ajcsportstalk

By Notre Don't

January 30, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this

I hope the Mets also accquire an egg. That way they can put it in their shoe and beat it. Mets stink.

By ozzy

January 30, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this

This only reduces the chances on Braves winning NL East again in the near future. The only positive about the deal is that since Mets would be paying close to 25 mil/year, they won’t have much money left to upgrade their offense.

By STRETCH

January 30, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this

Why is everybody making a big deal about this guy? He went 15-13 last year! But i will say to management…SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!

By phatt

January 30, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this

FIRST!!!!

The Mutts are OLD. Santana is a HUGE pick up, but other than that what do they have???

I do think the Braves need 1 more Starter to sew things up. Hampton is worthless and who knows if Chuckie get’s better. Jurrjens is the sleeper in the rotation. Don’t forget the name, if I spelled it right…

By Bama

January 30, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this

Who wouldn’t rather have Santana than Glavine? Yes, The Mets just went up one on the Braves. Its a Gamble with the Braves Staff because you never know what the old and new are going to do. Wrens should have got a proven starter beside Old man Glavine. What else is new?

By Steven

January 30, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this

Yep, the Mets basically made themselves the big dogs in the NL buy grabbing Santana. I really can’t see the Mets imploding this year. Thank God for the Wild Card.

By Big Ed

January 30, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this

Santana should be more successfull in the NL because he will be facing weaker teams and no designated hitter. AL power hitting teams such as the Tigers roughed him up last year. He only won two more games than he lost. It will be interesting to watch the first half of the season to see who will have the advantage, Santana or the hitters. I think the Mets, once again, over paid and will not get to the world series.

By frostbite

January 30, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this

Having watched Santana pitch here in Minnsota, he is a tough leftie with a world class change. Don’t be decieved by the won-loss last year..poor run suppoort and some AL hitters are seeing the guy better. He’ll win 20; but Pedro is all but used up. Braves needs one more arm, will they get it?

By lazermike

January 30, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this

Ah, yes — the Mutts are so old and have no one else. I’ve already forgotten about Reyes, Wright, and Beltran — all of whom are younger than the Braves’ best hitter, Larry Wayne. And those young, young Braves, with their top two starters over 40. The Mets have three starters under 30 now. But one more starter will “sew things up” for the Braves.

By Matt the Brave

January 30, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this

Ok, the Mets have one pitcher who can pitch. Amazing. They lost their #1 last year to us, their #2 still is iffy because of his shoulder, and their #3 the major sports websites still are wondering if last year was his fluke year. They bet the farm and probably lost. Santana will be great for this year, probably next, but after that his arm will probably do a Pedro. The Mets do get better with this pickup, but they still don’t have the starting rotation to compete with the Braves and Phillies.

Just for a breakdown, here are the competing rotations between the Braves and Mets:

1) Smoltz 2) Hudson 3) Glavine 4) Hampton (if healthy) 5) James/Jurrjens/Bennett/Carlyle

1) Santana 2) Martinez (if healthy) 3) O. Perez 4) Maine 5) Hernandez/Pelfrey/Vargas (if ready)/Sosa (if he doesn’t make Willie Randolph mad)

I would take Smoltz over Santana three out of five times against the Mets lineup and Santana against the Braves lineup.

By George G.

January 30, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this

The Mets are the Mets. Being the best team on paper hasn’t work for them in them in the past, and it won’t work for them in 2008. Enjoy the implosion redux Mets fans.

By KEEF1234

January 30, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this

I’d rather have 8 star studs surrounding two 42 year old hall of fame pitchers + Hudson than Santana, surgically repaired Pedro and six 38 year olds + Wright and Reyes… Braves win division by 4 games instead of 6 games

By Avery

January 30, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

Definitely makes the Mets much better, but before the trade, I was picking them to finish third in the division. Now they will at least contend for the division, if not win it. This doesn’t concern me too much, as I would love for the Braves to win the wild card. Just look at what wild card teams have done in the last 10 years.

Finally, let me say that Santana is only slightly better than Smoltz. Granted, this will change in three years. Our staff is still just slightly below the Mets. If we could get Bedard (impossible), we would blow the Mets out of the water.

I hate the Mets.

By big poppa

January 30, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this

HAHAHAHA - you Braves fans are hilarious!!! Your team is pure garbage. Glavine at best will go 10-10. You have been a third place team the last two years, and did nothing to improve yourselves. Tex is a great player but not enough to get you out of third. Admit that the Mets got the most dominant pitcher in baseball, and remember that he is now pitching in the NL.

By Mdub45

January 30, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this

Yeah, adding Santana was a big move. But the guy went 15 - 13 last year. He also had a so-so line-up behind him. He’ll get an upgrade with the Mets. The thing that scares me is not Johan and Pedro back-to-back. It’s the fact that they likely throw Orlando Hernandez, Oliver Perez, and Santana in a three game series with the Braves. It seems like lefties with a sweeping delivery and a good breaking pitch shut the Braves down. Look at what those two guys and guys like Cole Hamels have done to them.

By KW

January 30, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this

Let’s see… The Mets subtract Tom Glavine who won 13 games last year and add Santana… Sure Santana is the best pitcher in the majors but I can’t say this makes the Mets instant 95 game winners. They’ll win a lot of games but they aren’t a lock to win the division. A lot depends on Pedro if they are going to blow everyone away.

I think a lot really depends on the Braves who practically got nothing from starters 3-5 last year. Now they have a consistent starter in Glavine for the #3 but what about 4 and 5? Hope someone has a great year. At least this spring training means a lot more options to choose from and if someone goes down they may have someone who can pick up the slack. They didn’t have this last year.

But then Smoltzie and Glavine are one year older and who knows if Smoltz still has it in him…

By ck

January 30, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this

The answer is currecntly in Baltimore…The Braves need to go after Bedard…He is not Santana but he is an ace on any team. An infusion of youth into the pitching staff will not only help the Braves this year but also in the years to come.

Bedard would benefit from the experience of Smoltzie and Glavine, and the Braves could forget about Hampton. He is the weak link. Hampton hasn’t pitched in almost three years on any consistant basis and even if he is able to come back this year his stamina will certainly be questionable. He is this years Redman…. mark my words.

By Bowie

January 30, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

How is it everyone (FANS) can see the Braves need another starter except the Braves Brass? The Braves pitching staff has been a joke for last two years. Only Big John and Huds worth watching.

By lazermike

January 30, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this

Keep dreaming, Braves fans. If I understand you correctly, you make up eight games in the standings by adding Glavine and replacing Andruw with Kotsay while the Mets’s big change is replacing Glavine with the best pitcher in baseball. Who exactly are your eight star studs again? Does that include Kotsay? Matt Diaz?

By CFT

January 30, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this

The Mets could not of made a better deal to improve their ball club. This trade changes everything. Starting Pitching was the only element this team did not have the last 2 years. The Mets didn’t just improve their rotation, they got the best picher in baseball.

By ck

January 30, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this

so does anyone recall the current Braves hitters record of success against this newest monster pn the Mets staff. Tex has the most experience against him but i don’t know his average against santana.

By Dean

January 30, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

It may make things harder then again maybe not. There is always the risk of injury or a down year, especially when they are paying that much for one piece of the puzzle. Regardless, my Braves have assembled a team that is fun to watch and I hope they can get the division ring back and make another World Series run. Even if that doesn’t happen I will root on the Braves and whoever wins the EAST. Although, I’d prefer any of the other 3 options than the Mets or Phillies.

By darkdinner

January 30, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

You guys are funny. If you really want to support your 3rd best team, why don’t you start showing up at the stadium? Then maybe the Braves could afford to go after a guy like Santana. Larry eats it.

By keith

January 30, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

Are you guys maybe a partisan to the braves? I havent read one relevant point as to why the Braves wont finish in 3rd this season.

Few Points If i may.Please bare with me, the truth hurts.

For all the holes you point in Mets team - theyve still managed to win the division in 2006 and a playoff series and finish 2nd in 2007 after the worst collapse ever. They went 7-17 to end the season and STILL finished 4 games ahead of the Braves. Am i missing something?

The mets are old you say? Ridiculous. There starting roation will have three pitchers who under 30. The Braves rotation will have 3 picthers pushing 40. The braves have great young talent on the field. And yes Moises Alou and el duque are fossils and delgado is getting up there as well, but Reyes,Wright, and Beltran (our best three players) are 24,24, and 29. Come on guys, thats not old. Your just looking to poke holes through this deal out of jealousy and to convince yourselves you actually have a chance next year.

You dont even project the rotation correctly. 1Santana 2pedro 3maine 4perez 5 el duque Who mentioned Sosa as our #5? Whos brining up fantasy magazines that say maine and perez were a fluke last year? Educate yourself man before you criticize and look stupid. Most of you seem to be reacting out of anger or the need to make yourselves feel better because your team is inadequate.

What was the mets biggest offseason need, a true #1 starter. Well they didnt just get a #1, the got the best pitcher in the game.

Yea Santana 15-13 last season, but he struck out 235 batters, had a 3.33 ERA and had a 1.07 WHIP. He gave up more homers but less hits last year than the previous year. And the twins have him no run support. Now hes in the national league facing pitchers and garbage #8 hitters, in a pitchers park opposed to the astroturf metrodome, and even with a DH the twins scored 90 runs LESS than the mets last year. Think hell do a little better? I do Oh yea, and go check santana INterleague numbers. Pretty Dominanting.

Look you team is good and with mets collapse last year maybe you feel good about yourselves by pointing that out time and time again, but ill sit through all that this offseason, because when the year starts and your 8 games back by the All star Break, i doubt youll be singing the same tune.

By Caught Looking

January 30, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

Well, at least the Mets are trying to improve their them by actually getting proven players that are still healthy. The Braves are getting what? Aged veterans (Glavine), players who are lifetime members of the DL and unproven minor leaguers with ERA’s in three digits. The Braves have gone cheep. They are going the way of the Oakland A’s. You can start seeing the trend now. They will start trading away $$$ players in the future and add unproven rookies and minor leaguers. They are now the A’s and Royals of the NL. We have nothing to look forward too. The Braves will simply battle Florida for 3d place and hopefully keep the Nats in last place. As for winning the NL East, that is the Mets or Phillies. The Braves chances fall right in the middle of slim and none. I know I will not be making the 200 mile round trip to watch them this year.

By Ben

January 30, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

Yep, Mets aging lineup will keep them 3rd in the East. Santana for 6 years? Hmm, careful there. His ERA will continues to creep up in the 3.50 - 3.75 range. Braves win the division by 5 games in 2008. Book it!

By bill

January 30, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

Braves don’t need to panic but they need another starting pitcher. Braves: Please jump in on the Eric Bedard trade. Proposed trade- Braves send B. Jones,C.James,Bennett and C. Morton to O’s for Bedard. That’s alot to give up but the Braves need a top young pitcher. This staff is old. The Braves could sign a left handed hitter to platoon with Diaz in left until some of their top OF’s are ready.

By riggo

January 30, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

they’re not going to be great with the team they have anyway. 3d in the east.

By riggo

January 30, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

they’re not going to be great with the team they have anyway. 3d in the east.

By ck

January 30, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

Bedard would be cheaper than that Bill. he could be got for C James and bennett. but that seems a high price considering James is already in the rotation. I would be more inclined to give up 2 prospects much like the deal seattle is offering.

By Greg

January 30, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this

The Mets had to make this move, as they still have the stink of failure about them from September. I think the Braves and Phiiiies left them in the dust this offseason. Now it’s a three team race. New York has the best rotation, the Phiiiiies have the best offense and the Braves the best balance.

Play ball!

By Elmer

January 30, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

Who are we fooling; Braves will be lucky to finish 3rd again.

By Mitchell

January 30, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this

The Braves have no reason to panic as a result of this trade. Especially when considering the sheer amount of money and time that the Mets will have tied up in him. Santana will most likely not be worth his paycheck in 3-4 years, and the Mets will be stuck with him. This move could handicap them greatly moving into the next decade. Look for them to be a non-factor shortly.

By The voice or reason

January 30, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this

The Mets certainly did not weaken their 2008 ML roster any, but they could well have hurt themselves in the future. The whole key is Marinez and how much he has left. It is obvious that the Mets are not sure whether he is a Top of the Rotation pitcher any more of they would not have spent $100M on Santana. If Martinez cannot give the Mets 200 innings and 13 to 15 wins, they could well have big pitching problems. Their 3,4 and 5 starters exceed expectations last year and they still missed the playoffs. Say what you will about Glavine’s age, he is never hurt and always gives you 200 plus innings and 13 - 15 wins. You can count on it. This is a big upgrade for us in the 3 position over Chuckie who cannot get past the 5th. I would not annoint the Mets just yet

By phillip williams

January 30, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this

It is stupid to trade for a player for one year. If we can get Bedard to sign an extension, yes go get him. We gave up so much for a year and half of Tex, if we do not resign him. You can not win with this plan, and to continue is like my good friend Forrest Gump says, dumb,dumb, dumb!

By wilson

January 30, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this

I really thought we had a chance this year, but I know I would say there is a 20 % chance we wint the division. As far as the wild card is concerned. NL West anyone? I know it is wrong to hope for injuries, but what choice do i have. Can Schafer pitch?

By JimT

January 30, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this

Every time the Mets are coronated in April, they are out of it by July. I thought Pedro was supposed to pitch them to a title. How’d that work out?

By General Sherman

January 30, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

I love the comments about Atlanta winning the division. Give me a break. Those days ae long over. Even without Santana, the Braves are the 3rd best team in the division. You can have Glavine. He’s a mercenary choker. At least Atlanta fans can look forward to football. Oops, my bad!

By JimT

January 30, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

Every time the Mets are coronated in April, they are out of it by July. I thought Pedro was supposed to pitch them to a title. How’d that work out?

By Apaul404

January 30, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this

I hate to say it but IMO the wildcard is the best we can hope for this year. Hopefully our young pitching will improve this year. The offense should be fine with no banged up Andruw Jones to kill our rallies. But I’m still gonna be pulling for them anyway.

By Realist

January 30, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

This certainly makes the Mets contenders, but the Phillies should win the division…and I’m a long time Braves die-hard. Defensively up the middle this is the worst team since 1990. Kelly, I love ya man, but the misplays on easy outs are causing us 6 games a year. Additionally, while I believe 110% Andrew was an underachiever, defensively we will lose 3-4 game this year because he is not out there. That’s not armchair quarterbacking…that’s a statement in January. I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t believe so. Our bullpen is still extremely suspect. No lefty to speak of, the only positive is Glavine should eat some innings…at 4.44 ERA. Just hope we can go 24-8 against Nats and Flounders.

By alvin

January 30, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this

I’m concerned because the Braves don’t win many of the close pitching matchups. The Braves also have trouble hitting Pedro with the soft stuff along with Oliver Perez who they didn’t fare too well against last year. Add Santana even though his record wasn’t that good last year; but you got to believe he will be recovered from whatever caused him to lose velocity late last year. Hopefully I’m wrong and we beat the crap out of them.

By mark

January 30, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this

WHO CARES??? Now the Mets have 1 solid starter!! You can’t count that Pedro is coming to anything close to his dominating Red Sox days. They will have the same high powered offense and 1 solid starter. Now if he had gone to the PHillies??? I might be scared!!!!

By Barry Bonnell

January 30, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this

Uhh, the Mets are #2 in New York, and always #2. The only way the Mets go anywhere is on the bottom of a shoe.

By ChrisfromSacramento

January 30, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this

Well I am as die hard for the Braves as they come. On Monday I thought we would win the east and maybe win a series or two in October. Now I have doubts. The MUTTS are old but they are still really good. Johan is the best pitcher in the game. If his year last year was so bad then finishing 3rd in the CY is a year I hope any of our pitchers would have.

I hope and think Pedro will break down, but then the MUTTS will go out at the all star break and get more guys, spend more money. I am sick of NEW YORK money and BOSTON money.

Where is TED TURNER at. I wish we would trade for Eric Bedard.

You have to trade good players to get a good one back. Prospects are just that, unproven prospects. As long as we dont trade Jason Heyward. One more good starter and I think we are back on top.

Oh ya why didnt we sign Mike Cammeron. He was at a discount considering his 25 game susp.

I have read on here numerous times how the LIBERTY owners will spend more money. OK WERE.

I am confident, but worried.

PLEASE SIGN TEX!!!!!

By Realist

January 30, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this

Yeah..we had better sign Tex. I am so tired of renting players. Dotel, Mahay, etc…

By BTP

January 30, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this

This is the kind of move that should get Liberty & Wren jump started to sign Tex now and make a statement. If they don’t sign Tex…well then go ahead and put Mets down for ‘09.

By B-Dub

January 30, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

What is all this talk about Santana being the best pitcher in the bigs? I think Josh Beckett might have something to say about that! And by the way, i hope Santana can hit. Remember, he will have to swing the stick now! If he can’t hit, now it’s 9 vs. 8!!!

By lazermike

January 30, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this

If the Braves don’t sign Tex now, the Mets will sign him after the season to replace Delgado.

Then, after the Braves bring in Travis Lee to replace him, I look forward to reading posts on this blog that explain why the Braves will win the division by 10 games because they get more offense out of the catcher spot than New York does.

By Steve-O

January 30, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

I don’t understand why we don’t get Mr. Bedard from the O’s…..We just lost Andruw’s 13.5 million a year contract and we ALSO will be losing Hampton’s 14 million a year contract after this year. SO SIGN BEDARD WITH THAT MONEY AND TEX!!!! The money we signed Glavine with, was the money we were going to pay Edgar!!! So with Andruw and Hampton about to be gone, we will have the money to sign Tex and Bedard long-term. Also somebody mentioned Liberty was willing to spend more. So that gives us more manuevering room, right?? If I were Wren I would make this happen I don’t see why we didn’t get in on it to begin with?? Look what Seattle is offering!!!! Jeez, we can have Bedard for James/Reyes/OF Prospect EASY!!!!

By braves are cheap

January 30, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this

the braves are a bunch of corporate tightwad cheap losers. they’re trying to assemble a first-rate team with a second-rate budget. tell me what an old crusty glavine is going to do for us. and kotsay appears to be another chipper, those two will miss 60 games. i don’t trust soriano as the closer, given that horrible stretch he had last year. this year will be same as last two - a third place finish behind the phillies and mets.

By Steve

January 30, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this

While I think he is still a very good pitcher. I think the Twins must know something internally. If the guys is that great wouldn’t they have made a better effort to sign him long term? I see him on the DL for the METS!

By bjohndawg

January 30, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

Big Pappa and Gen Sherman: Y ou guys are full of it and yourself. 15-13 record last year is NOT dominant.

The mets every year have the so called better team on paper in NL East….always seem to come up on the short end of the stick.

Sherman, Funny how the Mets wanted Glavine back so badly they would pay him millions more per year that the Braves. Now that he signed with the Braves, he is suppose to be washed up.We will take Glavine any day…he is a gamer. The Mets are Chokers.Need prove, see last season. LOL

By METS62FAN

January 30, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

COUPLE OF POINTS: #1 EVEN THOUGH METS’ COLLAPSED OVER 2.5 WKS BRAVES DIDN’T CLOSE GAP.#2 PEDRO’S WORKLOAD JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT EASIER. #3 METS STILL WELL UNDER LUXURY TAX LIMIT #4 BRAVES FANS STOP LOOKING FORWARD, GLANCE BACK, NATS ARE CLOSING IN, THE IMAGE IS CLOSER THAN IT LOOKS!METS HAVE GOTTEN MUCH YOUNGER WHILE YOU WERE PONDERING YOUR COLLECTIVE NAVEL EX. GREEN REPL BY CHURCH, LoDUCA REPL BY SCHNEIDER, GLAVINE REPL BY SANTANA, VALENTIN REPL BY CASTILLO. BULLPEN IMPROVED WITH RETURNS OF SANCHEZ & PADILLA. TOP PITCHING PROSPECT & HITTING PROSPECT RETAINED & AVAILABLE. 3 DRAFT PICKS IN THE FIRST 40. HUGE TALENT POOL OF POTENTIALS IN DOMINICAN CAMPUS. EXPANDING INT’L FOOTPRINT. JUST INKED 3 AUSSIE PROSPECTS TO START RESTOCKING. FURTHER VERY BAD NEWS: DELGADO CONTRACT EXPIRATION COINCIDES WITH TEX’ CARE TO BET WHO’S POCKETS ARE DEEPER? METS SPECIALIZE IN THE LINGO. STILL WON’T DENT THE COFFERS OR EXCEED LUXURY TAX LINE. TRY TO TALK TO OLD TIME BRAVES FANS FROM THE 80’s YOU’LL GET THE PICTURE OF YOUR DESTINY. CORP OWNERSHIP RUINS SPORTS FRANCHISES ESP IN MLB.

By Penno

January 30, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this

Before the trade, the Mets weren’t even legit contenders in my mind. All this trade did was bring the Mets to the contender table. The trade did take away some of their pitching depth and trade deadline chips, so they better hope their older pitchers don’t see a lot of DL time. If Pedro and Orlando have trouble, they’ll be in the same boat the Braves were last year.

By Jakoub

January 30, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this

Guys, cmon. Let’s not kid ourselves here. The Mets are much improved than last year who still finished ahead of us. We lost Jones and Renteria. Glavine helps but we have seen how he can implode. Management has not made any moves, mainly because of money. And those who think the Mets will run out of money, I’ve been saying that about the Yanks for over a decade.

By Terrence0258

January 30, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this

The Braves have a major flaw, they are so fixated on getting a dominant offense to go with their pitching that they are slowly turning into the National League version of the Texas Rangers. I can’t believe i’m saying this but this will be the third straight season that the NY Mets will have a better pitching staff than the Braves, and if a couple of things go right in Philly we will have the third best in the division. We all love Tom Glavine but expecting a 40 year old soft tossing lefty to come in and make a huge impact with this staff would be absurd. We have two steady front of the rotation starters, a ridiculous offense, a bench that if javy lopez makes the team will have right and left hand power along with thorman, with 8 question marks as far as what kind of consistent result we will have on the mound. Going into 08 the Mets will have an entire starting rotation of guys who had under a 4 era last year. We will go into this season possibly not even knowing who our five man rotation will consist of. Also, if you Mike Hampton, Jo Jo Reyes or Jair Jurrjens will have a solid impact at the back of the rotation or as a long man from the bullpen you along with Frank Wren need to have your head examined. So for the question of if the Mets acquisition of Santana scares me, I must say no, but what does scare me is the thought of watching Chuck James and Buddy Carlyle throw important innings in a potential playoff run.

By matt

January 30, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this

B-dub- our pitchers aren’t worth a $&#( at the plate either so it’s not 9 on 8 but rather 8 on 8.

Also, to the guy who doesn’t think Santana is going to help because his record was 15-13….His era was in the low 3’s, pitched 200 innings and has an almost 5 to 1 K to BB ratio. Still think that W/L record means something?????

By lazermike

January 30, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

Hey bjohndawg: who choked the biggest for the Mets last year? Oh yeah. Glavine.

By Tommy

January 30, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this

The Mets mortgaged their future at a time when every other National League team is getting younger. They gave themselves a great chance at the pennant this year, true. But their window of opportunity is narrow. Pedro, Delgado, Wagner, even Beltran are highly paid and are aging fast. They have money, but not Red Sox/Yankees money, and without a stocked farm system to pump in some cheap talent to fill gaps, by 2010 they’re going to have johan, reyes, wright and a bunch of spare parts.

The Braves, meanwhile, keep spitting talent out of the system. Lillibridge, B. Jones, Schafer, etc. are all about to contribute. And after this season, Hampton’s contract goes away and smoltz and glavine likely retire. That’s about $40 million bucks right there. Even if Texiera leaves, they’ll just go get someone else, and thanks to so many home-grown players on the team making under $5 mil a year, they’ll have an incredible amount of flexibility.

No team can buy its way to continued success. The Yankees of the last 5 years proved that. You have to have a farm system and a management team that can leverage it effectively. The Mets have dealt every top-shelf prospect they had this offseason, and if they lose 1 or 2 key guys to injuries, they’re done.

If the choice is to have enough money to buy whatever player you want, vs. a quality scouting system and a management team that konws how to use it, I’ll take option B, thank you.

By Steve-O

January 30, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this

Who got you to where you were Lazer boy?? Oh yeh, Glavine….

By Ben

January 30, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

DOB,

I usually agree with you, but not on this Santana news. I maintain that he is the best pitcher in the bigs (not just that one could make the argument), and I think the Braves have catching up to do. Sure, before the Mets had Santana, the Braves had certain offseason objectives in order to compete, and I mostly agree - they achieved those (though they would’ve achieved them without getting Kotsay, in my opinion). But now that the Mets have Santana, I think the Braves have another objective to add to their list: keep up with the Mets. I think that means making a trade for a top notch pitcher. I realize that Bedard is probably the only one available, and potentially Seattle-bound, so we’re probably out of luck there. That would mean that the Braves just won’t be able to keep up with the Mets. Pitching-wise, our best bet might be next year, when Smoltz still has it going. But as the years drag on and Smoltz fades, Santana won’t fade for probably 4 or more years. Thus we really need to obtain an ace. Our priorities might have just changed: not so sure locking up Tex should be priority #1 anymore. However, if we don’t keep him, the Mets surely could take him!

By James

January 30, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

Remember, Glavine was a big part of that choke. Last three starts in ‘08, when the Mets really needed him, he was 0-2 with an ERA of 15.30, against the Nats and Marlins. That’s your #3 starter?

Also, why do Squaws fans ignore Oliver Perez and John Maine, both of whom won 15 games, averaged nearly a strikeout an inning, and are under 28 years old? Pretending they aren’t good doesn’t make it true.

By BjohnDawg

January 30, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this

LazerMike,

Last time I checked, baseball was a team sport.But hey you guys wanted him back.If he is such a choker, why did you want him back? Explain that.

Me,I can explain last years season for the Mets.

THE METS CHOKED.

Case Closed

By ItDontTakeNoPhreakinGenius

January 30, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this

So the Joneses(Mets) get rid of their old, worn out jalopy(Glavine) for a top of the line model(Santana) with all the options. Then the Smiths(Braves) buy the Jones’(Mets) old jalopy, and are glad to get it. Now the a lame newspaper(AJC) asks if the Smiths(Braves) should be concerned about keeping up with the Joneses(Mets), and staying in the race? Well you wouldn’t want to enter a donkey in the Kentucky Derby either, would you?

By Cooper

January 30, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

No question it makes them better. They still have some issues with rotation development (younger guys) and the age of their lineup.

I think Pedro still has gas in the tank and Johan will give him a competitive boost.

That said I saw the Mets as a 2-3 team in the NL East w/o the trade and now they are a 1-2.

The Braves need their rookies to shine and their pitching vets to hold together for a full season to make it as a WC or potential 2.

A division title would have been tough w/o Santana in the mix.

Not the end of the world but if Wren is watching another starter (Bedard ;) )would be nice.

By Ben

January 30, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

Tommy,

Yanks spent their money on offense, which rarely plays out well in the playoffs. The Red Sox on the other hand have spent their money and prospects largely on pitching in Schilling and Beckett. That’s worked out pretty well the last four years…

The mets just spent 4 prospects, and not their best ones, on the best pitcher in baseball. I see your point about them possibly entering some troubled waters in a couple years when they’re leaning on Santana for the pitching staff, but having Reyes and Wright will always give them a pretty stable offense. Their money situation will only get better over the years with the market and stadiium they’ve now got. I hate the mets, but i think your take is a little optimistic.

By Otis

January 30, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

Longtime Twins fan here. I’ve watched Santana for the last 5+ years. If you’re not impressed with his 15-13 record last year, consider that he had no offense behind him, he pitched half his games on a rubber infield, he frequently went head-to-head with other stoppers who had killer bats in their lineup, and he’s a heckuva nice guy. When he gets a lead, this guy is virtually unhittable. This is not good news for the Braves (I hate the Mets).

By lazermike

January 30, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this

I have nothing against Glavine. He’s a good pitcher, and he was good for the Mets. I just don’t see how you can call the Mets chokers and Glavine a gamer when it was Glavine who couldn’t get anyone out — literally — in the last game of the season in a must-win game.

By omark

January 30, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this

Dangit, I don’t like this at all. I was hoping the Braves were just gonna runaway with the division. Well at least it’ll be an exciting season. Why would the Twins make this trade instead of Lester/Ellsbury/+ or Hughes/Melky/+?

By JDW

January 30, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

This trade to the NL is great. Now folks in Atlanta can see Santana a few times a year.

By randyh

January 30, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this

please make a move for another bonified starter. remember the early 90’s ? it was pitching, defense and rockin leo..

By Chikara

January 30, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this

I do think that the Santana deal makes the Mets a threat, no matter how much I can’t stand them. The problem with the Braves won’t be matching their pitchers, it will be as always can the Braves hit? Without a true leadoff threat (why did they let Willie Harris go) the rest of the offense will sputter to score against the Arizonas and Mets of the NL.

As far as the Mets go, they are talented but aging rapidly. I think the Milledge deal will come back to haunt them almost like the Kazmir deal a few years back. Reyes and Wright have yet to prove they can be consistent throughout the year. It will be interesting to see what happens.

By keith

January 30, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

Mortgaged there future? Ridiculous. You deakl 4 unproven players with talent for the proven #1 starter in the biggs? The scale titls towards the mets and every article you read will note that the Twins got hosed in this deal. The mets didnt event trade there best prospect Taken into account that any player can be great in the future…..

Mulvey is the highest ceiling of the pitchers and hes low Minors right now.

Delois Guerra is an ok prospect at best but like i said who knows.

The guys whove actually played in the majors, Gomez and HUmber?

Gomez is the key to the deal, and he hit a nice .283 last year and is a speed guy with a great glove. Should be a nice git in Minnesota but his bat is more like a 2B then an outfielder. Where was he going to play with Beltran in center? Even Gomez’s stock went down last year

Philip Humber? Please, the mets offered in every trade to every team this off season. He was mediocre in the minors and got shelled last year the rare time he got in.

Reality check, mets hosed the twins and you cant deal with it? Aging batting order? Sean Green out Ryan church in (younger) aside frmo DElgado and Alou whos old?

By lazermike

January 30, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this

Keep wishing, Tommy. Beltran is “aging fast”? In 2010, when the Mets will be “spare parts,” Beltran will still be three years younger than Chipper is now.

And I would challenge anyone to argue that the Red Sox don’t spend their money wisely.

By Tyger

January 30, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this

Braves get Glavine, Mets get Santana!

Uuuugh, advantage Mets.

By Tyger

January 30, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this

Braves get Glavine, Mets get Santana!

advantage Mets.

By Kool-Aid Man

January 30, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this

As a Mets fan, I’ll say that my team has to earn its way to the division title, and until we play 162, most of this discussion is pointless.

That being said Braves fans, if you have a game this season where it’s all really on the line, where you absolutely must win, make sure you put in Glavine. He’ll come through. :)

By Common Sense

January 30, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this

Everyone that says just go and get bedard needs to look close at what seattle is offering. Adam Jones is light years ahead of any braves prospect. To have a legit shot at bedard, we’d probably have to offer schafer/jurrjens/reyes/b.jones. I think anybody who doesn’t think it will take anything to get him needs to re-evaluate the value of our prospects.

By JMar

January 30, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this

Braves fans that think this doesn’t completely change the outlook of the division either are in denial or don’t know jack about Santana and/or baseball. Before the trade, it would have been a good divisional race. Now the Mets have the best starting pitcher in baseball and lost nothing from their major league roster to get him. And yes, I’m a Braves fan.

By RobbieB

January 30, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this

Johan in the weak NL spells disaster for all other teams. He also helps the bullpen with his inning eating as well as pushing the starting rotation back a notch so that you throw an El Duque/Pelfrey in the pen. Pedro is no longer needed to be the savior. Also, Duaner Sanchez is healthy and the mets got a Rule V reliever to bolster the pen as well. If Delgado and Beltran have an offensive year like in 2006 then we might be talking about 100+ wins.

By DirtyDawg

January 30, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this

Of course it should make them better, but we don’t know yet just how much better Atlanta will be, do we? I would be more concerned about it if I hadn’t seen Mr., ‘I know everything’, former Mets GM, Steve Phillips on ESPN declaring that this deal made the Mets the best team in the National League…I seem to recall that he predicted that the Braves would win the East following last year’s trading deadline (after we got a couple of relievers and a new first-baseman), and we all know how that turned out.

Will they be better, probably…will they win the NL East? Not with the Steve Phillips ‘Kiss Of Death’ on their butt.

By HLSMets

January 30, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this

Hilarious watching the Braves talk about how old the Mets are when their #1 and #2 are 40-somethings. Okay, so their Hall of Famers. So are Pedro and El Duque. Pedro will rebound this year, and even if he doesn’t we’re still more than set with Pelfrey and others. Santana will dominate the Braves and the Phils and every other NL team. 15-13 last year? Blame the poor run support and AL hitters’ improved approach. Higher fly-ball rate? Actually more in line with his career stats and utterly irrelevant in Shea with a better defense and a more spacious outfield behind him.

Age? What age? Look at every position. Beltran? Reyes? Wright? Wright who should’ve been MVP last year? Beltran who should’ve been MVP the year before that? Church replacing Green? Schneider replacing Lo Duca? Castillo replacing Valentin? Julio Franco back on your sorry squad? So we have Delgado and Alou in the line-up. Hell, if you have to have age, have age that hits like that.

The Mets will PWN the Braves and the Phils this year. Perez and Maine will only get better, Petey is back, and Santana will win the NL Cy Young.

Enjoy finishing behind us for the third consecutive year.

tyia!

By gilch

January 30, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this

the mets dont have a starter in their rotation with an ERA over 4 hahaha the mets cant compete with the braves? hahahahaha so glad you guys have glavine back …

By Franco

January 30, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this

yup.. mets are old.. especially with Wright, Reyes, Beltran, Pelfrey, Ollie, Maine,Church, Endy, Heilman, Sanchez and Santana… yup.. you got us.

By Mingo

January 30, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this

Glavine averaged about 5.2 innings per start last year. That meant the bullpen had to pitch 3 plus innings for him each night on average. Nowadays that is a minimum of 4 relievers. Towards the end of the year the Mets bullpen was worn down. Tom had something to do with that. Bobby Cox likes to get innings out of his starters. That means Glavine will have to pitch a full 6 or more innings. Therefore, expect his ERA to go up this year. Also, he isn’t going to be in as friendly a pitching park as Shea Stadium. I don’t see how Glavine helps the Braves much this year. Conversely, Santana pitches an average of over 7 innings per start. That means the Mets only have to use two pitchers on average to close out the games for him. This helps the Mets. Therefore, this is a plus for the Mets and a minus for the Braves.

By Common Sense

January 30, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this

Re-signing tex could be a major problem if we don’t get it done soon. Depending on how kotchman and loney fare this year, You could have both LA teams and Both NY teams with tons of money coming off the books and a hole for a power hitting 1st baseman.

By hellobrooklyn

January 30, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

Braves fans are hillarious. Who’s playing center for you again? You picked up Tom Terriffic? oh Glavine who SUCCCCCCCS!!! Hampton hahaha Smoltz better then Santana 3out of 5 HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Tex will be gone after this year. Bedard HAHA how are you gonna get him? Mets bet the Farm. We traded 4 minor leaguers Gomez being the best.. Our outfield is straight. Maybe you guys should call the twins to trade for Gomez better yet..Go After BLANTON!!!!!!!! LMAO you guys are hillarious

By froze ropes

January 30, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

The Mets replaced Tom “double agent” Glavine with Johan Santana.

Now the Braves fans want to claim the Mets roster as old? When was the last time Larry Jones played a full season?

By Interesting

January 30, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this

Tommy was right is saying that the Braves will have a few contracts coming off after this year. Though he didn’t take into account that so do the Mets who have Pedro, Orlando, Delgado, and Alou coming off the books for about $40 mil which if you add the $20 mil that they are getting form Citi will be more than enough to address a few spots. Of course Santana will get about $25 of that but still leaves room for the Mets to pick up say Tex or even CC or Sheets. You couple that with the fact that they now have 3 picks in the first round and a half (2 from the Braves) and dealing away the prospects doesn’t hurt all that much since they were able to hold onto F Mart their top prospect.

By #37

January 30, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

wow…santana replaces glavine. i for one wouldn’t want to be the team that has glavine istead of santana.

By Vinny

January 30, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this

You Braves fans have made me crack up for the last 15 minutes. Thank you. I think my favorite comment was that the Mets would have no money left after spending $25 mil/year on Santana. You’re absolutely right, considering we get $20 million per year just for the stadium’s naming rights, let alone normal revenue streams. WE’RE BROKE!!! It’s gonna be Wright, Reyes, Santana, and the hot dog vendor playing right field eventually.

By thebravesareawesome

January 30, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

Guys… Come on and be serious… The Mets have always been contenders, and adding a top notch(not necessarily the best) starter will only help out… Not saying that the mets are a lock, but they are certainly in better shape than the us… Lets not be too blinded by hate, and let ignorance bleed through…

By Ben

January 30, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

Boy the mets fans sure came out of hiding with this trade. Who the hell knew so many of them read this blog?? Great to see you guys soooo confident again. It was weird there for a while, started to feel like the 90s with all the silence.

Honestly, I can’t wait to see the first Smoltz-Santana matchup. It should be as good as those Smoltz-Pedro starts were a few years ago. Those were sort of excruciating for us Braves fans, as the mets usually won them (or so it seemed). But after that, I’m not too scared of you mets. Pedro’s still a smart pitcher, but that’s all he is now. Definitely not dominant. No better than Hudson. Maine is overrated in my opinion. Just nothing intimidating at all. Perez is really the unknown. He dominated the Braves at times last year, but then other times couldn’t get a guy out. El Duque is 57, as is Livan if you sign him, and the more innings they pitch, the better for the Braves.

You guys should be a little worried about your complete lack of depth at the pitching spots and everywhere else. Next year I think will be yours, but if you don’t find support for Santana in the coming years, you’re the Twins.

By POTVIN STILL SUCKS

January 30, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this

Hey Squaws fans, ya’ll steel exist??? i thought ya’ll went to the trailer to bone yer sisters. Ok seriously now…All i gotta say is that you guys gotta stop being jealous of us. You can keep your 14 straight titles and your ONE WORLD SERIES TO SHOW FOR ALL OF THAT. Have fun in 3rd place next year squaws fans. If your even lucky to be there….LETS GO METS!!!

By David Spruill

January 30, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this

First it is a good pick up. Lets not all go giving the East to the Mets yet. I’m just waiting to see how Santana does in New York’s cold weather, hitting and running the bases. The East have some good hitting line-ups to throw at him esp ours. He won’t be pitching most of his games in a dome this year. Fly ball ratio has been going up every year along with the homer’s he gives up. Not as dominating as he was two years ago.

By Tom

January 30, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this

Rediculous offense? Who am I missing here? The Braves lost Andruw Jones, who despite his down year hit over 20 HR and drove in 90, plus Rentaria, who not only is a very good offensive (as well as defensive player) is clutch. Other than Texeira, Francour (when he is not ice cold) and McCann, who makes up this “rediculous” offense. Bunyon Foot Chipper? And for he who asked, Johan can hit.

By Mingo

January 30, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this

Ummm, we read all the blogs. I just don’t see why us Mets fans would care much about a Mark Kotsay post since it isn’t related to the Mets. This post relates to the Mets. Hence, we post in it. Also, I don’t believe that us Mets fans really even bothered saying much or caring about Mark Kotsay etc. He is an afterthought. When you consider all the activity on here about Santana, its obvious that the following adage holds true… “Me thinks thou dost protest too much”

By Too Old???

January 30, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this

I love everybody who keeps saying the mets are too old now. The mets have 4 projected startes, 3 of them all-stars who are under thirty. The braves have just one more. The mets have 3-15 game winners who are under thirty, the braves have one starter under thirty. It’s also funny that if you average the ages of the teams 8 starters as of right now and their 5 man rotations the mets come out with an average of 30.8 years old…wow, time to retire. In case you are interested, the braves averaged exactly 31.

By Luv 2 hate me

January 30, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this

Braves need hitters! They have no power hitters! Our outfield SUCKS to the 5 degree! They should have focued some of the money on getting an outfileder for 2 good years. The guy they picked up from Oakland SUCKS! They were better off getting Cameron for the time being but No!!! they had to get some dude fresh off back surgery. The days of trying to rejuvenate player careers are over. That went out the door with Big Cat and JD Drew. They need to drop Hampton like a bad habit & get something good in return. Well this year will suck jus like to past 2.

By General Sherman

January 30, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this

Braves are so done and at best, will be in third place. The Marlins even have better young talent.

It’s great that you’re now holding out for Bedard. I hope you guys go for him only to have that horse’s rear, Peter Angelos, balk at the trade, which he usually does.

No doubt that last season was a disgrace, but the Braves are the historical chokers. It’s ridiculous how they only won one WS with Maddux, Smoltz and Glavine in their primes. And even then, I love how you guys are still hanging onto Smoltz and Glavine. You guys couldn’t even sell out playoff seats. Since you won’t be going to the playoffs anytime soon, no need to break out the tarps for the bleacher seats.

Finally, I love the comments about NY money. Please. Ted Turner wrote the book on spending bank. You guys are just pining for the “good ol’ days.” Sucks having a penny pinching corporate owner. Oh, the humanity!

By Todd

January 30, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this

“Reyes and Wright have yet to prove they can be consistent throughout the year.”

I have to say, this gave me a good laugh. Thanks for that.

First of all, Wright has put up MVP type numbers 2 years in a row and he’s only 25.

Sure, Reyes had a slump at the end of last year, but a.) EVERY player in the majors has some kind of slump and b.) 2 years ago he was vying for an MVP.

Anyways, back to reality…

Trying to sugarcoat the effect this trade will have on the NL East and the NL as a whole isn’t going to make it any more likely the Braves will finish higher than 3rd.

The Mets now have 3 pitchers in their rotation, all under 30. I’ll also remind you that EVERY SINGLE one of the pitchers in the Mets’ rotation had a sub-4.00 ERA last year.

As for those of you who reference his record last year as if it’s some indicator of his true value, remember this: wins are the most misleading stat in baseball. Pitchers on the Yankees routinely win 15 games just based on the incredible run support they receive. Factor in that a pitcher’s win total might also suffer if he has a suspect bullpen blowing games for him, and you see why you can’t judge a pitcher based on his W-L record.

Having watched Santana pitch many times, I can say that, even before he became a Met, he was my favorite pitcher in baseball, because, if you appreciate pitching, he’s like Picasso out there.

You don’t even realize just how good he is until you see him and, given his move to the NL and a pitcher’s park, the numbers he will put up will be scary.

The Mets have 5, count them 5, major players over the age of 31 (Pedro, Duque, Wagner, Alou, Delgado). That leaves 20 others who won’t be “over the hill” in 3-4 years like some of you say.

It’s alright, I’d be p** too if my main adversary acquired the best pitcher in baseball, in his prime, and I had to watch my team get whupped by him for the foreseeable future.

By T-Money

January 30, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this

I really don’t see why everyone is making a big deal out of this. Santana only pitches 1 out of every 5 games. So that means, over a 162 game schedule, you can expect at most 35 starts. The first thing you need to do is account for Glavine’s wins that are gone (13 last year), and then factor in Santana’s average wins a year since he became a starter (17.5 average in 4 years). That only accounts to 4, maybe 5 more wins.

And don’t even get me started on Pedro, he is the Met’s version of Mike Hampton, constantly injured and overpaid.

By matt

January 30, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this

The Mets certainly are chokers… remind me again who their ace stopper was supposed to be last season? I don’t remember his name, but I do seem to remember 7 runs against 2 outs in the 1st inning on the final day of the collapse last year.

And wins and losses are the most misleading stats in baseball. If that’s your argument against Santana, well, then you’re in for quite a summer.

By TI

January 30, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this

The Santana trade doesn’t change the division at all! Santana is gonna be a huge bust in the National League. Look at Barry Zito, Tim Hudson, Pedro, so many question marks with the Mets new acquisition! The Braves rotation is still more favorable than the Mets, especially adding Jair Jurjjens into the mix. I’m not concerned at all, Braves win the division over the PHILLIES by 4 games.

By The Man Who Saved Hadleyville, PA

January 30, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this

I just realized that the movie “Gung Ho” is actually about my life. I once build 15,000 Japanese cars in just one month! Trading for Santana reminds me of the time I was walking through Epcot Center and heard that Frank Viola was returning to New York. For my money, Tim Teufel was better than Jeff Blauser. I think the Braves invited Wally Backman to Spring Training circa 2003 or 04. When it comes to stewed prunes, are 3 too many or 2 too few?
Rosebud.

By matt

January 30, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this

To TI:

Did you honestly just compare Jair Jurrjens to Johan Santana? Do you even follow baseball?

And from which league did the Braves get Jurrjens? Doesn’t him coming from the AL also therefore mean that he will be a bust?

Braves-logic is astounding.

By Todd

January 30, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this

I was just about to leave when I saw this,

“And don’t even get me started on Pedro, he is the Met’s version of Mike Hampton, constantly injured and overpaid.”

Don’t ever mention the two of them in the same sentence again. Constantly injured? He had rotator cuff surgery and missed a season which most human beings do when they have that surgery. Unlike your boy Hampton who can’t make it out of Spring Training without cracking a toenail. Isn’t it ironic that Hampton left the Mets because he wanted the improved school system for his kids and he ended up in Atlanta…alright that was a low blow…

I suppose you didn’t notice Pedro pitching to the tune of a 2.57 ERA at the end of last year, huh?

By quint

January 30, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this

How many righties will the Braves have batting against Santana? Escobar, Chipper, Texieria, Francouer, Diaz? McCann is oretty good against lefties, too. So, I think the Braves can hang with him. I don’t think they will be dominated at all. If they play .500 ball against him (wins/losses), they should be fine.

By D. Ellis

January 30, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this

Jon Smoltz is NOT AN ACE. WHOEVER THINKS SMOLTZ IS AN ACE NEEDS TO HAVE THEIR HEAD EXAMINED. NEITHER IS PEDRO….WAHT THE HECK HAS HE DONE IN THE LAST 5YEARS TO HAVE THAT LABEL. BOTH OF THESE GUYS STRUGGLE TO WIN 15 GAMES A YEAR…IF YOU CALL THAT AN ACE THEN WAHT IS A 20 GAME WINNER CALLED….

By Sammy86

January 30, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this

“Pedro’s still a smart pitcher, but that’s all he is now. Definitely not dominant. No better than Hudson. Maine is overrated in my opinion. Just nothing intimidating at all. Perez is really the unknown. He dominated the Braves at times last year, but then other times couldn’t get a guy out. El Duque is 57”

hahahaha wow where to start with this one, pedro even without his dominating fastball had a 2.57 era last year, god i don’t know why we keep him, hudson is so much better lol. maine had the worst era of our starters last year at 3.91 with 180 k’s and had 15 wins, we should get rid of him too. perez is just horrible, why do we keep getting the pirates’ garbage, i mean a 3.56 era, 15 wins and 174 k’s? he is terrible and needs to be replaced. god, el duque is almost as old as glavine, GLAVINE! his 3.72 era last year was atrocious, we should have kept tommie to keep us young! seriously, do you guys really think your rotation is better than one whose worst player went 15-10 with a 3.91 era?

By BUSHWACKER

January 30, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this

Wow, I can’t believe how many blogs about baseball Super bowl week.

When did the falcons season end?

Oh yea that was before the season started when this bunch of losers quit on each other once ConVick pleaded guilty.

By Daybed Wagmoe

January 30, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this

trading santana for 4 prospects from the mets’ farm system is like making plans to go out to eat at a really, really nice italian restaurant, but once you find out that all of the good ones are booked for the night and you can’t get a table, you go to pizza hut.

By The Man Who Saved Hadleyville, PA

January 30, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this

Please, don’t compare a fork to a spoon - they are two different things. One is, well fork-ish and the other is rounder. One time I was at the Dark Horse Pub and I saw Santana and a guy dressed an elf. Santana cut the elf’s ear and then the elf leaned into a plate of buffalo wing sauce. It burned. This seemed cruel. I think Minnesota wanted to distance itself from cruelty itself. Mike Hampton once spent an entire winter in the Himalayas, working for the League of Shadows. So don’t tell me Mike Hamption is anything like Shelly Long, there is no comparison. One worked below Melvilles and the other ate at Melvilles, that’s it. Can we just renew our support of Keynsian economics and dispense with the apple fritter. Taco sang Puttin on the Ritz.

By shaunfromNYC

January 30, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this

I have never read so many lame posts by so many angry Met’s haters in my life. That team that choked down the stretch last season, finished your once again under achieving group of hometowners off a few weeks before. Remember this quote from your legendary social security recieving number 1 pitcher at the time “They are better than us”. If you don’t remember, then you can shoot an e-mail over to O’Brien who I am sure wouldn’t mind mailing you a framed copy of that story. He will be busy writing payroll stories after we sweep you out of contention again this year, and after we take your first basemen in free agency next year. Get used to it. Good night. Go cry yourselves to sleep and try to figure out who is gonna get a clutch hit for you this while Larry’s wrists are in casts and Renteria is bye bye.

By SpringFeaver

January 30, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this

Hes just a pitcher. Hes not a special pitcher, just one man who works every 5 days. After that what do they have. You know Escobar can hit Santana and so will Tex and Chipper. Francoeur and McCann will also hit him. Who cares if they have Santana. It will take more then 1 pitcher to fix the overpaid team.

Oh yea and Martinez moved to the Mets and didnt do so well. Glavines move didnt exactly send rockets either. So why should we be afraid of Santana. Give me a break.

By SpringFeaver

January 30, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this

Hes just a pitcher. Hes not a special pitcher, just one man who works every 5 days. After that what do they have. You know Escobar can hit Santana and so will Tex and Chipper. Francoeur and McCann will also hit him. Who cares if they have Santana. It will take more then 1 pitcher to fix the overpaid team.

Oh yea and Martinez moved to the Mets and didnt do so well. Glavines move didnt exactly send rockets either. So why should we be afraid of Santana. Give me a break.

By Livinin AL

January 30, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this

So Santana is a 20 game winner..That leaves 142 more games for the rest of the staff to lose.. Now freddieja, did the Mets not take a big Nose DIVE there in Sept ????? They looked pretty CONNFUSED when they lost the whole season in 2 weeks……

GO BRAVES !

By bravesfan

January 30, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this

yaa ur right, jair jurrgens is much better than johan santana. I would rather have him than any of te mets pitchers. Plus, the braves had a better record than the mets last year and in 2006 so the braves will obviously be the faovirtes this year. jk have fun with glavine this year and his 6.5 K/9 rate and 10 H/9 rate, concede the divison now.

By BravesAreAJoke

January 30, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this

i just read the comments from that article and its absolutely ridiculous how stupid the braves fans are. i agree with the guy above that they will have to compete with the nats for third LOL. They look at Santana’s record and claim getting glavine was a steal. glavine has been mediocre at best. he has nothing left in that arm. Anothing funny thing is when they say the mets are old, outside of Alou and Delgado who is really that old?? Did they forget that Smoltz is going to be 41 years old? That they replaced a gold glove winner and good offensive player with kotsay. don’t make me laugh. The Braves have nothing to say anymore, they are so out of the picture its not even funny.

By Dale Murphy

January 30, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this

Nosedive?? Even with a nosedive the Braves were behind the Mets. Don’t overthink this Bravo fans… you had your time in the sun and obviously didnt take advantage of it by winning a title more than once. I have an extremely hard time understanding where the Braves fans are getting all this attitude from? YOU JUST LOST YOUR CENTERFIELDER!! Your staff after Smoltz is AVERAGE. You better sign Texiera too before he’s playing first for the Mets next year too.

By TomG

January 30, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this

Going through all the opinions especially the brave fans. I forgot which fan said it but he/she said that now the mets have spent money on Santana they will have no money left to do anything else. Either this person is extremely jealous that the mets got santana and just wants to talk crap or is totally clueless. Next year the mets will have 40 million coming off the books and with there new cable channel SNY, naming rights and the new stadium,had and will have again and than some over 3 mil in attendance this year not to mention there new ball park will be sold out, the mets have tons of money to spend. I can’t help you brave fans that the mets have all this going on and the braves couldn’t even sell out a playoff game when they were in the playoffs, dream on brave fans, dream on.

By MetSantana57

January 30, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this

SANTANA IS GONNA BE TEXIERIA’S DADDY

By The Man Who Saved Hadleyville, PA

January 30, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this

LOUD NOISES

By jonathan

January 30, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this

You guys are out of your minds. To the person that said that Glavine will never hurt you….Do you have cable television? Did you see what he did in the last game of the year for the now dominant Mets? He is a bullpen pitcher at best. He never belonged in NY. He SOLD OUT. He is addition by subtraction for the now dominant Mets. The other guy is right…Go to the games once in a while, and lose your new Oakland A’s mentality. Maybe then you can afford to make a deal like the Mets just did. Our rotation is top 3 in baseball (Sox and D’backs). See the obvious that Maine and Perez are getting better…no flukes (15 wins each). Pedro has a new shoulder. Ill take him for another 2 yrs after this one. How can you call this team old, when all of the stars are so young? (Reyes, Wright, Beltran, Santana, Maine, Perez, Heilman, Pedro’s new shoulder, Sosa (thanks for him!!) Anyone there over 30? Did I mention that Glavine is a sell out? Thanks again for freeing up a spot in our rotation so we can pay Santana. We appreciate it!!! Have fun toiling in mediocrity

By bravesphan

January 30, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this

i hate phillies and braves fans who keep trying to convince themselves they are in good shape! get over it, we are the favorites, and thats not just on paper. last year was a complete freak, and with a depleted bullpen still won 88 games, now add the best pitcher in baseball, with a revitalized and motivated team, thats 10 more wins right there. its like u need a therapist to convince u gomez will be te next great thing and guerra will be kazmir. this time we were on the right end of a lopsided trade. look forward to a long year.

By mani

January 30, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this

I hatee this now we probably have no chance of winning nl east.maybe the wild card. Santana should not have been traded. theyy should have kept him.the prospects they got suck

By mani

January 30, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this

I hatee this now we probably have no chance of winning nl east.maybe the wild card. Santana should not have been traded. theyy should have kept him.the prospects they got suck

By Daybed Wagmoe

January 30, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this

It may be interesting to note that, at least theoretically, if Santana were a Met in 2007, he wouldn’t have been able to save their season. In his last 7 games (starting Aug. 24), he went 2-4 with a 5.11 era. Not a good down-the-road stretch

By Eff the Braves

January 30, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this

You Braves fans continue to amuse me. How do you honestly convince yourselves that you have a better rotation than the Mets? And continually talking about the age of the Mets team as a whole? Wow. The average age of the Mets active roster as a team is 29.2 (pre-Santana trade). Yeah, lots of 40 year olds there! That’s a stark contrast to the Braves average of 27.7. Let’s look at the starters average age: Braves: 34.8 (w/ Hampton), Mets: 31.6 (w/ El Duque).

Get a clue before you spit garbage our of your mouths; or in this case your fingers. Enjoy the view from behind all year!

By Dadgum

January 30, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this

Let’s put it this way I wouldn’t trade Smoltz, Glavine, and Hudson for Santana, washed up Martinez, and Odaliz Perez. No way. So how does adding Santana affect the Braves? Well honestly it won’t head to head. Adding Santana does Bring the Mets back to a chance to contend for the division. They weren’t going to do that without Santana. The Braves are so much deeper top to bottom than the Mets even now as far as pitching goes.

By mike

January 30, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this

The Mets got the better fish so all of you Braves fan and Phillies fan watch out because the Mets are going to kick your ASSES this year!

By Rob

January 30, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

The Braves did nothing again this year to improve the team and will not finish better than 3rd in the East. We added a 40+ year old pitcher who had a 900 ERA the last 3 games of last year. Why? I have been a fan all of my life and cannot even get excited about this team, at all. It really sux because Mets fans are the most obnoxious around!

By SpringFeaver

January 30, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this

OMG lol. The muts are so worried. Its amazing, they are in our papers, in our chat rooms, they are all over the place.

Funny its always the Muts fans. Look at some stats. There are at least three players in the NL East that had as good if not better stats then Santana. Their names are Tim Hudson, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. The only difference is that Tim Hudson and John Smoltz are smarter, did not run down at the end of season, last 10 games are as good as the rest of season. And Hudson is a better pitcher then Santana and hes our number 2.

Santana does not bother me. All teams need a ace and Martinez is not even close to the ace anymore, he will be gone like Hampton, beginning of the second month. Actually I would take Hampton over Martinez to last, arms usually get ok, shoulders dont recover that well.

GO BRAVES

By stan kasten

January 30, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this

The acquisition of Mr Santana now allows the MeaT THE mETS to compete evenly with my team…the NATS.

Breaking NEWS Updated Vegas Odds from www.scoresandodds.com…2008 NL East Division -Odds to Win 09-30-08 8:00 PM

Philadelphia Phillies 5-2

New York Mets 2-5

Atlanta Braves 5-1

Washington Nationals 2-5*

Florida Marlins 50-1

*possibly adjusted by management to encourage fans to come out to our new stadium

By hellobrooklyn

January 30, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this

I always gave Braves fans more credit then this but you guys are stupid. Santana is the Best Kotsay succs and so does Glavine

By Glenn

January 30, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this

One point to add- Johan Santana did not replace Tom Glavine in the Mets rotation. Really, the Mets had already filled Glavine’s spot with a healthy Pedro Martinez, who had missed almost all of last season. What Santana’s arrival does is push everyone else down and replace the previous #5 pitcher, who last year was Mike Pelfrey/Jorge Sosa/Brian Lawrence. Also, the Mets are not as old as people think. Yes, they have some older veteran players, but Santana is 29, Wright is 25, Reyes is 24, Maine is 26, Perez is 26, Church is 29, Heilman is 28, Pelfrey is 23. These guys are all key contributors. Plus, they got younger at 2B (Castillo is 7 years younger than Valentin) and C (Schneider is 5 years younger than Lo Duca).

By rey_ordonez

January 30, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this

“You guys are funny. If you really want to support your 3rd best team, why don’t you start showing up at the stadium? Then maybe the Braves could afford to go after a guy like Santana. Larry eats it.”

Come on….that was pretty funny.

By Glenn

January 30, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this

and it is Oliver Perez on the Mets, not Odalis Perez.

By The Man Who Killed Hadleyville, PA

January 30, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this

Umm, isn’t this all pointless if the Sawk are just gonna win it all again? Futile. NE seems to own everything and everyone (with the exception of the National Hockey League).

By DAVID

January 30, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this

hey here is our starters and wins smoltz16 hudson18 glavine13 james11 jair9

By Eff the Braves

January 30, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this

To SpringFeaver: did you just say that Tim Hudson is a better pitcher than Johan Santana?

I just spewed my water everywhere from uncontrollable laughter… damn, now I need to clean this mess up!

Thanks for the laughs.

By dadgum is an idiot

January 30, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this

Odalis perez as the number 3? I gues that would be more likely if he was or ever had been a met.

By New York Melts

January 30, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this

Pathetic New York “Melts” fans like “LoserMike” still haven’t come to terms with the FACT that their beloved Melts choked worse than any team with a 7 game lead and 2 weeks left has ever done! The Melts missed the playoffs even though they were a virtual lock. Once Pedro (is he 36 or 37?) assumes his usual position as the ace of the DL, let’s see how Johan likes hearing the whiny New York Melts fans when he chokes under the weight of unrealistic expectations.

By Slippy

January 30, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this

Something that has been brought up that just doesn’t make sense:

Johan’s Wins - Glavine’s wins = Number of games Mets will improve by

4 Things wrong with this:

1) Johan played on an abysmal hitting team. The Mets run production was over a half run more per game. That is a huge margin which will represent more wins.

2) Johan is going from a bat heavy American League to the pitcher friendly National League. Count a couple more games in his favor.

3) Johan eats up more innings. This subsequently improves the entire bullpen, which was very strained last year for the Mets due partially to Glavine’s 5.2 I/G.

4) Johan pushes back every other starter into an easier matchup. So rather than just one out of every five games being more favorable, five out of five games really become more favorable. Expect Oliver Perez to have 15 wins again since he can hang out in the 4 spot.

Bottom line is the Mets did improve significantly in this trade and I would honestly have to predict Johan at about 20 wins, with a sub 3 ERA this year.

By Norman Bates

January 30, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this

You can bring in all the old stars you want(See Yankees) but if they don’t play as a team instead of trying to be individual stars they will end up like last year. Too bad AOL didn’t buy them instead of the Braves.

As for Salary cap problems, the Mets don’t have any. They’ll pay whatever it takes and pay the fine for being over the cap.

By Hit-Ler Hell

January 30, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this

You are zum a zim and a zam. GO METS HH!

By BravesRule

January 30, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this

When Glavine saw what a lame bunch of choke artists he was playing with in New York, he euthanized the 2007 season and put the “Melts” out of their misery. Now that The Melts have Santana they should be good for at least 3rd or 4th in 2008. By the way, who’s Johan going to throw to? The Melts don’t have a major league catcher on their roster.

By mike

January 30, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this

as long as they have Willie Randolph as their manager, they’re going to implode comes september or october. I’ve seen this hype before in Mets. Mr. Texiera, Chipper, and Franceour will rip the Mets apart this year. I am still concerned about our rotation, though.

By Tony R

January 30, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this

I am a Met Fan from NY. I used to hate the Braves but my sports hatred only goes to the Dallas Cowboys these days. I liked Tom Glavine but he choked just when we needed him most. He is not your answer.

Onto Santana, You Braves fans must understand that a Met fan is different than a Yankee fan. We have suffered and for a long time under to boots of the Atlanta Braves. We Met fans have seen the Mets make bad trade after bad trade going back to Nolan Ryan for Jim Fregosi.

I am finally enjoying a trade where the Mets came out winners. If every prospect the Mets gave up has a good career I still will feel it was a good trade.

Sadly for you, the Braves management appears to be taking the low road.

Watch out for the Nationals.

Not long until Pitchers & Catchers.

I can’t wait.

By BrandonC

January 30, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this

There is no question that the Mets have a good rotation now that Santana is there, but that doesn’t change the fact that our rotation is really good to. Our rotation is just as good as it was two days ago. The one thing that DOES change now is the expectations of Hampton coming back at full strength and pitching like he used to. It’s WAAAY more important now than it was two days ago. A lot of people think that he is an injury risk and I kind of disagree to an extent. The injury he sustained in Mexico was a freak deal that could have happened to Santana himself. He just reach for a ball up the middle that he shouldn’t have. As long as the arm is strong I think he’ll pitch fine.

People may think we have question marks in the rotation, but the Mets do as well. Pedro and El Duque could end up on the DL just as quick as Hampton. One injury to there staff and they are in trouble. They just traded away some very good pitching prospects, so they really don’t have a fall back plan that’s any good. That’s one advantage we have over NY. We have WAAAAY more depth in the minors that are waiting in the wings like Jurjens, Jo Jo, Bennet and Carlyle. Not to mention the fact that Santana’s delivery is so powerful that he’ll eventually be going under the knife to repair an elbow or shoulder. I’m not saying it will be this year, but he DID start to lose velocity at the end of last season.

We’re not just adding Glavine to the rotation, but Hampton as well. That’s one thing people tend to forget. That’s two HUGE pieces that we didn’t have last year. We have better depth than the Mets at most positions, especially the rotation. The media may want to hand the division crown to NY now, but the Braves are ready for a dog fight.

By Ben

January 30, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this

Mets fans, at most you can claim 5-8 wins more with Santana. That’s it. Leaving you with 93-96 wins. I think that’s a fair estimate.

There’s a strong argument that Andruw, despite his defense, cost the braves more wins than replacement players would have. For example, OPS when leading off an inning: .701. OPS in close and late situations: .622 (!) If you’re a Braves fan, you can remember at least 10 times when he struck out to end an inning, and it was probably more like 20. As crazy as it sounds, not having him this year will probably net us a win or 2, on the whole. That brings us up to 85-86 wins this year.

Having a reliable #3 starter, followed by a plethora of guys for the 4-5 spots takes TONS of pressure off our (solid) bullpen. Glavine in the 3 spot instead of James will get us 2-3 more wins. Having James, Jurrjens, Reyes and Bennett in the 4-5 spots instead of the mess we tried out there last year will give us at least 1 extra win (being very, very conservative). And if you doubt that, just look at the praise Jurrjens has received from everyone, and read up on James’ offseason efforts - very different from previous years.

Let’s not forget we have a full year of Teixeira, who is a little better than Thorman over there at 1B…3 more wins there, easy.

One could argue that Kelly Johnson and Escobar will be better this year than last year, and that a healthy McCann will be WAY better than last year. But, being conservative, I won’t give us any extra wins in 2008 for those guys.

That brings us up to 91-93 wins next year. Recognizing that all of this is extremely subjective and unreliable, the point is that it’s still going to be close.

And in case you’re counting on Smoltz fading away next year, here are some 2006 vs 2007 stats for you:

2006 3.49 ERA, 8.19 K/9, 3.84 K/BB, .690 OPS against 2007 3.11 ERA, 8.62 K/9, 4.19 K/BB, .666 OPS against.

By BravesAre3rdAtBest

January 30, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this

Hey BravesRule your team sux and maybe you forgot that the mets actually picked up one of the better defensive catchers in the game in Brian Schneider. K Thank good luck in 4th place after the Nats.

By Friends of Julio

January 30, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this

The Melts aren’t old, they’re ancient. Pedro “DL” Martinez will be 37, El Duque (which means “Older Than Dirt” in Espanol) is probably in his fifties, Moises Alou is in his 40’s, Delgado is late 30’s. Beltran is early 30’s but is on the downward side of his career, Billy Wagner is late 30’s. So big wow, they got Santana, Church (ooooh!), and Schneider (huge, not!) and gave away top prospects. Reyes and Wright are young and good, but what an unimpressive supporting cast. In 2008, the Mets clubhouse will be divided into 3 sections: 1) Reyes and Wright; 2) assisted living; and 3)nursing home.

By JMF

January 30, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this

This certainly presents a problem. I had counted the Mets out for 08 before this trade. Pitching wins and I hope the Braves lineup will be able to keep them in the games. Great move by the Mets.

By Matt

January 30, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this

As sportscrack.com reported earlier, the Braves need to go out and trade for Erik Bedard. The Braves are not any better than they were last year minus Renteria and Andruw and now we are expected to compete with Tom Glavine back? Come on, even the Met’s didn’t want Glavine back. Now they have Santana. The Braves don’t have a prayer unless they make another move to add a dependable starter like Bedard.

By Ben

January 30, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this

Let’s not forget what happened in 2005 when the highly touted Pedro Martinez came to the Mets, and was dubbed the savior of the franchise. Sure, he had a he’s-the-best-pitcher-in-the-game-worthy season (2.82 ERA, 208 Ks, 0.95 WHIP), but the season didn’t go so well. Granted, you were coming off a 71-win season (I had to throw that in there), and now you’re coming off an 88-win season, but the point is that we’re talking about one freaking pitcher! Again, he’ll get you at least 5 extra wins, but nothing beyond that should be considered guaranteed.

And guys, it’s not like the NL East has crap for hitting or something. Here’s a break-down of runs scored, highest to lowest, last year in the East vs. the AL Central:

NL East 892 (Phils) 810 (Braves) 804 (Mets) 790 (Florida - obviously could go down bc of Miggy) 673 (Nats)

AL Central 887 (Tigers) 811 (Indians) 718 (Minny) 706 (Royals) 693 (White Sox)

The NL East outscored Santana’s old division last year, and that’s without DH’s. So the hitting ability in his own division he’s walking into is tougher than what he saw last year. And he faced division opponents in over half of his games last year, so this matters.

By braves#1

January 30, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this

unbelievable that some1 wouls say that the person 2 above me said. Ancient? so apparently pedro isnt still a dominating pitcher. and beltran on the “downside” of his career. i guess 41 homers 2 years ago and 33 last year as well as gold glove isn’t comparable to mark kotsays gaudy numbers. oo and guess glavine isn’t old at 41? wut about ur precious smoltz also 41, who is also ur ace. don’t talk about old age. and not to mention age was a factor last year with alou, and if i’m not mistaken he hit .330. so don’t try to convince urself the braves arent a 3rd place team. picture 2006, but maybe a little worse. santana significantly will make a positive difference. o wait.. i forgot ur biggest move.. jair jurrrjens how many “r’s” r in that name anyway? ridiculous statement from a ridiculous fan.

By Nelson

January 30, 2008 5:19 PM | Link to this

For me all of this is a joke: the Braves said that they have some cash with the money they saved not resigning Renteria and Andrew, and that after may/2007 the Team was profitable, then why they don’t use it to get good pitching, THEY NEED A 3rd STARTER,FOR SURE GLAVINE IS NOT THE ANSWER TO THAT HOLE! Not mention that they didn’t try to keep Dotel either!

By Tom in NYC

January 30, 2008 5:27 PM | Link to this

What’s pretty funny is all of the Met’s fans who came out of the woodwork after this trade were the same ones who were crying and calling for Minaya’s head after the monumental collapse.

It’s even more pathetic that they now choose to come over to a Braves Blog and continually flaunt when not one game has been played yet.

Mets Fans = New Yorkers who got left off the Yankee bandwagon.

By Steve

January 30, 2008 5:30 PM | Link to this

Don’t kid yourselves. Santana is as good as you will find in MLB. This makes the Mets the best in the East. Probably in the NL. Pedro is rested, and he pitched well in limited comeback duty in ‘07. And he’s their #2 now. Perez. Maine. OHernandez. With Santana at the top - that’s a really good, deep rotation. Even if El Duque breaks down. Plug anyone into the #5.

It’s probably going to take 97 or 98 wins to beat the Mets in ‘08. Neither the Braves or the Phils can do that. Santana to NY is huge.

By Ben

January 30, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this

To the guy who said mets fans read all the blogs, it definitely isn’t true of most of the mets posters on this one, as there have been so many ignorant posts. Like the latest by Nelson: if you’re actually arguing that not trying to keep Dotel was a stupid move, you clearly never read anything on this website. The Braves aren’t going to spend 4-5 mil per year (that was considered his going rate, turned out to be 5.5M/yr) for a guy who wasn’t going to be their closer, and who had injury risks. Instead, we’ve got younger guys with better recent numbers who cost way less. What an ignorant comment.

By hellobrooklyn

January 30, 2008 5:35 PM | Link to this

who would the braves trade to get Bedard .. You have no farm. Who is equal to Jones

By Ben

January 30, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this

hellobrooklyn,

your post perfectly validates my 5:31 post. Thank you.

By MrMet

January 30, 2008 6:16 PM | Link to this

Well kids, start reminiscing about the golden days as the Beasts of the East have been established for the foreseeable future.

By Number 1 Mutts Fan

January 30, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this

Duh, I’m a Mutts fan, youse guys. Duh, we just got Joahn Santana, Carlos’ brudda, and we gonna kick butt in 2008, Duh. We got old men like Pedro, Moises, Carlos, Billy, and Shawn, DUH. And we got dat future hall of fame catcher Schneider, DUH. Forget about it! Hey, I’m outta here, my bus to Flushing is leaving without me. DUH!

By Mike

January 30, 2008 6:25 PM | Link to this

The Braves will be battling the Nationals and Marlins for the basement. The Mets should win the division handily and the Phils may win the wild card. Johan will be a painful word for the NL East.

By Bryan

January 30, 2008 6:25 PM | Link to this

I hate to say it guys, but I really think this trade gives the Mets the NL East this year.. Santana pitched with a team that had no offense last year, and still put up an ERA in the 3’s.. NL hitting is much weaker, and we have no DH. Braves are improved, certainly, but we need to get another starting pitcher, and preferably a YOUNGER one. Injuries will play a big part in who wins this divison when it’s all said and done.

By Baxter

January 30, 2008 6:27 PM | Link to this

Glavine a #3 starter? Yikes.

ESPN.com by Keith Law

“Glavine may try to pitch one more year, but he’d be wise to remember the ignominious end of another lefty’s career (that of Steve Carlton). Carlton didn’t know when to walk away, and after a terrible 1987, he tried to come back one more time and gave up 19 runs in nine-plus innings before he was released. Glavine’s 2007 wasn’t as bad as Carlton’s last full season, but he posted one of the worst earned-run averages of his career, one of the worst ground-ball rates of his career and one of his worst strikeout rates of his career. Glavine’s stuff is down. His fastball is 80-84 mph, his change at 74-75 with visible slowing of his arm, his slow-roller curve at 75-77 — and none of it able to miss bats. Glavine has to pitch hitters away and avoid contact; if he’s not getting something extra on the outside corner, he’s doomed. He’ll get an offer if he wants to pitch, but even in a big park in the National League, he’s a 50-50 shot to get released or retire midyear. It’s been a great run, Tom — don’t push it.”

By Kirk

January 30, 2008 6:39 PM | Link to this

the mets had a historic collapse in 2007 and still only had 2 fewer wins than the teams that finished with the best record in NL (and 5 more than the braves). i dont know how some of you braves fans didn’t even expect them to compete for the division prior to landing santana.

the braves lost andruw jones and renteria. whom exactly did they replace them with? certainly no one better thats for sure.

the braves aren’t even in the mix for the NL east. let be honest.

By Corey

January 30, 2008 6:54 PM | Link to this

The Mets just got their ticket to the World Series. Before, I thought the Phillies were even with them in the East followed by the Braves, but now they’re better than anyone in the NL. But hey, at least they still can’t match up to the Red Sox, Yankees or Tigers, so they won’t win it all.

I, for one, am very disappointed in the Braves off-season. They will miss Renteria at SS. Who will play for Chipper when he goes down now that Escobar is the starter at SS? Kotsay is no Andruw Jones and Glavine is no Johan Santana. Losing Mahay will hurt them too. And the older guys are one year older. Personally, I don’t think this team has improved themselves much for next season, maybe for the future, but not now. Prediction: Yet another 3rd place finish. But you never know. Go Braves!

By d. winer

January 30, 2008 7:18 PM | Link to this

reading some of the comments here, i have to shake my head & wonder whether these guys know anything about baseball. getting santana is huge for the mets. i wish the braves had had the prospects to entice a deal instead. with santana in their rotation, ny’s got a fearesome starting 4 or 5. and they’re a relatively young squad in the key positions - especially short & 3b. plus, they didn’t give up their no. 1 prospect martinez. sigh. i just don’t like our chances going forward. looks as if the decade of braves’ domination is about to give way to a decade of mets’ domination

By kirk

January 30, 2008 7:20 PM | Link to this

it is beyond me how anyone can just crown the team that comes out of the AL as the automatic champion. two years ago we all saw quite possibly the worst team ever to make the playoffs win it all. now, not to get ahead of myself, but should the mets make the WS they would have just as good of a chance of any team to get there. why? Johan Santana/best pitcher in baseball. He alone already would give the mets an advantage in any playoff series. furthermore, you braves fans aren’t giving maine and especially ollie perez enough respect. ollie has pretty much owned the braves since he came to queens. when he’s on top of his game, he has as best of stuff their is in MLB.

i dont care that the mets choked last year. they were the best team in NL regardless of not making the playoffs. if the mets starting pitching didn’t fall apart the last month, they probably would have had the best record in the NL. i dont know what the mets will do this season, but i definitely see them finishing with the best record in the NL.

By Daybed Wagmoe

January 30, 2008 7:22 PM | Link to this

On the front page: Would you rather have the top of the Braves rotation which features (above left, top to bottom) John Smoltz and Tim Hudson or the Mets’ frontline starters of Johan Santana and Pedro Martinez?

I’d rather have Smoltz and Hudson: two guys that are capable of going 200 innings, posting 15-20 wins, and ERAs under 3.50. At this point, I certainly see Santana being one of those guys, but I have little faith in Pedro Martinez being effective over a full season after coming back from surgery.

Why — John Smoltz had several surgeries, and he’s bounced back; why not the same for Pedro? Smoltz is a power pitcher, and he’s still got a lot of zip on his fastball, getting up in the high 90s. Pedro’s fastball was topping out in the low-90s last season, and despite returning strong last year, I think he won’t be nearly as dominant as he once was.

Smoltz and Hudson are two guys who can give their team back-to-back wins on a consistent basis; they are both realistic chances at ending losing streaks. While Santana is an A+ pitcher, I think that Pedro is a B- pitcher at best at this point; I’d say Smoltz and Hudson are both A-/B+ pitchers, and I’d rather have two of those than one incredible pitcher and one who is on the decline. (I know others will disagree, but that’s just my opinion. Pay your money, pick your side.)

One more thing for those of you who are stating that our rotation is now weaker because of the Mets’ acquisition: the Santana trade did nothing to our rotation. The Braves still have a very strong, formidable, solid rotation, and it’s as deep as any other club in the game. It’s the same rotation as before the trade. When El Duque and Pedro are on the DL, Johann can’t just step in and fill their spots while retaining his regular starts.

Keep the faith, Braves fans.

By Nelson

January 30, 2008 7:38 PM | Link to this

Any way I will support the Braves and buy again the Direct TV MLB extra innings package to be able to watch the Braves down here in Miami. Hopefully Bobby Cox keep the hottest hitter in the line-up not in the bench! God have Mercy on me!

By ncgary

January 30, 2008 7:59 PM | Link to this

since beane probably got the best of wren on the devine kotsay deal maybe beane will atone for blanton? 2 a ball pitchers &1 aaa pitcher?

By Robby

January 30, 2008 8:04 PM | Link to this

Being a Brave Fan living in Minnesota, I would not worry about Santana. He has shown that he can be irratic and does give up the long ball a good bit. He has not done well pitching outdoors on the east coast. Just look at the record he had whenever he pitched in Boston and the Minnesota media is whimpy compared to the NY media. Go Braves!

By Mr Met

January 30, 2008 8:45 PM | Link to this

Plz boys, all those years of winning the east and ONLY 1 RING. Now TBS drops you. I don’t think Chipper going to be able to pull you out of this one. Oh, you lost 95 RBIs & a great glove too. How will you replace that. LET’S GO METS

By MiamiBeachBravesFan

January 30, 2008 8:50 PM | Link to this

Let’s be real. Reyes is Reyes, and Wright is Wright. Yet, honestly, is the Met batting order even better than the Braves’?

LoDuca’s clutch bat was a myth last year in NY; now it’s gone. Schneider and Castro are a poor wash. If Beltran slumps - and he slumps A LOT in NY - so goes Delagado, who was giving Adam Dunn a good run for the money in the K department. Castillo is an overpaid cripple with the range of a postage stamp. Alou is older than Shea Stadium, and he will end up on the DL. Church is a nice fourth outfielder on any other team, and they gave up their best two OF prospects - Gomez and Milledge.

Honestly, the Phillies have a WAY better lineup,and I still don’t think the Pholding Phils are better than the Braves, top to bottom.

Pedro will not last the season, El Duque is older than Alou (forget what the program says; Cuba, remember? - he was a teammate of Luis Tiant), Oliver Perez is the classic lefty nutbag (inconsistent), and J. Maine has yet to prove he’s ready for prime time. Pelfrey? Pu-leeez! Their bullpen? More like bullspit.

Santana with the Mets is like a four-karat diamond on a rusty, old tin setting…

Provided he can be the 4KD in NYC, day in and day out - with a fat contract, and fat expectations. Just ask Beltran.

By Feelin' Brave

January 30, 2008 9:01 PM | Link to this

Yeah, don’t worry ‘bout erratic Santana. Some years he wins the Cy Young, some years he’s only top five in the voting. Some years his ERA is 2.61, other years it balloons to 3.33. Some years he has 265 K’s, some years he has 235. Who would want a guy like that to come to the NL and a pitcher’s park? Picture of inconsistency. Washed up at 28. Over hyped and over payed. The Mets didn’t get better. Smoltz/Hud/Glav/Hampton is much more of a sure thing than Santana/Pedro/Perez/Maine. No, really.

By Mr Met

January 30, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this

But, what do I know? I’m just another New York Queer!

By Nolie

January 30, 2008 9:16 PM | Link to this

I like to compare New Yorkers to an old beer. They both look nasty and they smell like a septic tank!

By Feelin' Brave

January 30, 2008 9:20 PM | Link to this

I was kidding BTW. I would take Smoltz/Hud/Glav/Hampton over Santana/Pedro/Perez/Maine anyday. The Mets will be a bust next year and Mania will get caned.

By 2008WSchampsfan

January 30, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this

I dont know whos older your pitching staff or your manager?? Johan is gonna bring us to the promised land with our lineup full of studs. You cant live in the past theres noone on the braves roster who can compare to the tops on the 08’ champs ( The New York Metropolitans )

By Ben

January 30, 2008 9:25 PM | Link to this

NYTimes has less confidence in the Mets than you fans

By the way Mets fans, it’s HILARIOUS that you guys even mention Brian Schneider. I predict that after 3 weeks, you guys will be tearing him apart. The dude just canNOT hit. At all. He’s terrible. .662 and .649 OPS last year & year before. In fact, it’s safe to bet that Glavine will have a higher BA than he will this year. He’s decent behind the plate (caught 31% basestealers last year, though the team’s ERA while he played was worst in the league among regulars). Picking him up was definitely great for the Braves. You’ll find that out before long.

By Daybed Wagmoe

January 30, 2008 9:29 PM | Link to this

When I said keep the faith, Braves fans I was full of crap. The Mets are infinitely better than any NL team and our beloved Braves are a 3rd place team.

By Nolie

January 30, 2008 9:32 PM | Link to this

I really have a giant inferiority complex and am confused by New Yorkers and their witty city-talk. I know as a lowly Southerner I can’t beat NY. I guess I’ll bow to the Mets as champs now and save some time.

By atlbraves

January 30, 2008 9:32 PM | Link to this

Who here agrees that steven should be removed from all braves blogs for handing the division to the mets in JANUARY?

By Avery

January 30, 2008 9:33 PM | Link to this

It’s funny that everyone is saying that the Mets didn’t give up much, even though they gave up four of their most highly-ranked prospects. The Mets farm system is a JOKE, and this proves it once again. EVERYONE in baseball knows that the Mets don’t rely on scouting, and they mostly rely on buying their players. The Mets’ future looks bleak, if you use their farm system as a litmus test. Despite that, I’m sure your front office (who know nothing about baseball, by the way) will bail you all out once again by buying more overpaid players. Even if the Braves finish behind the Mets, at least we did it with players that we cultivated. Oh, and I love you moronic Mets fans calling Chipper ‘Larry.’ It just reminds me what a threat he is to you and your incredibly lame team. Keep it up.

By MiamiBeachBravesFan

January 30, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this

Let’s be real. The Mets are the best team in the division with that pitching staff and lineup of Reyes/Beltran/Wright/Delgado/Alou. If I wasn’t busy in bed with my sister, I’d have come to that realization sooner. Well, I gotta go make some future Braves with my sis.

By 2008WSchampsfan

January 30, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this

Mr Met, your gay? I would love to hook up sometime at a Mets game. We Mets fans are like one big gay fest on Friday nights.

By atlbraves

January 30, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this

mutts are a joke

By Steve

January 30, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this

What do they put in the water down there?

By Daybed Wagmoe

January 30, 2008 9:44 PM | Link to this

I would also like to chime in and say all New Yorkers like to take it up the butt. You would be mad if you had to live in this hell hole of a city full of ugly people and the smell of sweaty balls.

By Avery

January 30, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this

It’s funny that everyone is saying that the Mets didn’t give up much, even though they gave up four of their most highly-ranked prospects. The Mets farm system is a JOKE, and this proves it once again. EVERYONE in baseball knows that the Mets don’t rely on scouting, and they mostly rely on buying their players. The Mets’ future looks bleak, if you use their farm system as a litmus test. Despite that, I’m sure your front office (who know nothing about baseball, by the way) will bail you all out once again by buying more overpaid players. Even if the Braves finish behind the Mets, at least we did it with players that we cultivated. Oh, and I love you moronic Mets fans calling Chipper ‘Larry.’ It just reminds me what a threat he is to you and your incredibly lame team. Keep it up.

By MetSalidTosser

January 30, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this

I got to say I’m ashamed to be from New York too. I live in the gay capital of the world and most people hate this state so much we invade Florida like rats on the run from a plague. But then again, most of us in NYC are illegal aliens.

By Avery

January 30, 2008 9:53 PM | Link to this

Ya know like when we traded for Mark Texeira, Tim Hudson, Matt Diaz, Mike Hampton, Rafael Soriano. Homegrown guys.

By Rudy2012

January 30, 2008 9:56 PM | Link to this

Rudy Giuliani the man. Whatever he tells me I do. We are people of New York. We average an 8th grade education and we love rainbows!

By WeLostTheWar

January 30, 2008 9:59 PM | Link to this

We’re real smart down here in Dixie, but still mad we fell way behind in that Industrial Revolution. Even with all that slave labor we love down here, we still got beaten like my 12 stepchildren and the Braves. Cooter’s comin over and we’re going cow tipping over at Larry Wayne’s!

By F*

January 30, 2008 10:01 PM | Link to this

I am jealous of the Braves. Avery is right. The Mets can’t run a farm system and we will always be second fiddle to the Yankees. We also like to trade for players that were ALL-Stars 5 years ago. Go Big Blue and Orange. Oh and we have Black as a color now too!

By MiketheMet

January 30, 2008 10:06 PM | Link to this

It makes me sick that David Wright wants to be like Chipper Jones. We all here in NY know Chipper is the best third baseman in MLB. He kills my Mets every year. To rub it in, he even named his son after our stadium. I would trade David Wright anyway for Chipper. It also kills me the Braves have the best infield in baseball.

By WeWonTheWar

January 30, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this

I’m sorry us Yankees want to live in Florida so bad. You would to if you lived here. It’s hard living in the most dangerous city with the highest crime in the world with so many queers running around. I almost crap myself whenever the sun comes out up here. I can’t wait to move to the South one day! Florida is paradise and NYC is hell!

By Flushing is for Toilets

January 30, 2008 10:16 PM | Link to this

Johan is a poor man’s Bret Saberhagen: an outstanding year every now and then, and slightly above average (as in 15-13 in ‘07) all other years. You mongrel Mutts fans better hope that suspect bullpen plays way above their abilities because Johan The Great not only is prone to the long ball but in almost 10 big league seasons, your savior has a whopping 6 complete games and 4 (count ‘em) shut outs. Maybe the Twins know exactly what they’re doing unloading Mr. Santana on the desperate Mutts for most of the prize prospects in their farm system. So when all those old geezers (Billy, Pedro, El Puque, Moises, etc.) retire in the next year or two, you losers will be stuck with a high-priced 6-7 inning gopher ball pitcher. LET’S BLOW METS!

By acewpk

January 30, 2008 10:28 PM | Link to this

Am I really reading here that Mets fans are the most disgusting fans in baseball? Now, I don’t personally know a lot of Braves fans, and I’m sure many of them are lovely people, but isn’t this the fanbase that gave John Rocker a standing ovation on his return from his SI commentary suspension? Rocker was a disgrace not just to your organization, but to the human race. This is also from the fanbase that, year in and year out, gleefully performs something called the “Tomahawk Chop”, perhaps the most racist cheer in professional sports? Look, every fanbase has its rotten eggs, and I know my fair share of obnoxious NY fans (Mets and Yankees alike), but the two aforementioned things do not paint a pretty picture of the Turner Field fans to the rest of the country. Now, honestly, nobody things those sorts of things are indicative of the typical Georgian (is that the word?), because not enough of them show up to root on the Braves to be a justifiable population percentage.

And for those of you touting the return of Tom Glavine… how many of you were on this board one, two, three, four years ago, calling Glavine “washed up”? Honestly now.

Still, as a Mets fan, I’ve learned to never, EVER count out the Braves. If everything breaks as the three organizations plan (and that’s rarely the case in baseball) then I envision a three-way dogfight on top of the NL East between the Mets, Braves and Phils. Sorry, Nats and Marlins fans. (Although stranger things have happened.)

By hop

January 30, 2008 10:34 PM | Link to this

once again the braves will not have enough pitching to win the NL EAST. the braves have 2-3 starters and the mets five 5-6.

when you only spend 80-90mm and the mets 125-140mm, you are sitting at home during the playoff.

now, i wonder what the excuses will be after the 08 season. i am sure they are beginning that process now .

By acewpk

January 30, 2008 10:46 PM | Link to this

My honest mistake. I looked up the word “Tomahawk Chop” and found out it was started at The Florida State University, and is fully endorsed by the Seminole Tribes of Florida and Oklahoma. I am truly sorry to call all the Seminoles of Florida, Oklahoma, The Florida State University, the graduates of The Florida State University, and its fans. And to all Braves fans, I’m truly sorry for calling you raciest. Looks like I’m the true racist here. And the Rocker incident here in NYC a few years ago, I forgot that was instigated by a wonderful member of the New York media (also known as liberal media). My apologies for that mistake too. I wish I could move to Georgia, but you guys would make fun of my education or lack there of.

By hellobrooklyn

January 30, 2008 10:47 PM | Link to this

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA Braves fans are hahaha crazy! lol poor mans Brett HAHA so funny Good Lucc with Tom Glavine lol

YOU WANNA BLW THE METS HAHAHAHA even funnier

“Johan is a poor man’s Bret Saberhagen: an outstanding year every now and then, and slightly above average (as in 15-13 in ‘07) all other years. You mongrel Mutts fans better hope that suspect bullpen plays way above their abilities because Johan The Great not only is prone to the long ball but in almost 10 big league seasons, your savior has a whopping 6 complete games and 4 (count ‘em) shut outs. Maybe the Twins know exactly what they’re doing unloading Mr. Santana on the desperate Mutts for most of the prize prospects in their farm system. So when all those old geezers (Billy, Pedro, El Puque, Moises, etc.) retire in the next year or two, you losers will be stuck with a high-priced 6-7 inning gopher ball pitcher. LET’S BLOW METS!

“

By hop

January 30, 2008 10:50 PM | Link to this

I’m an idiot. I just looked at the Braves roster and noticed the Braves have 8 starting pitchers and the Mets now have 3. I got it backwards. Sorry! I guess us Mets fans will be the ones in the streets watching the Braves in the playoffs.

By YNkcuF

January 30, 2008 11:02 PM | Link to this

We will never be as good as the Braves but we have to at least act like we think we are almost as good.

By R1U

January 31, 2008 12:13 AM | Link to this

Santana who Hudson out pitched him and had him beat last summer until a guy named Wickman came in

By NELSON

January 31, 2008 12:45 AM | Link to this

mets are ready, in 2008 atlanta will gain the East again

By texmex

January 31, 2008 1:04 AM | Link to this

so funny listening to all these mets fans up here in new york i cant help but laugh at all of them - i cant wait for johan to vs the braves and get bombed by chipper tex and Francoeur

By Ben

January 31, 2008 1:20 AM | Link to this

Mets fans, you’ve only won the division ONCE in the last TWENTY years!!! I know that’s not really relevant to what can happen next year, but man, get some perspective people. You don’t have to go all out and kick and scream that you’re going to win the division. You should just be happy you’re contending again.

By edward

January 31, 2008 3:41 AM | Link to this

I think it is funny that everyone thinks that Santana will just breeze into the NL and blow everyone out. Remember my fellow Braves fans, Hudson was even better when he came over to the NL and look how long it took him to make good!! I still take our lineup over the Mets. Someone from Minn. wrote that he only did bad last year cause some hitters caught up to him and that the NL does not have the big hitters the AL does. I think the pitching is tougher in the NL because they pitch as opposed to just throwing hard. The good hitters will time out a fastball over the 5 times or so we face Santana. Now if he learns a great slow pitch to back that heat up….

By keef1234

January 31, 2008 4:41 AM | Link to this

Santana cannot: 1.)remove the curse of “worst choke of any team in any sport in the history of sports” orchestrated by their brilliant manager

2.) the additional curse of overpaying mega dollars like the savior Mike Piazza —- who did absolutely nothing.REMEMBER THE HEADLINES IN NY ABOUT HOW MANY RINGS HE’S GONNA BRING!

Hopefully Pedro can take up the slack when Santana goes under the knife as durability and passion start waining for every dollar over $150 million ridiculous dollars.

Braves win division by 4 instead of 6 games over PHILLIES …

By Metropolitan Man

January 31, 2008 5:55 AM | Link to this

Morning brave bloggers. Heck I dont even know where to blog now due to all the Santana buzz, you guys are running 2. Hey whats that song Dion Sanders used to sing when he was known as Neon Dion???? Oh now I remember…..”Must be the Moneyyyyyyyyyy”. You guys remember that song right??? You have to because you asked this question for the past 2 seasons and no METS fan had a direct answer. I think Johan just answered that question and will leave you guys braves blue. There is so much going on that there really is no need to harp about this even though its hard not to. I’ve read all the quotes from braves players and philthies players and they all say about the same thing. It doesnt matter and they are still better than the METS. Thats great, noboby wants to see anyone lose faith in their squads especially after 1 move. However, the METS and their fans have something to boast about and its not the last 2 weeks of 07. Right now 07 seems more like a hiccup now that this deal was made. Yeah we know everything still has to be settled on the field, but confidence has shot up on 1 end, and questions marks have popped up on the other. The farm sytem has never been anything to right home about so thats not a hit unless the chips traded end up being All Stars. The braves made moves that made them feel good for a hot minute. The METS made 1 move and turned the entire sport of baseball upside down. Its truly “AMAZING” how no matter what end of the spectrum the METS are on, they are relevent. If the braves dont win, we wont hear about them…its just that simple.
I can actually feel the wind sail out of the high hopes you guys had. Reading some of the responses, you can garner dislike, upset, worried, and almost ready to wave the white flag. Man if you guys dont sign Tex, can you honestly not see pre 1991 results again. Lets be real, you must rely on back door shady deals, hometown discounts, and the farm every year because you cant package the braves product properly to make ends meet. I’ve spent more money on tickets at Turner then most born and bred braves fans. Get behind your boys, support them financially and figure out how to turn seats into money.
Well my septic tank is almost empty so I better wrap up the post that will motivate any METS fan and make a philthie and braves fan don orange and blue if you havent already. You guys were just finishing 3rd before, now expect to get buried. How optimistic are you guys now……really??? I’ll paste this on the other blog too, no sense in being stingy with the wonderful kind words about the big 3 in the NL east. Next year I’ll be talking about the reigning division champs METS, 2nd place philthies, and the up and coming 3rd place nats. You and the fish can duke it out for season and be spoilers.

LETS GO METS & BIG BLUE did I mention LETS GO METS!!!!!!

By Metropolitan Man

January 31, 2008 6:33 AM | Link to this

How did I know this would turn into.”Dont worry about the METS, lets just handle our business”. That will be the braves and philthies mantra all season.

By keef1234

January 31, 2008 6:49 AM | Link to this

Going on a Braves board as a mets fan is a sympton of OCD (yes, metropolitans, you can google it…) It’s like going up to your ex-girlfriends new boyfriend to tell him how superior you are to him…It’s almost embarassing…

By Johan The Scared

January 31, 2008 6:53 AM | Link to this

I am Johan Santana. I have been up all night reading all the good blogs as well as the ones from the Mets fans. I am not up because I like to read, I am up because since I was traded to the Mets I am having trouble sleeping. I have heard many bad things about the Mets fans: they hate their jobs, they hate their commmutes, they hate living in the cesspool that is the NY metro area, and they hate their lives. So what do they do? They turn their hatred to those they envy but can never be, like the great and decent Atlanta Braves fans, their beautiful city, and their record-setting team. But most of all, these subhuman cretins turn their hatred toward overpaid players who have the cruel weight of unrealistic expectations on their shoulders. I am certain I will be the target of their lameness in 2008 and for several years thereafter when we do not make the playoffs year after year after year. It will get very bad for me because I am used to playing in a smaller market with fans that actually are proud of where they live. I am also scared because my new team has no farm system and a bunch of washed up old players on the field. But what scares me most is the fact that the mighty Braves are in my division - once the rabid pig Met fans see me get shelled by Atlanta they will turn their hatred toward me. Somebody please help me!

By The Mets Blow

January 31, 2008 7:08 AM | Link to this

Hey Metrosexual Man,

I love the fact that you are so confident because you guys signed one player. It is just inconceivable that things might not go exactly to plan, right? Like last year when we were banking on having Mike Hampton back in the starting rotation and Andruw Jones having his standard All-Star season. Guess what. S**t happens, usually for the worst. If your boys are dominating half way through the season, feel free to come back and rub it in. Granted I am disappointed that the Braves didn’t try to sign a big time pitcher this off-season, but a solid team can win their division, or the World Series, any given year. The team with the most high paid players doesn’t always win. Just ask your varsity team, aka the Yankees, when was the last time they won the World Series with their annual All-Star lineup.

By keef1234

January 31, 2008 7:46 AM | Link to this

MIKE PIAZZA: METS ANSWER TO OVERTAKING YANKEES FOR AT LEAST 5 WORLD SERIES! Oh sorry, I had a NY Post Headline flashback…pre 2007 choke…I live in Connecticut

By Braves finally win

January 31, 2008 8:17 AM | Link to this

Remember when the Braves traded for Big Tex that they were automatically going to win the NL East according to all the experts.

I think Santana is a great pitcher but he wasn’t that great last year and Pedro seems to hurt as much as Kotsay. I would have to say that it doesn’t really make that big of a difference

By AJ

January 31, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this

I have to laugh reading what all you Braves fans are saying. “Smolz is better than Santana”, the “Braves have a better rotation” etc. You are all dreaming. The Mets just got the best pitcher in baseball entering his prime. Pedro is healthy again. Maine and Perez are as good or better than any 3-4 starters in baseball, and they too are turning 26 and entering their prime. The Braves have a very good team for sure, but Santana definitely gives the Mets the advantage over both them and the Phils. As always, injuries can always make a difference, too.

By Myrtle Beach

January 31, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this

I do not believe in what if but IF Hampton pitches like we know he can we win by 7 games, IF we had him last year we win by 7 games, IF we’d had him the year before the whole year we win by 7 games. But given all that you have to tip your hats to the Mets because won more games than the Braves last year without Pedro. The Yankees “BUY” winning ever year, The Mets are trying the same thing. If we had the same amount of money to spend as the Mets they would NEVER win more games than the Braves. It will be a great race this year but the Key to the Braves is “HAMPTON”. I hope he reads this!

By PatioDaddio

January 31, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this

Some facts to look at Four pretty good pitchers.

Home Runs Given up: Santana 33, Glavine 23, Smoltz 18, Hudson 10.

ERA: Smoltz 3.11, Hudson 3.33, Santana 3.33, Glavine 4.45

Wins: Hudson 16, Santana 15, Smoltz 14, Glavine 13

Losses: Santana 13, Hudson 10, Glavine 8, Smoltz 8

Quality Starts: Smoltz 26, Hudson 25, Glavive 23, Santana 20

Smoltz had 26 quality starts out of 32 chances Hudson had 25 quality starts out of 34 chances Glavine had 23 quality starts out of 34 chances Santana had 20 quality starts out of 33 chances

By stamper

January 31, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

The Key to the Braves winning is not Hampton. At all. At this point we can’t count on him. If he proves to be healthy, that’s a bonus… but don’t think for a second he’s our secret weapon.

Our starting rotation is sturdy as it is. They’ll keep us close for most of the season. I’m expecting Jurrjens to surprise a lot of people - the kid can pitch.

The truth is, critical games are won in the bullpen… and our bullpen is filthy. Especially with Boyer back healthy. AND when Gonzalez gets back to throwing strong in August and September.

I’ll take our bullpen over the Phillies. The Mets? That’s closer, but I still like ours.

We’ll contend… with or without Hampton. Smoltz, Huddy, Glavine and James are a great foursome.

As for the Phillies and Mets? They’re gonna be tough… and we’ll have our destiny in our hands, as we’ll be playing them 6 times a piece in September.

By I give up!

January 31, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this

You are correct, Braves fans. I now see the light. Your staff of studs is much better than our staff of Jorge Santana, Ramon Martinez, Odalis Perez, Watr Maine, Mike Pilledge… You Braves fans provide some of the funniest reading material I have ever read. Hudson better than Santana? Hampton better than Pedro? Does Hampton still Pitch? Your new centerfielder is better than Andruw Jones? The Braves will always be good, because they one of the best GM,s ever. As far as the fans go…This is where Mike Hapmton wanted to send his kids to school?

By Kirk

January 31, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

“The Yankees “BUY” winning ever year, The Mets are trying the same thing”

david wright: prospect jose reyes: prospect luis castillo: traded for delgado: traded for schneider: traded for alou: free agent beltran: free agent church: traded for

johan santana: traded for pedro: free agent john maine: traded for ollie perez: traded for el duque: traded for mike pelfrey: prospect

billy wagner: free agent duaner sanchez: traded for pedro feliciano: prospect aaron heilman: prospect

braves suck btw

By Dave

January 31, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this

Grasping at straws Braves fans? I know the Mets choked big time last year and a lot of it was due to Glavine and his can’t pitch more than 6 innings killing the bullpen’s arms all year. Plus, the collapse of the Mets best player and spark plug due to his youth…Glavine’s gone…Santana will eat up those innings and Reyes has one more year under his belt and now YOU have Glavine and his 5-6 innings per game chewing through your middle reliever’s arms. Yeah…good luck with that Braves Fans!!!

By coocoo birdfan

January 31, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this

Santana is the man, he is by far one of the top two pitchers in all of baseball. With the Mets lineup he’ll win 20 games and contend for the NL Cy Young award. OK, now thats said, everything is wait and see with the Mets and Braves. Is Hampton going to get back on the field, Is Chipper going to duplicate last years stats, will Tex hit 40+ homers, will Glavine and Smoltz throw there arms to the catchers? Yes, we have had problems with the left handed pitchers in the east but trust me as an ex player those guys are working on it everyday. We are going to compete period, and thats all that a lifetime Braves fan can wish for. The Mets have the same worries, Perez had a good year last year but he has chronic arm problems, and I dont have to say anything about Pedro. They are one injury to an infielder away from third in the East, and soo are WE. Cant wait for the season to start.

By WeJustNeedaBreak

January 31, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this

Understood, but they said the same thing about Barry Zito in 2003 after he won the Cy young and was picked up by the Giants to become the highest paid pitcher in the NL. I think we are headed down the same path here. If Mike Hampton stays healthy and Hudson pitchs like he did last year. Here is the rotation:

1) Smoltz 2) Hudson 3) Glavine 4) Hampton 5) whoever

1) Santana 2) Martinez (if healthy) 3) O. Perez 4) Maine 5) whoever

Plus they have done nothing to add to their offense this year, which killed them in the stretch last year. Plus we will have Tex the whole season. I like our chances to winning the division, or at least the wild card.

The Braves are younger overall, and have not depleted our Minors to win a the next couple of years. The Braves are doing the right thing. Keep it up, we will be good for a long time to come…the Mets? Not so much, buddy!

By rotomeister

January 31, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this

I’ve watched Santana alot the past three years and he is incredibly effective. I love to watch him pitch, and now he’ll be applying his craft against us. Unlike some of the fans above I don’t see this as trying to buy a championship. They traded for him and he’ll have a huge impact. They are trying to win a championship and this is a good move. I hope it doesn’t work out but it won’t surprise me if it does.

This is, however, a win-at-all-costs now move because they are completely depleting their farm system which is something the Braves have been wary of doing for most of the past decade.

I can’t wait to see how it all works out.

By WeJustNeedaBreak

January 31, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

All I think is … Here we go again, another New York team buying a championship that never comes. The 3 top teams in salaries will be NYY, Boston, and NYM. We aren’t even in the top 10 in salaries…and we do it year in and year out. I am proud to be a fan of a team that has dignity and respect. Unlike our football francise…but that is a different subject altogether…aAnd hopefully that changes too.

By robert

January 31, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this

I think that the braves should be worried, but then again no one was worried about us in 1990 either. With injuries being such a big deal and scheduling as it is, anything is possible.

By ColoradoBravesFan

January 31, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this

Just some facts to combat the ignorance of mets fans.

1) Tex will replace Andruw Jones offense, and is a Gold Glove at first. Kotsay is a very solid defensive CFer. Kotsay only has to replace the Thorman/Wilson offense from last year, not hard to do there.
2) Braves defense was 3rd in NL last year Mets 9th. Escobar will probably be a little better on Defensive than Renteria( maybe not as steady. Kelly Johnson should improve on defense and at the Plate.
3) Glavine pitched over 200 innings last year, the only Met to do so. He was not the reason for your middle relivers being “chewed through”.

4) The Braves scored more runs than the mets last year and our offese is beeter with Tex batting clean- up instead of A. Jones and Kotsay improvement over Thorman/Wilson. The Mets line up got worse, losing LoDuca and Green.

5) One or two of the Mets pitchers will go on the DL this year, it happens to every team. The Braves have depth to cover injuries and ineffectiveness the Mets do not.

GO BRAVES….

By Mo

January 31, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this

Have we learned nothing about watching this Braves team from last year? Smoltz and Hudson were unbeatable for much of the season but the team found it hard to connect wins because the back end of the rotation stank. Does this look familiar to what the Mets rotation is like? Santana is going to win a lot of games but what do they have 2-5?

By Jim Staudt

January 31, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this

Santana is way over-rated. Sure, he had 3 good years, but last year he was so-so, barely over .500 with an ERA well over 3. That’s okay for the Dh-happy AL, but hardly “arguably the best pitcher in baseball” to quote David Wright. As for his prognosis for the future, compare his stats at age 24-27 to those of Glavine, Maddux and Pedro Martinez, for example, for the same years. They all match up pretty well for the first 3 of those years, but not for the 4th. Let’s see if last year was a fluke or a trend before we start annointng him as HOF material. Braves will compete with the Santana-led Mets, even without another “Randolph finish” like last year.

By Amber

January 31, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this

Here’s hoping last year’s “struggles” were not an anomaly for Santana. Otherwise, I have two words for the acquisition and I can only print one. Oh …..

DOB, we need some rational, balanced discourse on what this means for us! I need perspective and hope! I’m devastated enough that I might not get to watch every Braves game this year….

By Ben

January 31, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this

2008 Mets Projected Lineup 1. Reyes 2. Castillo 3. Beltran 4. Wright 5. Delgado 6. Alou 7. Church or Chavez or Anderson 8. Schneider

2009 Mets Projected Lineup 1. Reyes 2. Castillo 3. Beltran 4. Wright 5. ? (Delgado likely bought out for $4M instead of kept for $16M) 6. Church 7. ? (F. Mart if ready?) 8. Schneider

Neither of these lineups is scary. 2008’s 1-4 is good, but 5-8 is filled with old or mediocre guys. Not a tough lineup to get through.

2009 is even worse. 1-4 again is good, but only Church and Schneider are the known commodities down there - not something to be scared about. And rushing F. Mart would be unwise.

Bottom line, Mets better stop teams with their pitching. And let’s not forget Pedro is 36 in 2008, and coming off a year in which he only pitched 25 innings. And he’s gone after 2008 altogether. We’ll see how Maine and Oliver do, but admittedly they are young. El Duque ain’t getting younger (already at least 41). And then there’s Wagner, who turns 37 in July…

Unless the Mets make some more big splashes besides Santana, there isn’t a whole lot to fear here.

By Ben

January 31, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this

2008 Mets Projected Lineup 1. Reyes 2. Castillo 3. Beltran 4. Wright 5. Delgado 6. Alou 7. Church or Chavez or Anderson 8. Schneider

2009 Mets Projected Lineup 1. Reyes 2. Castillo 3. Beltran 4. Wright 5. ? (Delgado likely bought out for $4M instead of kept for $16M) 6. Church 7. ? (F. Mart if ready?) 8. Schneider

Neither of these lineups is scary. 2008’s 1-4 is good, but 5-8 is filled with old or mediocre guys. Not a tough lineup to get through.

2009 is even worse. 1-4 again is good, but only Church and Schneider are the known commodities down there - not something to be scared about. And rushing F. Mart would be unwise.

Bottom line, Mets better stop teams with their pitching. And let’s not forget Pedro is 36 in 2008, and coming off a year in which he only pitched 25 innings. And he’s gone after 2008 altogether. We’ll see how Maine and Oliver do, but admittedly they are young. El Duque ain’t getting younger (already at least 41). And then there’s Wagner, who turns 37 in July…

Unless the Mets make some more big splashes besides Santana, there isn’t a whole lot to fear here.

By ELI

January 31, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this

As a Mets fan, I could not be sadder then the Braves letting Andruw Jones go. I mean what a bad player. Endless Gold Gloves and Man all those home runs and RBIs. I guess he had nothing to do with Franceour, and McCann being so good. Or picking up Chipper Jones stats when he was hurt. I am sure Kotsay will fill in with similar production.

Yup that Braves lineup did well in finishing 3rd behind the choking Mets. Thats right, the old unthreatening Mets did well sweeping the Braves in Atlanta at the end of the summer.

By AJ

January 31, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this

I see where many envious Braves fans have called Santana “over rated”. Let me remind you all to check the stats, fantasy baseball rankings, sports websites rankings, etc. all of whom rate Johan Santana the #1 pitcher in baseball. Everyone one of them. If Pedro is healthy, (and all indications are he’s better than he has been in years)and with the expected continued improvement from 15 game winners and both just turning 26 years old, Perez and Maine (3&4 starters)…how any Braves fan can actually think they have a better rotation…you’re fooling yourselves. Let’s play ball!

By ChrisMas

January 31, 2008 7:01 PM | Link to this

It’s funny to see how clueless Atlanta are. You can’t even fill your stadium for playoff games. So the OLD Mets c0re players are: Reyes - all star - 24 Wright - all star - 25 Beltran - all star - 30 Santana - top pitcher - 29 After the Santana deal is done, these players are all, signed for at least the next 5 years. other starters: John Maine,28, Oliver Perez,27, both with 15 wins last year; Both with better stats than Glavine. Then there’s Mike Pelfrey, 24, And Phil Humber, 25, who haven’t even come close to reaching their full potential yet. You aren’t even part of the discussion in the NL East. It’s all NY and Philly. Get used to many years not making the playoffs, braves fans. Glavine? Smoltz? Busted up Chipper? Now we’re talking old….

By Mr. Met

February 1, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this

mets rock you stink braves your nobodies even with the mets worst season in three years you still lost. you’ll lose even worse this year. I’ve had the priveledge of watching this guy pitch and he truly is better than any active pitcher right now with a 2.50 era and 80-30 record in the past four years the only ACTIVE pitcher right now that has a better record is our own Pedro Martinez!!!!!!!! we have the best batting and pitching in the league and with Santana are officially ranked 5th in the entire MLB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Mr. Met

February 1, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this

mets rock you stink braves your nobodies even with the mets worst season in three years you still lost. you’ll lose even worse this year. I’ve had the priveledge of watching this guy pitch and he truly is better than any active pitcher right now with a 2.50 era and 80-30 record in the past four years the only ACTIVE pitcher right now that has a better record is our own Pedro Martinez!!!!!!!! we have the best batting and pitching in the league and with Santana are officially ranked 5th in the entire MLB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Random

February 1, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

I don’t think it’s insignificant to Santana’s performance this coming year that he will haved moved from a fairly lousy offensive team to a fairly good offensive team, AND from a fairly good offensive league to a fairly lousy offensive league.

Santana is moving from a league where he faced six of the top ten run-producing ML teams (two from his division) and only two of the bottom ten run-producing ML teams to a league where he’ll be facing seven of the bottom ten run-producing ML teams and only three of the top ten run-producing ML teams (two from his division). (Mets are in top ten — he won’t have to face them; Twins were in bottom ten — he didn’t get to face them.)

He’s moving from a league where he faced five of the top ten hit-producing ML teams and only four of the bottom ten hit-producing ML teams to a league where he’ll be facing six of the bottom ten hit-producing ML teams and only four of the top ten hit-producing ML teams. (Mets are in top ten — he won’t have to face them.)

He’s moving from a league where he faced six of the top ten home run-producing ML teams (three from his division) and only three of the bottom ten home run-producing ML teams to a league where he’ll be facing six of the bottom ten home run-producing ML teams and only four of the top ten home run-producing ML teams (two from his division). (Twins were in bottom ten — he didn’t get to face them.)

Rather than facing six of the top ten OPS teams (and four of the worst) he’ll be facing six of the bottom ten OPS teams (and only three of the best). (Mets are in top ten — he won’t have to face them.)