Atlanta Braves News Blog

A positive in defeat

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:31:04 +0000

Complaints About Schedule Arrive on Time

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:31:04 +0000

Earlier this month, Boston Red Sox fans were angry. All right, Red Sox fans can often get angry when anyone says anything they construe as negative about their team or positive about their team’s archrival, the Yankees.

But in this particular instance, they were outraged because it was the start of a 17-day interleague segment of the major league schedule, and the Yankees were playing the unimposing Pittsburgh Pirates while the Red Sox were playing the Arizona Diamondbacks, who were practically in first place in the National League West.

Those games came at a time when the Yankees had revived themselves and were winning. Not surprisingly, the Yankees swept the Pirates in a three-game series (and then the Diamondbacks, too) on their way to a nine-game winning streak that slashed Boston’s lead over them to seven and a half games.

Green's homer sinks Cards

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:31:04 +0000

NEW YORK Shawn Green hit a leadoff home run in the 11th inning, and the New York Mets beat St. Louis 2-1 Monday night in the Cardinals' first visit to Shea Stadium since winning Game 7 of the NL Championship Series last October.

The Mets won their fourth in a row despite getting only three hits. The NL East leaders have won seven consecutive regular-season games against St. Louis overall.

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Hurdle's days not so rocky

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:31:04 +0000

He was the man on the hot seat. That's what many pundits were predicting about our homeboy Clint Hurdle back when this baseball season began.

Lots of folks believed that Hurdle, entering his sixth season as the Colorado Rockies manager, wouldn't be around at season's end.

Well, well, well.

Jim Salisbury | First place? It's a merry month of maybe

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:31:04 +0000

The Phillies open their final homestand before the all-star break tonight and, incredibly, could be leading the National League East by the time it ends late Sunday afternoon.

Maybe even sooner.

What a strange trip it's been for this team in the month of June. The Phils have lost two more pitchers (Freddy Garcia and Jon Lieber) to injury and seen their highest-paid player (Pat Burrell) reduced to a part-timer.

McCann's Bat Helps Braves Break Through

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:31:04 +0000

"Thank God for Brian McCann," said leadoff hitter Willie Harris. "It's huge to see McCann do what he did tonight. He drove in all our runs."

McCann, a 2006 All-Star, was hitting only .250 before helping the Braves snap a season-worst, five-game losing streak, including four shutout losses.

McCann said he's not the player to carry a team on his back.

Midseason baseball numbers mean trouble for most teams

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:31:04 +0000

Baseball hits the season's halfway pole this weekend, and we're here to ask about the ailing. This is for the downtrodden teams who will celebrate the coming holiday with grilled disappointment and a couple of scoops of homemade frustration.

You know ... the feel-bad stories.

There's no reason to worry about the Boston Red Sox, who at 11 games, have the largest lead in their history at this stage.

NL | Braves snap 5-game skid

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:31:04 +0000

ATLANTA - Brian McCann's run-scoring single gave the Braves their first lead in a week, and he added a three-run homer to lift the Atlanta Braves to a 4-1 victory over the Washington Nationals last night.

The Braves snapped a five-game losing streak, their longest of the season. The streak included four shutout losses.

McCann's second four-RBI game of the season helped Tim Hudson (7-5) win for the first time since May 30. Bob Wickman got three outs for his 13th save in 16 chances.

Seasons are over, but fresh talent is on the way

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:31:04 +0000

In April, Ben Howland brought the Bruins back to the Final Four, as the men?s basketball team marched to Atlanta and continued its leap to the top of the college ranks.

May saw the UCLA women?s water polo team win its third straight NCAA championship, No. 100 for UCLA.

And as the school year closed, the baseball team reached the Super Regionals for the first time since 2000, just two wins short of the College World Series.

Boston Red Sox (48-26) At Seattle Mariners (39-33), 10:05 P.m.

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:33:47 +0000

Jeff Weaver tries to follow up his first win of the season this evening when the Seattle Mariners begin a three-game set with the Boston Red Sox at Safeco Field.

Weaver had been absolutely atrocious for the Mariners before tossing a four- hit shutout against Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Weaver was 0-6 in his first eight starts with the club, while pitching to an outrageous 10.97 earned run average.

The 30-year-old right-hander is 3-5 lifetime against the Red Sox with a 6.75 ERA in 14 game, 12 of which have been starts.

Miller, Tigers Stay Sizzling Against N.L.

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:33:47 +0000

ATLANTA - Andrew Miller and the Detroit Tigers certainly enjoyed interleague play.

Miller, who was briefly on the Lakeland Tigers last season, threw six sharp innings and the Tigers beat the slumping Atlanta Braves 5-0 Sunday night for their seventh straight win - all on the road against National League teams.

The AL Central-leading Tigers finished 14-4 in interleague games, tying the Angels for the best mark in the majors.

Tigers win 7th straight

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:33:47 +0000

The Detroit Tigers Ivan Rodriguez, 7, connects for a two-run single with Atlanta Braves catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, left, and Tigers Gary Sheffield, on third base, watching during the sixth inning Sunday at Turner Field in Atlanta. (AP photo)

ATLANTA (AP) Andrew Miller and the Detroit Tigers certainly enjoyed interleague play.

Miller combined with Chad Durbin for a six-hit shutout, and the Tigers beat the slumping Atlanta Braves 5-0 Sunday night for their seventh straight win all on the road against National League teams.

Royals struggle on the road against NL foes

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:33:47 +0000

The Kansas City Royals certainly did not wrap up their interleague schedule they way they would have liked, having dropped back-to- back series against the Cardinals and Brewers.

Compounding the losses is the fact that the Royals continue to make mental mistakes on the field and on the base path. For example, David DeJesus trotting from first to second base when he thought the batter had drawn a walk, only to find out that the batter had struck out and the second baseman was waiting for the easy tag out. Or Ryan Shealy getting doubled off second base simply for standing too far off the bag on a pop fly.

"You can't make those kind of mistakes any night," Manager Buddy Bell said after Saturday's 7-1 loss to the Brewer's, the fourth straight setback for the Royals. "But especially when a team like this is playing the way they are."

Tigers blank Braves; Beckett gets 11th win

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:33:47 +0000

ATLANTA - Andrew Miller threw six sharp innings and the Detroit Tigers beat the slumping Atlanta Braves, 5-0, last night for their seventh straight win - all on the road against National League teams.

The AL Central-leading Tigers finished 14-4 in interleague games, tying the Angels for the best mark in the majors.

The Braves (38-38) have lost a season-high five straight, including four by shutouts, to fall to .500 for the first time this season. The Braves have been outscored, 27-1, in the five losses.

Tigers keep Braves reeling

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:33:47 +0000

ATLANTA -- Andrew Miller and the Detroit Tigers certainly enjoyed interleague play.

Miller threw six sharp innings and the Tigers beat the slumping Atlanta Braves 5-0 Sunday night for their seventh straight win -- all on the road against National League teams.

The AL Central-leading Tigers finished 14-4 in interleague games, tying the Angels for the best mark in the majors.

BASEBALL ROUNDUP: Bosox' Beckett first to win 11

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:33:47 +0000

Josh Beckett became the first 11-game winner in the major leagues, and the Boston Red Sox roughed up Jake Peavy for nine hits in five innings en route to a 4-2 victory Sunday against the host San Diego Padres.

Beckett (11-1) allowed two runs and six hits and struck out eight in eight innings before giving way to Jonathan Papelbon, who worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 18th save. Beckett was especially dominant against Jose Cruz Jr., Michael Barrett and Adrian Gonzalez, the first three hitters in the Padres' order. They were 0-for-12 with six strikeouts against him.

The Red Sox got all the offense they needed against Peavy in the third, when five singles and a sacrifice fly produced three runs. Jason Varitek had a triple and a home run for the Red Sox.

Tigers complete lopsided sweep of Braves

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 05:21:12 +0000

ATLANTA (AP) -- Andrew Miller and the Detroit Tigers certainly enjoyed interleague play. Miller combined with Chad Durbin for a six-hit shutout, and the Tigers beat the slumping Atlanta Braves 5-0 Sunday night for their seventh straight win - all on the road against National League teams. The AL Central-leading Tigers finished 14-4 in interleague games, tying the Angels for the best mark in the majors. "Don't ask me how that happens," said Detroit manager Jim Leyland. "Last year we were 15-3...

Tigers complete a lopsided sweep of Braves with 5-0 win; outscored Atlanta 12-1 in 3 games

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 05:21:12 +0000

ATLANTA — Andrew Miller and the Detroit Tigers certainly enjoyed interleague play. Miller combined with Chad Durbin for a six-hit shutout, and the Tigers beat the slumping Atlanta Braves 5-0 Sunday night for their seventh straight win — all on the road against National League teams.

The AL Central-leading Tigers finished 14-4 in interleague games, tying the Angels for the best mark in the majors.

"Don't ask me how that happens," said Detroit manager Jim Leyland. "Last year we were 15-3 and this year 14-4 — that's pretty good. ... It's not like we had some easy schedule to go through."

America's Team?

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 05:21:12 +0000

I spent last week in D.C. while my wife worked and I took my son to a company picnic. Somewhere in a hectic week, though, I was able to squeeze in a few hours for myself at a Washington Nationals game and took away these thoughts:

America’s City: I’m not sure who holds the title of “America’s Team” these days (back when the Atlanta Braves were the only team on national television they had a pretty good claim), but the Washington Nationals may be the antithesis.

In any major league ballpark, you’re sure to see at least one fan sporting a visitor’s jersey. But in Washington, they take up whole sections. And during the game I attended, against the Detroit Tigers, it wasn’t just jerseys, there was a whole section of chest-painting Tigers fans.

Bob Keisser: Lending a helping hand to Lakers

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 05:21:12 +0000

Far be it for me to give Kobe Bryant advice, and since he won't listen to reason from those close to him or who sign his paycheck, there's little chance he'd lend an ear.

But if he does love playing in Los Angeles, and would like to be a Laker for life, then he should look past the possibilities for next season here and think what could happen in the 2008 season.

The free-agent class of '08 will be as flush as the '07 class is barren. Gilbert Arenas, Baron Davis, Corey Maggette, Elton Brand, Jermaine O'Neal, Richard Hamilton, Ron Artest, Shawn Marion and Steve Francis are all free agents, as well as Tim Duncan, but you'd have a better chance moving the Alamo out of San Antonio than Duncan.

Braves shut out again

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 05:21:12 +0000

Andrew Miller and the Detroit Tigers certainly enjoyed interleague play.

Miller threw six sharp innings and the Tigers beat the slumping Atlanta Braves 5-0 Sunday night for their seventh straight win -- all on the road against National League teams.

The AL Central-leading Tigers finished 14-4 in interleague games, tying the Angels for the best mark in the majors.

Congressional staffers cover all the bases

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 05:21:12 +0000

Washington —- At least Bobby Cox doesn't have to worry about his Atlanta Braves chatting with their bosses via BlackBerry between innings.

"It's really kind of funny to watch," said Joe Lillis, manager of the Georgia Satellites and whose own boss is Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.). "Players tapping away on BlackBerries to check on a vote while waiting to get up to bat."

Politics is part of the game for the Georgia Satellites, a bipartisan mall ball team named for a home-state rock band and composed of staffers from the offices of both Republican and Democratic members of the Georgia congressional delegation.

Frustration building for low-scoring Braves

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 05:21:12 +0000

ATLANTA --The losses are mounting now, one blending right into the next. And the Atlanta Braves are reaching a boiling point.

The manager and catcher were feuding with the umpire Saturday. The ace pitcher and star third baseman were feuding with each other. And when it was all over, the Braves were no closer to ending their current rut.

Atlanta scored a run for the first time since Monday, but still lost 2-1 to the Detroit Tigers at Turner Field. Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander allowed just four hits in seven innings, and the Braves lost their fourth game in a row and 14th in their past 20 games.

Smoltz, Chipper downplay rift

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 05:21:12 +0000

Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox arranged and attended a meeting between John Smoltz and Chipper Jones on Sunday, one day after Jones accused the pitcher of questioning his integrity.

Jones said hitting coach Terry Pendleton also attended the meeting, and Jones said he apologized to Smoltz.

"Obviously there was a misunderstanding," Jones said. "I apologized to him for my comments in yesterday's interviews. He assured me he wasn't singling me out. That was it."

Jones not so chipper about coming back

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 09:21:09 +0000

ATLANTA—As the Atlanta Braves continue to struggle on the field, there is an unusual sign of disharmony among the team's most established veterans.

Chipper Jones was back in the Braves' lineup Saturday, saying he felt pressured by pitcher John Smoltz to rush back from a groin injury. The Braves had suffered three straight shutout losses for the first time since 1988 entering the game, which they lost 2-1 to Detroit—despite Jones' homer.

When asked before the game if he is rushing his return, Jones said, "Probably. But I feel a little backed into a corner."