Braves News World

Braves farmhands James Jurries and Ricardo Rodriguez have each been suspended 15 games for violating the minor league steroids policy. Jurries, the first baseman for the AAA Richmond Braves, was hitting .316 this season and leading his team with five homers and 13 RBI in 11 games. Rodriguez was also enjoying a stellar start to the season for the Class A Myrtle Beach Pelicans. He is currently 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in four games as a reliever. He has 19 strikeouts and only one walk in 11 1/3 innings on the season. Each player will be suspended for 15 games. Both players admitted using a performance-enhancing substance while playing winter ball in Venezuela.

The Good: Not much. The Braves should have lost both games. Cristian Guzman threw away a ground ball with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to allow in the tying and winning runs on Thursday. … You won’t believe it but the starting pitchers were exceptional! Yet again John Smoltz (7 IP, 1 ER, 9 K, no-decision) and Horacio Ramirez (6 2/3 IP, 2 ER, loss) turned in quality starts and yet again they had nothing to show for it at the end of the game. Only the Marlins’ starting staff has a better cumulative ERA than that of the Braves. … The bullpen didn’t blow any games which is a miracle!

The Bad: The Braves seem bent on giving the Pirates a run for their money for least runs scored. … The search for a clean-up hitter continues as Johnny Estrada (the latest candidate for the slot) went 1-for-8 in the series, dragging his batting average down to .217. … Raul Mondesi was hitless in 7 at-bats in the series and is now batting .218. I say we play Mike Hampton in right field between his starts.

The Ugly: Bobby Cox finally started Ryan Langerhans in place of Andruw Jones, who is mired in the worst slump of his career (and that’s saying something!) – 0-for-27.