The Mets have spent days and weeks -- probably even months, if they're being honest about it -- preparing for the Braves. And we mean just that. Baseball, not politics.
It means the mystery of Greg Maddux' cut fastball -- not John Rocker.
The restored power in Andres Galarraga's bat -- not John Rocker
The vulnerability in Tom Glavine's changeup -- not John Rocker.
The sudden vulnerability of the Braves themselves as they go into a four-game series with a mere two-game lead over the Mets.
"I think a lot of attention has been focused in the wrong direction," said outfielder Jay Payton. Indeed, despite a nation's obsession with the left-handed reliever, the Mets really don't care whether or not Rocker is riding the No. 7 train to Shea, or if he'll speak to the press or even if he'll be used at any point this weekend.
Instead, the Mets are more interested in a unique chance to wound the Braves in mid-summer, unlike last year, when they had to wait until Games 4, 5 and 6 of the NL Championship Series to proved they'd closed the gap on the league's best team.
Lately, it's the Mets who've dominated the East's landscape, having just swept the Marlins to improve their winning streak to seven games. The Braves? They're 12-14 in June and, with two games left, could have their first losing month since a 12-15 record in September 1996.
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Taking a closer look
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Team statistics for the Braves and Mets through Wednesday:
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Team
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Runs
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HR
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AVG
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SLG
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Braves
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399
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95
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.273
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.441
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Mets
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404
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101
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.272
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.458
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Team
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W-L
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ERA
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Relief ERA
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Opp. Avg.
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Braves
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47-30
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4.13
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3.92
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.273
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Mets
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44-31
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4.58
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5.06
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.290
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Actually, the Braves' slide has been a longer-range phenomenon. Since their 15-game winning streak ended on May 2, they're just 27-24, and have given the Mets every reason to believe New York can win the East for the first time since 1988,
Of course, Rocker isn't entirely separated from Atlanta's turbulence. With a 5.24 ERA and 33 walks in 22.1 innings, the Braves have been left without a reliable closer, one of the primary reasons they won their eighth straight division title in 1999 and ultimately survived the Mets last October.
But, politics aside, Rocker hardly resembles his former self on the mound. Aside from his wildness, the Mets' scouting reports say Rocker's fastball is missing 3-4 mph from last year's high-octane radar readings. Scouts also say Glavine has periodically lost command of the outside corner with his changeup.
Add John Smoltz's season-long absence into the equation, and you see why the Braves are so wary of the Mets. In fact, Chipper Jones went as far as to tell reporters this week he considers the Mets "the better team right now."
The Mets may or may not accept the compliment; so often, they were ready to believe the Braves were collapsing, only to discover that somehow -- some way -- Maddux and Glavine and Smoltz and Co. were able to smother them. Even last year, when the Mets won 97 games, their most in a decade, they were a mere 3-9 against Atlanta.
But this year, the Mets are being pleasantly surprised by Todd Zeile, whose .300 average and 46 RBI have eased the sting of losing John Olerud. Mike Piazza is a beast, as always. Al Leiter, who leads the pitching staff in wins (nine) ERA (3.16) and strikeouts (92), has finally become the ace the Mets envisioned a year ago, actually outpitching Mike Hampton.
Even the season-ending injury to Rey Ordonez hasn't deflated the Mets. To the contrary, they've flourished without their Gold Glove shortstop, who suffered a badly fractured left forearm on May 29. Since then, the Mets are 16-10, and Melvin Mora, who's serving as Ordonez' replacement, is on a 12-for-32 hot streak with seven extra-base hits in the last seven games.
Of course, it's Alex Rodriguez whom the Mets really want to see at shortstop, and they're marshaling their cash and perfecting their sales pitch for the offseason free agency courtship. It'll sure help if the Mets can boast to A-Rod about having caught and passed the Braves in 2000, and actually have made it to the World Series for the first time in 14 years.
But first things first. This series will be the first of four meetings with the Braves this summer, and no matter what off-the-field distractions clutter the pictures -- the tarpaulin protecting the visitors bullpen, the 500 city cops, the army of plainclothes officers working the stands, the Braves' own security detail (which will include a bodyguard for Rocker) -- the Mets know the next four days will ultimately be decided by baseball.
Not politics. Not the No. 7 train. Just baseball, which is exactly why the Mets are feeling so wonderful these days, even as their ballpark is being turned into an armed camp.
As Robin Ventura put it, "The timing is certainly nice."
Bob Klapisch of the Bergen (N.J.) Record writes his Baseball in the Big Apple column throughout the season. | |
ALSO SEE
Rocker avoids No. 7 train, takes police van to stadium
AUDIO/VIDEO
 ESPN's Melissa Stark reports on John Rocker's return to Shea Stadium.
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