Long Remember: The 2009 Atlanta Braves

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Like some others, I will remember this year as a turning point.

I will remember how at this time last year the Braves were devoid of any semblance of a pitching rotation. Now at the terminal of this year, Atlanta has shown they are once again a dominant pitching force in the National League.

I watched with joy how this team, 34-40 after interleague play, crawled back to finish 86-76 with one of the best second half records.

With pure elation I watched a team 8.5 games back in the wild card with 21 to go come back and draw within two games with one week left.

I then viewed in my dismay the disintegration of whatever momentum was left and saw an unbeatable team unravel at the end by losing out six straight.

I was fascinated with the rise of Martin Prado, outplaying and outhitting Kelly Johnson to gain the starting position at second. I became enamored with Javier Vazquez and how he effectively surpassed Derek Lowe as the ace of the pitching staff.

But I also fell back with dismay in Chipper Jones' lackluster performance this year, and the unceremonious dismissal of Tom Glavine sent a chill up my spine. The old warriors of the '90s, the ones I idolized growing up as a kid, are now beginning to show their age.

I also absorbed the odd and bizarre moments, such as Greg Norton being marched to the plate in clutch situations, Yunel Escobar's indulgent behavior, Rafael Soriano blowing games when he had been lights out the first part of the year, and the odd behavior of some of the umpires during games.

The 2009 season was filled with everything a fan could want in a season. There was turmoil, stability, hope, despair, success, and failure.

Humble beginnings

At the end of last year, general manager Frank Wren's task before him was daunting. Wren needed to totally revamp and reconstruct an entire pitching rotation that had only one healthy arm in Jair Jurrjens.

He drew the ire of many fans when he allowed John Smoltz to pack his bags and leave for Boston. Wren, however, stayed stoic and undaunted, determined to rebuild the rotation with younger arms.

Wren landed a good, faithful arm in Javier Vazquez, who was known as a good pitcher but not your typical ace. The Braves GM also looked overseas and acquired a veteran arm in Japanese hurler Kenshin Kawakami. Though these were good pickups, the search for an ace continued.

The Braves first gunned for Padres ace Jake Peavy in the offseason, but his no trade clause complicated things. The Padres obviously never heard the mantra of beggars can't be choosers as they demanded a lot in the deal. Wren decided to look somewhere else, not wanting to risk breaking the bank.

Atlanta then showed interest in A.J. Burnett, a free agent from the Blue Jays. A deal seemed imminent, but at the last moment Burnett decided to go with more money and packed his bags for the Yankees.

Not accepting defeat, Wren turned to Derek Lowe, a proven ace from the Dodgers who also pitched as a closer for the Red Sox. This time a deal was made, and Lowe was definitely coming to Atlanta. The ace was found. 

To round out the rotation and to try to limit damage control with fans, Wren signed Tom Glavine to a one-year deal, hoping his arm would be ready by mid-April.

Deals would also be made, and fall through, with Rafael Furcal and Ken Griffey, Jr. both supposedly committing and then pulling out at the last second with Atlanta.

All of this turmoil, and the Braves weren't even in spring training yet.

During spring training the team picked up Garret Anderson and decided to go with rookie Jordan Schafer in center field. The Braves and their fans went into the first game with renewed hope, thinking with the rebuilt rotation and the promise of power within the lineup, the team just might be a dark horse for the playoffs.

Nobody was disappointed on opening night. The Braves rained on the Phillies' World Series parade. Lowe stifled Philadelphia's offense, while Jeff Francoeur and Schafer left the yard with homers. Atlanta won 4-1, and every sign pointed to the Braves being able to hang in there and get to the playoffs for the first time in four years.

Midseason woes

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