Atlanta Braves Attempt To Win First Playoff Series Since 2001

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The Braves are seeking their first playoff series win in the past 18 years. / Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP

The Atlanta Braves are making back to back postseason trips for the first time since the 2012-13 seasons. First pitch of this year’s run for the World Series is at 5:02 p.m. in the friendly confines of SunTrust Park.  

Atlanta finished with 97 wins this season, its most since winning 101 in 2003. The team will try to exorcise its postseason demons.

IJ Rosenberg with Score Atlanta said that many wins should translate to postseason success.

“If you look at a 97-game win season that should be good enough to get you the League Championship Series,” Rosenberg said. “I think the Braves are ready to do it. I certainly think they have the offense to do it, I think the big question is going to be the starting pitching.”

An issue they’ll have to solve as they take on the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Division Series. Neither the Cardinals or NLDS bring back good memories for fans of Atlanta’s Major League team.

Let’s start with the Cardinals. The past two times they have matched up against the Braves, in the playoffs, 2012 and 2000, they walked away victors. 

But it gets even sadder for the Braves in the playoffs overall. The last time they made it out of the divisional round, Twitter and Facebook didn’t exist, and no one knew what an iPhone was. You’d have to go back 18 years. 

Don’t worry, they lost in the next round, the National League Championship Series.

The overall playoff losing streaks extends to nine straight series. There was the gap from 2006 to 2017 when the team only made it to the postseason three times. You could call those rebuilding years.

Braves baseball is emotionally conflicting. On one hand, the team has arguably been one of the most dominant in the past 25 years. They won the division title every year from 1995 to 2005, but made it to the World Series three times, and only won once.

But Rosenberg said the past shouldn’t be an issue in October.

“I think they’ve got to forget about the Braves of the past,” he said. “This has got to be a new look Braves and I think they’ve got the talent to do that.”

Talent like Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuna, and Freddie Freeman. Player Rosenberg is confident in to produce in the postseason.

But there’s another element working against the team. First pitch on Thursday is just after 5 and, on Friday, it’s at 4:37 p.m. That could be a little problematic as the game gets underway.  

“It’s going to be a late arriving crowd,” Rosenberg said. “it’s going to be really hot. You’re going to have shades on the field which causes problems for batters.”

Temperatures are expected to climb into the mid to upper 90s over the next two days. And not to mention what Atlanta is most infamous for.

“In a city that has as much traffic as we do, combine that with the hot weather, it doesn't make the most pleasant playoff experience for you if you're going to your first playoff game at a 5 o' clock first pitch,” he said.

On the bright side, it’s the second year in a row SunTrust will host playoff games. Something Cobb County officials are prepared for. 

Lt. JD Lorens, the special events commander, said the early start time should actually help them when it comes to controlling traffic.

He said they expect fans to arrive before the evening peak traffic time. And by the time the games are over, the traffic rush will have already happened.

But, as always, Lorens encouraged fans to use public transportation and rideshare. In fact, he said rides to the stadium on the Cobb Circulator are free. And Cobb Linc buses are operated by MARTA. If you do drive, he said using the Waze transportation app will be your best bet, as it'll have all road closings as part of the navigation. 

For fans who do plan to arrive early, Lorens wants people to make sure the parking lots are open. One thing he doesn’t want, is excited fans have to circle around the park, buying time for the lots to let them in.

But once you’re there, he said the Battery will have plenty of options to keep people entertained before first pitch.

And for the team, they’ll be going after something that hasn’t been achieve in Atlanta this decade. A Braves playoff series win.