The Atlanta Braves: Cursed by the Baseball Gods

Quick! Someone go get a live chicken to take the hex off that is on the Braves right now.

This has been a rather difficult season for me as a Braves fan.  Not just because they're losing; it's more along the lines on how they are losing and the situation that they are in right now.  It has to be tougher on the guys that are actually playing their hearts out than it is for me as a spectator.

It is easy to see why they are having such a rough time this year.  The biggest reason is the rash of players on the DL; most of them being pitchers.  All these injuries force changes to the lineup and rotation, causing inconsistencies and throwing the players out of whack. 

Here's the DL list as of today for the Braves:

John Smoltz  60-day DL
Manny Acosta 15-day DL
Jeff Bennett 15-day DL
Matt Diaz  15-day DL
Peter Moylan 60-day DL
Tom Glavine 15-day DL

Chipper is looking headed towards the DL as well.

And that's not including all the players that have visited the DL so far this season.

"Duh that's obvious," you may say, but the reason for all of this: 

I believe the baseball gods are angry at the Braves.

Crazy it may be, but you have to look back at the success of the Braves during their tear in the East Division.  The law of equality has to come into effect somehow, and the worst way to hurt a team is to get bitten by the injury bug.

In the Braves case, make that about 500 injury bugs. 

It's just sad really.  It's not like the Bravos don't have the talent to play with the other teams, it's just injuries and inconsistency mainly.  Baseball is a habitual game.  You get into a good habit, you see good results.  Bad habits produce bad results, see Jeff Francoeur for that example.

The Baseball Gods are exacting revenge right now, not only at the cost of Braves fans, but the biggest cost to the players. 

"What do I care? They get paid millions!" you may say, but to a rabid fan as I am it's more than that.  Yes, they make more money in a year than I probably will make in a lifetime, but that doesn't mean I won't feel sorry for the guys.  This is truly a test for the fans and the organization as a whole. 

So, someone get Jobu.  Make sure he has lots of cigars and rum to wake up consistant bats, and get that live chicken here already!  I don't care if it means the guys in the locker room puke before the game!