Atlanta Braves (25-16)
NL EAST: 2GB STRK: L-2
AVG: .259 (7th in NL) ERA: 3.96 (9th)
HRs: 46 (5th in ML)
*Pitching Matchups (*2 games Sat due to rainout Fri):
GM1 SAT1P: A. Larew (0-1, 6.52) vs. Matsuzaka (5-2, 4.17)
GM2 SAT 7P: Smoltz (5-2, 3.19) vs. Hansack (0-0, 13.50)
GM3 SUN 2P: Hudson (5-1, 1.77) vs. TBD (?-?, ?.??)
KEY PLAYERS:
- Chipper Jones: .300/11/25- Chipper is still Chipper, humongous ego and all; missed four games this week with bad thumbs (?!)
- Andruw Jones: .224/6/30- despite the lowly average, still tied for team led in RBIs and possesses that Gold-caliber glove
- Jeff Francoeur: .289/6/30-solid RF is in a 2-18 slump, but still tied for team lead in ribbies with Jones
- Matt Diaz: .316/2/5- the former FSU standout had a breakout year in '06 (.327 in 124 gms) and is picking up where he left off this year
OLD SOX:
- Edgar Rentanerror: .331/6/23/32R-one of the biggest gaffes of the Theo Era. The one year Sox shortstop is still being paid by Boston to play for Atlanta, and he is playing well, leading the team in batting average, hits, runs and at bats. Oh, and that fielding problem? He's only made 3 errors in 146 chances; shit that was like a week's worth for him in Boston. Can't wait to hear him introduced tomorrow
- Willie Harris: .404, 7R, 5-2Bs, 4SBs in 16 gms- the utility man extraordinaire played in 47 games last year for the Sox, mostly as a pinch hitter, pinch runner, or defensive replacement. Although he hit only .156, he scored 17 runs and is the kind of guy that every team needs in order to win
Let me first start out by saying this is total bullshit that the Sox, current owners of baseball's best record, have to play these tough teams in interleague play. I mean the Braves, the Giants, the Padres, it must be some kind of conspiracy or something, it's just total crap. The Stankees don't have to play these tough teams, it's not fair I tell you, waaa, waaa, waaa!
Okay, now that I've dispensed with my Chipper Jones imitation I can get on to previewing this series.
It's true that Jones bitched and complained that his Braves are stuck playing the Sox and the Twins and the Indians and the Tigers while other division leaders (ahem,Brewers) have a much easier inter league slate, but what's the fucking difference? If your team is good enough to be the best you've got to beat the best, so quit your bitching and play the games.
Now, the Sox come into this compacted series (thanks, Mother Nature) with a lot of questions regarding the immediate future, such as...
- how long will Beckett be sidelined?
- is J.D. Drew's back better or could that be a nagging issue?
- who the hell is going to start Sunday?!
...you know, little stuff like that.
The way the rotation sets up right now, Dice K will get the start in the opener, tomorrow at 1:00. In the nightcap Devern Hansack will make his first start of 2007, but the Sox wanted to move Wakefield up to Monday so he, and not some Pawtucket call-up, can start the opener of the New York series in the Bronx.
The likely candidate to get the nod Sunday is Kason Gabbard, the 25-year old lefty who is currently 3-1 with a 2.75 ERA in eight IL starts. Gabbard proved capable of competing at the major league level when he appeared in seven games for the Sox last year, so he has the experience and confidence factor working for him. Other candidates include Kyle Snyder or Runelvys Hernandez, but the Kansas City castoff would be a reach at this point.
Old friend Edgar Renteria makes his first trip back to the place where he couldn't hit his weight and mishandled more balls than Paris Hilton. His place as the poster boy for the type of player who just doesn't fit in the Boston scene is forever secured, and his welcome back cheer should rival that of Judas Demon.
Unfortunately I will not be able to see it, because the friggin game is on during the FOX restricted time, so it will be blacked out here. Damn you FOX network!
Anyway, here's a brief breakdown of the games, as if I or anyone else really has a clue what is going to happen to this team now that it is seeing its first signs of trouble in the so-far magical 2007 season.
Game 1 is the one game that looks to be a certain Sox win. Due to the postponement Boston was able to start Dice-K in the opener and move Hansack to the nightcap, leaving Matsuzaka in his normal spot. He will be opposed by Anthony Lerew, a 24-year-old righty making his third major league start in place of the injured Mark Redmond.
In Lerew's first start on May 8th he allowed two runs on two hits and got a no decision vs, the Padres, but last time out on Sunday he got shelled by Pittsburgh, surrendering five runs and seven hits in 3.2 of a 13-2 loss to the Pirates.
Dice is coming off his best start of the season, when he recorded his first ML complete game, allowing just one run in a 7-1 win over Toronto. Matsuzakaa has now won four games in a row. ADVANTAGE: Sox. MY PICK: Sox
Game 2 looks like a total mismatch on paper- legendary, Hall of Fame righty John Smoltz, he of the 438 career starts and 198 victories, not to mention 154 saves, going against Hansack, who has appeared in exactly three career games and has one win, albeit an abbreviated no-hitter to end the 2006 season, but still.
Maybe the Sox bats will come alive vs. Smoltzie, who has been suffering from a dislocated finger lately,and maybe Hansack will have that no-no stuff again. If not, this one is all ATL. MY PICK: Braves
Game 3 does not bode well for the Sox, either, though it never does when you've got "to be determined" penciled in as your starter.
No matter who starts for Boston they will have a tough time pitching opposite Tim Hudson, who after a couple of so-so seasons away from Oakland has regained his dominant Bay Area form. He's allowed just 13 runs in 66 innings and has a terrific strikeout to walk ratio (43/13.)
So at this time, since we don't know who will start and must assume that whoever it is will be at a decided disadvantage anyway, my instincts are telling me that Atlanta should take this game, too. Thank god my instincts are usually wrong! MY PICK: Braves
There it is, a scientific breakdown of the series, and by my calculations the Braves will take 2-of-3 from the depleted Sox.
Maybe that will stop Chipper's whining.
Go Sox!
And Go Away Rain!
.jpg)
