Live from Braves-Bucs: There’s good and better news

Good news: The Braves are playing really, really well. They’ve won 14 of 18. They’re a whisker out of first place, and not long ago they were last. They’ve raised their team batting average to .253, and a month ago they were under .230.

Better news: They’ve still got one game remaining against Pittsburgh, which isn’t the worst team in baseball but is looking like it.

Best news: They don’t have to face Roy Halladay when Philadelphia arrives this week.

It being (almost) Memorial Day, I’m tempted to make of the (in)famous Bradley milepost predictions: You know, like the one from two years ago where I said the Braves would be in first place by the Fourth and pulling away by Labor Day. I’m not going to do it this time, for a basic reason: I’m not yet sure how good these Braves are.

They had a rugged schedule in April. They had a soft slate for most of May. They look good at the moment. I’d like to wait and see how they look a few weeks hence. In other words, I’m resisting the urge — for maybe the first time ever — to pass judgment.

But certainly you’re free to express your sentiments as we proceed through the day, and I suspect we’ll be here awhile. Rain is surely coming, though the field is uncovered as of 12:55 p.m. (The ground grew is standing in the outfield. Ominous sign.) Still, that’s the beauty of baseball: You can tell me how wrong I am about the Braves — even though I’m kind of fence-sitting at the moment — at length.

As ever, I welcome your company. As ever, I say thanks in advance.