Braves News World

The Good: Horacio Ramirez may finally be returning to his 2003 form as he outdueled former Brave Paul Byrd on Tuesday to salvage one game from the Angels series. He allowed just 5 hits and 2 runs in 8 innings. He struck out 3 and walked 2 in evening his record at 4-4. … Adam LaRoche and Rafael Furcal were each 4-for-12 with 2 runs scored in the series. LaRoche also had 3 RBIs. … Ryan Langerhans went 4-for-11 with 2 RBIs

The Bad: It’s the 4th straight series that the Braves have lost and the injuries keep mounting. Tim Hudson left Wednesday’s game early due to cramping brought on by the humid conditions but he should not miss a start. He allowed 4 runs on 6 hits in only 4 innings before exiting. He walked 3 and registered only 1 strikeout. … Aside from Langerhans and Wilson Betemit, our rookies are really struggling. Here’s a stat for you: Kelly Johnson, Brayan Pena, and Andy Marte were a collective 0-for-22 in the series. … Andruw Jones was 1-for-9 during the set.

The Ugly: Darin Erstad decided to go Ronnie Lott on Johnny Estrada at the plate on Monday night. Estrada was diagnosed at the hospital with a concussion and is expected to be out until at least the finale of the upcoming A’s series. With Brian McCann behind the plate and Kyle Davies on the mound Friday, if Brian Jordan is benched the Braves must be fielding one of the youngest starting lineups ever! The bright side is the worst has to be over and thank heavens we’re still just a couple games out of first!

Here is a rundown of all the players drafted by the Braves in the 2005 MLB draft. By Wednesday night, the club had signed 7 of their top 10 selections, including their first 5 picks, headlined by the hard-throwing closer Joey Devine. The other signed players included Beau Jones, Yunel Escobar (a shortstop who may soon be ready to fill Rafael Furcal’s shoes if Furcal opts for free agency after this season), Jeffrey Lyman, Jordan Schafer, Brandon Monk, and Kyle Cofield. In all, the Braves used 35 of their 52 picks on pitchers!

1st Round (#27): Joseph Devine, RHR, North Carolina State
Sandwich Pick for Type A Players (for Type A Jaret Wright - #41): Beau Jones, LHP, Destrehan HS, Louisiana
2nd Round (#75): Yunel Escobar, SS, NO SCHOOL, Miami, Florida
2nd Round (#77): Jeffrey Lyman, RHS, Monte Vista HS, Alamo, California
3rd Round (#107): Jordan Schafer, CF, Winter Haven HS, Haines City, Florida.
4th Round (#137): Michael Broadway, RHS, Pope County HS, Golconda, Illinois
5th Round (#167): William Startup, LHS, Georgia
6th Round (#197): Tyler Bullock, RHS, Baylor
7th Round (#227): Brandon Monk, 2B, La Grange HS, Georgia
8th Round (#257): Kyle Cofield, RHS, Southside HS, Rainbow City, Alabama
9th Round (#287): Steven Garcia, C, Temecula Valley HS, California
10th Round (#317): Colin Carter, LHS, Grayson County College
11th Round (#347): Michael Nix, RHS, Auburn
12th Round (#377): Rudolph Quinonez, RHS, Fresno St.
13th Round (#407): Quentin Davis, CF, Francis Marion
14th Round (#437): Jose Cabrera, LF, Los Angeles Pierce JC
15th Round (#467): Mason Tobin, RHS, Kentridge HS, Renton, Washington
16th Round (#497): Jerome Chapman, RHS, A. Crawford Mosley HS, Lynn Haven, Florida
17th Round (#527): Clayton Caulfield, RHS, Pensacola JC
18th Round (#557): Zachary Oliver, LHS, Midway HS, Hewitt, Texas
19th Round (#587): Cole Miles, SS, Viewmont HS, Centerville, Utah
20th Round (#617): Andrew Cashner, RHS, Conroe HS, Montgomery, Texas
21st Round (#647): Kristopher Cichoski, RHS, Durango HS, Las Vegas, Nevada
22nd Round (#677): Thomas Hanson, RHS, Riverside CC
23rd Round (#707): Brian O’Dell, RHS, Osceola Senior HS, Kissimmee, Florida
24th Round (#737): Justin Reynolds, OF, Central HS, Independence, Oregon
25th Round (#767): Matthew Miller, OF, Redmond HS, Kirkland, Washington
26th Round (#797): Michael Ryan, RHR, Lake City CC
27th Round (#827): Kyle Miller, 3B, Terry Parker HS, Jacksonville, Florida
28th Round (#857): Harold Coleman, RHS, Pillow Academy HS, Schlater, Mississippi
29th Round (#887): Tyler Musselwhite, RHR, Gainesville HS, Georgia
30th Round (#917): Brett Wiggins, LHS, Cross Creek HS, Augusta, Georgia
31st Round (#947): Cole McCurry, LHS, Surry CC
32nd Round (#977): Brad Schwarzenbach, RHS, Cerritos College
33rd Round (#1007): Tyler Flowers, 1B, Chipola JC
34th Round (#1037): Blake Holt, CF-LF, Belton HS, Salado, Texas
35th Round (#1067): Blake M. Guthrie, C, Dan River HS, Ringgold, Virginia
36th Round (#1097): Dwain Green, RHS, Logan HS, Madison, West Virginia
37th Round (#1127): David Williams, RHR, Surry CC
38th Round (#1157): Brett Scarpetta, RHS, Madison Area Tech College
39th Round (#1186): Austin Fleet, RHS, Edmond Santa Fe HS, Oklahoma
40th Round (#1215): James Curtis, RHS, Manatee JC
41st Round (#1244): Michael Robbins, LHS, Meridian CC
42nd Round (#1273): Thomas Alexander, C, Santa Barbara CC
43rd Round (#1302): Ryan Littlejohn, OF, Verdigris HS, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
44th Round (#1331): Benjamin Jeffers, RHS, Madison County HS, Danielsville, Georgia
45th Round (#1360): Mikey Griffith, RHS, Issaquah HS, Washington
46th Round (#1389): Luis Sanchez, SS, Lake City CC
47th Round (#1417): Aaron Brady, RHR, CC Southern Nevada
48th Round (#1445): Nathan Weidenaar, OF, Bozeman Sr HS, Montana
49th Round (#1472): Jesse Simpson, RHS, Zachary HS, Louisiana
50th Round (#1499): Derick Himpsl, LHR, Johnstown HS, New York

Partial Legend:
RHS - Right-Handed Starting Pitcher
RHR - Right-Handed Relief Pitcher
LHS - Left-Handed Starting Pitcher
LHR - Left-Handed Relief Pitcher