2005: Year of the Rookie

For the 14th consecutive year, our Atlanta Braves have won their division title! That, in and of itself, is cause for celebration. But to have won this year with severe belt-tightening and 13 rookies is really saying something. As first base coach Glenn Hubbard said: "This is the Braves' finest hour. This one [division title] is better than any of those others . . . except maybe the [first] 1991 one, but it's right there."

Now, if Andruw Jones can make MVP for carrying the team much of the year with his 51 homers, that will start the frosting on the cake. He's one of only 37 players in the history of baseball to have a 50-homer season. Even though his over-all batting average is considered too low to win, we here in Atlanta are hoping he'll make it. He's still a kid at heart and would love an early Christmas, I'm sure.

Then there's Jeff Francoeur, the outfielder would-be Rookie of the Year. They say more merchandise has been purchased for him this year than for any other Brave. Guess that counts for something! More frosting on the cake and a nice early Christmas for sure.

And then, of course, there's Bobbie Cox, the manager! Who doesn't hope he'll be the Manager of the Year! At age 64, when he should be set in his ways, he shows "the flexibility of a Chinese acrobat." He, too, deserves an early Christmas (and lots of frosting).

All that's to say that tomorrow night Amy and Mark celebrate their birthdays at the first game of the post season against Houston. Mark and I (sans Donica, who found out after she bought the tickets that she has to be back in Europe, sigh) will celebrate next Monday if we haven't already won the series by then.

Oh my, isn't this fun! Year after year, we love our Braves. Forget the fact that we tend to break down in post-season play, winning the World Series only once. Maybe this year we'll all get an early Christmas and this really will be the Year of the Rookie! What a cake that will be!