Questionable Tradition

I wasn't at the game, so I couldn't take a head-count, but it sure seemed like Boston fans out-numbered Atlanta fans at Turner Field on Sunday night.

And that's laughable.

After fourteen straight division titles, a World Series win -- and the legacy of Henry Aaron, I mistakenly thought Atlanta had cemented its tradition as a loyal baseball town.

Nope.

It's not unsual for fans of the Cubs, Yankees, Red Sox, and to some extent even the Tigers, Mets, and White Sox to swarm out-of-town stadiums to see their favorite teams play.

But I mistakenly thought this stuff happened in places like Tampa, Miami and Oakland. Not Atlanta.

I know the Braves are in last place. I know their payroll has been slashed to mid-level major league standards. I know (after Smoltz and Hudson) their entire pitching staff belongs in Richmond. But I thought Braves tradition finally meant something.

Atlanta fans made noise on Sunday night. But most of it was drown out by Red Sox Nation.