Mets Chat: Are the Braves still relevant when it comes to the Mets?
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- April
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Assume for a moment the Mets will go to the playoffs. I’m sure a great many of you believe they will.
Outside of themselves, which is what happened last season, what team do you believe is most likely to derail the Mets?
Is it the Braves? Phillies? Somebody out West?
As a fan, do you fear the Braves? Do you think the Mets are beyond the Braves mentally?
This entry was posted
on Thursday, April 3rd, 2008 at 6:57 pm by John Delcos.
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I think it will be a long time before I stop fearing the Braves.
They could easily present a challenge this season, but something tells me that last season’s collapse was the worst thing that could have happened to the NL East in 2008.
Mets are hungry.
Not for the last two years but there are people like Jayson Stark saying the Braves are back. We will see with the aging starting staff they have in Smoltz, Hudson, Glavine and Hampton (what schools are his kids in?).
While I think the Phillies pose the biggest challenge in the East I do think the braves are better this year. It should be a very interesting race this season, I’m looking forward to it.
Braves/ Mets has become a classic rivarly…Mets have to take care of business this weekend.
The team most likely to derail the Mets is, the Mets!
They need to do well against the Braves and Phils though, since either team can be right there at the end.
I will not stop fearing the Braves until Cox, Chipper, and Smoltz retire.
I’m afraid of the braves because of their pitching/hitting combo but there deff. overrated. I think Philly is good but no pitching. Also no other team scares me in the other divisions.
Hey guys, Mike Hampton has been scratched from his start. Why should we be afraid of the Braves again? Good offense,Old injury prone rotation, overrated bullpen.
Also just thought I’d keep you guys updated on Orlando Hernandez’s rehab start, along with top pitching prospect, Jon Niese’s, outing.
Caught this at http://www.metsprospectus.blogspot.com
St. Lucie: (he’s back out for the 4th)
7:55: Ruff third inning for El Duque.. He gave up 2 runs on 3 hits, including a solo homerun to Matt field. He also walked a batter and had a wild pitch in the inning.
7:30: Hernandez’s second inning, much like his first, no hits, no runs, and a strike out. 2 IP 0 hits 3 k’s so far.
7:20: Orlando Hernandez threw a 1-2-3 first inning, while striking out two batters.
Binghamton: (he’s out of the game)
7:50: After another scoreless inning, Jon Niese may be done. If he is, he’ll end with a final line of 5 IP, H, 0 ER, BB, 5 k’s.
7:30: RBI ground out from SS prospect Emmanuel Garcia to give the Binghamton Mets a 2-0 lead. Niese continues to roll, as he just finished pitching a scoreless 4th.
7:20: Jon Niese has thrown 3 scoreless innings and has struck out three batters. Meanwhile, 1B prospect Mike Carp, hit a homerun in his first at bat off of lefty Chase Wright.
1-2-3 fourth inning for El Duque
Until Bobby Cox is gone from that dugout, I will always be wary of the Braves. They’ve beaten the Mets too many times for me to write them off.
But the only thing that makes me fear for the Mets chances are injuries.
8:38: Another solid inning by El Duque. He didn’t give up a hit, and allowed just one base runner on a HBP. Not sure if he’s done, but I’ll keep you updated. Meanwhile the St. Lucie Mets have tied up the game at 2, thanks to doubles by Lucas Duda and Wabick.
FINAL LINE:
Orlando Hernandez: 5 IP, 3 Hits, 2 ER, 6 k’s
Jon Niese (stands to get the win): 5 IP, H, 0 ER, BB, 5 k’s
What team do you believe is most likely to derail the Mets?
I think it is apt to be the Phillies – not only the team, but also their fans who can get violent at a moments notice – remember when they had the jail in their old stadium?? That should tell you something about the fan base.
As a fan, do you fear the Braves?
No, not when I remember seeing Ted Turner and Jane Fonda with their little tomahawks cheering on the Braves from a front row seat. Who could be afraid of that? Seriously, I think the days of the Braves being bullies are over – remember all those winning banners they have are not World Series wins.
Do you think the Mets are beyond the Braves mentally?
Yes, the Mets team and the Mets management are beyond the Braves mentally. And, so are the Mets fans, coaches, beat writers and ownership. Add Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez and you really get a boost beyond the Braves mentally, intellectually, and in all around baseball knowledge.
“Are the Braves relevant to ANYONE?” is the actual question.
That starting pitching corps is just… so desperately old and beat-up and used-up that I’m certainly not afraid of them as a Mets fan.
Hell, not only do they go behind the Phillies with their… not-great pitching but their great hitting… but I’d say they go behind the Nationals too.
I mean, the National aren’t going to make the post-season or anything but they’ve got so much youth and raw hitting talent on that team that… I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if they hang in there a LOT longer than they’re supposed to.
Mike C is the smartest little metsie in the world!!!!!!1
JD,
I am not mentally beyond the Braves, but thankfully I don’t play for the Mets. Allow me to take you back to last season, when, after the Mets were swept by Philly at the end of August, they walked into their house of horrors, Turner Field, for a 3-game weekend series w/ the Bravos. I can’t say I was confident going into that set, but apparently the Mets were. They swept Atlanta, beating Hudson and Smoltz, then took 2 of 3 from the Braves 10 days later at Shea, again beating Hudson and Smoltz. The Mets ripped the Braves’ heart out twice in the last month of the season, that’s all there is to it. That this fact was obscured by the collapse does nothing to change what the Mets did. So like I said, they scare me, but I don’t wear a uniform.
I think the Braves are the second strongest team in the division behind the Mets. The Phillies’ pitching is just too pathetic for them to be any real threat this year. And while the Braves’ pitching has holes in it, they are still better than the Phillies.
But as for “fear?” I don’t think so. The Mets are the class of the division even with Pedro out. And he’s expected to be back within a a month or two.
As for the Mets not being able to get past the Braves, they overcame that in 2006. It is no longer an issue, even with Chipper, Cox and Smoltz still around.
Roger, thanks for the update on Niese. Good start for him. I hope if both Niese and Parnell are pitching well at AA this year, Omar doesn’t hesitate to bring either up in an emergency. I’d rather give them starts then sign Vargas. He’s awful.
I do not think the Braves are relevant. No one on this team has any history with them. They are either too young or from other teams. Not an issue.
Out of any team in the National League it is deffinitly the Braves. I feel the Mets can take down teams like the Cubs, Dodgers, Padres, and D-Backs. Not even the Phillies scare me. Thier pitching is just brutal.
It’s the Braves, in a playoff series they’re the ones I feel would be standing in the way of a World Series appearence.
Hey John. Could you ask Willie why he’s not changing the rotation now that Pedro is out?
I mean, he should really think about pitching Johan on his normal 5th day (Saturday) instead of Sunday.
This way he would then be in line to pitch in Game 3 of the Philly series, instead of opening against the Brewers.
I for one would much rather have Johan pitch in both Division series’. Heck, those are the teams we brought him here to beat!!
And again, to make this possible, it’s only a matter of pitching him on his NORMAL 5th day.
Of course they are. They’re a solid team and I still hate them.
In the division the Braves are the scariest team because their pitching is better than Philly’s. Plus, they have a really solid lineup… and Gotay (kidding!)
As for the rest of the NL, the Brewers scare me the most. Their lineup is ridiculous. Lots of “ifs” on the pitching end of things, however. IF Ben Sheets stays healthy. IF Parra and Bush pan out. IF Gallardo continues his development. Oh yeah, Gagne in the bullpen is a big ? for them.
I also think the Reds are a big time sleeper, as I mentioned in another thread. A potential rotation of: Harang, Arroyo, Cueto, Volquez, and Bailey. Cordero as their closer. They have a solid lineup too, with Jay Bruce waiting in the wings:
Patterson/Freel, CF
Keppinger, SS
Griffey, RF
Phillips 2B,
Dunn, LF
Encarnacion, 3B
Votto/Hatteberg, 1B
Bako, C
And while we’re here, I think the Blue Jays have a shot to take 2nd in the AL East, with the Yankees finishing third.