Braves' News Tidbits

[General]

Adam LaRoche went 4-for-6 with a pair of homers, a double and five RBI as the Braves beat the Padres 15-12 in 11 innings on Friday.
The wild game featured a rare blown save from Trevor Hoffman and 10 runs in the final three innings. LaRoche's second homer gave the Braves a one-run lead in the 10th, but Jorge Sosa couldn't hold on to hit. LaRoche finally put it away with a two-run double in the 11th. Sosa, who blew leads in both the ninth and 10th, got the win. Tyler Yates pitched a scoreless 11th for a save.

Chipper Jones hit his 12th and 13th homers in the Braves' win over the Padres on Friday.
The All-Star break didn't cool off Chipper. He's 17-for-32 with five homers and 14 RBI in eight games during July.


After Ken Ray pitched a perfect eighth, Jorge Sosa blew leads in both the ninth and 10th innings Friday against the Padres.
It could have been an easy ninth if Brian McCann had held on to Josh Barfield's foul tip to end the game at 11-9. Barfield fouled off a couple of more balls before getting one he could hit. He singled in a run from second, and Josh Bard doubled him home to tie the game up. The Braves went back ahead with a solo homer in the 10th, but Sosa, who hit for himself in the inning, stayed in and gave up the tying run again. Sosa ended up getting the win after the Braves went back ahead in the 12th, but Ray has to be the favorite for saves in the Atlanta pen again.

Tim Hudson lasted only three innings and surrendered five runs in a no-decision Friday against the Padres.
The Atlanta bullpen will get blamed again, but Hudson has been quite the bust this year. The Braves should be pretty concerned about owing him $13 million in both 2008 and 2009. He's 0-4 in his last six starts and his ERA is up to 4.81.

The Braves confirmed that John Thomson (shoulder) will go on the DL prior to Saturday's game.
Peter Moylan will replace him on the roster, but he'll only be up until a fifth starter is needed on Tuesday. Manager Bobby Cox didn't say who would start in Thomson's place.

Horacio Ramirez (hamstring) will get an extra day of rest as a precaution and start Monday in the series opener at St. Louis.
Ramirez felt a twinge in his right hamstring during Friday's start against Cincinnati, but he felt fine in a bullpen session Thursday. Chuck James will move up a day and start Sunday's series finale against San Diego's Jake Peavy.

[General]

Jeff Francoeur was ejected from Sunday's game in the seventh inning for arguing balls and strikes.
Umpire Bruce Froemming, fresh off ejecting Padres manager Bruce Bochy and bench coach Tony Muser in the previous half-inning, tossed Francoeur for something he said after trying and failing to check his swing on strike three. It seemed to be a ridiculously quick ejection. Manager Bobby Cox thought so, too, and was tossed after coming out to defend his player.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia returned to Double-A Mississippi's lineup on Saturday and went 1-for-3 with a walk.
Saltalamacchia had been out since late June with a hand injury.

After going just three innings Friday, Tim Hudson plans to start on short rest Tuesday against St. Louis.
Hudson will get one start in week 16 if he goes then. Atlanta will likely call up a minor leaguer to replace John Thomson in the rotation on Wednesday. Jason Shiell could get the nod

Marcus Giles had X-rays on his injured left thumb before Saturday's game against the Padres, but the results have yet to be announced.
"I think it's probably just bruised," manager Bobby Cox said. The manager believed that Giles' playing all 11 innings Saturday after being hurt in the first inning was an indication there probably wasn't a broken bone. There's a chance he could return on Sunday in the series finale with his brother.

John Smoltz pitched seven innings of shutout ball Saturday to defeat the Padres.
That's just what Atlanta's pen needed. Macay McBride gave up three runs anyway, but the Braves won 11-3. Smoltz has won three straight starts since going seven straight without a victory.

Andruw Jones hit the longest homer in Petco Park history Saturday, a 458-foot blast off Chan Ho Park.
Jones nearly had a second homer in the fifth, settling instead for a two-run double. The previous longest homer at Petco, which opened in 2004, was 438 feet by Mark Bellhorn on May 28.

Chipper Jones became Atlanta's all-time hits leader by going 2-for-4 Saturday against the Padres.
Jones overtook Dale Murphy with his 1,902nd career hit. Of course, he's still well short of the Braves' franchise record held by Hank Aaron. One of Jones' hits tonight was a double, extending his streak of games with an extra-base hit to 13. The major league record is 14, established by Paul Waner in 1927. Jones will try to keep it going against Jake Peavy on Sunday.

Braves recalled RHP Peter Moylan from Triple-A Richmond.
Moylan has a 9.53 ERA in 5 2/3 innings for the Braves this season. He's only supposed to be up for a few days.

[General]

Horacio Ramirez left Monday's game against the Cardinals after five innings due to fatigue.
Ramirez allowed just one run and two hits before leaving, and barring a historic comeback, he's going to pick up his fifth win.

In his first start since being promoted, Triple-A Richmond's Matt Wright gave up 10 runs in 3 2/3 innings Sunday in a loss to Syracuse.
Syracuse ended up winning the game 23-11. Wright was 7-3 with a 2.22 ERA, 74 H and 84/28 K/BB in 89 IP for Double-A Mississippi. He might be a possibility in middle relief later on.

Marcus Giles (sprained thumb) is optimistic he will be able to return to the lineup on Monday.
Giles will test the thumb by taking fielding and batting practice prior to the game. If he is pain-free he will be in the starting lineup.

Chuck James recorded a win over the Padres on Sunday despite yielding five runs over five innings of work.
James struck out just three, but he also only walked one and gave up six hits. The Padres converted five of seven baserunners into runs, but still couldn't pull off the victory with Jake Peavy struggling. James is 4-0 in four starts, but he's given up five homers between his last three starts. He's a risky play against the Phillies later this week, but he should be left active in NL-only formats

Chipper Jones tied a major league record by posting at least one extra-base hit in 14 straight games when he homered against the Padres today.
The previous record holder was Paul Waner, who matched the same feat in 1927 with the Pirates. Jones also singled twice and walked twice while driving in three runs in the contest. He'll try to break the record against Jeff Weaver and the Cardinals tomorrow.

Brian McCann homered and singled to drive in three runs as the Braves defeated the Padres 10-5 on Sunday.
Edgar Renteria, Wilson Betemit, and Chipper Jones all scored twice in the victory, with Jones adding three RBI. Every regular in the lineup today recorded at least one hit. The Braves are 5 1/2 games behind the Reds in the NL wild card race.

[General]

Jason Shiell is expected to start for the Braves on Wednesday.
Shiell could get at least two starts while filling in for the injured John Thomson. He has is 1-1 with a 2.14 ERA in three starts at Triple-A Richmond this season. Shiell's stay in the majors will likely be short so we don't recommend adding him in NL-only leagues

Marcus Giles (sprained thumb) took one swing during batting practice on Monday and knew his thumb wasn't healed enough to play.
Giles will likely test the thumb again on Tuesday or Wednesday. Wilson Betemit will continue to start while Giles is out.

Horacio Ramirez expects to make his next start after leaving Monday's game with fatigue in his right hamstring.
Ramirez was on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring for nearly two months earlier this season, but it's the right one giving him trouble lately. "It's a concern because it's nagging, but I don't think it'll keep me out," Ramirez said. "It was real hot out there and the first two or three innings were real tough."

Wilson Betemit went 4-for-6 with a homer, a double and five RBI in the Braves' 15-3 rout of the Cardinals on Monday.
Marcus Giles might be DL bound, so Betemit is worth using in all formats right now. He has eight homers and 14 doubles in 171 at-bats this season

Jorge Sosa got yelled at by manager Bobby Cox while allowing two runs in three innings of relief Monday against the Cardinals.
Sosa, who blew a pair of leads on Friday night, was brought into a 10-1 game to start the sixth tonight. Cox appeared to take issue with his effort in the inning, that he left him in anyway. If Cox is frustrated enough with the right-hander, a demotion might be on the way.

Chipper Jones had three hits against the Cardinals on Monday night, but all were singles, ending his streak of games with an extra-base hit at 14.
He'll share the major league record with Paul Waner of the 1927 Pirates. Jones is 37-for-69 (.536) with seven homers and 22 RBI during a 17-game hitting streak.

Brian McCann went 2-for-5 and hit his first career grand slam in the blowout of the Cardinals.
He's no Chipper Jones, but McCann has two hits in six straight games and homers in the last three. He's driven in 17 runs in 11 games during July.

Adam LaRoche went 4-for-4 with a homer and three RBI against the Cardinals on Monday night.
LaRoche is batting .391 with three homers, four doubles and eight RBI in 11 games this month. It's rather impressive that he's up to 51 RBI this season when he's often hitting behind a guy with a .290 OBP in Jeff Francouer.

[General]

Anthony Lerew allowed an unearned run and two hits over six innings Thursday in his outing for Double-A Mississippi.
Lerew had to be demoted from Triple-A last month, but with a 1.64 ERA in six starts at Mississippi, he seems to have turned things around now. He remains one of the Braves' top pitching prospects, and it's possible that he'll be ready to contribute next year.

The Braves have acquired Bob Wickman from the Indians for catcher Max Ramirez, FOXSports.com is reporting.
Wickman figures to go right into the closer's role for the Braves and should keep the job for the rest of the year, although he'll be less than spectacular. The Indians will replace him with Fausto Carmona. In Ramirez, the Indians are getting are getting a catching prospect with quite a bit of offensive upside. The 21-year-old was hitting .285/.408/.449 at low Single-A Rome. He's still learning how to catch, and though he has the tools, there's no guarantee that he'll remain behind the plate.

Braves purchased the contract of RHP Jason Shiell from Triple-A Richmond.
Shiell, whose only major league experience came as a reliever with the Red Sox in 2003, will start tonight against the Cardinals. Expect little.

Braves optioned RHP Peter Moylan to Triple-A Richmond.
Moylan pitched scoreless innings in his two appearances during his four days with the Braves.

Double-A Mississippi's Yunel Escobar fractured his right heel during Sunday's game and is out indefinitely.
Escobar, who has split time between shortstop and third base this season, was batting .284/.371/.383 in 324 at-bats. It's bad timing, because he was one of the prospects the Braves could have made available in trade talks.

The Rockies have interest in acquiring Atlanta reliever Jorge Sosa.
Sosa is in manager Bobby Cox's doghouse right now so it might be a good time for the Rockies to make a play for him. Lefty-specialist Ray King could be the player the Braves receiver in return. The Rockies have also inquired about Boston's Julian Tavarez, Baltimore's LaTroy Hawkins and Kansas City's Elmer Dessens

Phil Stockman (hamstring) made his third minor league rehab appearance with Single-A Rome on Tuesday.
The Braves could activate Stockman from the disabled list on Friday. He didn't allow a run and struck out six in three innings while at Rome.

Chris Reitsma had ulnar transplant surgery on Tuesday and is expected to be ready for spring training.
Reitsma was lucky not to need Tommy John surgery. The Braves haven't decided if they plan on bringing Reitsma back in 2007.

Andruw Jones finished 5-for-5 with two homers and six RBI as the Braves beat the Cardinals 13-5 on Tuesday and became the first team since the 1930 Yankees to reach double figures in runs five games in a row.
If they're going to make it six games, they'll have to do it against Chris Carpenter. Jones tied his career high with the six RBI tonight. His previous six-RBI came against the Rockies on April 18, 1999. Jones has six homers and 22 RBI in 14 games this month

Pitching on three days' rest, Tim Hudson surrendered five runs in 5 2/3 innings Tuesday in a win over the Cardinals.
Hudson didn't allow a run until Jim Edmonds' solo homer in the fifth. He went on to give up four runs in the sixth and was pulled after 74 pitches. The victory was his first since June 10.

Chipper Jones went 2-for-5 with a homer, a walk and three runs scored against the Cardinals on Tuesday.
Jones now has an extra-base hit in one straight game

[General]

After entering a tie game, Ken Ray gave up three runs in the eighth to take a loss Friday against the Phillies.
Ray should have allowed just a run, but he failed to cover first base on a Jimmy Rollins grounder that should have been out No. 3 and a two-run single followed. With Bob Wickman likely to remain the Braves' closer for the rest of the year, Ray is barely worth using in NL-only leagues, at least those that don't count holds

Andruw Jones went 0-for-4, grounded into a double play and fouled a pitch off his shin during a rough night against the Phillies.
Jones was hobbling around after the foul ball, but he stayed in the game and he'll probably be right back out there on Saturday.

Marcus Giles, who has missed five games with a sprained left thumb, took batting practice before Friday's game.
Giles underwent a MRI on Thursday and the result showed no ligament damage. Manager Bobby Cox said he was hopeful that Giles could play as early as Saturday, but he added that if Giles isn't able to go, he would likely be placed on the DL.

[DravenX]

The Rockies have interest in acquiring Atlanta reliever Jorge Sosa.

I so want Sosa to go. He don't belong on the Braves. He had a great season last year but I don't know what happened to him during the offseason.

[General]

Andruw Jones was scratched from Saturday's starting lineup due to a sore back.
Ryan Langerhans will take over in center field. With Andruw, Chipper Jones and Marcus Giles out, Brett Myers better turn in a quality start today.

Chipper Jones is out of the starting lineup for Saturday's game with a rib-cage injury.
The Braves have Wilson Betemit at third and Pete Orr at second base. Chipper is probably day-to-day.

Braves optioned RHP Kevin Barry to Triple-A Richmond.
The move makes room for Bob Wickman on the roster and in the bullpen. He'll likely be back at some point in the second half.

[General]

Marcus Giles is starting at second base against the Phillies on Sunday.
Both Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones remain out of the lineup. With Giles back, Wilson Betemit has moved to third.

Marcus Giles (sprained thumb) has been cleared to return to the Braves' lineup for Sunday's game against Philadelphia.
"I'll be in there for sure," Giles said. He missed eight days due to the sprained thumb.

Horacio Ramirez will start Sunday's game against the Phillies even though Saturday's game was rained out.
Saturday's scheduled starter, Chuck James, will have his start pushed back so that Ramirez and Tim Hudson can pitch on their usual rest. James will start Tuesday against the Marlins

Braves manager Bobby Cox is hopeful Andruw Jones will be ready to play Sunday against the Phillies.
Jones was scratched from Saturday's lineup with a sore back

Chipper Jones isn't expected to be ready to play on Sunday after straining his left oblique during Friday's game against the Phillies.
The Braves hope to get Marcus Giles back on Sunday, making it easier to deal with Chipper's absence. Wilson Betemit will fill in at third base.

The Braves plan to start Horacio Ramirez as scheduled on Sunday and push Chuck James back following Saturday's rainout.
James is pitching the better of the two right now and Ramirez has the nagging hamstring injury, so this is a surprise. The Braves didn't say when James would pitch again, but Tuesday seems like a good guess. Tim Hudson was scheduled to start Monday

[General]

Kyle Davies (groin) will throw about 10 minutes of batting practice on Monday night.
If Davies is pain-free following the session he could begin a minor league rehab assignment by the end of this week. He is expected to need four or five starts in the minors before the Braves will consider activating him from the disabled list

Chipper Jones is expected to miss a few more games due to a strained left oblique.
"It takes a while to get over an oblique [strain]," manager Bobby Cox said. "We'll give it a few days and see how it heals." Jones strained the oblique on Friday and hasn't played since. Wilson Betemit will continue to start at third while he rests.

Andrew Jones (back) could return to the lineup on Monday.
"There's a chance that Andruw might play," manager Bobby Cox said when asked if he would be ready to play in Monday night's series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies. Jones sat out Saturday and Sunday's games due to the sore back

Edgar Renteria homered in the fourth and had a tiebreaking double in the top of the ninth to lead the Braves to a 5-1 win over the Phillies on Sunday night.
Jeff Francoeur put the game away with a three-run homer later in the top of the ninth, denying Bob Wickman his first save chance for the Braves. Renteria currently has an 878 OPS, which would barely overtake his top mark of 874 from 2003. His only other time over 770 was 2002, when he finished at 803.

Horacio Ramirez scattered 10 hits while allowing one run in seven innings Sunday in a no-decision versus the Braves.
All but one of the hits was a single and Ramirez had three double plays turned behind him, allowing him to keep the damage in his minimum. He's allowed one or no earned runs in six of his 11 starts this season. Still, the occasional shelling has left him with a 4.04 ER

[General]

Braves released RHP Ricardo Rodriguez from Triple-A Richmond.
Rodriguez, who was released by the Phillies at the end of the spring, was 5-9 with a 4.62 ERA, 130 H and 54/34 K/BB in 111 IP for Richmond.

[General]

Tim Hudson gave up four runs -- two earned -- in 5 2/3 innings Monday in a win over the Phillies.
Hudson allowed one run through five. Manager Bobby Cox and the trainer came out to check on him early on in the sixth, but Hudson said he was fine and stayed in. He was later taken out after a wild pitch and a walk, suggesting that maybe he wasn't completely fine

Ryan Langerhans remained hitless since the break by going 0-for-3 with a walk Monday against the Phillies.
Langerhans went 3-for-3 in the final game before the break and is 0-for-17 since. He needs to take advantage of Andruw Jones' absence if he's going to reclaim some playing time in left field

[General]

Phil Stockman has moved up to Triple-A Richmond where he will continue rehabbing his torn hamstring.
Stockman didn't allow a run in three innings during a rehab stop at Single-A Rome. He could return to the Braves' bullpen by any day

Andruw Jones (back) said his back felt better on Monday, but he was scratched from the lineup after taking batting practice.
The Braves expect Jones to return to the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins.

Kyle Davies (groin) threw very well during a batting practice session on Monday.
Davies will throw to batters at least two more times before heading out on a several game minor league rehab assignment. The Braves hope he can return to the rotation around mid-August.

Jason Shiell will make his second start for the Braves on Thursday against the Marlins.
Shiell allowed four runs in four innings during his first start for the Braves. He is expected to be replaced in the rotation by John Thomson around the first of August.

John Thomson (shoulder) will pitch two innings for Single-A Rome on Tuesday night.
Thomson is scheduled to continue his rehab with a three inning outing on Friday and then another three days later. "My shoulder feels good," said Thomson. "I just need to get innings." He will return to the Braves' rotation early next month.

Tim Hudson said he was checked on by the trainer in the sixth inning of Monday's game because of cramps in the fingers on his pitching hand.
Hudson said he wasn't worried about the problem. He's due to make his next start Saturday against the Mets.

Adam LaRoche drove in four runs with a pair of homers off left-hander Cole Hamels in the Braves' 10-8 win over the Phillies on Monday night.
LaRoche entered with a .216 average and three homers in 111 career at-bats versus southpaws. This qualifies as the best stretch of LaRoche's career to date. He has six homers and 14 RBI in nine games since the All-Star break. The Braves have won nine of their last 11 games.

[General]

Chuck James was the tough-luck loser against the Marlins on Tuesday after yielding just two runs in seven innings of work.
James walked just one and struck out six, but a pair of solo homers by Cody Ross allowed the Marlins to win the contest 2-1. The loss snapped a streak of four straight wins for James. The left-hander has been able to keep his base on balls total down since joining the Braves' rotation, but that he's given up seven homers in five starts isn't a good sign when projecting future production. He's a risky play against the Mets next time out, so only NL-only leaguers should consider him

Andruw Jones, who had been out since Saturday with a back injury, returned to action as a pinch-hitter on Tuesday.
Jones wasn't expected to be back until Friday at the earliest, but it's possible the club will give him a few more pinch-hits until then.

Adam LaRoche was ejected from Tuesday's game in the fifth inning for arguing balls and strikes.
Matt Diaz replaced him, with Scott Thorman moving from left field to first base.

Chipper Jones is available off the bench on Tuesday and might return to third base for Wednesday's game against the Marlins.
"My concern is not so much swinging as it is fielding and throwing," Jones said. "That's where it bugs me." Still, he asked into Tuesday's lineup. "I told Bobby {Cox} I was OK, but you know Bobby," he said. "If you're OK, then take another day.

Andruw Jones indicated that his back felt worse Tuesday than it did over the weekend. He won't be back until at least Friday.
"It is bad. It is real bad," Jones said. "It's hard when you cannot breathe. That's what it is. It's right behind my shoulder blade and my lung. When you breathe it just kind of cuts you off." Ryan Langerhans in filling in again tonight.

[General]

The Yankees are reportedly interested in Wilson Betemit.
The New York Post reports that Scott Proctor may have been offered to Atlanta, which seems like an awful deal for the Braves. It's unclear where Betemit would find at-bats once Robinson Cano (hamstring) returns.

Ridiculous. Never, EVER would that deal happen.

John Thomson (shoulder) struggled during his rehab start with Single-A Rome on Tuesday.
Thomson allowed two earned runs and three hits in 1 2/3 innings. He is scheduled to pitch for Double-A Mississippi on Friday.

Chipper Jones (strained left oblique) is doubtful for Wednesday's game after feeling pain during a batting practice session on Tuesday,
"Still painful," Jones said. "I'm tired of this [stuff]. But if I can't be productive, having Wilson [Betemit] allows me the freedom to stay out until I'm healthy." Jones has missed three straight games due to the sore oblique.