Just checked the MLB standings for the first time in a while...

[jman19]

Wow, looks like the Braves are going to be dethroned this year. The team just doesn't have much anymore.

 

[ballmode]

you are correct, they need a new roster

 

[DBL]

Let's go Mets!

 

[txrandom]

I'd rather the Braves win than Mets and this is coming from an Astros fan.

 

[suicidalpigeon]

pirates ftw!

 

[imported_Imp]

I don't get the Braves. Seems like they're always way above five hundred, but they barely make it in play offs. Then I look at the rest of the division and...forget it...

 

[zanieladie]

The Orioles are really sucking BIG time!

 

[kranky]

The Braves game is on ESPN radio today and the announcers talked the whole first inning about how bad the Braves are this year.

 

[FreedomGUNDAM]

METS!!!!

 

[anxi80]

the nl west is shaping up to be a good, competitive race this year. which is good considering we were the laughing stock last year when it seemed the padres were going to win the division with a sub-.500 record. its pretty neat to look at the standings and see everyone in the division have a record above .500.

 

[BigJ]

The Braves are typically poor performers during the first half of the season.

The Mets are playing way above their ability and have a habit of choking. It's probably going to wind up being a tight race for the NL East.

 

[essasin]

A's ftw!

 

[psteng19]

Originally posted by: BigJ
The Braves are typically poor performers during the first half of the season.

The Mets are playing way above their potential and have a habit of choking. It's probably going to wind up being a tight race for the NL East.

Above their potential?

The Mets are one of the most well-rounded and perhaps the best team in the league, and many pro-analysts share that sentiment.
Speed, offense, defense, pitching. You can't get more complete than that.

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Originally posted by: psteng19

Originally posted by: BigJ
The Braves are typically poor performers during the first half of the season.

The Mets are playing way above their potential and have a habit of choking. It's probably going to wind up being a tight race for the NL East.

Above their potential?

The Mets are one of the most well-rounded and perhaps the best team in the league, and many pro-analysts share that sentiment.
Speed, offense, defense, pitching. You can't get more complete than that.

QFT. The Mets are awesome this year. Top to bottom, they are one of the best built teams in the NL.

<-- Astros fan.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: psteng19

Originally posted by: BigJ
The Braves are typically poor performers during the first half of the season.

The Mets are playing way above their potential and have a habit of choking. It's probably going to wind up being a tight race for the NL East.

Above their potential?

The Mets are one of the most well-rounded and perhaps the best team in the league, and many pro-analysts share that sentiment.
Speed, offense, defense, pitching. You can't get more complete than that.

You can't question the Mets offense.

However, their pitching is extremely questionable.

Glavine is pitching like a man possessed. Did anyone honestly think he'd be 9-2 at this point in the season? He's turning in a Cy-Young year when many thought he was all but finished. I don't possibly see how he can keep this up.

Martinez is in a funk and the offense hasn't been performing well enough when he's been pitching. If he can snap out of the funk, he'll continue throughout the season as the dominant pitcher he is.

Trachsel and Hernandez. Do I even have to start on those two?

It's too early to tell with Soler.

They're troubled with injuries, but Lastings is really spectacular. It's going to be fun to watch him for the rest of the season.

Add to this that both the Phillies and Braves have been on terrible slides lately, and that's why the Mets are up so much right now.

I'm not saying the Mets aren't a very good team, but they're just playing too well right now for me to honestly think they can continue this. Pitching is going to wind up haunting them down the road.

 

[TBone48]

Originally posted by: DBL
Let's go Mets!

:thumbsup:

 

[psteng19]

Originally posted by: BigJ
You can't question the Mets offense.

However, their pitching is extremely questionable.

Glavine is pitching like a man possessed. Did anyone honestly think he'd be 9-2 at this point in the season? He's turning in a Cy-Young year when many thought he was all but finished. I don't possibly see how he can keep this up.

Martinez is in a funk and the offense hasn't been performing well enough when he's been pitching. If he can snap out of the funk, he'll continue throughout the season as the dominant pitcher he is.

Trachsel and Hernandez. Do I even have to start on those two?

It's too early to tell with Soler.

They're troubled with injuries, but Lastings is really spectacular. It's going to be fun to watch him for the rest of the season.

Add to this that both the Phillies and Braves have been on terrible slides lately, and that's why the Mets are up so much right now.

I'm not saying the Mets aren't a very good team, but they're just playing too well right now for me to honestly think they can continue this. Pitching is going to wind up haunting them down the road.

Hernandez is a proven pitcher and has done well in all but one start.
The only funk Martinez is in is giving up too many homers. He's had excellent control the entire season, as noted by his low walk count.
Trachsel and Soler are the only question marks in the rotation.
The bullpen has been one of the best in the league, although Heilman is struggling now.

The bats are swinging well now (not last night though), and this is with Floyd out and in a huge slump most of the season. Imagine if he had last years productivity.

The Braves/Phillies are slumping because of recent matchups against the Mets (Phillies moreso than Braves).
The Mets have winning records against both those teams.

Yes, the Mets are firing on all cylinders right now, and probably won't sustain such a hot streak, but that's no reason to deny that they're still the best team in the NL.
If you disagree, I'd like to hear your thoughts on who's better.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: psteng19

Hernandez is a proven pitcher and has done well in all but one start.
The only funk Martinez is in is giving up too many homers. He's had excellent control the entire season, as noted by his low walk count.
Trachsel and Soler are the only question marks in the rotation.
The bullpen has been one of the best in the league, although Heilman is struggling now.

The bats are swinging well now (not last night though), and this is with Floyd out and in a huge slump most of the season. Imagine if he had last years productivity.

The Braves/Phillies are slumping because of recent matchups against the Mets (Phillies moreso than Braves).
The Mets have winning records against both those teams.

Yes, the Mets are firing on all cylinders right now, and probably won't sustain such a hot streak, but that's no reason to deny that they're still the best team in the NL.
If you disagree, I'd like to hear your thoughts on who's better.

We're going to have to agree to disagree on Hernandez.
Martinez is pitching OK, but to me he still doesn't seem like he's all there.
Maybe you missed my point on Glavine, but I'm still absolutely stupified with how well he's doing right now.
I agree, bullpen is absolutely solid. Makes me wish the Braves had one like that the past few years.

Like I said, you really can't knock the Mets offense. Arguably the best in the majors.

Braves are killing themselves giving up runs early in their games. That is their number one problem. Throw in Sosa having an absolutely terrible season when he was a stud last year, and you can see where some of those games are being missed.

Phillies are on and off. They had the tough matchup with the Mets, but still were slumping a little bit before that with a repreive in the series with Arizona before losing one to the Nationals.

There is no team better than the Mets in the NL right now. That's a fact. However, the Cardinals are again a very dangerous team. We're going to have to see how things shape up with Pujols coming off the DL soon.

With the Mets clicking early now, we have to see if they can sustain it. The Braves traditionally play much better after the break than before. They've also been doing very poorly at home, which is mysterious in itself. I think there is a realistic opportunity for the Braves to catch the Mets after the break, with the Phillies posing a very dangerous threat, and the Nationals being a spoiler for any one of these three teams in the division.