2006 Braves Season

[cbenson5]

It's sad to hear about Steve Irwin. May he rest in peace.

It is always to good to watch the Braves beat the Mets just like old times. Chuck James pitched a masterpiece. Bobby Cox moved into fifth all time in wins. They flashed a chart during the game and Sparky Anderson is next up. He will catch him next year.

[Tomahawk Dynasty]

Great win by the Braves.

Rockies blew it in the 9th and gave a 1-out 3-run homer to the Padres.
No ground gained today.

But hey, we did hand the Mets their first shoutout at home this season.

Sweet!

[cbenson5]

The Braves have been rained out tonight. A double header has been scheduled for tomorrow.

[Atlanta Braves Freak]

I hope Tim Hudson can still pitch well tomorrow.

[Tomahawk Dynasty]

Zero help from the Rockies again.

But I won't say anything more about them. We just have to keep winning.
The season is looking quite grim now (after crunching the numbers) but I still have faith!

By the way, Davies is scheduled to pitch tomorrow in the 2nd game of the DH.
Go Smoltzie and Davies!

[Atlanta Braves Freak]

Wasn't Tim Hudson was scheduled to pitch yesterday?

[AznInvasion]

it was smoltz i believe...now he will start 1st game of DH.

[cbenson5]

Smoltz started the first game which we lost 4 to 1. Kyle Davies is about to take the mound in for the second game. Hopefully he will look a little better than last time. Well, as I was typing that Reyes hit a home run on Davies first pitch.

[Atlanta Braves Freak]

The Braves lost the first game and are getting blanked 6-0 in the bottom of the 7th. It's not looking too good. Sad to say but we're out of the race, time to reminisce on the last 14 years of dominance.

[Tomahawk Dynasty]

It's not looking too good. Sad to say but we're out of the race, time to reminisce on the last 14 years of dominance.

I'm ever the optimist, but reality has set in. I will not rip on my team because I love 'em, but at this point I'm going to embrace the fact that atleast we can't lose in the first round this year.

14 glorious years.

We have a young and talented team with a few holes in it. Hopefully our GM will plug those holes in the off-season, players can stay healthier, and we meld/play well to start another streak... only this time it will be World Series Championships.

Go Braves!

[SamtheBravesFan]

I'm ever the optimist, but reality has set in. I will not rip on my team because I love 'em, but at this point I'm going to embrace the fact that atleast we can't lose in the first round this year.

14 glorious years.

We have a young and talented team with a few holes in it. Hopefully our GM will plug those holes in the off-season, players can stay healthier, and we meld/play well to start another streak... only this time it will be World Series Championships.

Go Braves!

It all starts with getting one or two established relievers. The starting rotation will work itself out. Then Chipper and Andruw need to get healthy again. Then Frenchy is taught not to swing at every damn pitch and walk more. Then yes, the Braves will be ready to go. :gt

[Atlanta Braves Freak]

It all starts with getting one or two established relievers.

That's the KEY!! Over the streak Leo Mazzone has always taken pitchers who were once very good (Jaret Wright) or pitchers that were journeymen (Kevin Gryboski and Chris Hammond) and turned those guys into legit bullpen threats. Roger McDowell isn't Leo Mazzone, and Tyler Yates will never be the bullpen presence that Mike Remlinger was in his prime, so if Schuerholz goes and out and acquires two or three established relievers, the Braves bullpen can go out there and not blow 19 games.

[cbenson5]

It was a good game tonight. I thought we were going to lose when Hudson gave up 3 runs in the second inning, but it is good to see that we still have some fight in us. I hope we get to .500 by the end of the year. Another bright spot for next season is the play of Adam Laroche. He has been absolutely phenomenal since the break. He might get his batting average to above .300 by the end of the year. It looks like he is going to be an excellent player. Of course Chipper having a healthy season will be the key next year. Another person that could be a major part of our team is Ramirez if he can stay healthy. I hope that Hudson will be the pitcher he was in Oakland next year. John Smoltz just will likely remain the same. We really have the makings of a good offense and starting rotation next. The bullpen on the other hand really needs to be strengthened. Maybe if Reitsma is healthy, he will become a good reliever. We also have some good young pitchers in Devine and Foster. I guess I am the only one here that thinks Yates will be a good pitcher. As Atlanta Braves Freak said, we definitely need to sign some established relievers. Signing Wickman should be our number one priority next year. What do ya'll think about Giles? I believe he is expected to get about 5 million in arbitration. Should we keep him or go after a true leadoff hitter? I don't really know who is available. Maybe Pierre in Chicago. Should we give Prado or Aybar a chance to start?

[AznInvasion]

Wickman is definitely priority #1. After that we need to get a few bullpen arms. I wouldn't mind trading Giles for a 2b and a RP. How bout like Todd Walker and Scott Linebrink? or maybe KC deal with Grudzielanek and an RP. A 2b guy who is pretty underrated right now is Luis Castillo from the twins. He would be a pretty good leadoff hitter if we could get him. I don't know the contract situations of any of these guys but I'm just throwing out possibilities. Yates might be good later on but I'd much rather have him throwing in AAA or AA than in the bigs.

[Atlanta Braves Freak]

I think Giles is a guy we can trade to get a top bullpen arm, but I wouldn't be angry if the Braves traded Salty for 2 good relievers and a leadoff man.