Atlanta pulled itself up by the bootstraps, building itself arm-by-arm and bat-by-bat during the torturous 1980s to become the team of the '90s.
Atlanta is baseball's version of old money, the tradition-rich family in the neighborhood mansion. The Florida Marlins are the lottery winners who move in next door, the people who put curb-feelers on their pink Cadillac and beer signs in their gabled windows.
Atlanta earned its success. The Marlins are trying to buy theirs.
In this battle of old money vs. nouveau riche, this battle of Ted Turner's long-lived superstation vs. Wayne Huizenga's fast-rising Blockbuster empire, baseball lifer Jim Leyland finds himself in a unique position. The former manager of the lowly and low-paid Pirates will manage a $50-million team and pursue a $60 million team.
Leyland, one of Florida's many notable offseason additions, refuses to proclaim his team the equal of defending National League champion Atlanta, even if Marlins owner Huizenga spent $95 million on free agents this winter.
'They're still the Braves,' Leyland said. 'They're the ones with the tradition. They're the ones who have won all these games in the '90s, who have all the Cy Youngs. I hope we'll be a good team, but they've already proved themselves.'
The Marlins created a rivalry this winter, hiring Leyland and signing outfielders Bobby Bonilla, Moises Alou, Jim Eisenreich, John Cangelosi and pitcher Alex Fernandez.
How close did they come to worrying haughty Atlanta? The team decided early in the offseason not to trade first baseman Fred McGriff to the Marlins, fearing that McGriff would hurt them in the National League East race.
This spring, the Marlins looked like the best team in baseball even sweeping three games from Atlanta. They might have grabbed Atlanta's ' attention, but they have yet to earn its respect.
'The hardest thing for them will be living up to those expectations,' Atlanta pitcher Tom Glavine said. 'They look like a very good club, but you still have to something on the field. We snuck up on people in '91 [to win the pennant]. Florida won't be able to do that.'
Said Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones: 'On paper, yeah, they stack up well. But nothing's won on paper. . . . I think everybody realizes that if you want to be the National League representative in the World Series, you have to go through Atlanta eventually.'
Marlins slugger Gary Sheffield, whom Leyland calls the best righthanded hitter in the league, understands Atlanta's arrogance. 'They don't respect us,' he said. 'They don't have to respect us; they're the champs, and they know it. They're a little bit cocky over there, but they have a right to be. We have to earn their respect this season.'
Atlanta's top three starters - Greg Maddux, Glavine and John Smoltz - have combined to win the past six Cy Young Awards. Fourth starter Denny Neagle was the Pirates' ace before being traded to Atlanta. Closer Mark Wohlers is one of the most dominant in the majors.
Florida counters with Fernandez, Kevin Brown, Al Leiter, but will round out the rotation with Pat Rapp and Tony Saunders. Rob Nen is an outstanding closer. But can Bonilla play third base? Can free agents quickly mesh with one another? Is Florida as good on grass as on paper?
'I think the Atlanta guys fed off each other,' Leiter said of Atlanta's rotation. 'There's something to be said for positive vibes and energy when KB [Brown] goes out and throws a gem, then I come back and throw a gem, then Alex is going to bed thinking, I want to [match that] tomorrow.
'I can see it all coming together. We've got a nice mix of players, from veteran guys, to guys just establishing themselves, to the rookies. We've got that balance. You can feel it. It's a feeling that you can win, and you can have fun doing it.'
Leyland left Pittsburgh, a town and a team he loved, to give himself a chance to win again. The last time he was in the playoffs, in 1991, Atlanta upset his Pirates of Bonilla and Barry Bonds. Now he's chasing Atlanta again.
'I don't have any burning desire to beat Atlanta more than anybody else,' Leyland said. 'We only play Atlanta so many games. We've got to win enough games to get where we want to be, it doesn't matter who's in the way.
'I mean, Atlanta's king of the hill, no question.'
