Incremental Improvement in Braves' Pen

August 3, 2009 -Atlanta, GA

One of the big question marks at the beginning of the year about this 2009 edition of the Atlanta Braves was the bullpen. Could they improve over the 2008 pen, which was racked with injuries and riddled with inconsistant outings which let a number of wins slip away in late innings?

The answer seems be "Not really...but..."

Not Really.....Injury to set-up man Mike Gonzalez landed him on the DL with the earliest possible return date in mid-September. Closer Rafael Soriano has between alternating between brilliant, so-so, and just awful to the point that Bobby Cox has little qualms about pulling him if he shows signs of an unsteady performance. The same is true about Blaine Boyer, who has been relegated to mostly mop-up duty. Buddy Carlyle (recently shipped to Washinton), Jeff Bennent, Boone Logan, and Jorge Campillo have all had turns in the Braves bullpen, but, because poor performances, were optioned down to Gwinnett (AAA) .

But...Performances of acquisitions Brian Moeller (3.81), Brian Bass (3.15), Danny Herrera (3.38), Justin Mallett (2.16) and set-up man Peter Moylan (3.42) have raised the bullpen's ERA ranking from dead-last in the NL to 9th (4.36).

Whether Soriano can stop his alternating pattern (ERA for April-7.54, May-0.00, June-5.93, July-1.59) and the incremental improvement in the rest of the pen will be enough the raise the Braves into the playoffs remains to be seen. Another factor to watch would be some improvement in how deep into the game the Braves' starters can go. Also, can the Braves' surprisingly strong offense keep up their league leading pace?

Well, hang on... it's time for the stretch run where it will all shake out.

Braves rush two trades before deadline

July 27, 2009- Atlanta, GA

A lot of big names and blockbuster trades dotted the GABA landscape as wheeling and dealing escalated in the week prior to the trading deadline.

Though they did not make some of those transactions with marquee names, the Atlanta Braves were none-the-less busy during the trading frenzy. General Manager Jobo Foster, leaning heavily on the reports from Braves' scouting, closed two deals that cost two familiar faces and brought in two excellent prospects to bolster the Braves' future.

Deal One: RP Buddy Carlyle (pictured below left), age 31, sent to the Washington Nationals for CF Stephen Englund (pictured above left), age 21.

Carlyle had struggled in Atlanta (4-1, 0 Saves, 5.40 ERA, 34 K in 36.1 IP) earlier this year and has been optioned to AAA affiliate Gwinnett, where he has seemed to get back on track (0-0, 2 Saves, 2.93 ERA, 19 K in 15.1 IP). Braves Scouting Director Roy Benson still considers Carlyle a quality arm coming out of the pen.

"Buddy is just a steady, come-to-work everyday, do his job without flash or frills kind of guy," Benson said. "He can still get it done. Especially so after his stint at AAA. He'd gotten in a bad habit of trying to overthrow and GABA hitters were slamming him. But he's corrected that in the International League; I think he'll do really good for Washington."

So why let him go?

"We had a chance to pick up what, I think, is a top outfield prospect that in a few years is going to be knocking the cover off the ball," Benson predicted. "I know he struggled at Hagerstown, hitting lees than a buck-seventy; but, Stephen Englund makes good, solid contact at bat. He's got great power potential, a true cleanup hitter in the making. He's also very patient at the plate; he'll work the count on a pitcher. His defense is about average, but he has a solid combination of speed and acceleration. I can see him one day taking his place in our starting lineup."

Englund has been assigned to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (A) and will report there this afternoon.

Deal Tw0: 3B Martin Prado (pictured below right), age 25 sent to the Florida Marlins for 3B Eric Campbell (pictured right), age 23.

Earlier this year Florida GM Sam East tried to acquire Prado (who has a .307 batting average in 130 games in the bigs) and couldn't get him because the Braves saw him as an insurance policy should either Chipper Jones or Kelly Johnson go down with injuries. But, since they have stayed healthy, he has languished all season in AAA. Foster has said that Prado would not have been optioned to Gwinnett if the Braves did not feel it was necessary to carry 12 on their pitching staff.

Campbell was also with the Braves in spring training this year and was put on waivers & designated for assignment, taking him off the 40 man roster to make room for Nate McLouth who was acquired just before opening day. But, the Marlins spotted him on waivers and claimed him.

"My predecessor (Roy Clark, fired at the beginning of the season) was not very impressed with Eric," said Benson. "He considered him expendable; so based on his report the Braves waived him." (This reporter recalls seeing Bobby Cox livid over the loss of Campbell.)

Benson continued, but I've always been high on Eric. I believe he could be a dangerous, record breaking hitter as a successor to Chipper at third. Oh yeah, he's strong...if he can reach it, he can put it out of the park. He'll hit for average and he'll work a pitcher in every at bat. He's gonna be something special."

Campbell has been optioned to the Gwinnett Braves (AAA) and Benson believes he will be called up in September.

BNN news items

http://www.anpabaseball.com//gaba/news/html/leagues/league_100_news_2951.html

http://www.anpabaseball.com//gaba/news/html/leagues/league_100_news_2955.html

Hudson works hard to return in early August

July 20, 2009- Atlanta, GA

Tim Hudson has been on the shelf long enough and he's itching to return to the mound for Atlanta. Since his injury shortened season of 2008 and his subsequent surgery, Hudson has been following a rigorous therapy program to get back into the Braves starting rotation.

"I'm not very good at this being patient thing," Hudson told reporters who caught up with him as he finished his workout at a local gym. "Mentally, I'm ready to go right now. Physically, I may be close to 90% ready."

Hudson indicated he felt he could be ready to pitch in Atlanta by the first week in August. "If my doctors give me the O.K. next week, then it'll be up to Jobo (Foster, Braves GM) and Bobby (Cox, Braves manager) when I'm activated and where we go from there."

It would welcome news for Braves fans if Hudson could return anywhere close to his form to aid in the Braves' stretch drive.

Even so, as the trading deadline is just a little over a week away, Atlanta's front office is known to be looking around for more help either in the pen or the starting rotation. Rumors swirl they were close to a deal for Rich Harden before the Cubs dealt him to San Francisco. Sources say the talks stalled when the Braves would not add Jair Jurrjens to the deal. Foster, it is said, felt it would not have been a financially sound deal for Atlanta, while Cox objected to giving up Jurrjens because he sees even greater development ahead for his 23 year old hurler.

Whether or not they add another arm, you get the idea they are counting heavily on the return of Tim Hudson.

Braves, Mets split 4 games

Coming out of the All Star break the Braves lined up against the East Division leading New York Mets with a chance to take a bite out of the 4.5 game lead the Mets held on them. When the dust settled and the Mets left town, the 4.5 game gap was still there.

Atlanta and New York split the series with alternating wins. The Mets took the first game 10-9, winning in the ninth on an unearned run driven in by a Luis Castillo single off Peter Moylan. The Braves got in a hole (6-2) quickly as Derek Lowe didn't make it through the third inning. They came back to tie the score twice (7-7 and 9-9) before Kelly Johnson's misplay of Carlos Delgado's grounder opened the door in the ninth for the Mets win.

Game 2 of the set saw Chipper Jones slap two homeruns and Jordan Schafer (above) add another to support Jair Jurrjens' 6 hit, complete game, 5-1 victory over the Mets. Jurrjens (9-7) continues to give A+ outings for the Atlanta nine.

New York rode the coattails of Oliver Perez (10-5) to a 5-0 triumph in the third game. A close 1-0 game for 7 innings, the Mets broke it open scoring 4 runs in the last two frames, which wasted an excellent 7 inning, 4 hit, 0 ER performance by Javier Vazquez (5-7)

The Braves took the final game, 6-5, on a "walk off wild pitch" by Francisco Rodriquez, allowing Yunel Escobar to score from third. Nate McLouth, Jones and Schafer drove in the other 5 runs, all with clutch two out hits.

Coming up next, the Braves host the extremes: the Giants, who have nearly the worst record in the GABA and Brewers, who have the best record.

Braves-Mets box scores
http://www.anpabaseball.com/gaba/news/html/box_scores/game_box_1909.html
http://www.anpabaseball.com/gaba/news/html/box_scores/game_box_1920.html
http://www.anpabaseball.com/gaba/news/html/box_scores/game_box_1932.html
http://www.anpabaseball.com/gaba/news/html/box_scores/game_box_1956.html

Jurrjens red hot week before All Star break

One of the few bright spots among Braves' pitchers in the week of games leading up to the All Star break was the work done by Jair Jurrjens.

In two games on the road (against the Cubs and the Rockies), Jurrjens delivered two high quality starts for a starting staff that has struggled to be more than just average for most of the season.

His work for the week (15.1 IP, 9 Hts, 2 ER, 14 K, 3 BB, 1.17 ERA) brought his win total to 8 and lowered his season ERA to 4.10. Manager Bobby Cox could not be more pleased with his number 2 starter.

"You almost hate to take a break when a guy like Jair is on fire like he is," Cox remarked after the series in Colorado. "You know, his pitching, Chipper's 27 game hit streak, Kotchman also had a big week with those homeruns....makes you want to keep playing. But, we do need the rest and the time to regroup a little...to get ready for the second half run."

The Braves are counting on Jurrjens and the other starters to turn it up a notch for their hopes to overtake the Mets and reach the top of the NL East. The four game series with New York immediately after the break could set the tone for the remainder of the year.

"It's obviously not do or die, "Cox continued, "but, a good series by our starters and pen against those powerful Mets' bats will go a long way in firing up our team and our fans for the run."

Box Scores

http://www.anpabaseball.com//gaba/news/html/box_scores/game_box_1825.html

http://www.anpabaseball.com//gaba/news/html/box_scores/game_box_1900.html

Braves' Game of the Week (July 4, 2009)

Vazquez goes the distance in Braves 9-1 win over Nationals

Saturday, July 4, 2009- Washington D.C.

All the fireworks came out of the visitor's dugout, according to Braves' manager Bobby Cox, because Javier Vazquez took the mound ready to pitch.

"Javy was focused out there today," Cox said. "He was hitting his spots. Really, a great outing...the kind of thing he's capable of doing when he's at his best."

As a result, Vazquez gave the weary Atlanta bullpen an Independence Day holiday with his complete game 9-1 victory over the Nationals. Limiting the Nats to three hits, one run and registering five strikeouts, Vazquez (5-6) put on a highly impressive, 97 pitch performance.

"Yeah, he had great command of all his pitches, especially his curveball," added his battery-mate Brian McCann. "He kept them off balance all day."

Braves bats erupted for 9 runs on 11 hits and 3 walks after a few relatively quiet days. "We've just been missing some clutch hits for a few games," said Chipper Jones who hammered his 12th homer in the seventh off Ryan Wagner. "As a team we got more timely hitting today. That always makes a difference."

The Braves' clubhouse was in a celebratory mood. "Hey," called out Brian Bass, "Let's all go out and get an RC Cola and a weenie!" After getting the translation of "weenie," even Kenshin Kawakami was ready for a chili dog to cap off the Fourth.

Box Score http://www.anpabaseball.com/gaba/news/html/box_scores/game_box_1787.html

Lowe, McLouth lead Atlanta into playoff hunt

Monday, June 29, 2009

When Derek Lowe signed his 4 year $60 million deal with Atlanta last January, he was already looking ahead to October. Upon signing with the Braves he mused, "They've missed out the last few years; but, I really want to do my part to get the Braves back into the playoffs".

After his first 16 starts Lowe certainly is doing his part, sporting a 7-4 record with a solid 3.14 ERA. His start last Saturday, June 27, (7 IP, 5 hits, 1 ER, 4 K, 3 BB) against his old team, the Red Sox, was characteristic of the gritty performances Braves manager Bobby Cox has come to expect of his ace.

"Derek really knows how to battle," Cox said. "He'll give up a few hits, a walk or two here and there; but, he saves a little something to get out of a jam. He's one intelligent pitcher, I'll tell you."

Even so, Cox has to be concerned about his relievers. After the disastrous ninth inning last Tuesday against the Yankees when they managed to blow a 3-1 lead into an 8-3 loss, they nearly let Lowe's win against the Red Sox get away by giving up a 3 run homer in the ninth to make it a very tight 5-4 victory. It was eerily reminiscent of the opening day 9 run collapse in the ninth against the Phillies.

"Yes, it was," Cox admitted. "We certainly are going to need better work coming out of the pen. Soriano's capable of much better and so are the rest of our guys."

Not only is Lowe holding up his part, Nate McLouth, who came over from Pittsburgh the day before the season started, is proving to be a great team player who has sparked the Atlanta offense. McLouth said upon arriving in Atlanta that he would prefer to hit more in the middle of the lineup, to be an RBI man. But he acknowledged, "I know that we've got Chipper (Jones) and (Brian) McCann sitting at 3 and 4 in our order. Bobby says he needs me to lead off; so I'll just do my best there to get us where we all want to be."

And he's certainly done that; in 73 games he's hitting .320 with 27 2Bs, 8 HRs, 46 RBIs, 64 Runs and a .515 SLG PCT... all this out of the top of the order! Combining with the number two hitters (Casey Kotchman, hitting a surprising .336 and Yunell Escobar, also surprising at .334) they have been setting the table well for what is currently the most productive offense in the league.

McLouth observed "I knew when I came here we had some good hitters, but I've come to appreciate them even more playing beside them every day. Now if our starting pitching can turn it up just a notch and our reworked bullpen can pitch to their capabilities, we may be a force to reckon with in October."