOFF ROSTER

STARTING CATCHER
JAVY LOPEZ
15 Post Season Series over 9 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: MVP of 1996 NLCS



STARTING FIRST BASEMAN
BRIAN HUNTER
7 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves
Played in the 1991, 1992 and 1999 World Series
Post Season Highlight: Game winning home run in Game 7 of the 1991 NLCS



STARTING SECOND BASEMAN
MARK LEMKE
11 Post Season Series over 5 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Batted .417 with a 1.170 OPS in the 1991 World Series


STARTING SHORTSTOP
RAFAEL FURCAL
6 Post Season Series over 6 seasons with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Walk off homer in Game 2 of 2004 Division Series.



STARTING THIRD BASEMAN
CHIPPER JONES
20 Post Season Series over 11 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Batted .444 with a 1.694 OPS and a game winning homer as the Braves upset the favored Astros in the 2001 Division Series


STARTING LEFT FIELDER
RYAN KLESKO
13 Post Season Series over 5 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Hit .313 with 3 homers in the 1995 World Series.



STARTING CENTER FIELDER
ANDRUW JONES
17 Post Season Series over 10 seasons with the Braves
Played in the 1996 and 1999 World Series
Post Season Highlight: Homered in his first 2 at bats in the 1996 World Series



STARTING RIGHT FIELDER
DAVID JUSTICE
8 Post Season Series over 4 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Hit the homer that was the only run in the 1-0 World Series clinching Game 6 win in 1995.

ROTATION


TOM GLAVINE
22 Post Season Series over 12 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: MVP of 1995 World Series



KEVIN MILLWOOD
6 Post Season Series over 5 seasons with the Braves
Played in the 1999 World Series
Post Season Highlight: Threw a complete game victory in Game 2 of the 1999 NLDS and then got a save in Game 3.



STEVE AVERY
10 Post Season Series over 5 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: MVP of 1991 NLCS










TOMMY HANSON
1 Post Season Series over 1 Season with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Started Game 2 of the 2010 NLDS.


KENT MERCKER
10 Post Season Series over 5 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Pitched the Braves out of trouble from the bullpen in Game 5 of the 1991 World Series. (Also threw a regular season no hitter.)




BULLPEN

MARK WOHLERS
13 Post Season Series over 6 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Threw the clinching pitch of each playoff round in 1995 including closing out the 1995 World Series.



MIKE STANTON
5 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves
Played in the 1991 and 1992 World Series
Post Season Highlight: Saved Game 5 of the 1992 World Series.



JOHN ROCKER
7 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves
Played in the 1999 World Series
Post Season Highlight: Saved 2 games and struck out 9 in 6 2/3 innings against the Mets in the 1999 NLCS.


BRAD CLONTZ
5 Post Season Series over 2 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Pitched the 11th inning in the Braves extra inning road win against the Reds in Game 2 of the 1995 NLCS.



JONNY VENTERS
1 Post Season Series over 1 season with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Pitched a shutout inning before the Braves rallied to tie the Giants in Game 2 of the 2010 NLDS.



THE BENCH


TOP PINCH HITTER OFF OF THE BENCH
EDDIE PEREZ
11 Post Season Series over 5 seasons with the Braves
Played in the 1996 and 1999 World Series
Post Season Highlight: 1999 NLCS MVP.


RESERVE INFIELDER
JEFF BLAUSER
12 Post Season Series over 6 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Homered off of Doug Drabek to help put away Game 1 of the 1992 NLCS.



RESERVE INFIELDER
VINNY CASTILLA
2 Post Season Series over 2 Seasons with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Batted .389 with an OPS of 1.006 and 4 RBI in the 2002 Division Series.


RESERVE OUTFIELDER
RON GANT
5 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves
Played in the 1991 and 1992 World Series
Post Season Highlight: Went 3-4 with 3 runs scored in the Braves Game 5 victory in the 1991 World Series.


RESERVE OUTFIELDER
JEFF FRANCOEUR
1 Post Season Series over 1 Season with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Drove in the final run in the Braves Game 2 victory of the 2005 Division Series


RESERVE CATCHER
BRIAN McCANN
2 Post Season Series over 2 Seasons with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Homered twice in the 2005 Division Series.



25th MAN
JASON HEYWARD
1 Post Season Series over 1 Season with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: None yet... but he's the hope for the future.



Not a bad squad... a little thin in the Bullpen. (Wasn't that the story of Bobby Cox's life as Braves manager?)

Now let's check out the to 25 man roster using only players acquired from other organizations.

THE ALL TIME ACQUIRED
BOBBY COX BRAVES PLAYOFF ROSTER

STARTING CATCHER
DAMON BERRYHILL
3 Post Season Series over 2 Seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1992 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Hit game winning 3 run homer in Game 1 of the 1992 World Series.


STARTING FIRST BASEMAN
FRED McGRIFF
9 Post Season Series over 4 Seasons with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Homered off of Orel Hershiser in his first World Series at bat as the Braves beat the Indians in Game 1 of the 1995 World Series.



STARTING SECOND BASEMAN
KEITH LOCKHART
11 Post Season Series over 6 Seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1999 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Hit .333 with an OPS of 1.050 and a home run in the 2002 Division Series.


STARTING SHORTSTOP
RAFAEL BELLIARD
11 Post Season Series over 5 Seasons with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Made dazzling running catch in the 9th inning of the 1995 World Series clinching Game 6.


STARTING THIRD BASEMAN
TERRY PENDLETON
8 Post Season Series over 4 Seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1991, 1992 and 1996 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Hit lead off double to spark the Braves improbable pennant winning rally in Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS.


STARTING LEFT FIELDER
LONNIE SMITH
4 Post Season Series over 2 seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1991 and 1992 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Hit a grand slam off of Jack Morris to blow open Game 5 of the 1992 World Series.


STARTING CENTER FIELDER
MARQUIS GRISSOM
6 Post Season Series over 2 Seasons with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Caught the final out of the 1995 World Series.



STARTING RIGHT FIELDER
BRIAN JORDAN
7 Post Season Series over 4 seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1999 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Hit 12th inning 2 RBI double to win Game 3 of the 1999 Division Series in Houston.


ROTATION


GREG MADDUX
19 Post Season Series over 10 Seasons with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Threw complete game 2 hit victory in Game 1 of the 1995 World Series.



JOHN SMOLTZ
24 Post Season Series over 13 Seasons with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: 1992 NLCS MVP.




DENNY NEAGLE
4 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1996 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Threw complete game shutout in Game 4 of the 1997 NLCS.


TIM HUDSON
2 Post Season Series over 2 Seasons with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Pitched a solid Game 3 of the 2010 Division Series, pitching 7 innings with no earned runs and broke up Jonathan Sanchez's no hit bit himself.


RUSS ORTIZ
2 Post Season Series over 2 seasons with the Braves.
Post Season Highlight: With the Braves facing elimination, beat the Cubs at Wrigley in Game 4 of the 2003 Division Series.

BULLPEN











ALEJANDRO PENA
5 Post Season Series over 2 Seasons with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Striking out Andy Van Slyke with the tying run on to preserve a 1-0 victory in Game 6 of the 1991 NLCS, forcing a deciding Game 7.


PEDRO BORBON, JR
2 Post Season Series over 1 Season with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Earning the Save for Game 4 of the 1995 World Series.


GREG McMICHAEL
7 Post Season Series over 3 Seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Earning a Save in the 11th inning of Game 1 of the 1995 NLCS.


KERRY LIGTENBERG
6 Post Season Series over 5 seasons with the Braves.
Post Season Highlight: Clinching the 1998 Division Series.



DENNIS MARTINEZ
1 Post Season Series over 1 Season with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Facing elimination, came out of the bullpen to win Game 4 of the 1998 NLCS.

THE BENCH


TOP PINCH HITTER OFF OF THE BENCH
ANDRES GALARRAGA
3 Post Season Series over 2 Seasons with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Hit a grand slam to put away Game 4 of the 1998 NLCS.


RESERVE INFIELDER
WALT WEISS
6 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1999 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Hit an RBI double and scored a key run in Game 1 of the 1999 NLCS.


RESERVE INFIELDER
TROY GLAUS
1 Post Season Series over 1 Season with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Started game saving double play in the 10th inning in Game 2 of the 2010 Division Series.


RESERVE OUTFIELDER
OTIS NIXON
6 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1992 and 1999 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: One strike from elimination, hit an RBI single to tie Game 6 of 1992 World Series.



RESERVE OUTFIELDER
MIKE DEVEREAUX
3 Post Season Series over 1 season with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: MVP of the 1995 NLCS.


RESERVE CATCHER
FRANCISCO CABRERA
4 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1991 and 1992 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: His 2 out, 2 run pinch hit single in the 9th inning of Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS is one of the most dramatic moments in baseball history.



25TH MAN
SID BREAM
6 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1991 and 1992 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Scored the pennant winning run on Francisco Cabrera's single, the single most famous moment of Bobby Cox's managerial tenure.



So there you have it... I am sure I missed out on a few, but keep in mind I am putting more weight on players who performed big in the post season.

Save your stats, Mike Deveraux stays. When you win a Post Season MVP, I don't care what someone else's OPS was.

Don't bother breaking down other catchers. Francisco Cabrera's hit was the defining moment of the Bobby Cox Braves and destroyed the Pirates franchise. What other catcher can claim that?

So the Bobby Cox era is now over.
And his legacy will stretch over a generation. Remember, Jason Heyward was 2 years old when the Braves won the 1991 Pennant.

Big shoes to fill.