Results tagged ‘ National League ’

A Very Good Weekend

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The Braves had a very good weekend.  In fact, they have had a very good week or so.  With a 5 game win streak going into Philly and taking 2 of 3 over the weekend, they are having a very good run.
The Braves went into Philly with a 5 game win streak after downing the Brewers in convincing fashion.  They went into Philly, a place where a playoff atmosphere for Braves/Phillies games is the norm.  They went in with the Phillies holding the lead in the NL East.  
The Phillies still hold the top spot, but the Braves are now only 3.5 games back and are really starting to feel the momentum that winning brings.  The pitcher’s duels in Philly were some of the best of the year.  Derek Lowe flirting with a no hitter.  Cliff Lee striking out 16 and the Phillies still losing.  Homeruns flying out to win games.  It was a weekend to remember.
The Braves are now 20-16 and are 7-3 for their last 10 games.  They are really on a nice roll and have the struggling Nationals for three games and then it’s the Phillies all over again this weekend.  This time in Atlanta.  The Phillies get to face the 2nd place Marlins before heading to Turner Field.
The weekend is sure to include some more exciting pitching duels, some more big hits.  Another thing the weekend will feature in Atlanta is the Civil Rights Game weekend.  The weekend will be filled with observations, history, and celebration.  Braves great Hank Aaron will be on hand for the festivities along with many others.  The Sunday Civil Rights Game will have the Phillies and Braves in 1974 throwback uniforms.  The very same year Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s homerun record on April 8th.
The games will be exciting.  The history will be palpable.  The celebration will be something to remember forever.  The Braves are on a roll and what better weekend and what better opponent could they have.  I’ve got a great feeling about the Braves right now and this weekend is sure to be something to see.  I hope that it’s another very good weekend.

Braves Worries

Chipper1.jpgThe Braves started 2011 on a hot streak.  They looked like they were going to be the team to beat.  Now, they find themselves just 1.5 games ahead of the Mets who are in last place in the NL East.  

The Braves have had a lot of close games.  Those 1 run losses that have plagued both the team and their fans for years now.  The almost wins.  The team has had a lot less run production, outside of the 10 they put on the Dodgers, than what would have been expected with their great lineup.  
The pitching has been serviceable.  But the bullpen has gotten very worn down.  Moylan on the DL, Venters on rest.  Calling up Cory Gearrin from AAA to rest the bullpen even more.  Using Martinez three days in a row.  It’s been very taking on the pen for the Braves so far this season.
The team has had some great wins, but it is the losses that stick out most.  The extra inning loss, the 1 run losses.  They have a 9 and 12 record on the season and are 4-6 over their last 10 games.  A long road trip out West has also taken its toll.  
Chipper Jones is experiencing a sharp pain in his right knee, not the surgically repaired left knee.  A pain he admits he has had for the past 10 days or so.  A pain that may keep him out of the Saturday game versus the Giants and Tim Lincecum.  Chipper has been an offensive catalyst for the Braves and they would miss him greatly if he has to miss any time.  Continuing to play on a hurt knee though is just asking for an even longer stretch of lost time if he should injure it even more.
The Braves face off with the Giants on Saturday afternoon with the Tim vs Tim show on the mound.  Lincecum versus Hudson.  Lincecum is throwing hot and has a 1.67 coming into today’s game.  Hudson has performed well, but has struggled in the early innings of his starts.  If the Braves are without Chipper today, runs may be at a real premium and a shaky first few innings from Hudson could prove detrimental.
After last night’s win versus the Giants, the Braves need to continue that in today’s game.  That, however, may be easier said than done.

Winning x2

jurrjens.jpgThe Braves got off the losing side of the ball and back to the winning side by taking the doubleheader from the Mets on Saturday helped by the return of Jair Jurrjens and Hinske finally hitting the ball.

Jurrjens went seven strong innings and Hinske contributed three hits to help the Braves sweep the doubleheader from the Mets taking the second game 4-0.  The Braves took the first game of the doubleheader 4-2 behind Derek Lowe and some nice run production from the middle of the lineup.  
The Braves are now at 7-8 on the season but sitting three games back of the Phillies in the East.  The Braves get the Mets again today with Hanson on the mound.  Tommy hopes to continue his mastery of the Mets.  He is 3-1 with a 1.76 ERA holding the Mets David Wright to 1 for 13 against him and Carlos Beltran hitless in eight at bats.
Chipper Jones is scheduled to sit out of Sunday’s game versus the Mets to give him some rest after the back to back games on Saturday.  The Braves put Peter Moylan on the DL with a lower back strain.  They had been trying to give him a few days rest between outings in hopes of avoiding the DL, but it was not getting any better.  
The Braves head to the left coast on Monday to start a series with the Dodgers.  On Friday, they will head to face the defending world champion Giants.  A long road stretch for the team and hopefully they can get some wins to get closer to the top of the NL East.

Braves Feeling Chipper

Chipper1.jpgThe Atlanta Braves are feeling quite chipper these days.  Both happy and also happy for the Chipper.  The Braves beat their arch rival Phillies and Cliff Lee on Friday night at home and Chipper Jones got his 2500th career hit.

The Braves played well versus the Phillies and Cliff Lee.  In fact, they played so well that Lee exited the game in the 4th inning giving up 6 runs.  Lee had been struggling, for him anyway, with a lot of 3-2 counts and getting his pitch count a lot higher up than usual.  The Braves came roaring back thanks to an outstanding hit and muffed play near the outfield wall.  Lee left the game shortly thereafter.

The Braves went on to win the game but not before Larry “Chipper” Jones got his 2500th career hit in front of an enthusiastic home crowd in Atlanta that included former Braves skipper Bobby Cox.  It was quite a night at the Ted for the Braves and their fans and most are looking forward to even more.

Chipper is three doubles shy of 500, three RBIs shy of 1,500 and 30 extra-base hits shy of 1,000. Only 33 players in history have accumulated 1,000 extra-base hits, and only 34 players have scored at least 1,500 runs (Jones has 1,507) and collected at least 1,500 RBIs.  Chipper became the 93rd player in history with 2,500 hits, and the ninth switch-hitter to reach the milestone.

The Braves have two more games this weekend with the Phillies facing Roy Oswalt Saturday and the struggling Cole Hamels on Sunday.  Chipper may yet add even more to his career numbers stats over the weekend and if the Braves win the next two, the team and fans will have a lot to feel chipper about indeed.

Now That Was A Great Opening Day

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The Atlanta Braves opened 2011 with a win and that is always a great way to start the year.  The pitching looked good.  Jason Heyward hit a homerun.  Chipper Jones looked like a kid again.  The players who are actually kids played well.  All in all, that was a great Opening Day.

Derek Lowe pitched 5.2 innings with 3 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks and 6 strikeouts.  He did throw 105 pitches and he did find himself in many a 3-2 count on the game, but overall he performed extremely well.  The Braves pen of O’Flaherty, Moylan and Venters allowed only 2 hits and 0 runs.  Closer Kimbrel had 2 strikeouts and allowed no hits to end the game for the Braves.
Jason Heyward hit a homerun for the second Opening Day in as many years.  His homerun along with Brian McCann’s RBI bringing Chipper across home plate added up to the Braves 2 runs on the day that were enough to win.  Chipper had 2 hits on the day including a double to set up one of the Braves two runs.  
The Braves had 5 hits and 5 strikeouts on the day.  A total of 7 men were LOB.  It was a great way to start the 2011 season.  Game 1 of 162 was outstanding for the Braves.

Ready For Opening Day

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The Braves seem ready for Opening Day tomorrow.  After last night with the come from behind 10th inning walk off homer, they have made sure I am ready as well.  
The team is looking so balanced to start the season.  A mixture of veterans and rookies.  A mixture of power and precision.  Most everyone healthy and ready to go.  The start of the 2011 season is upon us and the Braves look prepared to meet it.
If you take a look at the Spring Training stats, you will see that many of the team had some really outstanding Spring numbers.  Chipper is playing more like he’s 28 than 38.  He still carries close to a .400 batting average headed into the regular season.  Players like Gonzalez, Prado and newcomer Freeman have all had outstanding springs at the plate.
The pitching also looks great to start the season. Lowe, Hudson, Hanson, Beachy have all looked great.  Venters is throwing outstanding and the rest of the pen looked very good last night versus the Twins.  Most of the preseason talk has centered on the Phillies rotation, but the Braves rotation is nothing to sleep on.
The Braves will open the season on Thursday afternoon versus the Nationals.  Derek Lowe will go for the Braves and the Nationals will throw Livan Hernandez.  It will be a great opener to see a team that the Braves will play many times during the season and in the same division.  
The time is almost here and the Braves are ready for Opening Day – are you??

Braves To Retire Cox’s Number and Updates

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The Atlanta Braves will retire former skipper Bobby Cox’s No. 6 jersey number and also induct him into the Braves Hall of Fame.  The ceremony will take place on August 12.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place that afternoon at a luncheon and the number will be retired that evening in an on-field ceremony before the game versus the Cubs.  Cox will be eighth member of the Braves organization to have his number retired.  Previous members are Hank Aaron (44), Eddie Mathews (41), Warren Spahn (21), Phil Niekro (35), Dale Murphy (3), Greg Maddux (31) and Tom Glavine (47).

Bobby Cox retired in October 2010 with 2,504 wins, the fourth-most in Major League history. The 69-year-old skipper spent 25 of his 29 managerial seasons with the Braves. While serving as the club’s general manager from 1986-90, he reshaped the Minor League system that has yielded benefits for the past 20 years.

This year is the 20th anniversary of Cox leading the 1991 team to the first of 14 consecutive division titles and to within one victory of winning a World Series against the Twins. Under his direction, the Braves won five National League pennants and one World Series (1995).

Updates – The Braves are looking to move Kawakami and the bulk of his owed 6.67 million to another team.

The team is looking as of right now that it will go with a two-closer rotation with both Venters and Kimbrel sharing the work load.

Chipper Jones continues to have a very hot spring and is thrilled with his progress to this point as are the Braves.  He has a .420 batting average this spring so far.  Hudson, Hanson, Beachy and Lowe are all carrying spring training ERAs of less than 2.

The Braves are 14-9 in spring training so far.  They have 8 games left in spring training being off today, Tuesday March 22.

Luis Salazar and Braves Updates

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In an update on Braves minor league manager, Luis Salazar, who was hit with a foul ball last week, had to have his left eye removed on Wednesday.  The good news though is that Salazar should be released from the hospital any time and it is hoped he will be back to managing in about four to six weeks.

Doctors at Orlando Regional Medical Center had been trying to hold out hope for a few days that Salazar’s left eye could be saved, but on Wednesday it became apparent that was not the case.  The doctors then performed surgery to remove the left eye.  Doctors are very happy that Salazar did not suffer any brain damage as a result of his injuries.

Salazar has reportedly kept his spirits high during the past week enduring several surgeries over the course of his hospital stay.  He has said that he is ready to get back to managing as soon as possible.  Doctors hope to be able to release him from the hospital by today at the latest.  He will return to the hospital next week for a check up.  Salazar may return to the Braves’ spring training complex as early as next week to watch some of the games.   Salazar hopes to be back managing the Braves’ minor league team, the Lynchburg Hillcats, in about four to six weeks.

In other Braves news, Derek Lowe, coming off an outstanding showing in spring training will be the opening day starter versus the Nationals on March 31.  This is Lowe’s third consecutive opening day start for the Braves.  Jason Heyward has missed 4 straight spring training games due to back soreness. It is hoped that he may return to the lineup Thursday night versus the Nationals.  The Braves remain on top of the Grapefruit League spring standings with a record of 12 and 6.  Tim Hudson is scheduled to go for the Braves on Thursday night versus the Nationals.

Joboo Loves Me

Over the past few weeks I have considered making a sacrifice to the baseball gods so that the Braves could win.  There were times I was convinced that it was the only way they would.  Maybe just wanting to make a sacrifice was enough.

The Braves finally pulled it out at the last minute and secured a post season spot.  I honestly thought they wouldn’t do it.  The Padres had already taken 2 games from the Giants and the Braves had looked just terrible against the Phillies.  But hope springs eternal.

The Braves behind Tim Hudson were up 7-2 in the 7th inning of the game.  I thought, wow, they just might do it and lo and behold the Braves I know and love reappeared.  The Phillies pulled to within 1 run.  I was sure that this would turn out the way so many Braves games do with them losing by 1 run in the last inning.  Fortunately, that was not the case, this time.

The Braves are now in the post season.  I relish this as much as possible because based on their play in September, a long stay in the playoffs may not be in the cards.  The Braves have to face the Giants in San Francisco starting Thursday.  The Giants are on a roll and fresh off their very exciting come back to down the Padres rally.  These games will not be easy and the Braves will have to play mistake free baseball to advance.

So, while I am thankful to the baseball gods that the Braves made the post season, I am not so naive to think that they are playing the kind of baseball that wins championships.They are going to need all the help they can get – looks like I will be paying another visit to Joboo and soon.

Ulcer Central

Well this is it.  The week where I grow a new ulcer.  I can feel it starting as we speak.  Stomach churning, acid burning.  The week where my team’s fate could be determined.  I hope I make it through.

The first of two series between the Phillies and Braves begins today. Three games that could determine the Braves fate.  Three games that could do me in.  The Phillies and Braves are both coming off series wins this weekend. Both teams are playing well.  The games are in Philly – not a good thing for the Braves who are much better at home.  The Phillies are 9-1 for their last 10 having won 7 in a row.  The Braves are 6-4 and have won 3 in a row.

Today’s pitchers are Jurrjens for the Braves with a 7-6 record and Hamels for the Phillies with an 11-10 record.  The Braves pitching was very good over the weekend.  But so was the Phillies.  Tomorrow it’s Minor for the Braves vs Halladay for the Phillies.  On Wednesday, it’s Hanson for the Braves vs Oswalt for the Phillies.

The hitting is coming around for the Braves, especially Derek Lee who had a towering second deck multi-run bomb against the Mets.  Of course, the Phillies got a similar contribution from their bomber Jayson Werth aka Grizzzly Adams younger brother.  Both teams are working on all cylinders.

The Braves will need everything they’ve got to win this series.  After this one, the Braves have the Nationals, the Marlins, and the last weekend of the season they get to face the Phillies again.  For now, one series at a time.  The time is now and it’s most definitely ulcer central.

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