So much for AL dominance

As we wait for the playoffs to start, we’ll likely be bombarded with the continued notion that the eventual World Series champions will come out of New York, Boston or perhaps Los Angeles.

After all these teams have played and paid their way though 162 games this season and suggesting that the National League is competitive is always disproved by the All Star game, right?

Those believing that the American League is a dominating league point to their continued success in the All Star Game. While the National League has failed time and time again on this stage it’s not always been the case in the World Series.

In the 1990’s the American League won six World Series. Aided by the Worst to First Minnesota Twins in 1990, back to back wins by the Toronto Blue Jays and then the emergence of the New York Yankees.

Since the end of the last Yankees Dynasty it’s been anyone’s guess as to who will win the series.

2001 Arizona Diamonbacks (reg season win leader Seattle)
2002 Anaheim Angels (reg season win leader NY Yankees, Oakland)
2003 Florida Marlins (reg season win leader Atlanta, NY Yankees)
2004 Boston Red Sox (reg season win leader St. Louis)
2005 Chicago White Sox (reg season win leader St. Louis)
2006 St. Louis Cardinals (reg season win leader NY Mets, NY Yankees)
2007 Boston Red Sox (reg season win leader Boston)
2008 Philadelphia Phillies (reg season win leader LA Angels)

As the chart shows only one team in the last eight seasons had the best record in baseball and won the World Series. Also during that time the American League won all the completed All Star games and has had home field advantage for the past six seasons in-turn. Though since the last Yankees World Championship in 2000, the AL and NL have split the World Series 4-4.

The American League will be favored once again this season but if history has shown us anything it’s that the National League hasn’t been a push over at all in recent World Series’ contests. At times you get sick hearing the suggestion that the American League is the dominating league.

I guess the National League hasn’t been too bothered by their “lack of a DH type player” or their “inability to win a All Star Game.”

Hudson into the sixth as Braves top Marlins again

The Atlanta Braves were frustrated after letting the final game of a three game series in Philadelphia get away from them with defensive miscue’s in the seventh. Monday the team took advantage of Florida Marlins pitcher Josh Johnson in the top of the seventh in what turned out to be a 5-2 win and last night defeated the same Marlins 4-3.

It was the return of Tim Hudson who displayed some early rust but pitched four solid innings from the second to the fifth before coming unraveled in the sixth. Hudson allowed two runs to score in the first inning on three hits. In total Hudson pitched 5.1 innings allowing six hits, two runs and three walks while striking out five. Aside from the first he also struggled in the sixth with his command, walking two and allowing a hit before departing in favor of Peter Moylan who induced a ground ball double play. Of Hudson’s 82 pitches 50 were thrown for strikes.

The Braves offense totaled 4 runs in the contest which is near their average over their last 10 games. (4.8) For the season they have averaged just under 4.6 runs per game.

In this contest all of the production was produced by the top of the order. The six, seven eight and nine hitters combined to go 1-for-14 with a run scored. Matt Diaz again at the top of the order produced two hits and a run scored, while Brian McCann provided the games only two-out RBI when he doubled home Martin Prado in the third. The Braves added another run in the eighth when Garret Anderson reached on a infield single and Chipper Jones scored.

Dan Uggla hit a solo home run off closer Rafael Soriano in the bottom of the ninth but the Marlins were unable to do any further scoring and lost the game 4-3.

Miscue’s in seventh drop Braves

The Braves again failed to take advantage of a chance to move closer in the Wild Card race. In a game that was knotted 1-1 in the seventh the Phillies too advantage of a throwing error by Chipper Jones and later scored two in the inning.

While Jones did commit the error on a throw across the diamond, Martin Prado who was covering first base on the play admitted after the game he should have made an attempt to lunge across the first base bag in an attempt to prevent a wild throw. Instead the ball got away from Prado and the Phillie runners advanced.

“I’m just frustrated about that,” Prado said. “I feel like I should have made that play. That was the play of the game. The game was right there.”

On the following at-bat Carlos Ruiz ripped a ball to left field that escaped the glove on a extended Garret Anderson.

Prado, who hit a homer in the top of the first, singeled in the top of the 8th as the Braves inched back into the game off Ryan Madson. With Scott Eyre summoned to replace Madson a sharp ground ball off the bat of Brian McCann netted the Phillies two outs and Anderson later grounded out.

Brad Lidge whose struggles have been well documented this season again closed the Braves out with a perfect inning picking up his 27th save of the year.

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I suppose the other big news in Atlanta is that Kenshin Kawakami will start Monday’s game against the Marlins instead of Tim Hudson. Hudson will start Tuesday’s game instead.

Braves hand Lee first NL loss

The Atlanta Braves became the first NL team to give Cliff Lee a loss since he joined the Philadelphia Phillies. The Braves went on to defeat the Phillies 9-1 and with help from the San Fransisco Giants have moved to 3.5 behind the Colorado Rockies in the NL Wild Card race.

After allowing a solo home run to Chase Utley in the first starter Derek Lowe pitched into the sixth allowing eight hits and striking out five while picking up his 13th win of the season. Peter Moylan and Mike Gonzalez provided 2.1 innings of relief as the game was called entering the bottom of the seventh.

If it wasn’t clear before that Matt Diaz was on one of those filthy hot streaks maybe last nights game serves as notice. Diaz again collected three hits from the lead off spot driving in two on his 10th homer of the season in the fourth inning. Garret Anderson also collected three hits, including a three run homer in the fourth. The Braves totaled five runs in the fourth, and added another in the fifth with a homer off the bat of Yunnel Escobar.

In the sixth inning Chipper Jones hit a three run shot of his own, providing some sign that there is still something in his bat during his recent struggles. Jones struck out in his other three at-bats.

Something that is becoming a regular occurrence this season is the entire starting lineup collecting at least one hit in a game, a feat that again was achieved last night.

The final game of the series occurs today with Jair Jurrjens slated to pitch against Joe Blanton.

Braves lose game, not ground

Rain delays held birthday boy Tommy Hanson to just a two inning outing against the Phillies on Friday night. Still the Phillies managed to tag the 24-year-old with his third loss of the season curtousy of a solo home run off the bat of Ryan Howard in the second. Howard later feasted on another Brave rookie in the fourth taking Kris Medlen deep for his 37th homer of the season.

The Phillies went to Jamie Moyer out of the pen following the rain delay. Moyer in turn rewarded the team with four innings of work allowing just a single run in the fifth that came on a Matt Diaz double to score Ryan Church.

Offensively the Braves were again highlighted by Diaz who seems to be in one of those impossiable groves. Diaz reached on three doubles in the contest and accounted for both of the Braves runs. Aside from his RBI double Diaz’s third double of the night in the eight off Ryan Madson netted the Braves other run in the contest when he later scored on a Chipper Jones ground out.

As for Chipper Jones he remains in his funk having gone 3-for his last-39.

Brad Lidge came in for the Phillies in the ninth to record a perfect ninth which marked his 26th save of the season.

If there is a real bright spot in this otherwise soggy game it’s that the San Fransisco Giants behind the pitching of Tim Lincecum defeated Colorado last night so the Braves lost no ground to the Rockies in the Wild Card chase.

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Yesterday I made mention that John Smotlz was making his second start of the season for the Carindals. In that contest Smoltz went six innings allowing four hits, one earned run and a walk while striking out six. He left the game trailing though but the Cardinals were able to rally back in the eighth and ninth to win the game.

Smoltz to make second start for Cards

Former Brave John Smoltz will make his second start of the season for the Cardinals tonight. The 42-year-old pitcher liked like his familiar self on Sunday pitching five scoreless innings allowing just three hits in San Diego.

It was a long way from the shell of a pitcher he appeared to be in Boston during 8 starts. He was 2-5 with a 8.33 ERA while pitching 40 innings for the Red Sox.

According to multiple reports the Cardinals think Smoltz may have been tipping his pitches in Boston, something the 22-year veteran says would make it easier for the opposition. The team also made a mechanical adjustment to his delivery putting his heel closer to the pitching rubber. Others argue “Hey it was San Diego.”

Whatever the case was for Smoltz’s start on Sunday the Cardinals are hoping they get more of it tonight. He’ll be opposed by Nationals ace John Lannan (8-9, 4.03) who has allowed 19 runs in 18 innings in August.

Looking forward to Philadelphia

The three game series in Philadelphia kicks off tonight with birthday boy Tommy Hanson facing Pedro Martinez. Now I totally didn’t mention that Martinez was a former Cy Young winner in the previous sentence because let’s face it he hasn’t pitched like one since he left Boston.

As for the other two games I could see a split there. Saturday’s game will be tough given the fact that Phillies starter Cliff Lee has been dominating (5-0, 0.68 ERA) since coming over from Cleveland. I seem to remember another former Indians pitcher doing the same thing last year. Though I do like me some JJ in the Sunday game as he’s allowed just 2 earned runs in 19 2/3 innings against the Phillies this year.

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Ok I have a confession I copied everything below from braves.com so sue me if you want.

Friday, August 28 Citizens Bank Park | 7:05 PM ET

Tommy Hanson, RHP (9-2, 3.12) Braves (67-60) @ Pedro Martinez, RHP (2-0, 5.14) Phillies (73-52)

Scouting Report: Braves: While going 4-0 with a 2.81 ERA in his past four starts, Hanson has strengthened his bid to be named the National League’s Rookie of the Year. While celebrating his 23rd birthday on Friday, Hanson will be given his first opportunity to face the challenges presented by Philadelphia’s powerful lineup and Citizens Bank Park’s cozy confines. Since surrendering three homers in his June 7 debut, Hanson has made 13 starts and surrendered a total of six homers. He was bidding for a no-hitter until surrendering three consecutive two-out hits in the fifth inning of Saturday’s win over the Marlins. Phillies: Martinez had hoped Sunday’s start against the Mets would be a good step forward for him. Instead, he pitched well enough to win, but still found much to improve upon. He allowed seven hits, four runs, one walk and two home runs in six innings. He struck out five. Of course, his game got off to a bad start when Angel Pagan hit an inside-the-park home run that should have been no more than a triple, except Shane Victorino tried to convince the umpires that Pagan’s ball had lodged underneath the outfield wall’s padding.

Saturday, August 29 Citizens Bank Park | 7:05 PM ET

Derek Lowe, RHP (12-8, 4.48) Braves (67-60) @ Cliff Lee, LHP (12-9, 2.63) Phillies (73-52)

Scouting Report: Braves: Lowe’s only previous start at Citizens Bank Park occurred on Opening Night, when he allowed two hits over eight scoreless innings. Considering he’s allowed 20 hits in the 8 2/3 innings he’s completed in his past two starts, he’d certainly enjoy the opportunity to experience another similar outing. The veteran right-hander posted a 6.14 ERA during a rough eight-start stretch earlier this year and then had gone 5-0 with a 2.91 ERA in the seven starts that preceded these two rough outings. In his only other start against the Phillies this year, Lowe worked six innings and was charged with two runs and seven hits. Phillies: Lee improved to 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA in five starts with the Phillies after Monday’s 6-2 victory over the Mets at Citi Field. In 40 innings, he has allowed 24 hits, six runs, three earned runs, six walks and zero home runs. He has struck out 39. Opponents have hit .175 against him. He allowed six hits and two unearned runs and struck out five in seven innings against the Mets as he continues to prove to be one of the game’s biggest acquisitions before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline.

Sunday, August 30 Citizens Bank Park | 8:05 PM ET

Jair Jurrjens, RHP (10-8, 2.91) Braves (67-60) @ Joe Blanton, RHP (8-6, 3.88) Phillies (73-52)

Scouting Report: Braves: Jurrjens has allowed two or fewer runs in 19 of his 27 starts this year and has gone winless in 11 of those outings. He experienced this bad luck again on Tuesday, when he was damaged only by Adrian Gonzalez’s solo homer during a seven-inning effort. The 23-year-old right-hander allowed four runs during his first two starts of this month against the Dodgers but has rebounded by allowing a total of five runs over his last 20 2/3 innings. Jurrjens has allowed just two earned runs in 19 2/3 innings against the Phillies this year. Phillies: Blanton pitched out of numerous jams Tuesday in a 6-4 loss to the Pirates at PNC Park. His biggest crime? A slider he hung over the plate to Steve Pearce, who hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning to give the Pirates a one-run lead. Blanton allowed six hits, three runs and two runs and struck out seven in six innings. He kept the Phillies in the game, which he has been doing for a few months. The Phillies actually took the lead in the ninth before Brad Lidge blew the game in the ninth.

Braves finally beat Padres, Vazquez stellar

Javier Vazquez (credit: John Bazemore/AP)

When the San Diego Padres came to town who would have guessed the Braves would of needed all three contests to escape with one victory. Backed by an offensive onslaught in the second the Braves got seven shutout innings out of Javier Vazquez who picked up his 11th win of the season.

While Vazquez was working his way though the Padres lineup with six strike outs, allowing just five hits, Padres pitcher Clayton Richard was having fits with the Braves. He eventually was chased from the game in the third after allowing six runs on nine hits and two walks. He struck out two on his way to his fourth loss of the season.

Matt Diaz continued to be a spark plug at the top of the order going 3-for-6 while driving in two. Chipper Jones broke out of a miserable 1-for-33 slump with two hits of his own to go along with two walks. Jones was robbed of another hit by Padres center-fielder Tony Gwynn in the third. Despite scoring nine runs in the contest the only homer for the Braves was a solo shot by Adam LaRoache in the sixth.

In total the Braves recorded 17 hits, with each member of the starting lineup recording at-least one. Diaz and Yunnel Escobar led the way with three apiece.

The Braves are now headed to Philadelphia where they will play the Phillies in a three game set this weekend. They currently sit seven games behind the Phillies in the NL East and are four and a half behind Colorado in the Wild Card picture.

Hudson to start Monday, replaces Kawakami in rotation

Tim Hudson pitching in 2008

The answer to when and who have been answered. Tim Hudson will make his first start of the 2009 season on Monday replacing Kenshin Kawakami in the Braves rotation.

Originally scheduled to pitch tomorrow night in what was called his final rehab assignment the Braves, perhaps based on Kawakami’s performance last night, have opted to bring him back to the major league level earlier then planned.

Kawakami, 34, is in the first year of a three year deal he signed with the Braves over the winter. He had gone 6-10 with a 4.08 ERA in 24 starts in his first season in the major leagues. Prior to last nights diasterous sixth inning Kawakami had totaled a 5-6 record and a 3.36 ERA in his 19 starts since the end of April.

Perhaps some of the reasoning behind replaing Kawakami in the rotation had to do with the teams lack of winning in his starts. Including last nights performance Kawakami was 1-4 since the All Star Break dispite a 3.75 ERA and a .262 BAA.

The right-handed Hudson, who is coming back from Tommy John reconstructive surgery on his throwing elbow, made 22 starts last season going 11-7 with a 3.17 ERA. In his career he’s 146-77 mark with a 3.48  ERA in 304 appearances (303 starts) with Atlanta and Oakland.

During his six game minor league rehab he pitched a total of 23.1 innings with a 3.86 ERA while allowing 4 walks while striking out 14. If there is one alarming stat it’s that minor leagues combined to hit .309 against him.

Monday marks the first game of a series in Florida, it will follow a three game series in Philadelphia.

Heyward to miss rest of minor league season

Jayson Heyward, the top prospect in all of baseball, likely has played his last game of the season. The outfielder who figures to make his way to Atlanta during the 2010 season has been limited by a bruised heel of late. At 20-years of age the left handed hitting Heyward was selected as Baseball America’s Top Prospect at mid-season.

Mississippi manager Phil Wellman offered the following to the Richmond Times Press. “Being that he’s going to the Arizona Fall League, I don’t think we see any reason to sit him for seven and then play him for the last five, because if he re-injuries it, we’re back to square one.”

Heyward finishes the minor league campaign with a .314/.399/.557 line in 93 games split between Myrtle Beach and Mississippi. He hit 17 homers, 24 doubles, 4 triples and drove in 58 runs while scoring 64 times.

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Phil Wellman Goes NUTS! - 2007

Six in the sixth, propell Padres past Braves

After pitching well early on Kenshin Kawakami came unraveled in the sixth inning as the Braves dropped their second in a row to San Diego. The majority of the Braves offense was produced on Brian McCann’s three run homer in the bottom of the first. While searching for positives during the contest that saw the Braves remain 5.5 back of the Colorado Rockies in the Wild Card race one would notice that Matt Diaz who was batting leadoff reached base three times in the contest.

Kawakami’s struggles in the sixth began immediatley. Doubles by Adrian Gonzalez and Will Venable sandwiched a single by Chase Headley before Nick Hundley’s double eventually chased him from the game. Reliever Eric O’Flaherty didn’t do much better in relief allowing back to back singles coupled by a missed catch from McCann that gave San Diego a 5-3 lead. Adrian Gonzalez batting for the second time in the inning extended the Padres lead to 3 with a single and from there the rout was on.

The Padres scored six more runs in the final three frames, highlighted by a Kevin Kouzmanoff homer in the seventh that very well could have been a signal that the Braves slim playoff hopes were drying up.

The two teams have one more contest today with Clayton Richard (7-3, 4.42) matching up against Javier Vazquez (10-9, 3.14) before Atlanta heads to Philadelphia for a weekend series.

Modified Site some

You may have noticed I’ve changed things around a bit. Maybe for the better, maybe not. Guess we shall see in time.

Braves fall to Padres, lose ground in Wild Card race

San Diego rookie Mat Latos again was too much early on for the Braves. Latos who defeated Atlanta back on August 3 held the Braves hit less until the fifth.

The Braves mustered just two singles off the 21-year-old right hander who struck out four. Aided by a solo home run by Adrian Gonzalez in the third inning off Jair Jurrjens the Padres entrusted the game in the hands of their bullpen.

Jair Jurrjens was his typical self in the contest. Aside from the homer to Gonzalez he allowed four other hits, four walks and seven strike outs but earned a no decision, his ninth of the season.

It wasn’t until the bottom of the ninth that the Braves showed any true offensive signs when Brian McCann singled with one out. Reid Gorecki pinch ran for him swiping second base in the process in front of a Garret Anderson walk. Adam LaRoache drove in the Braves lone run with a single to right field as Gorecki raced home.

It’s not to say the Braves didn’t have chances later to put the game in the win column. Kelly Johnson walked to start the tenth and following a ground out moved to second. With two outs in the inning the Padres opted to intentionally walk Chipper Jones and then walked David Ross to load the bases. Unfortunately Garret Anderson struck out against Joe Thatcher to end the inning.

Reliever Kris Medlen gave up a double to Nick Hundley to start the top of the 12th and David Eckstein later dobuled him in to give the Padres what would end up being a 2-1 victory.

Perhaps even more troublesome is that Colorado held on to defeat Los Angeles. The Braves are now 5.5 games back in the Wild Card and trail Philadelphia by 7 in the NL East.

Time for Braves to fatten up on Padres

Anytime you get to face a struggeling team like San Diego at the end of August it’s a chance to take advantage of them. The Braves will need to head those words if they are planning on staying in the playoff picture.

The Braves currently 7 games back of the Philliesget to face San Diego (52-74) prior to a four game set in Philadelphia that ultimately could decide the NL East. As for the Wild Card picture the team sits 4.5 behind Colorado who is showing no signs of slowing down as the summer speeds to an end.

The Braves will hope to feast on rookie Mat Latos who has allowed 12 earned runs over his last two starts. Those two starts totaled 7.2 innings as the youngster walked 7 and struck out 6. The Braves have seen Latos before as back on August 3 he went 7 against the team allowing 2 runs in what turned out to be a 4-2 victory for the Padres.

The Braves have taken two out of three in their last two series averaging 6 runs per game, a number that is skewed due to a 15-2 victory over the Mets in the second game of that series. If you take out that game they have averaged 4.2 runs per game which is lower then the 4.54 runs they have averaged over the course of the season.

Tim Stauffer (1-6, 3.95) and Clayton Richard (7-3, 4.42) who went six scoreless in his last outing against St. Louis will pitch the final two games of the series for the Padres. Kenshin Kawakami (6-9, 3.97) and Javier Vazquez (10-9, 3.14) will toe the rubber for the Braves.

Bats sleepy, Vazquez runs out of gas

With the way Anibal Sanchez was pitching last night, it looked like it could be one of them nights for much of the game. The Braves finally recorded a hit in the sixth off the bat of Javier Vazquez.

On the mound Vazquez had allowed one run entering the seventh inning in Atlanta on Friday night, unfortunatley he would allow four in the seventh as the Braves dropped the first game of a three game series to Florida.

After scoring one in the sixth on a single by Hanley Ramirez the Marlins broke out the bats in the seventh against Vazquez. Jeremy Hermida homered to start the inning and with the Marlins starting to batter him around Vazquez was chased from the game when Ramirez went yard in the inning extending Flordia’s lead to 5-0.

The Braves appeared to wake up in the bottom of the seventh. After Ryan Church and Chipper Jones reached base first basemen Adam LaRoache hit a three run homer to cut the Marlins lead to two but the bottom of the lineup was unable to do any further damage in the inning.

With one out in the ninth the two teams sat thru a rain delay that lasted 2 hours and 28 minutes. Less then ten minutes later the game was over after LaRoache was called out attempting to extend a single with two outs in the ninth.

On Saturday Marlins starter Chris Volstad (9-9, 4.61) is matched up against Tommy Hanson (8-2, 3.05)