Braves' News Tidbits

[General]

Edgar Renteria might require a DL stint because of a rib-cage strain suffered in Saturday's game.
"We're going to wait definitely a couple of days," manager Bobby Cox said. "He's too good not to wait at least a day or two." So, he's better than Chipper Jones? Pete Orr and Tony Pena Jr. will fill in for Renteria, with Wilson Betemit playing shortstop when Orr starts at third. If Renteria goes on the DL, Betemit would remain a regular after Jones returns. Betemit might also be asked to bat second in place of Renteria, giving him additional value.

[General]

Kelly Johnson (elbow injury) is still unable to throw after having arthroscopic surgery in October.
Johnson isn't even close to returning to the field, but he remains a top prospect in the Brave organization.

Chipper Jones (sprained ankle and knee) took soft-toss swings on Saturday for the first time since the injury.
Jones expects to be ready to return when he is eligible to come off of the DL on April 25. He will likely wear a knee brace on his knee the remainder of this season.

[General]

Villarreal is not a keeper despite his 3-0 record. You guys hsould know this already and we are just in the first weeks.

What?

[General]

The Braves reiterated Sunday that they plan to wait a couple of days before deciding whether Edgar Renteria (ribs) will require a DL stint.
"We're going to wait a few days and see how it reacts," Braves head athletic trainer Jeff Porter said. "After a couple of days, we'll have a better feel for how long we think it will be." The Braves started Pete Orr at third and Wilson Betemit at shortstop today. If Renteria goes on the DL, either Martin Prado or Luis Hernandez could be called up until Chipper Jones returns. The Braves won't want to place Yunel Escobar on the 40-man roster already.

[General]

Pete Orr got a start with Edgar Renteria out on Sunday and went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts as the Braves' leadoff hitter.
Meanwhile, Wilson Betemit moved all the way up to seventh in the order with Brian McCann getting the day off and went 1-for-3 with a walk. Orr will continue to see time at third until Renteria or Chipper Jones returns, giving him a little short-term value in NL-only leagues.

[General]

For the second straight outing, John Thomson was denied a win by poor bullpen support. He allowed just one hit in six scoreless innings against the Padres before being pulled.
Thomson is pitching very well, though he hasn't been able to work deep into games because of the misguided decision to send him to the pen at the start of the year. After Thomson was removed today, Kenny Ray gave up three quick runs, tying the game. Mike Remlinger allowed one more run in the eighth, and the Braves ended up losing 4-3. Thomson should be picked up in any mixed leagues in which he remains available

[General]

Triple-A Richmond's Anthony Lerew gave up seven runs in 3 1/3 innings on Sunday and has an 11.12 ERA after three starts.
Lerew opened the spring as a candidate to be a late-inning reliever for the Braves. Now it doesn't look like he'll be pitching in the majors anytime soo

[General]

Andruw Jones hit his first ever homer off Pedro Martinez and had a sac fly in Monday's loss.
Jones entered the night 3-for-28 with nine strikeouts and no walks against Martinez.

[General]

Jorge Sosa yielded four runs in four-plus innings in a loss to the Mets on Monday night.
It could have been worse. Chuck James replaced Sosa with two on and none out in the fifth and got out of the inning without letting a run score. Sosa is 0-3 with a 10.45 ERA, so it appears quite likely that he'll be bounced from the rotation after Horacio Ramirez returns.

[General]

The Braves will wait to see how Edgar Renteria (ribs) heals this week before possibly putting him on the DL.
"He's so valuable," manager Bobby Cox said, "that it might be worth it if we can just cut off five days from the [time he'd miss] on the disabled list." The Braves will continue to play short-handed while they monitor Renteria status

[General]

Kyle Davies, who had an 8.38 ERA after two starts, limited a weakened Mets lineup to one run and three hits in a complete-game victory tonight.
Chris Woodward homered for the Mets' only run. He's an offensive upgrade over Anderson Hernandez, but the Mets missed Carlos Beltran and Cliff Floyd tonight. Davies' rotation spot again appears to be secure as a result of the performance. He should have a fair amount of value in NL-only leagues.

Andruw Jones went 3-for-5 with a pair of two-run homers off Victor Zambrano on Tuesday.
Jones has homered in three straight games, and he's already up to 22 RBI. While on his way to leading the NL in RBI in 2005, he didn't drive in his 22nd run until May 15.

Adam LaRoche went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Tuesday night's victory.
LaRoche entered with a .224 average and 20 strikeouts in 49 at-bats, but he also had three homers and eight RBI in 14 games, so his fantasy owners couldn't have been very disappointed. Assuming that he sits against the majority of lefties, LaRoche should end the year with an average around .270.

Wilson Betemit got to hit second tonight and went 1-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored.
Good call, Bobby. Pete Orr, who hit first ahead of Marcus Giles the previous two days, went 1-for-4 from the eighth spot in the order.

[General]

Braves take 2 outta 3.

Tim Hudson hurled a complete-game three-hitter against a depleted Mets lineup in the Braves' 2-1 victory today.
It was a weak lineup he facing, but Hudson would have stood a good chance against anyone with the way his sinker and splitter were working today. He struck out six and got 16 groundball outs to outduel Tom Glavine. He had a perfect game going until Ramon Castro singled in the bottom of the sixth

The Braves are hopeful that Edgar Renteria can return to the starting lineup by Sunday.
Renteria has been sidelined since Saturday with a rib-cage strain.

As a result of Thursday's off day, Jorge Sosa's next start has been pushed back to Tuesday.
Kyle Davies will start on four days' rest on Sunday. Sosa may only get one more start if Horacio Ramirez is able to return at the end of the month.

Marcus Giles is scheduled for an MRI on his injuried left middle finger on Thursday's off day. He might need to go on the disabled list.
The Braves are more concerned about Giles' injury than Edgar Renteria's rib-cage strain at the moment. If he needs to go on the DL, the Braves would probably call up Martin Prado to act as a reserve until Chipper Jones returns next week.

Marcus Giles is scheduled for an MRI on his injuried left middle finger on Thursday's off day. He might need to go on the disabled list.
The Braves are more concerned about Giles' injury than Edgar Renteria's rib-cage strain at the moment. If he needs to go on the DL, the Braves would probably call up Martin Prado to act as a reserve until Chipper Jones returns next week.

Blaine Boyer (shoulder) had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder on Tuesday.
Boyer won't start throwing for three months and will likely miss the remainder of the season.

Chipper Jones (sprained ankle and knee) should be ready when he is eligible to come off of the DL on April 25.
Jones has been taking fielding practice this week. "He's moving around really well," manager Bobby Cox said. "I think he can play the last game or two in Milwaukee."

[General]

The Braves are worried that Marcus Giles may have suffered a broken finger.
Giles will have an MRI on performed on Thursday. "I'm nervous," Giles said of his swollen finger. "I think a piece of bone broke off." The Braves are already playing short-handed due to Edgar Rentaria's side injury. Giles or Rentaria will have to go on the DL Thursday to open up a roster spot.

[General]

Ricardo Rodriguez yielded one run and three hits in four innings Wednesday in his first start for Triple-A Richmond.
Rodriguez is decent insurance for the Braves. He is more likely to join the team as a reliever than as a starter, but he'll remain a starter at Richmond for now.

[General]

Marcus Giles has a sprained ligament in his left middle finger, but the Braves believe he could return in a few days.
Tests discovered no breaks, which is good news for Atlanta. With Edgar Renteria likely to return this weekend, Giles should be able to avoid the disabled list. The Braves are still planning to call up Martin Prado, but they can send down reliever Peter Moylan to make room of him.