Flip in the “A”

The Atlanta Hawks signed veteran guard Ronald “Flip” Murray on Wednesday. To me, it’s a somewhat suprising move. Rick Sund’s inaugural Hawks roster is a little guard-heavy.

At this point (if there aren’t any further roster moves) Atlanta will feature starter Mike Bibby, second year guard Acie Law, Craig “Speedy” Claxton (a real luxury on defense if he really makes it all the way back after a series of knee surgeries), and Murray, who will split time between the two guard spots.

At the two, Mike Woodson will almost certainly continue to play All-Star Joe Johnson close to forty minutes a game. In theory, I suppose, Murray would back up Johnson, with either Thomas Gardner (former Missouri guard and Chicago Bulls benchwarmer) or maybe Luke Jackson, the former Miami Heat guard.

The plan might be to play Johnson at the small forward spot while, say, Maurice Evans D’s up on somebody’s LeBron or Dwayne Wade. Or (I hope) Woodson and his staff are actually going to decrease Johnson’s minutes (by a LITTLE). The last three seasons, it’s been hard for Woodson to rest his All-Star two guard, he was (and still will be) the best overall Hawks player by a long shot. But with Murray’s ability to score ( a 9.3 ppg career average) and Evan’s lockdown perimeter defense, the Atlanta coaching staff will enjoy some veteran flexibility to pair with last year’s youthful exuberance.

It’s certain that Evans will see a fair amount of time at the three, backing up starter Marvin Williams ala Josh Childress during ‘07/08. And again, “hiding” Joe Johnson at the small forward intrigues me; can you picture Joe driving right past bigger, slower opponent’s wing players to the hole, or running his little okie-doke and leaning into a jumper?

Josh Smith, the $11 million-dollar man, will dominate the minutes at power forward in a similar manner to last season, but the Hawks signed forward Othello Hunter (the former Ohio State performer) and retained Solomon Jones- presumably for foul trouble scenarios. I’m not very familar with Hunter, Garner, or Jackson, so I have no idea how seriously these fringe players are being considered (along with guards Jeremy Richardson and Mario West) for the NBA roster this year. But Hunter has had a superb offseason under the watchful eyes of Woodson and his staff.

Center is a postion where I think Atlanta will be noticeably stronger. ZaZa Pachulia really emerged as a valuable part of the Hawks young core during the epic playoff series with the hated Boston Celtics. Let’s hope he can find middle ground with Woodson and assert a bigger role off the bench for himself throughout the ‘08/’09 campaign. And of course, the illustrious “Big” Al Horford will return as the starting center. After Horford’s prodigious rookie year, one could only expect further improvement. With the kind of work ethic that Horford has, there’s no telling where his “ceiling” might be. Sund also signed Atlanta native (and former New York Knick) Randoph Morris to serve as a much needed third center behind Horford and Pachulia.

The Evans/Murray/Morris/etc. signings could go one of two ways- a large waste of money on a varied outfit of journeymen, or it could turn out to be an NBA version of bringing in Sid Bream, Rafael Belliard, and Terry Pendleton (like the Braves did during the winter of 1990) to balance a young and talented roster. Or it could be anything in between.

The really disappointing developement of this Hawk’s offseason (aside from the bizarre exodus of Childress) is the fact that it’s been (seemingly) the longest one in close to a decade.

How long ’till the first Boston rematch?

Minor League report

Richmond extended their winning streak to four games behind starter James Parr (2-3), who beat the Bulls 4-2 Tuesday night in Charlotte.  It is the longest such streak for the Braves since APRIL.  Parr threw 6.2 innings in one of his better starts for Richmond this year, allowing two runs on four hits (with five strikeouts). 

Centerfielder Josh Anderson extended his organization leading hit streak to nineteen games with a double in the third and a single in the fifth.  Anderson seems fully prepared to continue his Micheal Douglas (in the film ‘Falling Down’) style rampage through the International League, while Atlanta will stubbornly continue to pencil in Jeff Francoeur in rightfield.  Hard for a novice like me to figure.

Richmond shortstop Brent Lillibridge drove in three with a third inning homerun off Charlotte starter Wes Whisler (11-8).

Mississippi’s Tommy Hanson threw six shutout innings and allowed only two hits while striking out ten in the Brave’s loss to the Jacksonville Suns on Sunday.  The Suns got to reliever Stephen Marek in the top of the eighth to move ahead 2-1.  Mississippi’s beleagured centerfielder Jordan Schafer went 2 for 4 in the contest and was thrown out at home in the bottom of the ninth to thwart a Brave’s rally that would have tied the game at two.

The Rome Braves scored five runs in the first inning of their 9-6 win over the Hagerstown Suns Monday night.  Rightfielder Jason Heyward went 2 for 5, first baseman Frederick Freeman went 2 for 3.  Reliever Thomas Palica recorded his seventh save of the year.

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans got swept in their doubleheader at Salem on Monday.  In game one, Myrtle Beach leftfielder Conception Rodriguez hit his tenth homerun, a two run shot, in the sixth inning; it would be the Pelicans only scoring in the game, resulting in an 8-2 defeat.

In game two, Myrtle Beach didn’t score at all, getting shut out 6-0.  The Pelicans makeshift lineup (featuring rightfielder Jon Owings in the leadoff spot) could only muster two hits.

Minor League report

Richmond centerfielder Josh Anderson went 2 for 3 in Saturday’s 32 win over the Durham Bulls. Anderson has hit safely in fifteen straight games; he’s hitting a cool .441 during that stretch.

Righthander Kris Medlen moved to 5-6 on the year after Mississippi’s 4-2 victory against Jacksonville. Medlen threw six innings, and gave up two runs on ten hits. Recently acquired reliever Stephen Marek tossed two scoreless innings in relief of Medlen. Get this- Melen went 2 for 2 at the plate- with a TRIPLE! Braves shortstop Brandon Hicks stayed hot, going 2 for 3 and driving in two more runs in the contest.

Jason Heyward and Frederick Freeman were at it again in Charleston Friday when the Rome Braves beat the Riverdogs 7-3. Heyward went 2 for 4, while Freeman went 2 for 5 and drove in a couple of runs. Relief pitcher Thomas Palica got his sixth save the old-fashioned way- pitching the final 3.1 innings of the victory.

The Braves beat the Riverdogs 4-2 Saturday; Heyward went 3 for 4 (and hit his eleventh homerun of the year), Freeman 2 for 4, and leftfielder Cody Johnson went 2 for 3 to allieviate his recent struggles.

Centerfielder Gorkys Hernandez went 5 for 10 and drove in SEVEN runs during the Myrtle Beach Pelicans doubleheader sweep of the Lynchburg Hillcats on Friday.

Pelican’s catcher Tyler Flowers went 2 for 4 in Saturday’s loss to Lynchburg. Flowers hit his fifteenth roundtripper of the year, and rightfielder Jon Owings hit his sixteenth.

Do the right thing

The Atlanta Hawks did the impossible in 2008. No, not taking the eventual World Champions to seven games in the first round of the playoffs. I’m talking about the really impossible: they managed to retain a star player. For Hawks management, even a mundane task like this can be a tall order.

Power forward Josh Smith was offered a 5 year, 58 million dollar deal. Not from the Hawks, but from the Memphis Grizzlies. Atlanta had seven days to match the Grizzlies offer, and they did it within 24 hours. The signing ended what had become a drawn-out, potentially ugly negotiation process.

Thankfully, the Hawks have made it through the offseason virtually unscathed, dare I say stronger than at the end of the ‘08 campaign. They lost Josh Childress, of course, but they’ve gained forward Mo Evans and center Randolph Morris. Not to mention the suprising return of point guard Speedy Claxton from the knee problems that have mired his first two years in Atlanta.

The added veteran depth notwithstanding, Atlanta HAD to resign Smith. He is the Hawks best post defender. Teamed with center/forward Al Horford last season, Smith was a defensive catalyst and the teams leading post scorer. Players like Smith don’t grow on trees. Or, for that matter, play in the Summer League; because the best and brightest free agents are off the market by this time of the year.

So now that we’re all relieved, how long ’till opening tip? I can’t remember the last time I was genuinely looking forward to the NBA season…

Minor League report

The International league’s version of Cincinnatti’s “Nasty Boys” ‘pen was at it again Wednesday when the Richmond Braves toppled the Durham Bulls, 5-4. Okay, you got me. Damian Moss and Jorge Julio aren’t exactly comparable to Rob Dibble and Norm Charlton circa 1990, but they got the same kind of results in this game: 2.2 shutout innings that featured five Durham strikeouts to close out the win. Moss moved to 4-9, and Julio notched his fifth save.

Braves centerfielder Josh Anderson went 3 for 5 and nailed a homerun for the second night in a row. Wasn’t it around this time last year when Anderson got hot for Houston? He might be one of these players (no one knows why) that really gets going when these gruesome “dog days” of August roll around. Anderson has hit .308 this season, and has stolen 33 bases.

Starter James Parr got rocked in Richmond’s 11-2 loss to the Bulls on Thursday.. Parr surrendered 6 runs on 10 hits (2 homers) and was chased after only 4 innings. Josh Anderson, of course, went 2 for 3.

Closer Luis Valdez hit a road bump Wednesday when he blew his EIGHTH save in Mississippi’s 10-9 loss to Jacksonville. Valdez gave up 3 runs in the top of the ninth for his third loss.

Thursday’s starter, Jerome Gamble, played the role of stopper as the Braves defeated the Suns 9-2. Gamble threw five innings, allowing only 1 run to garner his third win of the year. Centerfielder Jordan Schafer went 3 for 4, scored 2 runs and drove in 3. Shortstop Brandon Hicks went 2 for 3, he’s hitting .320 since being called up from Myrtle Beach.

Jeff Locke won his fifth game of the year with 6 shutout innings in Rome’s 1-0 victory Wednesday over the Charleston Riverdogs. Locke, Cole Rohrbough, and Edgar Osuna should all be pitching in Mississippi by the start of next season.

And speaking of Mr. Osuna, he beat the Riverdogs on Thursday in Rome, 12-9. Osuna worked 6 innings, allowing 2 earned runs and striking out NINE. Leftfielder Cody Johnson drove in SIX runs and had two longballs; first baseman Frederick Freeman went 2 for 4. Rightfielder Jason Heyward wasn’t part of the offensive onslaught, missing time due to a knee injury.

Lefthander Scott Diamond was lights out again Thursday in the Myrtle Beach Pelicans 3-2 win over the Lynchburg Hillcats. Diamond went 7 innings and allowed a run on five hits. On the year (between Rome and Myrtle Beach) Diamond is 14-2, with a .291 era and has held opponents to a .245 average.

Minor League report

Richmond notched loss number seventy of the season Tuesday evening against the Durham Bulls, falling 9-6 in Virginia. The Braves are firmly entrenched in last place, 15.5 games back. Richmond Centerfielder Josh Anderson hit his second homerun of the year while going 2 for 4. Braves starter Brian Lawrence (is it just me, or does it seem like Lawrence has pitched every other day this year?) turned in one of his worst starts in what has been an atrocious year for the righthander. Lawrence just wasn’t fooling anyone tonight; he was accosted for seven runs on TWELVE hits in four innings.

Centerfielder Jordan Schafer went 2 for 4 in Mississippi’s 4-2 loss to Huntville Tuesday. Braves starter Duente Heath pitched well enough to win (5 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs), but other than the two-run bomb that third baseman Van Pope drilled in the top of the sixth, Mississippi was held scoreless in the game.

Rome starting pitcher Cole Rohrbough was DEALING in Tuesday’s 9-1 win over the Hickory Crawdads. Rohrbough threw 8 innings of 1-hit ball, recording 7 strikeouts. It was perhaps the strongest performance of Rohrbough’s young career.

Braves rightfielder Jason Heyward is unconscious right now, going 3 for 3 tonight and drawing two walks to move his season average to .324! Rome first baseman Frederick Freeman hit his eighteenth roundtripper of the year (and drove in three runs) while going 2 for 5 to raise HIS season average to .315. Have the Braves ever had two more prolific offensive performers in the minors at the same time?

Oh, almost forgot to mention- two of Heyward’s hits were doubles, and Freeman hit his SIXTH triple of the season.

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans edged out the Kinston Indians in a close one, 4-3 Tuesday night. Pelicans catcher Tyler Flowers went 2 for 3 and drove in a run. DH “Big” Willie Cabrera went a modest 3 for 5 and drove in two. Cabrera stands at .291-14-68. Combined with a hefty .821 OPS, Cabrera’s numbers this year (like so many of his Pelican teammates) have been spectacular.

Twenty-one year-old starter Jeff Broadway turned in a solid effort for Myrtle Beach, throwing five innings and surrendering 3 runs on 6 hits. The Pelicans move to 75-38, a laughable 15 games ahead of the second place Indians in the Carolina League Southern Division.

Hampton’s “Pulp Fiction”

If Atlanta Braves starter Mike Hampton were John Travolta, Tuesday night by the San Francisco Bay would have been his “Pulp Fiction”, ie: his first relevant work in years; a brilliant performance that could ressurect his (MLB) career.

But in fairness, Hampton WAS facing a Giants lineup littered with the best and brightest of San Francisco’s minor league system. But they ARE technically an MLB team, and Hampton shut them down for seven innings, yielding only 2 runs on 4 hits. The veteran lefty threw 90 pitches, 59 for sinking strikes. Hampton’s last win? August 15, THREE years ago. Hampton won twenty games once, a feat acheived by many. But if he finishes strong in ‘08 and comes back in ‘09 with a modicum of success, well, it would certainly be a very unique accomplishment (almost historical).

The Braves offense exploded for 11 runs in the game, and I can’t help but notice the marked difference when All-Star catcher Brian McCann is in the lineup. I say this even though McCann was a very pedestrian 1 for 5 tonight. Here’s my reasoning: McCann’s presence creates a trickle-down advantage for the hitters in front and behind him- in regards to their opponent’s pitch selection. Atlanta’s injured third baseman Chipper Jones is also that kind of hitter.

There aren’t more than twenty players of that caliber in the National League right now.

My point is, if healthy, the ‘09 Braves have a decent foundation already in place- and considering the current power-starved outfield’s performance, all Atlanta really needs is a leftfielder with DECENT power to restore their once potent lineup.

But there will be a long, dark winter when we can focus on things of that nature. For now, the season from Hell will keep on truckin’ tomorrow afternoon, on get-away day at the Bay. Bobby Cox turns to besieged lefty Chuck James (2-4, 9.47) to steal one from the Giants young ace (and arguably the best pitcher in the league) Tim Lincecum, who’s coming in with a sterling 11-3 record and a 2.71 era.

Van Wieren’s best call

The Atlanta Braves traveled to San Francisco Sunday night under the dark cloud of the disturbing Skip Caray tragedy. Moments before the first pitch from the Giant’s starter Matt Cain, Caray’s long time broadcast partner Pete Van Wieren made a profound and eloquent dedication to Caray and his family. Van Wieren never wavered in his heartfealt and loyal praise of Caray’s accomplishments and the ability he exhibited as one of the last great broadcasters.

Van Wieren then proceeded to spend most of the night looking back on his time with Caray. The game (which tonight, was hard to concentrate on) hardly seemed as relevant as hearing any number of insightful Skip Caray yarns from the man who knew him as well as anyone.

The Braves lost to the Giants 4-2, blowing an opportunity to beat a team that’s as offensively challenged as Atlanta. Staying true to form, the Braves stranded 10 baserunners in this first game of the current West Coast swing. Starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens surrendered 4 runs on 8 hits in six innings, falling to 10-7 on the year.

But as I stated before, the unnassuming Van Wieren’s valiant performance in the face of adversity was the story of this otherwise inconsequential contest. Other class moves tonight:

Mark Lemke for catching the last minute flight to join Van Wieren for tonight’s brilliant broadcast,

and the San Francisco Giants (and their fans) for observing the Skip Caray legacy with a pre-game “moment of silence” in his honor. A somewhat suprising and superlative decision on the part of Giant’s management.

This game was, in fact, PETE’S best call. I’m proud for him and lets hope he enjoys many more compelling and memorable games alongside Caray’s talented son, Chip Caray.

Skip will be mighty proud to see that.

Minor League report

Starting pitcher Matt DeSalvo fell to a very unbecoming 2-11 in the Richmond Braves 5-0 loss to the Durham Bulls Monday night. Desalvo was lifted after 110 pitches through five innings in favor of reliever Ryan Basner, and Basner was hit HARD for 3 runs on six hits during his two innings. In 43.1 innings with Richmond this season, Basner has allowed an astounding 54 hits and issued 18 walks. In 22.2 innings with Mississippi, his numbers were nothing if not consistent: 26 safeties and 10 free passes. In 37 combined games, Basner has a 6.95 era and has allowed an alarming 13 homeruns.

On a lighter note, Braves centerfielder Josh Anderson went 3 for 5 and stole 2 bases. He’s at .300 on the campaign, with 32 steals. September can’t come soon enough for Anderson.

Speaking of combined seasons, Righthander Tommy Hanson moved to 9-4, with a 2.69 era (between Myrtle Beach and Mississippi) on the year as the Mississippi Braves beat the Huntsville stars 2-1 on Monday evening in Alabama. Hanson threw 6 innings, struck out ten and allowed 2 runs on 4 hits. Twenty-four year-old Dominican righthander Luis Valdez recorded save number 23 and lowered his era to a flashy 2.77. Both of these young pitchers are darkhorse candidates for the Atlanta staff next spring. Yeah, 2009- you heard it here first.

Mississippi shortstop Brandon Hicks drove in a run and has hit well since his recent promotion from Myrtle Beach- .235-17-54 on the year combined.

Thomas Palica was roughed up for 2 runs on 3 hits in the bottom of the ninth in the Rome Braves 8-7 loss Monday to the Hickory Crawdads. Despite tonight’s blown save, the Brave’s brass have to be encouraged by some of Palica’s overall numbers this year: 63 strikeouts in 53.1 innings,with a batting average of .222 for South Atlantic League opponents.

Jason Heyward launched his tenth roundtripper of the season in the top of the first and went 2 for 4. Heyward, the Brave’s latest and greatest blue-chip outfield prospect, is hitting a cool .317 (.845 ops) through the first 388 at-bats of his first year in pro ball. Go to Rome, Braves fans- he certainly won’t be there in ‘09.

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans blew up the Kinston Indians Monday night 17 to 2! The Pelicans were sparked on by leadoff man Gorkys Hernandez, who scored 3 runs while going 2 for 4. Catcher Tyler Flowers hit TWO homers and drove in five. As a matter of fact, the numbers for the Pelicans first five hitters were outrageous: 10 for 17, with 3 homeruns ( third baseman Earl Campell parked one as well) and FOURTEEN runs driven in. That is some night’s work!

Atlanta starter Tom Glavine allowed a run on three hits in four innings for Myrtle Beach. It was Glavine’s first rehab start since the Braves shut him down over a month ago with elbow pain. The future Hall of Famer struck out four little Indians.

We’ve never included the Danville Braves in our updates, for two reasons- one, the players are so young, and two, there just aren’t enough hours in the day. But since you’ve suffered through three days of technical difficulties and the untimely tragedy (translated: inactivity on The Big Three), the least we could do was check up on the 17 year-old Columbian pitching phenom Julio Teheran. Since he has been reactivated Teheran is 1-0 in 3 games with Danville. He’s thrown nine innings, recorded nine strikeouts and has allowed only two walks.

Danville is 25-22 on the year, second place in the Appalachian League East.

The passing of a Braves Legend

“If I die tonight, I’ve had a great life.” -Skip Caray*

 

Well he did die tonight.  After 68 short years, legendary Atlanta Braves broadcaster Skip Caray has passed on. 

I’ve never experienced a baseball season without Skip Caray.  He was, and always will be, the greatest Braves broadcaster in history. 

He was a famous cynic on the radio, but make no mistake- Caray was, by all accounts, a humble and personable man. He was universally loved by Braves fans, not only in Atlanta, but around the country. He made, in my opinion, the greatest call in Brave’s history; and like a lot of Caray fans, I know it by heart:

“…a lot of room in right center, if he hits one there we can dance in the streets!

The 2-1…

Swung, LINE DRIVE LEFT FIELD! ONE RUN IS IN! HERE COMES BREAM!

Here’s the throw to the plate,

He is……………….

SAFE!

BRAVES WIN! BRAVES WIN! BRAVES WIN! BRAVES WIN!

BRAVES WIN!”

He was banned from team charters, ushered out of television- then brought back by popular demand. He was known as a drinker, a heavy eater. He escaped the shadow of his legendary father to cast a shadow of his own over the entire Southeast.

Despite numerous health problems, Caray continued to broadcast most Atlanta home games with his longtime partner Pete Van Wieren this season. While his style had certainly mellowed, he remained a sharp baseball mind to the end. The last few years of radio broadcasts with Van Wieren yielded some of the best work of Caray’s career.

May you rest in peace, Mr. Caray. We thank you for so many wonderful years in Atlanta, and only wish we could have seen a few more.

*This quote and the superb photo of Mr. Caray can be found at AJC.com.

Minor League report

The Richmond Braves beat the Columbus Clippers 3-2 Friday night on the strength of a walk-off rbi single from first baseman Barbaro Canizares in the bottom of the tenth. Braves starter JoJo Reyes went six innings and allowed 1 earned run during his latest unfortunate International League debut. Richmond shortstop Brent Lillibridge went 3 for 4 and had a pair of doubles in the contest.

Mississippi’s game at Huntsville also featured a pitchers duel, with the Braves beating the Stars 2-1. Mississippi starter Carlos Sencion threw seven innings, surrendering two runs. A combination of relievers Micheal Nix, Sung Ki Jung, newcomer Stephen Marek and closer Luis Valdez tossed four shutout innings to hold off Huntsville for the win. It was the 22nd save of the year for Valdez, tops in the Brave’s organization.

The Rome Braves were back to their slugging ways Friday evening, defeating Greenville 7-6 on (you guessed it) a walk-off rbi single from shortstop Chad Lundahl in the bottom of the ninth. DH Cody Johnson went 2 for 4 and drove in two runs. Rightfielder Jason Heyward also went 2 for 4, and first baseman Frederick Freeman drove in a run while going 1 for 3. Braves starter Jeff Locke gave up 4 runs in 4.2 innings; he recorded five strikeouts and three walks.

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans drew first blood against the Lynchburg Hillcats Friday with a solo shot from third baseman Eric Cambell. It was the only run Myrtle Beach starter Scott Diamond would need, pitching five shutout innings and allowing only 2 hits. Diamond issued five walks but had six strikeouts in the win.

James falls from grace (again)

The precipitous decline of Chuck James career continued Friday night at Turner Field, when the Milwaukee Brewers routed the Atlanta Braves 9-0 in the first of a three game set. he looked, in a word, AWFUL. He was touched up for 6 runs on 6 hits (including 2 towering homeruns) and issued 4 walks. James wasn’t able to complete the third inning. There have been a few ugly starts this year for Atlanta, including a couple of James previous starts, but Friday night might have been the worst.

What has happened to Chuck James?

During his extended stay at AAA Richmond this year, James had a 2.48 era in 13 starts. In his six Atlanta starts, James has an enormous 9.47 era, SEVEN homeruns allowed in a mere 23 innings pitched. With those kind of numbers, it’s hard to believe he’s the same pitcher that won 22 games for the Braves during the last two years. Admittedly, during the 2007 season it became clear that James would never be the “next Glavine” (as some had declared) after his stellar ‘06 campaign (11-4, 3.78). But we haven’t seen such a dramatic drop-off from a Braves pitcher since, well, DAN KOLB! I don’t even like typing that guys name.

And speaking of over-exposed relievers, Royce Ring had another disasterous appearance for the Braves this evening (3 runs in the eighth) to provide company for James in his misery. Ring is now weighing in with an 8.46 era.

This has been some kind of year.

The good news? AJC.com reported Friday night that back-up catcher Corky Miller (he of the heartbreaking .093 average) was “designated for assignment” Friday after starting catcher Brian McCann was cleared to play medically. It’s been frustrating to watch Miller hit this season, but I truly hate to see anyone, even a millionare, lose their job.

Tomorrow it won’t get any easier. Atlanta will face off against Milwaukee’s ace (and, hopefully, future Brave) C.C. Sabathia. Bobby Cox will counter with rookie righthander Charlie Morton, who’ll be looking to rekindle some of the magic he’s lost since his first few starts for the Braves.

Minor League report

Hold the presses…the Richmond Braves lost again on Thursday to the Columbus Clippers, 6-4. Braves starter Brian Lawrence, like a bad Bill Murray movie, was lit up again, this time for six runs on eight hits in six innings. Centerfielder Josh Anderson put the finishing touches on his AAA resume with another stolen base and two more hits. Third baseman Diory Hernandez drove in two runs- that’s six rbi in two nights!

Starter Duente Heath was unhittable as the AA Braves beat the Chatanooga Lookouts 7-0 Thursday night in (I’m going to) Jackson, Mississippi. Heath threw 8 shutout innings and had seven strikeouts- two walks, one lonely hit. That’s 19 straight scoreless innings for Heath, who’s adjusting to AA just fine, thank you.

Slugging shortstop Brandon Hicks drove in two runs and went 2 for 4 in his Mississippi debut. His double-play partner J.C. Holt went 3 for 5 and had a pair of rbis of his own.

Cole Rohrbough suffered his fourth loss as the A Rome Braves were shut out 3-0 by the Greenville Greenjackets Thursday. Rohrbough went six innings and was clipped for three runs. He had an impressive 11 strikeouts, but with 3 walks. The Braves only mustered 3 hits against Greenville pitching.

A Myrtle Beach was down 6-3 in the third inning against the Lynchburg Hillcats Thursday when the showers came and the game was suspended. Leftfielder Willie Cabrera is unconscious, going 2 for 2 tonight with a solo shot in the first.

Bennett stops the bleeding

The Atlanta Braves stopped a five-game skid Thursday night with a 9-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Turner Field. Rookie catcher Clint Sammons went 3 for 4 with a critical two-run homerun to break a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the seventh. Third baseman Omar Infante did his best Chipper Jones impersonation, going 3 for 4 with a homer.

Atlanta’s Mike Hampton made his second start of the season, going five innings and allowing four runs on seven hits. Hampton struggled with his control early; he allowed four walks and threw eighty-one pitches- only 43 for strikes. Hampton’s timing is coming around with the bat, however- he it an rbi double in the bottom of the second.

The trio of Jeff Bennett, Rafael Soriano, and Mike Gonzalez held St. Louis scoreless over the final four innings, providing a needed respite from the bullpen’s recent downslide.

Sammons almost certainly will earn a roster spot if he can do anything close to what he’s done this week offensively on a regular basis. As good a defender as Corky Miller is, I just can’t see Atlanta keeping a .093 hitter on the club if Sammons is the alternative. Then again, they’ve suprised me keeping Miller this long.

Omar Infante has more power and has hit much better than I thought he would. Whatever flurry of trades that Atlanta GM Frank Wren intends to make during the upcoming winter, I hope Infante isn’t part of it. Games like this make you wonder what Infante could have done this season had he not missed such a large amount of time due to injury. It’s a familar refrain for many Braves players this season.

Tomorrow lefty starter Chuck James will make his triumphant return to the majors against the ageless Jeff Suppan. James went 4-5 with a sparkling 2.48 era at AAA Richmond this year, 34 walks in 76.1 innings. Hopefully Chuck will leave all those bb’s in Richmond.

Who’s coming up?

This post would be goofy if it wasn’t so macabre.

The Atlanta Braves 2008 season has been their worst showing in seventeen years. A staggering list of injuries has prevented Bobby Cox from fielding the team he had in spring training. I don’t think even the most viscious Met’s fan would have envisioned this kind of fate for the Braves. Atlanta has had the makings of a first-place team on the DL at varying points throughout this year. Don’t believe me? Tell me you wouldn’t go to war with a lineup like this:

1. Mark Kotsay, rightfield
2. Omar Infante, shortstop
3. Chipper Jones, thirdbase
4. Brian McCann, catcher
5. Matt Diaz, leftfield
6. Joe Borchard, firstbase
7. Martin Prado, secondbase
8. John Smoltz, centerfield

That’s right- number 29 in center. Hey, Smoltz always said he wanted to play an inning in centerfield before he retired. I debated putting Hampton on first and moving Borchard to the outfield… and yeah, I know, Borchard didn’t make it to Atlanta before he got disabled, but the way this season has gone, I think it’s safe to say he would have seen some (signifigant) playing time with the Braves.

Here’s our rotation:

1. John Smoltz
2. Tim Hudson
3. Mike Hampton
4. Tom Glavine
5. Anthony Lerew

Admittedly, Lerew is a stretch. But why split hairs when we have Smoltz patrolling center? Anyway, we have a hell of a bullpen for the days that Lerew pitches:

1. Mike Gonzalez
2. Rafael Soriano
3. Peter Moylan
4. Jeff Bennett
5. Manny Acosta
6. Chuck James

Depth on an MLB baseball team is a relative term. Braves GM Frank Wren made a conscious effort to provide his ballclub with some added depth last winter, particularly pitching depth. The unprecedented amount of pitching injuries have been equal opportunity in regards to age; the Braves best starters and top-flight relievers have all been shelved early and often (or permanently).

That having been said, Wren did the right thing when he traded first baseman Mark Teixeira. He got a quality young first baseman in Casey Kotchman and he freed up a signifigant chunk of salary at the same time. And he’ll need it, because to contend next year the Braves will need to add TWO ace starters to team with this year’s rookie phenom Jair Jurrjens.

But for now, the Braves should consider giving a handful of farmhands a shot in the Majors. Here’s who gets my vote:

1. Josh Anderson

Anderson played well in his all too brief stint in Atlanta. But for most of the year he’s been stuck in the quagmire that is the AAA Richmond Braves. And he’s played well there, too- a .295 average, with an eye-popping 27 stolen bases in 31 trys. Put him at the top of the lineup with Gregor Blanco, then we can all reminisce about Otis Nixon and Neon Deion…

2. Barbaro Canizares

It’s a no brainer. If this guy can hit cold off the bench late in games, he’d be a tremendous power threat. Think Philadelphia’s Greg Dobbs. Canizares on the year: .297-12-51. Ruben Gotay on the year:.220-2-5. Who would you pick?

3. Diory Hernandez

Hernandez has played all over the infield for Richmond this year, yet he’s only commited nine errors. Like Anderson and Canizares, he’s been hitting around .300 all year (.295 right now) and he has 5 homers and 41 rbi. He’s had a number of clutch hits for Richmond. It’s doubtful we’ll see Hernandez before September call-ups, but he deserves a shot just as much as the first two players.

4. Chuck James

Chuck (and duck) has pitched well for the Richmond club since he was summarily dismissed from Atlanta’s 25 man roster. He could be the pitcher that won ten games two years in a row, or he could be overmatched like he was in that dreadful April game in Colorado. Either way, the time to find out is now, since this season has become a two-month “bonus” spring training for Atlanta.

Minor League report

Conception Rodriguez

AAA Richmond lost a wild one Wednesday evening hosting the Columbus Clippers, 11-10. The Braves scored five runs in the first two innings. Centerfielder Josh Anderson and third baseman Diory Hernandez both had rbi hits. Hernandez, in fact, went 4 for 5 in this game and drove in FOUR runs. Richmond’s Damian Moss threw three shut out innings to start the game, but the Braves fell apart in the top of the fourth defensively. The Clippers scored five runs in large part due to Richmond’s three errors and a Moss wild pitch during the nightmarish half inning.

The Brave’s bullpen didn’t fair much better against the talented Columbus lineup, giving up seven runs in the last six innings of the game.

The Braves got a solo homerun from back-up catcher Ray Serrano in the bottom of the ninth to pull back to within one run, and they HAD the tying run on third with two out, but Columbus pitcher Jim Ed Warden struck out rightfielder Jason Perry to end the game.

Richmond falls to 45-66, last place in the International League South division.

AA Mississippi beat Chatanooga 3-1 Wednesday night with run scoring rallies in the second and fourth innings. Starter Jerome Gamble pitched six innings and allowed only one run, on a wild pitch in the top of the fifth. Gamble struck out eight Lookout batters. Closer Luis Valdez recorded save number 21. In 53 innings this year the 24 year-old Dominican has 64 strikeouts.

The A Rome Braves beat the Greenville Astros 3-2 in Rome Wednesday night. Starting pitcher Erik Cordier held the Astros to 2 runs during his 5 innings for the win.

The A Myrtle Beach Pelicans pummeled the Kinston Indians on Wednesday 16-4. Starting pitcher Micheal Broadway shut the Indians out for five innings to garner the win for Myrtle Beach. Rightfielder Conception Rodriguez stayed hot, crushing his eigth roundtripper of the year. Leftfielder Willie Cabrera hit his thirteenth while going 4 for 6 in the blowout.

Minor League report

Barbaro Canizares

Not to be outdone by their counterparts in The Show, the AAA Richmond Braves lost to the Columbus Clippers 5-2 Tuesday night in Virginia. Anthony Lerew lost his first post-rehab start, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits in four innings.

Braves centerfielder Josh Anderson went 2 for 4, raising his average on the year to .293. His teammate, first baseman Barbaro Canizares, went 2 for 4 with a double. Canizares’ average is up to .294. Both of these guys should be in Atlanta, especially since the Braves are “building for the future”, as GM Frank Wren told AJC.com on Tuesday.

AA Mississippi won big Tuesday, 9-3 over the Chatanooga Lookouts in Jackson. For the second straight game, the Braves got a great outing from their starting pitcher; this time it was Kris Medlen. Medlen (4-6, 3.60) threw six innings and allowed one run on three hits. He had six strikeouts.

Centerfielder Jordan Schafer had three rbis, two on a force-out in the third and a run-scoring double in the fifth. Schafer also stole the eight base of his abbrieviated season. Leftfielder Matt Young also drove in a run; he’s up to .293 on the year, with 39 rbis.

Big rightfielder Jason Heyward legged out his fifth triple of the year (watch out, McCann) in A Rome’s 4-2 loss Tuesday evening to Greenville. First baseman Frederick Freeman went 2 for 4; he and Heyward have matching .318 averages on the season. But it wasn’t enough to overcome Rome’s continued offensive struggles.

Rightfielder Conception Rodriguez went 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles in Myrtle Beach’s 7-2 loss at Kinston Tuesday. The Pelicans Jon Owings, at DH, also hit two doubles in this game. They have a A-ball version of the Los Angeles Angel’s outfield glut at Myrtle Beach. How do you fit four guys in three spots?

“Building for the future”?

The Atlanta Braves threw in the proverbial white towel Tuesday, trading first baseman Mark Teixeira to the Los Angeles Angels for first baseman Casey Kotchman and minor league (AAA) reliever Stephen Marek. Kotchman was hitting .287 with 12 homers and 54 rbis. Marek had 57 strikeouts in 46.2 innings at AAA Arkansas in the Texas league.

This was a good trade for the Braves (considering the circumstances), but there are some drawbacks.

Primarily, Kotchman’s lack of power. He never hit more than ten homeruns in a season during his six years in the minors. Last year in L.A. he only hit 11. But that’s about the only drawback with the 24 year-old. Here’s the pros:

He has three more years under contract.

He’s an excellent defensive first baseman.

And he’s a pure, consistent .300 hitter.

Plus he almost never strikes out.

Last season in 443 abs, Kotchman only struck out 43 times. His 12 homers are a career high, majors or minors.

Stephen Marek, the pitcher in the deal, is a middle of the road type of prospect. He throws in the low nineties, with a good curveball, and a bad changeup. So bad that the Angels converted Marek to the bullpen during the offseason. He’s 2-6, with a 3.66 era (3 saves) this year.

Atlanta lost to the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday night at Turner Field, 8-3. The Braves bullpen had its third straight meltdown, wasting another solid outing from The Mexican Maddux (seven innings, seven hits, two runs). There’s just not much to say about this game, a listless, makeshift lineup and a worn-out, defeated bullpen. If you want further details, you can just read the last two game posts again. This game followed a similar formula.

Rookie of the year candidate Jair Jurrjens (10-6, 3.02) will lead the new-look Braves against the Cardinals veteran Chris Carpenter, making his long awaited return from Tommy John elbow surgery. Hopefully Atlanta can make their long anticipated return to relevance.

Minor League report

Shortstop Brent Lillibridge hit a two-run homerun in the first inning of AAA Richmond’s 4-2 loss to Lehigh Valley Monday night. Braves starter Matt DeSalvo fell to a gruesome 2-10 on the year, maintaining his healthy 4.91 era.

Todd Remond won his tenth game of the year for the AA Mississippi Braves with a brilliant effort against the Chatanooga Lookouts Monday. Redmond tossed seven shutout innings and allowed a stingy four hits in the 1-0 win. Closer Luis Valdez racked up his twentieth save. You’ve got to think one or both of these young men could get a chance with the Atlanta staff in ‘09, if not sooner.

A Rome was shut out Monday by Augusta ace Madison Bumgarner. Broadcasters across the country are anxious for an MLB debut from Mr. Bumgarner. What a great baseball name.

Starting pitcher Ryne Reynoso continued his excellent work this year in A Myrtle Beach Monday, defeating the Kinson Indians 4-0. The 23 year-old threw five shutout innings and notched 3 strikeouts. Reynoso moves to 10-6, with a 3.24 era in 108.1 innings pitched.

Myrtle Beach second baseman Travis Jones went 1 for 3 and drove in two of the Pelicans four runs.

Wake me when it’s over

The Atlanta Braves lost 12-3 to the St. Louis Cardinals to open what is sure to be a dandy homestand. The Braves impromptu starting pitcher Charlie Morton was accosted for EIGHT runs in 3.2 innings. I’d tell you more, but there are two reasons I can’t- for one, I turned the laugher off in the fourth. The other reason is that we have to mantain some sense of quality standards around here, even if the Braves won’t. So let’s tie up a few loose ends instead…

One thing that will be lost in the shuffle of this awful year is the outstanding performance of Braves radio play-by-play man Pete Wan Vieren. We nearly lost the great Skip Caray (”the bases are loaded…and I kind of wish I was”) last offseason as he suffered through a series of medical problems. Suffice it to say Caray’s workload has been downsized, a small price to pay to keep a legend among us. Good old Don Sutton(s permanent wave) has moved on to call games for an even worse team than Atlanta. Joe Simpson (who over the years developed into a fine radio broadcaster) is almost always on the television broadcast. So we’re left with The Professor, and he’s still one of the best on radio and one of baseball’s sharpest minds.

Van Wieren just keeps trucking along. He hasn’t had much of a season to broadcast, but like the venerable Caray, Van Wieren’s dry sense of humor tends to come out in the face of adversity. He has worked with four different broadcast partners this year, and on the road it’s primarily been Caray’s son, Chip (an awkward but likeable fellow) and “Little Mr. October”, Mark Lemke. Wan Wieren and Lemke in particular have developed a nice chemistry. Here’s to Pete’s good health, because I swear he’s getting better with age.

It was reported on AJC.com late Monday night that Braves ace Tim Hudson’s MRI revealed a tear in his right elbow ligament. This could (COULD) mean Tommy John surgery for Hudson. He’s flying to Birmingham to see you know who for a more definitive answer tomorrow.

Tomorrow evening Jorge Campillo will attempt to restore order or at least re-establish respectability at Turner Field. He’ll face St. Louis righthander Todd Wellenmeyer.

Flashback: May 9, 1992

That’s right. All the way back to 1992. If you’re some kind of sadist and you want to read about the Atlanta Braves second humiliating loss in a row to the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday, just keep reading.

The thing is, these last two debacles have reminded me of a Braves/St. Louis Cardinals game back on May 9, 1992, that followed a similar formula: Braves blow a huge lead and lose a game they had in hand. Of course, these kind of things happen in baseball, but the game in ‘92 was the first time I was old enough to fully appreciate the absurdity of blowing such a huge lead.

The Braves, behind a 25 year-old flame thrower named John Smoltz, had an 8-0 lead by the end of the third. In the top of the third, after a series of singles (and a rare throwing error from Cardinals Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie “The Wizard” Smith) Braves catcher Damon Berryhill hit a three run bomb to extend the lead. St. Louis started chipping away, with three runs in the fourth, then two more in the fifth; Atlanta held serve, however, scoring three more runs during the aforementioned innings. 11-5, going to the bottom of the seventh…after a Felix Jose double and a Todd Zeile single, Braves manager Bobby Cox pulled Smoltz and his 117 pitch count in favor of reliever Juan Berenger. Berenger promptly walked Cards second baseman Luis Alicea and surrendered a three-run double to pinch hitter Gerald Perry.

Four-run inning, 11-9.

Then, in the bottom of the eighth, enter Braves righthander Marvin Freeman. Jose hits a two-run homer, tie game. After an rbi single from Alicea the Cardinals took the lead and the win, 12-11.

I couldn’t believe what I had seen. The Braves bullpen had blown a six run lead, and the Braves had lost a game that they had led by as many as eight runs. It still hurts to think about it. But not as much as it hurts thinking about the past weekend in Philly.

The Braves endured an extended rain delay Sunday, and it washed away Jorge Campillo’s opportunity to pitch. When the two teams remerged from their respective dugouts, they both had new pitchers. The Braves broke through for three runs off Philadelphia reliever Adam Eaton, who was chased amid a chorus of boos. But JoJo Reyes gave all five runs back to the Phillies in the bottom half of the inning. It was 6-5 after Phillies leftfielder Pat Burrell took Reyes deep for a solo shot. The bottom of the fifth? An utter disaster for Braves fans, who watched relievers Royce Ring and Blaine Boyer give up five runs, pushing the score to 11-5. Atlanta did score five in the top of the eighth, but it was all for naught once Brad Lidge induced a ground-out from Braves third baseman Omar Infante to end the ninth.

It was Atlanta’s fifry-fifth loss of the year. They stand at 7 1/2 games back of first place in the N.L. East, having lost a game in the standings since the All-Star break.

Tomorrow the Braves will host the Cardinals for the first time in ‘08. Bobby Cox has yet to announce his starting pitcher for game one, but whoever it is will be facing St. Louis righthander Braden Looper.

Be careful for the next three days, Atlanta motorists, in case Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa happens to pass out in a drunken stupor while driving his rental car. Hey, it’s been known to happen before.

Minor League Report

Van Pope

AAA Richmond’s game against Lehigh Valley was suspended Sunday due to rain in Virginia.

AA Mississippi clobbered the Chatanooga Lookouts Sunday 9-0. Braves leftfielder Matt Young was in the middle of everything offensively, going 4 for 5, scoring three times and driving in three runs. Mississippi third baseman Van Pope went 2 for 3, raising his season average to .279. A trio of Braves pitchers (Carlos Sencion, Paul Bush, and Kevin Gunderson) allowed only five hits in the shutout.

Starting pitcher Edgar Osuna had his best start of the year Sunday in A Rome’s 3-0 victory over Augusta. The 21 year-old Mexican threw seven shutout innings, surrendering only four hits. He moves to 5-4 on the year, with a solid 3.39 era.

First baseman Frederick Freeman hit his seventeenth roundtripper of the year and drove in two of his teams three runs. What a YEAR this kid is having.

Lefthander Scott Diamond moved to an astonishing 9-1 on the season when the A Myrtle Beach Pelicans defeated the Winston Salem Warthhogs 8-5 Sunday. Diamond had seven strikeouts in his six innings of work. Between his time at Rome and Myrtle Beach this season, Diamond is 12-2 with a sterling 3.19 era in 124 innings.

Leftfielder Willie Cabrera went 2 for 4 and drove in three runs. Cabrera’s numbers on the year: .288-12-63, only forty k’s in 386 ab’s. I don’t know what’s in the water up there, but this Myrtle Beach lineup is something else.

Hampton: the missing years

Mike Hampton finally got to see what he’d been missing the last three years- the opportunity to pitch in an Atlanta Brave’s loss.

The Braves lost to the Phillies in a 10-9 brawl Saturday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. Two things in particular happened in this game that you almost never see. The first rarity was watching the Braves chase Philadelphia ace Cole Hamels with a NINE run fourth inning. The other oddity was, of course, Mike Hampton making a start in the Major Leagues.

The former twenty game winner was ahead in the count on every batter he faced. He left in the bottom of the fourth, having loaded the bases with no outs. After relievers Royce Ring and Blaine Boyer had finally completed the seven run Philadelphia half of the inning, Hampton was on the hook for six runs on eight hits in four innings. Not exactly a Sandy Koufax type of outing, but Hampton making his first injury-free start in nearly three years was somewhat inspiring in and of itself.

But like everything else this season for Atlanta, Hampton’s return was just too little, too late. The Braves remain 6 1/2 games out of first at the end of Saturday’s action.

Tomorrow our beloved Mexican Maddux will brave the shortporches in the series finale. He’ll be opposed by the Phillies latest acquisition, righthander Joe Blanton.

Minor League report

Veteran starter Brian Lawrence moved his record to .500 (3-3) Saturday in AAA Richmond’s 4-1 win over Lehigh Valley. Lawrence went seven innings, giving up five hits and only one run. Second baseman Diory Hernandez had a pair of rbi singles in the contest.

It’s been an up and mostly down year for Lawrence. For a man that has logged nearly a thousand major league innings, Lawrence has certainly had a difficult time pitching in the International league. In nine starts this season for Richmond, he has logged 50.2 innings. In those 50.2 innings, Lawrence has yielded 59 hits (a .291 average against) and 26 earned runs- resulting in a bloated 4.62 era. In 152 Major League starts, Lawrence is 50-63 with a 4.19 era.

23 year-old starter Duente Heath had his best start since his promotion to AA Mississippi when he beat Birmingham 3-2 Saturday. Heath had seven strikeouts in seven innings, allowing a walk and six hits. Centerfielder Jordan Schafer stayed hot, driving in a run while going 3 for 4. Schafer has raised his average to .242 on the campaign. Rightfielder Reid Gorecki drove in the rest of Mississippi’s runs with a two-run shot in the top of the eighth. Closing pitcher Luis Valdez recorded his nineteenth save.

The comeback kids were at it again Saturday night at A Rome, beating the Augusta Greenjackets 8-4 with run-scoring rallies in the sixth, seventh, and eight innings. Braves starter Cole Rorhbough had nine strikeouts in 5.2 innings, but he also allowed three runs on six hits with three walks. Rome Rightfielder Jason Heyward drove in his fourty-sixth run of the year, while first baseman Frederick Freeman drove in two, raising his rbi total to a lusty 76.

21 year-old starter Jeff Lyman was shellacked Saturday when Myrtle Beach lost to Winston Salem 11-2. Lyman was chased after only 3.2 innings, having walked five and surrendered seven runs on eight hits. Now those are ugly numbers.

Minor League report

Josh Anderson

Starting pitcher Chuck James had another excellent outing in the AAA Richmond Braves 6-5 loss to the (get THIS nickname) Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs Friday night in Virginia. James went six innings, issued two walks and surrendered six hits but only one run. Braves Centerfielder Josh Anderson went 4 for 5 with a double and three runs scored, raising his season average to .291. Cuban journeyman Vladimir Nunez was rocked for four runs in the seventh, and was tagged with his third blown save of the season.

Starting pitcher Tommy Hanson notched his sixth win at Birmingham Friday for the AA Mississippi Braves. Hanson went 6.1 innings, allowing three hits and no runs. He struck out TEN Baron’s batters. Centerfielder Jordan Schafer had a breakout game, going 3 for 4 and driving in two runs.

The A Rome Braves extended their losing streak to four games Friday with a 2-1 loss at home to the Augusta Green Jackets. The powerful Braves trio of Jason Heyward, Frederick Freeman and Cody Johnson were held hitless in the contest.

A Myrtle Beach DH Phil Britton hit two homeruns and drove in three in a blowout win 8-0 over Winston Salem Friday. Atlanta Braves reliever Jeff Bennett threw another scoreless inning as he continues his injury rehab stint.

Jurrjens does it again

The Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-2 in their series opener at the Citizens Bank Bandbox Friday night on the strength of a brilliant performance from starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens. Jurrjens (10-5, 3.02) shut down the vaunted Philadelphia lineup, throwing eight shutout innings and allowing only three hits. Braves catcher Brian McCann hit a solo homerun in the top of the fourth inning, and through eight innings it would stand as the only run of the game.

But the way Jurrjens pitched tonight, it was more than enough run support. The 22 year-old righthander has blossomed into a full-blown ace this year for Atlanta. Jurrgens has pitched with a composure beyond his years throughout the season, and tonight was no different. His location was nearly flawless (1 walk) and the movement on his pitches had the Philly sluggers mistified (six strikeouts) for the balance of the evening.

Jurrjens might have only needed a single run to win, but in the top of the ninth the Braves scored five more off Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge. McCann hit his second homer of the game (a grand slam) in that ninth; the roundtripper was the first one surrendered by Lidge this YEAR. It was the fifth grand slam of McCann’s illustrious three-year career with the Braves; Atlanta would go on to score two more runs courtesy of Philadelphia reliever Clay Condrey.

Most of the savages, er, masses in the stadium left before they had a chance to watch their “beloved” Phillies score two meaningless runs off Braves reliever Will Ohman in the bottom of the ninth.

Tomorrow Atlanta manager Bobby Cox hopes to see the LONG awaited return of starter Mike Hampton. The oft injured, oft maligned Hampton will be making his first Major League start in nearly three years. He’ll be facing Philadelphia ace Cole Hamels (9-6, 3.11).

Think there’s any chance they’ll have Hampton on a relatively short pitch count?

Welcome to Atlanta

Yesterday you might have read my post about the Hawks losing small forward Josh Childress, and that Atlanta signing a legitimate replacement seemed unlikely. Well, I am pleased to tell you I was wrong. On Friday the Hawks DID sign a replacement for Childress, former Laker swingman Maurice Evans, and at the same time they addressed a couple of their weaknesses. Evans is a versatile and athletic small forward/shooting guard. He plays solid perimiter defense, and he’s also a career 36% three point shooter. Evans averaged 9.3 ppg last year for the Orlando Magic, and 9.0 ppg during the playoffs.

Evans isn’t going to get all the tip-ins and offensive boards that Childress would have garnered- as a matter of fact, he’s not much of a rebounder at all (2.5 rpg during his seven year NBA career). But what Evans gives Atlanta is:

A. Another veteran to guide these young Atlanta players to a winning record

B. A pure scoring threat off the bench, especially from three-point land

C. Nasty perimeter defense

D. Someone who could spell Joe Johnson and keep him fresh for the end of the games.

Maurice Evans has played with the veterans in Detroit, he’s also played under the Zenmaster in L.A. He understands what a winning culture is. During the offseason, Joe Johnson bemoaned the lack of veteran presence in the Hawks locker room. The Evans signing should help quell some of his concerns.

Picture this defensive lineup: Johnson, Evans, Al Horford, and Josh Smith on the floor at the same time, with (dare I say it) Speedy Claxton running the point. Atlanta head coach Mike Woodson’s options just multiplied.

So where are we on that Hawks offseason checklist, lets see- maybe add a couple of big men, and, oh yeah- RESIGN the second best player on the team. If Hawks GM Rick Sund can resign Smith and add someone like Randolph Morris (who has already tried out for Atlanta) I’d be more than satisfied in spite of the unfortunate Childress situation. But this is still the Hawks, so I’ll believe it when I see it.

Hawk’s skeleton crew

I’ve had some time to cool off and reflect on the implications of the Atlanta Hawks best bench player playing basketball in Europe on opening night. And I’ve reached a conclusion:

this is going to be worse than I thought.

It doesn’t seem likely that the Hawks will make any real attempt to replace small forward Josh Childress. Considering they still haven’t even resigned the second best player on the team, I have trouble believing they’ll bring in anyone that commands more than a league minimum level salary.

If the Hawks were a real NBA team, they would try to bring in a big time small forward AND resign Smith, because Smith has become a quintessential power forward, no matter how they list him. Instead it seems likely that the five starters (assuming Smith is back) will be asked to increase their mpg workload. And even then, remember the four guys that sat on the bench every night last season and NEVER got any minutes? Well, one of them is going to be forced into the fire. Unfortunately for Hawks fans, not a single player (beyond the starters) on this roster has the size, athleticism or versatility of Childress. So it’s going to take contributions from a number of players to replace the minutes and numbers that Childress consistantly posted.

Center Zaza Pachulia is now Hawks coach Mike Woodson’s first option off the bench. If Pachulia can play wth the kind of intensity that he brought to the first round playoff series vs. Boston, he could become an integral part of the Hawks defensive arsenal. With increased playing time throughout the season, it’s not unreasonable to expect ten points a game from Pachulia. He scored 11.7 ppg in 31.4 mpg while starting in ‘05-’06.

Veteran point guard Speedy Claxton is tearing up the Summer league and certainly hasn’t played like a man with bad knees. Claxton has missed the better part of his two seasons in Atlanta, but he could prove a valuable defensive asset off the bench for the Hawks. He would also give Woodson the option of sliding point guard Mike Bibby over to the shooting guard position. This would put Joe Johnson at the small forward. It could work because along with all the things Johnson does offensively, he is a capable rebounder with good size.

Second year point guard Acie Law has worked hard during the offseason to improve on his shooting after a dissapointing rookie campaign. He went from starting point guard to injured to out of the rotation completely. If Law can hold his own, he’ll provide much needed backcourt help because Childress played at least half his minutes at one or both of the guard positions.

In any event, it’s all for naught if the Hawks can’t resign Smith. Because to lose two high caliber players is far more than even an All-Star player like Joe Johnson can overcome.

Minor League report

Damian Moss during better times

AAA Richmond came from behind to beat Scranton-Wilkes/Barre in game one of their doubleheader Thursday 6-3. Rehabbing starter Anthony Lerew gave up three runs in his 2.2 innings. Jonathan Rouwenhorst got the win in relief, moving him to 8-9 on the year. The Jorge Julio project continued as Julio notched his third save- no walks, two strikeouts. His era is all the way down to 1.45. Walks be damned, I think this guy might be in the Atlanta ‘pen by the end of the year.

The Braves lost game two, almost getting no-hit by Yankees pitcher Ian Kennedy. In the seventh inning with two outs, DH Barbaro Canizares reached on an error and Scott Thorman doubled him in. It was the only run Richmond would score.

Braves starter Matt DeSalvo pitched well, going five innings and allowing a run. DeSalvo gave up five hits, but also had five strikeouts.

And since we were updating ressurected pitchers like Julio and DeSalvo, what about Damian Moss? Can he bounce back from his bad inning two nights ago? Yes, Moss threw two shutout innings with three strikeouts. But in the bottom of the eighth, Braves reliever Ryan Basner gave up a walk off three run homerun to Scranton’s Ben Broussard. And that’s not a typo, they only played eight innings. In game one they only played seven innings. I guess that’s an attempt to protect these “up and coming” AAA players in their thirties.

Starting pitcher Kris Medlen fell to 3-6 in AA Mississippi’s 11-6 loss at Birmingham Thursday. Brave’s reliever Micheal Nix was scorched for five runs in the sixth, and his era ballooned to 6.61 on the year.

The bombers down at A Rome were off tonight, as were the A Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

The Hawks undoing

The Atlanta Hawks took a big step backwards Wednesday. Sekou Smith at AJC.com reported that Hawks small forward and valuable sixth man Josh Childress has signed a 3 year, 32.5 million dollar deal to play for Greece in the Euro league.

It is the beginning of what will ultimately be the undoing of the Atlanta Hawks.

Childress averaged 11.8 ppg in 2008, 11.1 ppg in his all too brief career in Atlanta. He was the first of a series of widely ridiculed draft picks for former Hawks GM Billy Knight. Childress never really lived up to whatever expectations Knight had, but he had developed into an overworked and undervalued sixth man, basically sharing the SF position in ‘08 with starter Marvin Williams.

The Greeks almost certainly overpayed Childress, he would never have been offered 10 million+ per year in the NBA. I can’t even to begin to speculate what kind of offer the Hawks countered with, or if they countered at all.

But whether the Europeans overpaid or not is no excuse. Losing Childress after publicly vowing to retain him (at any cost!) is only the latest blow to this ownership “group” and it’s vanishing credibility. Why, after making the playoffs for the first time in EIGHT years would the Hawks be willing to LOSE critical players and refuse to replace them?

Are they even going to try to sign Josh Smith to a long term deal?

It’s almost August. Summer League is already underway. If the Hawks brass plan on saving any face, they’ll need to get Smith signed soon. Even if they do, at this point a return to the playoffs, eight seed or not, is looking less and less likely.