All Hail The Braves

Did the Atlanta Braves surprise you this year? The certainly surprised me. Shocked is a better way to put it. Better? I certainly expected them to be better than they were. But this good? Competing for a division title? No. That was totally unexpected.

I confess. I am a sports junkie. And since my move to Atlanta 20 some odd years ago a hometown junky. Hawks! Braves! Falcons! Thrashers! Oh. Wait. Thrashers are no longer here. And now Atlanta United. Josef Martinez anyone?

I am not a big TV junkie. There aren't a lot of shows I watch religiously. So I count on sports to fill my evenings. I am most content when the Braves and Hawks are playing interesting ball during the week. And the Falcons on the weekend. Braves and Hawks haven't given much to be excited these past few years. But the Braves really came on this year.

It seemed a long wait for the arrival of Ronald Acuna Jr. But it was well worth the wait. Forget the hits. The home runs. The great catches. Well no. Don't forget them. But what Acuna brings to the team goes far beyond his playing skills. The excitement he shows. The never ending smiles. He really seems to love the game. And it is a pleasure to watch.

Add to that the season Nick Markakis has put together. The play of Swanson and Albies in the middle. The surprise of Camargo. And the everyday play of Freeman. A wonderful offense to watch.

And the starting pitching. How they do it night after night. Rarely does this starting pitching staff put them out of the game.

The relief staff? That is another story entirely. They frankly make me nervous. But you can't have everything.

Will they win the division? Advance in the playoffs? Take the World Series? Doesn't matter. Simply does not matter. This team has given me some exciting baseball to watch night after night. And a hint of this play continuing for years to come. I can't complain. Now the Hawks, another story there.