After a three game losing streak (getting swept by the Phillie 5/25-27), the Bravos took 2 of three from the Brew Crew in Milwaukee. Unfortunately for the Braves, their recent stumble (losing 6 of their last 10) has cost them a couple games in the standings to the New York Mets. The Metropolitans are 33-18 and lead the 30-23 Bravos by 4 games in the NL East.
The Mets are flat out good - even without Pedro Martinez. When you've got Shawn Green (who was just put on the DL) hitting 7th, you're a pretty good ball club (Green was hitting .314 before going on the shelf).
The Mets are an All Star team. Reyes, Lo Duca, and Chavez are all hitting over .300. Carlos Beltran (a career .281 hitter) is hitting .294 and flashing plenty of leather in the outfield. David Wright is back on track after a terrible April (21 RBI in May vs. 6 in the opening month). Oh yeah, don't forget a left handed hitting first baseman who has over 400 career homers (Carlos Delgado) who is just a sleeping giant at the moment.
The pitching for the Mets is pretty nice too. Future Hall of Famer (and former Brave) Tom Glavine is solid, Oliver Perez has figured out how to pitch this year (2.69 ERA, 64 IP, 47 H). John Main is pitching the best ball of his short career (6-2, 2.79 ERA) and Orland "El Duke" Hernandez has pitched quite well in 6 outings thus far. Did I already say they have Pedro working his way back for the post season run? Oh, and don't let me forget that the Mets waved a magic wand over Jorge Sosa (former Brave) to get him 4 wins in 5 starts.
The Mets are good. The Braves can't afford to go through rough patches like they have in the recent past. I didn't even mention the Mets bullpen - which is scary good with rookie Joe Smith (1.59 ERA, 26K in 22.2 IP), Pedro Feliciano (0.96 ERA in 18.2 IP), and the best closer in the game (my opinion) Billy Wagner (1.57 ERA, 12 for 12 in Saves).
Chipper Jones has been sitting for a week with a sore right hand. Pete Orr got a pair of starts at the hot corner in the Milwaukee series. He made an error in the field and went 1-7 at the plate. Pete has the lowest batting average (.189) on the club.
1 comment:
I think the Cubs will be an easy part. We need to trade for some starters. But you know Scheurholz, the best GM knows when to know when to make the deal and he always makes the deal no one is talking about. Hopefully it's for Dan Haren.
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