I'm thinking extended spring training -- I haven't heard much. i read online a few months ago that he was as healthy as he's been since the arm surgery. but i've never gotten a clear source on why his comeback ended abruptly last summer. he had some of the best stuff of anyone in the org. before he got hurt. hopefully he will be back. any info would be appreciated. thank you.

So it's supposed be severe thunder storms here in Atlanta tonight from about 6 to like 9:30.  So, unfortunately, it looks like they are probably going to have to cancel the game tonight.  So my question is, what are they gonna do?  The best we can hope for if they do cancel is that they reschedule it for tomorrow afternoon, so that those of us who paid the extra $$ for opening day tickets won't get the shaft.  The worst case is that they change to a day game later this month, while most of us are working and we get the mega shaft.

And by the way, I heard some 14th-hand information that someone at the grounds crew said they were looking to do a 8:30-9pm start tonight, which would be awesome!!

What do you guys think?  I'm not psyched about the weather, I mean really, how long have we been looking forward to this day??

Alright, lets try to wash that skunk out of our mouths and get on with life. Wednesday was an embarrassment, and hopefully something like it never happens again. Derek Lowe is on the hill tonight for the home opener, and I'm pretty sure he's the first pitcher in the league to make 2 starts. I posted the standings after Wednesday in the NAHWAL thread for that game, so yeah. Still very early in the season and the period, so everyone is still jumbled up...no one has taken sole possession of the lead yet. Without any further ado...

1) Attendance. Remember, it is the home opener

2) Pick to click. This award hasn't really been spread out too often...think about that for a minute

3) Derek Lowe's ERA is currently 0.00. After today's game, what will the first digit of it be? ERA = (runs / innings pitched ) * 9, for those of you who prefer to just look at a number in preference to calculating a number.

Have a good time everyone...thread for Saturday's game will be put up around lunchtime, while the Sunday thread will be up after Saturday's game (and will not get scored until that evening). Scores for tonight should be done immediately following the game, barring something unexpected happening.

Hey guys, I am in a head to head league with some college buddies of mine and I have the following middle infielders:

Chase Utley

Alexei Ramirez

Mark Derosa

Ian Kinsler

Clint Barmes

A trade has been proposed to me: Troy Tulowitzki for Ian Kinsler.

I obviously don't really need the MI player, but the guy proposing the trade is a Rangers fan.  Should I pull this trigger?  I haven't been high on Tulo - especially coming off that injury, but he has started out well (granted, it has only been 3 games...).

What do you guys think?  Should I pull the trigger here?

Sorry that this isnt a Braves-related post...If it gets deleted, I understand...

The Gwinnett Braves, behind the pitching of right-handers Tommy Hanson and Kris Medlen, defeated the Charlotte Knight 9-1 Thursday at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill, SC. The Opening Day win marked the first in Gwinnett history.

Hanson, making his first Triple-A start, worked 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing only three hits while striking out 10. Medlen, who was credited with the win, retired all 11 batters he faced in 3.2 scoreless frames.

Braves' first baseman Barbaro Canizares was 3-for-5 with a two-run home run off RHP John Van Benschoten in the third. Second baseman Brooks Conrad added a two-run shot in the sixth and an RBI single in the ninth. Canizares paced the G-Braves with seven RBI as Conrad followed with five.

I was just perusing some box scores today and I saw that Andruw Jones was batting clean up for the Rangers and went 3-5 with a 2B and RBI. I didn't even know he had made their roster. And batting in the 4 hole? WTF

Also in former Braves news Kyle Davies toed the mound for the Midwest Braves and went 7IP 3H 0R  2BB 8K. I swear if he comes out and puts up a CY young type season I'm going to find the nearest living thing and kill it. All other former Braves of note didn't really play today. Salty and Andrus both sat in Texas and Lillibridge and Betemit combined to go 0-1 in Chicago.

Angels' pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed along with two others in a car accident last night in a hit and run. Adenhart was 22 years old and fresh off the best performance of his promising young career. A mini-van struck Adenhart's vehicle while running a red light. The driver of the mini-van is in custody after he was caught attempting to flee on foot.

This news isn't exactly Braves-related but its a major story in baseball. I send my  condolences to Adenhart's family and friends, the Angels organization, and the families of the others killed in the accident.

http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-nick-adenhart-killed10-2009apr10,0,5362563.story

So we all know about the terrible collapse yesterday. It pretty much ruined my day.

Then, after I got out of class, I'm listening to The Brian Kenny Show on ESPN radio and I got angrier.

Continue reading this post »

Heck yeah, we took 2 out of 3 from the division rival, world series champion, Philadelphia Phillies.  Would it have been nice to sweep them?  Of course, but I will take 2 out of 3 games in any series!  Our starting pitching was SOLID.  DLowe went 8 spectacular innings only allowing 2 hits, JJ and JV went out there and gave us strong efforts!

Our offense has looked good for the most part.  We scored 19 runs in three games!  I will take that!  McCann, Chipper, and Logan are raking!  Matty D was money today with a home run off Lidge!

Our bullpen needs to improve, but hey, they will!  Gonzo, Soriano, and Moylan will be clutch this year, you just wait and see!  We are going to hear some negativity from "fans" on here and from ESPN, but remember we are 2-1, and the Phillies are 1-2. We are opening up at home on Friday with DLowe (I believe), we are going to shut down the Natspos and take at least 2 out of 3 from them too!

Rejoice everybody, baseball season is back, and we do have a very solid team!!!  Things could be worse, it could be November!

Well all those detractors who doubted my reserations pre season about the bullpen, where are you now ?

Today's bullpen meltdown was both as forseeable as it was unforgiveable as it was unprofessional ! Walking runners with the bases loaded ? CONSECUTIVELY ? Resulting in a 7 run swing wiping out a 6 run lead ?

Well, at least our future opponents now know to keep it close until our starter pitcher is relieved cuz then they will almost certainly win, and by a hefty margin too against our apathetic bullpen! Solution? Send EVERY pitcher who today walked a batter with the bases loaded DOWN to AAA, no make that AA ball to learn how to PITCH IN THE STRIKE ZONE! At least THAT way, you give your defense the opportunity to make plays behind you rather than walking in run after run after run after run with NO competitive effort!

I'm sorry, but the Braves bullpen owes US, the Braves fans a PUBLIC apology for the pathetic display they put up today! Will it happen ? Of course not; they'll just collect their multi million dollar paychecks and wait for the next opportunity to throw the game away!