Ending the 1/2 on an up tick

The Bravos won again last night beating the offensively challenged Padres to capture the series (The braves clenched the season series with their win on Friday) and move to within 2 of the lackadaisical Mets. Those of you who watched know hoe bored to tears i was listening to the ESPN color guys. I actually think they tried to work in a Monty Python reference at one point... but failed. I think that also summed up the game from the booth. Complete and utter failure.

The good news is that Greg Maddux is human as he proved giving up back to back jacks to McCann and Johnson. After the one to Johnson, Greg seemed upset with the home plate umpire and avoided getting tossed based on reputation (Wells got tossed Saturday at the first word about it). They even had a little man-to-man after the inning. Anyway, the more i see KJ hit the less I want Escobar in at second. Escobar is clutch but KJ needs that assurance that he's the man at the position.

Another blogger brought up the point that Escobar does a decent job at 3b (i dare say better than Chipper most days). What are the chances that Escobar takes everyday 3b, Chipper moves to 1b to give his aches some time to rest, KJ gets 2B every day, and Salty gets sent back down? I love Salty to death, but I think at the moment his most useful talent is knowing how to catch Jo-Jo (oh, and that bat thing). Perhaps the two should become better friends and move to the majors together come September. For now, neither looks to have a spot.

This makes the roster:

Lineup:
1) Escobar, 3B
2) Rent, SS
3) CJ, 1B
4) AJ, CF
5) McCann, C
6) Frenchy, RF
7) KJ, 2B
8) Diaz, LF

Rotation:
1) Smoltz
2) Hudson
3) James
4) Buddy
5) Davies
6) Option (who ever is available for a spot start)

Bench:
Harris (4th OF, pinch runner)
Thorman (Pinch hitter, 1B)
Woodward (2B, 3B)
Pena (Backup Catcher)

Pen:
Wickman (CL)
Soriano
Devine
Moylan
Villarreal
Paronto
Yates
Ledezma

It's not a bad lineup. The bench is thin though...

Anyway, the only down side to last night was Wickman. He looked awful. 5 hits, 3 runs, 3Ks. The oddest line i've seen in a while and almost the saddest. This adds fuel to the fire of letting Soriano take closing duties for a while and letting Wickman rest. Devine is up now, and he looks good. I think the 7th, 8th, and 9th should be Devine, Moylan, Soriano for the next few weeks, and if we can get more than a bag of balls for Wickman, the rest of the year. Just my 2 cents.

Braves 5, Padres 4

W: K. Davies (4-7)
L: G. Maddux (7-6)

HR: B Mccann (9, 2nd inning off G Maddux 1 on); K Johnson (9, 2nd inning off G Maddux 0 on)