IGT 4-28-2006 At the Ted Pedro vs Smoltz. Must win SERIES!

[stevejrogers]

http://www.getalifealready.com/cpf/MilestonePostAvatars/debutpost.jpgThats not hyperbole. This is as big as a certain series in April 20 years ago this week. A time to make a stand and put that shadow of doubt in Atlanta's mind that the streak will end this YEAR!

ITS OUR DAMN TIME!
Metellenium Year 2006!

[stevejrogers]

Wheres my little Baby Crane?

Come to think of it, I don't think I had a Baby Crane first most as mlbaseballtalk!

Ah well...

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Even the BIGGEST of series in April aren't "must win."

[Willets Point]

Even if the Mets are swept by the Braves, the Mets retain their hold of first place. A comforting thought although I vastly prefer the Mets win 2 or 3 at the House of Horrors and make a statement.

[Guest old original jb]

I disagree. Don't get me wrong--it would be really great to make a statement in this series, and not to do so would constitute a real missed opportunity.

But there's still a whole season to be played regardless of the outcomes this week. The Mets will have plenty of chances to recoup if they lose. And, being the Mets, plenty of chances to blow it later if they win now.

[Guest Edgy DC]

JB, give us a Know Thy Enemy NOW!!!!

I'll start. Jeff Francoeur is slumping

[Centerfield]

One of the few times I agree with Willie:

�We like to please our fans, but we can't get caught up in that. Fans see it from a different perspective. You can't react to that. As a fan, all the years the way the rivalry has gone, yeah, they would love to get some payback. And we would, too. But we keep it more in perspective than the fans do, and the media�

�It's basic to me. It's like they don't understand the long haul. They don't understand that we want to win as badly as they do, but it's not that easy sometimes. You have to play the game. You can't get too high in a situation where you have to play those guys again later on, because if you don't do well, how are you going to deal with it later on?��

[stevejrogers]

Fair enough, and yes I agree pennants are rarely won in April, but with the Braves in a tailspin, this series can go a long way to setting the summer's tone, either way.

[Guest old original jb]

Edgy DC wrote: JB, give us a Know Thy Enemy NOW!!!! I'll start. Jeff Francoeur is slumping

I didn't see the "assignment" until just now. I'll need a few minutes to make their aquaintance.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Sorry.

Everybody help JB by feeding him current and pertinent Bravofacts NOW!!!!

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Sid Bream not expected to play this weekend.

[Centerfield]

Chipper & Renteria expected back in the lineup.

[Centerfield]

Tomahawk chop stolen from fans of Florida State.

[Guest cooby]

All games count, even April games, and so yes, this series is very important. Plus it's against the Braves which is very key, and any NL East opponent is important to beat.

How many times have we gotten down to the wire in September and looked back on an early series that would have been a difference maker?

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Turner Field scorecard vendors don't provide pencils with their scorebooks, directing you to other concession stands to buy pens, which pretty much tells you all you need to know about Braves and their fans.

[Gwreck]

Let's not forget the repeated failures to sell out playoff games.

[stevejrogers]

cooby wrote: All games count, even April games, and so yes, this series is very important. Plus it's against the Braves which is very key, and any NL East opponent is important to beat. How many times have we gotten down to the wire in September and looked back on an early series that would have been a difference maker?

Nice of Mrs. Payson to back me up!

And yes I'm well aware that you can't count the Braves as dead untill they are 31 out with 30 to play.

Love to see their record in spring against the NL East Division leader if it wasn't them.

[Diamond Dad]

I prefer to look at this series as the final 3 games of a 10-game road trip. Doesn't matter who you beat and who you lose to -- what counts is going at least 5-5 on the road trip.

Right now we're at 4-3. Take it from there.

[Zvon]

Willets Point wrote: Even if the Mets are swept by the Braves, the Mets retain their hold of first place. A comforting thought although I vastly prefer the Mets win 2 or 3 at the House of Horrors and make a statement.

I find this comforting as well.

The games are big, but plenty of breathing room.
Not like last seasons last series at Turner, where they stuck a fork in us.

[Guest KC]

Yeah, the Mets advertising team took advantage of the math during the last
game with the first place mets return to home bbbyyy - gonna sound pretty
silly if they limp home getting swept in Atlanta.

I think I'm going to get sick of SNY real quick, if not already.

[Zvon]

.......no Beltran---cripes.

[Gwreck]

WFAN Pregame interview with Willie

Maine, Gonzalez and Lima are the possibilities for Bannister's spot.

No Beltran in the starting lineup tonight.

[Gwreck]

Reyes SS
LoDuca C
Delgado 1B
Wright 3B
Floyd LF
Nady RF
Matsui 2B
Chavez CF
Pedro P

Baseball Team in Atlanta
Marcus Giles 2B
Edgar Renteria SS
Larry Jones 3B
Andrew Jones CF
Adam LaRoche 1B
Jeff Francoeur RF
Brian McCann C
Ryan Langerhans LF
John Smoltz P

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Reyes starts off the game with a walk. Smoltz doesn't like the call. Keith agrees.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Reyes goes to third on a LoDuca single.

[Zvon]

LoDuca singles Reyes to third.

The perfect start.

1st & 3rd, no outs-Delgado up.

[nymr83]

fuckshit Delgado k's

time to break the slump, Wright.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Reyes scores on Wright's sacrifice fly.

[Zvon]

Sac fly by Wright.
Ill take it.
1-0 Mets

[nymr83]

i'd have really liked more runs there, as 1-0 lead is nice but when you get the first 2 on you really hope for a big inning.