The Atlanta Braves have won a professional sports record 13 consecutive division crowns. And with an NL East leading 18-11 record to date, the Braves seem poised to repeat again, making the squad the most surprising winner in the early 2005 MLB season.
This Braves squad's success to date is particularly remarkable because, on paper, it is one of the thinner Atlanta teams in recent years, losing a handful of critical players during this past off-season.
The team brought in former Oakland A's pitching sensation Tim Hudson, but it lost pitchers Russ Ortiz and Jaret Wright, who shared 30 victories together at the top of the rotation, to free agency.
Atlanta also forfeited emerging star J.D. Drew, with his 31 homeruns and .436 on base percentage in 2004, to the freewheeling LA Dodgers.
On the whole, the Braves offense is largely unspectacular, ranking 20th in the MLB in batting average, 23rd in on base percentage and 19th in runs scored. Outfielder Andruw Jones, catcher Johnny Estrada and shortstop Rafael Furcal are all struggling to hit.
The Braves bullpen, anchored by closer Danny Kolb, is questionable, too. In recent years, Atlanta's relievers were lights out -- but that was when John Smoltz was pitching in the ninth inning. This off-season, manager Bobby Cox made the executive decision to return Smoltz to the starting lineup.
That said, it's not as if the Braves bullpen is terrible. Kolb has eight saves already, and, as he's demonstrated over his career in Milwaukee, he's capable of all-star caliber pitching. But, his 6.00 ERA and lack of big game experience make Kolb a questionable closer until he can prove otherwise.
Despite said shortcomings, the Braves have been able to stay on top of the NL East because of starting pitching. A lot of credit for the team's starting rotation success must go to pitching coach Leo Mazzoni, who has worked wonders with the staff over the years.
Hudson is pitching up to expectations. He has a lights out 2.17 ERA. Smoltz, who struggled very early, has rebounded back to a respectable 3-3 record and a 3.05 ERA. Returning starter John Thomson has a 2.85 ERA, and Horatio Ramirez is a serviceable fifth starter.
The biggest surprise in the Atlanta rotation, though -- and perhaps the biggest beneficiary to Mazzoni's magic, is the often-erratic Mike Hampton. Hampton currently leads the rotation in innings pitched per start and is holding down a 2.47 ERA. Plus, he's batting an unprecedented .375 on the season.
Pitching aside, however, the Braves are still dangerous because they have the heart to win.
Third baseman Chipper Jones is that heart's pulse.
Jones is one of those rare MLB players who lead with their integrity and toughness. Similar to the Yankees' Derek Jeter, he typically does not have the flashiest statistics. But, he makes up for that by instilling a real confidence in his teammates and coming up with clutch performances. This season, Jones has managed to carry Atlanta at the plate. He's batting .346 and has a remarkable .480 on base percentage.
In addition to the Braves, the AL Central Chicago White Sox, at 22-7, have made an impressive case for the label of most surprising winner of early 2005. The team has a stellar rotation and is playing "small ball" to near perfection.
Judging simply by the team's performance, the Sox have been just as impressive and just as surprising as the Braves. But, what tips the balance towards the Braves success is the more challenging context in which it has taken place.
It's really not that remarkable that a serviceable team like the White Sox has been able to build up a nice record in a dreadful division, without the pressure from its fans to live up to a tradition of excellence.
The Braves, on the other hand, are riding an unusually average squad to their usual expectation of success, making Atlanta the most compelling surprise winner in early 2005.
