Unfortunately for the Atlanta Braves, the 2025 playoffs have little to do with them. After a nightmarish and injury-filled season, the Braves are on their couches watching the postseason unfold in front of them while seeing former Braves players get to enjoy themselves (or suffer depending on which players we are talking about here). However, despite not making the playoffs, Atlanta is still influencing things albeit it a painful way.
At this moment, the Blue Jays are taking on the Mariners in the ALCS. While the goings on in the American League don't normally involve the Braves very often, apparently the Blue Jays have decided to use the 1996 World Series as inspiration. That is...not a very happy memory for Braves fans to revisit.
Blue Jays have turned to an all-time terrible Braves World Series memory for motivation
In a vacuum, this makes sense from Toronto's perspective. They fell into an early 2-0 hole against Seattle and finding rays of hope in the face of daunting odds is pretty crucial in forging any sort of comeback. As to why Toronto hitting coach John Popkins sent video of that World Series to manager John Schneider, that is a fair question. Perhaps Schneider's own faith was wavering.
However, why did have to be THAT particular comeback?! This isn't even the World Series right now and that series didn't involve the Blue Jays at all, but instead the Yankees ruining an entire generation of Braves fans' dreams. It is bad enough that Toronto took the 1992 World Series over the Braves, but now they are rubbing salt in some old wounds. Why couldn't they go with the Red Sox's playoff comeback over the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS? That is at least the same series and involves terrorizing an AL East foe instead of throwing shade the Braves' way.
Unfortunately, this is the price one pays for not making the playoffs. Not only do you not have a chance to write your own narrative, but you also have to see your previous successes and failures revisited while you are sitting at home. The lead up to the World Series is all about looking back at historical playoff runs and seeing where the remaining teams fit into the story, but that process isn't particularly fun for the Braves this year.