The defending World Series Champion Atlanta Braves did not expect their season to end in the NLDS after a magical run to a World Series title in 2021. However, that is exactly how it ended after losing to an NL East foe in the Philadelphia Phillies in four games in the NLDS. Besides Kyle Wright’s performance in Game 2, the only game the Braves won in the series, the starting pitching for the Braves was not good, and the offense was inconsistent to say the least.
After winning 101 games this season and capturing their 5th straight NL East division title, but really falling on their face in the postseason the 2022 Braves are eerily similar to the 2003 Atlanta Braves and Jon Chuckery explained why Tuesday Night on the Jon Chuckery Show.
First things first, both teams went 101-61, but both teams also had dominant offenses, a starting pitcher that won 20+ games, and yes both teams lost in the NLDS because their offenses went cold and their starting pitching was not very good.
Obviously the Braves can’t win the World Series every year, but the way they ended the season by sweeping the Mets and winning their fifth straight division title it felt like the season was going to be a little more special than just being sort of dominated in the NLDS by a team you went 11-8 against in the regular season.
Now, what you don’t want to happen is to be like the Braves of the 90’s and early 2000’s that won 14 consecutive division titles with only 1 World Series to show for it, and yes that does include the 2003 team. It only took four in a row for this hopeful Braves dynasty to get that first one, but how long will it take for them to get the next one? Hopefully not another four years.