Braves.Today.Com

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

Cardinals 7, Braves 2

Top of the Order: The beat goes on for the beaten-down Braves, as news broke that Tim Hudson needs Tommy John surgery and Atlanta lost its fifth straight to drop a season-worst nine games under .500.

The Good: Let’s start with the much-maligned Jeff Francoeur, who went 2-for-4 – just his second multi-hit game of an abysmal July. Frenchy also made a nice catch crashing into the wall with the bases loaded, and got a good ovation from the crowd at Turner Field – maybe Braves Nation and Frenchy can kiss and make up during the final two months. Omar Infante continues playing well while filling in for Chipper Jones, going 3-for-5. Since coming off the DL, Infante is 11-for-33. Kelly Johnson finished with two hits. Jair Jurrjens didn’t pitch poorly, giving up three runs and seven hits in seven innings. Will Ohman – who most likely will be traded before today’s 4 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline, pitched a perfect 2/3 of an inning in his final appearance as a Brave. Good luck, Will! Off the field, finally some good news on the injury front, as Tom Glavine threw well in a three-inning simulated game and, if all goes well Friday, will head to Class A Myrtle Beach to begin a rehab assignment.

The Bad: It’s likely Hudson has pitched his final game of 2008 and probably will miss most – if not all – of 2009, as two doctors have recommended Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery. A devastating blow for Huddy – one of the better right-handers in the NL – and the Braves, who now will undoubtedly have to go after a big-time starter in the offseason. After Jurrjens left with the Braves trailing by one, the bullpen did its thing in agonizing familiar fashion. Blaine Boyer’s nightmare of a July continued, as the right-hander allowed a two-run homer in 1/3 of an inning. Royce Ring allowed yet another run, the ninth run scored on Ring in his last four outings. Ouch! Julian Tavarez joined in on the fun, allowing a run as well. Casey Kotchman’s first game as a Braves: 0-for-5, including a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded to end the bottom of the eighth. Kotchman was robbed of an extra-base hit, though, and made a really nice play on a ball to his right in the ninth (in case you’re curious, Mark Teixeira went 0-for-4 with a walk in his first game with the Angels). As usual, the Braves had their chances but didn’t capitalize, leaving 14 on base. Finally, your Corky Miller update: 0-for-2, his average dropping to .093, and a passed ball thrown in for good measure. Brutal.

View from the Sports Garage: Hope you have plenty of batteries and canned food in the shelter, Braves Nation. The nuclear winter has started in earnest. Between the news about Hudson and the fact another close game got out of hand thanks to the burned-out bullpen, I just don’t know if this franchise can sink any lower than it is this morning. That’s 48 runs allowed in the past five games. Remember once upon a time, when the Braves almost never seemed to suffer a major injury to the pitching staff? Well, you can read about it in the history books, because the ol’ injury karma has come back to bite this team in the fanny like nobody’s business this season. The news on Hudson is the toughest of all to take. It’s highly possible he won’t pitch at all in 2009 – accelerated comebacks from Tommy John surgery (like Mike Gonzalez’s recovery) take 12 months. Typical time to return is 14-17 months, which takes us into next winter. Hudson has told a couple of media outlets he wants to wait a week or so before making a decision, but surgery seems unavoidable. Wow. An epic season for all the wrong reasons marches on, and there still are two months to go. Fortunately, July is nearly over. August can’t be as bad, right? Well, Chuck James probably will be promoted from Triple-A Richmond to start the first game of the month. Great.

On deck
Braves vs. Cardinals
7:10 p.m. today, Turner Field

The Skinny: Nearly four months after straining a chest muscle while warming up in the Turner Field bullpen, Mike Hampton (0-0, 13.50 ERA) is scheduled to make his first regular-season home start. Hampton didn’t pitch bad in his first appearance in nearly three years Saturday in Philadelphia. Although he gave up eight hits and six runs, he threw 55 of his 91 pitches for strikes. The Redbirds send right-hander Joel Pineiro (3-4, 4.79 ERA) to the hill. Pineiro has allowed 10 or more hits in five (yes, five) of his past six starts, and sports a 5.01 ERA in his last 10 appearances. With Adam Wainwright of St. Simons Island (coastal reference for those good people down that way in Southeast Georgia) slated to return from the DL next month, Pineiro is likely to be making his way out of the rotation soon.

Programming note: We’re getting ready for hockey season in Atlanta – yes, there is a hockey team here. I invite you to follow the Atlanta Thrashers all season long on a new blog launching today – Thrashers.Today.Com. Similar to Braves.Today.Com, Thrashers.Today.Com will feature daily blogs, game recaps and analysis, news and commentary. So lace ‘em up and skate on over to Thrashers.Today.Com. And of course, thanks as always for reading.

Bud.

—30—

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

Cardinals 8, Braves 3
(The Bye-Bye Tex Edition)

Top of the Order: The Braves officially raised the surrender flag above Turner Field, first trading Mark Teixeira to the Angels, and then losing their fourth in a row as Corky Miller’s eighth-inning throwing error allowed the eventual game-winning run to score.

The Trade: Teixeira to the Angels for first baseman Casey Kotchman (as speculated in this space Tuesday morning) and Double-A pitcher Stephen Marek.

The Good: Jorge Campillo pitched quite well yet again, allowing two runs on seven hits in seven strong innings, walking one and striking out five. Campillo threw 100 pitches, 71 for strikes, and featured real good control all night. Gregor Blanco certainly did his job at the plate: 4-for-4 with a walk and an RBI. Greg Norton, starting at first base, had two hits and an RBI. Jeff Francoeur drove in a run with a base hit and scored a run.

The Bad: Brian McCann did not play for a second consecutive game as a result of that concussion suffered Sunday afternoon. That’s a shame, because Miller has absolutely no business whatsoever being on a major-league roster, and the Corkster showed it loud and proud Tuesday. First, he went 0-for-3 at the plate, dropping his average to .096 (hey, with Chipper Jones and his big-league leading .369 average on the DL, we gotta monitor somebody’s average). But Corky’s on the roster for his defense, remember? Yeah, right. Miller un-corked (sorry, couldn’t resist) a horrid throw when Albert Pujols tried to steal third in the eighth, the throw sailing into left field and Phat Albert walking home with the tie-breaking run. Rafael Soriano allowed the run – albeit unearned – to take the loss. Norton made a throwing error in the ninth as the Cards opened the floodgates. Mike Gonzalez walked three in a row in the ninth, allowing five runs (only one earned, thanks to the Norton error). Blaine Boyer came on for his 745th appearance of the season (or so it seems) and promptly allowed two inherited runners to score.

View from the Sports Garage: Normally, we discuss the game in this space. This morning, we’re discussing The Trade, which came 363 days after the Braves dealt five prospects – including promising catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia – for Teixeira. The words World Series were mouthed by more than a few folks when Tex arrived in town, words that now seem like they were uttered a century ago. A lot of folks were critical of that deal when it went down, and they’re howling now with the Braves selling at the deadline for the first time in nearly two decades. Hindsight always is 20-20, but if I’m the Braves, I’d do the Tex deal again in a heartbeat. It’s not his fault things didn’t work out for this franchise during his stay here – he hit .295 with 37 homers as a Brave. The Braves were squarely in the hunt when he arrived here last summer, but Edgar Renteria injured his ankle, the back end of the starting rotation fell apart in August and the Braves couldn’t recover. This season, Tex got off to his traditional slow start, the injuries and one-run losses mounted, and at the end, Tex’s solid play since the middle of May wasn’t enough to carry this team. Now he’s gone, as is all hope for the Braves contending this season. But it’s not the end of the world, not at all. In Kotchman, the Braves get a good young first baseman who wears out left-handed pitching, plays excellent defense and is under contract through 2011. Atlanta had to get a first baseman, and with Arizona not willing to part with Conor Jackson, Kotchman was the best one available. A nice piece to add to an already good core group of young players. In Marek, the Braves receive a hard-throwing strikeout artist who features a mid-90s fastball and a good curve. He might not be the big-name prospect fans would like to see, but he’s definitely got a lot of talent and could be ready to help this team as soon as next summer. He has been both a starter and a reliever in his minor-league career, and will begin his time in the Braves organization at Double-A Mississippi.

This team clearly has shifted its focus toward 2009 and beyond, and that’s wise. No way the Braves crawl back from an eight-game deficit in the NL East, scaling past three teams in the process. General manager Frank Wren got good return for Teixeira, who reportedly rejected a substantial contract offer from Atlanta during spring training (thanks Scott Boras, you jerk). Now the focus turns toward this week in Birmingham, where Tim Hudson will have his elbow examined by Dr. James Andrews. If Hudson requires surgery and will miss part of next season, the Braves have to get a front-line starting pitcher in the offseason. Easier said than done, I know, but Atlanta will have no choice. A power-hitting outfielder also must be a priority. There certainly will be more trades to come this week, most likely Will Ohman going to one of the dozen or so teams that have expressed interest in the left-handed reliever. Mark Kotsay also could be leaving town, as several contenders would love to have a veteran stick and good outfielder (and a good clubhouse guy, too). Like I told somebody Tuesday evening, the Tex trade is only the very beginning of what will be a very interesting next few months for this franchise.

On deck
Braves vs. Cardinals
7:10 p.m. today, Turner Field

The Skinny: It’s only been five days since Jair Jurrjens (10-5, 3.02 ERA) toed the slab, but nobody can fault the 22-year-old if he feels like it’s been five weeks. Last time out, Jurrjens shut down the Phillies over eight sparking innings, giving up just three hits as the Braves won to improve to 3-1 on that critical road trip. Eh, safe to say things have changed drastically for this team since. Jurrjens, with all of one calendar year of major-league experience under his belt, now stands as the team’s ace entering the final two months, with Hudson on the shelf presumably for the rest of the season. Speaking of aces and injuries, the Cardinals get theirs back tonight, as Chris Carpenter (first start of the season) makes his return from Tommy John surgery. The eyes of Redbird Nation closely will watch every pitch the right-hander makes tonight as the Cards try to keep pace with the Cubs and Brewers in the NL Central. As for Braves Nation? Eying the future, baby.

—30—

UPDATED FROM BUD, 8:27 p.m.: Top of the evening, good people. In case you’ve missed it — and likely, you haven’t since it broke two hours ago — but the winner of the Mark Teixeira Sweepstakes is the Angels.

The Braves shipped Teixeira to Los Angeles for first baseman Casey Kotchman — which, you’ll read below, I speculated about in this morning’s blog — and Double-A pitcher Stephen Marek.

Los Angeles hopes Tex can do for it what he couldn’t do for the Braves when Atlanta landed him at last year’s trade deadline — spark it to the World Series. The Braves didn’t make the playoffs after acquiring Teixeira from Texas, then saw their season fall apart around them in 2008.

Here are the numbers on the newest members of the Braves’ organization (Kotchman will be in uniform and most likely starting at first base tomorrow night; Marek is heading for Double-A Mississippi):

Kotchman: .287, 12 homers, 54 RBIs in 100 games. Two errors in 100 games at first base. .349 vs. leftys. .326 since the All-Star break.

Marek: 6-foot-2, right-hander, 2-6 with a 3.66 ERA and three saves in 36 games at Double-A Arkansas. 46 2/3 innings, 39 hits, 21 walks, 57 strikeouts, opponents’ batting average .223.

Will Ohman and perhaps Mark Kotsay, you’re next … and now, on with last night’s carnage:

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

Cardinals 12, Braves 3

Top of the Order: Call it Black Monday, Braves style – Chipper Jones goes to the disabled list, Tim Hudson has an MRI revealing ligament damage, the team reportedly tells interested parties it will trade Mark Teixeira before week’s end and, oh yeah, Atlanta’s makeshift lineup gets hammered by St. Louis.

The Good: You gotta be kidding. On this day, the only good thing to happen was when the clock turned from 11:59 p.m. to midnight. Three Braves – Yunel Escobar, Omar Infante, and the soon-to-be former Braves first baseman Teixeira (who will be dealt before Thursday’s trade deadline, sources close to the team reportedly told ESPN.com Monday night) – finished with two hits each. Jeff Bennett is back from his injury rehab assignment, allowing a run on two hits with two strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings of work. Buddy Carlyle and Julian Tavarez each bounced back from recent rough appearances, each striking out two in a perfect inning. And, oh yeah, only 57 more games until this horrific season is over.

The Bad: The absolute worst news of the season – and boy, that really says something, doesn’t it? – came in the midst of Monday’s beatdown, when it was announced Hudson’s MRI revealed damage in the area of the ulnar collateral ligament in the right-hander’s pitching elbow. He will be examined by noted doctor James Andrews this week. Surgery would shelve Huddy – who leads the Braves with 11 victories – for at least one calendar year. A crippling blow for a franchise that has weathered more than its fair share of bad medical news this season. Jones and his major-league leading .369 average landed on the disabled list with a strained hamstring Chipper hurt Wednesday at Florida, the same game in which Hudson left after six innings with elbow discomfort. Brian McCann (concussion) did not play; Clint Sammons was promoted from Triple-A Richmond and got the start (not saying that’s a bad thing; anytime Corky Miller stays on the bench, it’s not a bad thing). Jo-Jo Reyes, fresh off the latest in a string of wretched outings that undid all the good he showed in May and early June, was sent to Triple-A Richmond. Now, the game. Charlie Morton, recalled from Richmond, never gave his team a chance, allowing eight runs and seven hits with four walks in 3 2/3 innings. Again, lack of control doomed the lanky right-hander. Royce Ring’s abysmal July continued unabated: four hits, three runs in one inning. Ring’s numbers for the past three games – hide the women and children – 1 1/3 innings, nine hits, eight runs.

View from the Sports Garage: So many bad things have befallen the Braves in 2008, it’s not really shocking that some of it will spill into 2009. After all, only so much misery can be contained within one 365-day block. Already facing the prospects of starting next season without setup specialist Peter Moylan in the pen, the Braves awake this morning staring straight at the reality that their ace, Hudson, also may be gone for a big chunk of next season. And remember, John Smoltz may be finished, so his presence in 2009 is far from certain. Wow. I’ve said it before, friends, and I’ll say it again: in 30 years of watching ball, never before have I watched one team endure so much in one season. And to think, it’s the team I cover. Lucky me, but no worries. The ol’ blog will continue to truck along, every day, all the way until this forsaken season is finished. Then, we’ll crank out the season review stuff and start looking ahead to 2009. It’s the thing to do; heck, Braves’ management already has their eye on next season. Tex is a goner, for sure. Where will he go? At this moment, I’m saying the Angels, for Casey Kotchman and at least one prospect. The Dodgers and Diamondbacks are in play, too. Stay tuned. As for the game? Whatever. An abysmal performance, but what else did you expect? It’s kinda fitting, in a way. A generation of Braves fans, born and raised during a time when Atlanta was a perennial postseason threat, is about to experience two months worth of the type of baseball I was raised on, the type when August and September merely were auditions for the next season. Monday’s performance – as dreadful as it was – was a good orientation for those who only have recollections of this franchise as a powerhouse. That’s ancient history now, boys and girls. Welcome to baseball purgatory. Be warned: it won’t be pretty.

On deck
Braves vs. Cardinals
7:10 p.m. today, Turner Field

The Skinny: Jorge Campillo (5-4, 2.78 ERA) toed the slab for the Braves Sunday in a must-win game in Philly. Then the rains came after 1 2/3 innings, and Campillo was finished. Ah, what could’ve been. Campillo takes Hudson’s slot for tonight’s game and looks to improve his numbers at Turner Field, where he has a 4.17 ERA as opposed to a 1.48 ERA away from Atlanta. For the Redbirds, Todd Wellenmeyer (8-4, 4.19 ERA) has helped to ease the absence of Chris Carpenter this season. He won May’s pitcher-of-the-month award, but non-support and a shaky bullpen have kept the right-hander’s win total from rising.

—30—

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

Phillies 12, Braves 10

Top of the Order: Following a two-hour rain delay, the Braves realized the inevitable – they’ll be sellers at the trade deadline and looking ahead to 2009 – by blowing a five-run lead and losing Brian McCann to a concussion in the process, then rallying from seven runs down to fall just short, losing in excruciating fashion for the second consecutive day.

The Good: Can’t blame this one on the offense. Kelly Johnson and Omar Infante hit back-to-back homers in helping Atlanta build a 5-0 lead. Mark Kotsay stayed hot – don’t think the scouts are noticing – going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Johnson finished with two runs scored and two RBIs, and Infante went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a pair of RBIs. Martin Prado came off the bench and fueled the late rally with a three-run, pinch-hit double in the eighth. Mark Teixeira, undoubtedly now finishing his stay in Atlanta this week, went 2-for-2 with two walks. Will Ohman, who also will be packing his bags in the coming days, pitched a scoreless inning of relief, striking out one. The only other Atlanta pitcher who didn’t allow a run – starter Jorge Campillo, who pitched 1 2/3 innings before the rains came. Campillo couldn’t come back after the delay.

The Bad: Jo-Jo Reyes, Julian Tavaraz, Royce Ring and Blaine Boyer, step right up. The end of the Braves’ hopes falls squarely on your shoulders. Following the rain delay, the Braves turned the game and their faint hopes of remaining relevant in the NL East to Reyes, who proceeded to allow four hits and five runs with four walks in 2 2/3 innings. Tavarez, who had pitched well since being signed, took the loss, coughing up a hit and a run in 2/3 of an inning as Philly grabbed the lead. Ring and Boyer then teamed up to let it get out of control – wait? Didn’t those two do that Saturday, as well. Yeah they did. Ring allowed four hits and four runs in 1/3 of an inning. Boyer tossed in a hit and a run for good measure, as the Phillies scored 11 runs off Reyes, Tavaraz, Ring and Boyer in a three-inning span. McCann was flattened at home plate by Shane Victorino in the sixth and left with a concussion. Mac will be re-evaluated today, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he misses substantial time. Joining him on the shelf could be Chipper Jones, who believes his hamstring injury will require time on the disabled list. Get your 2009 calendars now!

View from the Sports Garage: Speechless. Simply speechless. It’s like watching a horror movie and you get to the climax, and you’re wondering just what in the heck the director has left to throw at you because certainly you’ve seen it all. Well well well, be careful what you ask for because the finale is a doozey. What the Braves had unfold during the past 14 innings is as twisted and wicked as anything we’ve seen in the unbearable litany of knife-twisting defeats this season. One day after blowing a six-run lead and losing, the Braves jumped ahead 5-0 and let it slip away. Two games the Braves had to win. Two games the Braves had in control. Two games the Braves let slip away. A 5-1 road trip morphed into a 3-3 showing that simply confirms this team isn’t going anywhere in 2008. With the Mets winning, Atlanta ends the road trip 7 ½ games out of first. Frank Wren, the Angels are on line 1, the Red Sox are on line 2 and the Diamondbacks are on line 3. It’ll be an interesting week to watch who leaves this franchise and who arrives. But this much is certain: As this week dawns, the Braves – who have hung on the edge of the cliff longer than they probably should have – have now dropped into the crashing waves below. There’s plenty of baseball to be played, but for this franchise, it’s all over now but the trading.

On deck
Braves vs. Cardinals
7:10 p.m. today, Turner Field

The Skinny: As of early this morning, the Braves were undecided on a starter for tonight’s homestand opener against the Cardinals, since Reyes was scheduled to pitch before being pressed into duty Sunday. Charlie Morton (2-3, 6.00 ERA) likely will be promoted back from Triple-A Richmond – since he was sent down Saturday, somebody will have to go on the disabled. Morton only gave up two hits in 5 2/3 innings Tuesday against Florida, but four walks hurt him in a loss. For the Cardinals, Braden Looper (9-8, 4.49 ERA) hasn’t won since June 24, but the converted reliever has helped hold the St. Louis rotation together while Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright heal from injuries. Looper allowed seven hits and one earned run in five innings his last time out, a loss to CC Sabathia and the Brewers. Needless to say, the Braves have to win tonight. Even if the dye already has been cast considering what Atlanta will do at the trade deadline, it’d still be nice to open the homestand with a W.

—30—

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

Phillies 10, Braves 9

Top of the Order: In a season littered with enough gut-wrenching losses to make even the most optimistic fan spend the offseason wondering “what if,” the Braves let a six-run lead slide away and lost at Philadelphia in Mike Hampton’s return to the major leagues.

The Good: The end result wasn’t great, but at least Hampton didn’t get hurt (insert punchline here) in his first major-league appearance since Aug. 19, 2005. For one inning, the Braves were unstoppable at the plate, scoring a season-best nine runs in the fourth to build a 9-3 lead and – momentarily – put Hampton in position to win. Mark Teixeira capped the frame with a three-run homer, finishing 2-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBIs. Mark Kotsay had a pair of hits, drove in a run, scored once and walked once. Omar Infante drove in two runs. Jeff Francoeur drove in a run, just his fourth RBI since June 20. Yunel Escobar walked three times. Will Ohman struck out one in a perfect inning of relief. Rafael Soriano looked strong again, fanning two in a perfect inning. Julian Tavarez also pitched a scoreless frame of relief. In activating Hampton, the Braves shipped promising right-hander Charlie Morton to Triple-A Richmond. The Mets lost, keeping the Braves 6 1/2 games out in the NL East.

The Bad: A six-run lead constructed off Cole Hamels – one of the best in the game – and yet the Braves lost, dropping their major-league record 25th consecutive one-run road game. Hampton’s numbers weren’t great in his long-awaited return: four innings, eight hits, six runs, two walks, one strikeout. Three consecutive hits to start the fifth ended his day, and the day fell apart for the Braves soon after Hampton’s exit. Royce Ring gave up a hit, allowing two of the inherited runners to score. Blaine Boyer’s run of shutout appearances since July 4 ended with a thud, Boyer giving up three hits and three runs, the crippling blow a Greg Dobbs’ three-run homer capping a seven-run fifth and giving Philly a 10-9 lead. The Braves had their chances after falling behind, but left seven runners on base in the final four innings. In case you’re keeping score at home, Atlanta drops to an abysmal 6-23 in one-run games this season, a season that could be drawing to a close very, very soon.

View from the Sports Garage: So here we are, on the final Sunday in July, and the Braves perhaps staring straight at a game today they must win, or else face the near-certain systematic elimination of their squad from playoff contention. Granted, at the very worst they will end this trip 7 1/2 games out of first, and could be within 5 1/2 of first if they win today and the Mets lose. But you get the feeling if Atlanta falls today, general manager Frank Wren will begin talking seriously about trading Teixeira and Ohman and perhaps Kotsay, too. A trip that started with three wins in four games took a nightmarish turn in the bottom of the fifth. You simply cannot blow a six-run lead in a game that you have to win. Add in the Hampton subplot, the fact the Braves hung nine on Hamels (a guy who had allowed just one run to the Braves in 20 2/3 innings this season entering the fourth), and you have the worst loss in a season full of indigestion-inducing defeats. This one hurts, good people, let there be no doubt. Seeing Hampton on the mound was encouraging, but he ran out of gas in the fifth and the bullpen totally came apart at the seams. Hampton deserved a better fate, honestly. The Braves then failed to cash in with runners on base the rest of the way, and what would have been a watershed moment in this team’s crawl back into contention became memorable indeed, but for all the wrong reasons. The Braves simply have no choice now: They must win today. A victory ends the road trip at 4-2, helps to somewhat ease the pain of Saturday’s epic meltdown, gives the Braves consecutive series victories against two of the teams they are chasing in the East, and at least gives Wren and management cause to pause in regards of what to do at Thursday’s trade deadline. But make no mistake about it. Lose today, and this maddening, sputtering push to try and get back into the race probably is finished. How the Braves ended up in this position is far from easy to figure out, but today’s agenda is simple enough: Win, or say hello to winter.

On deck
Braves at Phillies
1:35 p.m. today, Citizens Bank Park

The Skinny: He started this critical road trip with a great performance. Now, Jorge Campillo (5-4, 2.83 ERA) toes the slab with the Braves in the rubber game of the series. But, as discussed above, there is so much more that probably hangs in the balance. Campillo dominated the Marlins Monday in Miami, allowing just two hits in seven stellar innings. On the road, Campillo has been sensational – 3-2 with a 1.53 ERA. For the Phillies, Joe Blanton (5-12, 5.08 ERA) makes his second start since Oakland dealt him to Philly. In his NL debut Tuesday, Blanton gave up eight hits and five runs to the Mets in six innings.

—30—

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

Braves 8, Phillies 2

Top of the Order: Playing without Chipper Jones in the opening game of a must-win series, the Braves rode the great pitching of Jair Jurrjens through eight innings then broke open a tense one-run game in the ninth, improving to 3-1 on this ultra-important road trip.

The Good: Jurrjens set the tone, totally dominating one of baseball’s better-hitting teams in one of baseball’s best hitter’s ballparks. Jurrjens was outstanding, allowing just three hits and no runs over eight innings, walking one and striking out six. Of his 100 pitches, 62 were strikes. Brian McCann stepped up bigtime in Chipper’s absence, belting a solo homer in the fourth to give the Braves a 1-0 lead they nursed until the ninth. In the ninth, Mac blew it open, hitting a grand slam off Phillies’ closer Brad Lidge. Mac finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored, two walks and five RBIs. Gregor Blanco had two hits, walked once and scored a run. Jeff Francoeur had just his third multi-hit game since June 17: 2-for-5 with a run scored, including a base hit to right field and some really good-looking swings at the plate. Omar Infante, starting for Chipper at third, also had two hits, as did Kelly Johnson. Greg Norton started the defining ninth with a pinch-hit double. Defensively, the Braves played like champions. Infante made three outstanding plays at third base. Mark Teixeira had a couple of nice grabs at first. Yunel Escobar made a great play on a double play. Off the field, more good news: Tim Hudson said he believes the tightness in his right forearm that forced him from Wednesday’s start at Florida won’t cause him to miss his next turn in the rotation, and Tom Glavine had another good bullpen outing. Glav will throw in the bullpen again Sunday, and if all goes well he’ll pitch a simulated game Tuesday. And finally, Mike Hampton will – knock on wood – make his return to the majors today against the Phils, the Braves announcing the lefty will toe the slab for the middle game of this set, his first major-league appearance in 35 months.

The Bad: It wouldn’t be the 2008 Braves without a dose of bad news, and this dose is a big one: Chipper’s hamstring hasn’t improved, and Hoss could very well be on his way to the disabled list. The majors’ leading hitter at .369 has avoided the DL so far this season. Will Ohman, who inexplicably was called upon to pitch the bottom of the ninth despite the Braves leading 8-0, gave up a two-run homer to Ryan Howard. The Braves had plenty of chance to blow the game open before the ninth, finishing with 12 runners left on base. The Mets won, keeping the Braves at 6 ½ games out of first place in the NL East.

View from the Sports Garage: You’re playing Philly, a team you’ve lost to eight times in nine tries this season. You’re playing without Hoss, who you’re 5-11 this season when No. 10 rides the pine. You’re opening a series in which you’re slated to pitch a guy the next day who hasn’t climbed the bump in the majors since late 2005. Talk about must-win. And that’s exactly what the Braves did, in their most inspiring performance of the season. Granted, they left runners on all night long, but Jurrjens pitched like a veteran ace who was in total, total command. He looked like another pitcher the Braves got from Detroit once upon a time, some fella named John Smoltz. Unflappable. Owning the moment. Even with the offense not able to cash in and give him a cushion, JJJ sparkled, shutting down the Phillies with awesome command in the most important start of his young and promising career. The defense behind him was simply superb. Infante is so valuable to this team because not only can he play multiple positions, but he can play them very well. His play in the field at third was sensational. Give Bobby Cox a ton of credit, too. Instead of hitting Francoeur third, he moved Tex out of the cleanup spot and put Mac in the fourth hole. That worked out pretty well, I’d say. Bobby’s stubborn to a fault, as we all know, but I was pleasantly surprised he had Teixeira hitting third.

To blow it open in the ninth off Philly’s closer also was great. Perhaps it sends a message the Braves aren’t dead yet. Xavier Nady is now a Yankee, but if the Braves can somehow win today and tomorrow, you’ve got to think the tone and focus of Frank Wren’s phone conversations at the first of the week will change dramatically. Of course, the Braves aren’t there yet, and with losses the next two games, it’s highly likely the Braves will shift to sell mode. But four games into this critical, season-saving road trip, the Braves have positioned themselves to be buyers at the deadline. Now, it’s up to them to go out and finish things off this weekend, and force management to get a power-hitter for the lineup and perhaps a veteran starter for the back of the rotation. Say what you will about this team. They make things interesting. With victories in six of their past nine, the Braves just might be making themselves buyers come next week. But work remains to be done, and now, it’s Hammy Time …

On deck
Braves at Phillies
3:55 p.m. today, Citizens Bank Park

The Skinny: Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. Yes, Braves fans, Hampton (first start of the season) is slated to toe the slab for the hometown nine today, making his first major-league start in 35 months. We’ve been down this road with Hampton once before, remember. Hampton strained his pectoral muscle warming up in the bullpen April 3, minutes before returning to the majors. We’ve all chronicled his variety of injuries and the fact he hasn’t pitched in the big since Aug. 19, 2005, but provided nothing on his body breaks today, you hope Hampton can channel the emotions he’ll surely feel once he walks out onto the field. Arm-wise, stuff-wise, dude can help this team. He threw it well in spring training. He threw it well in his rehab assignments. Now, time for the veteran left-hander to throw it well for the big-league team, and try to help it stay in the race. And what a matchup today, with the Phils sending Cole Hamels (9-6, 3.11 ERA) to the bump. The left-hander has dominated the Braves this season, going 2-0 and allowing just one run and nine hits in 17 2/3 innings. It’ll be interesting to see if the Braves can continue their offensive prowess from last night against one of the best in the game. It’ll be even more interesting to see how Hampton does. If he can pitch four or five innings and keep the Braves in the game – and he doesn’t get hurt – then you have to consider his start a success, regardless of whether or not the Braves win or lose. But make no mistake about it: regardless of the Hampton saga and intrigue, this is another game Atlanta has to win.

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By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

ATLANTA – Seven weeks ago, the Atlanta Braves opened a three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies on a Friday night, looking to gain ground in the NL East.

And in the 40 games since that fateful night inside Turner Field, the night Kelly Johnson dropped the final out of the game in the top of the ninth, much has transpired … and not a lot of it good for the Braves or their beleaguered, frustrated fan base.

As the Braves arrive in Philly tonight to open a three-game set with the second-place Phils, they find themselves painted into a corner from which there doesn’t appear to be an escape. Atlanta sits five games under .500, resides 6 ½ games behind the first-place Mets and trails three teams in the standings.

That ticking sound? The countdown clock to the trade deadline, now six short days away.

It is a team in desperate straits that dons those tomahawk-emblazoned uniforms and takes the field at Citizens Bank Park tonight, opening its most crucial series of the season. By the time it’s finished late Sunday afternoon, the Braves’ playoff hopes may be finished, too.

But amid all the rubble that’s piled upon this franchise in the 42 days since KJ’s now-infamous drop, there is one ray of hope, one sliver of light that’s somehow slid its way through the twisted wreckage of one-run losses, injuries and the shell of a player once known as Jeff Francoeur:

In their past eight games, the Braves are 5-3.

I majored in journalism in college, not math, but the calculator on my computer tells me the Braves have played .625 ball in their past eight games, a stretch that started July 12 with a Saturday-night victory in San Diego. It’s nowhere near enough to drown out the Mark Teixeira trade rumors, the venomous venting of bloggers or the boo-birds who let loose with understandable vigor during two embarrassing losses at home to the Nationals last weekend.

But it’s a positive sign.

And, it’s a strategy the Braves will have to shake, pour and repeat for the next two months. If they do so, they very well can play themselves back into the race for the division championship.

Sixty-one games remain in the season. Divided into blocks of eight, Atlanta has seven eight-game blocks left on its schedule. And granted, saying this team – a squad that’s befuddled the experts, its fans and even itself with its lack of clutch hitting, its inability to win more than three games in a row since late May, its injury woes – has to play .625 ball the rest of the way is a lot like saying gas prices need to return to $1.50 a gallon.

It’d be nice to believe it’ll happen, but nobody’s exactly jumping the first flight to Vegas to bet on it.

But when you say “win five out of eight,” the task doesn’t seem as daunting, does it? Winning five times in eight games basically means winning series, which – as I have opined in recent weeks – is the only realistic avenue to returning to contention.

I mean, do any of you see a nine-game winning streak in this bunch? Nope, I don’t either.

The hard part is going 5-3 over and over and over again. Remember, we’re talking about a team that’s only consistent feature is the manner in which it frustrates its fans. But in building in three losses out of each eight-win block, you’re allowing for those days when Jo-Jo Reyes can’t get out of the fourth inning, when the bats get one-hit by some dude you’ve never heard of, when the latest Braves starter makes the gingerly walk from the playing field to that crowded corner of Braves Nation known as the disabled list.

All of this may be moot by Monday morning. The Phillies are 8-1 against the Braves this season. Two losses this weekend probably forces general manager Frank Wren to push the plunger and ship Teixeira and Will Ohman and perhaps Mark Kotsay away. Time is ticking, after all, and a dud of a showing this weekend likely seals the Braves’ fate.

But if Atlanta can just replicate what it’s done the past eight games, it can make the East a four-team race to the finish. One believes that finish line falls somewhere between 85 and 88 wins.

Win five out of eight over the next 56, and Atlanta would be 83-74 with five games to go. It might take a heck of a finishing kick that final week to make it happen, and certainly, going 6-2 or even 7-1 in a couple of those eight-game blocks would make it easier to reach the finish line first. It goes without saying this plan gets blown to heck with one five- or six-game losing streak.

It may be wishful thinking to even try to figure out how this team can stay in it. But thinking about September beats thinking about 2009, especially when the calendar hasn’t even flipped to August.

—30—

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

Braves 9, Marlins 4

Top of the Order: In typical Braves fashion, even Wednesday’s resounding victory in the rubber game of a three-game set was shadowed by bad news, as both Chipper Jones and Tim Hudson left the contest with injuries.

The Good: A night after getting just one hit, the Braves broke out the warclubs and pounded Florida pitching for 11 hits. The top of the order led the charge, as leadoff hitter Gregor Blanco went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and three RBIs, and No. 2 hitter Yunel Escobar added two hits and three RBIs. Mark Teixeira walked three times. Hudson was outstanding before leaving with tightness in his right forearm next to the elbow, allowing just three hits with one walk and six strikeouts in six strong innings. Blaine Boyer was outstanding in his one inning of relief, and Will Ohman fanned two in his one inning of work. Off the field, there is speculation Mike Hampton could – I repeat, could – make his return to the major leagues after 35 months on Saturday, during the middle game of a crucial three-game set at Philadelphia.

The Bad: Obviously, the injuries to two of the Braves top players during this ridiculous up-and-down campaign. Chipper strained his hamstring in the fourth running down the first-base line and had to leave the game (his major-league leading average down to .369). Hudson came out after the sixth and could be seen on the bench pointing to the area near his elbow. Yes Braves Nation, hold your breath on these two. Buddy Carlyle’s recent struggles continue, as he gave up four runs in the bottom of the ninth and forced the Braves to bring in closer Mike Gonzalez to get the final out.

View from the Sports Garage: And so, this is how it goes for the Braves. Even when things seemingly go according to plan – heck, Jeff Francoeur hit an outside pitch down the line in right for an opposite-field double, for crying out loud – Atlanta loses the two players it can afford to lose the least. It’s well-documented when Jones is not in the lineup, the Braves just don’t win, and now would be a really bad time for Hoss not to be in the lineup, with a three-game series starting Friday at Philadelphia. As for Hudson? Let’s see, he’s the ONLY member of the rotation with more than one year of major-league starting experience, a 10-game winner who probably should have 13 or 14 wins if he had a little more run support. Huddy said after the game he didn’t foresee the injury being a big deal. That’s good, obviously, because if you think this team finds it tough to win now, just let Chipper and Huddy miss any time at all. These are two very big areas the Braves and their exhausted fan base – aren’t you guys exhausted; it’s only July 24; we’ve got more than two months of this stuff left – will be focused on throughout today’s off day. Most agree the Braves have to win two, if not all three, in Philly this weekend, or else they will be out of the race and Teixeira will be heading someplace else. Need Hoss in the lineup against the Phils (he will be re-evaluated Friday, according to the team), and need Huddy to be on the mound when his turn comes back around Tuesday at home against St. Louis. The Braves win this series and pull within six games of first place in the NL East; now, they need to at the very least win the next one.

On deck
Braves at Phillies
7:05 p.m. Friday, Citizens Bank Park

The Skinny: Jair Jurrjens (9-5, 3.22 ERA) closed the first half with five sterling starts in a row, but the young right-hander wasn’t crisp in his first start after the All-Star break. Jurrjens gave up five earned runs in 6 1/3 innings Saturday in a loss to the Nationals, Jurrjens’ first career home loss. The Braves need a return to form for Jurrjens in this ultra-important opening game of a critical series. For the Phillies, right-hander Kyle Kendrick (8-4, 4.87 ERA) comes in after one of the worst starts of his career Saturday against Florida. Kendrick allowed seven earned runs in 4 1/3 innings and coughed up three homers. Still, the Phillies are 14-6 when Kendrick toes the slab and he’s 3-0 lifetime against the Braves who, need I remind you, are 1-8 against Philadelphia this season.

—30—

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

Marlins 4, Braves 0

Top of the Order: One night after opening a critical road trip with a solid victory, the Braves took another step toward waving the white flag on 2008, mustering just one measly hit in an uninspired loss that plunged Atlanta seven games out of first place in the NL East.

The Good: Let’s start off the field, because there wasn’t much on it to praise on this night. Before the game, both Mike Hampton and Tom Glavine threw bullpen sessions. We’ll start with Hampton, who not only didn’t hurt himself, but said he could join the rotation next week. Of course, that’s provided Hammy doesn’t tweak, pull or strain anything during a bullpen session Friday in Philly. Glavine said he felt fine after his session and plans two more this weekend. Omar Infante was activated from the disabled list (Brent Lillibridge sent to Triple-A Richmond to make room on the roster). Charlie Morton didn’t pitch bad, allowing two hits and four runs with four walks and five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Rafael Soriano, making his first appearance since coming off the DL, pitched a perfect inning of relief and looked great, striking out two. Julian Tavarez pitched his third consecutive outstanding outing, going an inning and striking out one. Chipper Jones had the lone hit, dropping his major-league leading average to .371. But hey, without that, the Braves would’ve been no-hit …

The Bad: Facing a pitcher (Rick VandenHurk) sporting an ERA over 11, the Braves nonetheless were as punchless as a fighter with two hands tied behind their back. Atlanta left six runners on base, half of that total coming in the top of the fourth when the Braves loaded the bases with no outs on three consecutive walks, only to fail to get the ball out of the infield. Morton got too much of the plate on a pitch in the bottom of the fourth and Mike Jacobs hit it out for a three-run homer. Ballgame. Royce Ring allowed an inherited runner to score in the sixth for good measure. Bobby Cox wasn’t around to see it; he was suspended by Major League Baseball for “excessive arguing” during Sunday’s game. Come to think of it, not seeing this garbage performance can’t be classified as a bad thing.

View from the Sports Garage: For those of you clinging onto the last vestige of hope, I submit for your review the top of the fourth. Three straight walks, and the Braves have the bases loaded with no outs in a scoreless game. This USED to be the exact type of situation where the Braves of old would pounce on the opposition and take control. This version of your Braves, eh, it’s not quite the same as your older brother’s Bravos. Jeff Francoeur swings at the first freaking pitch he sees, after watching the three hitters walk before him. Absolutely ridiculous. Time to send Frenchy and his .231 average back to Mississippi so he can further mull the issue of betrayal – hey Frenchy, maybe you should wonder why the heck your swing has betrayed you, instead of blaming the franchise for betraying you by sending your sorry butt back to the minors. Ah, you just KNEW this team was going to do this, didn’t you? Sure you did, even if you didn’t want to admit it, even if you looked in the mirror Tuesday morning after watching Monday’s solid road-trip opening victory and said, “this time, it’s going to be different.” It’s like watching an addict wake up from a bad trip, shake off the haze and say, “this time, it’s going to be different.” Then, the next night, he or she is back at it again. The Braves were back at it Tuesday, taking one more step down the cliff. Wonder if Mark Teixeira was sneaking a glance at rentals in Boston or Los Angeles between innings? If not, he should be, and he probably should tell Will Ohman to have some empty boxes and packing tape sent to his house, too. Seven games out. Six games under .500. Either win the final four games on this trip, or else the countdown to 2009 begins.

On deck
Braves at Marlins
7:10 p.m. today, Dolphin Stadium

The Skinny: The ace of the staff toes the slab, his team in desperate straits. Tim Hudson (10-7, 3.31 ERA) is having a splendid season despite a lack of run support. That script was flipped in Huddy’s first post-All Star break start Friday, as Timmy allowed five earned runs but the Braves scored enough to give Hudson his 10th victory. He’s 4-1 lifetime at Florida, that one loss coming in that ugly three-inning stint back on April 16 when he allowed six runs. For the Marlins, right-hander Ricky Nolasco (10-5, 3.78 ERA) lost to the Braves June 5, but hadn’t lost since until falling to the Phillies on Friday, winning five of his eight starts. He gave up four runs in seven innings against the Phils.

—30—

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

Braves 4, Marlins 0

Top of the Order: Opening their most important road trip of the season and reeling from consecutive embarrassing losses to Washington, the Braves temporarily righted their listing ship as Jorge Campillo pitched seven outstanding innings.

The Good: With his team in dire need of a quality start, Campillo delivered a gem. He didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning, gave up just two hits in seven innings, walked one and struck out six, throwing 57 of his 91 pitches for strikes. Will Ohman and Mike Gonzalez did what the Braves bullpen couldn’t do over the weekend, each pitching a perfect inning of relief to finish off the shutout. The offense delivered, with Mark Teixeira and Mark Kotsay each going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Chipper Jones’ major-league leading average dropped a point to .372 after going 1-for-4, but Hoss’ single to left drove in a run. Martin Prado came off the bench and delivered for the second consecutive day, his pinch-hit double in the ninth plating an insurance run. Gregor Blanco reached base twice (one hit, one walk) and stole a base. Jeff Francoeur also had a hit and a walk, a four-pitch unintentional walk (for Frenchy, that’s rare). Brent Lillibridge didn’t get a hit, but he made a couple of really nice plays in the field at shortstop. Speaking of shortstop, the starter at that position – Yunel Escobar – took a full round of batting practice Monday and will start tonight. Rafael Soriano came off the disabled list (Vladimir Nunez was sent to Triple-A Richmond) and looks to bolster the bullpen. Speaking of bullpen (man, we’re wearing out the “speaking of” transitions today), both Tom Glavine and Mike Hampton are slated to throw bullpen sessions today, as both veteran left-handers try to get back in the starting rotation.

The Bad: For a change, not much. Perhaps Escobar not starting, as previous reported he would, but he’ll be in there tonight. Perhaps the seven runners left on base, but considering the non-support Campillo’s received in some of his road starts, you really can’t complain about that, either. How about we just gripe some more about the missed opportunities Saturday and Sunday to close the gap in the NL East? Gas prices? Bad restaurant service? Anyone? Oh, well …

View from the Sports Garage: Had I known all it would take was to write on the ol’ blog that the Braves were finished (as I did yesterday), then I would’ve done it six weeks ago. Nice response, fellas. A command performance, against a team that would’ve moved into a three-way tie for first in the East with a victory. Excellent, excellent beginning to a road trip on which the Braves must – and I emphasize must – play well to have any realistic shot of staying in the race. I’m talking 5-1, or 6-0, or else we’re probably looking at Tex leaving and Ohman leaving and the start of a two-month audition for roster spots in 2009. Gotta keep this up, though. We’ve seen a great performance followed by a stinker so many times this season, I would caution anybody who is getting their hopes up to take a sip from the cup of realism before you guzzle any more from that fifth of optimism. This team still sits six games behind the Phillies and Mets, and five games behind the Fish. That’s a ton of real estate to make up when you’re trailing three teams. The importance of this trip is the Braves can make up some of that deficit, but again, only if they win games this week. Scoring four runs and getting shutout pitching is a sure-fire recipe for a victory. Time to see if this team – which has won four of its past six – can replicate Monday’s success tonight.

On deck
Braves at Marlins
7:10 p.m. today, Dolphin Stadium

The Skinny: Charlie Morton (2-2, 5.93 ERA) ended the first half with his best performance in three weeks, allowing four hits and one run in 5 1/3 innings to beat San Diego. In his previous two starts, Morton gave up 16 hits and 11 earned runs in eight innings, and he hadn’t won since his impressive big-league debut June 14 against the Angels. Morton’s pitch location has been inconsistent. The Braves need the lanky right-hander to be spot-on control-wise tonight. For the Fish, Rick VanderHurk (0-1, 11.81) gets the nod. It’s been a memorable season in South Florida, but one the right-hander would love to forget. VanderHurk (yes, the H is capitalized) pitched just 5 1/3 innings before going to the minor leagues, then landed on the disabled list.

—30—