Retaliation

So, before I start this, I should point out that I'm pro-retaliation. If someone hits the Braves I'm all for retaliating and, honestly, I expect it. Like tonight when Chipper was plunked, obviously unintentional, but nevertheless I was expecting David Wright to be drilled in the ribs when he led off the inning. Heck, I figured the Braves would just start plunking people left and right for the two HBP's on Tuesday, Church's overly aggressive slide wayoff the basepath into Escobar, Frenchy being hit earlier, and then Chipper being hit.

Wright wasn't plunked. I was surprised by this, irked even. I figured someone would get plunked eventually in the game - no one was. Perhaps tomorrow someone will be drilled? But then I started to think, tonight's game was just *too* perfect to not plunk someone. We had soon-to-be-ejected pitchers and runs to spare (Jurrjens pitched deep into a blowout game). Not tomorrow against Johan, where we can expect a low scoring game and can't afford any baserunners to their offense. Not to mention risking our ace being thrown out during his start against a division rival's ace.

That's when I realized, the Braves probably aren't going to retaliate. Not because they don't want to. Not because they are scared of the Mets (Who is at this point?). Not because they feel the Mets don't deserve it - but it's because they don't want to "wake the Mets up." The Mets are playing some bad baseball right now and you don't want to give them any motivation to get fired up. The Mets made this mistake last year when they woke up a team who really didn't matter. They fired up the Marlins the second to last game of the season, and we all know how that turned out.

The Braves' pitchers are pitching beautifully, all the hitters are coming around, our improved bench is just that, the defense is looking good, and I think our "makeshift" bullpen shouldn't be considered that anymore. The Braves are playing great baseball. The players are enjoying themselves, the fans are enjoying themselves, and the Mets are self-imploding. Music to everyone's ears. Don't waste your time with the Mets, they aren't worth it right now.

However, all of that being said, I'm sure Hudson goes out there and starts plunking tomorrow - rendering all of this moot.