The Braves Are a Better Team, Beat Mets 9-3: Confidence = Production = Winning.

After watching last night's 9-3 loss to the Braves (box score) one thing became PAINFULLY clear...The Braves are a VERY VERY GOOD team, and are MUCH BETTER than the Mets.

Here's the thing about the Braves that I think the Mets should consider...

Everyone always says the Mets need better play out of their star players, but where are the Braves stars?  I would say that Heyward, McCann and Chipper Jones (out for the season) are their only real stars.  Yes, Hudson and Hanson are awesome, but not stars.  The big difference between the Mets are Braves is this...

EVERYONE on the Braves can and will hit.  Infante, Prado, Lee, Gonzalez and even Melky Cabrera and Matt Diaz can hit.  Every single person on that team is a serviceable MLB player and at the least a decent hitter.  In the meantime, the Mets have struggled with Barajas, Castillo, Tejada and Francoeur in the line up in some capacity all year. (Although I give Tejada a pass because of his defense, it would be stupid to ignore his lack of hitting thus far.)

So, what's the answer...

Keep developing the young talent.  Because Davis, Thole, Pagan and even Carter are just examples of good young players the Mets can build off of, in a similar way that the Braves have built off Heyward, Prado and McCann.  Add a good pick up (ie Omar Infante), and a guy who knows how to win (ie. Eric Hinske) and the Mets can become next year's Braves.  But first, They need to become more of a team, and letting the young guys play together really builds confidence within the organization.  Maybe the Mets will be as good next year as the Braves are this year, but in order to make that happen they need to rely on the young guys to produce.

The bottom line...

Confidence = Production = Winning.

That crappy song says, I believe the children are our future...

If you're the Mets, you best be taking that advice...That means you too Jerry...

Things I've Learned From the First Spring Training Game

Here are some things I learned watching today's game...

- The Mets are taking last year's freak rash of injuries a little too close to heart, after pulling all their everyday players out of the line-up because of a "wet field".  I know it's only spring training, but if they are going to be like this all year, then the fanbase will, and should, be pissed.  It smells like a year of low pitch counts, DL stints happening quicker and less risks on the field.

- Jason Heyward is a beast.  He's built like a house and looks extremely fast, this doesn't bode well for the NL East in the future.  Oh yeah, and Tommy Hanson looked pretty good, too.  This is going to be annoying...

- Bobby Livingston might prove to be a useful lefty out of the 'pen for the Mets.  He had some good stuff today, and was able to strike out some legitimate major leaguers.  I'm not saying give him the last spot in the bullpen just yet, but he's definitely worth a look after today's performance.

- Pedro Feliciano is a good pitcher.  He can bring it.  He threw three straight balls to start his outting and then just looked awesome.  If the Mets can find another lefty to be their "specialist", I would really like to see Pedro take over that set-up role.

- Ike Davis can hit and looks pretty mobile at first base.  He roped a double into the gap, which I originally thought was a benefit of a poor route in right field, but after a second look I realized the right fielder had NO CHANCE.  Also, Davis was able to go with a good pitch against a lefty an drive the ball to the opposite field for a single.  Impressive stuff...

- Ryota Igarashi looks pretty decent.  He had some nice movement on his splitter, but did walk a guy.  It wasn't really enough of a showing to get a good feel from the guy, but that's expected.  He didn't come in and show electric stuff but I don't think he was supposed to.  Ironically enough that wording was exactly the description Gary Cohen used on Jenrry Mejia.  Just sayin'...

- Kevin Burkhardt turned 36 today.  Happy Birthday Kevin, who according to Keith is "36 and never been kissed".  I love it when the crew gets loopy, especially Keith, and especially in the Spring.  It's almost like they feel they can get away with a bunch more, so they try it.