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Thursday, May 18, 2006
Southpaw surplus on tap
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Braves don’t have a left-hander in the rotation. A month from now, they may have two.
Horacio Ramirez, sidelined in his first start by a strained hamstring, is scheduled to return May 30 against the Dodgers. Chuck James could also be starting before June is done.
The loss of Kyle Davies is a blow to the Braves, who already had questions at the end of the rotation. Davies will need surgery on his right groin and is out indefinitely.
Ramirez, after Travis Smith gets a spot start Saturday in Arizona, will replace Davies. But James may soon give the Braves an option for Jorge Sosa.
Sosa took an 0-5 record into Thursday’s game against Florida. James, recovered from a strained hamstring, will rehab at Class AAA Richmond with the mission of stretching out his arm for a possible rotation spot.
James had always been a starter in the minors before winning a bullpen spot with the Braves this spring. He wants to start again.
Unless Sosa gets untracked, James may get an opportunity to show what he can do as a starter.
