Early October in Atlanta?

By Jason Chatraw
Sunday Paper Sports Editor

Turner Field hasn't been packed with fans this bundled up like this since Game 6 of the 1999 NLCS against these same New York Mets--and the atmosphere felt like October, too. Fans were chopping and screaming, giving the Mets the business. It's almost as if skipping an early exit last autumn did something to rejuvenate Braves fans. However, all it took was a six-run seventh inning by the Mets to take the wind out of the sails--and the fans out of a chilly blustery Turner Field well before the final out in an 11-1 thrashing at the hands of the Mets.

However, the atmosphere in the clubhouse was fun and loose, like it has been in years past when the Braves are cruising along and enjoying the spoils of winning. Noticeably absent was Marcus Giles, whose fun-loving spirit went with him to San Diego during the offseason. However, newly-acquired Craig Wilson may be a suitable replacement for Giles on the jokester side of things.

Wilson has a fun sense of humor and was deadpanning again before Friday night's home opener against the Mets. Asked if he was excited about returning to Atlanta for the opening homestand, Wilson said, "I'm really excited about finally getting to wear white pants more than anything." (And he actually continued his stream of consciousness as my pen struggled to find its ink by adding, "And this quote would be a lot better if my pen wrote.")

But Wilson's long locks--at least long by Bobby Cox's standards--and free spirit doesn't mean he isn't serious about winning. And he's expecting the Braves to contend this season, especially with the stocked bullpen and solid pitching staff. "I think what's so impressive to me about this team is the depth we have at pitching," Wilson said. "We've got five quality starters--and we've got guys who can take a one-run lead and run with it."

Speaking of pitchers who can take a one-run lead and run with it, Saturday afternoon's tilt pits John Smoltz against former Brave Tom Glavine in a highly anticipated pitching duel. In the only other matchup, Smoltz edged Glavine, 2-1. "I was fortunate to get the win," Smoltz said of their previous matchup. "But we don't play to ties in baseball, so somebody had to walk away the winner."

John Smoltz signs autographs before batting practice on Friday at Turner Field (photo by Mike Mahan)

Smoltz is looking forward to the challenge of facing the Mets' high-octane lineup more than pitching against Glavine. "Up until game time I'm pitching against Glavine, but once the game starts, I'm facing the Mets," Smoltz said. "It's going to be a great challenge for both of us. ... If I had my druthers, I'd take three guys out of their lineup."

Smoltz and Glavine remain friends to this day--and Smoltz wishes the fans in Atlanta would cut Glavine some slack, even though the vitrol has cooled since his initial departure to the Mets. "I don't think everybody realizes when (Glavine) becomes a Hall of Famer, it'll be a special day for this city," Smoltz said. "But I think he's handled it well and he's taken the high road."

BULLPEN IRONY
Braves GM John Schuerholz decided not to rest on his laurels and went out and dealt and signed for some pitchers to shore up Atlanta's beleaguered bullpen. However, after all that money spent to bring in new pitchers, it was Chad Paronto who bagged the first save of the season for the Braves. Who would've guessed it? One sportswriter asked me, "Don't you wish you would've placed $100 on Paronto to become the first pitcher to get a save on the new season?" You bet!

I would insert a video of Paronto right here, but there was none to be found on youtube. This is the best I could do in finding something on him on the web. However, I do know the lumbering 6-foot-5, 250-pound (that's a bit on the light side) right-hander told me last season that he didn't play high school football. To which I looked at him, mouth agape. He quickly added that it was only because his high school, Woodsville High School (N.H.), didn't have a team. If it did, I would guess that he wouldn't be playing baseball today. Although in his favorite sport growing up--oddly enough, basketball--he did excel and was offered a scholarship to play at Vermont, which he passed up for his possible success in pro baseball. Looks like he made a good choice.