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Been there, done that Braves downplaying 11th consecutive division titlePosted: Tuesday September 10, 2002 7:56 PMUpdated: Tuesday September 10, 2002 11:17 PM
ATLANTA (AP) -- This is how the Braves celebrated their latest division championship. Gary Sheffield donned a sleeveless T-shirt and headed to the weight room. Henry Blanco, Marcus Giles and coach Terry Pendleton played a game of cards. Vinny Castilla munched on a sandwich. Manager Bobby Cox puffed on a cigar while watching another game on television. "We're happy. We're excited," Kevin Millwood said, though one would hardly know from his husky monotone. "At the same time, our goals are a lot higher than division championships. We've still got a lot further to go." The Braves clinched their 11th straight division title on Monday, but there was no celebration since it was an off day. Some players, in fact, didn't find out until Tuesday morning that they had won the NL East once again. "I didn't even know we clinched," Rafael Furcal said. "I fell asleep." The New York Mets handed the Braves another division title by beating the Philadelphia Phillies 6-4 Monday night. The Mets were supposed to be Atlanta's main challenger after upgrading their offense with Mo Vaughn, Roberto Alomar and Jeromy Burnitz. New York fell 23 1/2 games behind the Braves, losing 12-6 in the opener of a three-game series at Turner Field on Tuesday night. Through gritted teeth, Mets manager Bobby Valentine couldn't help but admire what Atlanta has accomplished since 1991. "When you have outstanding players and you keep them healthy and playing together like these guys have, that's the exception, not the rule," he said. "It's an amazing feat." As usual, pitching carried the Braves to the top of their division. Four starters -- Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Damian Moss and Millwood -- are among the NL's top 10 in ERA. The bullpen has gotten contributions from journeymen such as Chris Hammond, who came back from a 2 1/2-year retirement, while John Smoltz made a seamless transition from starter to closer. The Braves also traded for Gary Sheffield, who added another dangerous bat to the middle of the order with Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones. "They've done a very good job of adding each year to the nucleus, one or two pieces that have worked very well for them," Valentine said. "This is the best team that they've had, I think." Hammond had just flopped into bed after dove hunting on his Alabama farm when he saw the Mets-Phillies score scroll across the bottom of his television screen. "My wife told me to get a glass of wine to celebrate,"' he said, smiling. "I told her, 'Nah, I'm too tired."' Likewise, Millwood wasn't about to start spraying champagne at home. "I'm not going to pour any champagne on my floor," he said. "I'll do it here, where they can pay to clean it up." The team acknowledged its latest championship before Tuesday's game. A 2002 pennant was unveiled on a facade above the left-field bleachers, joining 10 others that have been hoisted since 1991. There was also a move by the players to celebrate after the game, win or lose. The moment was especially poignant for a player such as Hammond, who made it back to the majors at age 36 after retiring in 1998. As a rookie, Hammond pitched three games for Cincinnati's World Series championship team in 1990, but he doesn't even count that. He considers this his first championship. "I was a part of this," Hammond said. "I want to at least get a bottle of champagne. There's got to be one around here somewhere." Mark DeRosa agreed that a champagne toast was in order.
"We owe it to ourselves," he said. "The way I figure it, you
can't take these things for granted."
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