Chopping Network: Braves drop another game behind Mets

September 21, 2009

Chipper Jones spoke aloud what was on the minds of everyone in the Braves locker room. "This is not the time to lose a series to anybody. It is not the time to break even for the week."

After the Braves lost the series (1-2) to the front running Mets and evened the week out by taking 2 of 3 from the Phillies, Jones told the media that just winning a series will probably not be enough as the Braves prepare to face the Mets again in New York.

"They've (the Mets) got a six and a half game lead. We've got to take a big bite out of that and we can't do that unless we sweep."

"The Mets are playing really good baseball right now," Jones observed. "We can't count on other teams to put them into a tailspin. We've got to take care of business in New York and do the same for every other game we have left."

"We'll take 'em one game at a time," said Manager Bobby Cox. "That's all we can do. Just focus on what we need to do today to win the game."

Braves send Vazquez to Texas for Gonzalez, Main

Monday, June 28th, 2010 - The Texas Rangers traded 32-year-old reliever Mike Gonzalez and 21-year-old minor league starting pitcher Michael Main (pictured above) to the Atlanta Braves, getting 33-year-old starting pitcher Javier Vazquez in return. Braves GM Jobo Foster said the trade was made to bloster the bullpen with the reaquisition of Gonzalez, to make some financial room and to open a spot in the rotation for southpaw Aaron Poreda who, Foster says, has earned a shot with Atlanta. It is rumored that veteran starting pitcher Tim Hudson may be on his way out of the rotation if his performance does not show marked improvement.