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Around The Division (ATD) has returned for another season. Each weekday MetsBlog will provide news and notes from the beat writers and blogs of each of the Mets division foes to keep you update-to-date on the latest happenings surrounding the Braves, Marlins, Nationals and Phillies.
Braves:
The team announced on Wednesday night they have placed RHP Rafael Soriano on the 15-day disabled list due to elbow tendinitis. According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, RHP Manny Acosta could be used as the primary closer.
At her blog for the AJC, Chop Chick thinks LHP Peter Moylan should be given the first chance to close out games, but none of the Braves options inspire confidence.
…as they shouldn’t…soriano was shaky to begin with and now they must go with relievers who have virtually no closer experience…good luck, i guess…
…speaking of closers, has anyone seen Billy Wagner…
Soriano is eligible to come off the disabled list on April 22.
Marlins:
Mike Phillips of the Miami Herald reports LHP Andrew Miller has been to start trusting his stuff instead of worrying too much about throwing strikes.
…sounds like the ’stop thinking and just pitch’ advice Rick Peterson gave to Oliver Perez when he was first acquired by the Mets…
Over at FishStripes, Craig, while disclosing a couple items he didn’t know about the Marlins, wonders if 1B Mike Jacobs can continue his pace for 81 HRs while batting .212.
The Marlins activated OF Jeremy Hermida from the disabled list.
Nationals:
Dick Heller of the Washington Times says the Nationals continue to wait for OF Austin Kearns to live up to his superstar potential and his chance to produce may be waning.
…i remember back in 2002 when kearns was supposed to be apart of that vaunted Reds outfield with Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr., but injuries, low batting average and strikeouts hampered all three…it’s a shame they became a ‘what if’…
Harper Gordek of Oleanders and Morning Glories is confused, after watching him give up seven runs in the fifth inning last night, why RHP Jason Bergmann in the starting rotation when he spent most of his minor league career and his first few major league seasons as a reliever.
The Nationals have lost six straight after opening the season 3-0.
Phillies
Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Daily News is concerned about the Phillies poor execution on defense, which has led them to a major league leading 13 errors in nine games.
…speaking of defense, Jose Reyes was robbed of a gold glove last season…i’m not one to get too excited about individual awards, but it seems to me the media got too consumed with Jimmy Rollins to acknowledge reyes last season…
As noted earlier on MetsBlog, Rollins is a game-time decision for tonights game.
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Although Rollins didn’t deserve the gold glove, Reyes should not have gotten it either. Tulo and Vizquel were both great all year.
I like what I’m hearing from the Braves, no closer, NICE. Lets hope the’ll be loosing by so much, they won’t need a closer.
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For al the focus on the Mets “issues”, people lose sight of the Braves and Phils problems sometimes when annointing them favorites.
Maybe just getting seduced by a couple of big bats, which can certainly carry you s/t?
The Braves pen, and starts too really, are weak. The Phils have pitching woes, and their defense isn’t great overall, which is going to cost them games also. Plus it makes the pitchers work harder!
The Mets are the only team in the National League that can keep the Mets from running away with this division. And everyone knows it.
Reyes didnt deserve the award, because Tulo did, but he was a close 2nd…however, we as Mets fans cant complain about this as there is no way in HE-double hockey sticks that David Wright deserved a gold glove
Besides Zimmerman just being flat out amazing in the field we have all watch David commit at least 19 errors a year, he is not a gold glover period and got one cause people are consumed with him (aka the derek jeter rule)
I think he has a great glove. Its the Iron-Mike arm I think we all have a problem with.
Chop Chick? Oh, my.
Listen, I loved Peter Moylan in “A Christmas Story” but now that he’s grown up he is no closer.
I love the “Around the Division” feature. Jeremy Hermida coming back should be interesting. Everyone was so quick to dismiss him in ‘06 after he got off to a slow start, but then rebounded in ‘07. IMO, he’ll get his chance to prove himself as being consistent this year (he’s a pretty good peripherals guy, too).
Manny Acosta closing for the Braves will be interesting. If anyone remembers, the Yankees actually had him in their organization for a while and touted him as Mariano Rivera’s successor. Problem was he couldn’t hold down leads. I agree with making Peter Moylan (and sorry to nitpick here, but he’s listed as a lefty…he throws right-handed) the closer, though his control has been off a bit.
It’s always struck me as odd Austin Kearns never lived up to his potential. Look at the guy’s peripherals and he looks not only “above average” but “pretty good.” But it’s really only last year that he finally started to break out. I wonder if Manny Acta (my favorite MLB manager) can make/has been making a difference with him. As for Bergmann…well, he’s another sign of the Nats’ desperation when it comes to pitching. Bergmann always had good endurance, a four-pitch repertoire, and very smooth mechanics. The sort of guy a manager might label “rubber-armed.” I could almost see the guy as being one of the best set-up men or closers in baseball if he’s used that way, but he just starts tiring out. I often wonder how long it will take them to bring a guy like Tyler Clippard or even Ross Detwiler (whom they drafted last year but looks pretty good) up and stick them in the rotation full time.
There are problems on other teams too, all teams have injuries now and again.
The gold glove is a bogus award period. If you never get to a ball i.e. have limited range - you make less or no errors, does that make you great fielder? The gold glove is awarded based on reputation and popularity (i.e. man love).
This is a great great feature. Keep up the awesome work Metsblog team.
There is no “what if” with Dunn… the dude’s pretty awesome.
but, but, he has a low batting average and strikes out a lot!! omg!!!!11
I’m devastated by the bad news for the Braves, seriously
Anyone want to set up a midnight vigil for the Braves bullpen?
I wouldn’t get too upset about Reyes not getting the gold glove, afterall, David Wright must have robbed SOMEONE when he won his.
speaking of closers….have we had a game Mike that required a closer? you know, just wondering…
To Metblog writers,
I think this ATD feature is very well done. I like the news headline followed by a pulse check from the bloggers/fans.
Nicely done,
JR
I wouldn’t put too much stock in the Phillies having the most errors so far. Victorino looks to play a solid D and Rollins probably doesn’t make any of those same errors.