Answer: This Team

Clue:

Your Atlanta Rockies

Jayson Stark, who last year said Andruw is overrated (no complaints here), is saying that the Braves are this year's Rockies due largely in part to the horrible 2-76 record in 1-run games. I guess the torture of putting up with this team will pay off if they go 37-1 to finish the season.

Who is positioned to be this year's Rockies?
A year ago this time, four of the eight playoff teams (Rockies, Cubs, Phillies, Yankees) were at least 5½ games out of the playoff spots they eventually won. Then the light bulb flicked on. So the question is: Which team this year is most likely to come from even a couple of games back in the pack and show up in October? We heard nominations for the Indians, Blue Jays and Dodgers. But our pick would be the Braves. They have a better run differential (plus-48) than six of the eight teams that would make the playoffs if the postseason started today. They rank first or second in the league in batting average, ERA and rotation ERA. And the biggest reason for their .500-ish record (28-25) is their 2-14 record in one-run games. But that's a record that figures to improve dramatically once they add John Smoltz, Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez to their bullpen. "I'm going to predict this right now," said one NL scout. "I think Atlanta wins that division."

Full article here plus a few paragraphs of Chipper and the .400 chase

Belated Mother's Day Story

(from left) his mother, Mariluz Almenares, sister Yunay and wife Minerva.

Before the Braves start they're double-header, in honor of Mother's Day here's a story about Yunel Escobar and his mother. If anything it should open up our eyes and help us realize that living in the US of A ain't so bad....... no matter how many road games the Braves lose.

UPDATE: I've been informed that it is now EX-wife Minerva. Now that Yunel is big time I guess he's opted to sew his royal oats.

Teixeira no longer a Brave

SI.com has this story which pretty much says Teixeira is going to sign with NYY or NYM after this season. Boo.

AJC.com suggests signing Furcal in the offseason and moving Kelly to 1st. I suggest winning the World Series this year and then rebuild next year a la Marlins.

JoJo looks like a MLB pitcher; Adam Dunn looks like Will Ferrell

JoJo was just swell last night. Half the team is going down with injuries so it was nice to see Hudson's 3-hitter and JoJo's non-implosion.

Oh, and wow. Really?