DOWN THE LINE

Three Days in ...

New York

Of the Atlanta Braves’ 14 consecutive division titles, the last 11 have been won in the NL East. In that time, they have been 183 1/2 games better than the Mets.

Chipper Jones arrived at about the same time, meaning there have been at least that many “Larr-ee!” chants at Shea, most of which have ended poorly for the Queens faithful. Alas, Jones has a sprained knee and ankle and is on the disabled list.

Tip for Met fans: Kyle Davies’ given name is Hiram. If the Mets are to end the Braves’ dominance, now’s the time to start. The probables: Monday: Jorge Sosa vs. Pedro Martinez; Tuesday: Davies vs. Victor Zambrano; Wednesday: Tim Hudson vs. Tom Glavine.

A Few Paragraphs

With ... Kameron Loe

The Texas Ranger right-hander is perhaps best known for taking a line drive by Vladimir Guerrero off the forehead last September, then trying to talk Manager Buck Showalter into allowing him to continue.

But then, Loe has a certain resilience. On Sept. 9, 1998, he recalled, the family’s home in Northridge burned down. He was turning 18 the next day.

“So I had my birthday party on the front porch of my burned-down house,” he said.

Hold the candles.

Loe’s parents, Pam and Dave, are accomplished musicians, as is his stepfather, country singer Chad Watson.

Neither Loe boy -- brother Cody is a senior volleyball player at Chatsworth High and headed to Cal State Northridge -- got the gene. “I’ve got a good ear for it and can hold a tune,” Kameron said, “but I wouldn’t call myself any kind of singer.”

But They’ll Look Good

on ... the Beach

Just in time for spring break, minor leaguers Ryan Rafferty (Royals) and Ramon Ramirez (Reds) tested positive for Stanozolol, Rafael Palmeiro’s drug of choice, and Waner Mateo (Mets) bled 19-Norandrosterone and 19-Noretiocholanolone, other anabolic steroids.

So when Mateo returns, will he be required to wear uniform No. 19?

The Reds’ Justin Mallet went old school, testing for marijuana.

All were suspended 50 games, which brings to 85 the number of minor leaguers punished in the last year, and to 97 overall.

It’s Called a ...

Strike Zone

The Baltimore Orioles really ought to introduce Daniel Cabrera to Leo Mazzone, their new pitching coach.

In two starts that have lasted a total of 6 1/3 innings, the Oriole right-hander has walked 16 batters and thrown -- ready? -- 177 pitches, 98 of them for balls.

But he’s not alone in the AL East. Tampa Bay Devil Ray right-hander Seth McClung has started two games, pitched eight innings and thrown -- ready? -- 189 pitches. He’s walked a relatively economical 10.

Best Nickname Ever...

C. Everett Kook

Chicago White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams has traded for Carl Everett twice, put him on a team that won a World Series, and generally has been a lonely advocate of Carl’s substance over his style. But Everett, like Frank Thomas, is mad at the team for letting him go, which just makes Manager Ozzie Guillen crazy.

“We don’t have a minor league system because of him,” Guillen told the Chicago Sun-Times. “Even when people didn’t want him, Kenny still brought him.”

And: “He showed up out of shape [in 2005]. Kenny put up with a lot of [stuff] from him.”

And: “Do we miss him? We don’t miss him.”

One More Thing With ...

Jose Vidro

On the pitchers’ park that is RFK Stadium, and his personal optimism for the coming five months: “This ballpark is not a good ballpark. It killed us last year, and it’s going to kill us again this year.”

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-- Tim Brown