Atlanta – The Atlanta Braves dominance was adequately explained at precisely 8:23 p.m. MDT on Tuesday.
At that moment, the P.A. announcer told the rowdy crowd of 25,306 the Philadelphia Phillies had lost, meaning the Braves had clinched their 14th consecutive division title.
It arrived 15 minutes late – after the popular and well-sponsored Kiss Cam featured 12 loving (and one reluctant) couples on a Hi-Def Jumbotron more vivid than real life. After Brian Giles’ two-run home run in the sixth inning. After reliever Marcos Carvajal was serenaded with jeers.
Winning isn’t a tradition, it’s the expectation. It’s hard to believe, but there are Georgia junior high kids who never have seen the Braves’ fail to reach the postseason.
The run began in 1991 with Charlie Leibrandt and Terry Pendleton. It continued Tuesday in a 12-3 blitz of the Rockies with Tim Hudson and Andruw Jones.
Fourteen straight crowns? The Rockies never have won 14 straight games.
“It is amazing when you think about it. Every year we are in the playoffs,” Jones said. “So many teams hope for that but show up in spring training and know they aren’t going to be competitive. The faces keep changing here, but nothing else does.”
What made Tuesday’s accomplishment unique was the youth. There are so many kids on this year’s team, people have joked that Bobby Cox is more day-care provider than manager.
“I was 6 years old when they won the first one during this run,” rookie phenom Jeff Francoeur said. “I grew up watching them do this on TV, and now I am part of it? It truly is special.”
The profound effect of youth could be seen in the mosh pit behind the pitcher’s mound after Aaron Miles grounded out. The players jumped. They screamed. They held the 2005 banner to the crowd, eliciting wild cheers.
So much champagne was sprayed, the smell assaulted the senses 200 yards from the clubhouse.
“With the youth movement, there’s a lot of excitement, a lot of passion,” Hudson said as teammates poured beer over his head. “These kids bring the fun back to the game.”
While the Phillies provided help, the Braves didn’t need it. Atlanta pounded Rockies starter Aaron Cook for seven runs in 4 2/3 innings. Adam LaRoche homered. Rafael Furcal treated the bases like a merry-go-round.
Standing on a table in the middle of the clubhouse, Chipper Jones provided a glimpse of what makes this group special. He gathered the entire team around him and sent a video message to pitchers Mike Hampton and Jay Powell. Injuries prevented their attendance.
But the Braves never miss October.
“So many people never get this chance,” Andruw Jones said. “Why not enjoy it?”
Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-820-5447 or trenck@denverpost.com.
