Braves Sweep Mets, Back In First

Yesterday the Braves completed a 2-game sweep of the New York Mets to get back into first place in the NL East. Some things that I have noticed over the past couple of days that I would like to get out.

1) The Braves should be able to take the division is Smoltz and Hudson can beat Santana and Maine.

2) Smoltz really needs to stay healthy this year, I think he is still one of the best pitchers in the game, and the Braves can't replace him with their depth the way they can Glavine, Hampton and James.

3) The Braves three top prospects are OF, they have a young Jeff Francoeur and an underrated Matt Diaz. Brent Lillibridge can also play OF with a little more work. By mid-July one of these better be gone so that we can have another proven releiver (although trades for relievers don't always work out: Baez and Dotel)

4) The rotation looks really good so far

5) Mike Hampton got injured, just in case you didn't hear it again

6) Besides Tex (who hopefully isn't taking the A. Jones route to free agency), the lineup is looking great, who knows maybe Mark Kotsay can have a season hitting for a good average if he stays healthy

7) I really wish we would call up Phil Stockman

Thoughts about the rest of baseball
-The Tigers are looking awful, I knew their pitching was that bad, but not the hitting
-Oh well, the local teams (which I hate) the Orioles and Nats were both in first, but now the Nats have lost 4 in a row and fallen, which I expect the Orioles will follow.
-The Reds might make a run at the post season with all of the young talent that they have
Votto, Phillips, Encarnacion, Bruce (who should be starting in the Majors), Cueto and Volquez (maybe one day Homer Bailey). Throw in Harang, Arroyo, Cordero, Dunn, Griffey and Keppinger (who should start the rest of the year) and the Reds have a really good collection of players on a team not expected to do much. It all comes down to whether Cueto and Volquez can continue to do well