Site Has Moved to Fansided Blog Network!

SITE HAS MOVED

This site has moved to http://tomahawktake.com/

http://tomahawktake.com/

http://tomahawktake.com/

http://tomahawktake.com/

http://tomahawktake.com/

http://tomahawktake.com/

http://tomahawktake.com/

http://tomahawktake.com/

http://tomahawktake.com/

http://tomahawktake.com/

http://tomahawktake.com/

Atlanta Braves Lose Second To Washington Nationals

The Atlanta Braves are in a terrible slump, compounded by tonight’s 4-3 loss to the lowly Washington Nationals.

There are many Braves fans who probably already have decided that it won’t be any big surprise if they finish last in the division this year. The Braves were in both games, but the Nats closer, Joel Hanrahan,  finally got to make it into some close games and he’s looked fantastic.

The Braves are by no means finished, but I am among the crowd who will not be shocked if the Braves do end up finishing last this year.

This is a game of streaks. The Braves show signs of having the chemistry required  to make a streak.  But it will take healthy players and consistent strong bullpen pitching to do it. So far, the Braves have struggled with both pieces that make up the winning puzzle. We can’t even beat the Nats.

Brian McCann Avoids Eye Surgery

The AJC reports that Brian McCann’s blurred vision in his left eye is not anything serious.

McCann was fitted with a new contact lens and his vision was corrected.

Check the story here.

ESPN Had Atlanta Braves Ranked No. 1

Did you all even see that ESPN–the network of men and women who know sooooo much about sports–had the Atlanta Braves as the top team in baseball after their 5-1 start heading home to take on the 5-1 Marlins.

Uh oh. Since then, we’ve witnessed some of the worst baseball for this organization since the 1980s—and what difficult years they were.

The Braves found out that the Marlins may be the best team in baseball and that Chipper Jones and Yunel Escobar to bring good at-bats each night, so if they aren’t playing the team will struggle.

Blayne Boyer is finally gone, thank God. There is no reason he remained on the team this long. But, the ridiculous decision-making of Bobby Cox went to new heights when he called up Jo-Jo Reyes to replace Tom Glavine over phenom Tommy Hanson or even Charlie Morton.

The Braves aren’t the best team in baseball, folks. Sorry to disappoint. This very well could be a painful, painful season.


Frank Wren Must Be Fired With Jo Jo Reyes Call Up Move

The Atlanta Braves are calling up pitcher Jo Jo Reyes to fill the rotation spot vacated by Tom Glavine, who will undergo shoulder tests by the same doctor who fixed his elbow this offseason.

Not Charlie Morton. Not Tommy Hanson.

He called up Jo Jo Reyes. And the reason why Jo Jo Reyes was called up was because he had an impressive spring training? Really, Wren? Really?

On AJC, more than 60 percent of more than 1,000 voters picked Tommy Hanson, who has yet to pitch a major league game. If anybody, the Braves should be calling up Charlie Morton, who did play in the majors last year with some success and some complete failures. But he’s doing fine in Gwinnet with Hanson.

Jo Jo Reyes has never really shown any potential with the Atlanta Braves. His call up is troubling, at the least.

The Braves are showing potent offense, but an inconsistent bullpen turns every game into a possible loss.

Braves Enjoy a Winning Weekend

The Braves timely hitting garnered them a clean sweep of the still winless Washington Nationals over the weekend.

Off to a 5-1 start, ESPN has the Bravos ranked first (it’s true) on their opening week power chart–granted, it’s so early, it would be akin to coronating a football team supreme because of the best opening kickoff return on the first sunday of the season. Still, their quick burst out of the gate isn’t insignificant. They proved a few things during the first week: they can score runs with or without power, the starting pitching is improved, and they will not lose every one run game this year (they beat the Nats by a run on Friday).

They head to Florida to play the Marlins, their divisional co-leaders, in what already makes for an important three game series starting Tuesday.  Vasquez, Lowe, and Kawakami are slated to start, respectively.

Ray Kelsey. {co-editor/Bravesnuworld}

Braves Still Getting their Sea Legs?

During Tuesday’s game against the Phillies, the second of the dramatic three game set, something frighteningly eerie happened: while cruising along comfortably in near utter mastery of the formidable Philly hitters, Kelly Johnson, positioning himself to field a routine ground ball at second base, did his best impersonation of Bill Buckner. From coast to coast, a loud collective gasp could be heard escaping the throats–still sore from last year’s incessant torrent of screams at the television–of every single Braves fan. Could it be happening again? The same guy? Against the same team? Already?

But moments later, the 23 year old Jair Jurjens, doing his best impersonation of a composed veteran hurler, closed out the inning quietly, without any further damage. This time, Johnson’s blunder had proven harmless. There would be no residual psychological damage, no sudden downturn in the rest of the Braves season. This team, sporting their new navy blues, seemed also woven of a different character: one of resilience. Perhaps, in the sunset of Bobby Cox’s stewardship as manager, we had reached one last bright horizon.

And then, on Wednesday, we sank.

A bullpen that, during spring training, had been regarded as a strength (if healthy), orchestrated one of the most agonizing innings in recent memory. Cruising along in near blithe command, leading 10-3, The Braves somehow managed to flit away the game, and with it, a chance to open the season with a sweep of the world champions on the road. Blaine Boyer looked every bit the hard luck case he was 2008; Peter Moylan, just 11 months this side of Tommy John sugery looked unprepared. What would have been the leading story on Baseball Tonight, the one lauding the Braves new mojo, quickly morphed into their improbable debacle, to a slo-mo montage of high fives in red pin stripes. No Navy Blue to be seen.

Whether this is but a hicup, or a sign of something more virulent–as it was last year–remains to be seen. The albatross around our necks won’t be removed until the Atlanta Braves can learn to navigate through such storms. It’s very early, with myriad routes on the horizon.

I, for one, am bringing an industrial sized bag of lozenges before we leave harbor.

Ray Kelsey

{BRAVESNUWORLD CO-EDITOR}

MLB Opening Night: Atlanta Braves Overpower Phillies

We can only hope that the start of the season for the Atlanta Braves is an indication of what is to come.

Jeff Franceour hit a home run. Brian McAnn popped one, too. So did rookie Jordan Schafer, who went 2-3 with a walk. Shortstop Yunel Escobar should have had one, knocking a 406-foot bomb.  And new ace Derek Lowe pitched a great game.

Could we have asked for anything more?

Of course, the Braves bullpen, namely closer Mike Gonzalez, made it interesting. He gave up two hits and a walk before striking out the side. He outpitched home run threats in consecutive Ks.

There was a swagger to the Braves last night. The smile on Schafer’s face was priceless.

Let Jeff Francoeur Go? Bring Back Andruw Jones?

Things are getting loony in the Atlanta Braves organization. Let’s move past the pitching free agency fiasco this offseason and the Rafael Furcal flop.

Now, the Braves are talking about bringing back Andruw Jones and giving Jeff Francoeur $4 million for one year?

First of all, it’s probably less of a risk to bring Andruw Jones back because if he doesn’t do squat in spring training, you dump him. But if you give Francoeur $4 million for one year and he hits like he did this past season, you can chalk it up as another bad move by the Braves.

Players have bad years, but you don’t have bad years like Francoeur did and recover to the level you were once at. We all saw that education through Andruw Jones who played even worse for the Dodgers.

Neither of these guys are the answers for the Braves power-hitting problems. Since they have so much cash to spend, why is Manny Ramirez off the table?

The AJC has more details on Braves in arbitration.