This Is Just What Braves Expected

The Atlanta Braves believed the New York Mets would qualify for postseason play even when things appeared bleak for the Mets at the end of the regular season. And the Braves thought they would have to defeat their National League East rivals in one more series to advance to the World Series.

Call it a hunch, but the Braves were correct.

The Mets defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in the division series Saturday, setting the stage for another showdown in Atlanta.

Game 1 of the championship series is scheduled for Tuesday night at Turner Field, and the Braves consider the Mets a formidable opponent despite their dominance in the regular-season series.

“That honestly does not mean anything,” Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox said, referring to the Braves’ 9-3 record against the Mets. “These series, they all start new. I mean, the Mets are a good ballclub, and we have a good ballclub, and it should be a great series.”

The Braves withstood a late challenge from the Mets in winning their eighth consecutive division championship. The Braves swept the Mets in a key three-game series at Turner Field in late September to take command in the division race.

The Mets went into a tailspin that almost prevented them from qualifying for their first playoff appearance since 1988. However, the Braves thought the Mets would right themselves.

“When they [earned] the wild-card [berth], I think we all thought that momentum would carry over and help them get here,” said Atlanta right fielder Brian Jordan, who batted .471 with one home run and seven runs batted in during the Braves’ division-series victory over the Astros.

Once the series shifts to the Big Apple, the Braves expect a rude reception at Shea Stadium.

“They’re [the Mets’ fans] going to try to dominate us from the start,” said right-hander John Smoltz, who defeated the Astros in the final game of the division series. “You can count on that.”

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Another postseason, another postseason flop by the Astros.

The three-time defending National League Central division champions simply can’t get a handle on this playoff thing. They are 2-9 in three division series, losing twice to the Braves and once to the San Diego Padres.

Again, the Killer Bs didn’t sting.

The Astros still are waiting for second baseman Craig Biggio and first baseman Jeff Bagwell to produce in the playoffs.

Biggio batted .105 in the series and scored only one run. He neither drove in a run nor had an extra-base hit. Bagwell batted .154 with no extra-base hits or RBIs.

Biggio had batted .130 (three for 23) with one RBI in his previous two playoff appearances. Bagwell had hit .115 (three for 26) with four RBIs.

Neither has homered.

“I’m sure if we get in [to the playoffs] next year, the stigma we came in with this year will become even greater,” Astro Manager Larry Dierker said. “I don’t see any reason why that can’t be turned around, but the hard thing is having to spend six more months trying to get back in again.”