Before 2011, the Mets' implosion in 2007 - the historic slide that began the Phillies' current 5-year run of NL East dominance - stood as the modern watermark for late-season ineptness. That Mets team finally gave the 1964 Phillies some company.
The Mets switched aces, from Tom Glavine to Johan Santana, but there were virtually no other significant changes. They started the season 34-35, then fired manager Willie Randolph and rallied under Jerry Manuel to again blow a September lead to the Phillies. General manager Omar Minaya lasted through the 2010 season. The Mets have not sniffed the playoffs in the past three seasons.
The Red Sox, meanwhile, needed to purge the perception that the asylum's inmates held sway in September. Almost immediately, the Sox fired manager Terry Francona. With two World Series rings on his hand, superstar general manager Theo Epstein left Boston to help uncurse the Cubs. Papelbon was a free agent, and now is a Phillie.
The Braves? They did less than the Mets.
They replaced solid veteran Alex Gonzalez with rookie shortstop Tyler Pastornicky.
They hope Jason Heyward shakes off his .227 sophomore slump, a 50-point drop off his 2010 average that made him the runner-up for NL Rookie of the Year.
That's where first baseman Freddie Freeman finished in last season's voting, after a year (.282, 21 homers, 76 RBI) that virtually mirrored Heyward's 2010. Freeman hit .225 down the stretch.
Freeman finished behind teammate Craig Kimbrel, whose 46 saves set the rookie record and who enjoyed a scoreless streak of 37 2/3 innings.
Kimbrel also blew the save in the season finale that cost the Braves a shot at the postseason.
Really, the Braves' issue is not that it did not upgrade. It's that it really cannot.
