If the old saying is true, the Atlanta Braves will either crumble or life forever.  Yes, the tough times continued for the Braves against the surging St Louis Cardinals.  Atlanta did have the benefit of having veteran Tim Hudson on the mound Friday to bare the weight of a week filled with allegations and judgement.  Two that are rarely a worry for a team that prides itself in staying out of the paper for off field issues.

Hudson and the Braves came out of the gates strong with early run production that Hudson had not had the luxury of so far this season.  The Cardinals and Chris Carpenter however, would not lay down.  St Louis tied the game at 2-2 in the 4th.  Nate McLouth put the Braves up again in the 7th with his first home run of the year, but his teammates were unable to capitalize further by leaving the bases loaded.  After Craig Kimbrel blew the save in the 9th, Braves rookie Cory Gearrin got in trouble in the 11th giving up the first runs of his young career, and thus the win to the Cardinals.

Same two teams today, as the Braves look to get bACK TO .500 with Brandon Beachy facing Jake Westbrook.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Cardinals vs Braves

• 
  (15-11)
• 
  (13-14)

• Saturday 4/30, 1:10 PM ET at Turner Field
• Radio: STL: KMOX 1120 ATL: 680 AM/93.7 FM, WNNX 100.5
• TV: STL: FOX ATL: FOX

Jake Westbrook, RHP

2-2, 7.40 ERAWestbrook beat Cincinnati on Sunday in his last start, giving up only three hits and no earned runs in six innings. He has received a decision in four of five starts. Control has been his biggest problem, surrendering 16 walks in 24 1/3 innings.

• Expanded Stats
• Career Stats

Brandon Beachy, RHP

1-1, 3.68 ERABeachy has produced two impressive starts since experiencing one of the least impressive outings of his career on April 14. The 24-year-old right-hander’s recent success has come while he has shown better command with his slider.

• Expanded Stats
• Career Stats

The Atlanta Braves expected to come home to a warm reception after ending an excrutiatingly long road trip on a hot streak.  The fact of the matter is they are coming home to a messy house.  The Braves organization that rarely has any off field controversy has two monumental issues on its hands. 

Roger McDowell has been placed on administrative leave while allegations against him for anti-gay slurs are being investigated.  “I am deeply sorry that I responded to the heckling fans in San Francisco,” McDowell said in a statement, his only public comments on the incident. “I apologize to everyone for my actions.” 

Braves officials released a statement Friday afternoon:

The Atlanta Braves have placed pitching coach Roger McDowell on administrative leave pending the completion of the investigation surrounding the events from this past Saturday in San Francisco. In the interim, Minor League pitching coordinator, Dave Wallace will serve as the team’s acting pitching coach.

In addition to the McDowell situation, Atlanta was hit with Opening Day starter Derek Lowe’s DUI arrest.

“Obviously we are concerned and disappointed about the events involving Derek Lowe overnight,” the team said in a statement. “We are currently gathering information and plan to address this matter later today.” Lowe is in season three of a four-year, $60 million contract with the Braves.  He has been the Opening Day each of the three years. Lowe is 2-3 with a 3.21 ERA. His next scheduled start is Sunday.

“We have a long-standing reputation in this community and in Major League Baseball that we’re very proud of,” Wren said. “Unfortunately, mistakes have been made, and we’ll deal with them at the appropriate time after careful consideration of all the facts.

“Everyone,” he added, “is very mindful of the position we have and, going forward, being more diligent in making sure we uphold that reputation we’re so proud of.”

Chris Carpenter, RHP

0-2, 3.90 ERACarpenter has received no-decisions in his last two starts, pitching seven innings against the Dodgers and six last Saturday vs. Cincinnati. His last decision was an April 12 loss at Arizona. He has 26 K’s in 30 innings.

• Expanded Stats
• Career Stats

ATL Hitters	AVG	AB	HR	RBI

Tim Hudson, RHP

3-2, 3.57 ERATim Hudson threw 113 pitches and came within an out of notching a complete game while beating the Giants Saturday. While snapping a two-game losing streak, he avoided the first-inning woes that plagued him in previous four starts.

• Expanded Stats
• Career Stats

Last night, Atlanta Braves’ pitcher Derek Lowe was arrested for drunken driving.

ATLANTA — The Georgia State Patrol says Atlanta Braves pitcher Derek Lowe has been charged with drunken driving.

State Patrol spokesman Gordy Wright says a trooper stopped the 37-year-old Lowe’s vehicle about 10 p.m. Thursday on an Atlanta street.

Wright says that during the course of the traffic stop, the trooper detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage and administered a field sobriety test and Lowe was arrested.

Wright says Lowe declined to take a breath test. He says Lowe was charged with DUI, reckless driving and improper lane change. He was released, and Wright didn’t know if Lowe had an attorney.

Lowe could not immediately be reached for comment. A team spokesman did not immediately return a telephone call.

» Continue reading “UPDATED: Derek Lowe Arrested for DUI; Was “Racing” Another Driver”

Chipper Jones seems to have a rapidly shrinking bucket list this season, and last night he checked off another item when he tied Mickey Mantle for second most all-time RBI by switch hitters.  His two run shot gave the Braves an early lead over the Padres who had bested them the night before in 13 innings.  Jair Jurrgens actually was the hero in the 8-2 Braves victory, at least to his gassed bullpen, pitching Atlanta’s first complete game since 2009 and JJ’s first ever.   David Ross also made his case for game MVP hitting two home runs while giving McCann a much needed night off.   Tommy Hanson faces Matt Latos as the Braves take on the Padres again this afternoon in attempts to go 5-5 for this excruciatingly long west coast swing.

Chipper ties Mickey

Cory Gearrin was the bright spot in Monday’s extra innings loss.

http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110426&content_id=18276068&notebook_id=18279838&vkey=notebook_atl&c_id=atl

I can attest to Cory’s work on Twitter as he personal reached out to me for supporting him through my tweets.

http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2011/04/26/after-strong-debut-gearrin-goes-to-work-on-twitter/

Braves 8, Padres 2

 

(12-13)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
ATL	2	1	0	0	0	5	0	0	0		8	9	1
SD	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1		2	9	0

W:

Jurrjens (2-0)

L:

Harang (4-1)

 

(9-15)

Wednesday 4/27, 3:35 PM ET at PETCO Park

Radio: ATL: 680 AM/93.7 FM, WNNX 100.5 SD: XPRS 1090, XEMO 860

TV: ATL: SPSO

 

Tommy Hanson, RHP

2-3, 3.21 ERAHanson has commanded his fastball better in his past three outings and put himself in position to find more success with his breaking pitches. He held the Giants scoreless until they plated a seventh-inning run Friday.

• Expanded Stats
• Career Stats

 

Mat Latos, RHP

0-3, 5.94 ERALatos is coming off an outing in which he walked a career-high five batters and has lost each of his three starts. In his last start, he served up a pair of home runs to the Phillies and three runs total over 4 1/3 innings.

• Expanded Stats
• Career Stats

In a sports week that has us talking more about the court proceedings of the NFL than of Thursday’s draft, a once beloved college coach dodging responsibility for NCAA violations, and Major League Baseball taking over one of its most storied franchises, it would be easy to forget why we care in the first place.  I keep my reminder on the right hand side of the page in the form of a thank you note to my grandfathers.  Sometimes, we all need to be reminded there is more to sports than wins and losses, dollars and cents, and courtrooms and violations.  We all have our own reasons why and stories of how we came to love our teams.  Hopefully, Paul’s story will remind you of yours.

On Saturday, August 13th the Atlanta Braves will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 1991 team that went worst to first. That 1991 season has a special place in my heart as I started my first season as an Atlanta Braves bat boy. My bat boy career started in 1991 and ended after the 1997 season. As a baseball fan growing up it was a dream come true to be a part of a Major League Baseball team. My day would start early in the afternoon before any of the players would arrive at the stadium. Myself and the other bat boys would make sure they players had a clean uniform hanging in their lockers along with clean shoes and other game equipment was ready for the players when they arrived at their lockers in the clubhouse.

Early afternoon was my favorite time because I was able to be on the field during the Braves batting practice. This was a great experience for me, as a young kid growing up and playing in little league games and those backyard catches with my dad, now I was on a major league field with major league baseball players. Just being on the same field with some of my childhood heroes was amazing, and then having the opportunity to play catch with them along with catching balls in the outfield during batting practice was awesome.

 

After batting practice was over, myself and the other bat boys would get the dugout ready for the game. We made sure all the batting helmets were in the right place, the bats were in the racks in batting lineup order, and all the catching gear was in the right spot.  One of the highlights of my day was being able to put on a major league uniform and then walking onto the field for a major league baseball game. There is no better feeling in the world as a kid growing up and loving the great game of baseball.

Early in the 1991 season myself and the other two bat boys would rotate positions on the field. One night I would pick up foul balls behind home plate and run balls to the umpire when he would run out. The next night I picked up the bats after the players hit the ball. I was able to sit in the dugout while the visiting team batted. Just to listen to all the strategy going on during the games while in the dugout was just priceless. The third spot in the rotation was sitting down the right field line. This spot had two duties, catching foul balls hit down the line, and standing in front of the catcher and protecting him while a relief pitcher warmed up. This spot soon became my favorite spot on the field. Midway through the season myself and the other two bat boys agreed to make our positions permanent on the field. I was now the right field ball boy by the Braves bullpen in old Atlanta Fulton County Stadium. I really enjoyed this spot, I could sit on the field and watch the game, and also the relief pitchers sat in the bullpen right where I sat. They really made me feel part of the team early on and that continued all the way to the end of my career.

I was fortunate enough to experience 4 World Series (1991,1992,1995,1996) and 6 years of playoff baseball (1991,1992,1993,1995,1996,1997). The 1995 World Championship was the ultimate highlight, being able to run on the field after Marquis Grissom caught the last out in game 6. During the 1995 Braves World Series Parade I was fortunate enough to be able to ride on the fire truck with Javy Lopez and Eddie Perez through the streets of downtown Atlanta while all of the fans cheered and did the tomahawk chop. Some of the other highlights of my bat boy career included being on the field the night Francisco Cabrera got that game winning hit in the 1992 NLCS Game 7. After Sid Bream slid safely into home, it was a sprint from the right field line to home plate where the rest of the team had gathered in celebration. That game was recently voted the 4th best game in baseball history over the last 50 years on the MLB Network. To cap off my career I was able to work the first year of Turner Field in 1997, there is nothing better than being a part of the first game in a new stadium.

I have many lifetime memories of my time with the Atlanta Braves that I will never forget. Truly one of the greatest experiences in my lifetime.

My name is Paul Bodi and I was an Atlanta Braves bat boy from 1991-1997. I can be followed on twitter @PAULBB21

Ohio State University received notice of Allegations from the NCAA last week regarding Jim Tressel’s knowledge of violations commented by five of his players.   The NCAA alleges that Tressel lied to hide violations by players who traded memorabilia for cash and tattoos.  In a “notice of allegations” sent to the school, the NCAA attests the alleged violations relating to the coach are considered “potential major violations.”   The NCAA says Tressel “falsely attested” that he reported all knowledge of NCAA violations to the school.

Ohio State must go before the NCAA’s committee on infractions Aug. 12.  A notice of allegations is nothing more than a letter from the IRS that says we are going to audit you.  While not pleasant, everyone knew it was coming.  Yet Jim Tressel is quite secure in his job.

Tressel has admitted he knew in April 2010 that some of his players were involved with a local tattoo-parlor owner and were trading memorabilia for cash and tattoos. The players were suspended in December of 2010 for the first five games this fall, as was Tressel for not reporting the violations to his Ohio State superiors.

Tressel signed an annual NCAA certificate of compliance form indicating he knew of no violations and had reported to the school any knowledge of possible violations. This form is required of all college coaches, officials and administrators. Tressel’s contract also requires that he share any information he has pertaining to known or potential NCAA violations.

On January 4, 2011 in the midst of his players’ controversy, Ohio State beat Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl.  Tressel and his players offered the victory to their fans that supported and believed in them.  They professed to have learned from their mistakes.

Really? Because at that point Tressel was still playing the victim.  He talked about why they would have done it, but how they should have known better. And I quote from his press conference  “I suppose that would be something rattling around inside the head of each of them individually. We all have a little sensor within us, ‘Well, I’m not sure if I should be doing this.”’  What was your sensor saying Jim while you were covering up your own involvement and publicly seeking sympathy?  There are so many people here hurt in this situation.  It angers me to see fan response that excuses it away.  The fact of the matter is if had he come out when the players did, sadly, he probably would have been forgiven, but he continued to lie and let his players take the fall.  In no way am I condoning the players’ behavior, in fact they should have been ruled ineligible for the Sugar Bowl. Had the violations been reported properly, Ohio State would not have been in the Sugar Bowl.    The defense for these players has been that they were in desperate need of money and lacked guidance.  Having witnessed the recruiting process first hand, I am sure that Jim Tressel sat in each of those living rooms offering such guidance and told each one of those families he would be like a father to those boys.  Another Jim Tressel lie.  Good parents are good examples.  Tressel gave the example to lie when you get caught.  Only tell the truth when there is no other option.  Is this a good man?  Is this the man that college football has given a pass on players like Maurice Claret?  This is acceptable?  At their core athletics are to teach us how to be better people, how to take responsible within a group, how to trust and be trusted.

As an Arkansas Alumni it angers me that someone like Jim Tressel and his five suspended players took home the Sugar Bowl trophy over players like Arkansas DJ Williams.  DJ has been plastered everywhere by news outlets using him as an example of how to be, but guess what is not?  He is not a champion, and that’s all that anybody seems to be worried about.  It is ironic that the decision to let the Ohio State players to participate in the Sugar Bowl came down to money because it certainly did not help OSU sell anymore tickets.  To say that Arkansas fans outnumbered and outspent OSU fans is a gross understatement.  Arkansas memorabilia was sold out Jan 2, but Jan 5th OSU still had an abundance of merchandise all over New Orleans.  I would like to think in a perfect world that was a protest, but we all know that is not true.  Honestly Ohio State fans, if this were happening at Michigan, you would be as outraged as the rest of us!

Here’s the deal: every time I write about the Braves getting hot and getting everything together, they prove me wrong the very next game.  So I am not going to talk about their win over the Giants last night.  Although, I would like to talk about how well Tommy Hanson pitched, I am simply going to link you to David O’Brien’s game AJC recap.  Superstitious yes, but isn’t everyone who cares about baseball?  I simply refuse to stop shaving my legs or any over ritual of the sort until the Braves can string a couple games together, so for now this will have to do!  I hope to talk  more with you tomorrow.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/hanson-pitches-a-gem-922072.html

http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2011/04/23/braves-quotes-after-fridays-win-against-giants/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_braves_blog

Braves 4, Giants 1

 

(9-12)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
ATL	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	0		4	6	0
SF	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0		1	3	1

W:

Hanson (2-3)

L:

Bumgarner (0-3)

SV:

Kimbrel (5)

 

(10-9)

 

Tim Hudson, RHP

2-2, 4.05 ERAGiving up runs again early on Monday against the Dodgers, Hudson surrendered three runs in the first inning, in which Los Angeles batted around. He settled down and gave up only one run and two hits over the next five innings but took the loss.

• Expanded Stats
• Career Stats

 

Tim Lincecum, RHP

2-1, 1.67 ERALincecum no-hit Colorado for 6 1/3 innings in his previous outing, the first time since July 9, 2009, that he had gone at least six innings without giving up a hit. This will be his first outing vs. Atlanta since the Division Series.

• Expanded Stats
• Career Stats

Thank you FedEx, United Postal Service, UPS, or whoever delivered the Braves bats.  Granted most of them got to Dodger Stadium in the 9th, but better late than never!  Atlanta scored 8 runs in the 9th, and held off a Dodger surge that held the lead and preserved Brandon Beachy’s first win.  I am hesitated to yell too loudly because the Braves have been able to have one hot game per series so far.  The 10-1 victory did have a different feel maybe because the 9 spot had three hits in a row after going 0-56!

 

(8-10)

http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_04_19_atlmlb_lanmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=atl

 

Derek Lowe, RHP

2-2, 1.82 ERAHaving posted a 1.46 ERA over his past nine regular-season starts, Lowe will attempt to extend his success while pitching on short rest. He has won three of his five regular-season starts on short rest.

• Expanded Stats
• Career Stats

Jon Garland, RHP

0-1, 11.25 ERA

Garland’s debut after returning from a strained oblique was a mess, with a pair of homers by Lance Berkman and a questionable balk that allowed a run to score. Now that he’s back, Garland needs to eat innings, which is what he was signed to do.