Being a baseball addict, a guy who falls asleep every summer night to the sound of an exhausted ESPN highlight reel repeatedly slapping against the floor, who watches VHS tapes of old games just for fun, whose sum total of missed televised Braves games since 1989 isn’t even in double digits, I thought I had seen all there is to see on the diamond.  Sadly, I was wrong.  What transpired at the conclusion of tonight’s game at Landshark Stadium was unnerving in a way I couldn’t have anticipated.
After Nate McClouth struck out to end the game, Marlins catcher John Baker [...]

A day after losing to an inept umpiring crew at Turner Field, the Atlanta Braves made sure there was margin for error against the Milwaukee Brewers, and that Mister Magoo disguised in black would be powerless to determine their fate with a lousy call.  It was not the sharpest outing of the year for Javier Vazquez, but he showed real moxy when it counted most, fastidisouly sifting through McCann’s signs like a music lover at a record store until finding gold.  He got it in a sombrero when he struck out home run derby winner Prince Fielder four times.
You’d have [...]

Tim Hudson looked real shaky today in his second rehab start with Class A Myrtle Beach Pelicans. He gave up five hits and three runs in the third inning to end his night on the mound.
Hudson is expected to have at least five more starts in the minors before he joins the Atlanta Braves. He is coming off elbow surgery and hasn’t pitched in almost a year.
However, if he can show a pinch of dominance for the Braves down this stretch it could be all that the team needs to get over the hump and make the playoffs. The Braves [...]

The Atlanta Braves finally crashed to earth against the Barry Zito-led Giants to lose 5-1 today in an afternoon game at Turner Field.
The only hightlight of the game was Yunel Escobar hitting his second home run in two days. He’s really coming into his own for the Braves, who actually considered trading him last year.
The night before the Braves dominated the Giants with the Freak pitching. Jair Jurrjens outpitched the All-Star Tim Lincecum and came away with eight strikeout for the win. The Phillies, although losing today, continue to dominate the East, but the Braves are making waves for that [...]

After putting the ailing Mets out of their collective misery, the Braves set their sights on Jonathan Sanchez and the wild card leading Giants.  They made quick work of them, too.  At least in game one.  The Braves offense has awakened–at least for now–and they are finally showing some mojo at the plate.  The home run has reemerged as a weapon, and like the reliably politically incorrect Chipper Jones said, they no longer have any “automatic outs.”
I doubt Jeff Francoeur or Kelly Johnson will be sending Hoss a christmas card this year.
Unfortunately for the Braves, the only NL team hotter [...]

The Atlanta Braves won the first two games after the all star break much the way they won the first two of the season: by hitting homers, pitching well, and playing fundamentally sound baseball.
On friday, the Braves, who have habitually played down to the level of competition this year, utterly dismantled an injury riddled N.Y. Mets team.  After losing yet another outfielder–Gary Sheffield (hamstring)–the Mets are hobbling around Atlanta wrapped in gauze, 8 1/2 games behind the Phillies, and now without the services of Carlos Beltran and their home run leader.  The Braves, meanwhile, are within striking distance of both [...]

The Braves mid term grades are as follows:
Pitching:
Derek Lowe: C+   He started out of the gate throwing his sinker effectively, but of late, his pitches haven’t been “lowe” enough, hence, the surge in ERA.  The Braves need more ballast from their ace.

Jair Jurrjens: A-   He has been proving that 2008 was no anomaly.
Javier Vasquez: A-   Far exceeding expectations, he ranks among the league leaders in strike outs to walks as well as ERA.  He has been the most reliable, dominant pitcher on the Braves staff.
Tommy Hanson: A-   He has been remarkably poised during his maiden voyage into major [...]

It finally happened.  Jeff Francoeur is gone.
With the cancer removed, the World Series is now all but guaranteed, right?
What will the bloggers do now that their favorite persona non grata has left the building?  His near imfamous monikers–Francine, Failcoeur, Stenchy–will have to be retired;  the much maligned right fielder can no longer be blamed for the Braves failures.
And that could be dangerous.
The offensive woes have been placed so squarely on Francoeur over the past couple seasons, with every single at bat mercilessly scrutinized by ‘Bream65′ and ‘CoxSucks’, the prospect of having no one to pin the kick me sign on [...]

Every time we think the Braves have officially flatlined and we look up at the clock to call the season’s time of death, the heart monitor suddenly beeps, and beeps again, and just like that, we’re right back in it.  Whether they’re just toying with us and merely prolonging the inevitable remains to be seen.  There’s no denying, though, that despite all the difficulties this year, the Braves still have a pulse.  There is still what Emily Dickenson referred to as that thing with feathers…that keeps us warm’
Hope.
And summer just arrived in Atlanta.
On the current road trip, the schizophrenic Braves [...]

The Atlanta Braves will be represented by one guy in the All-Star game and that is catcher Brian McCann.
McCann loses the starting spot to St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina. Don’t feel so bad, because even Adrian Gonzalez couldn’t get a start over Albert Pujols.
The Braves top three pitchers certainly deserved to play in the game with respectable ERAs, WHIPS and Ks to Walk ratios, but their records show they play on a team that has little consistency and run support—hence why they all got the axe. No one wants a guy who is 7-8 starting for the All Star [...]