A Week Later, How We Feeling?

After my post last week attempting to convince myself that these Braves are still worth watching, how do I feel now? Well, believe it or not, I think I feel better. Watching Nate McLouth the past few games has been fun, with him stealing bases (!), getting some big hits, and playing pretty good defense. Vazquez finally figured out that if he wants to win a game, he can't give up any runs. The bullpen pitched well. I guess I'm still amped up from the game last night.

Now, the Yankees come to town, with whatever is left of Chien-Ming Wang facing Tommy Hanson tonight. The Yankees, losers of 4 of our their last 6 (to the Marlins and Nationals no less), come to Atlanta not playing their best ball. Despite their 38-31 record, the Yanks are only .500 away from the New Coors Field Yankees Stadium. After them, the Braves will try to make up for blowing the series against the Red Sox in that bizarre game (Bobby, Chipper and O'Flaherty ejected). I'm less optimistic about that matchup than the current Yankees series, what with the Sox throwing Becket, Wakefield, and Penny at the Braves. No Dice-K this time around (or Smoltz!).

Elsewhere in the NL East, the Phillies and Mets look to be in trouble. The Phils, who come to Atlanta for a three game series after the Sox, are in the midst of a six game losing streak, which won't get much easier when they visit Tampa Bay today for three games. Ryan Howard is sick. Raul Ibanez is on the DL. Their pitching remains atrocious. This team looks pretty vulnerable right now. The Mets are also in trouble. They have won only four of their last twelve games. Their best player this year just went on the DL with an injury that could keep him out more than 15 days. And, they too need pitching.

So, like I said last week, this team still has a chance. We play in a weak division without a dominant team and we're right in the hunt for the wild card. Now, this is all the Braves need...