[retired_karlo]

Harden is fast becoming one of my favourite pitchers.
So solid, and confident to throw the strikes!

I heart Harden :cool:

[retired_autumn]

Originally posted by Andy Jordan:
Francoeur is looking a little more disciplined at the plate,

Small sample size and all that, but he has no walks this season, and an OBP that equals his BA. Which is to say, he has an OBP under .300 at the moment. Maybe he has more discipline, but it hasn't shown up in the stat sheet yet.

re: the Mets Braves debate, as much as it pains me to say it, the talent level suggests the Mets will take it before the Braves do. I think the NY starting pitching has a real chance to be miserable if/when El Duque goes down, and their bullpen doesn't look to be as dominant as last year, but their lineup might be able to overcome that problem. (Six through nine (Alou, Green, Valentin, pitcher) is pretty ordinary, since I think Alou and Green are washed up, but four of the first five are as good as it gets in the NL.)

Assuming the O Perez comeback is a mirage, I think the Braves pitching is at least as good as the Mets. I'd take Smoltz, Hudson, and James over Glavine, Hernandez, and Maine any day, and the bullpens are pretty even as well. (The slight advantage you might give the Braves in middle relief is balanced by the slight advantage that Wags has over Wickman.) But neither team is going to be served well by a lousy back end of the rotation, and Atlanta's 4 and 5 might even be worse than New York's. At least the Mets guys have upside. Redmen and Cormier have none.

Although I'd much rather see the Braves win over the Mets, the Braves would probably have to outperform expectations to get there. (At least Bobby Cox makes this possible.)

[reynoldswanab]

The NL East will produce two playoff teams and given how the Phillies have looked thus far, I'm feeling pretty good about the Braves' playoff chances.

Davies looked pretty good the other day, he's going to have to step it up this season now that Hampton is done.

Hopefully we can keep the momentum going with the mighty Nationals coming to town.

[retired_kimmymarlo]

wait wait wait - the Braves' bullpen is CLEARLY better than the Mets ffs

Mike Gonzalez/Rafael Soriano v. Aaron "I suck" Heilman and Schoewnwesis ffs is much wider than any perceived gap between Wickman and Wagner. Wickman has been lights out since we've picked him up - as you love to say, stats don't lie.

anyway, Francoeur was worked the pitcher a handful of times in a way he never would've last year. iirc, his double off Heilman was a 4 or 5 pitch AB, which is an achievement for him.

[BarryLFC]

Ugh, that word "bullpen" brings me out in a rash.

Bob Howry and Scott Eyre have been awful so far this year, Will Ohman just as bad and Michael Wuertz not much better. Even Guzman has been far from electric. Ryan Dempster has done ok. I'm sure I've forgotten someone though...Neal Cotts - he's been solid, for the most part.

[Vegas171]

Originally posted by Samamatara:
Harden is fast becoming one of my favourite pitchers.
So solid, and confident to throw the strikes!

I heart Harden :cool:

you best not have jinxed him

[retired_the gizmo]

hd will be pleased to know that as of this second, marquis' era is 81.00

[BarryLFC]

Marquis will be OK, would just rather have him as the #5. :/

[retired_the gizmo]

by ok, do you mean something like 8-14 with an era above 5?

[Vegas171]

**Weaver Watch**

good to see Jeff Weaver, reverting back to norm :******)