AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2007 > March > 27
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Despite tonight, Braves look good
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m so tired of reading about the Red Sox in the last blog that I’ve posted a new one. Red Sox Nation my … hey, whoa, how you doing out there?
Actually I’m just late filing a blog. Bunch of stuff going on as we wind it down here in _ YIKES, we interrupt this blog to inform you that Scott Thorman just made a really bad, bounced throw past shortstop Edgar Renteria in the first inning on a potential double play. We’re gonna miss ‘Ol Rochy, folks….
Smoltz gave up three runs and three hits in the first inning against the Tigres.
Anyway, where were we? Oh, yes, had to write a Francoeur feature this afternoon (which I was going to write yesterday, before the Cormier injury changed the plan), then get my motorcycle over to the guy’s trailor for the trip back home, then wait around to find out about Cormier’s next-day status. In case you missed my update on the last blog, he’s feeling much better today.
Braves will take a wait-and-see approach before making any decisions about the first-week rotation. If I had to guess now, I think it’ll still be Cormier over Davies, but we’ll see. Wouldn’t really surprise me either way.
We’re going to keep this short tonight, since it’s late and all. No, really, we are. I always say that, but this one’s going to be brief.
How are you all feeling about this team?I’ve got to say, they look good, primarily because the pitching has been so solid, the bullpen transformed from sieve to strength, and depth in the rotation that makes what might be a terrible problem _ finding a fifth starter on short notice _ no problem at all, really.
Worse-case scenario, Cormier is DL’d retro to today and the Braves can bring him back late by the middle of the second week of the season, if they want to.
The lineup is going to be fine. I think Kelly Johnson _ who looks better than I expected at second base; actually looks quite good _ will do well in the leadoff role, better than Giles did last year with a higher OBP.
Thorman hasn’t been overly impressive this spring, frankly, but Ryan Langerhans’ solid spring makes it easier to consider a first base platoon. By that I mean, with Langerhans playing so well, Bobby Cox might not need to use Craig Wilson and his arthritic shoulder much in left field _ Langerhans and Diaz can handle it _ and can use him more than originally planned at first base.
The Braves said after LaRoche was traded that Thorman would probably get a chance to play every day, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. Just getting the feeling, from comments here, stuff overheard there, that Wilson is going to platoon with Thorman, which I think is a good idea.
Wilson has always raked against lefties, and Thorman hasn’t hit them much in the high minors or majors. Why try to force it with Thorman, when you’ve got a quality, proven hitter in Wilson, who might be more inclined to getting hurt playing left field and making a demanding throw from out there, when you can play him at first base against all lefties and maybe a few righties.
Wilson’s only signed for a year, and if Thorman plays well _ he’ll get plenty of at-bats, at least 350-400 even if he platoons _ then they can give him the full-time job next season. In the meantime, Wilson and his robust .296 career average (.938 OPS) against lefties are in the lineup plenty, either at first base and occasionally in left field.
WOW _ we interrupt the blog again. SMOLTZ just about got his head taken off by a Magglio Ordonez screamer up the middle. He ducked and it went past inches from his noggin.
What is it about his old hometown (Detroit) team and Smoltz? Couple weeks ago it was Carlos Guillen who hit Smoltz in the chest with a line drive that knocked him off his feet.
Enjoy the rest of the game if you’re watching on TV. And how’s the Boog-Joe team doing on the broadcast?
ONE MORE INTERRUPTION _ Andruw Jones just made a sensational catch on a dead sprint at the warning track, then hung on as he went into the wall. That one will be on SportsCenter, folks. The man is peerless, and the slimmed-down Andruw might be about as good as he’s ever been defensively. Should be fun to watch this season, even more than usual. Provided, of course, that you don’t start thinking about what the future might look like without him in center….
Lastly, in tribute to the late, great Warren Zevon, who had several of his best albums remastered and re-released today, here’s one of his gems.
One last interrupton (I promise, last one): Edgar just went deep, opposite-field homer down the right field line, his first of the spring. Braves down 5-2 after three.
(I wasn’t very brief, was I? Sorry. We’ll try to do better.)
“CARMELITA” by Warren Zevon
I hear Mariachi static on my radio/And the tubes they glow in the dark
And I’m there with her in Ensenada/And I’m here in Echo Park
Carmelita hold me tighter/I think I’m sinking down
And I’m all strung out on heroin/On the outskirts of town
Well, I’m sittin’ here playing solitaire/With my pearl-handled deck
The county won’t give me no more methadone/And they cut off your welfare check
Carmelita hold me tighter/I think I’m sinking down
And I’m all strung out on heroin/On the outskirts of town
Well, I pawned my Smith Corona/And I went to meet my man
He hangs out down on Alvarado Street/By the Pioneer chicken stand
Carmelita hold me tighter/I think I’m sinking down
And I’m all strung out on heroin/On the outskirts of town
Carmelita hold me tighter/I think I’m sinking down
And I’m all strung out on heroin/On the outskirts of town
