Finally this Nimrod Dancer gets the power rating correct [CBS Sportsline]

Sweet stuff as the Atlanta Braves defeat the Caribbean All-Stars…Again [NY Daily News]. Four of six from the de facto top team in the National League. Even if it is three weeks into the season, expect this to be the best race in baseball all season. Its only April 25th but the Braves have been the Mets’ daddy for the last 15 years and they will continue to be until the Mets can break the John Rocker Curse.

“That old mojo, which accounted for those 11 straight division titles until getting destroyed by a wretched relief corps last season, is back, as is that old quiet confidence and swagger. As one National League scout who has been following the Braves all season put it before yesterday’s come-from-behind 9-6 win over the Mets: “These Braves are just like all those other Braves teams in that, you may beat them, but they don’t beat themselves. They do everything right.”

The Braves have been using the bats of Jeff Francouer, Kelly Johnson, Scott Thorman, and Brian McCann. History tells you that the Braves will be better in the second half of the season. Chipper, Andruw, and Smoltz have always been more productive late in the season, as they are weathered veterans who know when to pick up their games. This proud franchise has always been successful off their powerful pitching. The rotation is great with two veterans at the top of the rotation and two young pitchers in Chucky James and Kyle Davies. The bullpen that really has a three proven closers in it as well as a host of situation pitchers that gives the team an edge. Not to mention but Bobby Cox who is just a great manager who does what it takes to get the Braves in the right situations to win ballgames.

What makes this Series win even sweeter is that the Mets payroll was 11 million more and the Braves were still paying 14 million to players for old contracts compared to 1.9 for New York. Smoltz, Chipper, and Andruw account for almost 1/2 of that payroll. Also remember Andruw and Chipper they are guys that came through the Braves farm system.

Which begs the question: Does New York even have a farm system? New York didn’t even draft guys like Jose Reyes, he was a Free Agent. Great job New York, Atlanta doesn’t buy their team “Just like” New York, they grow their own (like Florida Gators). Yeah just keep buyin em’ Mets.