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Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Split-squad day at Shea
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Welcome to lovely Shea Stadium, folks, where Tom Glavine and the Mets will be facing the Braves in a split-squad game this afternoon.
But seriously, take a look at this Bravos lineup, which has been further diminished by Marcus Giles’ finger injury sustained last night and to be evaluated after an MRI Thursday in Atlanta.
Oh, and before I forget, blog nation probably won’t be shocked to hear that Jorge “2005 Was A Very Good Year” Sosa is getting skipped in his next rotation turn, or rather pushed back. Kyle Davies will go on four days’ rest Sunday, while Sosa won’t pitch again until 25th on seven days’ rest.
Now, back to the lineup. Feast your eyes:
2B Pete Orr
SS Wilson Betemit
LF Matt Diaz
CF Andruw Jones
RF Jeff Francoeur
1B Brian Jordan
C Todd Pratt
SS Tony Pena
RHP Tim Hudson
Have fun, Huddy. And, uh, you might want to limit them to one or no runs.
Giles’ finger was sore and swollen today, and he’s headed back to Atlanta tonight for MRI tomorrow. Could be ligament or even a break, though X-rays at ballpark were negative. Initial X-rays don’t always catch everything, and ligament stuff usually needs MRI anyway.
That’s three-quarters of infield and the team’s 1-2-3 hitters down in a span of eight days.
LaRoche was scratched from lineup today because the Braves have placed him in bubblewrap in order to prevent the rare complete infield injury sweep.
But seriously, no, Bobby wanted to give Jordan some at-bats. LaRoche understood, but wished he’d do it against a pitcher other than Tom Glavine. LaRoche wants at-bats against lefties, and happens to be 3-for-4 with a homer off Glavine, whom he called a “comfortable at-bat.”
As for Giles’ status, the DL is a distinct possibility, but won’t know more until tomorrow. Yunel Escobar or Martin Prado most-likely callup options if Giles or Renteria goes on DL. Braves will decide on off day Thursday what they need to do.
Chipper Jones hit left-handed in cage today wearing bulky brace on sprained right knee and felt good. He’s going to be ready for second game in Milwauke, first day he’s eligible to come off DL.
Edgar Renteria is doing little better each day, no definite return date yet. Still a DL possibility, but Giles is more of one now, it appears.
Other than, the Braves are doing just fine…
Oh, and considering the lineup and the fact that Hudson’s ERA is more than six times higher than Glavine’s 1.50, it’ll probably go the exact opposite of what all logic says should happen today. We’ll see.
Mets also have a skeleton crew of sorts, because of injuries to Cliff Floyd, Carlos Beltran and Anderson Hernandez. But they’ve still got Jose Reyes leading off and four guys hitting well above .300 in the next four positions — Chris Woodward, Braves-kiiller Carlos Delgado, David Wright and Xavier Nady, who has a .396 average entering today and has three homers and five RBis in his past six games.
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