It's all over but the crying

7-2 Cubs over Braves. I won't even get into the game. The Braves lost this one with two outs in the FIRST.
Actually they lost it yesterday when, after Tom Glavine left the game with a strained pitching elbow (and was placed on the 15-day DL) Jair Jurrjens slipped on the dugout steps and twisted an ankle and missed tonight's game. WOW

So if you are keeping count....Glavine-DL. Smoltz-DL. Hampton-DL. Jurrjens-missed tonight's game. Chuck James-AAA.
Tim Hudson and Jo-Jo are the only starters still able to pitch. Wow.

So I must NOW say, "LET THE REBUILDING BEGIN!"

Trade Tex for whatever prospects you can get from the Mets or the Angels or the Yankees, though the Yankees prolly won't pony up now and the Mets sent all of their studs to the Twins for Johan. I don't want an AJ Burnett or a Rich Harden or Joe Blanton anymore. Nope, those guys command too much money. Let the rebuilding begin.

When Smoltzie's, Glavine's, Hampton's, Tex's, and Kotsay's contracts all come off the books after this season, you are looking at having 50M to play with.
50M (in addition to the 30M already tied up in the other part of the team) to get a firstbaseman.
50M to finish out your rotation, unless you are planning on going with 1Huddy 2Jurrjens 3JoJo 4Morton 5James Grab a Number4 and let Morton and James fight over that 5th spot with Campillo
50M to sign a leftfielder, unless Jordan Schaffer is the new CF and a combo of Brandon Jones/Gregor Blanco/Josh Anderson is your LF of the future?
50M to solidify Gonzo and Soriano in the pen.

and PS, this won't be popular, but trade Frenchy while you can. He doesn't want to sign an affordable deal, ala BMac, so send him to Seattle or Baltimore or Washington. Right now-Austin Kearns for Frenchy! Do IT!

The rebuilding will be rough, but hey...maybe after a few years in 2011, this team will be back. It will waste Huddy's and Chipper's last good years, but if that's what it takes, then do it. The Florida Marlins will have ANOTHER World Championship by then and will be in fire sale mode. The Mets will be the biggest obstacles with the Phillies right behind them. But if you build this team the way Philly brought up their crew, then Maybe the Braves can be like Philly in a few years.

OUCH! I just longed for the Braves to be like Philadelphia. What has the season come to?