Wow. Braves GM John Schuerholz is stepping down from his post after two straight years of missing the playoffs. He'll be replaced by assistant GM Frank Wren.
The Braves are slowly moving into a new era - Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine left some time ago, pitching coach Leo Mazzone left for Baltimore a couple years ago, Andruw Jones will leave this offseason, and the string of playoff seasons was broken in 2006. The only principals from the Braves' string of fantastic seasons are Bobby Cox, Chipper Jones and John Smoltz.
The disappointments of the last two seasons aside, though, the reasons for the Braves' success have had less to do with slick general managing - although Schuerholz was certainly no slouch - than with exceptional scouting and with their dominion as the south's favorite team. There's no reason they can't continue to be well-run.