The End Of An Era

By Stefi Kaplan
Posted Monday, September 17, 2007

July 31, 2007. I could not have been more excited when a last minute trade sent Met-killer Kyle Davies to Kansas City (a team we are unlikely to face during his career) in return for an overrated, often injured reliever in his mid-30s. The 23-year old starter who embarrassed the Mets just about every time he pitched against them was gone. That trade made me feel that our season had come, as they say. Because at that moment, I cautiously looked at the Atlanta Braves and thought, "With the exception of Larry Jones, the entire 'Met-killer era' is over for the Braves." A new era had begun.

Brian Jordan is a distant memory. Kyle Davies is gone. And as we have proven over the past six games against them, Hudson and Smoltz are beatable (the Mets are 4-0 versus those two in the past two series). The only remaining member of the Atlanta Braves who has solidified his spot on the Met-killer all-time list is, of course, the father of Shea Jones. But he can't carry the team on his back anymore, because that back won’t carry him through an entire season. Sure, he can still rake, especially at Shea, but you have to be able to insert yourself into the lineup to do some damage, Larry.

So, just as Shea will be torn down at the end of next year, the Braves era is coming to a close.

A friend of mine who is a baseball (non-Mets) fan told me the other day that he was quite certain the Braves' run was over. Of course, that comment made me all kinds of superstitious, but his arguments were sound. He pointed out that not only did they mortgage their future for Texieira (who will walk next year), but there is no one great on the free agent list to fill their pitching void.

The Braves simply don't have too many places to look this year, and they don't have such great bargaining chips for the off-season. I think the Braves will be competitive over the next several years, but I can't disagree with him. There is a chance that in 2008, much like 2007, the Braves will be irrelevant by the time they make their last ever visit to Shea Stadium. Larry will homer for old-times sake, but we as fans will laugh it off as the Mets ride the way to their third straight division title.

I know, I know, getting ahead of myself there. But it is perfectly alright to be a bit excited about the potential end of the Braves era. Interestingly, the end of the Braves era could actually enhance the Braves-Mets rivalry. With the end of the downright dominance by the Braves, the rivalry is much more even between the two teams, yielding a much more exciting rivalry. This could be a fun era for the two teams, as they are closer in talent than they have ever been.

So the Braves are still the Mets #1 rivals, if not more than ever. You simply can't discount a team that has won 14 of the last 15 series (at time of print, the Braves elimination number is seven going into Sunday’s games, but I can't technically count them out just yet). You have to think the Braves are going to go after pitching in the off-season and, in the rare miracle that Mike Hampton actually pitches for them in 2008 and succeeds, they are right back in the thick of things.

But I'm not scared of the Braves. Why? The new Mets seem to do pretty well against the Braves. Sure, the Mets have historically struggled against the Braves and that was certainly more than apparent earlier this season. But Perez has exhibited sheer dominance this year against them. Maine, aside from one shaky start, has shut them down almost entirely. Pelfrey, in his one start against them, earned his first major league win with a dazzling performance. Face it, our young guys have the potential to give the Braves fits for years to come. Even Tommy Glavine has somehow managed to figure out how to beat the Braves.

The hitters aren't too shabby either. David Wright, after a poor start this year, has handled Smoltz and Hudson quite well recently. Beltran and Reyes have excellent career numbers against the Braves. The offense downright owns Chuck James. Even if we lose our secret Smoltzinator weapon next year in Shawn Green, I'm confident the rest can pick up the slack. In the extremely rare event that Hampton comes back and is healthy, the Mets have historically handled him quite well (might be a reason to try to re-sign Green though!) And they have Royce Ring and Tyler Yates in the bullpen — enough said.

We can’t say that the Mets will beat the Braves next year or any year in the future. There are too many variables to predict anything beyond today. They could acquire Adam Eaton or Hong Chih Kuo in the off-season. Some journeyman AAA guy could become the new Brian Jordan. Never count out John Schuerholz — that's what I've learned after witnessing 14 years of NL East dominance.

But the way the Mets bounced back to tie the season series with them really showed something about this team. The Mets are not scared of the Braves. They don't care what the record books say. The Mets know they can beat them when it counts, and they did it this year. Despite all the hoopla after the first few series, the Braves are not “in the Mets heads.” The Mets may have struggled against the Braves earlier in the year, but I think it had more to do with the team not clicking than anything the Braves were doing.

So, at least for 2007, their time is in the past. Our time is now. Next year, well, we may have an even greater rivalry — the kind where the Mets aren’t constantly chasing the Braves’ tails. A mutual rivalry. I like the sound of that.

Chipper Jones, long time Met killer, cannot carry the Braves on his back anymore, because his back won't let him play an entire season. Related info: Discuss in Our Forums