With Tuesday’s 2-1 win over the Marlins on loan from Depot Park, the Braves won the Eastern National League title for the fifth time in a row. Atlanta has the longest active streak of divisional crowns. The Braves celebrated their recent accomplishments, but expected to win.
The 22 Braves titles are the most in Major League Baseball history, topping 20 titles won by the Yankees and Dodgers. They are all impressive, but by winning the 2022 NL East crown, the Braves made history.
This season, the Braves have overcome their biggest deficit to win a division title in franchise history. They trailed the Mets by 10 1/2 games after playing on June 1, and then went on an impressive run to win the NL East – again. In 1993, the Braves were 10 games behind first-place San Francisco before they won the division.
Since June 1, the Braves are 77-33. (We’ll give you a second to read it again and absorb it.) The Mets did not abandon the division – the brave took it. Because of the way they won, Braves players seemed to think this division title was more special than the others, even if they all cherished them.
“We’ve accomplished a lot over the past five years,” said AJ Minter. “I know we’re expecting to be here, but it’s probably the most impressive season I’ll be part of, and the most impressive in a long time. … I know we’re expecting to be here, but what we’ve accomplished this year has been absolutely amazing” .
“I think the coolest part is the way we’ve played well, and if you settle that down to 162, since June 1, it’s like history, you know what I mean?” Dansby Swanson said. “It’s unbelievable, just how well we played.”
Here’s another thing that adds context to just how attractive this season is: According to research by Elias Sports Bureau, the Braves are only the sixth team in history to finish first in the division or league after topping for less than 10 days of the season. . The Braves record in the first few days of a divisional winner was 22 days, done by the 1883 club. The modern era record is 27 days by Braves 1991.
This year saw the last time the Braves won the division – the match (Tuesday was their 161st game of the season – since winning the title in game 161 in 1991.
“The tides we’ve been through this year, they’ve been kind of crazy,” said Austin Riley. “It seems like every night, we’ve had to grind a little bit. It’s definitely sweet. It just shows what this team is all about. They don’t quit.”
At one point this season, Sneaker told his team, “It’s not about catching the Mets, it’s about playing our brand of baseball. You can’t look at the Mets, we have to worry about us. That’s the only thing we can control is what we’ve got.” .
His group responded. In June, the Braves won 14 games in a row. In August and September, the Braves put together two eight-game winning sets in about a month.
This season, there have been ups and downs. It culminated with Celebration Tuesday. These Braves won the World Championship last season, and positioned themselves to defend their championship.
“They’re all special, they’re all tough,” Snicker said. “That’s right there. There is a team that wanted to run away this year. Just to keep up the consistency and consistency that these guys have shown throughout the year, just coming to work every day and worrying about it today. They didn’t get caught up in the fact that we’re behind.”
“I am proud of the group we have,” said Anthopoulos. “Obviously, put talent aside – just the people, the way they mix. I’ve even been talking to some support staff. They felt – regardless of talent – from a chemistry standpoint, this is probably the strongest (team) we’ve had in the five years.” …that’s shocking, because I didn’t think it could be stronger.”
The Braves shared their club after their victory over the Marlins sealed their place at the top of the NL East standings, but there was a certain talking point: They expect to be here. They appreciate it and are grateful, but this is the first stop on what they hope will be a long journey beyond the season.
By winning the division, the Braves avoided the wild card round. That means they have five more days off before the NLDS playoffs begin next Tuesday at Trust Park.
“It’s just a joy,” Swanson said of the club’s atmosphere during the bustle. “But I think everyone also knows that this is just one step in the direction. Times in the past, I’ve felt like we’ve lost that perspective, and I feel like the last year has taught us one thing: you have to keep pushing, you have to keep moving forward, because that’s not the end goal.”
It’s the ultimate goal. At the end of the day, that’s just (the box to be ticked) to get to that at the end,” Riley said of iteration as the world champion.
The Braves also won 14 consecutive MLB titles from 1991-2005. Their current career began when they hired Anthopoulos. Since then, the Braves have risen to the elite class of baseball.
The Braves are one of the top baseball organizations because of their continued success. Atlanta is a desirable place to play. Just take Kirby Yates, for example. He tried to sign with the Braves in 2021, but failed physically. He finally joined them before this season. This season is the first time he’s bid for a division-winning team.
“I don’t know what I was waiting for!” Yates joked during the celebration. Then he added: “There is a reason why I targeted this place and I wanted to come here, and that is the number one reason: you get a chance to play in the playoffs every year.”
The Braves are no longer a rookie baseball darling. They have arrived. Nobody takes them lightly. They are seen as some of the strongest players in the sport due to the talent on their roster. They are more equipped than ever for post-season run. They know how hard it is, but they are ready.
But they have the whole rest of the week to refocus and get ready for October.
On Tuesday, they stopped briefly to celebrate their latest achievement. They are well aware of the hard work that leads to a night like this.
The brave are experiencing a special streak of success, which they will remember for a long time after they finish in this game.
“It’s hard to win one, and to do that five (times) in a row is very special,” Snicker said.
“You can’t take them for granted at all,” Riley said. “You have to cherish every single one of them.”
It’s really indescribable,” Jake Odorizi said. “This is not at all guaranteed.”
“Food ninja. Friendly thinker. Explorer. Entrepreneur. Zombie junkie.