If you have read any of my columns over the summer, you know I am a die-hard, tried-and-true rabid Atlanta Braves fan. I usually watch around 120 games a year on TV, about three in person, and another 10 or so I catch on radio based on time constraints and such.
I enjoyed watching the Braves play this season. Well, that is, sometimes I enjoyed watching them. I spent a few nights throwing random objects, saying choice words about Rafael Soriano and/or Bobby Cox via this very outlet, and I even allowed myself to toss and turn over the Braves' struggles at some points during the year.
I enjoyed the highs and was nearly devastated with the lows.
The run at the end of the season brought back memories of those "worst to first" Braves in 1991—when the team that my dad and I had watched lose 90-100 games a year finally made the playoffs.
I'll never forget those early days of the dynasty.
The 40,000-plus red tomahawks waving in unison, not an empty seat in the house. Players playing like they loved the game while feeding off the energy from the crowd. Ted Turner and Jane Fonda in all their glory even though they were apparently clueless as to the intracacies of cap-wearing.
There were banners, flags, and signs. Rabid crazies were roaming the bleachers. The Braves had the city of Atlanta wrapped around their finger.
Most long-time success comes with complacency. It's just a fact of life. You get used to it. You take things for granted.
It was easy to fill the stadium those first few years of the dynasty, because the Braves had been downright dreadful in all but a handful of seasons until that fateful year.
The Braves moved from the "Launching Pad" (Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium) to Turner Field in 1997. From 1997-2000, they experienced a nice jump in attendance from the smaller and less attractive cookie-cutter Fulton County Stadium. The average attendance in those seasons was 40,000-plus.
However, from 2001-2004, the dropoff was drastic. The Braves went from a near franchise-high 42,771 average in '97 to 29,399 in 2004. Since then, the Braves' highest average attendance came in 2007, when they averaged 33,891.
The greatest cause of that decline was Atlanta's continued success in the division followed by the continued choke jobs in the playoffs.
Fans took the attitude of "wake me when it's October." Even then, the Braves were at times embarassed at the lack of fan support in the playoffs. In the 2003 NLDS, Cubs fans nearly outnumbered Braves fans in Atlanta. To this day, Cubs fans eat up all the tickets Braves fans do not take advantage of.
I live 100 miles from the stadium and I work a day job. It's dang hard for me to make a game unless it's planned a month in advance. But I have to ask, where are the Braves fans from Atlanta?
I realize there was bad blood over the David Justice trade nearly 13 years ago. I realize it was hard to watch Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and Javy Lopez leave earlier this decade. I understand that we dont have fan favorites such as Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Derek Jeter, and/or Albert Pujols. Isn't Atlanta a highly successful baseball city, though? Do we not have Bobby Cox, Chipper Jones, and Brian McCann?
What has to happen for more fans to show up in Atlanta? What needs to take place in order for people—average Joes and such—to get excited about the Braves again?
We saw relentless marketing strategies all season long in 2009. I wish I had a dime for every time I heard Boog Sciambi or Joe Simpson advertise a two-fer Tuesday, or a chance to watch BP on the field.
Tickets can be had for little to nothing anymore.
So what does Atlanta need? A more aggressive marketing strategy? A high-profile player? A bunch of new, young players with more enthusiasm? A new manager? A new direction? I personally think the Braves could use all the above.
Face it, with Bobby Cox and Chipper Jones around, we will always mistakenly view these Braves as we viewed the highly successful division title winning teams of the 90's and early-00's. It's just the way we are wired.
So why not start over again? We've been without a postseason trip since 2005. Why not make some big changes now?
I actually think the Braves are beginning to see that light.
The upcoming 2010 season being Bobby Cox's final year at the helm should bring a few sentimental fans out the park. The new blood of Tommy Hanson, Jair Jurrjens, Jason Heyward, and others should be enough to get Braves fans buzzing a bit more.
The success the team had with its pitching staff this season should be reason enough to expect a continued upswing in 2010.
There's reason to believe the Braves could land a big right-hand bat this offseason as well. With the recent success of stockpiling young players in the farm system comes the ability to trade certain pieces to fill needs.
Will the Braves get a fan-drawing player? Will they offer some of that young talent for some older, more experienced, seat-filling talent?
I fully expect the marketing campaign this year to be off the charts. I can see it now, "Come see Bobby's farewell tour," and "Baby Braves, Part Deux: This time it's for keeps!"
Either way, it's nice to finally see Atlanta Braves baseball heading in the right direction again. It's taken a while to get here, but I am hopeful that it was worth the wait.
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