The Bender 4/25/09

Well, well, well dear Bender fans.  I am here to announce that I have been informed by top level exectutives of the Atlanta Braves, that Tom Glavine is more than likely finished for his career and that Braves young pitching prospect Tommy Hanson, should be called up to the big times quite soon.  This unnamed executive citied Tom Glavine's ailing, 300+ game winning shoulder as the main reason.  

This is a good news/ bad news situation.  Tom Glavine is a long time figure in the Braves rotation, although his leaving for the Mets gave rise to his nick-name of the "Benedict Brave," of course a reference to the infamous American traitor Benedict Arnold.  It's always a tragedy when you don't get to hang up your cleats on a healthy note, there may still be the desire to play, but the body doesn't comply.  However, on a positive note, Tommy Hanson should be up sooner rather than later.  This young man was given the honor as best pitcher in the Braves organization for the 2008 season which led to many people hope that he would, in some way, be on the starting day roster either in the bullpen or the rotation. 

All I can say is that I am sad to see Tommy G. possibly end his career if the source is correct, but I am bubbling with anticipation for the arrival of Tommy H.  

In other Braves news, Brian McCann is going on the DL because of his left eye.  Since the beginning of the season, Brian has been experiencing blurry vision and after seeing a specialist in D.C. and attempting to utilize a new contact lens, has been told he will be put on the DL.  This may mean that he will be on the 15-day list a couple times because the initial prognosis is that he will have to have a second lasik eye procedure.  His first eye operation was in 2007.  This may come as bad news to most, myself included, but the silver lining will be that he is getting it out of the way early in the season while the pitching staff is doing a teriffic job and not at the end of the season which he could be more depended on, and that newly signed backup catcher David Ross has been, shall we say, great as his replacement.  He can hit for a bit of power and is, defensively speaking, better than Brian McCann behind the plate.  I hope for McCann's quick return to help balance out our lineup once again.  

Recently, the Braves have been on the road, at Pittsburgh, at Washington and currently at Cincinatti.  This road trip was supposed to help the Braves rebound after getting swept by the Florida Marlins at home, but has so far been a bit more rough than expected.  After going 1-2 at both Pittsburgh and Washington.  However, the Braves have evened up the road series today as they put a hurting on the Reds by taking the first two games of this three game series in nice form.  A close game with some bench clearing excitement as Yunel Escobar got plunked and took exception as he charged toward the Reds' pitcher, Endosin Volquez.  The Braves won as Mike "The Cobra" Gonzalez closed out the 9th and got his 2nd save of the year.  This same game had Javier Vasquez going six strong innings and had the bullpen come in with Moylan in the 7th, Soriano in the 8th and "The Cobra" in the 9th.   Today's 1pm game was a blow out as the Bravos smacked the Reds for a 10-2 victory.  Derek Lowe was masterful on the mound and endeared himself to his Braves teammates by hitting Joey Votto in the same spot that Escobar was hit the night before.  Chipper Jones hit a 3-run shot and pinch hitter Gerg Norton got his first hit of the season as he laced a double and got his first RBI of the year.

Well, we can hope for the sweep of the Reds as the Braves square off and send Kenshin Kawakami to the hill for the rubber match. 

So until next time dear readers: pray for pitching, be proud of the Tomahawk Chop and if you need a smile, just remember when Sid slid.  

The Bender 4/16/2009

Same old story, same old song and dance.

Well the Bravos are 5-4 nine games into the regular season.  It all started with a great flourish of pitching and home runs as B-Mac, Frenchy and, my pick for the 2009 Rookie of the Year, Jordan Schafer went deep in the season opener at Philly.  That same game, newly acquired Derek Lowe went 8 innings giving up no runs with Mike Gonzalez grabbing the save against the defending World Champs.  The same would repeat the next night as this time is was Jair Jurrjens who went 5+ strong, scoreless innings with a lead off bomb from Kelly Johnson and a long fly from Chipper Jones to give them both their first home runs of the year.  Once again the bullpen came in and shut down the Phillies for a second straight time.  

The Braves would drop the rubber match as the bullpen melted down, walking in runs, the worst sin of all, giving up a 10-3  to lose the game 12-11 as Brad Lidge got the save.  Matt Diaz came in and hit a home run against Lidge who was 41 for 41 in save opportunities last year.  

Next came the Home Opener as Derek Lowe was slated to start that game as well.  He would go three innings as the rain delayed the game and the bullpen came in and got the win against the Washington Nationals.  The Braves would also notch wins agianst the Nationals in game two and three.  Which would include Jurrjens and, making his Major League Baseball debut, the first Japanese born player in an Atlanta Braves jersey, Kenshin Kawakami who did a pretty good job in his first outing.  The sweep of the Nationals was a great was to lead off the season as the Braves went 5-1 in their first six games.  

However, as the showdown for the NL East lead came to Turner Field with the Marlins coming in with the same record, Atlanta's pitching chose to revert back to their old ways as the starting pitching proved to be decent enough, but the bats went as cold as the low temps swirling around The Ted.  Also causing much damage was the newly signed Garret Anderson who committed two errors in the field which would haunt the Braves as they lost 5-1. The Marlins would take the next two games as starting pitching did its job, giving the team a chance to win, but the bullpen and the bats failed Braves Nation as the Marlins swept the Braves in three games.  

As the Braves go on the road again with a record of 5-4, the Pirates of Pittsburgh await.  This road trip could do the Braves some good as the next 9 games are against the Pirates, the Nationals and the Reds.  Teams who all went sub-.500 last year.  

If the Braves can pick their bats back up, and Chipper Jones' left thumb can rebound, then this road trip seems like just what the doctor ordered to get back atop the NL East.  

So until next time, dear readers: Pray for pitching, be proud of the Tomohawk Chop, and if you need a smile, just remember when Sid slid.

The Bender 2/25/09

The Beginning of Spring Training has arrived!

Today the Atlanta Braves took on the Detroit Tigers in both teams first ST game of the '09 campaign.  

Though the score came out against the Braves today, something special happened.  Jordan Schafer, the heralded future of the Braves center field, went deep in a huge way to show all of us Braves fans that he is the real deal.  Josh Anderson may have earned a shot at the end of last year with his performance, but it will take a huge effort from him to if J. Anderson wants to stay the starting center fielder for skipper Bobby Cox.  

Unfortunately for the fans of the boys from Atlanta coverage was reduced to either paying MLB.com money for "game-day audio" or watching the live box score updated once every 30 seconds.  I know it's only ST, but I was still kind of disappointed.  

Some other notes of interest: Jair Jurrjens pitched 2 innings, giving up 2 earned runs; Jeff Francoeur went 0-4, leaving 3 on base; a couple acclaimed slugging prospects, Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman, got some good playing time.  Freeman had a hit knocking in 2 runs.  

It is this fan's thought that if Jeff Francoeur does not put up, once again, he may find himself being replaced by the younger Freddie Freeman.  Though Freeman is a first baseman, his power and skill with the stick could give Frenchy a run for his money.  

Notable absences from the lineup were third baseman Chipper Jones and newly acquired left fielder Garret Anderson.  Neither were hurt, just not in town at the time of the game.  

I cannot wait for Thursday at 1:05 pm when the Braves are playing on ESPN so I can watch it.  

So until next time fellow fans: pray for pitching, be proud of the Tomahawk Chop, and if you need a smile just remember when Sid slid.

The Bender 2/22/09

The Braves have just signed Garret Anderson to a 1-year deal for reports of $2 million, with incentives could reach higher!

This is a great pick up for Atlanta, not only does it give a sense of completion for the off-season for the Braves, but also shores up what was planned to be a platooned Left Field.  

A quiet pickup that was in response to the missed acquisition of Ken Griffey, Jr, Braves GM, Frank Wren, inked the lefty who will presumably split time with Matt Diaz.  This platoon will have Diaz hitting against left handed pitchers and G. Anderson hitting against right handed pitchers. 

I, dear readers, am a big fan of this deal.  We do not lose prospects via trade, it looked like the Braves were pursuing Xavier Nady or Nick Swisher, outfielders for the New York Yankees, and it's a player that is older and I view that as a positive.  A huge reason people were excited about Griffey was for him to be an on the field leader to go alongside Chipper Jones.  Those two, along with the newly signed Tommy Glavine, are the three  "old men" of the team.  Chipper for the infield, G. Anderson for the outfield and Tommy Glavine for the pitchers.  All three guys are vets who play smart and well enough to stay in the game as long as they have.  

The interesting thing will be to see if Garret Anderson is chosen to platoon, he hits both righties and lefties well.  I'm thinking that the season will start with Matty D and Garret platooning, but if G. Anderson turns it on, Diaz could be just a bench bat.  Garret Anderson will more than likely bat 4th when he's in, and when Matty Diaz is in, Brian McCann will hit 4th.  

However, Chipper Jones has said that Jeff Francoeur will be hitting in the clean-up spot.  We'll just have to wait for time to tell.

More to come in the near future.  

So, as always dear readers, pray for the pitching, be proud of the Tomahawk Chop, and if you need a smile, just remember when Sid slid.