Braving the 80's

[rockiesfan4ever]

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ewing6]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! My life is coming to an end.

[McPhale]

Thanks to Catknight!

Like the title says....thanks to Catknight and some sound advice, this dynasty may be saved! Sorry for the scare earlier, but I was going to have to abandon BM (don't tell Clay and Co, but there might be an OOTPX demo sitting on my desktop...shhhh!). Cat came to the rescue it seems. Thank you!

Now, let's get those Braves back where they belong!

[ewing6]

YES!!! MY LIFE IS SAVED!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes again!

[reflections]

Thanks to Catknight!

Like the title says....thanks to Catknight and some sound advice, this dynasty may be saved! Sorry for the scare earlier, but I was going to have to abandon BM (don't tell Clay and Co, but there might be an OOTPX demo sitting on my desktop...shhhh!). Cat came to the rescue it seems. Thank you!

Now, let's get those Braves back where they belong!

Thank the lord.
Bring on the Bravos

[McPhale]

Amateur Draft Recap

The "big names" are getting few and far between these days. I'm sure I've missed a few players, but here's some of the names we know and where they landed.

9: KC- SP Felix Hernandez
13: Tor- SP Yovani Gallardo
15: NYM- SP Johnny Cueto
16: Oak- SP Franklin Morales
34: NYY- SP Phil Hughes
39: KC- 1B Chris Davis
40: Sea- SP Chris Volstad
45: NYM- C Lou Marson
68: Cle- SP Homer Bailey
78: Col- SP Michael Bowden
102: Pit- 1B Angel Solome
107: SF- CF Dexter Fowler
123: Fla- 1B Billy Butler

[McPhale]

Braves Draft Recap

As always, I'm looking for the best available. With any luck, I'll be able to find some starting pitching this draft. The lower levels of my farm system needs some help. Away we go....

Round 1



I hate to say it, but Jeter won't be my shortstop forever. Much to OldYankFan's chagrin, DiCosimo probably isn't the answer at short either.
Alicides could develop into a nice defensive shortstop which is all I really need out of that position.

Round 2



I probably could have had someone a little more solid here in regards to health rating, but seriously, how can I pass Adenhart up?

Round 3



Some of my first base prospects haven't panned out. Prince Fielder looks to be working out, but Texeira and Votto not so much. Enter Kung Fu Panda.

Round 4



Ahh, the fictional player. With Adenhart in the fold, I needed someone with a little more solid ground healthwise. Enter Oyas.

Round 5



Another starter with a solid health rating...and I'm always a sucker for a knuckle change.

Round 6



If there's something I love more than a knuckle curve, it's a forkball and a sidearm curve!

[McPhale]

Miles Goes Down

6/6- Aaron Miles suffered his second severe injury of this young season when he broke his hip in today's game against Seattle. The doctors expect him to make a full recovery by mid September. Until then, Craig Biggio and rookie John Eugene will split time at second. If Eugene can't adjust to life at second (he's a 3rd baseman), then expect castoff Brian Roberts to get a chance in Atlanta once again.

[McPhale]

June



Perhaps this was just BM's way of making all the missing windows up to me. One 15 game winning streak later along with a 21-5 month puts the Braves into a tie for first place tie. The pitching and hitting both bounced back in a huge way, and it obviously shows. I guess it also helps with the Phillies struggling this month. Regardless, I'll be happy with first place!

June MVP



I don't think it's just coincidence the Braves seem to be a better team when Chipper has a great year.

Pitcher of the Month



While Roy Smith seems to be back to his winning ways, Walker continues to be the most impressive pitcher out there. 5 wins, 17 saves, and an ERA under 2. Cy Young contender?

On the Farm

Position Player Spotlight



Crawford is still excelling at Richmond. With the Braves without a true leadoff hitter, it is so very tempting to bring Crawford up. He still needs just a little bit more seasoning before that happens....

Pitcher of the Month



Could Maine turn into my future ace? He's improving rapidly enough to give me hope.

Braves Hitting Through June

2004 Batting             Team    G   AVG    AB    H  2B  3B  HR   BB    K   SB  CS    R  RBI   SLG   OBP
Ordonez, Magglio          ATL   77  .297   330   98  23   3  12   31   45    7   1   59   43  .494  .367
Jones, Chipper            ATL   74  .338   290   98  19   1  21   42   51    1   1   63   64  .628  .424
Jeter, Derek              ATL   75  .283   286   81  22   4  15   51   46    2   1   67   54  .545  .398
Young, Dmitri             ATL   73  .325   283   92  15   3  20   29   52    0   0   59   60  .611  .385
Granderson, Curtis        ATL   68  .267   277   74   8   5   7   23   62    3   3   43   33  .408  .328
Varitek, Jason            ATL   71  .304   263   80  15   1  18   31   61    3   0   57   57  .574  .388
Wells, Vernon             ATL   69  .298   262   78  15   1   9   14   45    3   2   30   48  .466  .338
Lee, Carlos               ATL   68  .268   261   70  13   2   8   16   38    1   2   31   40  .425  .313
Biggio, Craig             ATL   49  .204   147   30   0   1   7   16   24    1   0   15   17  .361  .293
Martinez, Victor          ATL   38  .244   135   33   6   1   1   12   21    0   0    7   12  .326  .309
Miles, Aaron              ATL   24  .283   113   32   5   0   0    5   13    0   1   10    4  .327  .314
DiCosimo, Leon            ATL   12  .410    39   16   1   1   1    3    7    0   0    5    7  .564  .452
Glaus, Troy               ATL    9  .111    27    3   1   0   1    3    5    0   0    3    3  .259  .200
Eugene, John              ATL   10  .269    26    7   2   1   0    2    2    0   0    4    1  .423  .321
Vargas, Claudio           ATL    2  .000     6    0   0   0   0    0    3    0   0    0    0  .000  .000
Seth, Paul                ATL    2  .400     5    2   1   0   0    0    2    0   0    0    1  .600  .400
Phillips, Brandon         ATL    2  .000     4    0   0   0   0    0    1    0   0    0    0  .000  .000
Etherton, Seth            ATL    2  .000     4    0   0   0   0    0    2    0   0    0    0  .000  .000
Wood, Kerry               ATL    1  .333     3    1   0   0   0    0    0    0   0    0    0  .333  .333
Soriano, Rafael           ATL   22  .000     2    0   0   0   0    0    1    0   0    0    0  .000  .000
Smith, Roy                ATL    2  .000     1    0   0   0   0    0    0    0   0    0    0  .000  .000
Walker, Tyler             ATL   28  .000     1    0   0   0   0    0    0    0   0    0    0  .000  .000
Wells, Kip                ATL    3  .000     1    0   0   0   0    0    1    0   0    0    0  .000  .000
Cotts, Neal               ATL    3  .000     1    0   0   0   0    0    1    0   0    0    0  .000  .000

Braves Pitching Through June

2004 Pitching            Team     IP   ERA    G  GS   W   L  SV    K   BB   R/9
Vargas, Claudio           ATL   99.0  5.18   16  16   4   6   0   63   38 13.09
Wood, Kerry               ATL   98.0  4.13   16  16   5   4   0  114   49 12.21
Etherton, Seth            ATL   82.1  3.61   13  13   5   4   0   47   21 11.59
Smith, Roy                ATL   79.1  3.74   13  13   7   1   0   46   33 12.48
Seth, Paul                ATL   77.1  3.84   13  13   6   1   0   44   18 12.92
Affeldt, Jeremy           ATL   40.1  6.02   31   0   1   0   1   24   17 14.73
Donnelly, Brendan         ATL   34.2  5.45   31   0   6   2   3   33   13 13.50
Soriano, Rafael           ATL   34.1  3.41   22   0   1   2   0   24   21 12.58
Wells, Kip                ATL   33.1  6.75    9   6   2   3   1   20   20 15.12
Walker, Tyler             ATL   31.2  1.99   28   0   5   0  17   22   12 10.80
Yates, Tyler              ATL   25.1  4.26   23   0   2   3   1   32    7  9.24
Tyerman, William          ATL   23.0  5.87   19   0   1   1   0   20   12 17.22
Neshek, Pat               ATL   23.0  7.83   14   0   1   3   1   21   10 14.48
Burkett, John             ATL    6.1  8.53    3   0   0   0   0    1    2 15.63
Cotts, Neal               ATL    2.1 15.43    3   0   1   0   1    0    2 27.00

[McPhale]

Around the Bigs





* It gives me great pleasure in telling you the Yankees are in last place.



Injuries

6/1- Col's Travis Baptist for 11 months
6/2- Bal's Deivi Cruz for 6 weeks
6/3- Bos's Pat Meares for 3 weeks
6/4- Mon's Shane Victorino for 5 weeks
6/5- Phi's Justin Thompson for 8 weeks
6/12- Col's Mar Quinn for 8 months
6/13- SD's Bill Mueller for 6 weeks
6/14- SF's Charles Nagy for 5 weeks
6/17- LA's Dean Palmer for 2 weeks
6/17- Sea's Scott Linebrink for 3 weeks
6/21- SD's Sammy Sosa for 6 months
6/25- SD's Jeff Cirillo for 5 weeks
6/26- Ari's Brian Schneider for 5 weeks
6/27- Mon's Rich Aurillia for 4 weeks
6/29- Hou's Javy Lopez for 4 weeks

Contracts

6/22- FA Delino Deshields signs a 1 year deal with Cincy


Milestones

6/9- Min's Ken Griffey goes past 2000 hits
6/9- CHC's Curt Schilling gets his 2000th K
6/12- NYM's Jeromy Burnitz continues the former Braves getting milestones. He scores his 1000th run
6/12- Mil's Pat Hentgen collects his 2000th strikeout
6/17- Phi's Bobby Higgenson gets his 300th HR
6/18- Pit's Manny Ramirez gets his 1000th RBI
6/25- Col's Jim Edmunds also gets his 1000th RBI

Retirements

Nothing worth mentioning

Trades

6/12- Tampa trades SP Randy Wolf (27/86) to Min for RP Matt Smith (25/68), RP Jared Burton (23/67), and SP Eugene Boyte (20/67).

[McPhale]

League Leaders

[McPhale]

The All Star Rosters Announced

Congrats to Jason Varitek for making his 2nd All Star Game, Chipper for his 5th (his 3rd straight), Jeter for his 7th, Kerry Wood for his 1rst, Tyler Walker for his 2nd, and Dmitri Young for his 6th appearance.

[McPhale]

Hall of Fame Inductees

[McPhale]

2004 All Star Break

Home Run Derby

2004 Home Run Showdown

FIRST ROUND (10 Outs)

PLAYER                          HOMERS
Gordon Webb (HOU)                   11
Chipper Jones (ATL)                 10
Andruw Jones (ANA)                   9
Bobby Higginson (PHI)                7
Stephen Bailey (OAK)                 6
Garret Anderson (LAD)                4
Eric Hinske (SFG)                    4
Damon Mashore (COL)                  2
Shea Hillenbrand (NYM)               2
Preston Boucher (MIL)                2

SECOND ROUND (5 Outs)

PLAYER                          HOMERS
Bobby Higginson (PHI)                4
Andruw Jones (ANA)                   3
Chipper Jones (ATL)                  2
Gordon Webb (HOU)                    1

FINAL ROUND (5 Outs)

PLAYER                          HOMERS
ANDRUW JONES (ANA)                   4
Bobby Higginson (PHI)                1

     WINNER: Andruw Jones

The All Star Game

 National League at  American League
July 14, 2004

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
National League (NL) 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 1    4  8  0
American League (AL) 2 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 x    7 12  0

                     ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
J. Damon (DH)         3  1  1  2  1  1  1  0    .346
A. Kennedy (2B)       3  2  1  1  1  1  0  0    .334
S. Hillenbrand (3B)   4  3  0  0  0  1  0  0    .363
D. Jackson (C)        3  0  1  0  0  0  1  0    .291
S. Bailey (1B)        4  1  0  1  0  0  0  0    .311
P. Boucher (LF)       2  0  1  0  0  0  1  0    .364
A. Jones (CF)         4  1  0  0  0  1  2  0    .315
J. McRobie (SS)       4  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .295
G. Anderson (RF)      4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .343
TOTALS               31  8  4  4  2  4  6  0

   2B:  S. Bailey, A. Kennedy, S. Hillenbrand, A. Jones
   HR:  A. Kennedy, J. Damon
   HBP:  P. Boucher
   GIDP:  S. Hillenbrand, G. Anderson, D. Jackson 2

                   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
      P. Hentgen  2.0  5  0  1  2  2  0  56   2.45
      J. Thomson  2.0  1  3  0  0  0  1  47   2.75
      S. Elarton  1.0  4  0  2  4  4  1  36   2.72
        B. Jodie  2.0  2  3  0  1  1  3  56   2.74
       S. Runyan  1.0  0  0  0  0  0  2  16   1.81
          TOTALS  8.0 12  6  3  7  7  7 211

                     ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
D. Mashore (CF)       5  2  0  1  0  0  1  0    .340
B. Higginson (RF)     2  1  3  2  1  2  0  0    .314
D. Jeter (SS)         5  1  0  0  0  0  1  0    .293
F. Catalanotto (LF)   4  2  1  1  1  1  0  0    .317
J. Varitek (C)        5  2  0  1  0  1  2  0    .311
C. Blake (DH)         4  2  1  1  0  1  2  0    .350
C. Jones (3B)         4  1  0  1  1  2  0  0    .352
G. Webb (1B)          2  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .322
J. Spivey (2B)        4  1  0  0  0  0  1  0    .289
TOTALS               35 12  6  7  3  7  7  0

   2B:  J. Spivey, D. Jeter, F. Catalanotto
   HR:  C. Jones, B. Higginson, F. Catalanotto
   HBP:  G. Webb

                   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
       A. Myette  3.0  4  1  2  2  2  2  62   3.84
       E. Hiljus  4.0  0  1  0  0  0  4  67   3.42
        J. Ennis  1.0  2  1  0  1  1  0  22   3.00
       M. Herges  0.1  2  1  0  1  1  0  20   2.23
      S. Ramirez  0.2  0  0  0  0  0  0   2   2.82
          TOTALS  9.0  8  4  2  4  4  6 173

     WP: E. Hiljus
     LP: S. Elarton
     SV: S. Ramirez

     Temperature: 70F
     Wind: Calm
     Attendance: 38,365
     Time: 3:53

Phi's Bobby Higginson named game MVP

[McPhale]

Tek Goes Down



V-Mart will get the starts while Tek is out. Adam Karsten will be recalled to fill in as the backup catcher. In other news, SP Roy Smith will be out for the next 11 days with a sprained ankle. Kip Wells will get Smith's starts. Johan Santana will be recalled and come out of the pen in long relief.