ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have put their historic flop in the rearview mirror.
The team collapsed at the end of last season, becoming the first franchise ever to blow an eight-game lead in September with a playoff spot on the line. Instead, the St. Louis Cardinals claimed the NL wild card, and they rubbed more salt in the Braves’ wound by going on to capture an improbable World Series championship.
The Braves are back at Turner Field to begin two weeks of informal workouts before the team heads to spring training.
Pitcher Brandon Beachy said Monday the Braves only want to learn from their mistakes. For pitching coach Roger McDowell, the calendar flipped to a new year and there’s no need focusing on what happened in 2011.
