It's Not A Blowout Until Keith Hernandez Insults A Baby

Pelfrey was erratic and ineffective, the defense was shoddy, and for everyone who didn't believe - Ambiorix isn't a good pitcher. It's been all Braves - 7-0 bottom 8 - and it hasn't been pretty.

After a brief exchange about his trademark Tootsie Roll Pops - orange tonight for those of you keeping score at home - Keith proceeded to call a shot of a baby in an Easter Bunny outfit a "wookie" and then quickly corrected himself, stating that the child looked more like an "ewok." Ron thought it was a Gremlin but who's really counting.

Bottom line, if the Mets don't win the next two games the Braves assume the "team to beat" status from the Phillies.

Well, they technically haven't lost yet. Endy and Reyes are on 2nd and 1st, respectively, with one out. The ever-effective (0-his last 16) Captain Red Ass is at the plate.

(Update:) LoDuca grounds into a 1-6-3 DP and Howie Rose is almost ready to put it in the books...even though he's in Buffalo.

Bring Back Bannister

For some reason (conspiracy) Omar Minaya decided to trade one of the organization's more promising young pitchers for a reliever who couldn't make it in Kansas City...yes, Kansas City.

Ambiorix Burgos can throw a baseball as hard as anyone I've ever seen...Unfortunately most major league hitters can hit a Burgos pitch as far as I've ever seen.

As always, the mastermind, prophet, or whatever you like to call Rick Peterson, had a few choice words about Mr. Burgos' velocity.

"The issue is this: High-end velocity without location doesn't get anybody out in the big leagues, That's the bottom line. Until guys realize that's the priority, they won't succeed in the big leagues."

KC Star Columnist and Blogger Joe Posnanski's words about Burgos have been widely discussed, but the question of why Omar would trade a young pitcher who seemed to have the mentality to succeed in NY for a reliever who focuses on "carnival prizes" eludes my thinking to this day.

Leave it to the genius to explain Burgos' velocity and location problems...

"He's just got to understand there are no more stuffed animals to win in the big leagues," Peterson said.

"If you throw 97 and have no idea where it goes, they'll pay you a lot of money . They think that we can make you learn how to pitch. But when they wrote that check for velocity, you cashed out. You're not going to make another dollar on velocity. You'll make all your money on location."

Burgos' opinion...well here's hoping he's far from Queens in 3 or 4 years...

Burgos is confident, too. "There is no doubt in my mind that in three or four years, I will be a closer in the big leagues."