Braves believe they have players to compete

By DAVID O'BRIEN

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Miami — When manager Bobby Cox thinks about the Braves today compared to the days before last year’s July 31 trade deadline, he looks around for something made of wood.

“A year ago at this time we had lost all our pitchers — four starters were gone — and we traded Tex,” Cox said before Tuesday night’s series opener against Florida. “This year’s [deadline], we’ve got everybody healthy, pretty much. We’re doing everything right, playing pretty good. Knock on wood.”

The Braves won 17 of their previous 25 games before Tuesday, the second-best record in the National League since June 28 behind Philadelphia’s 18-6. The Braves hit .293 with 30 homers while posting a 3.06 ERA in that period.

The Phillies have hit .282 with 34 homers and a 3.38 ERA since June 28, and averaged 6.0 runs per game — just over a half-run more than the Braves.

While the Braves were still seven games behind the Phillies in the NL East, the pursuit of Philly had paid dividends for the Braves in the wild-card standings.

Before Tuesday, the Braves were fourth in the wild-card race, three games behind leader Colorado, two behind San Francisco and 1-1/2 behind St. Louis.

General manager Frank Wren indicated the Braves might not make any moves before Friday’s non-waiver trade deadline. The Braves are known to have checked on available relievers, including Oakland right-hander Michael Wuertz.

If they don’t make any additions, it won’t disappoint Braves players. They believe they can win with this group.

Before Tuesday, they were 8-3 with three series wins since the All-Star break. They had a 2.39 ERA in that span, scoring in double-digits three times, and scoring seven, eight and nine runs in three other games.

“It’s been a blast coming back from the All-Star game knowing you’ve got a chance to play in October,” catcher Brian McCann said. “There’s a good mix of guys here. This team has a chance to win. We’ve proven it the last month and a half. We just have to keep doing it the next two months.

“This team is really good.”

A year ago this week, the Braves were coming off a horrid weekend in Philadelphia, when they blew five-run leads in consecutive losses. Coupled with Tim Hudson’s injury days before in Florida, it made them sellers at the deadline.

Wren traded Mark Teixeira to the Angels and raised a figurative white flag on the Braves’ third consecutive season without postseason baseball. The Braves were six games under .500 on June 28, 2008.

They were three games over .500 (51-48) before Tuesday.

“It’s baseball, and things could change tomorrow,” outfielder Matt Diaz said. “But it’s fun looking around and thinking that most or all the guys on this team are going to be together the rest of the year. I’ve never really been a part of a team that pulls for each other like this one. It’s fun, it really is.

“It’s something I haven’t seen since amateur ball.”

O’Flaherty had sprained ankle

Cox revealed Tuesday that lefty Eric O’Flaherty pitched Saturday with a heavily taped ankle after spraining it last week in a game in Atlanta. He allowed three walks and two runs while recording one out Saturday. “That [ankle] messed him up,” said Cox, admiring O’Flaherty’s grit. “He doesn’t complain about [anything].”

Updates

● Omar Infante has taken batting practice for a few days and still had some tenderness in his surgically repaired left wrist. “Once he gets over that, he’s going to go out” on a rehab assignment, Cox said.

● Reliever Buddy Carlyle could be ready after a couple of more rehab appearances. He has been regaining strength since he was diagnosed with diabetes.