No, I'm predicting the Braves will overcome the odds and win the division, but the Mets are the team to beat. Don't outsmart yourself old man. And it's not like I just "come on the board" I've been here longer than you. What difference does it make if Andruw Jones is chubby? He plays more games every year than Beltran does. So he must be in ALRIGHT shape. At least you can agree with that. 9 gold gloves vs. 1. I agree, Beltran is nasty in all aspects of his game, but Beltran undoubtedly has more around him in the line-up to protect him.
Andruw Jones has been getting by defensively on reputation for a while now. He's been below average the last three years, and even before that showed signs of slipping.
Where is your basis for his decline? Another Gold Glove? I agree, that designation points right to diminishing production.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/dt/jonesan01.php In 2000 he experienced a bit of a decline that continued until he had a spike year in 2003, and the 3 years since then he has been below average. Gold Gloves are given out mainly based on reputation. Andruw Jones was once the best defensive outfielder in baseball by a pretty good margin. But the last few years, he's been below average.
Okay, even if I decided to take these formulated stats seriously, where is his slipping prior to 2003? If that's slipping, Beltran was on a slip and slide his whole career before last season.
He hit a peak in '98 and '99 that few can hit, defensively. In 2000, he came down from that peak (he was still very very good, but just not at an all-time great level). From 2000-2002 he remained at a good level, then had a jump back to his '00 level in 2003. The last 3 years, he's had a dramatic drop from very very good to below average. Beltran's basically been above average his entire career, except for last year, in which he made a dramatic jump to a level similar to '00 Jones.
Comparing Rivera to Papelbon is like comparing Leinart to Montana. As they say in Missouri...Show Me.
I didn't compare. I said the Redsox pitching staff is better. Carl Pavano makes me laugh, Pettitte's far above average, and did a nice job for the Astros last year, but he's still old. Rivera can't win games by himself, no matter how nasty he may be. When Igawa leaves the game down 4 runs and your middle relief can't do much, then Rivera stays shacked up anyway.
Matsuzaka looked amazing. Schilling is allowed to have a bad game. If he continues like that, fine, but it's only one bad game. He has proven he can pitch in the majors. Beckett looked great as well. He gave up an unusually high number of homers last year, and if that returns to normal hell be fine. Wakefield is probably the best 4th starter in the league and had a great game today. Tavarez is nothing special but he'll probably be similar to whoever the Yankees have as the 5th starter at the least.
You're a knowledgeable guy. If you were talking about just last year, then I'll agree that Beltran is better. Andruw though has had less protection around him in the lineup like I said before. You can't pick years out Andruw's career, and make up these streaks of decline and subpar-ness without acknowledging the fact that Beltran has had less production defensively throughout their entire careers respectively until the last 3 years. I have no excuse for Jones' decline. Hopefully for the Braves it'll improve this year. Let's find out tonite. It's game time.
I'm not saying Beltran's been a better outfielder for his career than Jones. Beltran, up until last year, never came close to what Jones had done in his prime. However, right now (and for the last few years), I'd take Beltran over him defensively. If I were taking each in their prime, defensively, then it's Jones without question. Jones needs to lose all the weight he's put on over the last few years if he wants to go back to being an elite defender. It's helped him offensively, but hurt him defensively.
I'm glad this guy came around to take the focus away from Mets vs Yankees..... We needed some new Red Sox vs Yankees and Braves vs Mets material.
Sports Illustrated had the Dolphins going to the Super Bowl last year. Well, I guess what I said isn't so ridiculous or laughable. The Braves are only half a game back in the NL East, and have actually had the best record in the majors for more days than the Mets have been in 1st in the division so far in the young season. I figure that the Mets too will lose a few games to the Phillies and Nats :shit: After the 4 RBI's that put us past you in the last game of the series, is Kelly Johnson at 2nd still so laughable? The Yanks find themselves under 500 despite A-Rod's best start for a hitter in the history of the game, while the Redsox are perched high above the AL East. I know, it's only April. And the Mets don't have Pedro yet. And the Yanks rotation is in the infirmary. But from all the mature LMAO's I was getting I got the impression you collectively thought the Braves might win 80 games this year (and finish 3rd).
VJV, I LMAO earlier in the thread, but I'm man enough to admit, right now, you have full bragging rights. Do I think it will last? Probably not. But for right now, you are king of the mountain.
Do they really play that terrible hill-billy music between innings in Atlanta like Keith Hernandez says they do?
LOL. Though not really on topic JoeJet, it's not too unbearable. We're guilty of that Brave chop a few too many times a game though. Good man Alio.
Atlanta is playing very well now. Well except for their loss last night. But is there anybody on that team that is not hot now? I think their weaknesses are not much starting pitching after Smoltz and Hudson. I think their bullpen is average at best. Looks like it will be a two-team race in the NL East. I like Renteria, C Jones, A Jones, B McCann. Kelly Johnson has surprised me.
