Braves Bid Bobby (Good)Bye

The drought is over for the celebratory champions of the National League West. The Giants won their first playoff series in eight seasons Monday after defeating the Braves in Bobby Cox’s last game as Atlanta’s skipper. Cox announced he would be retiring at the end of the 2010 season earlier in the year. Last night, the manager was hoping his legacy would last another day in the best-of-five series with San Francisco. The series was tense right up until the final out. Every game of the NLDS was decided by one run, culminating with the Giants’ 3-2 victory in Game 4 at Turner Field. The Braves were plagued by miscues during the thrilling series and couldn’t find a way to beat some of the league’s best pitchers in the post-season.
Derek Lowe pitched hitless baseball for the Braves through six solid innings. Lowe was pitching on just three days’ rest but showed no signs of sluggishness. He destroyed San Francisco hitters, fanning eight total batters. Depleted with injuries to standout players, Atlanta was unable extend Cox’s career however. It was the West coast Giants that quieted a packed stadium on the East coast. The Giants did just enough to advance to face the Phillies in the conference championship. After trailing 1-0 in the sixth, San Francisco tied the game when Cody Ross pasted a homerun off Lowe. The Braves plated a run in the bottom of the sixth to retake a one run lead. Brian McCann homered off second year hurler, Madison Bumgarner. The Giants’ flamethrower went six innings and allowed six hits. He struck out five and walked one batter during his post-season debut. Giants starters have stupefied the opposition, allowing just three earned runs during the NLDS’s 29 innings.
The Braves had their chances. They stranded nine men on base and were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. The Giants overcame the Braves’ one run lead for the second time with Ross’ hitting heroics in the seventh. The 29 year old outfielder drove in the winning run on a punch to left field. Buster Posey scored on the base hit off Atlanta’s Jonny Venters. The Giants were helped by Atlanta errors for the third time in their three victories. Shortstop, Alex Gonzalez, was the guilty party for the Braves on Monday night. Gonzalez’s costly blunder in the decisive seventh allowed the tying run to score. Aided by shaky Atlanta defense and reliable relief pitching, San Francisco shut down the home team and seized the series. Santiago Casilla, Javier Lopez and Brian Wilson combined to slam the door on the Braves’ promising season in Cox’s final game.

Parting Points: I’m disappointed in Favre’s behavior and the fact that the Jets are 4-1.

Braves Benefit from Blunder

Jason Heyward’s three run homerun capped a six-run fourth inning on Friday for the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field in New York. The Atlanta rookie helped the Braves win 6-4 over the Mets, and stay three games behind the Phillies in the NL East race. The Braves still lead the NL Wildcard and pushed their advantage to a full game over the Padres. All six runs in the fourth frame were unearned after an error by Mets’ third baseman, David Wright. Tommy Hanson turned in six innings of five hit ball to get the win for Atlanta. Billy Wagner earned his 34th save with a perfect ninth frame.
The Mets led 1-0 in the second following an Ike Davis walk and a pair of base hits by Josh Thole and Lucas Duda. New York added two more runs in the frame off the Braves’ right-hander. Mets’ pitcher, Jon Niese added a single and Jose Reyes drove in the third run to give the home team a 3-0 edge. Atlanta would get all three runs back and then some during a four-hit fourth.
Wright misplayed a ground ball by leadoff man, Matt Diaz, to begin the inning. The Mets recorded two outs before Derrek Lee scored on a Melky Cabrera RBI single for the first Atlanta tally. After he withstood a shaky second inning, Hanson drew a full count walk to load the bases in the fourth. The Braves’ comeback rally was just starting. Omar Infante doubled off Niese to score a pair of runs, and Heyward followed with a three run blast. It was the 18th of the season for the young right-fielder.
Hanson allowed one run in the bottom of the fourth. Duda smacked a 2-0 offering for a solo homer, his first of the season. It provided the Mets some temporary life in a game that already saw Atlanta skipper, Bobby Cox, ejected during the second inning. But the Braves’ bullpen handled the rest, posting zeros through the final five frames. Hanson is now 10-11 as a starter. He won for the just the second time in his last 14 games and was previously 0-4 in his last six road starts. Niese fell to an even 9-9 on the season as the Mets’ four game winning streak was snapped.

Parting Points: A bunch of duds on the college football slate today…

Burning Braves

LeBron James and Lindsay Lohan are hogging the headlines this week, but there are still baseball games being played. Division races are still as close as ever as the dog days of summer peek from around the corner. The temperatures in the East are soaring over the 100 degree mark, and you can bet the AL and NL East clubs are feeling the heat. The Philadelphia Phillies, especially are feeling the burn of the Atlanta Braves. The Braves scored three runs in the 11th inning to outlast the Phillies in hazy Philadelphia Tuesday. Atlanta’s 6-3 victory came after Phillies’ ace, Roy Halladay, dominated them a night before. The Braves sit five games ahead of the defending NL champions in the NL East, and hold a two game lead over the New York Mets. The Braves are hotter than a Philadelphia ballpark in July and more sizzling than a Chris Bosh autograph.
Cole Hamels allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings for the hometown Phillies. The 2008 World Series MVP struck out eight Atlanta Braves in his Tuesday night start. Still, Hamel’s team lost for the seventh time in his past eight starts. Atlanta countered with Netherland’s native, Jair Jurrjens. Perhaps the 24 year old pitcher was busy warming up to the idea of his native country in the World Cup finals, but he still tossed a credible six inning effort of three run ball. He only allowed two hits in his mound stint. The Phillies managed just three hits the entire contest. Raul Ibanez crushed a two-run homerun in the first inning to put the Phillies on top. Philadelphia first baseman, Ryan Howard, got the better of Jurrjens with a run-scoring triple in the seventh. The Atlanta hurler was removed after just 89 pitches and retiring 14-of-15 batters before Howard’s extra-base hit. Jurrjens was the benefactor of stingy relief pitching and timely hitting Tuesday.
Atlanta had plenty of scoring opportunities, but Hamels limited the offense in the early innings. The Braves loaded the bases with no outs in the first frame, but scored only one tally on Troy Glaus’ fielder’s choice groundout. All-star second baseman, Martin Prado gave the Braves a 3-2 lead with a solo shot to left field in the seventh. Six Braves relievers combined to throw five scoreless innings after Howard tied the game at 3-3. Atlanta’s Matt Diaz went 3-for-5 and recorded the tie-breaking RBI in the 11th inning. Diaz’s double on a hit-and-run play started Atlanta’s three run barrage of relievers Dave Herndon and Mike Zagurski. Eric Hinske blazed a two run homerun to snap an 0-for-13 slump for the Braves’ slugger and the visitors were on their way to another win at Citizen’s Bank Park. Jesse Chavez earned the win with a scoreless tenth and Billy Wagner saved his 18th game after working a hitless 11th. The Braves lead the major leagues in final at-bat victories. Philadelphia’s slide continues as they dropped their fourth game of their last six. Wednesday is the rubber game of the three game series between the teams. Jamie Moyer goes for his tenth win of the season, where he tries to appear hotter (but definitely not younger) than Atlanta right-hander, Kris Medlen.

Parting Points: The Red Sox are pretty beat up these days…

Tampa Topples Tomahawks on Tuesday

Tuesday’s ballgame in Atlanta pitted the East’s two first place teams against each other. The National League East leading Braves dropped a 10-4 decision to their American League counterpart, Tampa Rays. The Rays remained deadlocked in first place with the New York Yankees after touching up the Braves following a 2 ½ hour rain delay. David Price became the AL’s first ten game winner as the Rays’ hurler cruised through five innings of two run ball. Price allowed ten base runners and issued two walks in a somewhat inefficient effort, but Tampa’s offense put the game out of reach in the sixth inning. Kenshin Kawakami wasn’t creamed but still suffered his ninth loss of the season, a Braves’ franchise record to begin a year. The Japanese right-hander allowed seven hits and issued three walks. He hasn’t won a start since last August. Kawakami’s poor defense didn’t help the pitcher’s case as Atlanta committed four errors in the inter-league contest.
Evan Longoria starred for the Rays, decking his twelve homer of the season on a full count in the first frame. Yunel Escobar’s throwing error preceded Longoria’s homerun. The talented All-Star third baseman went 2-for-5 Tuesday, knocking in three runs. Sean Rodriguez drove in a pair of first inning runs with a double to left field to complete the Rays’s four run opening frame. Rodriguez extended his hitting streak to 15 games with the double inside the third base line. Atlanta answered with one run in the bottom half of the first. The Braves scored on an unearned run when Price’s wild pitch sailed past catcher, John Jaso, and had a chance to add to their tallies in the second. The Rays went up 5-1 on Jaso’s single in the second. Atlanta had a chance to collect on a bases-loaded, no outs situation in the bottom half, but failed to score. The Braves stranded 14 base runners and went 1-for-15 with runners-in-scoring position in Tuesday night’s loss.
The Braves did add a run in the bottom of the third on Carlos Pena’s RBI sacrifice fly. They cut the Tampa lead to two in the fifth inning but didn’t find the plate again until Chipper Jones’ solo shot in the eighth. Jones blasted a double earlier in the game before driving one deep for his fourth of the season late in the game. There were talks before the game about the 38 year old retiring after the season, but the future Hall-of-Famer collected both of the Braves’ extra-base hits. Price lacked command but was the benefactor of sixth Tampa extra-base hits. The Rays scored five runs in two innings to increase their lead over the first place Braves. Jaso opened the sixth with a single off newly promoted reliever, Chris Resop. The 27 year old walked Carl Crawford and Pena to load the bases for Ben Zobrist. Zobrist singled in Jaso and Crawford raced home barely avoiding Brian McCann’s tag at the plate. Crawford went 2-for-4 with his 22nd stolen base of the season. The speedy outfielder roped an RBI triple in the seventh and Longoria cracked open the game even more with a double to damage Resop’s debut for Atlanta. Longoria has now reached base safely in 32 consecutive games. Jason Heyward had two hits for Atlanta. The Braves hold just a half-game lead in the division over second place New York. The Yankess rocked Roy Halladay and the Phillies last night to remain tied for first with Tampa.

Parting Points: Painful loss for Big Blue-Domenik Hixon is out for the year with a torn ACL.

Lakers-Celtics has come down to a Game 7. I predicted Boston in 7 and I am staying with my prediction.

Happy Bloomsday to the James Joyce fans out there.

Unblemished Unbelievable Ubaldo

Saturday was an eventful day in sports and there are an abundance of stories to cover. There’s the intriguing overtime recovery by the Capitals. There’s the epic 20 inning affair in St. Louis between the Cardinals and Mets. There’s the ripped and ripe Cavs bashing the Bulls in their playoff opener. And then there’s Ben Roethisberger. The Hawks outlasted the Bucks and the Nuggets nipped the Jazz, but the real headline grabber for Colorado-Atlanta was a Dominican right-hander. Ubaldo Jimenez pitched the first no-hitter of the season, and first in the 17 year Colorado Rockies’ history on Saturday. Jimenez blanked the Braves 4-0 at Turner Field and added an RBI single at the plate. The ace finished with seven strikeouts and six walks. He retired the last 15 batters he faced to notch his third win of the year.
Dexter Fowler made the biggest save of the day during a seventh inning grab on a Troy Glaus line drive to centerfield. Fowler snared the liner for the inning’s first out, and Jimenez continued to pound the strike zone with 98 mph pitches into the final frames. The 26 year old hurler’s no-no is the first in the majors since Mark Buehrle tossed a perfect game last July. Colorado collected a run in the top of the first against Atlanta’s Kenshin Kawakami. The Japanese pitcher gave up all four runs on eight hits through five innings in his first ever look at the Colorado Rockies. Troy Tulowitzki’s sacrifice fly to left field gave the Rockies their first tally. Jimenez singled to center in the top of the fourth to score Brad Hawpe. The Rockies’ starter scored on Carlos Gonzalez’s two run double to complete the scoring for the visiting team. Four runs were staunch and sufficient for the Rockies with the way Jimenez was firing fastballs. His ferocity was enough to no-hit the Braves for the 16th time in Atlanta’s franchise history.
Atlanta sent their 2-3-4 hitters to the dish in the bottom of the ninth. Braves’ second baseman and second hitter, Martin Prado, was riding a 14 game hitting streak into Saturday’s series with the Rockies. Jimenez promptly popped-up Prado and induced Chipper Jones into a left field fly out, leaving Brian McCann to represent the Braves’ last hope for a hit. McCann didn’t reach base either. The Braves’ backstop slapped a grounder to second base on the 128th pitch by Jimenez to end the game and preserve the no-hitter. Jimenez faced 31 batters and dominated the hill despite walking batters in each of the first five innings. The Colorado righty was a 15-game winner in 2009 and led the Rockies in strikeouts the past two seasons. Saturday he stole a memorable Mile High moment in Georgia. Carmelo Anthony may have posted a post-season career high Saturday, but Jimenez accomplished something never done in Colorado history.

Parting Points: Song of the day- Real McCoy’s “Another Night”

Renteria, Rowand Rock and Roll

The longest home opener in San Francisco history came down to a two-out 13th inning head-first slide. Aaron Rowand followed an infield single with a safe slide into first base as Juan Uribe scored from third to lift the Giants over visiting Atlanta, 5-4. Uribe walked, stole second and reached third on an error to set up Rowand’s RBI opportunity in the 13th inning. The four hour game gnawed away at San Francisco’s roster, but the Giants remain the only undefeated team in baseball at 4-0. Manager Bruce Bochy utilized his entire bullpen and bunch during the contest. The last time a Giants’ home opener went over 13 innings was against the Boston Braves. San Francisco won that 1917game 4-2. Ninety-three years later, the Giants were victorious again, and in dramatic comeback fashion.
Braves’ rookie sensation, Jason Heyward struck out four times against San Francisco pitching for his first hitless outing in the majors. The Giants’ pitchers issued nine walks and the offense did not draw one until Uribe’s key pass in the bottom of the 13th. It was all Atlanta in the early goings. The Braves totaled three runs off San Francisco starter, Jonathan Sanchez. The 27 year old former no-hit hurler fanned 6 of the 22 batters he faced. Sanchez scattered seven hits through just over four innings. The visitors scratched out two runs in the top of the third on a pair of singles. Braves’ first baseman, Troy Glaus, knocked in the first run on a smack to left and Matt Diaz’s infield shot made it 2-0 in favor of Atlanta. Thirty-two year old left fielder, Diaz collected another RBI in the top of the fifth off Sanchez. The Giants finally got on board in the seventh following a dazzling season debut from Atlanta pitcher, Tim Hudson. Edgar Renteria’s base hit in the fourth marked the first baserunner for San Francsico. Hudson’s 77 pitch outing was impressive. He went seven innings and allowed three hits and two runs. The runs came off the bats Pablo Sandoval and first year Giant, Aubrey Huff. Rowand singled to lead off the frame, and Renteria’s double put two on base with no outs. Sandoval’s ground out sent Rowand home. Renteria scored the second Giants run on a Huff groundout.
Heyward walked on four pitches in the top of the eighth inning with Dan Runzler on the hill for the Giants. Waldis Joaquin threw a wild pitch and Runzler issued a pair of walks in unproductive relief roles for Bochy’s pen. Runzler’s base-on-balls to David Ross provided an RBI for the Atlanta catcher. Glaus scored on the walk to give the Braves a 4-2 edge. The San Francisco bullpen salvaged the inning but not before Runzler finished with three walks. Billy Wagner was sent in to record the save for the Braves in the bottom of the ninth. Wagner, the famed former closer for Philadelphia and New York, gave up a leadoff double to Eugenio Velez. He followed up the extra base hit by striking out Rowand for the first out. Renteria socked a slider to the fences off the new Atlanta closer, good for two runs and a tie game. Renteria is hitting .388 with three multihit games so far this season.
San Francisco closer, Brian Wilson, sent the Braves down in order during the 10th. The Giants managed one hit off Atlanta reliever, Eric O’Flaherty in their half of the 10th. Wilson struggled as the Braves threatened to score in the 11th. He loaded the bases before Sergio Romo was summoned from the bullpen. Romo got Glaus to flyout to end the inning and escape the jam. Sandoval slugged a single to start the 12th for San Francisco. He reached third on a sacrifice by Andres Torres but the Giants wouldn’t convert off Kris Medlen until the next frame. Brian McCann was charged with the significant throwing error in the bottom of the 13th. It was one of four errors during the epic opening game of the series that concluded with a rolling Rowand sliding and uncontested Uribe scoring. Jeremy Affeldt earned his second win of the season for the Giants. Braves manager, Bobby Cox, was ejected for arguing a call during the 13th. It was the record 154th time Cox has been thrown out of game. The seething skipper departed just before Medlen served up the game-winning stroke.

Parting Points: Song of the day- “If You Could Only See” by Tonic

Chipping & Chopping Choices

The Atlanta Braves were the first team to do considerable chopping and chipping as the baseball trade deadline approaches. The AB’s said C-ya to legendary and future Hall of Fame ace, Tom Glavine this week. The Braves ingloriously dumped the expendable 305 game winner and completed a trade for established All-Star center-fielder, Nate McLouth. Pittsburgh parted with the 27 year old homegrown player in yet another head-scratching organizational move. The Pirates acquired outfielder Gorkys Hernandez and pitchers, Jeff Locke and Charlie Morton, in exchange. Hernandez is a speedy youngster but the Braves were not pleased with his disappointing numbers and plate discipline. Morton’s value is very low for a mid-range prospect, and Locke has a high ERA for his ten minor league starts. The bottom line is the Braves are geared up for battle. The Pirates clearly are trimming payroll again and the fans’ frustrations are well-documented. Fans are fed up with the dire attempts to pass the Pirates off as a real team. The loss of their best player does nothing to lessen the blow of another seemingly lost and forgotten season of Pittsburgh baseball.
The Braves, on the other hand, still believe they can contend in the close NL East race. Atlanta has only hit 10 homeruns in 51 games. They lack offensive production, but have the blueprint to contend and cause the Mets and Phillies to be cautious. McLouth is a huge boost for the offense and will replace a struggling rookie, Jordan Schafer. Schafer proved he was not a major-league ready everyday outfielder with his strikeout frequency. McLouth gives Atlanta a legitimate and intriguing run-producer guaranteed for the next several seasons. The McLouth trade was a terrific decision but perhaps the Braves could have treated Glavine better. I think the Braves will miss the finesse pitcher in the rotation. Tom provided a veteran professional presence and experience in big games. The 43 year old seemed surprise by his release after bringing to Braves to stardom throughout his career.
Atlanta’s starting rotation is not great, but the pitchers are effective enough. They haven’t received much run support outside the amicable Chipper Jones, Garret Anderson and Brian McCann. McLouth is hitting .256 with nine homeruns and 34 RBIs this year. He fills several needs for the Braves and does not command an outrageous contract. McLouth made the All-Star team in 2008, won a Gold Glove and has been tearing up the base paths with stolen bags. The pitchers will sincerely appreciate the addition in Atlanta. As the Braves waved goodbye to their iconic pitcher Glavine, they prepared to introduce another Tommy: phenom sensation, Tommy Hanson. Hanson is the Braves’ top prospect and Atlanta is ready for his era to commence. The rookie has been dominating Triple-A, going 3-3 with a 1.49 ERA. He compiled 90 strikeouts in 66 innings of work for the Gwinnett club. Sunday is promotion day for Hanson. The Braves’ talented Tommy takes the ball for his debut at home against the Milwaukee Brewers. Kris Medlen moves to the bullpen to make room for the new fifth starter.
The Braves won 14 straight NL East titles before missing the playoffs for the first time in 2006. I doubt this is the year they return to the post-season, especially after last night’s shutout loss to the Brew-crew. They thunderously thumped the Tomahawks last night. First place, NL leading Milwaukee benefited from a combined effort by Yovani Gallardo and Carlos Villanueva to best the Braves, 4-0 on Friday. Villanueva was perfect in the ninth inning to complete the shutout start by Gallardo. Gallardo picked up his sixth win and gave only two hits in a scoreless eight frames. He did not allow a base runner past second base while tossing 110 pitches. I am not entirely sure I agree with removing the right-hander after the way he was pitching. There is no reason he could not complete the game but Ken Macha resisted the thought of leaving the 23 year old in the game. Gallardo walked four and struck out six in the series opener at Turner Field.
Braves starter, Jair Jurrjens, suffered the troublesome loss. The Braves dropped to 5 ½ back of first place Philadelphia and endure their sixth shutout defeat of 2009. Atlanta couldn’t hit their way out of a paper bag last night. The offense mustered a season-low two hits. Murky fielding by shortstop Yunel Escobar compounded the home team’s woes. Escobar made two costly fielding mistakes in the same inning. Jurrjens is 5-3 but has now allowed nine earned runs over his past two starts. He did not allow more than two earned in his first eight starts. Jurrjens gave up four runs in seven innings last night. He was still able to strike out eight Brewers while issuing three passes. Jair’s ERA is still under 3 and the pitcher has a great arm. This was his first loss since April 27th in St. Louis. Don’t turn your head on this underrated hurler.
The Braves are losers of seven of their last ten games against the Brewers. Milwaukee made sure they made it seven with a breakout game from rookie , Mat Gamel. Bill Hal was set down because of his .211 batting average but entered the game as a defensive replacement for Macha. The Brewers started the scoring in the fourth with Gamel’s two run double off Jurrjens. The maladies did not end there. Milwaukee added another pair of runs in the fifth. Escobar’s throwing error on a Ryan Braun infield hit allowed the runners to advance. Plump Prince Fielder was intentionally walked and Jurrjens was never able to get him out last night. Fielder went 2 for 2 with two walks. Mike Cameron got on board with a fielder’s choice due to Escobar’s bobbled ground ball potential putout. One run scored on the sloppy play and Gamel’s single drove in the second for the Brewers’ final run.
The Braves did nothing to trim the lead in the ensuing innings. The highly-regarded McLouth made his debut an unmemorable one. He grounded out three times and popped out once. Atlanta left runners in scoring position in three innings and Gallardo squandered the few Tomahawk scoring opportunities. McCann and Anderson drew consecutive walks with two outs in the fourth. McCann also hit a leadoff double in the seventh. Both chances were not capitalized on, and neither was turned into a run. Jeff Francoeur flied out in the fourth and struck out in the seventh against the dominating pitcher. Gallardo shutdown the Braves offense with unbelievable breaking stuff and stifling fastballs. Atlanta second baseman, Kelly Johnson, came into Friday’s game with 10 extra base-hits in 10 games. He had an 0-for-3 night, with one walk. Martin Prado socked the only other Atlanta extra base hit, a double in the third inning. The Braves bullpen produced positive results. Relief pitching is always a link to winning teams. Eric O’Flaherty and Manny Acosta each pitched scoreless innings of relief on Friday. The Braves are set up to finish games if only they could spark the offense to score some runs. McLouth should start driving in runners because he’s already familiar with NL pitching. He had a busy night in the outfield and looked good defensively in his debut. Nate hit third in the order and while he doesn’t hit for a high average, is a steady and improving power bat. His career-high batting average is only .276 but he clubbed 26 homers. McLouth has 100 RBI capabilities but has yet to top triple digits in his short career. He joins the supporting cast in Atlanta coming off last season’s 94 RBI season, his highest to date.
Hanson and McLouth move the Braves closer to a pennant race. Atlanta is at least trying to stay in it with the front office moves. Both players make the Braves better, but not significantly. Hanson’s talent and McLouth’s incalculable intangibles allow Atlanta to remain competitive for the duration of the season. The Atlanta attack comes at just the right time too. Hanson will need time to get acclimated to the major leagues. McLouth will succeed if he can hit his stride and get in a groove. The Braves were players in the off-season when they acquired highly-touted playoff performer, pitcher Derek Lowe. General manager, Frank Wren, also boosted his pitching staff with the trade for Javier Vazquez. They were rumored to be inquiring about Jake Peavy, A.J. Burnett and Ken Griffey, Jr. None are wearing Braves uniforms but the team has been okay without them. Atlanta may not be done dealing yet. The organization observably has a sense of urgency, although the moves have been calculated. The trade deadline is more than one month away and the Braves have interest in Brad Penny and Mark DeRosa. The team is working hard and spending liberally to try their hand in the NL’s toughest division. Atlanta accumulations will affect whether or not they can seep back into playoff hunt. The Braves are simply settling the score and maximizing their chances for success. Their farm system is stocked with blue-chip prospects and they are not afraid to shell out cash, chop or shop. But if the Braves want to be a part of this October’s fun, they will have to do more than play out of bounds. The team has to start tampering in-bounds.

Parting Points: Susurrously listening to The Strokes