Franchise Best Association

[motnahp]

Using the 1977 schedule and division alignment, this association uses the teams from each franchise that finished the regular season with the highest winning percentage. Interestingly, of the 26 teams included, only 6 actually won the World Series that year. There are no Marlins, Rockies, D-Backs, or Rays. The White Sox and Phillies had two teams with identical winning percentages. I chose the 2005 White Sox over the 1983 Sox because they won the Series (plus LaRussa already had two other teams in here). I chose the 1976 Phillies over the 1977 Phils because the 1977 Phils won their division by a larger margin.

NL WEST
1998 ATLANTA
1975 CINCINNATI
1998 HOUSTON
1974 LOS ANGELES
1998 SAN DIEGO
1993 SAN FRANCISCO

NL EAST
1984 CHI CUBS
1994 MONTREAL
1986 NY METS
1976 PHILADELPHIA
1972 PITTSBURGH
2004 ST. LOUIS

AL WEST
2005 CHI WHITE SOX
1977 KANSAS CITY
2002 ANAHEIM
1970 MINNESOTA
1988 OAKLAND
2001 SEATTLE
1999 TEXAS

AL EAST
1969 BALTIMORE
1978 BOSTON
1995 CLEVELAND
1984 DETROIT
1982 MILWAUKEE
1998 NY YANKEES
1985 TORONTO

[MPHopcroft1]

Sounds like a fun setup.

[motnahp]

After dealing with some real-world issues.....Opening day for the Braves.

After both teams scored 3 runs in the 1st inning, Tom Glavine and Kerry Ligtenberg held the Astros hitless over the last 6 innings and the Braves beat the Astros 5-3. Ryan Klesko hit a 2-run homer in the first for Atlanta. Jose Lima took the loss for Houston.

FRI APR 8

ATL_____5___6___0
HOU____3___6___0

WP: Glavine (1-0)
LP: Lima (0-1)
SV: Ligtenberg (1)

HR: Klesko (1)

[motnahp]

Greg Maddux went the distance and also went 3-3 at the plate with 2 RBI as the Braves hammered the Astros 10-4. Andruw Jones hit a pair of solo homers and Javy Lopez added a 3-run blast in support of Maddux, who allowed only a Derek Bell grand slam in the 4th. After Bell's homer, Maddux held the Astros hitless until the 9th inning. Shane Reynolds took the loss for Houston.

SAT APR 9

ATL_____10___14___0
HOU_____4____4___1

WP: Maddux (1-0)
LP: Reynolds (0-1)

HR: A Jones 2(2), Lopez (1), D Bell (1)

[motnahp]

Mike Hampton went all the way, striking out 9, as the Astros handed the Braves their first loss, 4-1.

SUN APR 10

ATL_____1___5___0
HOU____4___8___0

WP: Hampton (1-0)
LP: Smoltz (0-1)

HR: None

[motnahp]

The Braves opened a 3-game series in LA against the Dodgers and were the victims of some Tommy John surgery. The crafty lefty held Atlanta to only 3 singles and a walk as the Dodgers won 3-0. The Braves never had a runner advance past first base. Willie Crawford knocked in 2 runs with a 2nd-inning triple. Denny Neagle pitched well, but took the loss.

MON APR 11

ATL_____0___3___0
LA______3___4___0

WP: John (1-0)
LP: Neagle (0-1)

HR: None

[motnahp]

After being shut out in the series opener, Atlanta exploded for 18 hits and crushed the Dodgers 15-3. Chipper Jones was 5-5 with 2 doubles, a triple and 5 runs scored. Javy Lopez homered and drove in 5. Andruw Jones doubled, homered, and had 3 RBI. Ryan Klesko was 3-5 with 3 RBI. Kevin Millwood went 6 innings for the win, while Andy Messersmith took the loss, allowing 8 runs in 7 innings pitched.

TUE APR 12

ATL_____15___18___0
LA_______3____7___0

WP: Millwood (1-0)
LP: Messersmith (0-2)

HR: A Jones (3), Lopez (2)

[motnahp]

Andres Galarraga's 2-run homer in the 4th inning pushed the Braves past the Dodgers 2-1. Tom Glavine, Rudy Seanez, and John Rocker held LA off the board for 8 innings, before the Dodgers tallied one in the 9th off Atlanta closer Kerry Ligtenberg. Glavine left the game in the 3rd inning with a strained quad. He will miss his next start, but will not go on the disabled list.

The Braves will have Thursday off before beginning a 12-game homestand with three against the Astros.

WED APR 13

ATL_____2___6___0
LA______1___6___1

WP: Seanez (1-0)
LP: Sutton (1-1)
SV: Ligtenberg (2)

HR: Galarraga (1)

[motnahp]

Andruw Jones was 3-4, including a 2-run homer, as the Braves won their home opener, 3-1 over Houston. Greg Maddux went 8 innings for the win.

FRI APR 15

HOU_____1___9___0
ATL______3___9___0

WP: Maddux (2-0)
LP: Reynolds (0-2)
SV: Ligtenberg (3)

HR: A Jones (4)

[motnahp]

Mike Hampton and wo relievers combined to shut out the Braves, 1-0. Ricky Gutierrez drove in the game's only run with a second inning RBI single.

SAT APR 16

HOU_____1___7___2
ATL______0___5___0

WP: Hampton (2-0)
LP: Smoltz (0-2)
SV: Wagner (2)

HR: None

[motnahp]

Houston scored twice in the 10th off John Rocker, then held on to beat the Braves 3-2.

The Braves will now entertain San Diego for a 3-game series.

SUN APR 17

HOU_____3___10___0 (10 innigns)
ATL______2___8___0

WP: Nitkowski (1-0)
LP: Rocker (0-1)
SV: Wagner (3)

HR: None

[motnahp]

Greg Vaughn's 2-run homer in the top of the 6th snapped a 2-2 tie and the Padres went on to edge the Braves 4-3.

MON APR 18

SD______4___4___0
ATL_____3___11___0

WP: A Ashby (1-1)
LP: Millwood (1-1)
SV: Hoffman (4)

HR: Vaughn (2), Caminiti (2), A Jones (5)

[motnahp]

Danny Bautista smacked a 2-run homer in the 7th, then broke a 4-4 tie with an RBI single in the 8th, as the Braves snapped their 3-game losing streak with a 5-4 win over the Padres.

TUE APR 19

SD______4___11___0
ATL_____5___12___0

WP: Seanez (2-0)
LP: Hitchcock (1-2)
SV: Ligtenberg (4)

HR: Finley (1), Bautista (1)

[motnahp]

Greg Maddux fired a 4-hit shutout, striking out 9, as the Braves blanked the Padres 2-0. Both Atlanta runs came in the 7th inning, as Ryan Klesko drove in one with a sacrifice fly and Randall Simon plated the other with an RBI double. The Braves will take Thursday off, then welcome the Dodgers for a 3-game weekend series.

WED APR 20

SD______0___4___0
ATL_____2___5___1

WP: Maddux (3-0)
LP: Hamilton (1-1)

HR: None

[motnahp]

Atlanta got a 3rd inning grand slam from Chipper Jones and beat the Dodgers 5-2. Starting pitcher John Smoltz left the game after 3 innings with a hamstring injury. He'll miss at least one start and may go on the DL.

FRI APR 22

LA______2___6___0
ATL_____5___6___0

WP: Millwood (2-1)
LP: Messersmith (1-3)

HR: Ferguson (2), C Jones (1), Bautista (2)

[motnahp]

Chipper Jones' 2-run homer in the bottom of the 6th broke a 1-1 tie and gave the Braves their 4th straight win, 3-1 over the Dodgers.

SAT APR 23

LA______1___6___0
ATL_____3___5___0

WP: Neagle (1-1)
LP: Sutton (2-2)
SV: Ligtenberg (5)

HR: Lopez (3), C Jones (2)

[motnahp]

Tom Glavine returned to action for the first time since April 13th and went 7 strong innings for the win. All seven Atlanta runs came from the long ball, as the Braves won their 5th straight, 7-1 over LA.

The Braves now welcome the Reds for a three-game series.

SUN APR 24

LA______1___3___0
ATL_____7__13___0

WP: Glavine(2-0)
LP: Rau (3-1)

HR: Williams 2(2), Lopez (4), Bautista (3), Simon (1)

[motnahp]

Greg Maddux struck out 12 and shut out the Reds on 6 hits, 5-0. Mark DeRosa gave the Braves an early lead with a 2-run triple. Javy Lopez smacked a 3-run homer, his 3rd straight game with a home run, to put the game away.

MON APR 25

CIN_____0___6___0
ATL_____5__13___1

WP: Maddux (4-0)
LP: Gullett (1-1)

HR: Lopez (5)

[motnahp]

The Reds snapped the Braves' 6-game winning streak, 6-1. Fred Norman picked up the win for Cincy. John Rocker was wrongly charged with the loss. Rocker relieved starter Odalis Perez with the bases loaded in the 6th inning of a 1-1 game. Rocker allowed all of Perez' runs to score, then allowed a couple of his own in a 5-run Cincinnati 5th inning.

TUE APR 26

CIN_____6___9___0
ATL_____1___9___0

WP: Norman (3-1)
LP: Rocker (0-2)

HR: T Perez (3)

[motnahp]

The Reds scored 5 runs in the top of the 9th against Atlanta closer Kerry Ligtenberg to take the series with a 6-2 win.

WED APR 27

CIN_____6__11___0
ATL_____2___8___0

WP: C Carroll (2-0)
LP: Ligtenberg (0-1)

HR: None