Braves Start the Second Half on Fire

Ladies and gentlemen, these are your Atlanta Braves. This is the team that has been fighting to break through all season long. This is the brand of baseball that these Braves were predicted to play in April and May.

Over the last two nights against the injured and hapless Mets, these Braves have shown exactly what they are capable of.

Even with all of Atlanta's struggles in the first half, I still had trouble believing that Thursday night's back-to-back HR's by Yunel Escobar and Garret Anderson were the first time that had happened all year for the Braves.

It was the first multi-HR game for the Braves since July 2.

They wouldn't have to wait long for the next one. Less than 24 hours later, Martin Prado and Brian McCann belted HR's off of Mike Pelfrey in Friday night's 11-0 demolition of the Mets.

Friday night could not have been better. The Braves started by honoring and retiring the number of the greatest baseball player of our generation, Greg Maddux.

Then they ripped the hated Mets by double-digits. This is exactly the kind of Braves baseball that we fans are accustomed to.

I have no idea if this run will last. The Phillies apparently can't lose now, and any hiccup by the Braves could literally hand the Phillies the division in August.

They have to keep the hammer down. Keep getting big hits. Keep getting timely defense. Continue the remarkable starting pitching, and allow the bullpen to rest up for a huge final couple of months.

If that happens, and the Braves keep on winning, the rest will take care of itself.