AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2007 > May > 29
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Smoltz vs. Sheets tonight, and Cormier’s return set
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Little late with the blog today, so we’ll dive right in with a couple of newsy items while I try to digest the jalapeno-and-pineapple pizza I had for lunch, and the peanut-butter cup custard that was dessert.
(Hey, not a big dessert guy, but they’re somewhat famous for custard here in brat-land … and speaking of brats, there are plenty of them turning on the rotisserie thing in the press dining room as we speak, with bottles of “secret sauce” nearby to slather on them.)
OK, back to the news as we prepare for Smoltz vs. Ben Sheets here at Miller Park on an overcast, humid night. Not huge news, but significant:
Lance Cormier return set: As expected, Cormier is scheduled to join the rotation for the June 5 doubleheader vs. Florida.
Bobby Cox confirmed it today, and said the report on Cormier’s start yesterday for Triple-A Richmond was as solid as the numbers: 6-2/3 scoreless innings, four hits, two walks, four strikeouts.
In four rehab games, Cormier is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA, with 17 hits, five runs, two walks and 14 strikeouts in 16-2/3 innings. That includes the game before he reinjured his triceps and had to pretty much shut ‘er down for a few weeks.
Buddy Carlyle will probably start the other game in the DH vs. Fla, Cox said.
Chipper update: There isn’t much of one, other than Bobby said they hope to avoid putting him on the DL but probably won’t decide until Friday. Cox hopes he’ll be ready to play in the series at Chicago this weekend.
As I write this, I’m watching Chipper take grounders at third during batting practice. He’s said all along that he can field and throw fine, just holding that bat against that bone bruise in his right hand at the base of the thumb … that’s the problem.
Uh, oh, now he’s got a bat and he’s leaning against the cage, watching guys hit. Someone take the bat from him and lead him to the dugout….
Anyway, the Braves would rather wait to make a decision if there’s a chance he can play this weekend. If I had to guess, I think he’ll play, not DL. But neither would surprise me, really.
Bobby won’t pinch-hit him until they make a decision, because if they DL him they want to be able to retro it to Thursday, so he could come back on June 8.
First-place but free-fallin’: The Brewers are still in first place in the woeful NL Central, despite losing 12 of their past 15 games before tonight and six in a row (twice as long as the Braves’ longest losing streak, by the way).
In their past six games, the Brewers have hit .200 and scored a total of 13 runs, with six of those coming in one game, an 8-6 loss to Maddux at San Diego.
They’ve scored two runs or fewer in four of their past six games.
Meanwhile, Prince Fielder’s homer yesterday was his league-high 16th and his franchise-record 10th in May. (THIS JUST IN: That prodigious shot off Smoltz was frigtening. That’s 17, and 11 in May… Now, back to the original blog.)
Damn, that kid is a boulder off the ‘ol block, with a butt and legs to match dad Cecil’s, but not as much of a load up top.
Harris still hitting: Those waiting for Willie Harris to come back to earth are still waiting. The speedy left fielder is fifth in the NL with a .383 average (23-for-60) in May.
Harris has killed right-handed pitching. He’s hit .418 (23-for-55) against righties since being brought from Richmond, only the best average in the majors by anyone with 50 or more plate appearances.
Meanwhile, platoon partner Matt Diaz led the NL with a .436 average (24-for-55) before tonight’s game.
Yes, the Braves’ hottest two hitters play the same position.
Since May 5, Diaz has hit .451 (23-for-51) with two homers and eight RBIs. Since May 5, Harris has hit .365 (19-for-52) with five doubles, a triple, 13 runs, five stolen bases and a .450 on-base percentage.
More on the two-out thing…. Both Braves’ runs in Monday’s win came with two outs, Andruw’s homer and Kelly Johnson’s RBI single.
Jeff Francoeur leads the NL with 23 two-out RBIs, and Johnson is third with 20. Andruw Jones is tied for seventh with 14.
The Braves still lead the NL with a .281 average with runners in scoring position and two outs.
Andruw coming around? Andruw has homered in consecutive games and gone 4-for-14 with no strikeouts — repeat, no strikeouts — in his past four games.
This after striking out 20 times in 41 at-bats over the previous 11 games.
He hit .158 (12-for-76) with one homer and 28 strikeouts in the first 21 games of May before this four-game strikeout-less streak.
By the way, Andruw hit fourth yesterday for the first time since Bobby dropped him from the cleanup spot in Boston. He’s hitting fifth tonight, with McCann in the cleanup spot.
By the way, the team’s worst slump right now, before tonight, belongs to Jeff Francoeur. He’s 1-for-22 with one walk and two RBIs in his past six games.
Ok, gotta get to work on my notebook. Gonna do a lead note on Soriano, if you want to check the website in a couple hours. I had my longest conversation so far with him this afternoon. Intense dude. Wants to start or close next year. I’d bet on him being the closer.
And now, speaking of hardasses. A ditty from Mr. Ness….
“BAD LUCK” by Mike Ness (Social Distortion)
Some people like to gamble/But you, you always lose.
Some people like to rock ‘n’ roll,/you’re always singin’ the blues
You gotta nasty disposition,/No one really knows the reason why,
You gotta bad, bad reputation,/Gonna hang your head down and cry…
chorus: You got bad, bad luck
Bad, bad luck
You got bad, bad luck
Bad, bad luck
Thirteen’s my lucky number,/To you it means stay inside.
Black cat done crossed my path,/No reason to run and hide.
You’re looking through a cracked mirror,/No one really knows the reason why.
Your enemies are gettin’ nearer,/Gonna hang down your head and cry…
chorus: You got bad, bad luck
Bad, bad luck
You got bad, bad luck
Bad, bad luck
Some people go to church on Sundays,/others they pray at home.
You tell them that there ain’t no God,/that they’re better off standin’ alone.
You’re always scratchin’ at the eight ball,/No one really knows the reason why.
You get to the top and then you fall,/Gonna hang down your head and cry.
chorus: You got bad, bad luck
Bad, bad luck
You got bad, bad luck
Bad, bad luck
Services »
