How Quickly the Tides May Turn

With the Mets having tied and then going ahead on a 5-run sixth inning, I dreaded all the possible scenarios that would ensue when the Mets would ultimately shut the door on the all-or-nothing-swinging Braves. How amazing Jose Reyes is, Tom Glavine's 294th win en route to the impending 300th win, how the Mets are the gods of the National League, and so forth. Let's face it, when it comes to media bias, Barry Bonds, the New York Mets, and the Chicago Cubs get the vast majority of the coverage.

I was ready to write about how fucking Shawn Green is the most dangerous, underrated hitter in the Mets lineup, and how Jose Reyes is probably one of the best players in the National League altogether, and if he were on any other team than the Mets, I would probably be a fan of his.

But then with one swing of the bat, thoughts like that came to a halt. Edgar Renteria tied the game with a massive opposite-field homerun off Scott Schoenweis. One inning later, I was screaming at my television when Kelly Johnson played Aaron Heilman like a fiddle and crushed a 2-0 fastball into right-center for the go-ahead 3-run homer. Two innings later, Bob Wickman shut the door on the Mets, and the Braves leave Shea Stadium winners of the series 2-1, and with an overall record of 4-2 against the Mets.

My thoughts of today's game:

• Kelly Johnson is the man of the hour, and will probably get a hero's welcome the next home game in Atlanta, provided he keeps it up on the remainder of this long road trip. Two homers, clutch hitting, patient at-bats, and good base-running. I feel like one of the few people in Atlanta that actually thought that Johnson was a fine step-up from Marcus Giles, despite having never played second-base ever before. And he's proving it this season thus far, early as it may be.
• Bobby Cox, if I am not mistaken, with today's ejection, is maybe 5-6 ejections from the all-time record for ejections. I could be wrong, but I don't exactly remember off the top of my head where it currently stands.
• John Smoltz, despite not getting a decision still pitched a hell of a game. Once again, he pitched one inning too many, and got in a lot of trouble. But the highlight of the game, and a sure-fire shoo-in for an upcoming ESPN Web Gem or a potential defensive play of the week/month/season, was when he took a Tom Glavine bunt, and somehow fielded a perfect, off-balance, windmill throw to Craig Wilson who made the stretch and was able to get Glavine out.
• Craig Wilson is invincible. Twice this season he has been hit by a pitch, and both times, not even a single flinch. Once was in the thigh, in which he flung the bat towards his dugout and trotted to first as if he just drew a walk - no limping, no indication that it might've even remotely hurt. Heilman is a pretty hard-throwing pitcher - and he plunked Wilson right on the left kidney area, and once again, Wilson acted as if nothing happened, and took his base. If that kind of impact happened in like World Cup soccer, the hit guy would be on the ground looking like someone shot and murdered his entire family and clubbed out his legs.
• And speaking of hit batsmen, Pedro Feliciano is a thug. Down three runs in the top of the 9th, he threw way inside on Andruw Jones and plunked him in the foot. And with the next batter, Brian McCann, he threw way inside on him, and on an attempted bunt/protective bat, the ball plunked him on the knuckles. Doesn't sound big, but with a catcher, and anyone who has watched the child molester's (Lo Duca) recent struggles, sore fingers on the throwing hand is a difference maker. Unfortunately Feliciano didn't get charged with an HBP but drew a foul ball strike.
  

The seemingly impenetrable bullpen of the Mets was exploited by some clutch hitting by the Braves lineup, and I am left with a good feeling having watched a roller coaster ride of a game. For the time being, the Braves are in sole possession of first place in the NL East, and hopefully, they can continue to play well against the Marlins.