The ***OFFICIAL*** Braves will win World Series thread!

[Steebo]

Swept the Phillies and took Mets series 2-1.

Off to their best start since 1995!



:woot: http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c227/k5j2f0/braves1.gif :woot:

[EMoney]

And now we have the Marlins coming in. I'm worried about this game tonight.

[Steebo]

:balls:

[Steebo]

INF Willy Aybar was suspended indefinitely after the utility infielder failed to report for Atlanta's game against the Chicago Cubs. Aybar, on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right hand, was suspended without pay for three games after he did not show up for treatment. The suspension was due to end Wednesday but instead was extended. ``Willy is not here,'' Braves general manager John Schuerholz said. ``We want all our players to be here. That's not unreasonable, is it? But he's not here, and so that's a problem.'' ... The Braves-Marlins game rained out in Atlanta on Saturday has been rescheduled as part of a split doubleheader on June 5. The rescheduled game is set for 2:35 p.m., and the previously scheduled game is scheduled for 7:35 p.m.



In other news John Smoltz is 2 strikeouts away from passing Cy Young on the all-time list, and 5 wins shy of 200.

[Steebo]

Also, Rich Hill has a nasty curve ball. :wigglypea:

[Steebo]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/04/21/bc.bbn.braves.mets.ejection.ap/index.html

Blinding light
Mets fan charged after shining flashlight at Braves


NEW YORK (AP) -- A fan arrested at Shea Stadium Friday night has been accused of trying to temporarily blind an Atlanta Braves pitcher and shortstop with a high-powered flashlight, authorities said.

Frank Martinez, 40, was charged with interfering with a professional sporting event and second-degree reckless endangerment, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said Saturday.

Authorities said Martinez flashed the powerful light at the players in the bottom of the eighth inning from his seat behind home plate. He was quickly ejected from the game.

"The defendant's alleged actions recklessly endangered the lives of players and spectators and caused a temporary delay to the game," Brown said.

The hullabaloo began at about 10:15 p.m. as the Braves were leading the Mets 7-0. Tim Hudson was on the mound facing Mets pinch hitter Endy Chavez when, investigators said, Martinez turned the beam on the Braves pitcher and shortstop Edgar Renteria.

Renteria complained to umpire Paul Emmel, who then called time out and alerted security. The security officers removed Martinez and found a "a small, streamline flashlight" in his backpack, Brown said.

Hudson said he hoped the suspect would "get what he deserves" in an interview aired Saturday on WABC-TV.

"It's something he shouldn't have done," Hudson said. "I mean, it endangers some of the players out there. ... It's kind of tough to see the ball anyways, especially when you have lasers pointing in your face."

Martinez was still jailed Saturday, and unavailable for comment. Queens prosecutors said Martinez did not have a lawyer yet. If convicted, he faces up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine.

A law making it expressly illegal to interfere with a professional sporting event was passed by the city in 2003 following a disruptive incident involving fashion designer Calvin Klein.

Klein stepped onto the basketball court at Madison Square Garden in March 2003 to speak with player Latrell Sprewell while a Knicks game was in progress.

The Braves won Friday's game 7-3.

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


Maybe he should have started before the 8th inning. :D

[Steebo]

Dontrell Willis. :finger:

[Steebo]

Re-ups contract (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2850620)

The Atlanta Braves have reached an agreement on a contract extension with pitcher John Smoltz.

Smoltz, who turns 40 next month, will receive $14 million in 2008 as part of the deal. The new contract also includes a $12 million option for 2009 that becomes guaranteed if Smoltz pitches 200 innings the previous season. The club has an option for 2010, at a cost of $13 million if he pitches 200 innings in '09 or $12 million if he falls short of that total.

Smoltz is making $8 million this season. The deal for the right-hander, reported earlier Thursday by ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney, was announced after the Braves arrived in Denver for the start of a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies on Friday.

"Words can't describe how thrilled I am to have the opportunity to finish my career as an Atlanta Brave," Smoltz said in a statement. "I am thankful to the Braves organization for giving me the chance to play this long and to play out my entire career with one team."

Smoltz, who could have become a free agent after this season, has a 195-138 record with 154 saves and a 3.28 ERA. He is one of only two pitchers -- Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley is the other -- with at least 150 wins and 150 saves in his career.

"This is a significant contract, both for the Braves and for John Smoltz," general manager John Schuerholz said. "We are delighted that John will be a Brave for at least next season and hopefully well beyond that. Through an amazing stretch of success, John has been a huge part of our club, both with his pitching and his leadership. He will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer."

Smoltz won the NL Cy Young Award in 1996 and has nine seasons with at least 14 wins. Also, he holds postseason records for wins (15) and strikeouts (194).

"This is great news because John is such an important part of our ballclub," manager Bobby Cox said. "He has been a dominating pitcher and leader in this league for years and is probably pitching as good right now as he ever has."

Smoltz began his career as a starter, but moved to the bullpen in 2001. He spent three full seasons as the Braves closer, setting an NL record with 55 saves in 2002.

Since returning to the rotation in 2005, Smoltz has gone 32-17 with a 3.34 ERA in 73 starts. He was 16-9 with a 3.49 ERA and 211 strikeouts last season.


Information from ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney and The Associated Press was used in this report.

[Steebo]

for cash considerations (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/scorecard/mlbnews.asp?articleID=201475)


Braves deal Langerhans to Oakland

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Braves traded struggling outfielder Ryan Langerhans to the Oakland Athletics on Sunday in exchange for cash considerations.

Langerhans was hitting just .068 (3-for-44) in 20 games for the Braves this season. The 27-year-old had been hitless in his last 29 at-bats before his leadoff double in the third inning of Sunday's 9-7, extra-inning loss to Colorado.

Langerhans, who holds a career .254 batting average, is expected to join the A's on Tuesday and could start in center field for the opener of the team's two-game series with the Red Sox.

To fill the spot on their roster, the Braves purchased the contract of Willie Harris from Triple-A Richmond. The six-year Major League veteran has a career average of .238 and has 55 steals in 369 games with the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox.

[Steebo]

Upper back strain (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2854535)

ATLANTA -- Braves closer Bob Wickman went on the disabled list with an upper back injury on Monday, one day after the veteran blew a save for the second straight time.


The team called the injury a strain. Wickman said he has tendinitis in his upper back, and he attributed his recent struggles to "stubbornness on my part."


Wickman says he has been feeling no discomfort in pregame warmups while throwing in the outfield, so he keeps telling pitching coach Roger McDowell he was available to pitch. The troubles come when he threw off mounds.


"You'd think I'd be smart enough," Wickman said. "Every time Roger came up to me in the outfield and asked me I said yes. I believe the last couple days I've been hurting the team rather than helping them. ... You try extending off the mound, it kind of catches."


Atlanta hopes deep tissue massage on Wickman's back and a stretching routine will allow him to return in two weeks.


Wickman is 1-1 with a 3.97 ERA and six saves in eight chances. He has 10 walks in 11 1/3 innings. In 2006, Wickman walked only two batters in 26 innings with the Braves and was 18-for-19 in save opportunities after he acquired from Cleveland.


Wickman was unable to hold a two-run, ninth-inning lead in a 9-7, 11-inning loss to Colorado. He walked three and was charged with two runs.


Wickman also blew a save that cost Tim Hudson a win Wednesday at Florida. He also gave up two hits and walked two in a non-save situation on Friday.


Braves manager Bobby Cox said Wickman's control problems were based on his inability to extend his arm and follow through with his pitches.


Atlanta activated reliever Chad Paronto, who had been on DL since April 14 with a muscle near his groin. Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano could be used as closers in Wickman's absence.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

[EMoney]

My Braves comment:

Its amazing how good Tim Hudson has been in his last 2 games but he did not get the win in either. That sucks.

[Steebo]

My Braves comment:

Its amazing how good Tim Hudson has been in his last 2 games but he did not get the win in either. That sucks.

Agreed.

I blame the first one on Bobby Cox. Hudson should have not been left in the game in the 9th. Wickman, now on the DL, came in in a very bad situation and lost the game.

The last one though, not so much. Should have been a W for Hudson.

Anyway, at least we got the Phillies for a few games. :yes:

[EMoney]

Oh and Chipper leads the NL in homers with 10

[Steebo]

Smoltz goes against Maddux tonight. :hyper: That will be fun to watch.

I hate we dropped the first game to the Padres, cause this is the only game in the series I thought they might win.

[Steebo]

Smoltz just fucked up his pitching hand tagging a runner. :wigglypea:











Against the gosh-damned Nats. :mad:

[Steebo]

Braves activate pitcher Redman, release infielder Wilson (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2873948)


WASHINGTON -- The Atlanta Braves activated left-hander Mark Redman from the 15-day disabled list Thursday in case John Smoltz hasn't recovered enough from a dislocated right pinky to start against the Boston Red Sox this weekend.


Redman, who is 0-4 with a 10.62 ERA, was sidelined by surgery for an ingrown nail on his right big toe.

He was put on the roster after Atlanta's 4-3 loss to the Washington Nationals, when catcher Brayan Pena was optioned to Triple-A Richmond. Pena came off the disabled list before the game, taking the spot of first baseman Craig Wilson, who was released.

Smoltz was hurt in his last outing, against Washington on Monday. He said Wednesday that he expects to take his scheduled turn in the rotation Saturday at Fenway Park.

Wilson batted .172 (10-for-58) with one homer and two RBIs in 24 games. He started 17 games at first base and also played some outfield. He is in his seventh major league season, after stints with Pittsburgh and the New York Yankees.

"He just never got going," manager Bobby Cox said. "We sure thought he would."

Wilson hit .264 with 29 homers and 82 RBIs with Pittsburgh in 2004, his best major league season.

Scott Thorman has started at first base for the majority of Atlanta's games and will continue to start against left-handed pitchers, Cox said. Thorman entered Thursday's game batting .271 with 5 homers and 21 RBIs.

Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, a 2003 first-round pick who hasn't played first base since high school, and Chris Woodward will also share playing time there, Cox said.

Pena missed 14 games with a concussion he sustained on May 1. He batted .217 (5-for-23) in 10 games.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

[Steebo]

Franco clears waivers, rejoins Braves (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2941209)

ATLANTA -- Julio Franco will get another chance to swing the bat in the big leagues.

The 48-year-old utilityman signed with Atlanta on Wednesday, rejoining the Braves a week after he was cut by the New York Mets.

Franco cleared waivers during the Braves' game against Cincinnati. Atlanta signed him for the rest of the season and said he would be activated for Thursday night's game against St. Louis.

Franco, who turns 49 next month, played for the Braves in a backup role from 2001-05. He is a 24-year veteran with 2,576 career hits and is a lifetime .298 hitter.

He hit just .200 (10-for-50) with one homer as a reserve with the Mets. Franco will serve in the same capacity for Atlanta.

This season, Franco became the oldest player to hit a home run in major-league history. He has said he would like to play until he turns 50.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

[Steebo]

GET ANOTHER STARTING PITCHER!!!!!