AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2007 > March > 09
Friday, March 9, 2007
Redman to the rescue?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here we go, Day 2 in my blogging tenure and I’m late getting this to you. Just be happy the Braves work a lot faster than I do. By now you know that the Braves signed Mark Redman this morning.
I’m not sure how you guys feel about Redman’s ability. He clearly doesn’t have much of a resume outside of his 2003 season with the Marlins (14-9, 3.59 ERA). He was sitting at home without a job when the Braves called him on Thursday. But from what I hear that had something to do with the money he was asking for.
But for what the Braves needed - a veteran who could come in and stabilize the middle of this rotation and on a moment’s notice - I’m betting you guys have to like this signing. In fact, I’m beginning to wonder if the Braves’ front office has been combing this blog for suggestions.
For those who don’t like the move, well I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. And we won’t have to wait long. Redman wants to pitch tomorrow against the Blue Jays. (That has a certain full circle feel, since Mike Hampton was supposed to make his first start tomorrow but now his replacement will go.)
The Braves have had their reclamation projects in the past, and successful ones, even scrambling much later in spring training than this. John Burkett anyone? (He was acquired right before the Braves broke camp in 2000, the year John Smoltz was out following Tommy John surgery.)
The Braves saw Redman at his best in 2003. He pitched a complete game five-hitter that year against the Braves for one of his two wins against them with as a Marlin. Surely they are dreaming up ideas of how to get him back to that form.
So Lance Cormier and Kyle Davies will go back to fighting out for the fifth spot and Redman will come in and try to plug the hole. And time will tell the rest.
Meantime, I’m in Bradenton today, where it’s 77 degrees. It feels like spring training should (ahem) because there’s an ocean breeze. Palm trees behind the outfield fences are blowing in the wind. It’s lovely.
I still don’t have much time for chit-chat yet with all the recent happenings around camp, but I’ll just say my music tastes are probably more mainstream than O’Brien’s but I can appreciate Johnny Cash (I loved the movie Walk the Line. Does that count?) And lame as it might sound, I was just excited that I found a radio station that played 80 minutes of non-stop 80s music for my drive over here this morning.
Oh, and I take my barbecue eastern North Carolina style please, vinegar-based. And being a Carolina girl (though NOT a Tar Heel) I take my cole slaw ON the sandwich. Yum.
Braves are up on the Pirates 1-0 on a homer first inning by Willy Aybar, Chuck James pitched three solid innings, no runs allowed…..Again, sorry for the late post. Somebody give O’Brien a hard time, would you? He’s leaving me with all the news.
