AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2008 > February > 18
Monday, February 18, 2008
Braves overshadowed by Mets-Phils talk
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It seems like most Braves either read Jayson Stark’s ESPN.com story about the matter or at least heard the latest quotes in the strengthening Phillies-Mets rivalry in the division once ruled by Atlanta.
The few Braves I talked to about it seemed to get a kick out of Mets CF Carlos Beltran’s statement, “This year, tell Jimmy Rollins we’re the team to beat.” They smiled or laughed, and no Brave seemed upset.
Hey, when you’ve finished third two years in a row, you probably figure it’s time just to let your performance do the talking and not worry about what others think.
A year ago Chipper Jones got a little peeved when Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins said, “I think we’re the team to beat — finally.” Chipper liked Rollins’ confidence (Chipper has been known to be a bit cocky and confident himself) but saw it as a lack of respect that Rollins, at that time, didn’t really include the Braves in the picture.
But when I asked Chipper about Beltran firing the latest salvo in the new marquee rivalry in the East, Hoss just smiled and said, “He did, didn’t he.” Almost like he could’ve imagined himself saying the same type of thing in the past, which, of course, he might have.
But now the Braves aren’t talking about lack of respect or how they shold be favorites or anything else. Andruw Jones was the guy who, each of the past couple of springs, said the Braves still had the same attitude, still expected to win.
Andruw’s gone now, and the Braves’ only active multi-year streak of note these days is their years away from the postseason — two.
But don’t for a moment believe they see themselves as no more than a long-shot candidate to win the division, the way some others do. The Braves genuinely believe they’ve put together a team fully capable of winning the division, despite the obviously strong opposition they’ll face in the Mets and Phillies.
“We’ll fly under the radar, Dave,” manager Bobby Cox told me this morning, and he smiled and left it at that.
Fans of the Braves and Mets, in their heart of hearts, realize their teams have big question marks in the rotations: For the Mets, Pedro Martinez still has to prove he’s anything close to being ace-version Pedro and can hold up over the course of a season. El Duque is as old as Methusalah (or as old as Julio Franco, take your pick).
Oliver Perez has had how many good seasons in five years? Oh, and do you really want aging Billy Wagner with the ball in the ninth inning of a really high-stakes, tied game? Really?
For the Braves, there’s Mark Kotsay’s back and the memory of new closer Rafael Soriano’s midseason 2007 homer binge and Mike Hampton’s elbow (and other body parts), though to be truthful, the Braves aren’t counting heavily on him. There’s medical wonder John Smoltz, who has shown little if any sign the past two years of his age or four elbow surgeries. But the fact is he’s 40 and, whether it’s this season or next or three years from now, at some point he’s going to begin slipping.
Same for Tom Glavine, who is 41 and said he would’ve retired if the Braves weren’t interested in bringing him back for this season (Mets fans would have you believe he’s already in full decline, that his last three starts in 2007 were the precipitous decline; most impartial observers would tell you it’s usually more of a gradual process, and Glavine was too good before those three starts to have done it with a shot arm).
The Phillies? They have MVP candidates in Rollins, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, but as talented as 1-2 starters Cole Hamels and Brett Myers are, Hamels still has to prove he can be a durable ace over the course of a season, and Myers is coming back from the bullpen. Then there’s the real rotation concerns: 45-year-old Jamie Moyer (that’s FORTY-FIVE) and Adam Eaton (6.29 ERA) and Kyle Kendrick, who had a good rookie season, but had only 49 K’s in 121 innings and, well, he’s hardly a proven commodity.
And speaking of closers, do you really want Brad Lidge with the ball in the ninth inning and, say, Albert Pujols at the plate?
Everybody’s got strengths, everybody’s got weaknesses. It’s a three-team race, and I think it’ll be a three-team race into September. How about you folks?
Gonna rain today: Weather’s been beautiful so far at Dark Star, but today it’s cloudy and a storm is approaching. Braves should be able to get their workout in before the rain. They’re already about halfway done.
Since the sky isn’t blue today, the song will be. Literally.
“Blue Sky” was written by Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts about his native American girlfriend, Sandy “Bluesky” Wabegigig. They were married for two years and had a daughter, Jessica, in 1972. He wrote “Jessica” a year later.
“Blue Sky” marked the first time Betts sang lead for the Allmans, and he later sang lead on their biggest hit, “Ramblin’ Man.”
Don’t say you never got musical history on the Braves/MIB blog — whether you wanted it or not.
“BLUE SKY” by Dickey Betts
Walk along the river, sweet lullaby, it just keeps on flowing,
It don’t worry ‘bout where it’s going, no, no.
Don’t fly, mister blue bird, I’m just walking down the road,
Early morning sunshine tell me all I need to know
You’re my blue sky, you’re my sunny day.
Lord, you know it makes me high when you turn your love my way,
Turn your love my way, yeah.
Good old Sunday morning, bells are ringing everywhere.
Goin’ to Carolina, it won’t be long and I’ll be there
You’re my blue sky, you’re my sunny day.
Lord, you know it makes me high when you turn your love my way,
Turn your love my way, yeah.
.JPG)
-1.JPG)
Services »
