2003 Atlanta Braves season

Last updated

2003  Atlanta Braves
National League East Champions
League National League
Division East
Ballpark Turner Field
City Atlanta
Record101–61 (.623)
Divisional place1st
Owners AOL Time Warner
General managers John Schuerholz
Managers Bobby Cox
Television TBS Superstation
(Don Sutton, Joe Simpson)
Turner South
(Pete Van Wieren)
FSN South
(Tom Paciorek, Bob Rathbun)
Radio WSB (AM)
(Pete Van Wieren, Skip Caray)
WWWE
(Luis Octavio Dozal, Jose Manuel Flores)
←  2002 Seasons 2004  →

The 2003 Atlanta Braves season marked the franchise's 38th season in Atlanta and 133rd overall. The Braves won their ninth consecutive division title, finishing 10 games ahead of the second-place Florida Marlins. The Braves lost the NLDS to the Chicago Cubs, 3 games to 2. The Braves finished 2003 with their best offensive season up to that point in franchise history, hitting a franchise record 235 home runs. Atlanta also had one of the most noteworthy combined offensive outfield productions in league history.

Contents

The Braves' starting rotation had new faces in 2003, but aged pitchers. Opposite of what they were traditionally known for in years earlier. Greg Maddux was joined by trade acquisitions Mike Hampton and Russ Ortiz, free agent Shane Reynolds and rookie Horacio Ramírez. Critics noted had Atlanta had a younger staff with this offense, they would've been more likely to win the World Series. Marcus Giles had an All-Star season as the Braves' second baseman and Gary Sheffield as the Braves' right fielder. Sheffield finished with a top 5 voting in NL MVP voting. 2003 also marked the last season for Maddux, ending his tenure in Atlanta after 11 seasons.

Offseason

Regular season

Opening Day starters

PositionName
Starting Pitcher Greg Maddux
Catcher Henry Blanco
First Baseman Robert Fick
Second Baseman Marcus Giles
Third Baseman Vinny Castilla
Shortstop Rafael Furcal
Left Fielder Chipper Jones
Center Fielder Andruw Jones
Right Fielder Gary Sheffield

Season standings

National League East

NL East 		W L Pct. GB Home Road
Atlanta Braves 101610.623—55–2646–35
Florida Marlins 91710.5621053–2838–43
Philadelphia Phillies 86760.5311549–3237–44
Montreal Expos 83790.5121852–2931–50
New York Mets 66950.41034½34–4632–49

Record vs. opponents

2003 National League record

Source:
TeamARIATLCHCCINCOLFLAHOULADMILMONNYMPHIPITSDSFSTLAL
Arizona —2–52–47–210–92–55–110–93–34–24–24–23–39–105–143–311–4
Atlanta 5–2—4–23–36–09–105–14–24–212–711–89–107–26–12–44–210–5
Chicago 4–22–4—10–73–34–29–72–410–63–35–11–510–84–24–28–99–9
Cincinnati 2–73–37–10—4–22–45–122–48–102–42–45–45–113–33–39–77-5
Colorado 9–100–63–32–4—4–22–47–125–13–42–52–43–612–77–124–29–6
Florida 5–210–92–44–22–4—1–52–57–213–612–713–62–45–11–53–39–6
Houston 1–51–57–912–54–25-1—4–29–83–32–42–410–63–32–411–711–7
Los Angeles 9–102–44–24–212–75–22–4—4–24–23–32–55–18–116–134–211–7
Milwaukee 3–32–46–1010–81–52–78–92–4—0–66–34–210–75–11–53–135–7
Montreal 2–47–123–34–24–36-133–32–46–0—14–58–113–34–27–01–59–9
New York 2–48–111–54–25–27–124–23–33–65–14—7–124–23–34–21–55–10
Philadelphia 2-410–95–14–54–26–134–25–22–411–812–7—2–44–33–34–28–7
Pittsburgh 3–32–78–1011–56–34–26–101–57–103–32–44–2—4–22–47–105–7
San Diego 10–91–62–43–37–121–53–311–81–52–43–33–42–4—5–142–48–10
San Francisco 14–54–22–43–312–75–14–213–65–10–72–43–34–214–5—5–110–8
St. Louis 3–32–49–87–92–43-37–112–413–35–15–12–410–74–21–5—10–8

Notable transactions

Roster

2003 Atlanta Braves
Roster
PitchersCatchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Other batters

Manager

Coaches

Player stats

Batting

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
C Javy López 129457150.32843109
1B Robert Fick 126409110.2691180
2B Marcus Giles 145551174.3162169
SS Rafael Furcal 156664194.2921561
3B Vinny Castilla 147542150.2772276
LF Chipper Jones 153555169.30527106
CF Andruw Jones 156595165.27736116
RF Gary Sheffield 155576190.33039132

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
Mark DeRosa 10326670.263622
Julio Franco 10319758.294531
Darren Bragg 10416239.24109
Henry Blanco 5515130.199113
Matt Franco 11213433.246315
Johnny Estrada 163611.30602
Mike Hessman 19216.28623
Ryan Langerhans 16154.26700
Jesse Garcia 13104.40002

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGIPWLERASO
Greg Maddux 36218.116113.96124
Russ Ortiz 34212.12173.81149
Mike Hampton 31190.01483.84110
Horacio Ramírez 29182.11244.00100
Shane Reynolds 30167.11195.4394
Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGWLSVERASO
John Smoltz 6202451.1273
Ray King 803403.5143
Roberto Hernandez 665304.3545
Kevin Gryboski 646403.8632
Trey Hodges 523304.6666
Darren Holmes 481204.2946
Jung Bong 446215.0547
Jason Marquis 210015.5319
Will Cunnane 202232.7020
Kent Mercker 180011.067
Jaret Wright 111002.009
Joey Dawley 500018.008

2003 National League Division Series

Atlanta Braves vs. Chicago Cubs

Chicago wins the series, 3-2

GameScoreDateLocationAttendance
1Chicago Cubs – 4, Atlanta Braves – 2September 30 Turner Field 52,043 [17]
2Chicago Cubs – 3, Atlanta Braves – 5October 1 Turner Field 52,743 [18]
3Atlanta Braves – 1, Chicago Cubs – 3October 3 Wrigley Field 39,982 [19]
4Atlanta Braves – 6, Chicago Cubs – 4October 4 Wrigley Field 39,983 [20]
5Chicago Cubs – 5, Atlanta Braves – 1October 5 Turner Field 54,357 [21]

Award winners

2003 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

Farm system

LevelTeamLeagueManager
AAA Richmond Braves International League Pat Kelly
AA Greenville Braves Southern League Brian Snitker
A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Carolina League Randy Ingle
A Rome Braves South Atlantic League Rocket Wheeler
Rookie Danville Braves Appalachian League Kevin McMullan
Rookie GCL Braves Gulf Coast League Ralph Henriquez

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Rome, GCL Braves [22] [23]

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References

  1. ↑ "Mike Hampton Stats".
  2. ↑ "Donzell McDonald Stats".
  3. ↑ "Ray King Stats".
  4. ↑ "Russ Ortiz Stats".
  5. ↑ Paul Byrd Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
  6. ↑ "Greg Maddux Stats".
  7. ↑ "Johnny Estrada Stats".
  8. ↑ "Robert Fick Stats".
  9. ↑ Julio Franco Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
  10. ↑ "Roberto Hernandez Stats".
  11. ↑ "Shane Reynolds Stats".
  12. ↑ Sports Illustrated, Volume 109, No. 2, July 14–21, 2008, p.24, Published by Time Inc.
  13. ↑ Mackin, Bob (2004). The Unofficial Guide to Baseball's Most Unusual Records. Canada: Greystone Books. p. 240. ISBN   9781553650386.
  14. ↑ "Unassisted Triple Plays | Baseball Almanac".
  15. ↑ Jaret Wright Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
  16. ↑ 2003 Major League Baseball draft
  17. ↑ "2003 NLDS – Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves – Game 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 1, 2008.
  18. ↑ "2003 NLDS – Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves – Game 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 1, 2008.
  19. ↑ "2003 NLDS – Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves – Game 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 1, 2008.
  20. ↑ "2003 NLDS – Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves – Game 4". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 1, 2008.
  21. ↑ "2003 NLDS – Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves – Game 5". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 1, 2008.
  22. ↑ Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007
  23. ↑ Baseball America 2004 Annual Directory
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