Rain Delay

Braves drop close one to Dodgers, 3-2

Again, just a reminder. Rain Delay will be moving here.

Braves: 2  Dodgers: 3 (Box Score)

• HoRam looked strong in his 6 innings or work. He allowed 5 hits, 1 run, struck out 3 and only walked 2 Dodgers. I'm still a bit iffy on Ramirez, but he gave me a bit of hope with the outing he turned in.

• So I'm ponying up the 14.95 a month for MLB.TV. So yesterdays game, I got the home team feed. It's been along time since I've heard Vin Scully call a game, and I must admit that I loved listening to him throughout the game.

• Marcus Giles is starting to make me nervous. For being our lead off guy now, he went 0-3. I know he's most likely playing catch up after missing a good chunk of the spring because of the premature birth of his daughter. With Opening Night, not that far off I hope he gets his head on straight. It still hard to think of him as a lead off guy, he's a perfect 2 hole hitter. He clocked in last year with a better OBP than Furcal.

• A former M started the game got the Dodgers: Aaron Sele. Who surprisingly looked pretty strong in his 3 innings of work. He pitched shut-out ball, allowed only 1 hit and struck out 1 and walked 1. I wonder if the Dodgers plan on keeping him around?

• Adam LaRoche swung a hot bat yesterday, going 3-4 with a dinger. Of course he only faced right handed pitching. Matt Diaz continued his spring eruption going 3-4 and pretty much nailing down the extra outfielder spot.

• Wilson Betemit may have only gone 1-3 at the plate, but it's his glove that made him stand out yesterday. He had a great day with the glove love.

• Only two other pitchers worked for the Braves yesterday. Aussie import Peter Moylan who could get tagged with the loss and Blain Boyer. Boyer looked solid in a inning of work, even recording a strike out in a 1-2-3 inning.

• The Braves are now 7-16-3 in Grapefruit League play. Not that any ones really counting.

Up Next: The Evil Empire (Yankees). Jorge Sosa takes the hill for the Braves. 

Nats swat Braves, 4-2

Not a lot of bright spots in this game, though Frenchy is till on a tear since his return from the World Baseball Classic.

Braves: 2 Nationals 4

• One of the stories this year with the Nats, as you well know was Soriano's reluctance to move to Left Field. Well he started his 3rd game at Left, and he let a Langerhans double go right over the top of his head. Bravo!

• Huddy got clobbered, well ok not clobbered but got hit pretty hard. He worked 6 innings,      allowed 5 hits, 4 runs (all earned), though he did strike out 6 and only walked 2. Huddy collected the loss in this one.

• Frenchy is on a tear, he went 3-3, scored a run and collected an RBI. If your wondering here's his line so far this spring: .692/.385/.714. So I guess we can all put the whole "Will he be ready for Opening Day?" question and flush it right down the toilet. He just needs to ride that wave into the season.

• Braves First basemen, went a collective 0-5. In case you were wondering LaRoche and Jurries were the ones getting time in yesterday’s loss. I'm still of the thinking that Jurries is the one that should be LaRoche's platoon mate.

• Remlinger, Cormier and Rietsma in relief posted 3 scoreless innings.

Even though he had a rough outing, Huddy says he’ll be ready for opening day.

"I'm happy where I am right now," he said. "I'll be ready for opening day. I'm just here to get in shape and get my delivery down."

There have been rumor’s floating around about the Braves starting to shop John Thomson. Most notable team that’s been brought up is the Mariners. As much as I’d like to ship “Big Red” off to some where far, far away, I don’t think Seattle is the answer. This being a Braves and Mariners blog, throws me into a quandary. So you can more than likely understand why I don’t want him in Seattle.

The only thing I can see, if this trade was to happen, and that’s a mighty big if. Is we’d get medocire bull-pen talent. Two names are being brought up Gil Meche and Julio Meteo. I’d rather not see either one of those guys on the hill in Atlanta.

Up Next: The Indians of Cleveland. John Smoltz is scheduled to take the hill for the Bravos. (This game is already underway in the 6th inning. Yeah, I know I’m a bit behind today.)

Reminder: This incarnation of Rain Delay will being going away. We're moving here . Same Mariner and Brave goodness has a new home. By opening day, we should be fully moved in over there. I've already started posting in both places. So it's ready to go.

Nothing says Spring, like a 4-4 tie

They called it in the 10th inning, due to both teams running out of pitchers.

It was probably better that way.

Braves: 4  Phillies: 4 (Box Score)

• From the Whiskey Tango Foxtrot File: What's up with Ryan Franklin no-hitting the Braves for 4.2 innings? The first hit two hits he gave up were home runs. One to Andruw, the other to Frenchy. Franklin then proceeded to fold like a deck of cards. Not once during the broadcast was anything mentioned about Franklin's suspension for popping a test last season. Also, not that it really matters but Franklin is now wearing #23.

• I keep forgetting to do this, but I've got to give some props to Matt Diaz. Not only has he torn it up this spring, and he'll more than likely start the season on the bench. But he's a Oregon boy, born and raised in Portland. He went 0-2, but collected a RBI.

• Kyle Davies, as I keep saying belongs in that 5th spot in the rotation. He pitched 5 solid shut-out innings. Allowing 4 hits, walking 2 and striking out 1. His control was a wee bit off today, he bounced a few up there to McCann. He's showing that he's ready to step into the rotation and be effective. His counter part, and the person he's duking it out with, didn't have such a hot outing.

• Jorge Sosa showed why he should start the season in the bull-pen and not in the rotation. Had not been for the Braves bats late in the contest, he could've lost it. 3 innings, 4 hits, 4 runs, but what stands out though, which just seems out of place with the rest of his line. Sosa, in 3 innings struck out 5.

• Brian O'Connor and Glenn Tucker came in and provided 2 innings of 1 hit, shut out ball.

• Tony Pena Jr. Had an amazing stop in the gap a short.

• Is it me, or is it painful to watch Todd Pratt bat?

• This just in: Ryan Howard is a BEAST.

Kyle knows that he's turning heads.

"I feel good about the results I have had, but I will be ready no matter where I end up," said Davies, who lowered his spring ERA to 0.64.

[...]

"I am trying to turn heads, but if you try too hard, it works against you," he said.

Unlike me, Bobby seems pretty satisfied with Sosa's first outing of the Spring. Since he was off playing in the World Baseball Classic.

"He's pitching as well as anyone we have this spring. He's throwing harder than he did when we got him last spring," Cox said.

I still say he's no where near ready for the rotation, he only worked 6 innings in the WBC. Bobby's on the Sosa cool aide, but still. Maybe if he'd gotten more work this spring, it might be a different story. I'm just not convinced about his 13-3 mark last season. Most of the time he's pitching, he's pitching out of jams that he's created. Which in turn causes his pitch count to raise like the Gross National Product. I'd feel safer, if he'd pitch out of the pen.

Up Next: The Braves will send John Thomson to the mound to face the Indians at Disney's Wide World Sports complex at 1:05 p.m. ET on Thursday.

Cards down Braves 11-2

Boy this was ugly.

Braves: 2  Cards: 11 (Box Score)

• Huddy got the start and wasn't himself.  In his 4 innings of work, he gave up 4 runs, 5 hits, walked 4 and struck out 3. Not what you'd expect from Hudson for sure, but he'll shake it off and be ready to go.

• Lance Cormier and Joey Devine both got work, and both had outings that ranked up there with Hudson's. Lance gave up 4 runs on 5 hits in 2 innings of work. Devine worked one inning allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and 1 walk.

• The Braves were held to 3 hits. Andruw (Doubled & Scored a Run), Todd Pratt (Single & Scored a run) and Tony Pena (RBI Double) were the lucky guys to get a hit and on base.

Injury Update:

Second baseman Marcus Giles (sore shoulder), infielder Wilson Betemit (side strain) and outfielder Kelly Johnson (sore elbow) didn't make the trip for Sunday's game against the Cardinals. All three will stay behind for today's game as well.

Manager Bobby Cox decided to give them three more day's rest.

"They've still got enough time [to get ready], if they get healthy," Cox said.

Johnson could be headed for Class AAA Richmond, since he has minor league options left and Matt Diaz has done everything to earn a backup outfield job.

"He's done all that a guy in his position could do," general manager John Schuerholz said of Diaz, batting .386 with three homers and nine RBIs in 44 at-bats. "The challenge was there, the opportunity was there, and he's responded."

Up Next: The Cards again today, it's a TV game on ESPN. John Smoltz gets the start against the Cards Anthony Reyes.

Split Squad Saturday, vs Mets & Reds

Two games slated for today, as the Braves split up to take on the Mets and the Reds. Today also marks the return of Chipper and Frenchy to the Braves camp.

Let's start off with the loss to the Mets in Port St. Lucie.

Braves: 2  Mets:3 (Box Score)

• South Paw Chuck James got the start, went 4 innings. Allowed 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 home run. A solid outing for James. He wouldn't figure in the decision.

• Matt Diaz and Salty pick up 2 hits each, in 4 at-bats. One of Salty's hits would be his 3rd tater of the spring. Diaz has a shot at making the club in Left Field and is one of the hottest bats the Braves have going this spring.

• Ryan Langerhans picks up an RBI on a double, his only hit of the game.

James has impressed Cox and company all spring. Last year he went 9-1 at Myrtle Beach before being called up to the R-Braves and then a late summer call up to Atlanta.

"When I was out there, I felt like my fastball had a little more life on it," he said. "I made a few mistakes, and they capitalized on it."

[..]

"This is my first year up here, so I just thought I was going to be one of the guys coming out of the bullpen. It's nice to get a few starts," he said.

I think the best thing for Chuck would be to start the season with the R-Braves and pitch every fifth day. He's a dark horse to make the Braves rotation, right now as it is there's 6 guys battling for 5 spots. There's only two weeks before they break camp, things will be come allot clearer in the following days.

Braves: 10  Reds:6 (Box Score)

Both Chipper and Frenchy return to the Braves line-up against the Reds.

• The story here is Frenchy. For those of us, including one Bobby Cox who thought that Francouers lack of playing time was going to be a problem, really shouldn't have to worry any longer. Frenchy would go 3 for 3, with a 2 run tater, and a grand total of 5 RBI's. It seemed that everyone was happy to have Frenchy back in the line up.

• John Thompson had a horrible day, even though he was credited with the win. In 5 innings pitched,  he allowed 9 hits, 4 runs, 2 strike outs, walking 1 and allowing a Reds dinger. This has been par for the course for Thompson this spring and much of last year. I'll cut him some slack since he was injured most of last season. He'd be perfect trade bait.

• The newest Brave, who was signed after his performance for Team Australia made his appearance today. Welcome Peter Moyan, who pitched 2 innings, allowing 4 hits and a run. He also stuck out 1 and no walks.

• Brian McCann had a decent day at the plate, driving in two runs on a double.

After today's performance, Chipper says that Bobby shouldn't have to really worry.

"I know after today Bobby [Cox, Braves manager] is probably a little more at ease," Jones said with a grin, alluding to recent concerns expressed by the Braves manager and Jones regarding Francoeur's few at-bats at the WBC.

As much as Chipper and the rest of Team USA would like to play in Mondays World Baseball Classic Championship game, he knows its back to work and concentrate on the upcoming 162 games.

"We'd love to be out there playing for the [WBC] championship, but that didn't work out," said Jones, who hit .353 (6-for-17) for the U.S. with a double, two home runs and four walks. His 1.241 on base-plus-slugging percentage was third on the team behind Derrek Lee and Ken Griffey Jr.

"Now it's business as usual, getting prepared to open April 3," Jones said.

Frenchy was grateful for the experience of the WBC, but he's glad to be back in a Braves uniform.

"It was fun getting everybody back out there together," said Francoeur, who, along with Jones, was greeted by the loudest applause from 9,069 at Wide World of Sports. "You could hear a lot of people yelling for us. That was fun."

On the Menu Next: A two game set with the Cards. The game on Monday will be Televised on ESPN, a game I'll be DVR'ing and watching when I get home. Tim Hudson is taking the hill tomorrow.

'Stro's insure no "free" frames..

Braves: 0 Astros: 7 (Box Score)

Well folks, this wasn't pretty.

• It figures that Davies finally gives up his first run of the spring, and gets tagged with the loss. The one run he did give up was a round tripper. Right now he's making a huge bid for the 5th starter spot, a place that he would thrive in he's definitely more capable that HoRam or Sosa. I know Sosa had a monster season last year, 13-3 I know that no one thought it was going to be possible. There's no way Sosa can have that type of year, sorry no lighting striking twice for Sosa. Mr. Davies, the Braves rotation is calling your name!

• The Braves collected 8 hits. There's a couple that stand out to me, Andruw collected one and Kyle Davies. He's helping his cause with going 1 for 1 at the plate, I like that. Though the Braves have, for the last decade or so, pitchers that know how to hit and can do it decent. Back in the Smotlz, Maddux, and Glavine would have a running competition to see who hit better.

• Here's something sad: At nearly 40 years old, Biggio swipes a base. The one part of me, that has him on my fantasy team, likes to see that. Then on the other hand, it's Craig Biggio for crying out loud, they're going to need to hand him a walker at secondbase pretty soon. Is this guy ever going to call it a career?

• Rietsma didn't blow a save today, that in itself is good. He pitched 1 inning, and struck out 2, so that would be labeled as a good outing..right?

• Speaking of old guys, Remlinger picked up an inning of work today. With all the problems we're having with Lefty's he could end up breaking camp with the Braves.

• Do you hear that Mr. Bagwell? That would be your shoulder telling you to pack it in, bubba.

Not only have I partaken of the Kyle Davies Kool-Aid, but so has Bobby Cox and he's had more than me. Not that it's a bad thing that's for sure, I need all I can get for my cause.

"That might be the best he's been -- ever," Cox said. "He looked like a 20-game winner."

[...]

"That might be the best I've ever seen him, ever, even the Boston game," Cox said. "He was that good. I was thrilled with that performance."

Next On The Menu: We gots us some split squad action:

The Braves will send John Thomson to the mound to face the Reds in a split-squad game at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. ET. Chuck James will start the other game against the Mets at Port St. Lucie at 1:10 p.m.

Mets comeback to beat Braves 6-5

With Team USA's loss to Mexico last night, Chipper, Villarreal, and Frenchy should be returning to the Braves shortly. It was good to see Frenchy get the start last night, though him getting hung up on second base wasn't so nifty. But in recent articles Bobby Cox has pretty much said that, once Francouer returns he's going to pretty much start him in every game. Lord knows he could use the AB's.

Braves: 5  Mets: 6 (Box Score)

Again we have a starter throw some strong innings, only for the bull-pen to buckle.

• Horacio Ramirez threw 5 strong innings. Though he did allow 7 hits, 1 walk and no strike outs. HoRam makes me nervous, I wish Davies would step it up a bit more. I wouldn't be offended if Sosa or HoRam start the season in the bull-pen.

• Anthony Lerew: This spring he's gone from having his name thrown in the hat for the closers job, to pretty much stinking it up. Lerew got the loss in yesterdays game, throwing 1.2 innings, only allowing 1 hit. Which really isn't bad, but then there's the 2 runs he gave up. So lets look at Lerew's spring:  1-1, 16.20 ERA, 4SO, 4BB. Yikes, sounds like it would be an amazing feet if Lerew heads to Atlanta when the team breaks camp.

• Well John Fosters injury may not be as bad as it was made out to be. Foster and the Braves are going to wait before telling Foster to go under the knife. It may just be an inflamed nerve that wont require Tommy John surgery. Still, Chuck James is waiting in the wings and maybe turned into a reliever to fill the gap. Remlinger could also make the club, as Macay McBride is injured as well.

• Matt Diaz has a really good shot at making the club. Can you believe this guy has yet to strike out? That's just awesome. Here's his line for the spring in 11 Games: .378/.676/.378. I know with it being spring that it's short sample size theater but still, he's putting up better numbers that I thought he would entering camp.

Next on the Menu: The Houston Astros. Davies gets the start, he hasn't allowed a run in the 5 innings he's pitched this spring.

Braves put up 11, in beating the Mets

There were several bright spots in the Bravo's win against the Met's. Kyle Davies, pitched 3 scoreless innings, in making a case for a spot in the Braves starting rotation. Davies is locked in a battle for the 5 starter spot with Jorge Sosa and Horacio Ramirez (Box Score)

He's chomping at the bit and wants a spot in the big clubs rotation plans.

"Last year I didn't bring any major league experience," Davies said. "This year, I have experience. I know what I am capable of doing and want a shot. I am relaxed and want my chance."

But he knows not to put too much pressure on himself.

"I can't look ahead in my position," Davies said. "I can't pressure myself. I want to be with these guys, though, because we all grew up together."

James Jurries and Matt Diaz made cases for themselves as well against the Met's as they both collected two hits on the day. This was a split squad game, and the other half of the team took on the other team in New York the Yankee's. I'll make that a separate write up as well, as Salty was impressive again, like we didn't know that right?

Coming up today: Braves vs Cards

Braves take another on the chin

It's not pretty that's for sure, yesterday the Braves give up 12 to Cleveland in Cactus League action clocking in now with a 3 and 6 record. (Box Score) 

The bright spot was veteran John Smoltz who held Cleveland scoreless for 3 innings allowing 2 hits, no runs and three strike outs.It was a good outing for Smoltz, who gave way to ageing lefty Mike Remlinger. He then proceded to undo Smotlzy's work, and collecting the loss. It also didn't help things that Anthony Lerew gave up Six runs, and only recording a single out his ERA sits at a bloated 27.00.

Smotlz seemed pretty confident after his outing against Cleveland.

"I'm getting there," said Smoltz. "I've made an adjustment and my body just has to get used to it. I'll go four (innings) next time and just try to put it together little by little."The seven-time All-Star, who began his career with Atlanta in 1988, still finds it difficult to pace himself in training camp."A fault of mine is to get too excited about the first game," Smoltz said. "I kind of figured it out, then had a different routine for five years and had to learn it all over again last year."

Todd Pratt caught Smotlz today, so I'm betting that's who's going to catch him this year. Though McCann/Smotlz battery was a deadly combo last season. But since McCann is the main man, that would leave Todd Pratt to catch Smotlz. Pratt likes the idea of being on the same team as Smoltz. If you can't beat them, join them. Or something like that.

"It's better catching him than facing him, that's for sure," he said. "He probably made only one mistake. Other than that, outstanding."

When he was asked about how his arm felt, he had this to say:

"My arm's coming along," he said. "What's important to me is staying under control. My body has to get used to taking pressure off my shoulder, not extending as much with my arm."

Here's some more game notes (Emphasis not mine, unless noted):

• In the land of the battling firstbasemen: Veteran outfielder Brian Jordan got another start at first base Friday because of injuries to others. Adam LaRoche (bruised ribs) is expected to play today's split-squad games against the Yankees in Tampa, and James Jurries (bruised shin) is likely to play against the Mets at Wide World of Sports.

• Oh Canada: Canada didn't make it to the second round, which means Reitsma and infielders Pete Orr and Scott Thorman could be back in camp this weekend, along with Jones, whose Netherlands team also was eliminated.

On Deck: Mets Saturday, Yankee's on Sunday.

Braves fall to Ray's 6-3

The interesting thing about this game it was most made up of the young guys. (Box Score) I really wish they'd do some radio for ST games, or at least the last couple games they haven't. I've got MLB Game Day audio and no such luck.

Here's some notes:

• Tim Hudson made his second start of the spring, and he held the Rays scoreless for three innings while allowing two hits and one walk. Hudson struck out two. Lance Cormier pitched one scoreless inning, striking out one. Sean White gave up three earned runs in two innings in his first outing of the spring.

• The catchers combined for a whopping 0-4. Salty, McCann and Pena got time behind the dish.

• Yunel Escobar had two singles, a walk and scored a run before he grounded out to shortstop in the seventh inning, marking his first out of the spring. Matt Diaz had two hits, including a solo home run off Jamie Shields in the eighth, and two RBIs. Diaz's homer was his second of the spring. Jonathan Schuerholz had a single and walked twice

The emphasis is mine, he's becoming a dark horse canidate to make the club. I know a few people around the Braves blogosphere were wondering if the announcers were getting his name wrong, i.e. DEE-az as opposed to DIE-az. As far as I can tell it's DIE-az the announcers are doing it and if you've got MLB '06 The Show that's how they pronounce it in-game, not to mention he's a home town boy (roughly translated: He's from Oregon) Matt's is making a case for himself, and if he continues to impress he could find himself part of a platoon in Left Field.

On the Menu Today: The Braves take on the Cleveland Indians at 1:05 Eastern. Smoltz get's the start with Wes Obermueller, Anthony Lerew, John Foster and Mike Remlinger all getting work against the Indians.