ESPN.com - MLB - Recap - Mets at Braves - 06/05/2002

The Braves knocked the Mets back to third place last night, the finishing blow coming from the bat of Henry Blanco, of all people. Henry hit a titanic homer to center field with a runner on base to break a 4-4 tie in the eighth. John Smoltz blew the Mets away in the ninth, and the Marlins are now in second place, three behind the Braves and a half game up on the Mets.

I don't know what to make of Smoltz as a closer. Yesterday, he didn't throw a pitch slower than 97 MPH, and the Mets looked hapless; he was pretty much the same the game before. But sometimes, he seems lost out there. He still has a sky-high 5.51 ERA, but at times, he looks unhittable. I don't know what the problem is or if he's solved it.

Lockhart-bashing Update: Keith Lockhart had a hit last night (every Braves starting position player had at least one) which raised his batting average to a whopping .159. Now, normally I'll tell you that batting average is a poor statistic to judge a player's worth, but in Lockhart's case the batting average merely reflects an all-around sorry game. His on-base percentage is .207 and he's slugging .280. In fact, Kevin Millwood, hitting .182, has a better OBP and SLG. Jesse Garcia is 4-10 since his callup and really should get a chance to play until he shows he can't hit any better than Lockhart. And then he should still play, because at least he can run and play defense.