Braves activate Kelly Johnson

The Braves have activated second baseman Kelly Johnson from the DL in time for Thursday’s game against the Giants. Johnson finds himself in a somewhat unfamiliar position as the Braves designated back-up infielder since Martin Prado has proven his worth as a starter with his blistering bat and sparkling defense.

To make room on the roster for Johnson, Atlanta optioned Brooks Conrad to AAA-Gwinnett.

I’d imagine Johnson will be in the line-up sooner or later, considering Chipper needs a few days off here and there, Prado would move over to third and Johnson would take up second.
(Photo: Reuters; source)

Braves double up the Giants

Braves 4, Giants 2

Jair Jurrjens outdueled reigning Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum in a battle of the young aces on Wednesday. Jurrjens allowed just one run in 7 2/3 inning, while mowing down nine on his way to his ninth victory of the season. Lincecum, on the other hand, recorded his shortest performance since Opening Day, allowing four runs in under six innings for his third loss of the season.

The win would not have been possible without a third inning three run dinger by red hot Yunel Escobar that put the Braves in front, 4-0. Brian McCann drove in the only other Braves run in the first.

Jurrjens has moved to 3-1 with a 1.93 ERA in his last four starts.

News&Notes: Casey Kotchman has yet to make an error in 118 games with the Braves…Former Braves shortstop Edgar Renteria has nothing but praise for Yunel Escobar. That’s amazing considering Escobar is the reason Renteria was traded to Detroit.

(Photo: AP)

LaRoche to the Red Sox

The Pirates have reportedly traded former Brave first baseman Adam LaRoche to the Boston Red Sox for minor leaguers Argenis Diaz and Hunter Strickland. Two more trades and Pirates will basically be fielding an entirely different team than the one they had on Opening Day!

I guess this is a good thing for LaRoche, considering how the Pirates front office has upset its players and fans the past few seasons. Plus he’ll be ushered immediately into a tight playoff race. I have to admit, I always liked Adam when he was playing with the Braves. Especially when he was actually paying attention to what was going on when he was playing first or in the months following May when his bat would come alive. Good luck Rochie!
(source)

Braves roll over Giants

Braves 8, Giants 1

After taking three of four from the Mets, the Braves have rattled off two consecutive wins over the Giants, including Tuesday’s 8-1 romp. Derek Lowe continued to move into the right direction, allowing one run over six innings for his ninth win of the season. The start comes on heels of two quality starts, one against the Mets on Thursday and the other against the Rockies just before the All-Star break.

But it wasn’t just Lowe who was getting it done for the Braves. Martin Prado has decidedly scored himself a permanent spot at second with his three hit, two run performance capped with a dazzling double play registered in the first inning. Brian McCann added an RBI double in the first and a three run homer in the fourth to help lift the Braves over the Giants.

Last night’s win was a great all around effort, pairing effective pitching with dazzling defense and a pounding offense. If the Braves continue on this road, who knows what could happen?

News&Notes: Greg Maddux was honored on Friday. His number #31 was retired. (And yes, it’s been a while since I’ve updated)…Speaking of Mad Dog, the Braves may make him a pitching instructor at Spring Training next year…Buddy Carlyle felt good after his minor league rehab assignment…Kelly Johnson hit two homers in his rehab assignment. That’s great Kelly, but the way Martin has been playing at second, you may want to stay down there.
(Photos: AP)

Yunel Escobar Named NL Player of the Week

Congratulations to Yunel Escobar on being named the NL Player of the Week. Escobar hit .500 (7-for-14) in four games against the Mets and racked up two homeruns, three doubles and eight RBIs during the stretch.

The honor comes at a time when Escobar has been making bigger headlines for his on field behavior than for his on field performance. On Saturday, Escobar appeared to disregard a sign for a hit and run but followed it up on Sunday with four RBIs.

I don’t care at this point whether he stares at the official scorer if he is pinned for an error every once in a while, as long as his bat continues to stay red hot. Of course if this is still a problem next year and beyond, then I don’t think I’ll be as forgiving.
(Photo: AP; source)

Escobar out of Atlanta?

Only a few days after the Braves dealt Jeff Francoeur to the Mets, it looks like they maybe inclined to deal Yunel Escobar as well. According to a recent article, the Braves have begun to take calls regarding the talented shortstop, although an exact trading partner has not been revealed. The Braves would need a shortstop in return what with Kelly Johnson and Omar Infante on the DL and Elvis Andrus in Texas.

Clearly, Escobar needs an attitude adjustment, his pouting and mental lapses are not acceptable. But he is just far too talented and frankly too cheap to deal to another team. I don’t care what they have to do to get him to act like a 26 year old, bench him, fine him, dress him up like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz or better yet get a veteran to take him under his wing and teach him how to act like a major league ballplayer. But to just trade him, is like giving up and that’s not the way the Braves should act.

The article also hinted at the Braves interest in A’s outfielder Matt Holliday. Holliday is a solid outfielder that flourished in Colorado, but has hit a few bumps since being traded to Oakland during the off season. However the major sticking point regarding Holliday is his pending free agency at the end of the season. The Braves would have to be able to sign him to an extension prior to trading for him and even then I don’t know if this is a good idea or possible. (He is a Scott Boras client, after all.) The prospects they would have to give up would revival those sent to Texas for Mark Teixeira. But if they are able to secure him to a long term deal, it could mitigate the loss of players.
(Photo: AP; source)

Your First Look at Jeff Francoeur as a Met

In his first at bat as a Met, Jeff Francoeur blooped a single which scored two and instantly endeared him into the hearts of Mets fans in attendance, listening to the game on the radio and watching the game on TV or on the internet. By the end of the weekend, Mets fans were cheering for him almost as loudly as they do for David Wright and Francisco Rodriguez thanks in part to three additional hits and one amazing catch.

On Sunday, I witnessed the Frenchy love personally seated in section 103. Francoeur interacted with the fans, tossed a couple of balls into the stands and generally acted like the player all Braves fans have gotten to know over the past few years. I don’t know if Mets fans are used to that kind of vibe and I certainly know they aren’t used to hearing country music when a guy comes up to bat. But I think they could get very used to him. I see Jeff as the Mets’s version of Nick Swisher, which is a very good thing. It will allow him a bigger grace period if he starts to struggle, making his transition a bit easier.

Honestly, I think this trade is a great thing for Francoeur. I can see him really flourishing in the big city. I just hope Ryan Church flourishes in Atlanta as well.
(Photos: PIMC)

Your First Look at Ryan Church as a Brave

Recently acquired right fielder Ryan Church made his Braves debut on Saturday going 0-for-4 in Atlanta’s 4-3 victory over the Rockies. Sunday, a game in which the Braves let it get away in the late innings, Church was a little better, going 1-for-5 with two runs and an RBI.
(Photo: AP)

Jeff Francoeur is a Met

After months of rumors, the Braves have traded right fielder Jeff Francoeur to the Mets for outfielder Ryan Church.

Francouer made a splash in 2005 which landed him on the cover of Sports Illustrated. He followed it up with career years in 2006 and 2007, but in 2008 the wheels fell off and Frenchy found himself in the minors for three days. The move was not effective as he continued to struggle throughout the year. But it seemed like things were finally coming around in the beginning of 2009. Francoeur had spent the off season working with Texas hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo and his batting was becoming more constitent. Without Jaramillo to fall back on during the season, Frenchy regressed to his old habits leading to consecutive benchings over the last two weeks. I think a change of scenery will really benefit Frenchy and I hope he succeeds; even it is with the Mets.

Church most memorably suffered a concussion against the Braves last season when he ran into Yunel Escobar. He spent much of 2008 recovering from that and another concussion he sustained in spring training. Currently, Church is hitting .280 with 2 homers in 67 games with the Mets. The power numbers are a bit deceiving though, since Citi Field is anything but a homerun hitters park, but at least the swap allows the Braves to receive a competent replacement for Francoeur.
(Photo: AP; source)

Getting to know Brooks Conrad

When Brooks Conrad was summed to the big club a week ago to take the place of the injured Kelly Johnson, who knew he would make such a splash? In his first at bat of the season, he hit a pinch-hit three run homer that helped give the Braves a 9-8 win over the Nationals. And since that debut, all he’s done is hit .333. Not bad for a 29 year old rookie. Conrad has made four starts during this time – all at second base – while Martin Prado has taken over third for the injured Jones. The nice part about this story is that not only has Conrad provided needed support from the bench, but he has made great plays in the field, making the losses of Jones and Johnson that much easier to swallow.

Bobby Cox on Brooks:

“Fans will love this kid. He’s all-out all the time. He’s one of those gritty old-timers. He’s not old, don’t get me wrong, but he plays like the old-timers.”
(Photo: Getty Images)

Tommy Hanson’s Human? What the frick?

Rockies 7, Braves 6

After taking two out of three in Chicago the Braves fumbled in Colorado, dropping the series opener, 7-6. Tommy Hanson wasn’t as sharp as he had been in his previous five starts, allowing four runs in five innings while giving up four extra base hits, the most he has surrendered in his previous four games combined. But it was the bullpen that really blew it for the Braves with pinch-hitter Garret Atkins putting the nail in the coffin with his two-out double in the eighth that gave the Rockies a 7-5 lead. Mike Gonzalez previously had walked Ian Stewart and then hit Chris Iannetta with a pitch before Atkins had stepped up to the plate allowing for the go-ahead runs.

The night was not all bad as Jeff Francoeur took advantage of his start in right field, hitting three doubles and driving in two runs in the loss. But Chipper Jones was only able to muster a pinch hit appearance and Yunel Escobar was forced to leave the game early with a lower back injury adding insult to the literal injury for the Braves.

News&Notes: Speaking of injury, starter Javier Vazquez will miss his scheduled start on Sunday in Colorado with a strained lower abdominal muscle…Jordan Schafer is looking for a second opinion after his sore left wrist was diagnosed as a bone bruise…Bobby Cox is trying to give Jeff Francoeur another shot at earning his spot back in right…Jason Heyward and Barbaro Canizares will play in the XM All-Star Futures Game at Busch Stadium on Sunday.

(Photo: AP)

The Old Andruw?

Since leaving the Braves in 2007, Andruw Jones’ career has gone from MVP candidate to AAA disaster. But it wasn’t like his problems began the moment he put on a Dodgers uniform. His dramatic free fall began in the 2007 season when his homeruns were almost cut in half (41 to 26) and his average, which was never his strong point, dropped 40 points.

But then came 2008, a season in which he managed only 3 homeruns and 34 RBIs in 75 games. It appeared the once bright center fielder’s star was quickly burning out.

In a last ditch effort, Jones signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers for the 2009 season. Jones mainly took the deal so he could work with their hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo – who also worked with Jeff Francoeur in the offseason. Admittedly, Jones has played sparingly over the first few months but in his 160 at-bats this season he has hit 14 dingers including three in Wednesday’s Ranger victory. It is not known if these numbers will continue or if the Rangers will increase his playing time, but at least for now, it feels like the old Andruw Jones is back.

(Photo: Getty Images)

Rumor Round UP

With the trade deadline fast approaching here a couple of the latest rumors circling the Braves:

Jeff Francoeur’s relocation project
Hardly a new rumor, the Braves right fielder has been the subject of trade rumors pretty much all season. Whether it was a failed attempt to trade him to the Marlins or rumors that he might be headed to the Royals for Jose Guillen, it seems Frenchy’s name just cannot seem to get out of the paper. His recent three game benching hasn’t been helping him much either, as he went 1-for-4 in the Braves 2-1 victory over the Cubs.

Yunel Escobar gone too?
His attitude may need adjusting, but it appears his abilities are just too good for the Braves to let go of him. While there has been some inquiries as to his availability, the Braves are not nibbling.

Finally, ESPN’s Buster Olney goes over possible trade partners for the Braves here.

(Photo: Getty Images; AP)

Brian McCann Named to the All-Star Team

Brian McCann will be the lone Braves representative at the All-Star game in St. Louis this year. The selection is even sweeter for the backstop considering where he began the season. Hobbled with double vision, McCann spent three and half weeks on the DL before a pair of prescription eye glasses fixed the problem. Since then, Mac has been hitting .329 with six homers and 26 RBIs.

The selection marks, Brian’s fourth straight trip to the mid-summer classic, the first time a Brave has done that since Greg Maddux. Not bad company to be in if you can get it!
(Photo: Getty Images; source)

Braves continue to Roll

Braves 11, Phillies 1

The Braves have finally begun to do something they haven’t been able to do over the past three years, win in close games. It seems that when the game tightens up, the Braves have found ways to get timely hits or brilliant pitching, allowing them to get victories in one run and extra inning games, just like their come-from-behind victory over the Phillies on Tuesday. But just as soon as they start to become a scrappy team, their offense vanishes or their pitching regresses and the Braves go on losing streaks. It’s this inconsistency that has frustrated many a fan, including myself.

Wednesday, however, the stars alligned with Jair Jurrjens throwing a near no-hitter and the Braves offense providing a huge cushion which allowed them to wallop the Phillies 11-1. Jurrjens’ bid for his first career no-hitter ended when Paul Bako hit a two out single in the seventh inning. Kris Melden replaced Jurrjens in the eight, giving up the only other Phillies hit, a single to Shane Victorino. By then the Braves had created an insurmountable lead with fourteen hits, including homeruns by Matt Diaz and Diory Hernandez.

News&Notes: Yunel Escobar and Nate McLouth were held out of Wednesday's game...The Braves are giving Martin Prado a chance at taking over second base...Apparently Jeff Francoeur is very partial to his Thanksgiving underwear. Gobble gobble…Tim Hudson is getting closer to returning to the mound...Click here to register for a chance to meet Chipper Jones or Brian McCann.

(Photo: AP)