Friday, May 29, 2009

Blarg!



The Braves fell again, running their losing streak to four games. That’s the second longest current losing streak in the National League behind the Astros who are at seven straight. And then there is always the Blue Jays who have lost nine in a row. Yikes!

Although with Derek Lowe’s turn out of the way, I am a bit nervous to think who will be the Braves stopper. Jair Jurrjens? He’ll pitch like an ace, but can the Braves supply the run support he needs to pick up a “W”. Golly, I hope so.

Atlanta is sitting three and half games behind the streaking Mets in the NL East, but it’s early still. Hopefully they can start to get things rolling and salvage a good series against the D’Backs.

News&Notes: Tom Glavine pitched five scoreless innings for Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday...Don't forget to vote for your favorite Brave for the 2009 All-Star Team!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Is Jeff Francoeur headed to Boston?

There has been some speculation that the Braves are willing to trade right fielder and Atlanta area native Jeff Francoeur to the Red Sox. After a stellar start, Francoeur has admittedly gone back to his old stance, hampering his abilities at the plate. Following a disastrous 2007 campaign, are the Braves willing to ship the once promising prospect to New England?

Braves GM Frank Wren has remained mum on the subject. But rumor has it that the Braves would likely get an outfielder to replace Frenchy in any trade they may entertain. It is also important to note that due to Francouer’s poor performance over the last 18 months, the Braves would not be able to get quite the same value in return as they would have if they had traded him in 2007. (We are not talking like a Melky Cabrera/Lastings Milledge trade value deflation here, but a significant one for sure.)

I am very torn on the subject. It seems like eons ago that Francoeur was gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated. Where did that player go? But at the same time, while his hitting has started to tail off, I still believe he is a solid option in the Braves line-up. Not to mention his defensive skills are hard to match. He has one of the best outfield arms in the game. But After more than 12 months of drop off at the plate, you begin to get a little antsy. Maybe he would be better suited heading to a different team, a new environment, maybe giving him something to prove. But then again, maybe he will turn things around. He started the season off much improved and he could be going through a bit of a slump. His performance is a far cry from 2008 but it also a far cry from 2007. I think if the Braves improve their line-up by acquiring a power bat, Francoeur’s more glaring weakness at the plate will be mitigated. He is not the answer to the Braves offensive woes, but he is not the only problem in a very inconsistent batting order either.
(Photo: AP; Source)

Big Unit gets Career win 299 at Braves expense



Once again the Braves were tied up by the Giants pitching as San Francisco completed their three game sweep. Randy Johnson was superb in six innings, striking out five Braves batters, while allowing just one run. At one point, Johnson retired 15 of 16 batters on his way to career win 299.

The same could not be said for Braves starter Kenshin Kawakami who appeared to revert back to his poor pitching ways, giving up nine hits and four walks in just five and two thirds innings.

One of the lone bright spots on a night that included Chipper Jones’ first career golden sombrero, was Garret Anderson’s pinch-hit two run single in the seventh inning to get the Braves to within one run. Unfortunately, the Giants matched the two run total in the bottom part of that inning to push them to their 6-3 victory.

Jeff Francoeur demonstrated he still has something in the fifth inning, throwing out San Francisco catcher Bengie Molina as he tried to score from second.

News&Notes: Yunel Escobar sat out his fifth straight game, nursing an injured hip. I hope he doesn’t have to go on the DL…Despite two lackluster starts; Kris Melden will live to see another day in the majors. The rookie is still scheduled to pitch against the Diamondbacks on Sunday.
(Photo: Reuters)

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

A Welcome Sight



John Smoltz pitched three and third innings for Class AA Portland Sea Dogs on Tuesday. Scouts say that Smoltz struggled a bit and that his arm seemed a bit restricted as opposed to the fluid motion we are used to seeing, but I still think it’s a great sign that Smoltz was able to make it through the start.

Smoltz is expected to make three more starts before joining the Red Sox by June 19th.


Meanwhile, back at the Ranch, Tom Glavine had a shaky start for Class AAA Gwinnett on Saturday night. Glavine managed just three innings, allowing three runs and giving up five hits. Even though the results weren’t quite what he or the Braves were hoping, Glavine remains optimistic.

“It was a tale of two games,” Glavine said. “I felt really good. I felt like I had as good stuff velocity-wise on my fastball as I had all spring. The flip side was I couldn’t throw the ball where I wanted to.

“I’d rather feel like my stuff was good. Maybe I was a little too strong and fighting my location. It was good and bad. Right now I’m excited that my arm is getting stronger and my stuff continues to get better. I can work on my location.”


It would be nice to get Glavine back, but with the way the team has been playing over the last month, it's not necessarily a necessity. (Try to say that three times fast)
(Photos: AP)

Braves Baffled by Lincecum

Giants 4, Braves 0



I was hoping to make my return to blogging about the Braves a day following a triumphant win, but instead it’s a on the heels of a shut-out. (I know where was I during the Blue Jays series?)

Tim Lincecum looked every bit of the 2008 Cy Young Award winner he is. Lincecum fanned eight in eight innings to pick up his first win in almost a month. Aaron Rowand continued his hot streak which began about the time the Mets came to town 10 days ago, driving in two runs and scoring on an Edgar Renteria single. The same single by the former Brave that also scored Lincecum in the Giants four run second inning.

The good news for Braves fans is that after giving up four runs in the second, Melden was able to settle down a bit, not allowing another run in 3 and third inning while the bullpen trio of Eric O’Flaherty, Jeff Bennett and Manny Ascosta were able to keep the Giants scoreless over the remainder of the game. Not so great, a continued lack of scoring. But with almost two months in the books, the Braves remain just 2.5 games behind the Phillies in the NL East.

Rewind
A lot has happened in the week I went on a work imposed hiatus from blogging. First we being with last night’s losing pitcher Kris Melden. In two starts, the youngster has been the victim of the one huge inning. In Tuesday’s case, a surmountable four run deficit as compared to the disastrous fourth inning of the Braves 9-0 loss to the Rockies last Thursday. During that inning, Melden threw 18 pitches, just three for strikes. His night came to a merciless end after he struck Rockies pitcher Aaron Cooke to force in a run.

While his current 0-2 record with an ERA of 9.72 is a far cry from his 5-0 start with a 1.19 ERA at Gwinnett, you have to remember he’s just 23. I am not ready to write him off. In a way, he kind of reminds me of a Mike Pelfrey, the right handed pitcher for the New York Mets. Since I happen to be in the NY metro area, I end up watching a lot of Mets games (Gary, Keith and Ronnie are an incredible 1-2-3 punch in the booth) and obviously Pelfrey comes up every fifth day. In his young career, Pelfrey has fallen victim to that one big inning many a time, but as he’s grown as a pitcher and has been able to reduce the damage of that one big inning, learning to adjust to the batters and shake things off when something doesn’t go his way. Of course, he’s gotten a little shaky as of late (three balks in one game will do that to you), but it still proves that with time Melden could adjust and become more effective. After all his ERA dropped from 15.00 to 9.72 in just a game.

Another Braves pitcher that looks to be turning things around is Kenshin Kawakami. It seems he’s answered my pleas especially after his 8 inning shut-out of the Blue Jays on Friday.

In other news, the Braves are being hit hard by the injury bug. Chipper Jones returned to the lineup after missing four straight starts with a toe injury. Yunel Escobar has been out of the lineup as well with a hip injury, while Omar Infante has been placed on the DL with a fractured hand. Joining Omar on the DL are Buddy Carlyle (upper back strain) and Jo-Jo Reyes (strained hamstring).

News&Notes: After placing Buddy Carlyle on the DL, the Braves activated Jorge Campillo…Tim Hudson threw off the mound for the first time since spring training. Hudson is recovering from Tommy John surgery…Jordan Schafer is really trying to improve at the plate. At least he still has his defense…People are coming out to cheer on the AAA-Gwinnett Braves in droves…Speaking of Gwinnett get to know a little bit more about their two brightest pitchers Tommy Hanson and Kris Melden. Well, Melden was pitching for Gwinnett at the start of the season…The Braves 1-0 win over the Blue Jays was their first 1-0 win at home since September 25, 2004.
(Photo: AP)

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Who let this happen?



If you were watching yesterday’s game between the Mets and Braves you may have noticed a slight gaffe. Both teams were wearing dark tops with light bottoms. Since the Braves were in navy and the Mets were in black, at times it was hard to tell which team was which. I guess that’s why there are alternative uniforms.

It was very Single White Female. I bet the Mets are just totally jealous of the Braves away jerseys and wanted to copy them. Next thing you know they’ll die their blonde and try to look like Bridget Fonda.
(Photo: Getty Images)

A walk followed by a marathon



One day after the Braves lost a heartbreaker to the Mets in 10 innings by walking in the game winning run; Atlanta was able to outlast New York in a 12 inning marathon, 8-7.

The frustration was palpable during Tuesday’s loss. Atlanta once again squandered a brilliant performance by Jair Jurrjens with a controversial bullpen meltdown. In the ninth, with the Braves holding onto a one run lead, Mike Gonzalez allowed a double to Carlos Beltran, who then proceeded to steal third base. Chipper Jones maintained that Beltran was out, but a ruling by Third Base Umpire Greg Gibson rejected that assumption. Gibson claimed that he was able to slide around Jones’ tag and was thus safe. Luis Castillo hit a sacrifice fly that scored Beltran and pushed the game into extra innings.

In the tenth, with the bases loaded, Carlos Beltran drew a six pitch walk that drove in the game winner for the Mets. Waste Management may have an addition to their rout, ballparks where Jair Jurrjens is pitching. This is getting ridiculous.


The following night, Atlanta hoped to salvage things with a series victory and though it took 12 innings they finally did it. Atlanta got off to a hot start in the first when Chipper Jones doubled scoring Yunel Escobar. Garret Anderson followed with a single that scored Jones. The Mets battled back but two more runs in the third gave Atlanta an early 4-2 victory.

As the remainder of the game played out, it was obvious that the Mets were not willing to sit on the bench twiddling their thumbs. In the fourth with Buddy Carlyle on the mound in relief of starter Jo-Jo Reyes, Fernando Tatis rocked a grand slam that put the Mets up, 6-4. The game would continue its see-saw pace until the Braves took the lead for good with a Martin Prado solo shot in the 12th that sent Atlanta home riding a productive road trip where they won six out of eight games, all against division rivals.

I think I lost a couple years of my life watching the Braves three game series with the Mets. Whether it was pitching duels or timely hitting both teams really put up a fight, I am just glad Atlanta left with two victories because it could have really gone either way.

The Braves will have Thursday off before starting a series with the Diamondbacks.

News&Notes: The Braves rested Jeff Francoeur on Wednesday…Tom Glavine is hopeful he’ll be back by the end of May…The fan that went streaking during Tuesday's game against the Mets did it on a bet...Click here for an interview with Chipper Jones…And here to read about the Braves pitching jewel, Jair Jurrjens.
(Photos: AP)

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Well hello there Casey

Casey Kotchman had large shoes to fill after being sent to the Braves for Mark Teixeira in a deal with the Angels. It had not as much to do with replacing a two time gold glove standout at first base as to do with the prospects the Braves shipped to Texas to get Teixiera in the first place. Whether justified or not, expectations were high.

In his debut on July 30, 2008, Kotchman went 0-for-5 in an eventual loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Thud! In this final two months of the season, he handily mixed disappointing starts with bereavement leave to be with his ailing mother. It began to feel like his tenure with the Braves could be over before it ever really got a chance to begin.

Cut to almost eight months later and all of that stopping and starting was in the distant past. Kotchman, it appears, has really begun to turn things around. Since May 4, Casey has been batting .400 with 10 RBIs, 4 doubles and 2 homeruns. And the Braves as a team has gone 5-3 with a sweep of the Marlins and another series win against the Phillies during that same time period. Include that into his season average of .319 and season totals of 13 doubles and 11 runs and maybe, just maybe, the Braves have found a solid answer at first base.
(Photo: Getty Images; stats)

Braves rock Mets bullpen



A pitchers duel between staff aces Derek Lowe and Johan Santana quickly diminished into a full scale bullpen melt down on Monday. The Braves managed two unearned runs – the first scored on an errant throw to first by David Wright in the opening frame – during Johan Santana’s 6 1/3 innings pitched. Once Santana left the mound, however, Atlanta’s bats came alive. An inning ending grounder hit by catcher Brian McCann was bobbled by Mets shortstop Jose Reyes extending the frame and leading to Matt Diaz’s two run single. Casey Kotchman added a two run single of his own in what become a four run seventh. Atlanta would tack on three additional runs on their way to the eventual 8-3 win.

The victory ended the Mets seven game win streak and made the Braves victors in five of their last six games.

News&Notes: Chipper Jones viewed Monday’s win from the bench. Jones is suffering from a sore elbow, which he hopes will not also keep him out of Tuesday’s gameTom Glavine is scheduled to throw two to three simulated innings on Wednesday. If all goes well, he would then make two minor league starts before returning to the big club in late May.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Friday, May 8, 2009

Mac is Back



On Friday, all-star catcher Brian McCann is scheduled to make his first start since hitting the DL with eye issues. The problem is believed to stem from a Lasik eye procedure he underwent two years ago. Shortly after the start of the 2009 season, McCann began to experience double vision. A series of eye drops and contact lenses were unable to remedy the problem, forcing McCann to hit the DL.

Fresh with new special prescription Oakley sport glasses, McCann made a rehab start with Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday, notching a RBI double. But the transition wasn’t an easy one. McCann had some minor difficulties adjusting to his new glasses and hockey style catcher’s mask. Behind the plate, he rotated between wearing his glasses and leaving them in the dugout throughout the start and complained of foggy lenses. But these issues should be resolved as he gets more used to wearing the new equipment.

While I am beyond excited to have Mac back in the line-up, it does come at the expense of back-up catcher David Ross who is batting .298 with three homers, nine RBIs and eight runs in just 15 games. Along with Chipper Jones, Kelly Johnson and Jeff Francoeur, Ross is tied for the team lead in homeruns.
(Photo: AP; source)

Sweet Smell of Success



In just his second season in Atlanta, Jair Jurrjens has proven that he can be one of the most consistent starters. In his seven appearances this season he’s boasting a 2.01 ERA, good enough for best on the team and fifth in the majors, but he is only 3-2 on the season, a direct result of the Braves feeble offense that appears everytime he takes the mound.

With Anabel Sanchez taking the mound for the Marlins, the Braves looked to break up their pattern by getting off to a quick start in the second when David Ross hit a homer that scored Kelly Johnson. Casey Kotchman added a solo shot in the third, his first of the season, as the Braves rolled to a 4-2 victory, completing a two game sweep of the Fish.

Jair Jurrjens gave up three hits – two in the form of Hanley Ramirez solo homers – in his third win of the season.

News&Notes: Looks like the Braves have found themselves a lead-off hitter in the form of Omar Infante…Chipper Jones tells it like it is when it comes to Manny Ramirez’s recent failed drug test.
(Photo: AP)

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Bouncing Back


Braves 8, Marlins 6

Derek Lowe had one of his more shaky outings for the Braves, giving up six runs in five innings, but luckily for Lowe, the bats were out in full effect to give Lowe his fourth victory of the season. Garret Anderson, who I wrongfully requested to go back to the DL yesterday, knocked in three runs in the victory. I would love to think that my words were enough of a kick in his ass, but I rightfully assume that is not the case.

Anderson got the ball rolling in the first inning, driving in a run with a ground out before providing a two run single an inning later which put the Braves ahead, 5-3. Omar Infante and Chipper Jones each added two RBIs on the night to put the Braves ahead 8-3 before the Marlins rallied with runs in the third and fifth inning. But Atlanta’s relieving core of Buddy Carlyle, Peter Moylan, Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez cuffed the Marlins to allow the Bravos to hold onto the 8-6 win. Jorge Cantu tied a career high with five RBIs in the losing effort.

News&Notes: Jordan Schafer is suffering from more than just a little wrist pain, he’s really suffering from a case of the strike-out woesJorge Campillo is inching towards a return…If you’ve been to a game or watched one on TV you can’t help but notice all of the empty seats at Turner Field. Those empty seats amount to the fourth largest drop in attendance in Major League Baseball…John Smoltz already has plans for life after baseball and they involve a lot of golf.
(Photo: AP)

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Too Little, Too Late


Mets 4, Braves 3

A late ninth inning comeback was not enough for the Braves to overtake the Mets in their 4-3 loss. Entering the final frame with a three run deficit, Atlanta tallied two runs when Carlos Delgado dropped an Omar Infante pop-up that scored Kelly Johnson. Yunel Escobar scored Clint Sammons on a single before a Chipper Jones liner to right was caught by Ryan Church to end the game.

Kenshin Kawakami delivered another mediocre performance, lasting just five innings after hitting over 110 pitches on the night. Kawakami, however, allowed just two runs in the no decision. Ok, so he’s moved up to mediocre, which was all I was asking for. Now if the Braves can find a pitcher (not named Derek Lowe or Jair Jurrjens) that wants to move up from mediocre to pretty good, they’d be in business. Oh and a couple hitters too.

News&Notes: Chipper Jones hit his 40th career homerun against the Mets in Monday’s 6-4 loss…Brian McCann will play his rehab assigned game with the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves on Thursday. That’s a very good sign for a Friday return…Garret Anderson returned from the DL. The way Brandon Jones was playing, I am thinking Anderson needs to just head right back to the DL and call it a Mike Hampton type of year…In my work imposed absence I wasn’t even able to mention Hampton’s return to Turner Field with the Astros on Friday. He allowed six earned runs in less than five innings. Yeah, I don’t miss him a bit!
(Photo: AP)

Monday, May 4, 2009

Hey kids,

Due to a crazy work schedule, I may not be able to update as frequently as I have been. Don’t fear, I will be posting a couple of times a week, so don’t forget to check back.

Let’s go Braves!