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Friday, September 12, 2008
Braves make their last trip to Shea
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Flushing, N.Y. — Here’s a quick one before I head over to Shea Stadium for the opener of the Braves’ last scheduled visit to the fading behemoth of a stadium hard by the 7-train tracks.
The Braves would love nothing more than to follow up this week’s sweep of the Rockies by winning their last series at Shea, where the Braves had some memorable LCS games against the Mets, and where Chipper Jones had some of his finest moments during his 1999 MVP season (and plenty of others).
(Not to mention, the stadium where The Clash, The Who, The Beatles and Joe Willie Namath once played - yes, the Jets played here for a while).
But it ain’t going to be easy. Because the Metropolitans are rolling, folks. And Johan Santana is pitching every bit like the ace the Mets envisoned when they gave him that fat contract.
(Hey, before I forget, I should mention there’s a chance you fans in Atlanta will get to witness some important NL baseball this weekend - the Astros and Cubs are considering playing their series at Turner Field, the series that’s being moved from Houston because of Hurricane Ike. Stay tuned. I heard they were still in discussions, nothing final, but it could happen.)
Now, back to Braves-Mets. The Bravos come in on a bit of a roll - I almost forgot how to type that sentence, it’s been so long - having won six of their past nine games, including five of seven on the just-concluded homestand.
They are 6-3 with a 4.97 ERA, .314 team batting average and 62 runs scored in their past nine games, after going 4-17 with a 6.84 ERA, .259 average and just 80 runs in their previous 21 games. And in their past eight games, the Braves have an almost respectable (relatively speaking) 4.27 ERA.
But that all pales in comparison to the Mets, who have won 20 of their past 27 games and belted 36 homers in their past 26 games, fueled by the resurgent Carlos Delgado, who has hit well against the Braves throughout his career.
(Wait, I almost forgot: Anyone heard the new Metallica album out today? I’ve not heard anything yet, curious to get a review from someone today. OK, back to the Mets….)
Delgado looked done, finished, wiped out, old, while hitting .229 with 11 homers, 35 RBI and a .306 OBP and .396 slugging percentage during his first 75 games this season through June 26.
Well, he was a long way from finished.
In 67 games since then, Delgado has hit .304 with 24 homers, 69 RBI, a .395 OBP and .648 slugging percentage, and some observers - at least ones from New York - are trumpeting him for MVP consideration.
I can’t see that happening, no way. Not when Albert Pujols and others have put up the numbers they’ve put up this season. Delgado might be the second-half MVP, but I don’t know of anyone who hands out that award.
As for Santana, he’s pitching tonight. And he’s blazing. The lefty is 6-0 with a 2.31 ERA in his past 13 starts, with a .216 opponents’ average, 22 walks and 72 strikeouts in 89-2/3 innings. He’s got two complete games in that stretch, and he’s pitched 10 consecutive quality starts entering tonight.
This run followed a stretch in which Santana went 0-4 in five starts from June 6-28, despite a sparkling 2.53 ERA in that winless stretch. The Mets scored one run while he was in three of those games, and two in another.
Santana is still looking for his first win against the Braves, who’ve beaten him twice this season despite him giving up only four earned runs in 14 innings in those games, in April and May.
The former Twins ace is 0-3 with a 2.81 ERA in four starts against the Braves, who’ve hit far better (.301 average) in those 25-2/32 innings against him than most other teams have during his career.
By the way, Santana is 7-3 with a 2.24 ERA in 14 home starts this season, including 4-0 with a 1.45 ERA in his past six.
He’s matched against Mike Hampton tonight, which makes it three tough counterparts that Hampton will have faced in his past four starts, including Florida’s Josh Johnson in consecutive starts Aug. 27 and Sept. 1.
Skip Caray T-shirts: The long-awaited new batch of Skip T’s is in, and Jake Cook (radio producer extraordinaire and T-shirt designer) tells me that the denizens can get them here
Proceeds are going to the Caray Family’s preferred charities, though Jake couldn’t put that on the eBay ad because of the hoops they make you jump through to set that up as a non-profit entry.
Massive burger: If you live in the Atlanta area and have never had a “Ghetto Burger” (that’s the name on the menu) from Ann’s on Memorial Drive, you should do so at your first chance. I had my first one Thursday.
The joint (and that’s what it is) is not far from the ballpark, just a shack of a place with a screened-in front porch and about eight stools at the inside counter. Wait outside until Ann is ready for you to come in (seriously).
It takes her about 20 minutes to cook the massive gut-buster of a burger, start-to-finish. The Ghetto Burger goes for $7.75, but get the combo, with fries and a drink (great sweet tea).
It’s the biggest burger I’ve ever eaten, by far. The whole mess is nearly two pounds, with fries. It’s got chili, onions, cheese, two slabs of beef and mayo (I, of course, had her hold the mayo, because I do not eat mayo, as I’ve said before.)
It’s one of the best five burgers I’ve ever (Wall Street Journal rated it No. 1 in the nation, but I’m sticking with Le Tub in Hollywood Beach, Fla., as my No. 1).
“DOWN THERE BY THE TRAIN” by Tom Waits (written for Johnny Cash to perform)
There’s a place I know where the train goes slow
Where the sinner can be washed in the blood of the lamb
There’s a river by the trestle down by sinner’s grove
Down where the willow and the dogwood grow
You can hear the whistle, you can hear the bell
From the halls of heaven to the gates of hell
And there’s room for the forsaken if you’re there on time
You’ll be washed of all your sins and all of your crimes
If you’re down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there where the train goes slow
There’s a golden moon that shines up through the mist
And I know that your name can be on that list
There’s no eye for an eye, there’s no tooth for a tooth
I saw Judas Iscariot carrying John Wilkes Booth
He was down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there by the train
He was down there where the train goes slow
If you’ve lost all your hope, if you’ve lost all your faith
I know you can be cared for and I know you can be safe
And all the shamefuls and all of the whores
And even the soldier who pierced the side of the Lord
Is down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there where the train goes slow
Well, I’ve never asked forgiveness and I’ve never said a prayer
Never given of myself, never truly cared
I’ve left the ones who loved me and I’m still raising Cain
I’ve taken the low road and if you’ve done the same
Meet me down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there where the train goes slow
Meet me down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there where the train goes slow
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