Link: A BravesBlast tribute to Mets fans

Just click this link and…um…listen to what they have to say.

It’s a mock-commercial styled after the “Real Men of Genius” ads that are oh-so-catchy.

This one is, well, a little rough.

And let the commenting and name calling begin…

Link: Interview with the ‘I Hate the Mets the Most’ dudes

The other day I posted a video entitled “I Hate the Mets the Most” by two guys from down south.

Will Sommer contacted the two men, known as the Tomahawk Dudes and conducted a little Q&A.

Here’s the gem…

Sommer: Why so much hate on the Mets? Why not the Phillies? After all they are the best team in the East.

Tomahawk Dudes: There is a pretty simple reason as to why we chose the Mets. The Mets have always been the biggest rival for the Braves and it is a given that if you are a Braves fan, you hate the Mets, period. As you may know, there are some of the best rivalries in the South. It’s just like if you are a Georgia Bulldog fan, you are going to hate the Florida Gators. We do not like the Phillies, Marlins, or Nationals either but as the song illustrates, we just hate the Mets the Most. We think a lot of the hatred between these two ball clubs spawns from their history. From all the close games, to playoff battles, controversy on the diamond is no stranger between these two teams. We know that every time the Braves travel to Citi Field that #10 for the Braves will step into the batter box and the “Larry Chant” will soon follow. Also, when the Mets take the trip to Turner Field, it is a given that the stadium will be filled to capacity with die-hard Braves fans.  We just know as loyal Braves fans that if someone asks a “true Braves fan” who is the Braves’ biggest rival; it is going to be the Mets nine times out of ten.

For the rest of the interview, head over to Mets Fans Forever.

‘I Hate the Mets the Most’ [Video]

My favorite line: “Heck yes, we miss Francoeur”

Still, I’d prefer these guys to Kuff and the Buttheads every day of the week.

Rosenthal: Billy Wagner to Braves

Won’t this be fun, Mets fans?  How many times will Billy Wagner pitch against the Mets next season?

Wagner has signed a one-year, $7 million deal with the Braves, pending physical, according to Ken Rosenthal.  There is a vesting option for a second season, worth $6.5 million if Wagner finishes 50 games in 2010.

Wagner was listed as a Type-A free agent, meaning the Red Sox will receive a first-round draft pick from the Braves because they offered him arbitration earlier today.

But the Braves offered arbitration to two of their Type-A free agents, Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano, so if either of them sign elsewhere, they will receive a first round pick.

(Or, as Eric Simon points out at Amazin’ Avenue, they’ll have three relief pitchers and $25 million dedicated to them.)

But don’t worry, the Mets got Chris Carter and Eddie Lora.

No LaRoche for Mets

After much linking to the Mets (how true it was, we’ll never know), Adam LaRoche has been traded to the Atlanta Braves.

Gordon Edes, who has to have some of the best Red Sox sources, reports that LaRoche is heading back to the team that drafted him and where he broke into MLB.

Either they were outbid or didn’t offer enough (if an offer was made at all).  Either way, it was a good non-move.

Braves trade for Nate McLouth

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pittsburgh Pirates have traded Nate McLouth to the Atlanta Braves.

The Braves top pitching prospect, Tommy Hanson, is said to not be involved with the deal.  Hanson has been promoted to the major leagues, though.

Jon Heyman reports that Gorkys Hernandez, Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke are heading to the Pirates.

Good news for the Mets: Don’t have to face McLouth tomorrow.

Bad news for the Mets: He’s an Atlanta Brave now.

Ex-Mets: Tom Glavine released by Braves

Ex-New York Met, longtime Atlanta Brave and future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine has been released by the Braves, according to major league sources.

Via FOX Sports:

The Braves told Glavine that he was being released because his velocity is down, one source said. However, Glavine was throwing only 76-78 miles per hour in spring training and in recent starts had increased that to 83-86 miles per hour.

"I don't know what else I can do," Glavine said after Tuesday night's game, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Physically I felt good and I feel like I'm ready.

Think he’d pitch better than Tim Redding?  Just kidding!

…Or am I?

Mets leading NL East pitching

I know ERA isn’t the best way to evaluate pitchers, but it’s the most widely understood.  Here are three charts, breaking down the NL East pitching staffs by starters, relievers and combined using the ERA stat.

First, the starters… Surprisingly, and despite their 25-25 record, the Braves are leading the NL East in starters ERA.  The Mets are sitting pretty in second, obviously inflated by the ERAs of Tim Redding and Oliver Perez.

Now the relievers… The Mets are leading this category by a fairly wide margin.  For the Nationals, none of this is good news.  They’re 28th overall for starting pitching and 29th for relievers, easily placing them in dead last for total stats.

And now combined…So far, so good for the Mets pitching staff.  Lately, with the position players decimated by various injuries, the rotation and bullpen has really carried the team to wins.  Going 19-9 in May must be mostly attributed to the hard word out of the guys on the mound.

Twitter Poll: The next seven games

Over the next seven days, the Mets will play their first games against the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves in 2009.  They have started the season 9-12 and fans are already starting to question the team.  The next seven games could be very important, not just for the season, but for the coaches on staff.

Yesterday, I asked my Twitter followers how they think the Mets will fare over the next seven games.  (Hat tip to @tweetthemets for the suggestion.)  Here are their responses:

The optimists…

tweetthemets said: I think with Ollie going against the Phils twice their chances improve! 4-3

andy79 said: put me down for 5-2. Ever the optimist.

bortnick said: 4-3. it's easy to play a few lousy games and get all jittery, but it's too early to bug out, everyone's gotta relax

MetsNY81 said: 4-3

JTKrycek said: Mets 4-3. Blanton, Park = 2 Mets wins. Kawikami = 50/50. Santana = win. But 7 game win streak would rock like mad.

MissBethAnn said: I'm gunna be optomistic and say 4-3. I'm not ready to jump off the bridge yet!

mets_geekette said: Poll: 5-2. They've gotta turn it around at some point. Why not this wkend? Here's to hoping.

jessicarubin said: 4-3. Don't trust Ollie to come through on both games.

The pessimists…

jessicarubin said: btw I was being hopeful on the side of cautious when I said 4-3. Realistically I think 3-4 but I wanted to be optimistic =(

mostlymets said: 2-5. It's going to be a rough week.

thebrowncoat said: 3-4. I don't see any indication they're ready to start playing consistently good baseball yet.

jintman said: 3-4 I hope!

Retire31 said: 3-4. Sadly.

metschick said: I think they'll go 3-4.

cutiepie0319k said: 2-5.. they will be lucky if they go 3-4.. i hope they prove me wrong.

gwong said: 5-2 if the games end after six innings (ha!). Really, 3-4 is my guess and that's only if they win Johan's start.

TLA_Quinn said: 3-4 sounds about right to me...although I'd love a 4-3!

metgirl4ever said: i think we'll go 3-4 also, but i need them to go @ least 5-2 for the Mets

letsgoduke said: 3-4. Were just not putting a cohesive unit on the field right now.

Vodka_RB said: 3-4 at best

cwb75 said: would like to say 7-0 or even, but I am being the pessimist and say 3-4

darknova306 said: 1 win against Philly, 0 wins against Atlanta. 1-6 record, Jerry/HoJo fired. "Core" posters on MetsBlog laugh with glee.

trekmetfan said: I say 3 out of 7 for the Mets.

gmo418 said: 2-5 outlook is bleak, hope i am wrong

From a Phillies phan…

kierankelly said: 2-5. Losing 2 to the Fightins' and 3 to the Braves.

I can’t see them going .500 over these two teams, especially not the way they’ve been playing so far this season.  Notice that the pessimists list is much longer.

Tweet of the Day: gwong said: 5-2 if the games end after six innings (ha!). Really, 3-4 is my guess and that's only if they win Johan's start.

Not on Twitter?  Hit the comments to toss in your 2¢ on how the Mets will fare over the next seven games.

Follow me on Twitter to participate
in the next Twitter Poll!

Braves land Glavine, again

The Braves may have missed out on Ken Griffey Jr. as he will return to Seattle to play for his "legacy." Instead, they landed Tom Glavine, also playing for a legacy.

Glavine can earn up to $4.5 million if he hits all incentives.

I think the Braves have put together a very good team this off season. It's going to be a very tough race in the NL East this year. Every team has improved, outside of the Nationals, of course.

Griffey shuns Braves, heads back to Seattle

It's a good thing, because I really didn't want to have to hate him.

Report: Griffey signs with Braves

According to my pals over at Braves Blast, Ken Griffey Jr. is the newest member of the Atlanta Braves.

I've always loved Griffey, for no particular reason. Now, I need to learn how to despise him.

Update, via Braves Blast:

Griffey’s agent is apparently communicating via text that the deal is not yet done. Hopefully this is just a “nobody signed anything yet” concept and not a “I’m shopping the term sheet to the Dodgers” event.

Mets win NL East in 2009, according to PECOTA

Take a look at the 2009 PECOTA standings, with depth charts. (via Amazin' Avenue).

According to Baseball Prospectus, the Mets will finish 2009 with a 93-69 record, besting the Phillies and the Braves, both with a record of 88-74.

Where do I sign?

Braves sign Derek Lowe

According to Braves Blast and the AJC, the Atlanta Braves and Derek Lowe have agreed to a four-year, $60 million deal.

Lowe still needs to pass a physical, but that will likely happen within the next few days.

OK, Mets fans, Lowe is off the table. Time for Omar Minaya to focus all his efforts on Oliver Perez (or Ben Sheets!). No chance that Minaya signs Perez for only three-years, $30 million as reported. He's going to command a lot more than that.

As I said before, I think the offer has to be for five years even to get Perez to the table. If Lowe is going to get $15 million a year, there is no reason that Perez can't get the same.

Lowe, Braves seriously talking

From Jon Heyman:

The Braves are trying hard to finalize a deal that would solidify their rotation. The deal for Lowe is believed to be for close to $60 million over four years.

For that much, you can have him Atlanta.

I would have been OK with three-years, $45 million or four-years, $50 million. But four-years, $60 million is a little rich for my taste.

Braves emerge as suitors for Lowe

After catching the short end of the John Smoltz stick, the Atlanta Braves are looking to make a splash and add to their weak rotation.

Derek Lowe and the Braves brass met at Turner Field down in Hot-lanta in an effort to woo the free agent sinkerballer.

Here's the report from the AJC:

“We had a nice talk, went pretty good,” [Bobby] Cox said. “Derek’s in great shape, ready to go. Who knows? Hopefully we can get close with him.”
---
Cox has known Lowe since managing an all-star team that toured Japan eight years ago. Lowe was on it, and Cox left quite an impression with him. Boras said Sunday that the pitcher had great respect for the manager and was sincere in his interest in the Braves.

On Wednesday [Frank] Wren arranged the meeting with Lowe, a Florida resident, and Cox. Hours later, Wren was notified that Smoltz would sign with the Red Sox. Chipper Jones called Lowe on Wednesday to make a recruiting pitch, shortly before Smoltz called Jones to tell him he was leaving the Braves.

Great, so now if the Mets lose out on Lowe, they'll likely be forced to face him at least five times a year. Figures that would happen...

The Mets need to make a move, and quick. No more waiting around for something to happen. Blitzkrieg Boras and Lowe with another $2 million per and a fourth year. Let's get this over with, Omar Minaya & Co. There are still more holes to fill.

So long, Smoltzy

Oh, this week just gets better and better. And it seems us Mets fans have the AL East to thank once again.

According to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, the longtime Atlanta Brave will head north to Boston.

A Major League source who was in contact with Smoltz on Wednesday night said the 41-year-old right-hander will be calling the Braves on Thursday morning to tell them that he has decided to sign with the Red Sox.

Hallelujah. First Pat Burrell, then John Smoltz. This is great.

What's next? Chipper Jones moves to England? Cole Hamels retires from baseball to pursue a career in acting? The Mets stop playing the Florida Marlins in September?

MLB Trade: Braves land Javier Vazquez for Jo-Jo Reyes, others

ESPN is reporting that Javier Vazquez, a player the Mets had shown interest in, will be pitching for NL East rival Atlanta next season.

Vazquez has been traded in a five player deal, sending Boone Logan to Atlanta as well. Jo-Jo Reyes will be heading to the Chicago White Sox in return.

Obviously a few more names need to leak out, so I'll keep this updated when the other names drop.

Update, 6:56 pm: Brant Lillibridge is said to be going to Chicago.
7:40 pm: Tyler Flowers, class A catcher, also seems to be heading to Chicago. That would be all five, but will verify when it goes official.

On another note, ESPN needs a new web-editor, as their headline currently reads "Source says Reyes going to Atlanta for Reyes, others." If that was true, it'd be Harry Chiti all over again.

Braves closing in on Jake Peavy

As a Mets fan, I am not pleased by this news.

Scott Miller of CBSSports.com, is reporting the Atlanta Braves have offered a four-player package to the San Diego Padres, who will ask Jake Peavy to waive his no-trade clause for the deal to go through.

According to Miller:

Under terms of the deal discussed by the Braves and Padres, San Diego would receive shortstop Yunel Escobar, Class A outfielder Gorkys Hernandez, one of two starting pitchers -- Charlie Morton or Jo-Jo Reyes -- and either reliever Blaine Boyer or one of two minor-league left-handers (one of which is believed to be Jeff Locke).

The Braves want an answer by Friday, so the Padres are hard pressed to get Peavy to waive his no-trade clause.

I, obviously, really don't want to see this deal go through. The Braves have a deep enough farm system that this deal will crimp their minor leagues a little, but not put a dent in them like the Johan Santana trade for the Mets.

The Mets, in their endless pursuit to get in on every trade rumor out there, have been cited as inquiring on Peavy, according to Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports:

Others have inserted themselves as well, including the Boston Red Sox and pitching-thin New York Mets.

I can't see it happening, so don't get your hopes up. It'd be great to have a 1-2 punch of Santana and Peavy, but I think the Mets have bigger fish to fry over landing another ace starter.

Would be nice though.

Jake Peavy may be coming to the NL East

Seems like the Braves are the early leaders in the Jake Peavy trade talks.

According to MLB.com, the Braves are preparing a package of players to pitch to the Padres in return for the 2007 Cy Young winner. Peavy has a no-trade clause, but is said to be open to waiving it to play in Atlanta. Peavy is from Alabama.

A bunch of minor league prospect have been rumored, along with players like Kelly Johnson or Yunel Escobar.

The Braves seem poised for a good year, as they have a bevy of prospects who are just about major league ready. Watch out for them next season.

I really hope they don't land Peavy. I'd be much happier to see the Yankees trade for the 27-year-old. Obviously, I'd prefer the Mets, but I don't think they have the minor league talent to pull that off.