Braves series v Houston

These holiday weekends REALLY take it out of me. Sorry for the lack of Braves updates, but I thought I'd throw at you my thoughts on the series v Houston from my Score Atlanta beat coverage.

Houston was the next team the Braves welcomed to Turner Field, and the Salute to America Spectacular wasn’t the only display of fireworks Braves fans were treated to on July 4. The bats finally came alive as newcomer Jason Perry, replacing Francoeur in the lineup, tripled in his first major league at-bat and helped the Braves to an early 2-0 lead. Starter Tim Hudson was masterful in picking up his ninth win of the season and Kelly Johnson homered and Jones was 2-4 in the win. In game two, Jo-Jo Reyes got roughed up for four two-out runs in the first two innings, and the Braves offense could not catch up as Houston cruised to a 6-1 win. McCann did connect for a solo home run in the contest to drive his season total to 15. In the rubber match, Jones hit his 18th home run of the year to give the Braves an early lead, but the rookie Charlie Morton allowed 6 runs as the Braves trailed 6-4 entering the bottom of the eighth. Yunel Escobar came through with a two-out, two-run single to knot the game at 6, and in the 17th, tex hit a bases loaded "single" to clinch the series in the longest game in Turner Field history!
YEAH!
I do like that Chipper was able to leg out a triple and he scored from first on a lil tex double. The leg injury appears to be behind him.
Also, Morton is taking lumps now, just like Jo-Jo did two seasons ago, and Morton will be better for it in the long run. Of course he'd like to pull a D-Will, but all this does is lower expectations and he will FAR exceed them to win a place in braves fans' hearts.

One final note, Chipper SHOULD be starting in the all-star game, AND HE IS. McCann SHOULD be starting in the all-star game, but a rookie with WORSE numbers in EVERY category is starting because the folks in Chicago packed the ballot boxes. I like that the fans can have a SAY, but the decision of who starts a game that determines home field advantage in the world series should NOT be left up to 14 year old girls. Case in point, Dustin Pedroia starting at Second for the AL. As a Braves fan I like that Atlanta MIGHT have home field advantage in the WS because some 14 year old chick from Southie thinks Dustin is cute, but come on. Though back when Joe Torre was selecting Paul O'Neil all-star games every year, that got a little crazy too. Can we not find a happy-medium?

I also wanted to say that I really do hope that Frenchy can take this demotion to AA mississippi with class (wait, he already hasn't done that) and fix himself so he can rejoin the team post-all-star break. This team NEEDS the future of the franchise (IMO it should be McCann). One interesting question I raised today on Zone Sports Sunday on Sports radio 790 the zone...would the team have demoted him had he signed that 6 year/26M deal? I say no. Stinks for him. But Mississippi is stacked right now with Diaz, Schaffer and Frenchy manning the outfield grass. Go to Pearl RIGHT NOW and see a major league 7-9 at a minor league price. DO IT!

Otherwise, I've got a story on Frank Wren and Bruce Manno coming out this week in Score Atlanta, which I will post Wednesday, and go to www.scoreatl.com tomorrow (hopefully) as the new website will be up and running with my Blog on the future of the Braves rotation.

and as for pieces the Braves COULD move for a Joe Crede or Xavier Nady... several names pop to mind. OF Brandon Jones, C Clint Sammons, OF Josh Anderson, OF Jason Perry, IF Diorey Hernandez, RHP Phil Stockman, P Chuck James, P Vladimir Nunez, P Jeff Ridgway. People were asking for a few names...there you go.