Sit down and shut up

So the Braves are done huh? 14 straight division titles coming to a screeching halt under the thunder of the bats at Flushing Meadows. The national media declaring the Braves to be belly up? Ya'know, I think I've seen this movie before. This is the same prediction that many have been making every time the Mets up their payroll to take a run at the division, and to the consternation of pundits everywhwere they fall short EVERY SINGLE TIME!

The prophet of doom chrous seemed to be even louder this year as the Mets payroll blew up like a Baghdad McDonalds to dollar levels that surpass the GDPs of most third-world countries. Yet in the first major test of the season, the recently concluded three game set at Shea, the Bravos once again proved they were the better team. Taking the series from that bunch of Yankee wanna-bees 2-1. Even though this is April, and the season is in its infancy, there was a lot on the line as the Mets have racked up the best record in baseball, and the Bravos have shown cracks galore in a lackluster start to the season.

However those cracks seem to be mending. Terry Pendleton (Bobby Cox's heir apparent) has done wonders as hitting coach, making the Braves a legitmate offensive threat for the first time in...well...ever. Jeff Francouer is finally off the snide, Edgar Rentria is making us forget all about Rafael Furcal, and Andruw Jones is putting up MVP numbers. For his sake let's hope that the rumors of the Gold Club re-opening are untrue.

CHIPPER WHO?

The Pitching is finally coming around as well. Chris Reitsma has been effective in the closers slot, and the starters, who have been stinking up the 'ol ballyard for the first two weeks of the season, seem to finally have their shit together as seen in the back to back complete games pitched byKyle Davies and Tim Hudson.

Hudson and the other starters are finally back on track

Yes it's April. Yes pennants are won and lost in August and September. Yes this does nothing to atone for the perennial post-season collapse. But anything less than a steller performance this wek would have been greeted with flowers and parades from every columnist and talking head in the baseball world-the Braves are dead, rejoyce all!

Hmm, looks like the Daily News is going to have to put the "Chopped!" banner headline back into storage yet AGAIN!