Braves Report

According to Yahoo Sports, the Braves have traded outfielder Mark Kotsay to Boston for a minor league pitcher. Stay with Braves-Report for updates on this breaking news.

Sometimes it’s hard to understand this team. On Monday afternoon, a game in which had the dumbest start time, the Braves got their asses handed to them by the pitcher who has the most losses in the Major League, Barry Zito. This second loss in a row to a team with a worse record was a fitting end to wrap up the homestand, which had the lackluster record of 1 -7.

Jorge Campillo started this game, and was less than his usual dominant self. He went 6 and 2/3 innings, while allowing 7 hits, 5 earned runs, a walk, and striking out two. Ohman relieved him, and did so with a strikeout. Boyer and Nunez followed, each perfect. Boyer had two strikeouts. Nice job, bullpen.

There’s not much to say about this offense. They had 7 hits, but couldn’t push a single run against the losingest pitcher in the Majors. So instead of talking about how they managed a bunch of singles, I’m going to complain about the start time of this game.

4:30 PM EST? C’mon, why such a weird time? Attendance was said to be 18,000+, but in the beginning of the game, there looked to be about 400. If the west coast teams can’t cater to the east coast teams whenever they come into town (I’m looking at you, 10:10 PM EST starts), then I don’t see why the east should do the west any favors.

[Image: Yahoo! Sports]

Brian McCann gazes in disbelief at the crappy start time

I mean, has being nice ever gotten anybody anywhere? It has? Dammit.

Braves lose, 5 – 0.

It’s hard for me to come up with the words to write this blog post, mainly because I don’t think its sunk in yet. I first heard the news as soon as I woke up this morning, and to me, it seemed unreal. Skip Caray, one of the main announcers and a name that is synonymous with the Braves, passed away last night in his sleep at the age of 68.

Now, I haven’t followed Skip throughout his entire 32-year career with the Braves, mainly because I really only started watching the team in 1997. But since then, through every single of his broadcasts on TBS, I felt like he gave me something. He gave me the unique feeling of the Braves. His voice is ingrained in my head with most of the fond memories I have. He was honest, but also had a sense of humor that truly made the games more enjoyable. Listening to him was always a treat, and he did his job just about as well as anyone can do it.

More importantly, this was a guy who I grew up with. I’m sure most of you can say the same, that Skip did indeed have an impact on your youth. But now, knowing that I’m no longer going to hear his remarks, or listen to him say something that would undoubtedly put a smile on my face, the feelings are starting to sink in.

Rest in peace, Skip. Thanks for all the great memories. You will be missed.

[August 12, 1939 - August 3, 2008]

[Image: Yahoo! Sports]

Finally, we win one! It seems like it has been a week (6 days). I can’t get too excited over this, since the team has largely given up and is beginning to focus on next year. But, a win is a win, and I will take it.

Pitching was better than it has been the past few days. Hampton wasn’t great, but he wasn’t awful, either. It was his longest outing of the season (not hard) and he lowered his ERA. He went five innings, giving up seven hits and four runs. If he could have cut back on the walks, it would have helped. The pen helped tonight. Bennett pitched two solid innings, perfect innings, in fact. Soriano and Gonzo pitched the last two innings, neither game up a run.

The story of the night was the hitting. We pounded out seven runs on fifteen hits. Escobar had two hits, scored and drove one in. Kotsay did the same. Infante is on fire as of late. He had three hits tonight, two RBI and two runs scored. KJ joined the hit parade with two hits and two RBI. Sammons hits and three RBI in his second (?) game.

Brave salvage the series finale, 9 – 4.

Today’s game 7:35 PM. Not nationally televised.

Being the son of a scout has its advantages, like knowing how to play fundamental baseball and being fundamentally sound. Kotchman’s glove is just as good as Teixeira’s. He has a short, but sharp swing. He should be a high average hitter. He possesses power to the gaps which should mature into a 25+ home run thread. He has good plate discipline. His K:BB ratio has taken a turn for the worse after the Angels pressed him to be more aggressive at the plate this year. The main negative on Kotchman is his durability. He has a knack for fluke injuries. His ceiling is that of Todd Helton only with less power. He is under the Braves control through the 2011 season. That will allow the Braves to develop Freddie Freeman. Tomorrow I will examine Stephen Marek, the other player the Braves received in the trade.