By: Billy Lindahl (@1788sports, @billylindahl)

The “Braves Way” is dead and I couldn’t be happier.

Before you jump all over me, understand why I’m saying this. I love John Schuerholz and Bobby Cox. Hell I freakin’ teared up at Bobby’s last game in the playoffs. A grown man, tearing up…Anyways. John and Bobby gave us Braves fans a hell of a run. 14 straight division championships which led to multiple pennants, and one World Championship. One… ONE freakin’ championship. Which, for those of you not old enough to remember, was after losing 2 of the previous 3 World Series. Then after winning our one championship we went on to two more World Series that we, frankly, got embarrassed in. After our last World Series appearance in ‘99 we went to the playoffs 6 more years in a row, winning only one playoff series. Actually, our last playoff series win was 2001. To put that in perspective, kids getting their learner’s permit to drive vehicles, have NEVER seen the Braves win a playoff series. 15-16 year olds, planning to go their first prom this year have never seen a playoff series win.

So forgive me when I say I couldn’t be happier, because frankly, aside from ‘95, the “Braves Way” gave us disappointment.



With the announcement of Alex Anthopoulos to become Braves VP and General Manager, the “Braves Way” officially died. Anthopoulos has no ties to previous regimes in the Braves front office. Hell, the guy got his start with a team who’s technically no longer a part of Major League Baseball in the Montreal Expos. No ties to Bobby… No ties to Schuerholz. John Hart, who after yesterday is no longer a part of Baseball Operations, has no ties to Anthopoulos. He’s reporting directly to team Chairman and CEO Terry McGuirk. It’s like we’re getting a clean slate. Which is honestly what the Braves needed. Getting someone new to the Braves to look at this from an outsider’s eye of sorts, and an outsider’s eye which built pretty good teams in Toronto.

A big difference between the Braves and the Blue Jays when AA took over, is the fact that the rebuild is nearly complete. He raved during the opening press conference, during multiple radio interviews, that the previous regimes have done a good job of building an impressive farm system and has given him a pretty good start. This, to me, is interesting. Because despite what John Coppolella did and will get us punished for, he still did a hell of a job rebuilding what people associated with the “Braves Way” accomplished. The farm system is one of the top in the Majors and continues to look like it can produce future major leaguers who are shining bright in the Arizona Fall League.



Bottom line is the Braves have ultimately needed to get away from the “Braves Way” for a while. Like I mentioned before, Anthopoulos’ outside eye will help to see what a lot of Braves fans have seen for a while and make moves to correct those mistakes. Anthopoulos was dealt a winning hand. Now all he has to do is not fall for the bluff on the River.

Photo Cred MLB.com