1988 Braves vs. 2009 Nationals?

Posted by Jeff Bergin on Jun. 17, 2009 at 9:40 AM
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2009 is not looking good on the field. The projected record is 42-120, but more than likely we will see another 50+ win, 100+ loss season. What should be our level of dispair?  As bad as this season is, we might have some reason to keep the chin up for next year and beyond.

We have heard the comparisons from Stan Kasten, that this team of Nats is very much like the Braves team from 1987-1990. The Braves suffered through 4 years of absolute embarrassment, forgotten in a blissful 14 years of division champions.  From 1987-1990, the Braves wins were 69, 54, 63, 65 with losses of 92, 106, 97 and 97.  Unfortunately, Dale Murphy labored on some of these teams.  A handful of years after his 2 MVP awards, the 32-34 year old version of Murphy stil could hit, but with no supporting cast, Murphy was just the show folks watched, especially in 1987, when his 44 homeruns and 105 RBI earned him an 11th place finish in MVP voting. 

1987 and 1988 were especially tough for the Braves at the MLB level.  They had brought up a 21 year old lefty in Tom Glavine, as well as a 22 year old second basemen, Ron Gant.  In their first years, both struggled, with Gant getting some AB's over 21 games, and Glavine getting some starts, going 2-4, with a 5.54 ERA in 50.1 innings.  Those on that team were not optimistic they were on the "cusp" of greatness.

1988 did not shake up much better.  Glavine pitched 195 innings, going 7-17 with a 4.54 ERA, while fellow 22 year old Pete Smith went 7-15 with a 3.69 ERA, 23 year old Kevin Coffman went 2-6 with a 5.78 ERA, and new 21 year old John Smoltz went 2-7 with a 5.48 ERA.  4 starters in a rotation that were 23 and under, with an offense that was paltry at best.  Dale Murphy was still around, but his .226 batting average signaled the end of a great career.  Ron Gant was at second base, and had a great year for a 23 year old--though his time as an infielder might be coming to an end as the Braves had two 21 year old's coming up that year in Mark Lemke and Jeff Blauser.

All in all, 1988 was a disaster in the  win-loss column. The attendance showed as well, as the Braves ranked DEAD LAST in attendance in the National League that year.  The only "flashes of progress" can be viewed with history's aid, as that all 23 year old rotation took lumps that few come back from.

1989.  Still lost 90+ games.  This however was the year it started to change.  Smoltz and Glavine both won double digits and solidified the rotation.  Pete Smith, the other youngster fell apart, and Kevin Coffman was traded for a journeyman catcher who never really worked in Atlanta.  The offense was still pitiful, but there was hope in the form of David Justice who debuted in a late season call up with the Braves.  Just got his feet wet, nothing big.

1990.  David Justice, Rookie of the Year.  Ron Gant, 30/30.  Tom Glavine, John Smoltz.  New 20 year old rookie Steve Avery.  All things that make a baseball fan tremble.  The result.  97 losses. 

1991.  94 wins.  The Braves brought in so many new pieces--Sid Bream, Terry Pendleton, Rafael Belliard. They grew.  Tom Glavine 20 wins, John Smoltz, 14 wins.  Steve Avery 18 wins.  And then they never looked back....

So why the trip down memory lane?  Remember this, in 1987-1990, the Braves had good prospects and some veterans, and the results were not there.   There were struggles, and the fans frankly did not show up to watch.  Fans were angry and they had every right to be.  But, those prospects bore fruit.  Justice, Gant, Avery, Blauser, Lemke, in addition to the two hall of famers in Smoltz and Glavine.  Then they got competitive and added veterans like Pendleton, Bream, then they were really good and got guys like Greg Maddux.

The Nationals farm system might never bear out a Justice, or a Smoltz or a Glavine, but with Ryan Zimmerman, Jordan Zimmermann, Jesus Flores, Stephen Strasburg, Shairon Martis, John Lannan, and the potential of a Elijah Dukes, the first blocks of building are there.  Let us just hope that player development for the Nats, is as strong as it was for the Braves...