Atlanta Braves Tickets - It's Time To Start Taking The Braves Seriously

It's been just one of those years for the Atlanta Braves

. Everyone assumed their season would be little more than a farewell tour for legendary manager Bobby Cox. Most agreed that they had some nice young players, though they clearly weren't ready to challenge for a playoff spot. But the Braves have instead defied all expectations, and of June 15th, they were sitting atop the division that the Phillies were supposed to run away with. Thanks to players performing beyond their years and a solid group of veterans, the Braves are one of surprise stories of the year and it seems they'll have a legitimate shot at the Wild Card, if not the division crown.

For the Braves, their season seemed to turn around on the young shoulders of Jason Heyward. The 20-year-old phenom was named an opening day starter by Bobby Cox, surprising many around the league. But Heyward has been unbelievably mature as the Braves right fielder, settling into the heart of the Braves order and being among the leaders in the NL in RBIs. Nobody doubted Heyward's talent, but not many thought he would be capable of anchoring the offense of a division-leading team this late into the season.

The other anchor this season, of course, is Troy Glaus, who is quietly putting together a very nice season at first base. On June 15th, Glaus was leading the NL in RBIs with 49 after it appeared prior to the season that Glaus' career was swiftly moving towards its conclusion. Glaus has always had a sweet swing and is also hitting a very solid .290 to go along with a .382 on-base percentage. The heart of the order that includes Heyward, Brian McCann and Glaus is now one of the toughest to get through in the entire league, and certainly they sell tons of Atlanta Braves tickets.

Pitching has also not been much of an issue for the Braves either. Many likely thought before the season that Tim Hudson had retired, though he has been one of the most dependable starters in the league thus far. Hudson has a 6-2 record with a very impressive 2.43 ERA, showing off his pinpoint control and pitching IQ in the process. His performance has also rubbed off on youngster Tommy Hanson, who is having another strong season for the Braves as their second starter. If Jair Jurrjens can be effective upon his upcoming return to the roster, the Braves could have one of the deepest rotations in the National League.

The other reason they are still in first place in the middle of June has been the lackluster Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies were touted as one of the best NL teams in a long time after they acquired ace Roy Halladay. But even though Halladay has been nothing short of spectacular, the rest of the Phillies rotation has been exposed as mediocre and incredibly erratic. Their lineup, which was expected to be elite, has also struggled mightily with leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins on the DL for much of the season. Suddenly the Phillies seem to be more hype than anything else.

This doesn't mean that the Phillies won't turn it around and get back to the top of the NL East. They obviously have the talent to do just that and Halladay won't let them completely fall apart. In the Braves, though, the Phillies seem to have a real contender that has enough talent to snatch the division title if Philly can't get it going. With a nucleus of young talent and productive vets, the Braves have become one of the most exciting teams in the league, one that appears to be poised to make a serious postseason run. Certainly not a bad farewell tour for Bobby Cox.

by: Pat Smith

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