Mike's Mets

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0705/gallery.mlb.photos.0430-0506/content.5.html

After this 'HR' Burgos was sent down. i still see Burgos getting his tools together this Summer. He brings alot to the table.

Well I don't know, I don't really agree, but if he does turn it around thats great and I will issue a big apology.

As a Braves fan, reading this made my day. To know we get under the skin of fans of opposing teams like this, well, it puts a big ol' smile on my face. Thank you!

Glad you liked it Casey.

Shari ,

I also enjoy beating the Braves , a lot more than I do the cross towners . The Yankees games are all hat and no cattle . The Braves games are the beef !!! And as far as the Braves being good all the time . Sorry Shari but you are showing how young you are . When I was growing up in the 60's and 70's they were a bad joke every year . The one decent year they had we B slapped them in the playoffs on the way to our first WS Championship ! And they stunk for a couple of decades after that also !

So actually a case can be made that after being as bad as they were for so long . That winning the division for over a decade straight just got them even again !!!

LMAO !!!

I agree Shari, it's about the Mets wanting it more, Willie pushing the right buttons, and each player being accountable for themselves. I live in the ATL and the sheer mention of the Braves makes my blood boil. I respect their team, manager, and GM, but their fans are as bad as Yankmees. I'll be in the stands tonight with my Black Mets Jersey on (no name, no number). This can be the start for the Mets to roll off a few W's in a row.

Sadly the Mets have lost two series to the Braves, not one. Also lost one to the Marlins.

First off, we're 2 1/2 games up on the Braves, a little more pressure on ATL to pull even.
Secondly, the Mets put the smackdown on folks on the road. You know Beltran's gonna light it up
And last, we have the pitching combo of Payback Sosa, Double Dutch PErez and another Glavin Smoltz rematch [this time it's personal] and Tommy still has more hair than John

Time to get the steamroller going!

Hi Eduardo-well thank you but I'm not as young as I sound, I remember when the Mets got Willie Montanez from the Braves when both teams were putrid. I also remember when Dale Murphy was the big deal on the Braves-in fact I have his Topps 1977 Rookie Card.

Sorry you were there LJ-what an awful game to see in person

Hi David-Thanks for the correction, I remembered the Marlins series after I wrote this, they looked bad in Atlanta again tonight. I really HATE that.

Wow Shari you did have to remind me about Willie Montanez didn't you . It had only taken me a few of decades to forget about him in a Met uniform . LOL !

LOL Sorry about that Eduardo-I remember being excited about him coming to the Mets as a kid-why I don't know.

I guess last nights game did nothing to quell the hatred for the Braves? Sorry to bring Jorge Sosa back to earth for you guys. Better you found out now than later....

HI Jake- just like Maine I knew Sosa would come back downto earth-all I hope is that he could be consitantly good and keep them in games- I just hate it when former braves wet their pants when they pitch against their old team.

Jake ,

I love baseball and don't hate any team not even the Yankees ! I do however enjoy beating the Braves and Filthies more than anyone else . But if you think that the Braves are going to keep playing over their collective heads the way they have been and that Delgado and will continue to hit near the Mendoza line . Wright will hit 270 for the year and that Mota , Dirty Duaner and Pedro are going to be absent from Shea all year you are dreaming bro .

Just like you talk about Sosa I guarantee that both Smoltz and especially Hudson will not continue their current tear . Hell Hudson wasn't even this good when he WAS good in Oakland .

So please , don't tell me how great the Braves are unless you are also going to point out the same of other teams because even with the braves beating us 5 out of seven and our two best hitters not hitting , our two best set up men still not with the team and our ace lounging in St Lucie the Braves are still looking up at us from the seat of your pants .

That would make me VERY NERVOUS if i were a Braves fan bro .

Eduardo,

I believe you discount how much the bullpen hurt last years team. 30 blown saves is a lot for any club. If thet blow a league average 20, they finish with 89 wins. John Smoltz has a 2.85 ERA, so its likely going to rise less than a run. Hudson is at 2.42, likely to see about a run or less. Ive never once said that the Braves are going to continue at their pace or the Mets will, but dont discount the 2007 Braves. They weren't as bad as their record suggested. With an improved bullpen and improved Tim Hudson thy are going to be in the thick of the race.

Jake ,

I try never to take any team to lightly . That is a cardinal sin . But we have had our injuries already . If we sustain anymore to some of our stars the Braves might have a shot at the division . But if the law of averages starts to even out for us and we have few injuries the rest of the way . There is pretty much no chance that the Braves will be able to hang with the Mets IMHO .

The bullpen is improved . But as you have already found out it is fragile . Both Gonzalez and Soriano have had a lot of trouble staying healthy their whole careers. One is already down for the second time this year and from what i have read I threw harder than he is now in my prime back in the 70's . Soriano is pretty much like Alou for our Mets he is great while he is playing but you can count on some down time every year . And Wickman is a prayer buddy , an old guy fat guy with a bad back , how long do you think that will fly ?

Smoltz may do what he did last year . Then again he could run out of gas at any moment also . But I wouldn't worry about him much besides being one of my favorite players in the game he is also a class act and I hope he pitches well another decade ! But Hudson can just as easily be throwing to a 4 or 5 era as he has to a 2 . The rest are as or more suspect that Sosa IMHO .

Now the Braves are improved don't get me wrong I freely admit that , but so are the Mets . Just take a look at what we are doing to lefties this year . That was really our only weak spot last year . And when Delgado hits his stride the righties will have a veritable nightmere on their hands Smoltz included ! As for the pitching the stats speak for themselves and the big three we have coming off the DL later in the year are way more than anyone that any team can trade for at the deadline so there will be no big edge to be had by making a deal at the deadline. A deal by the Braves will at best close the gap that we will have from our boys coming off the DL . In fact they will be forced to make a deal any deal just to make a futile attempt to counter us getting Mota , Sanchez and Martinez back !

At any rate bro , Have a great season and hopefully your boys will get the wildcard and we can meet in the playoffs . I would love to show the rest of baseball that the NL East plays the best ball . Make sure your boys keep up their end of the bargain !

I know ours will !!!

Folks,

The reality of the situation is Braves have won 6 of 9 head to head. No speculation about pitching will change that. It will be a race to the finish.

I don't believe that they can stay with us all year . To get up for the Mets for a series here or there is one thing to play at that same level all year 162 games is another .

I still say that the Mets will have a double digit lead by early August !