Braves get Series win over the Fish

After Wednesday’s 4-1 loss, the Braves rebounded nicely with a 4-2 win over the Marlins, giving them the series. Charlie Morton dazzled in six innings allowing just two runs, picking up his fourth win of the season and his first win at Turner Field. But it was all-star catcher Brian McCann who had the game winning three run homer in the fifth inning that sealed the win for Atlanta. The series win was their first at home in almost two months. (That totally surprised me when I read that this morning. I know it's been bad, but remember a few months ago when they couldn't lose at home?)

As I had mentioned on Tuesday, I attended the Yankees/Red Sox game on Wednesday, which could have been recently traded Mark Kotsay’s first game with Boston. He did arrive in time, but was not used. Instead he had to wait until Thursday to make his first start with his new team.

With the departure of Kotsay, the Braves called up Josh Anderson to fill his spot.
(Photos: Gregory Smith/AP; Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

News&Notes: Reliever Rafael Soriano underwent elbow surgery on Thursday. He is expected to be ready for the start of Spring Training…The Braves signed veteran pitcher Elmer Dessens to a Major League contract for the remainder of the 2008 season…Casey Kotchman has been placed on the restricted list as he continues to stay by his mother’s side in a St. Petersburg, FL hospital. It is unknown when he will return to the team. My get well wishes go out to her.

It’s been fun blogging with you,
Kate

The Braves Rally in the Ninth...AND WIN!!!!

The Braves showed a lot of heart and benefited from a little luck in their 10-9 victory over the Marlins. The Braves took an early lead with three runs in the first inning, but rookie sensation Jair Jurrjens continued to struggle giving up a season high six earned runs while pitching a season low three plus innings. The Braves stormed back with a pair of RBI walks in the eighth by Gregor Blanco and Yunel Escobar which made the score, 8-6. Cody Ross doubled to left to score Alfredo Amezaga in the ninth to give the Marlins a 9-6 advantage, but the Braves rallied in the bottom of that inning, scoring four runs including a game winning RBI single by Yunel Escobar to give them the win. It was the first time in 63 games the Braves had won after trailing in the eighth inning and only the third time Atlanta has won at home in the last 17 games.

Mark Kotsay was scratched from the starting line-up but came in as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning for Will Ohman. The move fueled rumors that the outfielder was going to be traded and only a few hours later the rumors proved to be true, as we now know he was sent to Boston.

All I have to say is “Wow!” What an exciting game. It’s nice to see Atlanta end up on the winning side of one of those nose to the wire type games. Add the fact that the Mets lost in 13 innings to the Phillies and it was a heck of a night. (Yeah, it’s always nice to see all those Mets fans come into work looking stunned.)
(Photo: John Bazemore/AP)

News&Notes: Chipper Jones stands just one homerun away from joining Eddie Matthews as the only players to begin their career with 20 homeruns in 14 straight seasons…Bobby Cox and Tom Glavine have no problems with instant replay.

It’s been fun blogging with you,
Kate

Did the Braves just trade Mark Kotsay?

Remember about a week ago when rumor had it that the Braves were hoping to hold onto Mark Kotsay for an extra year. Well, they were just that, rumors. The Braves have reportedly sent centerfielder Mark Kotsay to the Red Sox pending a physical. (Note: Neither side has confirmed the deal.) With J.D. Drew's injury putting him in quesiton, Kotsay, who is batting .289 with six homerun and 37 RBIs in 318 at bats this season for the Braves, would be a great addition for the team's final push to the playoffs.

(Photo: John Bazemore/AP; source)

UPDATE: It's official, Kotsay is going to the Red Sox. The outfielder is hoping to get on a flight an be in New York in time for tonights game against the Yankees (which I happen to be attending and will report back if I see him.) Atlanta received minor league outfielder Luis Sumoza.

It's been fun blogging with you,

Kate

Stupid Mets Sweep the Braves

Forgive me for being so pissy this morning but I really thought the Braves had it. They were tied going into the bottom of the ninth, yes. And you know how well the Braves have done in extra inning games this year and 1 run games on the road. But I really thought they had a chance. Until Carlos Delgado ruined it with his hit to left that grazed off the glove of Omar Infante and brought home David Wright for the winning run. Could have been a double play but instead it was a walk-off single. Another day, another loss for the Braves. So when will this nightmare end? (Photo: Frank Franklin, II/AP)

News&Notes: We knew Glavine was getting elbow surgery on Thursday, but did you know he also got shoulder surgery. 2-for-1, huh?...Casey Kotchman was placed on the bereavement list to be with his ailing mother in Florida. He will be out for at least 3 but no more than 7 days…Greg Norton who replaced Kotchman at first on Wednesday was scratched from Thursday’s line-up with a stiff left shoulder. Norton was replaced by Martin Prado…Chipper Jones loves Shea Stadium so much he named his kid Shea. But what would really be special for him would be to get a homerun in his final at bat...Former Brave Jorge Sosa was suspended 50 games for testing positive for amphetamines. Whole lot of good they're doing him, he’s still in the minors!

It's been fun blogging with you,

Kate

Glavine avoids Tommy John surgery, but will he come back?

It was good news for Tom Glavine as he underwent a MRI on Wednesday which revealed a partial tear in his flexor tendon, but no ligament damage. He will undergo elbow surgery on Thursday and then endure four to five months of rehabilitation.

Glavine had previously stated that he would retire if he had to undergo Tommy John surgery, but this prognosis opens a new window for the 300 game winner. Barring any major setback, he could be ready for spring training but do the Braves want him to return? He’ll be expensive, like $8 million expensive and who wants to spend that much money on someone who could be out with an injury all season? And if the Braves won’t take him back, he will retire stating he’d like to stay close to his family who reside in Atlanta.

Some of his current Braves teammates would not be opposed to bringing him back for 2009. "Hopefully, if he can get this fixed and get back -- shoot, it'd be great," outfielder Jeff Francoeur said. "Love to have him back,” Chipper Jones added.

From a completely selfish standpoint, I’d love to see him play one more season. And if Smoltz could get back into the pen, I’d take that too. However, if the Braves do not re-sign these two that would equal more money to spend on free agent players. I don’t want them to spend $8 million on a mediocre arm, but if it’s the difference between getting Sabathia and maybe Sheets or Brad Penny, then maybe it's time to let go. At some point you do have to move on from the past. Is 2009 that point?

(Photo: John Bazemore/AP; source)

It’s been fun blogging with you,

Kate

Bullpen Blows it for the Braves

If only MLB games were like little league and they only went to seven innings, then things would have been different for the Braves. Oh but they’re not and that eighth inning bit Atlanta again as Will Ohman surrendered a bases loaded double to Carlos Delgado that scored the winning run and began a five run inning that handed the Mets a 7-3 win.

The loss followed a 5-0 shut out defeat on Monday. Can we just talk about how the Braves got man-handled by Barry Zito? 2008 Barry Zito! Not 2002 Cy Young Award winning Zito when he was 23-5 and had a 2.75 ERA. 2008, 5.73 ERA Barry Zito. Granted, he’s been doing a bit better in the second half, but still. The loss capped a four game series in which Braves scored a combined two runs in their three losses and besides Saturday’s 11-5 win, seemed almost content in their fourth place divisional standings.

Oh but why am I getting so down on Atlanta? They have suffered an injury plagued season unlike any other. And they have very little to play for besides you know pride and for the sake of their many fans that have to be taunted by their stupid Mets fan co-workers. Oh but I digress. Maybe they can make up yesterday’s botched game with a win Wednesday night. Especially with Jair Jurrjens taking the mound for the Bravos while Mike Pelfrey goes up for the Metsies.
(Photo: Frank Franklin, II/AP; John Bazemore/AP)

News&Notes: He was supposed to be with the team for one year, working as a stop gap until Jordan Schaffer was ready to join the bigs, but the Braves could be holding onto Mark Kotsay for an additional year…Tom Glavine will undergo surgery, whether it’s Tommy John surgery or something less serious, remains to be seen…Click here for the “Where are they now” Sid Bream edition...Speaking of where are they now, former Brave Greg Maddux was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It's been fun blogging with you,
Kate

Cycling around

It’s been a while since I’ve posted and I’m sorry about that, but I’ve been a tad busy with work and such. So I figured today was a good day to get back into the habit, especially since Mark Kotsay hit for the cycle, the first time a Braves player has done that in 21 years. Plus Tom Glavine took the mound for the first time since May. And that about wraps up the warm and fuzzy part of this post, because the harsh reality is that the Braves lost 11-7 and Tom Glavine was pounded. The Cubs wrapped up their first regular season sweep of Atlanta, who are once again left shaking their heads.

The game did get a bit more interesting after Cubs starter Ted Lilly plunked Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar. Benches cleared, Escobar looked to be yelling obscenities towards Lilly but no punches were thrown and no one was ejected. It was like a scene out of West Side Story. I was waiting for some to starting singing "when you're a jet".

Anyway, luckily for Atlanta, there’s only about seven weeks left in the 2008 season, one they’d happily forget. And then it’s free agent time and boy do the Braves have some money to burn. Somewhere in the $30-40 million range!! First off, Atlanta needs some pitching. The AJC threw out some names that could top the Braves list, but I’m thinking it’s CC Sabathia or bust! I know he’s going to be expensive, I could even see him hitting $20 million per, which is a lot of money, but he’s dependable and frankly that’s all I need. Since joining the Brewers he’s 7-0 and boy have they been using him up. But I get nervous when people start talking about adding Ben Sheets. Hasn’t he been on the DL a few times in the past couple of years? Yes, he did start the all-star game this season and yes, he’s having a great season, but I’m very injury scared.

With the addition of a strong number one starter, Jair Jurrjens and maybe Campillo, the Braves would need two more starters plus an outfielder with power. (Bare in mind Tim Hudson will be out for most of 2009) Then all of sudden $40 million doesn’t seem like that much, huh?

News&Notes: Francisley Bueno made quite a debut on Wednesday and now he’s paying the price. Shortly after being sent down to Triple-A, Bueno was suspended for three games by MLB for throwing in the direction of Alfonso Soriano’s head…Chipper Jones missed his second straight game with his nagging hamstring injury…Jeff Francoeur was penciled out of the Braves lineup for the second time in three games. Frenchy just can't seem to break out of this season long slump...Apparently, we Braves fans are very loyal, according to Forbes Magazine anyway...The Braves held a tribute for late broadcaster Skip Caray on Wednesday. I know I fall in line with many Braves fans in saying that this was a tough loss to swallow.
(Photo: John Bazemore/AP)

It's been fun blogging with you,
Kate