An Important Lesson
If you’ve watched the highlights from the Mets-Padres series at Shea the last couple days, you’ve seen Padres catcher Mike Piazza get a standing ovation upon his return to New York, and then a curtain call tonight after his second home run off of Pedro Martinez. No big surprise, that’s what baseball fans do when a hero returns.

Except in Atlanta, apparently. When Tom Glavine has returned to Turner Field as a member of the Mets the last few seasons, about half the crowd loudly boos, about a quarter of the crowd does nothing (as most Braves fans normally do the rest of the time), and about a quarter of the crowd cheers (I’m guessing these are the few hardy folks who used to go to games at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in the powder blue unis-Bob Horner era). Now, Glavine only played 16 years for the Braves, won 2 Cy Young Awards, went to 8 All-Star Games, and, oh yeah, pitched eight innings of one-hit shutout ball to clinch Atlanta’s lone World Series title in 1995 against the Cleveland Indians and was named the World Series MVP.

How can you boo him? I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Turner Field is home to the worst fans in all of baseball. Helpful hint, Braves fans: When a pitcher for your team has two strikes on a batter, you should make some noise as he enters his windup. If you’re confused by this concept, watch a game from any other ballpark in the league. Rant over.

Oh, and the Braves are now 16½ games back in the NL East.
- posted by Liebs @ 8:41 PM