One year after giving up the Braves

It was about one year ago that I wrote a column titled “Why I’m Breaking Up with the Braves.” Now that the Braves are vying for the title of “Worst Braves Team Ever,” that appears to have been pretty good timing.

The Braves and I were in a long-term relationship, but one of us just wasn’t trying anymore. I just couldn’t want it bad enough for both of us.

As I said then, rebuilding is a decision, never a necessity in Major League Baseball. The team could have easily kept superstars like Andrelton Simmons and added some key parts here and there. They won 15 straight division titles without having a rebuilding year. But, under new management that doesn’t care about winning quite as much as Ted Turner did, they decided to get by on the cheap until they open their new stadium next year.

Yes, when they become the Cobb County Braves next year, I suspect they’ll add a few high-priced free agents and a big-name new manager and immediately be contenders. Fans will pack the new park, and all will be well between the Braves and their fans.

Unfortunately, it’s too late for me. What I didn’t realize when I gave up the Braves, though, was that I was pretty much giving up baseball.

The Braves were intertwined with my first 40-something summers. Thanks to TBS and several different radio stations, Skip Caray, Pete van Wieren and Ernie Johnson were as much a soundtrack to my summers as the various musical artists that came and went. KC and the Sunshine Band and Men at Work didn’t hang around long, but Skip, Pete and Ernie were always there.

I loved playing baseball, whether it was in youth leagues or in the kudzu patch across the street — and, believe me, any sport played in a kudzu patch requires a unique athletic skill set that few possess. I doubt even Rickey Henderson could steal a base in the kudzu.

But you lose something as a baseball fan when you no longer have a favorite team. I’ve tried to love the Cubs. They were on TV about as much as the Braves during my younger days, thanks to WGN. And the Cubbies are having a great year. For Chicago fans, this is long overdue. I’m happy for them, but I just can’t love them.

On the rare occasions I catch a few minutes of Major League Baseball, I watch with a distant objectivity. If you thought pro baseball was slow before, wait until you don’t care which team wins. These games seem to last longer than American presidential campaigns.

I have sat through two baseball games in person this year, though. I’ve watched my 5-year-old nephew play for the Braves — the coach-pitch version of them anyway. I’m not sure what their record is, but I suspect it’s slightly better than the Major League Braves.

I suspect my nephew just might get the call-up to the big league Braves later this summer as his age and salary are just about what the Braves are looking for nowadays. Although, I’m not sure Major League umpires are gonna let him hit off the tee if he misses the first three pitches. Then again, there have been a lot of rule changes, and I haven’t exactly been keeping up.

But until he gets the call-up, I’m done with big-league baseball. Only thing I can do this summer is make a margarita and find me another captivating sport to watch.

Anybody know when the Tour de France begins?

This story was originally published May 21, 2016 at 9:53 PM with the headline "One year after giving up the Braves."