Frenchy vs Church
Over the Weekend comparison between Frenchy and Church... I guess Frenchy's numbers overal are slightly better.... but in the end the Braves took 3 out of 4 and that's all that matters.
Francoeur (Now a Met)
3-15 3 rbi 2 k
Church (Now a Brave)
2-8 2 runs 4 walks 1 k
Braves vs Sox, Fenway Pics
Braves lost 3-0 to the Red Sox [Boxscore]. The game was a great pitching matchup between Lowe and Beckett and it did not disappoint. Beckett pitched a complete game shutout and got the best of the Braves. The game was over in 2 hours and 15 minutes. We had great seats, (Section 34 Row 9) directly behind the pitcher and pretty close to the center field cameras. I had a great time with Josh and Tom and look forward to encore appearances someday in the future. Here's a few shots I took during the game and sent to my twitter. But I'll share here too :)
Fenway Reprise.. Red Sox vs Braves Edition
so yeah.. going to FENWAY PAAAAAK for the second time this summer, first time to see a game... looking forward to it... the Red Sox will play the original team from Boston... the Beaneaters.. .in all there glory.. .Derek Lowe on the mound.. Chipper at Third.. McCann.. and the rest of the guys.. hey, watch your mcLouth.. Red sox have Beckett on the mound.. Not expecting a win.. but that would be sweet.. anyway!... go Braves!! looking forward to it.. look for "tweets" during the game.. of the action and all that.. shit.
Braves and Mets in 2009
Braves scored 5 unearned runs last night to win the game. Lowe out pitches Santana even though Santana still didn't earn any runs against. I still think Lowe was taken out early. Thank you Jose Reyes for booting a easy out to keep the Braves inning alive. Thank you to Manuel for leaving Feliciano in the game to face Diaz. Thank you Diaz and Kotchman for bringing in those 4 runs. And kudos to the bullpen for not blowing it. Braves snap Mets 7 game win streak. 2 more games in the series. Tonight and tomorrow afternoon. Good stuff. Baseball is good. Even better when the Braves put together a few wins in a row. They've won 5 out of their last 6. All against division opponents. Way to be.
Looked this up earlier, adding it now since I always seem to have to google it everytime it comes up.
Head to Head since 2005.
Braves vs Mets
2008- Braves 11-7
2007- Tied 9-9
2006- Mets 11-7
2005- Braves 13-6
2004- Braves 12-7
Braves 52-40
Still tired.
Still tired from staying up all night Saturday night... guess not getting to bed before 1130 the past two nights didn't help either.
Go Braves.
Smoltz shuts it down
Unfortunately Johnny's shoulder issues proved to be too serious to pitch this season. He's decided to shut it down and have season ending shoulder surgery. Here's to hoping he can return possibly next season for one last year!
If not, thank you for everything Johnny. I'll be in Cooperstown the day you are inducted, that's a fact.
1 Run Games
The Braves are 3-16 in games that are decided by 1 run. They picked up their 3rd victory last night in these contests. Seriously, why is it so hard to protect a small lead or win by a small margin?
I won't even begin to discuss the difference between their home and away records.
Wow..
This METS/BRAVES series must be real tough for you Mets fans out there to swallow.
Game 9 tonight!
Trifecta for me Tonight
Got the three spot..
David Cook won American Idol
The Braves crushed the Mets, again.
The Lakers came back from 20 down to win Game 1 vs the Spurs..
Not bad.
Braves vs Mets, Let’s play two!
Should be a couple good games.... maybe i should have stayed home to watch them!
Game 1
NYM: J. Maine (5-2, 2.81)
ATL: T. Glavine (1-1, 4.41)
Game 2
NYM: C. Vargas (0-1, 2.84)
ATL: J. Campillo (0-0, 1.27)
For full topic discussion visit the already in progress discussion HERE
> We'll be waiting for you there Mr. Met
Smoltz to Close?
After Johnny gets off the DL it looks like he may return to the pen as the team's closer. That's fine with me. Whatever it takes to prolong his career.. Read More
Congrats to Smoltzi
Welcome John Smoltz to the 3,000 Career Strikeout Club
210 Wins
154 Saves
3.25 ERA
1.168 WHIP
3,006 Strikeouts
Rank - Player - Total - Years
1. Nolan Ryan 5,714 27
2. Roger Clemens 4,672 24
3. Randy Johnson 4,629 20
4. Steve Carlton 4,136 24
5. Bert Blyleven 3, 701 22
6. Tom Seaver 3,640 20
7. Don Sutton 3,574 23
8. Gaylord Perry 3,534 22
9. Walter Johnson 3,509 21
10. Phil Niekro 3,342 24
11. Greg Maddux 3,287 22
12. Ferguson Jenkins 3,192 19
13. Bob Gibson 3,117 17
14. Curt Schilling 3,116 20
15. Pedro Martinez 3,031 16
16. John Smoltz 3,006 20
Braves sweep Mets.
As if on cue, the Braves retaliate against themselves and their weak efforts against the Pirates to reverse the course and sweep the Mets out of town. Friday night's game was rained out, but unfortunately for the Mets, Saturday and Sunday games were played.
The Bats woke up to defend home field on Saturday. Kelly "The Natural" Johnson got healthy in a big way with a Grand Slam pinch hit home run that sent the Mets to the showers quick.
The Smoltz vs Santana matchup was as advertised. Smoltz left after five and the bullpen pitched fantastic. The Mets saved themselves from being blanked in the scoreboards with a run by DWright in the 9th. Mark Teixeira provided an insurance 2 run home run in the top of the 9th and snagged a bullet down the first base line for our number 27 in the bottom of the ninth. Ballgame.
Braves start the weekend in last, and end the weekend tied for first. A trip to Colorado is up next. Braves return to Shea on April 25th.
And just like that…
Mike Hampton heads back to the DL...
teaches me to shut my damn head when it comes to Pedro going back to the DL.
Oh well.. it'll be alright.. as Mr Met likes to re-point out every spin thru the rotation -- at least we got Tommy G!
I’m jumping ship…
The Braves have the worst record in baseball.
Clearly they are not very good.
So guess what kids...
THE METS are my new favorite team.
I just love Jose Reyes and David Wright.
Pedro is my favorite pitcher from this era.
Johan is my favorite pitcher of any era.
Willee Randolph always makes the right moves.
I just love when Billy Wagner comes in and finishes the game.
I support Carlos Delgado and his desires to stand or not stand for the pledge of allegiance.
Beltran is the greatest post season player in the history of the MLB.
Can't wait til Mosies Alou gets healthy.
John Maine is an all star pitcher this year.
Clearly there is no choice but to cut my loses now and ride the Mets wagon of joy forever and ever from here on out until we (the mets) win multiple world series championships and I can die in peace.
I'm sad this is the last year of Shea Stadium.
I'm quitting my job and buying season tickets ASAP.. I'm moving to Queens even. I'll live on a bench outside the stadium and sell hot dogs during the day to make money.
It's the only choice I have.
Come on up and meet the METS!
Go Braves Go!
Okay, so recent history has gone better when I don't post about this... but... I still have a tiny glimmer of hope left in the season. Mets are streaking downward and we start a big series with the Brewers tonight. Let's go Braves! Kick it up a notch!
2007 National League Standings
EAST W L PCT GB HOME ROAD RS RA STRK L10
NY Mets 84 67 .556 - 40-34 44-33 737 678 Won 1 4-6
Philadelphia 82 70 .539 2.5 43-32 39-38 841 785 Lost 1 7-3
Atlanta 79 73 .520 5.5 41-36 38-37 770 696 Won 4 6-4
Washington 68 84 .447 16.5 39-38 29-46 621 730 Lost 1 5-5
Florida 65 87 .428 19.5 32-42 33-45 736 833 Lost 4 4-6
2007 National League Wild Card Standings
NATIONAL W L Pct GB HOME ROAD RS RA STRK L10
San Diego 84 67 .556 - 46-31 38-36 676 600 Won 6 7-3
Philadelphia 82 70 .539 2.5 43-32 39-38 841 785 Lost 1 7-3
Colorado 80 72 .526 4.5 47-30 33-42 789 721 Won 4 6-4
LA Dodgers 79 73 .520 5.5 41-34 38-39 692 659 Lost 4 4-6
Atlanta 79 73 .520 5.5 41-36 38-37 770 696 Won 4 6-4
Milwaukee 78 73 .517 6 47-27 31-46 741 724 Lost 1 6-4
On the other side of the coin, the Yankees are only 1.5 games back from the Red Sox.
Braves-Mets. One more time.
Braves crushed the Mets last night 13-5 to bring everything back to reality. Thankfully even if they lose, they'll at worst be tied for the season series. This isn't completely acceptable, but a losing record would be unacceptable. Now for a preview of the final game of the season series...
Braves banking on Smoltz to deliver
By Jeff Lutz / MLB.com
The Braves took out their recent frustrations with a 13-5 win over the Mets on Tuesday, a run total that represented Atlanta's most against New York since Sept. 27, 2006.
One win hasn't often turned into a streak for the Braves this season, but they need several more to improve their playoff chances.
After Tuesday's win, the Braves sat five games out in the race for the National League Wild Card, though they're still behind five teams.
Before Tuesday, the Braves had lost four in a row and five of their past six games against the Mets, the factor largely responsible for their position in the NL East, trailing New York by 8 1/2 games.
"It was nice to get a win like this," Atlanta right fielder Jeff Francoeur said. "Now we've got to get a bunch more."
Before the Braves can even think about the NL Wild Card, however, they need to catch the Phillies for second place in the East. The Phillies' loss to the Rockies on Tuesday put the Braves 2 1/2 behind for second place.
John Smoltz starts for the Braves in the series finale against the Mets on Wednesday night at Shea Stadium. Smoltz's presence on the mound means that he'll have to be at his best to win -- he hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his 13 wins this season.
Atlanta's elimination number in the NL Wild Card is 15. That number means any combination of Braves losses and wins by the Padres, who lead the standings, will send Atlanta home for the second straight October.
It's a long shot, but Atlanta is still holding on to the slimmest of hopes.
"We've got to reel off some wins," manager Bobby Cox said. "There's no reason to throw in the towel."
Pitching matchup
ATL: RHP John Smoltz (13-7, 3.02 ERA)
Since July 18, Smoltz is 4-2 in 11 starts with a 2.96 ERA. His numbers during that stretch indicate that he should have a better record. In his five no-decisions, Smoltz hasn't allowed more than three runs.
NYM: RHP John Maine (14-9, 3.80 ERA)
Maine beat the Braves on Aug. 31 in the first game of a series that turned into a three-game sweep by the Mets. Since winning his 10th game on July 5, Maine is just 4-5 with a 5.86 ERA.
Player to watch
Braves second baseman Kelly Johnson has two hits, including a triple, in five career at-bats against Maine.
Braves vs Mets…. again
So the season series with the Mets is completely tied up at 8-8 after the Braves have dropped 4 in a row. All that's left for salvation with this season is winning this game and hopefully the next game vs the Mets to at least keep it even. I am already mailing in this season and looking forward to next year. Braves need 2 new starting pitchers, a healthy Dotel and Gonzalez in the bullpen, and a new center fielder that can hit for average. So.... good luck.
Time is of the essence for Braves
By Jeff Lutz / MLB.com
The Braves stayed afloat in the National League East in the middle of the season because of their success against the first-place Mets. Atlanta's downfall in the standings can be attributed to their recent struggles against New York.
Atlanta won seven of the first nine games against the Mets this season, a record that helped the Braves never fall more than 4 1/2 games out of first place before Aug. 18.
But with their win on Monday in the first game of a three-game set at Shea Stadium, the Mets have now won five of the past six contests against the Braves, and Atlanta sits 9 1/2 games behind New York in the NL East and five games out of the NL Wild Card standings.
Offensive deficiencies have kept the Braves from repeating their early-season success against New York. In the past four games, all Mets wins, the Braves have scored just six total runs.
It certainly didn't help that on Monday the Braves were without sluggers Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones. Chipper strained his right oblique during batting practice, and Andruw was scratched from the lineup because of an illness.
"The last four games against the Mets, we've averaged just a shade over one run a game," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "You're not going to win a bunch of them scoring less than two runs."
Even though Atlanta's chances to win the NL East are all but fading, the Braves still have a chance to make up ground on the four teams they're trailing for the NL Wild Card. Many of those teams were idle on Monday, but the Braves missed their opportunity to make up at least half a game.
Instead, the Braves are looking at missing the postseason for the second straight year, a dubious fate they hadn't reached previously since 1989-90. Atlanta isn't giving up hope, though.
"We're not giving up," Cox said. "We know we have to win, and that's the only way we can look at it now."
Pitching matchup
ATL: RHP Buddy Carlyle (8-6, 5.21 ERA)
Carlye exited after just 1 2/3 innings and 45 pitches in his start against the Philies on Sept. 4, the shortest start of his career. Since Aug. 12, Carlyle is 1-3 in five starts with an 8.57 ERA.
NYM: RHP Orlando Hernandez (9-4, 3.32 ERA)
Hernandez hasn't lost since July 4, and he returns to the rotation after missing with a start with a right foot injury. In 10 starts since Independence Day, El Duque is 5-0 with a 3.45 ERA.
Player to watch
Both Joneses are the only Braves with any extended success against Herandez, but their status for Tuesday is uncertain. Second baseman Kelly Johnson has two hits, including a homer, in five career at-bats against El Duque.
Glavine/Smoltzie
Braves try to at least win a game from this series and keep their bid for the NL East crown alive.
Smoltz hopes to take finale vs. Glavine
By Jeff Lutz / MLB.com
John Smoltz and Tom Glavine will square off on the mound for the fourth time this season, but talk about milestones and about the past will take a backseat since both Atlanta and the Mets are more worried about where they'll be in October.
The last time good friends and former Atlanta teammates Smoltz and Glavine met, Smoltz picked up his 200th career victory. Now Glavine returns for the first time since winning his 300th game on Aug. 5 in what could be his final appearance before the fans at Turner Field who once adored him.
Smoltz will leave such sentimentality to the fans, who finally gave Glavine a standing ovation when the 41-year-old left-hander was honored before Friday's game. The Atlanta ace is focusing on the task at hand -- trying to help the Braves climb out of a 6 1/2-game hole in the National League East.
"I'm just going to approach it as what it is," Smoltz said of his matchup on Sunday against Glavine in the final game of a three-game series. "We're fortunately in the midst of a pretty good race. The other stuff will take a back seat right now."
This will be the fourth meeting between Smoltz and Glavine this season. Smoltz is 2-0 in the head-to-head matchups and the Braves have won all three previous meetings.
Those victories, however, don't put Atlanta in first place, and the Braves still covet the position of the Mets, who are looking to win the NL East for the second straight season after Atlanta won it 11 times in a row.
The Braves haven't had a winning month since April, and they went just 4-6 on a recent road trip against three teams -- Cincinnati, St. Louis and Florida -- who were all under .500 when the series started.
"We've played our way into this," Smoltz said. "Now, the only thing we can do is play our way out of it."
Glavine won 242 games with the Braves from 1987-2002, but is just 3-11 against his former team since joining the Mets.
With his career possibly entering its final month, Glavine can look back fondly about his time with the Braves, when he reached the postseason 11 times and pitched in rotations featuring fellow future Hall of Famers Smoltz and Greg Maddux.
"That's something that, for me personally, was pretty special," Glavine said. "I think that's a threesome that will go down in the history of baseball as one of the very best."
Pitching matchup
ATL: RHP John Smoltz (12-6, 3.06 ERA)
Smoltz pitched on three days' rest for the first time since June 2006 in his last start. He didn't earn the victory, but he pitched six innings and allowed three runs against the Marlins while taking a no-decision in Florida's win. Since July 2, Smoltz is 3-1 with a 3.05 ERA, and in his career against the Mets, he is 17-13 with 24 saves in 66 appearances.
NYM: LHP Tom Glavine (11-6, 4.15 ERA)
Glavine sits at 301 wins after following win No. 300 with a victory two starts later against the Nationals. Glavine hasn't lost since July 2, going 4-0, with his last two wins coming on the road. In his two starts against the Braves this season, Glavine is 0-2 with a 5.29 ERA.
Player to watch
Atlanta center fielder Andruw Jones has 16 hits in 41 at-bats against Glavine for a .390 average. Half of those hits are for extra bases -- four doubles and four home runs.
Braves vs Mets Game 14
James makes return against rival Mets
By Jeff Lutz / MLB.com
The return of left-hander Chuck James couldn't come soon enough for the Braves, who have had a tough time finding production from the back end of the rotation during the last month.
James will be activated from the disabled list to start on Saturday against the Mets. James was put on the disabled list on Aug. 21 with shoulder soreness, but the Braves could sure use his healthy left arm.
Atlanta got just three wins in August from starters other than Tim Hudson and John Smoltz, and all three came from Buddy Carlyle. James had his hand in the problems, going 0-1 in three August starts with an 8.59 ERA.
The Braves need James to return to his July form. In that month, he was 2-1 in five starts with a 2.48 ERA, and from June 29-July 25, he had a 1.47 ERA.
Rookie right-hander Mike Pelfrey will start for the Mets, looking for his first win since he won his first two big league starts in July 2006. Pelfrey is 0-7 with the Mets this season and has also struggled in Triple-A, going 3-6 with a 4.01 ERA with New Orleans.
Pitching matchup
ATL: LHP Chuck James (9-9, 4.22 ERA)
James hasn't won since July 31, when he turned in five innings of four-run ball at home against the Astros. His activation from the disabled list, coupled with the roster expansion, will mean that rookie left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes will spend the final month of the season in Atlanta's bullpen.
NYM: RHP Mike Pelfrey (0-7, 5.92 ERA)
Pelfrey got the nod in place of Brian Lawrence over Philip Humber, who doesn't have a Major League start under his belt and whose only two career appearances came last season. Pelfrey last started with the Mets in the second game of a doubleheader against Washington on July 28, picking up a no-decision while allowing three runs in six innings.
Player to watch
Mets second baseman Jose Reyes has five hits in nine career at-bats against James, including a home run and a double.
Braves vs Mets
Yeah boys!
Time for another series against the Mets! The most exciting time we have covering baseball around here. Mets have lost 5 in a row. Braves have pitter-puttered. Phillies have won 5 in a row.
The current NL East standings shake out like this.
Mets 73-60 .549 -
Phils 71-62 .534 2.0
Braves 69-65 .515 4.5
So the Braves still have their work cut out for them. Anything is possible. Sweeping the Mets will probably land the Phillies in first by the end of the weekend. There is still about 5 weeks left in the season. It is basically September so it's showtime now. If the Braves 3-4-5 starters can get quality starts 60% of the time and Hudson and Smoltz keep holding it down, we should be able to wrap up the season nicely. A lot depends of course.
I'm sure Mr.Met has a different opinion on this matter, but he doesn't have much to say when it comes to the Mets' 4-8 record vs the Braves this season or the fact that they have lost 5 in a row. But I know exactly what he will say and it will most likely have the name PEDRO attached to it... HA! Exactly, Pedro. 'Nuff said.
Now for a preview of tonights matchup of Hudson vs Maine from Braves.com...
Hudson on hill to open crucial Mets set
By Tom Keller / MLB.com
It might not be now or never for Atlanta, but it's getting close.
With a frustrating 10-game road trip in their rear-view mirror, the Braves return to Turner Field on Friday to begin a critical three-game set with the National League East-leading Mets. Atlanta finds itself in third place behind New York entering the weekend, meaning that the Braves likely will need to take at least two of three to stay within striking distance in the division.
"We've got to win some games, it's as simple as that," manager Bobby Cox said. "There's no magic formula. If we win, we know we're doing something right."
The Braves will pin their hopes for the opener on Tim Hudson, who has already beaten the Mets twice this season. The right-hander has allowed three runs and 14 hits in 14 innings against New York, and he's 9-1 in his last 10 decisions overall. He has lasted at least six innings in all but five of his 28 starts this season.
The Braves will hope for a repeat performance against Mets starter John Maine, who allowed six runs in 5 1/3 innings in a loss to Atlanta earlier this month. Maine is 1-3 with a 7.77 ERA in five August starts.
These two teams have played four series so far this season, with Atlanta taking two of three each time. A similar result would go a long way in propelling the Braves' playoff bid.
"We've got one month left," John Smoltz said. "We've just got to find a way."
Pitching matchup
NYM: RHP John Maine (13-8, 3.68 ERA)
The Dodgers tagged Maine for six runs on Sunday, though few of their nine hits were particularly hard ones. An error, a bunt single and several bloops created the bulk of the offense, and three of Maine's six runs were unearned. All that led to a high pitch count. Maine lost in his previous start against the Braves this year, also allowing six runs.
ATL: RHP Tim Hudson (15-6, 3.23 ERA)
Hudson had a string of nine straight wins snapped when he lost to the Cardinals his last time out. He allowed five runs -- his highest mark in nine starts -- on nine hits in five innings. Hudson is 7-2 with a 3.39 ERA against the Mets in 10 career meetings with them.
Player to watch
Mets left fielder Moises Alou has four hits in six at-bats against Hudson this season. He has hit safely in 17 of his last 18 games.
Bobby Cox being Bobby Cox
Cox gets ejected for major league-record 132nd time
ATLANTA -- After going 7½ weeks without getting tossed, Bobby Cox finally passed John McGraw for the most ejections in baseball history Tuesday night.
The Atlanta Braves manager was thrown out by plate umpire Ted Barrett for arguing a called third strike on Chipper Jones to end the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants.
It was the 132nd ejection of Cox's career, eclipsing the mark that McGraw set during his Hall of Fame career.
"Just routine arguing balls and strikes, and he was ejected for that," Barrett said. "Nothing out of the ordinary from other ejections."
Jones struck out with runners at second and third and the Braves trailing 3-0. They rallied to win 5-4.
"Bobby had kind of been biting his tongue lately," Jones said. "He was embarrassed by the record. But it was inevitable. He's too passionate about the game."
After taking a pitch over the inside corner from Jack Taschner, Jones flipped his bat some 80 feet toward the Braves dugout, then flung his helmet nearly as far. He also shouted a couple of obscenities before heading to his position at third base.
Moving quickly to take the heat off his player, Cox began arguing from the dugout and was tossed by Barrett. The manager then trotted onto the field, carrying on an animated conversation with the ump for a couple of minutes before heading back to the dugout -- and on to the clubhouse.
"It's nothing," Cox said of the record. "It just means I've been around a long time, that's all."
Most fans and media were unaware that Cox had been ejected. An announcement was made in the press box before the start of the sixth inning, but no acknowledgment was made to the crowd.
Still, the ejection seemed to fire up the Braves. The scored four runs in the sixth and won it on Jones' run-scoring double in the ninth.
"It lit a fire under our butts," said Mark Teixeira, who led off the sixth with a homer. "I'm sure Bobby got his money's worth."
And, yes, the winning hit came from the very same player who was in the middle of Cox's record-setting ejection.
"It was like all the other times Bobby got tossed," Matt Diaz said. "He went out there and he had his player's back."
While baseball doesn't count ejections as an official stat, the Society for American Baseball Research came up with 131 ejections for McGraw. The manager known as "Little Napoleon" was tossed 14 times as a player, so Cox already held the mark for managers.
He tied McGraw's overall record during a June 23 game against the Detroit Tigers. Cox ran on the field hoping to keep catcher Brian McCann from getting ejected over a disputed strike call in the ninth inning.
They both wound up getting tossed by plate umpire Chad Fairchild.
After that, Cox managed to go 43 consecutive games without an ejection.