Braves Brandon Beachy Another Setback

The news was not good from the Braves camp this morning. First I saw this tweet from the AJC’s David O’Brien:

Then Carroll Rogers – one of the AJC’s most under rated assets in my humble opinion – filled in the blanks. Beachy told her:

"“I’m not where I want to be, that’s really all I have to say about it,” Beachy said Thursday. “I’m frustrated and I’m not where I want to be. Nothing else has changed,” Beachy said. “Still the same goals, the same hopes. Just not where I want to be right now.”"

Beachy was shut down after five post TJ surgery starts but a visit to Dr. James Andrews eased fears when an MRI found no structural damage. He played catch for the first time during the Philadelphia series  but this soreness lessens his odds of being back for any meaningful work this year.

Fredi Gonzalez told reporters – again in the Rogers post linked above – that the Braves are “optimistic” Paul Maholm will be ready to pitch in his regular rotation next Wednesday. The contrast MRI on Maholm showed no structural damage but the dye delays his availability as it takes a few days to clear the system.

Freddy Garcia threw six strong for the Braves today at the Fish Tank allowing only one run on five hits. It’s his third good outing since arriving from Gwinnett and will help rest a bullpen whose innings are mounting. With rookie David Hale getting his first major league start tomorrow that rest could be important.  More good news during the game was the return of Jordan Walden to action as he threw an easy scoreless seventh inning. Walden’s been nursing a sore groin since August 19th, a nagging injury that seemed to refuse to improve. Twice he stopped side sessions because it was still bothering him. Getting Walden back improves the back end of the bullpen and takes some pressure off of David Carpenter, Luis Avilan and Luis Ayala.