How Bout Them Braves: Home Sweet Home?

What a great road trip for Atlanta! The braves went 6-2 on their road trip against the Fish, Phils, and Mets. They should have gone 7-1 but we won't go there. The braves looked great on this road trip averaging almost 6 runs a game. I thought the pitching was great giving up 14 runs to the Phils (10 in one game; the one Reyes started) and 14 runs to the Mets (7 in one game; the one Reyes started). These are two very good lineups that the Braves held to 4 runs or less in 4 of the 6 games. FINALLY, we see what the Bravos can do when we put together pitching AND HITTING! The pitching is going to be there all year. I hear alot of people still complaining about our bullpen. I think our guys are doing great. Remember, Gonzo, Moylan, and Soriano are all coming off surgery. Moylan came back a couple of months sooner than the normal 12 month recovery period from Tommy John surgery. I am very confident in these three guys, although it seems like Moylan has an alter ego and when it steps on the mound it can't throw a strike. Buddy Carlyle is growing on me as a guy who can come in during the third inning when Reyes gets takin out, and can give you 3-4 solid innings. He may get hit, but at least he throws strikes. I still get incredibly nervous when Jeff Bennett comes in there, his ERA is low but he ALWAYS allows runners to get on. That is not healthy for anyone watching that game. Anyway I think our bullpen is going to be fine. I really think and hope that was JoJo's last start in the majors for a while. Come on, you know every time you see him starting you think "well lets go offense." Seeing Bobby getting frustrated during the fourth inning kind of gave me a hint that he might be sent back down. So who would be number 5? Tom Glavine is saying that he is feeling good and that he hopes he can be back by the end of the month. I really hope he comes back and is successful, but right now I am not holding my breath. If it were up to me I would bring up Kris Medlen out of Gwinnett. The reason I would bring him up instead of Hanson is because Tom Glavine. If Tom Glavine was done and there was no doubt that he wasn't going to come back I would bring Hanson up. Yet it seems that Glavine might be ready to go in a few weeks, so I would bring our other stud to get a little major league work. Medlen is pitching unbelievable this year, he is 5-0 with a 0.96 ERA (yeah, that's right). He has only giving up 10 BB and has struck out 44 batters in 37.1 innings. Why not let him get a few games in, just to see how he does?

OK. let's talk about the Braves offense. Look what having Brian McCann and Garrett Anderson back in the lineup will do. It is forcing these pitchers to have to pitch to Chipper. I am very excited to watch this lineup in action. Anderson finally got on a little role by collecting three hits and three RBI yesterday. That is a great thing to see, he needs to get going to protect Chipper even more. I guess those glasses are working for McCann who went 9 for 21 with 5 RBI during his shortened road trip. He increased his AVG on the year by 79 pts to .274. Gosh it feels good to have him back. And look at Casey "KLU"thcman; before the road trip Casey numbers were .297, 0HR, 4RBI. Now lets take a look at Casey's stats: .314, 2HR, 15RBI; that's right 11RBI on the road trip. I think one of the unsung hero's of this road trip is Yunel Escobar. During this road trip he increased hit average 4pts, his OBP 19pts, and his SLG 25pts. Kelly is coming back around getting a few hit here and there, his average jumped 10pts this road trip. It's great to see all these guys finally all hitting together. I just hope they can keep this going at home because . . .

Home has not been so sweet to the Braves. The Braves have lost their past four games at home. The Braves started out at home this year with a three game series sweep of the Nationals, but since then they have gone just 2-11. I am blaming this on the fact that McCann and Anderson were not in the lineup. Another note is that Javier Vazquez is 0-3 with a 6.10 ERA at home. Chipper said that "(He) wants to have the same intensity that we've had for the last eight days when we go back home." I think that if that is what Chipper wants then that is what Chipper will get out of his players. McCann and Anderson could not have come at a more perfect time. The Braves were struggling and they had zero intensity, but I think this road trip has awaken everybody on the team and their bats.

I am very excited now, and I can't wait to see what the braves can do during this homestead. Just get rid of JoJo and we will have 5 solid starters and our complete lineup back. Please get rid of this man . . . . .