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KTE: The Mets sweep into Atlanta...

Rockin' Doc Apr 06 2007 05:26 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Apr 06 2007 11:09 PM

The Mets travel to Atlanta to take on the Braves in a three game series over the Easter weekend. Both teams are sporting perfect 3-0 records after series sweeps on the road to open their seasons. After missing the post-season for the first time since 1990, the Braves retooled and are expected to once again contend for the NL East divisional title. The Jones boys (Chipper and Andruw) are still the heart of the Braves line up, but a collection of proven veterans (Renteria) and experienced youngsters (Francoeur , Langerhans, and McCann) offer enough offensive support to make the line up formidable. The Mets hope to show that they are again the team to beat and the road to the division crown now leads to Shea Stadium. Who’s Starting? Friday, April 6th @ 7:35 PM - Oliver Perez (LHP) vs. Mark Redman (LHP) – Oliver Perez, the erratic left hander makes his first start of the season for the Mets. The Mets are hoping that a spring with Rick Peterson will help the young lefty regain the form he flashed as a starter with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2002. He is only 25 years old and he has electric stuff so there is hope he can become a solid contributor to the Mets rotation. The Braves will counter with Mark Redman, a 33 year old journeyman lefty. Redman won 11 games last season for a Kansas City Royals team that was 62-100. He should receive far more support from his new team. Saturday, April 7th @ 3:55 PM – Tom Glavine (LHP) vs. John Smoltz (RHP) – Two old golf buddies will face off in an afternoon showdown. Glavine, the future Hall of Fame lefty got the Mets rotation off to a good start in the season opener in St. Louis and will look to throttle the Braves attack with his sinker and change up. John Smoltz isn’t much for finesse. He will challenge the Mets hitters with his fast ball and slider. Smoltz was dominant (11-5, 2.92) at Turner Field last season, so Glavine will need to be on his game. Sunday, April 8th @ 1:05 PM – Orlando Hernandez (RHP) vs. Kyle Davies (RHP) – The Mets will be hoping that Hernandez’s record of success (3-0 career) in Turner Field continues. Hernandez will look to confuse the Braves by throwing everything but the kitchen sink up to the plate (and he would likely throw that too if only it were legal). Bobby Cox will send young Kyle Davies to the mound. Davies had a tough rookie season last year and the Mets hitters will likely be licking their chops after facing Smoltz in game two of the series. Who’s in the Pen? The Mets will rely on Aaron Heilman (RHP) and Pedro* Feliciano (LHP) to handle the tough outs in the 7th and 8th innings, then hope that they can hand closer Billy Wagner (LHP) a lead in the 9th. Of course, Mets fans will be hoping that the Mets are winning in blowouts so we can instead watch Sele, Burgos, and Smith do some mop up innings. The Braves have never been known for their bullpen, but that could change this season. Bobby Cox has a rebuilt bullpen that is expected to be vastly improved over the bullpen by committee mess he had last year. New additions Mike Gonzalez (LHP) and Rafael Soriano (RHP) were acquired after having solid campaigns in 2006 for the Pirates and Mariners respectively. They are expected to reliably get games to closer Bob Wickman (RHP). It is doubtful that the Braves will compile 29 blown saves this season as they did in 2006. Who’s Hot? The Mets are damn it! After mauling the Cardinals in a 3 game sweep in St. Louis, the Mets are hitting .292 as a team and scored 20 runs during the 3 game series. The pitching staff allowed only 2 earned runs to the Cardinals and is sporting a 0.67 team ERA. Of course, such gaudy numbers can’t hold up for too long, but they point to a team that has started the season strong. Paul LoDuca, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran have opened the season with hot bats. Not to be outdone by the offense, the pitchers dominated the first series of the season. Apparently, almost everyone the Mets sent to the mound looked like Cy Young to the Cardinals. Atlanta’s catcher Brian McCann and shortstop Edgar Renteria are on fire to start the season. The two of them carried the Braves offense against the Phillies. They combined to go 13-27 with 4 home runs and 9 RBI’s against the Phillies. Who’s Chillin’? Jose Valentin and Carlos Delgado didn’t contribute much to the Mets hit parade in St. Louis. Any Braves hitter not named McCann or Renteria. *Upon Edit: Restored sight to Pedro Feliciano.

Gwreck Apr 06 2007 05:36 PM

Nice job to get us started with the KTEs this season! X-Mets: Chris Woodward, Tyler Yates. X-Braves: Glavine, Julio Franco.

Kid Carsey Apr 06 2007 05:40 PM

KTE bar has been set.

cooby Apr 06 2007 07:34 PM

Rockin' Doc, are they on our old friend TBS?

Rockin' Doc Apr 06 2007 10:47 PM

Yes, maam. It's great to have already watched 3 Mets games in this young season.

metirish Apr 06 2007 10:48 PM

Thanks for the KTE Doc...

Edgy DC Apr 06 2007 10:51 PM

The Mets have to stop wasting a roster spot carrying a blind folk singer in the bullpen.

Rockin' Doc Apr 06 2007 11:07 PM

Oops! Thanks for catching my error. My apologies to Pedro.

cooby Apr 06 2007 11:09 PM

Chico, don't be dis-cour-aged...

Frayed Knot Apr 07 2007 08:48 AM

btw, That 3:55 time for Saturday is actual first pitch time for the game. This game will be the national TV game (for most of the country anyway) on FOX network and they've moved their GotW from the early afternoon (EDT) slot to the later one this year and chose the unusual 3:55 time in an attempt to get more of them finished by 7PM and not screw up the affiliates' Saturday night schedule.