Just what we needed

I couldn't have scripted a game to bounce back from the previous two any better. No Errors, no runs allowed by the bullpen, manny acosta came in during a run one game and pitched well, then the offense exploded. Maybe Braves fans can take a deep breath and relax a bit now. This team is going to be fine.

In other news, Pedro is out for 6-8 weeks. It's not the blow that a lot of people think it is. I think Pedro won't be their #2 or even #3 starter this year when healthy, that will be Maine and Perez. What it does do however is gets their really bad 4 and 5 guys more exposed. I bet a few mets fans that Mike Hampton would make more starts than both El Duque and Pedro and I still feel pretty good about that one.

I really see this year's mets as last year's braves. Good Offense, top starters are great, back of the rotation is awful. El Duque, even when healthy is going to kill their bullpen, which isn't that deep to begin with. Perez, I think will mostly be great, but he will have 5-6 starts where he doesn't make it out of the 5th and a couple where he doesn't make it out of the 2nd, just the nature of the beast there. Maine will either not go deep in games all year long or will tire like last year and again, tax the bullpen. Then add in Willie's penchant for having at least three relievers warm up every night that don't get in the game. Pedro and whoever is their 4th and 5th starters for now will also average around 5 and 2/3s maybe.

A lot of Braves fans are hopefully predicting Johan falls on his face. That just isn't going to happen. I predict he wins 24 games, the Cy and the MVP, with 230 plus Ks. However, starters 2-5 will all tax their bullpen. They then limp into the playoffs as a wildcard, Johan gives them a chance in the short series, but the bullpen implodes under the heavy workload it shouldered all year long.