The Atlanta Braves, for what it’s worth, finished the first half of 2008 in fine fashion, crushing the San Diego Padres 12-3 Sunday. All Star Brave’s catcher Brian McCann went 3 for 3 with three rbis and a homerun, first baseman Mark Teixeira went 2 for 5 with two rbis. Fill in shortstop Brent Lillibridge even got into the act, going 3 for 5 with two rbis of his own.
Padre’s starter Randy Wolf had what could be classified as a “rough day at the office”. The bearded lefty went five innings; he was acosted for six runs on six hits and three walks. Brave’s starter Jorge Campillo on the other hand was breezing all afternoon. The Mexican Maddux held the struggling San Diego offense to two runs through a solid five innings. The journeyman Atlanta righthander had the opportunity to pitch in front of his large family, all of whom (according to Brave’s anouncer Pete Van Wieren) drove in from nearby Tiajuana, Mexico to support Campillo’s winning effort Sunday afternoon.
How proud must this man be, after toiling away in the depths of the Mexican League and various minor league clubs for YEARS, to pitch for the Braves in front of his family, the family that Van Wieren says have watched the Braves (via TBS) since our Mexican Maddux was in his formative years. In the train wreck that has been the 2008 season, Jorge Campillo has been a jewel in the rough for Atlanta GM Frank Wren.
If the Braves, as a group, were trying to send a message to their front office today, it might have been “we’re still in this race”. Perhaps the trade talk (and questions) have created a sense of urgency in the Atlanta clubhouse. Or perhaps a mediocre Braves team just beat up on an inferior ballclub in San Diego this weekend.
So for four days the Braves players (save for All Stars Chipper Jones and McCann) will have a chance to regroup and recuperate for four days. Atlanta will start the second half with three straight series against N.L. East opponents (Washington in Atlanta, then on the road at Florida and Philadelphia). The message from Wren is clear: win these series or he could be fielding trade offers for Teixeira by the time that drunkard Tony LaRussa brings his detestable St. Louis Cardinals to town on July 28th.
