14 Straight

It's a concept that has been repeated time and time again this year: the Braves can't win on the road, can't hit on the road, can't pitch on the road. And it's all true. Check out some home road splits:

Home: 3.12 ERA, .236 BAA,  206 K, 100 BB in 265 IP

Road: 4.12 ERA,  .241 BAA, 157 K, 80 BB in 203 IP

Home: 163 RS, .307 BA, 25 HR, .376 OBP in  993 AB

Road: 85 RS, .246 BA, 23 HR, .317 OBP in 820 AB

And, of course, 22-7 at home, and 7-18 on the road.

As you can see, the stats are quite dramatic. The W-L record is even more well documented. It obvious the Braves have issues hitting on the road. But is this really new? Not the exactly home-road splits, but the dramatic difference? No, it isn't. You might remember, the Braves couldn't play at Turner last year. They lost, and lost, and lost. Until September. Then they got amazingly hot at home. As their near .500 record in Sep. last year shows, they didn't win on the road. The only thing that makes the home stats look decent last year is the hot September. That has continued into 2008. It should come as no surprise that the Braves are Jeckel and Hyde, depending on where they play. The question is, why?

I don't know. I can't understand it. Why does it go back and forth? It makes no sense. But they need to get it fixed. This is a playoff team. This is a team that could make a WS run if they make it. But that can't happen without getting wins on the road(or at home).

As the Braves perpare for the final game vs the Mets, only one thing is on the mind of both teams collective fan base: brooms. I honestly believe that if the Braves can beat Johan tonight, it might finish the Mets in late-May. Course, then the Mets might fire Willie, and that wouldn't be good. The drama surronding the Mets is larger than a soap opera, and that's not good for a ballclub. Is Wagner a racist? Is Willie to eager to accuse announcers of being racist? Is David Wright a team leader? If not, is Beltran that leader? Can Delgado be respected when he is struggling so badly? All of these questions have nothing to do with the on the field product, and that is why the Mets are doing so badly. It's all from the neck up, and if the Braves sweep, it could be a dagger through the heart, or, more accurately, the head.

But that's not the point of this entry: Johan Santana is.

This, right here, is what they traded for. The stopper. This might be the game that determins how valueble Johan is for 2008. Might I be overstating the importantance of this game? Certaintly, but I don't think so. The great thing is, it's not as important to the Braves. A Mets loss may be allimportant, while a Braves loss means what? Oh well, we only took 3/4. And on the other side: can we only win with Johan pitching?

It's not a good spot for the Braves, but right here, Johan Santana can make that trade worth while, in one fell swoop.

Chipper Jones is currently listed as being in tonights lineup. I hope we don't pay for him playing now with him being out for an extended amount of time later.

The Braves have a 4 game winning streak going. With Hudson and Smoltz going against the Nationals in the next two days, it could easily be extended to 6 games. Long winning streaks, or lack there of, were one big reason for the Braves missing the playoffs last year. This could be one.

Other notes:

Chipper Jones' strained quad may keep him out of tonights lineup, but it's not a serious thing as of yet. I wouldn't mind him missing a few games now to keep him healthy throughout the season. Jeff Francoeur, say hello to the 3 hole. It will be yours in a couple seasons.

Refael Soriano will not be coming off the DL on Tuesday. That hurts, but a rejuvinated ATL bullpen may be able to shoulder the load.

Mike Gonzalez is supposed to be back in late may, now. I'm I the only one that's noticed the smooth progression of his return from the allstar break to late May?

We saw the answer to my question tonight, and I was very pleased. A solid showing by Bennet, nice bullpen work, and another huge game for Chipper Jones. He is hotter than hot right now. Defence was a bit sloppy, mainly on the part of Kelly Johnson, but even that wasn't nearly enough ot over come a 4 RBI 2HR game for C