N.L. East

Sporting News, The, June 14, 1999

Teams are listed alphabetically

Awesome combo

Rey Ordonez and Edgardo Alfonzo have been playing together since the 1994 season (at Class AA Binghamton). They mainly played next to one another, at shortstop and third base, until this season, but sometimes they lined up as partners in the middle.

In 1994, they dazzled former Met G.M. Joe McIlvaine. "They were dynamite," McIlvaine said at the time. "They are as good a double-play combination as you're ever going to see."

Asked if the two had a chance to become the best combination ever, he said, "It sure is possible. They have great instincts and they can both be so acrobatic. I'll tell you one thing: They're not going to make a lot of errors."

But they will make a lot of fantastic plays, like the one they made a few weeks ago when a ball was hit up the middle with the bases empty. Alfonzo grabbed the ball while running behind second base and could not throw to first because his momentum was moving away from the bag. Determined not to concede the hit, Ordonez called for the ball and fired to first to complete a sensational 4-6-3 single play.

"They practice that stuff," manager Bobby Valentine says. "They know what each other is doing and wherever they're going to be at all times."

Mets assistant G.M. Duquette, who was an assistant minor league director with the Mets in '94, says there's one play he remembers in particular from that season.

The batter hit a chopper over the mound with a runner on first base. It was going to take a good play even to get an out at first. Ordonez charged in front of second and barehanded the ball and flipped the ball behind his back to second base. Alfonzo, knowing Ordonez would go for the double play, kept heading for the bag. He bare-handed the ball and fired to first to complete the double play.

"You saw it and knew you'd never see a play like it again," Duquette said. "It was incredible, especially at that level. Everyone's jaw just dropped. It was like they had played together for years." --David Waldstein

Atlanta

33-22: 1st

Braves hope Smoltz is back to throwing smoke

If there was any doubt about the state of John Smoltz's tender elbow, he erased the notion with six strong shutout innings against the Rockies, showing off a dominant fastball (topping out at 95 mph) with a good changeup and slider. It wasn't his best stuff, but after two weeks away it was enough to send a ripple of anticipation through the Atlanta dugout.... Brian Jordan has taken the offense on his shoulders and carried it through the first third of the season. Besides 13 home runs, more than half of last year's total, he leads the club with 52 RBIs and is hitting .406 with runners in scoring position.... For now, the all-around play of 1B Randall Simon has given the lineup rhythm, sending Ryan Klesko back to left field to replace the struggling outfield platoon of Gerald Williams and Otis Hixon.

PEREZ WATCH: Two weeks ago, LHP Odalis Perez was too amid to pitch inside because he thought he would hit batters. But after getting rocked by staying on the plate's outer half, the rookie decided a change was needed. In two starts since choosing a new inside-corner approach, Perez has come close to a shutout and a no-hitter, which has convinced him that showing no fear puts opposing hitters on the defensive.... As he hit .336 in 1998, backup C Eddie Perez credited 1B Andres Galarraga with helping him change his approach to become more aggressive at the plate. So with Galarraga out and unable to help Perez adjust his swing, it's not that surprising that Perez's average and power numbers have dropped significantly.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: Smoltz feels his elbow just can't take the strain of throwing twice between starts as part of pitching coach Leo Mazzone's throwing program, so he'll limit his preparation to a single bullpen session. After coming off the D.L. last year on June 20, Smoltz went 13-2 with a 2.51 ERA in 18 starts, proof that sometimes less is best But he prefers to throw between starts to maintain a feel for his pitches, though he limits his effort and number of pitches. --Bill Zack

GRADING OUT

OFFENSE B

Team is hurting in the clutch--hitting .211 with two out and runners in scoring position.

PITCHING B

The bullpen has been terrific, but the starters lack consistency.

DEFENSE B

With Galarraga out, the defense at first base has been an adventure.

BRAVES

                    AVG      G     AB      R      H     HR     RBI

Jordan             .316     54    212     40     67     13     52
Lopez              .305     43    164     20     50      6     24
Hunter             .291     41     55     13     16      4     14
C. Jones(#)        .285     53    207     37     59     13     38
Klesko(+)          .284     44    134     14     38      7     25
Boone              .280     54    218     39     61      8     25
Weiss(#)           .269     44    145     20     39      1     16
A. Jones           .261     55    203     33     53      8     31
(*)Simon(+)        .250     25     48      5     12      1      3
E. Perez           .224     22     67      2     15      0      1
Lockhart(+)        .220     35     41      6      9      1      4
Williams           .200     46    115     19     23      3     15
Nixon(#)           .171     39    105     18     18      0      7
Guillen(+)         .151     30     73      7     11      0      2

                    OBP    SLG     SB      K     BB      E

Jordan             .382   .571      3     34     21      0
Lopez              .352   .500      0     28     11      1
Hunter             .381   .618      0     15      6      2
C. Jones(#)        .384   .531      5     38     34      6
Klesko(+)          .346   .507      1     26     15      6
Boone              .344   .440      3     38     21      3
Weiss(#)           .357   .366      4     24     21      9
A. Jones           .345   .458      8     40     24      2
(*)Simon(+)        .315   .375      1      4      5      0
E. Perez           .246   .239      0     10      2      3
Lockhart(+)        .304   .317      1      7      5      0
Williams           .290   .313      3     19     15      2
Nixon(#)           .296   .181     13      9     19      1
Guillen(+)         .173   .178      1      8      2      3

GRAND SLAMS: Jordan (1)

                    ERA    W-L      G    IP       H      R

Remlinger(+)       1.40    2-1     23   25.2     17      5
Rocker(+)          1.85    2-2     25   24.1     12      6
(*)McGlinchy       2.05    2-2     25   26.1     22      8
Seanez             2.19    3-0     25   24.2     18      6
Smoltz             2.34    6-1      9   61.2     44     17
Springer           3.38    0-1      9    8.0      4      3
Milwood            3.39    6-3     11   69.0     63     30
(*)Speier          3.50    0-0     14   18.0     13      7
(*)O. Perez(+)     4.64    3-2     10   54.1     49     29
Maddux             4.65    5-3     12   79.1    111     46
Glavine(+)         5.00    3-7     12   77.1     89     45

                     ER     HR      K     BB     SV   Avg.

Remlinger(+)          4      1     24     13      0   .187
Rocker(+)             5      0     33     13     11   .143
(*)McGlinchy          6      1     25     13      0   .239
Seanez                6      2     16      9      2   .202
Smoltz               16      4     57     13      0   .201
Springer              3      2      7      0      0   .148
Milwood              26      5     57     23      0   .240
(*)Speier             7      6     16      7      0   .191
(*)O. Perez(+)       28      5     40     23      0   .240
Maddux               41      9     45     11      0   .330
Glavine(+)           43      6     40     29      0   .293