Braves News World

9/1/06 Activated first baseman Brian Jordan from 60-day disabled list, activated right-handed pitcher Kyle Davies from 60-day disabled list, activated infielder Willy Aybar from 15-day disabled list, recalled catcher Brayan Pena & outfielder Scott Thorman from Triple-A Richmond, and recalled right-handed pitcher Joey Devine from Double-A Mississippi.
9/2/06 Recalled right-handed pitcher Anthony Lerew from Triple-A Richmond.
9/3/06 Recalled right-handed pitcher Peter Moylan from Triple-A Richmond.
9/4/06 Optioned right-handed pitcher Anthony Lerew to Triple-A Richmond.
9/11/06 Tim Hudson named Atlanta Braves 2006 Roberto Clemente Award winner.
9/14/06 Placed third baseman Chipper Jones on 15-day disabled list (strained left oblique) retroactive to September 4th.
9/19/06 Activated third baseman Chipper Jones from 15-day disabled list.
9/20/06 Signed Bob Wickman to one-year contract extension.
9/21/06 Exercised 2007 contract option on John Smoltz.
9/24/06 Atlanta Braves eliminated from postseason play for first time since 1990.
9/25/06 Andruw Jones named National League Co-Player of the Week.
9/26/06 Activated John Thomson from 15-day disabled list.

8/5/06 Optioned right-handed pitcher Jason Shiell to Triple-A Richmond.
8/6/06 Purchased contract of left-handed pitcher Wayne Franklin from Triple-A Richmond.
8/11/06 Placed left-handed pitcher Horacio Ramirez on 15-day disabled list, recalled right-handed pitcher Kevin Barry from Triple-A Richmond, and outrighted right-handed pitcher Jason Shiell & first baseman James Jurries to Triple-A Richmond.
8/11/06 Former Atlanta Braves executive Bill Lucas & outfielder Ralph Garr inducted into Braves Hall of Fame.
8/13/06 Placed infielder Willy Aybar on 15-day disabled list (broken left hand) and activated third baseman Chipper Jones from 15-day disabled list.
8/13/06 Rehired Paul Snyder as director of baseball operations.
8/14/06 Matt Diaz set Braves record and ties National League record with 10 hits in 10 consecutive at-bats.
8/15/06 Optioned outfielder Scott Thorman to Triple-A Richmond and recalled right-handed pitcher Lance Cormier from Triple-A Richmond.
8/21/06 Optioned right-handed pitcher Lance Cormier to Triple-A Richmond and recalled infielder Martin Prado from Tiple-A Richmond.
8/23/06 Danys Baez underwent surgery (appendectomy).
8/25/06 Placed right-handed pitcher Danys Baez on 15-day disabled list (appendix) and recalled right-handed pitcher Lance Cormier from Triple-A Richmond.
8/31/06 Traded right-handed pitcher Luis Atilano to the Nationals in exchange for first baseman/outfielder Daryle Ward and moved right-handed pitcher Phil Stockman from 15-day disabled list to 60-day disabled list.

7/2/06 Placed right-handed pitcher Chris Reitsma on 15-day disabled list (right hand numbness) and recalled right-handed pitcher Kevin Barry from Triple-A Richmond.
7/2/06 Andruw Jones, Brian McCann, and Edgar Renteria named to National League All-Star Team.
7/4/06 Activated right-handed pitcher John Thomson and optioned right-handed pitcher Lance Cormier to Triple-A Richmond.
7/5/06 Chipper Jones named National League Player of the Week.
7/15/06 Placed right-handed pitcher John Thomson on 15-day disabled list (right shoulder inflammation) and recalled right-handed pitcher Peter Moylan from Triple-A Richmond.
7/15/06 Chipper Jones surpasses Dale Murphy to become Atlanta Braves all-time hits leader with 1,902.
7/16/06 Chipper Jones ties Paul Waner’s major league record for most consecutive games (14) with an extra-base hit.
7/18/06 Chris Reitsma underwent surgery (right elbow).
7/19/06 Optioned right-handed pitcher Peter Moylan to Triple-A Richmond.
7/20/06 Purchased contract of right-handed pitcher Jason Shiell from Triple-A Richmond and traded catcher Max Ramirez to the Indians in exchange for right-handed pitcher Bob Wickman.
7/21/06 Optioned right-handed pitcher Kevin Barry to Triple-A Richmond.
7/26/06 Moved right-handed pitcher Chris Reitsma from 15-day disabled list to 60-day disabled list.
7/29/06 Traded infielder Wilson Betemit to Dodgers in exchange for right-handed pitcher Danys Baez & infielder Willy Aybar and recalled shortstop Tony Pena Jr. from Triple-A Richmond.
7/30/06 Placed third baseman Chipper Jones on 15-day disabled list (strained left oblique), moved first baseman Brian Jordan from 15-day disabled list to 60-day disabled list, and designated right-handed pitcher Jorge Sosa for assignment.
7/30/06 Former Atlanta Braves right-handed pitcher Bruce Sutter inducted into Hall of Fame.
7/31/06 Traded right-handed pitcher Jorge Sosa to Cardinals in exchange for right-handed pitcher Rich Scalamandre and assigned Scalamandre to Triple-A Richmond.

6/6/06 Selected the following players in 2006 MLB Draft: outfielder Cody Johnson (1st round), right-handed pitcher Cory Rasmus (sandwich pick), left-handed pitcher Steven Evarts (sandwich pick), left-handed pitcher Jeffrey Locke (sandwich pick), right-handed pitcher Dustin Evans (2nd round), shortstop Chase Fontaine (2nd round), left-handed pitcher Chad Rodgers (3rd round), left-handed pitcher Lee Hyde (4th round), left-handed pitcher Kevin Gunderson (5th round), right-handed pitcher Steven Figueroa (6th round), third baseman Adam Coe (7th round), right-handed pitcher Casey Beck (8th round), right-handed pitcher Timothy Gustafson (9th round), and first baseman Josh Morris (12th round).
6/7/06 Activated left-handed pitcher Chuck James from 15-day disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Richmond.
6/9/06 Activated catcher Brian McCann from disabled list and optioned catcher Brayan Pena to Triple-A Richmond.
6/10/06 Chipper Jones surpasses Dale Murphy to become Atlanta Braves all-time RBI leader with 1,144.
6/14/06 Placed right-handed pitcher Chris Reitsma on 15-day disabled list (right hand numbness) retroactive to June 12th and purchased contract of right-handed pitcher Phil Stockman from Triple-A Richmond.
6/17/06 Placed right-handed pitcher John Thomson on 15-day disabled (right hand blister) and recalled right-handed pitcher Lance Cormier from Triple-A Richmond.
6/18/06 Placed first baseman Brian Jordan on 15-day disabled list (bruised right clavicle) and recalled first baseman Scott Thorman from Triple-A Richmond.
6/24/06 Designated left-handed pitcher Mike Remlinger for assignment, placed right-handed pitcher Phil Stockman on 15-day disabled list (strained left hamstring), recalled right-handed pitcher Kevin Barry from Triple-A Richmond, and recalled right-handed pitcher Blaine Boyer from Richmond and placed him on 60-day disabled list (shoulder).
6/25/06 Recalled left-handed pitcher Chuck James from Triple-A Richmond.
6/30/06 Activated left-handed pitcher Chris Reitsma from disabled list and optioned right-handed pitcher Kevin Barry to Triple-A Richmond.

5/3/06 Placed right-handed pitcher Lance Cormier on 15-day disabled list (strained left oblique), recalled right-handed pitcher Peter Moylan from Triple-A Richmond, and signed right-handed pitcher Tyler Yates to minor league contract.
5/6/06 Placed left-handed pitcher Chuck James on 15-day disabled list (strained right hamstring) and activated left-handed pitcher Horacio Ramirez from 15-day disabled list.
5/7/2006 Placed LHP Horacio Ramirez on 15-day disabled list (strained right hamstring).
5/9/2006 Purchased contract of right-handed pitcher Chad Paronto from Triple-A Richmond and moved left-handed pitcher John Foster from 15-day disabled list to 60-day disabled list.
5/17/06 Placed right-handed pitcher Kyle Davies on 15-day disabled list (strained right groin) and recalled right-handed pitcher Anthony Lerew from Triple-A Richmond.
5/18/06 Activated right-handed pitcher Lance Cormier from 15-day disabled list and optioned right-handed pitcher Anthony Lerew to Triple-A Richmond.
5/19/06 Kyle Davies underwent surgery (right groin).
5/20/06 Purchased contract of right-handed pitcher Travis Smith from Triple-A Richmond, moved right-handed pitcher Kyle Davies from 15-day disabled list to 60-day disabled list, and optioned right-handed pitcher Peter Moylan to Triple-A Richmond.
5/21/06 Recalled catcher Brayan Pena from Triple-A Richmond and designated right-handed pitcher Travis Smith for assignment.
5/26/06 Right-handed pitcher Travis Smith declined assignment to Triple-A Richmond and became free agent.
5/27/06 Placed catcher Brian McCann on 15-day disabled list (sprained left ankle) retroactive to May 24th and activated left-handed pitcher Horacio Ramirez from 15-day disabled list.
5/30/06 Purchased contract of right-handed pitcher Tyler Yates from Triple-A Richmond and optioned right-handed pitcher Lance Cormier to Richmond.

At the end of April left-handed relief pitcher Macay McBride was activated from the 15-day disabled list. With Edgar Renteria and Marcus Giles nearing full recovery from their respective injuries, the Braves felt comfortable optioning infielder Tony Pena, Jr. back to Triple-A Richmond.

Chipper Jones was activated from the 15-day disabled list as April drew to a close. The Braves optioned shortstop Martin Prado back to their Double-A affiliate Mississippi to make room on the roster for their third baseman.

The Braves optioned right-handed reliever Peter Moylan back to Triple-A Richmond in April after less than 2 weeks with the big league club. With Edgar Renteria and Marcus Giles nursing injuries, infielder Martin Prado was recalled from Double-A Mississippi where he was hitting .302.

The Braves completely closed the book on the Dan Kolb nightmare on April 17th. They released Wes Obermueller, the pitcher they received in exchange for Kolb during the offseason. They then sold the pitcher’s contract to Japan’s Orix Buffaloes.

Chipper Jones suffered Grade 1 sprains to both his right knee and ankle in April. The Braves placed Jones on the 15-day disabled list and called up infielder Tony Pena, Jr. from Triple-A Richmond. Wilson Betemit started at third base during Chipper’s absence.

Joey Devine was sent back to Triple-A Richmond after struggling to start the season due to soreness in his lower back. Peter Moylan, a pitcher the Braves signed after watching him pitch for Team Australia in the World Baseball Classic, assumed his spot in the bullpen. The 27-year-old side-arming right-hander allowed 2 runs, struck out 4 and walked 3 in 4 innings of work with Richmond this year.

Horacio Ramirez has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain. John Thomson moved from the bullpen to take Ramirez’s spot in the rotation. To fill the bullpen vacancy, the Braves purchased the contract of Ken Ray, a non-roster invitee to Spring Training this year. The 31-year-old right-handed pitcher impressed with his fastball while giving up only 1 run and recording 7 strikeouts in 7 innings pitched during Spring Training.

Blaine Boyer was optioned to Triple-A Richmond after struggling during the first series of the season for the Braves. His shoulder could not handle pitching on consecutive days. Joey Devine, who narrowly missed making the Opening Day roster, was recalled from Richmond to fill the bullpen spot. The 22-year-old right-handed reliever struck out 18 batters in 11 innings of work during Spring Training.

The Braves finalized their 25-man roster on March 31st when they optioned right-handed pitcher Joey Devine and first baseman James Jurries to Triple-A Richmond. Right-handed pitcher Brad Baker was outrighted to Richmond. Left-handed pitchers John Foster (who may require Tommy John surgery), Macay McBride, and Mike Hampton were placed on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to March 24th) along with outfielder Kelly Johnson. The team purchased the contracts of outfielder-turned-first-baseman Brian Jordan and left-handed pitcher Mike Remlinger to complete their major league roster. The move to retain the veteran Jordan for his leadership over the youngster Jurries, who had a very productive spring training, was the most surprising to followers of the club.

The Good: The regulars got a few days of rest and these losses were meaningless. … Bobby Cox was able to audition a number of pitchers for postseason spots and, with 2 solid innings during the series, my bet is on 22-year old rookie Joey Devine to make the roster. Blaine Boyer, Macay McBride and Kyle Davies got lit up during the series and none of them should get the nod over him in my opinion. We don’t have much to go on other than his sparkling minor league and college record, but I have a gut feeling he’s just what’s needed to shut down the Astros in the late innings and rejuvenate the Braves’ lifeless bullpen. … Horacio Ramirez was sharp in his last tune-up for the postseason, allowing 1 run on 5 hits in 5 innings. He struck out 4 and walked 1. He likely will be the first left-handed pitcher out of the bullpen in the NLDS. … The Braves finished with a 90-72 record for the season.

The Bad: Marcus Giles was 1-for-7 in the series. … Jeff Francoeur continued his recent slide, going 1-for-9 in the set. He finished the year at .300. … Dan Kolb gave up 2 runs, 1 earned, in 1/3 of an inning. He has no business being on the Richmond Braves roster, much less Atlanta’s postseason roster! Bobby Cox better leave him off the roster even if it picking the inexperienced Chuck James to fill the spot.

The Ugly: Blaine Boyer was the stalwart of the Braves’ bullpen in August when he didn’t allow a run in13 1/3 innings. Injury and ineffectiveness plagued him down the stretch and now it looks like he’ll be watching from the sidelines for at least the first round of the playoffs. He gave up 3 earned runs on 3 hits and 1 walk Sunday without retiring a batter. That was not the kind of performance Braves’ management was looking for to assure themselves the shoulder sprain he sustained last Monday would not be a limiting factor in the playoffs.

The Good: The Braves’ took their 14th division title in a row. For those of us who suffered through the awful 80’s with the Braves this streak is doubly as amazing and rewarding. This run, unparalleled in the annals of sports history, will never be rivaled by another team. With this young team, hopefully the Braves have the makings of 14 more consecutive titles (but I wouldn’t hold my breath ). … Ryan Langerhans was 5-for-9 in the series and owns a 7-game hitting streak. … Adam LaRoche was 3-for-9 in the series with a pair of home runs, making him the 3rd Brave to hit 20 this season. … The hits just keep on coming for Rafael Furcal. With his 3-for-7 performance in the series his season average is .285, the culmination of a steady rise from the .220 mark he sported on June 21st. … Jeff Francoeur was 3-for-7 in the series with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs.

The Bad: Dan Kolb gave up 4 earned on 6 hits in 2 innings of work during the series. Oops, that’s good. Now there should be no chance of him making the posteason roster. … Andruw Jones was 1-for-7 in the set and has 5 hits in his last 40 at-bats. OK, that’s enough for the customary Andruw slump. Now let’s get things going again for the playoffs!

The Ugly: Let’s commemorate the Braves’ bullpen blunders one last time this year. Chris Reitsma blew the lead Monday night, giving up 3 runs and retiring no one. That brought his ERA up to 3.93. What’s scary is that still ranks him as one of the Braves’ top relievers. Besides Reitsma, Farnsworth, and Boyer (who likely won’t be healthy enough to make the postseason roster), no Braves reliever has an ERA under 4.00! Ramirez (who will relieve in the playoffs), Foster, McBride, Davies, Lerew, Devine, James, Brower, Kolb all above 4.00 (with the final 2 pushing 6.00). Makes you wonder if Bobby Cox should ever take out a starter with a lead before the 9th inning this October!

With his left hip flexor tendon deemed healthy, right-handed relief pitcher Joey Devine was called up by the Braves from Triple-A Richmond for the 2nd time on Tuesday. Devine, the Braves’ 1st round draft pick this season, stands a good chance at making the postseason roster given Blaine Boyer’s shoulder sprain and subsequent ineffectiveness. Devine injured his hip during his major league debut on August 20th. He hasn’t pitched since the 23rd of that month when he became the first pitcher to give up grand slams in his first 2 major league appearances.

The Braves extended their major league record when they clinched their 14th consecutive division title Tuesday night after beating the Rockies 12-3. Only the Yankees have more than half that amount of consecutive division titles (8 from 1998-2005). Bobby Cox worked his magic again, this time getting the most out of 17 different rookies to plug a number of holes due to injury (Hampton, Thomson, Hudson, Chipper, Estrada) and underperformance (Mondesi, Jordan, Kolb, Martin). Between his time with the Blue Jays and Braves, Cox has won 15 straight division titles (when he managed the team for a whole season). With an unprecedented number of rookies on a division champion team, Cox should win his 3rd Manager of the Year award as Braves manager this season (he previously won in 1991 and last year, 2004). John Schuerholz worked a number of pivotal deals (Hudson, Sosa, Farnsworth) without which the Braves would not have made the playoffs. Now for the hard part: it’s time for the young Braves to focus on reaching the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2001 and the World Series for the first time since 1999.

The Good: Rafael Furcal remains hot as the season winds down. He was 5-for-11 with his league-leading 45th stolen base in the series. … Chipper Jones went 4-for-10 in the series while scoring 3 and driving in 1 on his 20th homer of the season. He has now smacked at least 20 home runs the last 11 seasons. … Adam LaRoche continues to see the ball well. He registered 4 hits in 10 official series at-bats. … Brian McCann was 5-for-8 in the series, including a clutch single to complete a 4-run comeback Friday night. He appears to be coming around at the right time. … Kyle Farnsworth pitched 3 scoreless innings and now has 10 saves in as many opportunities with the Braves. … On Saturday John Thomson enjoyed his finest outing since returning from the disabled list. He surrendered just 1 run and 4 hits in 7 innings pitched. He walked and struck out 4 in earning his 1st win since May 5th! … The Braves’ magic number stands at 2.

The Bad: Andruw Jones had only 2 hits in 11 at-bats in the series, dragging his average down to .265. That extinguishes his chances at winning the MVP for all intents and purposes.

The Ugly: John Smoltz’s sore shoulder is still not close to 100%. As his shoulder goes, so go the Braves’ playoff hopes in all likelihood. They are shutting him down for the rest of the year in the hopes he’ll be recuperated in time for the first game of the National League Division Series. Smoltz didn’t fool many Friday when he gave up 8 hits, 2 walks and 3 earned runs in 6 innings of work. He did strike out 6, an encouraging sign.

The Good: Who would have thought Jorge Sosa would win as many games as John Smoltz this year? If Sosa wins 1 more game he’ll do exactly that. His amazing string of dominance (and luck) continued Tuesday as he won his 13th game this season. “Houdini,” as his teammates call him, pitched out of trouble repeatedly as he gave up a career-high 6 walks. But he also registered 6 strikeouts and gave up only 2 hits in 6 2/3 innings. Sosa has 5 wins in his last 6 starts. … Rafael Furcal continues to cruise in the 2nd half, going 5-for-12 in the series with 4 runs scored and setting a new Atlanta record for career stolen bases. … Adam LaRoche and Johnny Estrada were each 3-for-9 with a home run in the series. … Ryan Langerhans was 3-for-8 during the series. … The Braves’ magic number stands at 6.

The Bad: Now he can’t even get it done at home. Horacio Ramirez gave up 5 runs, 4 earned, in 6 innings. 7 hits allowed, 5 strikeouts, 4 walks. … Marcus Giles was 1-for-12 in the series. .. Jeff Francoeur was 2-for-12 in the set. … The slumping Andruw Jones was 1-for-10 in the set and has only mustered 2 hits in his last 26 at-bats.

The Ugly: To relieve or not to relieve? That was the question Thursday when Tim Hudson was due to bat with one out and a runner on third in a scoreless game. Hudson proceeded to ground out and give up 4 runs in the 9th inning to lose the game. I wonder if Bobby Cox decided against pinch hitting because of lack of faith in the offense (he feared they would not get a run across and squander Hudson’s great performance to that point) or lack of faith in the bullpen (he feared the bullpen would blow the game in the top of the 9th). Probably the latter but it just underscores the enormous burden the starting pitchers shoulder down the stretch and in the playoffs every year it seems. Now, more than ever, the Braves live and die with the performances of their starting pitchers.