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From: radio@spuxll.UUCP (Rick Farina)
Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: America's Embarassment
Message-ID: <723@spuxll.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 30-Aug-85 10:25:26 EDT
Article-I.D.: spuxll.723
Posted: Fri Aug 30 10:25:26 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 31-Aug-85 16:27:06 EDT
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> What happened to the Braves this season??  Is Haas at the root of their many
> problems?  Any theories?

I only saw the Braves this year when they played the Mets. I was
continually amazed at all of that talent being misued. But the
July 4-5th game the two teams played is one of the greatest I've ever seen, 
and I guess I will always remember this Braves team for that.

Anyway, Haas' crime was that Komminsk and Perry failed to develop into
superstars this season. Harper was favored over Komminsk, and
Horner was anointed first base. But, the Braves were much stronger with
Horner at 3rd and Perry/Chamblis at 1st than they are with 
Oberkfell at 3rd and Horner at 1st. And even though Harper has performed 
well, the Braves would be stronger with Komminsk maturing in left field,
and with Harper coming off the bench in late innings.

There have also been some dubious acquisitions (Barker) and 
departures (Niekro, Butler, Royster, Moore).
Then there's the disintegration of the starting staff: McMurtry's collapse, 
Perez's demise, Niekro's absence. Bedrosian proves that he is a 
better reliever than he is a starter. If it wasn't for Rick Mahler's emergence,
the Braves would have a lock on last place.
One can also speculate on the effect on the rest of the team 
of signing Sutter to such a massive contract.
And on and on and on...

But the talent is still there.
The simple fact is that any team featuring Horner and Murphy 
ought not to be embarrassing America.

raf
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