Supermarket Sweep

Where has this effort been over the past three months? Because if all it takes for the Braves to be effective is to play the Rockies all the time, then I say baseball should change its scheduling rules. Yunel Escobar highlighted a five run sixth inning with his three run blast and Jair Jurrjens threw a career high 10 strike outs in six innings, in which he allowed four runs. The 8-4 win completed the three game sweep of the Rockies, giving them their first home sweep since May 20-22 when they beat the Mets.

The Braves wore special hats on Thursday to commemorate the 7th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Back in New York, SNY (the Mets broadcasting network) re-aired the September 21, 2001 game between the Mets and the Braves. I believe it was the first baseball game played in New York after the attacks. It was almost eerie to be transported back to those moments but it also reminded me of the beauty of baseball. A sport that can so quickly bond a city, even one that is practically split in half by the rivalry between the Mets and Yankees, through such a horrible time. They interviewed then Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a huge Yankees fan and even he was rooting for the Mets. It was just an odd momemt, a practically full Shea Stadium, a hopeful crowd and a lot of cheering, things you don't always see in Queens.

It was also fun to see everyone looking so young. Chipper playing left field (such a bad decision); Bobby Cox looked like he was about 15 years younger, Leo Mazzone still rocking on the bench, Marcus Giles, Javy Lopez, Andruw Jones looking a good 50 pounds lighter, Jason Marquis pitching.

Every once in a while it’s just nice to watch an old game and look back at the players who are no longer on the team and even the ones that still are with the team (which is basically just Chipper even though John Smoltz and Tom Glavine are technically still with the team) and just relive the game again. Even when you know exactly how it’s going to turn out as was the case with this game (because they tend to re-air it a couple of times a year) it’s just nice to be transported to a different time for three hours.

And speaking of the Braves and Mets, Atlanta will be heading to my neck of the woods this weekend for their final three game series at Shea Stadium. Saturday’s game will be broadcast on Fox at 3:55 PM/est so don’t forget to tune in. Maybe the Braves can play spoiler!!

News&Notes: Hank Aaron is a lot more fun to talk to you when you don’t mention Barry Bonds…John Smoltz’s shoulder looks good, while Chuck James’ isn’t looking too hot. Hopefully the shoulder surgery he underwent can fix that…Speaking of injuries, Charlie Morton is “basically shut down.”...Don't forget to vote for Tom Glavine for Man of the Year.

(Photos: AP)

Be still my heart, the Braves win two in a row

Kelly Johnson and Chipper Jones smashed back-to-back homers in the Braves five run seventh to vault them to a 9-5 win over the Rockies. Johnson continued his lightning hot streak hitting his first of two homeruns in the opening inning while James Parr delivered again in his second career start. A four run seventh by the Rockies prevented James from picking up his second win of the season, which is a shame after he went six innings, allowing five hits but no runs.

Well if that isn’t something to cheer about, I don’t know what is? Maybe Bobby Cox’s declaration that he will be back in 2009? I know there are a lot of people who would like Cox to retire and give the reigns to another manager, Braves hitting coach Terry Pendelton perhaps? But I’m not one of them. With the amount of injuries the Braves have suffered, I don’t know any other coach that could have vaulted this team to the playoffs. The lack of wins in one run and extra inning games is certainly a problem, but I’d be happy to have Bobby back for one more season.

News&Notes: Chipper Jones’ homerun tied him with Duke Snider for 42nd on the all-time homeruns list…John Smoltz had some reassuring words for reliever Mike Gonzalez after he blew his first save opportunity in four years…Peter Moylan’s rehab has been going very well. Since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April, Moylan has cut his hair and got contact lenses. So I guess we’ll have a whole new Peter next season.

(Photo: AP)

A Balky Win

It might not have been the cleanest win, but the way things have been going for the Braves most of this season, I think they’ll take it. Mike Gonzalez blew a save opportunity in the ninth, surrendering a homerun to Garrett Atkins which tied the game at four a piece. Then the strangest thing happened in the 10th inning, Rockies reliever Taylor Buchholz started his delivery and then paused, stepped off the rubber and committed a balk sending home Kelly Johnson to score the game winning run for the Braves. It was just the third extra innings victory for Atlanta this season and the first time they had won a game with a balk since July 4, 1993. Deion Sanders scored the winning run against the Marlins.

When asked about the last time manager Bobby Cox had seen something like that he responded:

"I don't know. I can't even remember the last time we won an extra-inning game."

A win is a win is a win. I’ll take it and I’m sure the Braves are will too!

News&Notes: It seems to be all or nothing for second baseman Kelly Johnson...James Parr made quite a first impression but can he back it up against the Rockies on Wednesday?...The Braves honored Negro Leaguer James "Red Moore"...Looks like there are more problems with the Braves' Triple-A affliate's new stadium.

(Photo: AP)

John Smoltz to Return Somewhere Else?

In June, John Smoltz underwent surgery to fix his injured shoulder. The surgery required extensive rest and rehab which has kept him out of work since. Then again, it doesn’t mean the 41 year old could be out of baseball for good. In fact, with all of the work that he’s been doing to get himself back into pitching shape, Smoltz has suggested that if feels he’s in a position to pitch, he’ll pitch. Of course he won’t necessarily be doing it in Atlanta. In an interview posted on Atlanta Magazine’s website the hurler made that point clear.

“I say this for the first time, without reservation, if I’m going to bust my butt and if I feel like I’m good enough and it doesn’t work out here, I will be pitching somewhere else … My dream scenario would be to pitch in the playoffs again, and that’s coming from a guy who’s been in 13 of them. (Smoltz missed the 2000 playoffs with Tommy John surgery.) To me, that’s what I’m about. So if the door gets closed here, it’ll have to be explored somewhere else.”

Come again?

“Make no mistake,” he said a few minutes later. “I am absolutely, 100 percent committed to playing the rest of my career for the Atlanta Braves. But this can’t be my only option … I may not be in the [Braves’] plans. It’s no given right, where I’ve spent 21 years here and [so] they owe me whatever I want.”

No! No! No! No! NO! I went through this once with Tom Glavine leaving the Braves, I’m not doing it with Smoltzie. I swear I must have some special gene these days that causes my favorite players to flea their respective teams only to find themselves in the arms of another franchise. Going back to 2002, it was Glavine leaving the Braves and landing with the Mets. (Of all teams!) More recently it’s been Aaron Rowand who went from the Phillies to the Giants (Photo Day was not the same this year), then it was the Rangers Sean Avery who signed with the Stars and finally it was Jeremy Shockey who was traded from the Giants to the Saints. I don’t know if I can handle a John Smoltz departure.

So here's what I think: Give him the money and a year’s contract! He’s given Atlanta 20 years and let’s be honest; the Braves are so going to be outbid on many of the top named free agent pitchers. (Sabathia anyone?) Why spend too much money on someone who’s going to fall a part when you can spend it on Smoltz? Frankly, there are a lot of pieces missing, so it's not like paying for an extra arm is going to be the reason why the Braves miss the playoffs in 2009.

Ok Smoltz, now that I've given you my stamp of approval for staying with the Braves, how flexible are you on the whole going to the playoffs next year? Do you think you're arm could hold on for a couple more years? Like Jamie Moyer type years?

(Photo: AP; source via espn)

Mike Hampton In High Demand?

I was reading the Truth & Rumors page of Fannation this morning when I read the headline above. I know Mike’s pitching well, but I don’t know how quickly I’d want to sign up a guy who missed two and half years with various injuries. Of course it would be a one year deal. And for a guy who banked $121 million, I’m sure he’d be willing to take a discount, but I don’t care how desperate the Braves may become this off season (and I can see them getting quite desperate when Sabathia goes to the Yankees and they get out bid for Sheets, Lowe, etc…) but please, do not re-sign Hampton!

Braves lose a 14 inning heartbreaker

The weekend started off well for the Braves as recent call-up James Parr delivered six shut out innings in the Braves 2-0 blanking of the Nats. They added another win on Friday before dropping Saturday’s game, 8-5 thanks to the heorics of former Brave Ryan Langerhans. Then came Sunday. The Braves jumped out to an early 3-1 lead after Chipper Jones’ ball was lost in the sun allowing Gregor Blanco and Jo-Jo Reyes to score. The Braves added a run in the sixth inning making the score, 4-1. Then things fell a part. Alberto Gonzalez hit a homerun off of Braves reliever Julian Tavarez in the seventh and tied the game in the eighth with a double. Elijah Dukes doubled in Willie Harris, Gonzalez and Lastings Milledge in the fourteenth inning to win the game for the Nats. It was the Braves seventh loss in the last 10 games and put them in danger of falling to the bottom of the NL East barrel. (The hold a six game lead over Washington)
News&Notes: Charlie Morton missed his scheduled start with right arm soreness...Doris Hawkins, 88, finally gets to see her Braves in person.

(Photo: Gregory Smith/AP)

Sheffield Passes the Crime Dog

With Wednesday’s homerun, his 493rd, Gary Sheffield passed friend Fred McGriff for 25th on the all time homerun list. Sheffield called the feat, the only statistical mark that mattered to him.

McGriff spent four and half of his 19 seasons manning first base for the Braves after he was acquired in a trade with the San Diego Padres in 1993, just in time for one of the best pennant chases in major league history between Atlanta and the San Francisco Giants. In 1997, he was picked up by the Devil Rays, a team he later retired with in 2004 at the age of 40, through the expansion draft.

Sheffield on the other spent just two seasons with Atlanta before moving onto the New York Yankees and now the Detroit Tigers.

(Photos: Chris Carlson/AP; Otto Gruele/Allsport)

Anybody There?

The Braves played a thrilling game against the Marlins in front of an estimated 600 people. (Looks like a used that picture of a single guy in the stands a couple days too soon.) Kelly Johnson hit a two run triple in the fourth inning and scored on a Jeff Francoeur double. But the Marlins were able to rally in the seventh scoring on a Cody Ross single to center and then a wild pitch to give them the 5-3 win. The game was slightly less offensive than the Braves 16-14 victory the day before, but in 90 degree weather brevity is key.

It’s kind of sad to see so few people in the stands. I don’t blame anyone for not showing up to a game between two teams that are out of the playoff picture in the middle of a workday when the temperatures are hovering around 90 and there’s constant humidity, however something has to be said that there were only 600 people in the stands and only 11,000 tickets purchased for the game. The Marlins are hoping that in adding a retractable roof and relocating closer to downtown they will be able to draw more people to the ballpark. Goodness, I hope so.

News&Notes: Chipper Jones sat for the second straight game with a knee injury. He is hoping to be back in action on Thursday…Yunel Escobar left Wednesday’s game early with a shoulder injury and is listed as day-to-day…Bobby Cox was ejected in the fifth inning, bringing his major league record up to 143...Congrats to Josh Anderson who hit his first career major league homerun in Tuesday's game...Finally, Tim Hudson was nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award. You can vote for him here.

(Photo: Wilfredo Lee/AP)

Bartender, pour me something strong

Let’s see…where to begin. Well, there was that whole sweep by the Nationals over the weekend. Nope, too depressing.

And then that extra special ninth inning collapse to the Marlins on Monday. Anyone got some Prozac?

Since I can’t get to a pharmacist fast enough, maybe I should look on the bright side. There was some good news this weekend:

- Chipper Jones joined some incredible company as he became just the second player ever to hit at least 20 homeruns in his first 14 seasons. The only other player to record such a feat was Hall of Famer Eddie Matthews. (He's also battling tendinitis in his throwing elbow.)

- The Braves are not paying Andruw Jones’ salary. (If you’re keep track, he’s batting .161 with 3 homeruns and 13 RBIs and was just activated from his second stint on the DL this season.)

- Former Brave, Jarrod Saltalamacchia injured his elbow on Monday, which is not something to be overly excited about, but he plays for Texas, so that’s one less injury for Atlanta.

- Plus Greg Maddux won his 354th career game to tie him 8th all-time with Roger Clemens. Of course, Maddux is with the Dodgers now, but hey he got a whole bunch of them when he was with the Braves.

Ok, I’m still not bubbles the clown over here, but I’m working on it.

News&Notes: Casey Kotchman was activated from the restricted list on Monday. His mother is said to be doing better. Good news!...And Ruben Gotay was activated from the DL...Richmond says goodbye to the Braves Triple-A affiliate…Meanwhile Gwinnett County could be getting an additional $19 million bill for its new stadium...Congrats to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans who clinched the Carolina League's Southern Division title. The team is lead by Manager of the Year Rocket Wheeler. Good to see someone's winning!

September means one thing, expanded Rosters

Since the Braves are not heading to the playoffs this season, September means just one thing, expanded rosters. Beginning September 1st, the Braves were able to increase their roster to 40 players which will include pitchers James Parr, Charlie Morton, Jeff Ridgway and Jorge Julio along with infielder Brent Lillibridge and catcher Corky Miller. Morton was expected to join the team on Monday, while Parr, Lillibridge, Ridgway and Miller were expected to meet the team in Miami on Tuesday following Richmond’s series finale on Monday.

Also looking to be bumped up to the bigs is Double-A reliever Luis Valdez. He will not be available until after he completes play in the Southern League playoffs.

Noticeably absent for the call-ups is Double-A outfielder Jordan Schafer. He is still thought to be one of the three players that will be in the running for the CF job next spring, however, he'll have to wait until 2009 to be make his major league debut. Other big time prospects like pitchers Tommy Hanson and Kris Medlen will also be left off the 40 man roster.

To make room for Miller and Parr on the team, the Braves have moved right-hander Rafael Soriano and outfielder Matt Diaz to the 60 day DL.
(source)