Here’s my wish list for tomorrow.
My Falcons have the 8th overall pick.
1. Amobi Okoye- Young, smart, technical master on the D Line
2. LaRon Landry- Do everything safety net much needed
3. Adrian Peterson- Gifted workhorse power and finesse back
4. Jamaal Anderson- Athletic end ala Julius Peppers
5. Calvin Johnson- Not happening, too expensive
We are officially leaving the state of Michigan June 2nd. Now if we could just find some jobs and an apartment to move to… but it’s more important at this point to get out of here. This is the second happiest day since we moved out here.
After winning another series against the Mets the Braves are still only up a half game? It’s going to be a LONG GREAT Year!
EASTWLPCTGBHOMEROADRSRASTRKL10
Atlanta126.667-6-46-28679Won 15-5
NY Mets116.647.54-47-210356Lost 16-4
Florida810.44445-63-49997Won 23-7
Philadelphia611.3535.51-55-67685Won 25-5
Washington613.3166.53-83-562107Lost 25-5
Braves look to go up 4 to 2 on Mets
Smoltz aims to go 3-0 against Glavine
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
John Smoltz has already had the pleasure of competing against his good friend Tom Glavine. When he steps on the mound at Shea Stadium on Sunday afternoon, the Braves’ veteran pitcher will be much more concerned about how he’ll attack the mighty Mets lineup.
“Not to beat a dead horse, but it’s more about facing a lineup than it is about facing the other pitcher,” Smoltz said. “It’s about how you’re going to do whatever you can to beat that other team. I know he’s going to do that and I will, too.”
For 15 seasons, Smoltz and Glavine were teammates in Atlanta. When they oppose each other on Sunday, they’ll just be a pair of good friends doing whatever necessary to improve their teams’ positioning in the National League East race.
Smoltz has won both of his previous two career starts against Glavine. The most recent matchup came on April 7, when he allowed two earned runs over six innings and helped the Braves register one of the three victories they’ve recorded in five games against the Mets this year.
With Saturday’s win, the Mets set up the rubber match in this three-game series and moved one-half game ahead of the Braves in the NL East standings.
Though he hasn’t yet shown his usual dominance, Smoltz has started this season in fine fashion. He’s provided a quality start in each of his first four outings and his only loss came on April 12, when he allowed the Nationals two runs in eight innings.
“I see him doing well and I see what he’s done, and the adjustments and changes he’s made in his career because of injuries, and it’s pretty remarkable,” said Glavine, who is seven wins shy of the 300-win milestone. “I’m doing what he’s doing now, kind of the same thing. I want to try and keep up with him so at the end of the year I have something to match up with his numbers.”
Glavine’s only loss in his first four starts this year came on April 7, when the Braves touched him for five runs—two earned—in 5 1/3 innings. The 41-year-old southpaw, who pitched for the Braves from 1987-2002, is 3-10 with a 5.55 ERA in 13 career starts against his former employer.
In his last nine starts against the Braves, Glavine is 2-3 with a 2.76 ERA.
“We look forward to another epic battle between Smoltzie and Glav [on Sunday],” Chipper Jones said.
Pitching matchup
ATL: RHP John Smoltz (2-1, 3.12 ERA)
Smoltz is 9-8 with a 3.06 ERA in 31 career appearances (19 starts) at Shea Stadium.
NYM: LHP Tom Glavine (3-1, 2.70 ERA)
Glavine is 30-27 with a 3.42 ERA in 81 career starts at Shea.
Player to watch
Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado has hit .345 (10-for-29) with four homers in his career against Smoltz.
James faces fellow lefty Perez at Shea
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
Braves southpaw Chuck James has been at both his best and worst when facing the Mets. When he opposes them at Shea Stadium on Saturday afternoon, he’ll be looking to continue the success that he’s found since they battered him last year.
After allowing the Mets seven earned runs in just one inning on July 30, 2006, James came back on Sept. 4 to limit them to one hit in eight scoreless innings. The latter performance is more indicative of the type of pitcher this 25-year-old left-hander has become.
“Chuckie has been good since the day he got here,” Braves manager Bobby Cox said. “We feel good every time he goes out there to pitch.”
James has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 11 of his past 14 starts. One of the two losses he’s suffered during that span came on Monday, when he allowed the Nationals three earned runs in five innings.
The Mets will counter with Oliver Perez, who has handled the Braves and struggled against basically every other National League team since the beginning of last year. Two of the four wins he’s collected in his past 24 starts have come at the Braves expense.
Perez tossed a five-hit shutout against the Braves last Sept. 6, then limited them to one run in seven innings on April 6. That effort resulted in the only win the Mets have recorded in four tries against the Braves this year.
With Friday night’s series-opening win, the Braves reclaimed first place in the National League East and now hold a half-game advantage over the Mets.
Pitching matchup
ATL: LHP Chuck James (2-1, 2.25 ERA)
James is 9-2 with a 2.74 ERA in his past 14 starts.
NYM: LHP Oliver Perez (1-1, 3.72 ERA)
Since the beginning of last season, Perez has posted a 2.95 ERA in the three starts against the Braves and a 7.03 ERA in the other 22 starts.
Player to watch
Mets third baseman David Wright’s 26-game hitting streak was snapped on Friday night. He has one hit in four career at-bats against James.
I motion to rename Shea Stadium to Larry Land.
Chipper goes deep in the first inning!!
What up now Mr Met?
p.s. The buck stops here David Wright
Hudson brings 0.86 ERA to Shea
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
Although they took the first round last year, the Braves still found themselves eventually knocked out by the mighty Mets. This year, as they look to regain their National League East crown, the Braves are hoping for a different trend.
When the Braves took two of three games earlier this month at Turner Field, they showed the Mets that they are certainly capable of providing stiff competition in this year’s National League East Division race. Entering this weekend’s series at Shea Stadium, they trail the Mets by a half-game in the standings.
“Any time you play a game against a team in your division, it’s just fun,” Braves second baseman Kelly Johnson said. “You know that you can get so much separation, win or lose. It’s kind of like the playoffs, so yeah, I look forward to them every time.”
Of the six series they played against the Mets last year, the Braves won only two—the first and sixth. With Tim Hudson, Chuck James and John Smoltz scheduled to face the Mets this weekend, they could escape April having already matched the series victory total that they posted last year against their division rival.
When Hudson opposes rookie right-hander Mike Pelfrey in Friday night’s series opener, he’ll be looking to continue his early season dominance. Through his first three starts, the veteran right-hander has worked 21 innings, surrendered 11 hits, and allowed just two earned runs.
“This is obviously a good three-game stretch for anybody, particularly for me, the way things worked out for me last year,” said Hudson, who posted a career-high 4.86 ERA last year.
Hudson’s early success has some believing that he’s regained the successful form that he had during his days with the Oakland A’s. One of the keys to his rebound has been the relocation of his split-finger fastball. He hadn’t had comfort with the pitch over the course of the past three seasons.
With his splitter and an improved sinker, Hudson has been able to limit opponents to a .157 batting average and a.263 on-base percentage. Last year, they hit .273 against him and reached base at a .340 clip.
“His control is so much better,” Braves manager Bobby Cox said. “Control is just about everything for any pitcher. He’s on a mission. He’s going to win a ton.”
Hudson was just 2-2 with a 5.67 ERA in four starts against the Mets last year. But in two of those outings, he worked at least six innings and allowed just one run. One of his two complete games last year came in his April 19 start against the Mets.
Pitching matchup
ATL: RHP Tim Hudson (2-0, 0.86 ERA)
Is 5-2 with a 3.76 ERA in eight career starts against the Mets
NYM: RHP Mike Pelfrey (0-0, 3.81 ERA)
In his only start this year, limited the Nationals to two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings
Player to watch
Mets outfielder Shawn Green had five hits, including a homer, in 12 at-bats against the Braves earlier this month. During his career against the Braves, Green has hit .342 (77-for-225) with 22 homers and a .689 slugging percentage.
I realize that this is just after the first week. But hey, after last year, I’ll take everything I can get!
2007 Major League Standings
MLBWLPCTGBHOMEROADRSRASTRKL10
Atlanta51.833-2-13-02525Won 25-1
Minnesota41.800.53-01-12012Won 14-1
LA Angels52.714.55-20-02816Lost 15-2
Arizona52.714.50-05-23627Won 45-2
NY Mets42.66710-04-23611Lost 24-2
San Diego42.66712-12-12315Won 24-2
Cincinnati42.66714-20-02719Lost 14-2
LA Dodgers42.66710-04-22521Won 44-2
Pittsburgh42.66710-04-22424Won 14-2
Florida42.66712-12-14029Won 24-2
Seattle21.6671.52-10-01213Lost 12-1
Cleveland21.6671.50-02-12316Lost 12-1
Detroit32.6001.51-12-12324Won 23-2
Toronto32.6001.50-03-23327Won 23-2
Boston33.50020-03-31921Won 13-3
Colorado33.50022-11-22823Lost 23-3
Chicago Cubs33.50020-03-32626Lost 13-3
Milwaukee33.50023-30-03028Won 13-3
Oakland34.4292.50-03-42223Won 13-4
Chicago Sox23.4002.52-30-02026Lost 12-3
NY Yankees23.4002.52-30-03331Lost 12-3
Tampa Bay23.4002.51-21-12634Lost 22-3
Kansas City24.33332-40-01922Lost 22-4
Texas24.33332-10-31924Lost 12-4
St. Louis24.33330-32-11728Won 12-4
Baltimore24.33330-02-42735Won 12-4
Houston15.16741-50-01627Lost 11-5
San Francisco15.16741-50-01431Lost 31-5
Philadelphia15.16740-31-22632Lost 21-5
Washington16.1434.51-60-01845Lost 41-6
Now this is a beautiful thing. The way it should be.
2007 National League Standings
EASTWLPCTGBHOMEROADRSRASTRKL10
Atlanta51.833-2-13-02525Won 25-1
NY Mets42.66710-04-23611Lost 24-2
Florida42.66712-12-14029Won 24-2
Philadelphia15.16740-31-22632Lost 21-5
Washington16.1434.51-60-01845Lost 41-6
Rubber Match Time
Davies aims to make most of chance
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
When Kyle Davies makes his season debut at Turner Field on Sunday afternoon, he’ll be carrying a lot of responsibility. With a strong effort, he’ll help the Braves greatly in their effort to win this three-game series against the Mets.
After stumbling in Friday night’s home opener, the Braves came back to even the three-game set on Saturday with a win over the Mets, who had won their first four games to start this season.
One thing Davies won’t be carrying is the animosity that he could have gained when he was unable to win the final rotation spot in Spring Training. If not for the discomfort Lance Cormier has felt in his right arm, Davies would have been spending Easter Sunday with the Triple-A Richmond Braves.
“It was one of those things that maybe needed to happen,” Davies said. “I felt comfortable and great during Spring Training. I got outpitched. It gave me a week to kind of get something going. I feel great right now.”
Davies, who will be opposed by Orlando Hernandez in the series finale, has been working on a new delivery that he hopes will allow him to find more consistent control. He began utilizing it three weeks ago and has quickly gained comfort.
“I feel good with it, and I’m making good strides with it,” Davies said. “The ball is coming out of my hands good.”
Davies couldn’t say the same last September, when in six starts, he posted a 13.06 ERA. Some of his problems could be attributed to the 3 1/2-month layoff that he had after having his right groin surgically repaired in May. But in essence, most of his problems had to do with the mechanical flaws that led him to issue 16 walks in just 20 2/3 innings.
The Mets saw Davies limit them to one run and three hits in a complete-game effort on April 18 last year. But while facing him twice in September, they managed to pound him for 10 earned runs in just 8 1/3 innings.
Hernandez, who allowed one run in seven innings of a victorious season debut against the Cardinals, registered 16 strikeouts and completed 13 scoreless innings in two starts against the Braves last year. He is 3-0 with a 0.45 ERA in three career starts at Turner Field.
Pitching matchup
NYM: RHP Orlando Hernandez (1-0, 1.29 ERA)
Hernandez will be making his sixth career start against a Braves team that last beat him in 1998.
ATL: RHP Kyle Davies (3-7, 8.38 ERA in 2006)
Davies went 5-2 with a 5.72 ERA in five starts against the Mets last year.
Players to watch
Carlos Beltran has struck out five times and has registered just two hits in 11 at-bats against Davies. However, both of those hits were homers.
This should be good! Glavine v Smoltz. It doesn’t get any better than this! 2 Hall of Famers battle as the Braves look to rebound.
Smoltz set for first home start
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
When Tom Glavine opposes John Smoltz at Turner Field on Saturday afternoon, the two will share an opportunity that will surely be discussed during a future round of golf.
Any time the Braves and Mets meet there’s a sense of excitement. But adding to the intrigue of this divisional matchup, will be the battle between these two veteran hurlers, who are two of the most recognizable figures in Braves franchise history.
“It should be an epic battle between two contrasting styles and two contrasting teams,” Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said. “You’ve got the bombers with the finesser on the mound. We’re more of the small-ball type team with the nasty guy on the mound. It’s going to be an interesting matchup.”
Since they joined forces on the Atlanta pitching staff back in 1988, Smoltz and Glavine have formed a strong friendship that has endured the test of time and separation. As they wind down their careers, both veteran hurlers know this could be the last time they get to oppose each other.
“When it’s John, I hope I just win,” said Glavine, who ended a 16-season career in Atlanta when he joined the Mets in 2003. “[Winning] 4-1 would be OK with me. Knowing him, he’s probably thinking 2-1 or 1-0. But I prefer a little cushion.”
With the potent Mets offense, Glavine definitely has a chance to gain some cushion in Saturday afternoon’s matchup against the Braves. New York has a lineup that Smoltz and many others view as being the National League’s most potent.
The Mets flexed their muscles on Friday night and claimed a series-opening win that allowed them to maintain their perfect record. The loss was the first for the Braves, who opened the season with a three-game series sweep in Philadelphia.
During their only previous head-to-head matchup, both of these pitchers impressed. On July 15, 2005, at Shea Stadium, both of them allowed one run in seven innings. But Smoltz emerged the victor, while Glavine got a no-decision.
When Glavine first joined the Mets, he struggled mightily against the Braves, going 1-8 with a 6.93 ERA in his first 11 starts against them. But in the six starts that have followed, he’s 2-1 with a 2.11 ERA against them.
Glavine started this season by throwing six scoreless innings and getting the win against the defending World Series champion Cardinals. As for Smoltz, his strong Opening Day start was marred when he allowed a pair of sixth inning runs and got a no-decision against the Phillies.
Pitching matchup
NYM: LHP Tom Glavine, 1-0, 1.50 ERA
Is 3-9 with a 5.86 ERA in 15 career starts against the Braves.
ATL: RHP John Smoltz, 0-0, 4.50 ERA
Went 2-2 with a 2.33 ERA against the Mets in 2006.
Players to watch
Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado has batted .346 (9-for-26) and belted four homers in his career against Smoltz.
Here we go boys! It’s on. Both teams are 3-0.
Braves face Mets in battle of unbeatens
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
Last week, as he completed his exhibition game season, Braves left-hander Mark Redman indicated that he was looking forward to pitching a home opener that would be played amid warm conditions.
But when he takes the mound for the Braves in their home opener against the Mets on Friday night, Redman will find himself pitching in temperatures that will be in the low 50s. In other words, the weather will be only slightly better than it was when he pitched the home opener for the Tigers in 2002.
“I think the blood will be pumping, so I’ll be able to stay warm,” Redman said. “It’s going to be fun. I like that kind of atmosphere.”
With the Braves coming off a season-opening series sweep of the Phillies, the home crowd will be likely be filled with excitement. Add the fact that the division-rival Mets are serving as the opposition and you get the sense that the soldout crowd will likely create a postseason-like environment.
“It’s going to be a great gauge for our ballclub,” Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said. “We know they have a great club. Now we’re going to find out how good we are.”
The Mets, who ended the Braves’ record string of 14 consecutive division titles last year, come to Atlanta with some momentum. They began their season by outscoring the reigning World Series champion Cardinals, 20-2, during a season-opening, three-game series sweep.
Redman, who remained a free agent until the Braves signed him on March 9, will have the challenge of facing one of the game’s most potent lineups. Carlos Beltran collected two homers and six RBIs during the series sweep of the Cards.
“They’ve a great lineup, there’s no doubt about that,” Braves right fielder Jeff Francoeur said. “But I like to think our lineup is pretty good and our pitching is pretty good, and that we can play right with them.”
While the Mets offense has never been questioned, their pitching staff had been scrutinized before they managed to limit the Cardinals to two runs in the three-game set. They’ll be looking for Oliver Perez to deliver them a fourth consecutive strong start.
Over the past few years, both of Friday night’s starting pitchers have fallen out of favor with their employers. Redman, who registered 11 wins for a Royals team that lost 100 games last year, is playing for his seventh team in seven years.
As for Perez, who was once considered one of the game’s top young left-handers, he won just three of the 22 combined starts he made for the Pirates and Phillies last year. But one of those victories came on Sept. 6, when he tossed a six-hit shutout against the Braves, who three weeks later touched him for six earned runs in 5 1/3 innings.
The Braves are asking all fans to be in their seats by 7 p.m. ET. Country music star Tracy Byrd will provide a live performance at home plate and then sing the national anthem, that will be concluded with a military flyover. There will be postgame fireworks and the first 45,000 fans will receive magnetic schedules, courtesy of Georgia Power.
“It should be a fun series,” Francoeur said. “I’m sure it will be great to have the fan support for opening weekend. Hopefully this will be the start of something good for this year.”
Pitching matchup
ATL: LHP Mark Redman, 11-10, 5.71 ERA in 2006
Is 1-1 with a 5.03 ERA in three career starts at Turner Field.
NYM: LHP Oliver Perez, 3-13, 6.55 ERA in 2006
Is 2-3 with a 3.69 ERA in six career starts against the Braves.
Players to watch
Beltran has seven hits, including a homer, double and triple, in 13 career at-bats against Redman.
First edition:
EASTWLPCTGBHOMEROADRSRASTRKL10
NY Mets301.000-0-03-0202Won 33-0
Atlanta301.000-0-03-0169Won 33-0
Florida21.66710-02-12412Lost 12-1
Washington12.33321-20-01224Won 11-2
Philadelphia03.00030-30-0916Lost 30-3
So far so good!
Can’t wait til tomorrow nights showdown!
Alright, here are my picks for the season…
AMERICAN LEAGUE
East – Yankees
Central – Tigers
West – Angels
Wild Card – Red Sox
MVP - Alex Rodriguez
Cy Young – Johan Santana
Rookie of the Year – Alex Gordon
NATIONAL LEAGUE
East – Braves
Central – Cardinals
West – Padres
Wild Card – Mets
MVP - Albert Pujols
Cy Young – John Smoltz
Rookie of the Year – Chris Young
WORLD SERIES
Braves over Red Sox
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