Atlanta Braves .42 % season report

What a week for braves fans! It appears the braves brass has reached a critical mass of popular support with regard to competing for a pennant now. The announcement that Tom Glavine was cut from the team, a savage trade that brings in Nate Mclouth and his gold glove, cheap salary, 26 sb and 46 doubles. And finally Tommy Hansen has pitched his first game, a potential # 1 starter. So how does this put the Braves in a position to be playing some meaningful games in September?

Oh woe is the athlete who is past his prime and refuses to copilate . My thoughts when I heard the Braves signed Glavine to a one year incentive laden contract was that it was good insurance. With so many injuries to last years rotation he was well worth the money. And possibly mentor some of the young pitchers. The problem was he was not healthy and the rotation was a strength so far this year. And with Jo-Jo Reyes, Kris Medlen and Tommy Hanson all competing for the # 5 spot on the rotation there was no place for you. I doubt your wife wants to move Mr. Glavine just stay close to Atlanta and and give until it hurts. Atlanta needs you, its just business baby.

Lets analyze the Nate Mclouth trade now. I think the GM's thought " we could of have had this guy" From the pirate perspective it just gets worse and worse. They think now they can make intelligent moves? They think they can turn it around now? The pirates have been over 500 one time past June 10 in the last 10 years. And now the GM acts as if he is reading to much of the Pirates message board.Pirates GM letter to the fan .The Bucs certainly stops with you. You traded Xavier Nady, Jason Bay and Nate Mclouth ( a much better outfield than the braves) away and what do you have in return? Adam Laroches little brother, a big stupid looking outfielder in Brandon Moss. Kudos for Frank Wren for pulling the trigger early in the year. Once in a Braves generation we have a speed\power hybrid. All year long I have been bemoaning the lack of speed and pizzaz and with Nate Mclouth we now have it. He was tight with Adam Laroche, the former brave was very troubled to see him go, so bitter he openly chastised Pirate management for letting him go. Bobby Cox says he is the type of guy who doesn't say much unless you ask him a question. Then he will smile and you will get a good conversation. Does anyone think this sound familiar? The braves roster is full of theses painfully awkward maladroits , type B personalitys and artless players. i.e. Casey Kotchman, Garrett Anderson, Kelly Johnson. When instead I would like to see a little more passion from my players. More players who hate losing. i.e. Escobar, Chipper and Infante. I do wish him much success. And he has the best steal % in Basbeall over the last 2 years. But to compete in the playoffs and for a title you need two stars at the top of your pitching staff and a dominating closer , Unless you are the 88 Twins and there 4.67 Minnesota Twins.( but even they had Viola and Blyleven). With a semi proven solid to good CF is great but the Braves need star pitching. The Atlanta Braves think Tommy Hansen can answer the call to be that #1 or # 2.

A lavender sky was overhead when Tommy Hansen cut down the first 10 hitters he faced. The second time around the hitters timed his fastball and Ryan " the Hebrew Hammer" Braunhn the 2007 ROY crushed 2 home runs. In his second start he showed strength through adversity giving up 9 hits and 5 walks and ONLY 2 runs in his first major league win. With the overtly symbolic gesture of dropping Braves icon Tom Glavine and starting and pitching 100+ pitches for Tommy Hansen, he has a lot of pressure. Does anyone think he can handle it? With his A-ball roomie Kris Medlen pitching succesfully for the Braves he has a trusted friend to talk to and with a torrent of confidence, the futures is so bright I have to wear shades. For those who care....Thomas J. Hanson was a draft-and-follow pick in the 22nd round by the Atlanta Braves in the 2005 amateur draft out of Riverside Community College. Hanson is a 6'6", 210-pound right-handed pitcher with a mid-90's fastball, curve ball and an improving change up. Hanson spent his first year of pro ball in Danville in 2006, where he compiled a 4-1 record with a 2.09 ERA. Even more impressive, in his 51 2/3 innings at Danville, he had 56 K, nine BB, and a 0.99 WHIP. And after 4 starts in the mlb he is 3-0 3.13 e.r.a. 16 walks and 15 s.o. He is giving up a lot of base runners but he is getting the outs that count. His best start was facing the Yankees when he held them to 5.2 scoreless innings. And the best stat of them all is his 13.2 consecutive scoreless streak. Watch out Orel!