Atlanta Braves Baseball

Gammons: Heyward hard at work to play ...more ?

Heyward adds to legend with first homer ...more ?
Heyward adds to legend with first homer

Tigers game brings back memories for Diaz ...more ?
Tigers game brings back memories for Diaz

Ross plates four, Hudson looks sharp ...more ?
Ross plates four, Hudson looks sharp

Future may be now for Heyward ...more ?
Braves see bright future for Heyward

Middle of order rakes against Astros ...more ?
Middle of order rakes against Astros

Chipper sits out with bruised thumb ...more ?
Chipper sits out with bruised thumb

Jurrjens tosses pain-free batting practice ...more ?
Jurrjens tosses pain-free batting practice

Ross provides more than game off bench ...more ?
Ross provides more than game off bench

Arms look good against Astros ...more ?
Arms look good against Astros

Escobar visits second base often in win ...more ?
Escobar visits second base often in win

Changes for Lowe prove to be right ...more ?
Changes for Lowe prove to be right

Wagner, Saito struggle in Braves debuts ...more ?
Wagner, Saito struggle in Braves debuts

Murphy thankful for Cox's patience ...more ?
Murphy thankful for Cox's patience

Glaus, Kawakami boost Braves over Bucs ...more ?
Glaus, Kawakami boost Braves over Bucs

Halladay shuts down Braves (AP) ...more ?
This time last year, Billy Wagner was facing little leaguers in Virginia and recovering from elbow surgery. The former All-Star closer, signed by the Braves in the offseason, retired all three batters he faced Tuesday night in Atlanta's 7-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies and said he felt comfortable for the first time this spring.

Braves Team Report (Yahoo! Sports) ...more ?
Sure, it's fun to write about the Braves installing netting at their spring training ballpark to protect players' cars in the right field parking lot from the bombs launched by right field prospect Jason Heyward. It's amazing to hear manager Bobby Cox say that the sound off Heyward's bat reminds him of only one other player's: the sound Hank Aaron's bat made when it made contact. Even opposing media break out superlatives, the Mets' Keith Hernandez, for example, calling a right field line drive a "Willie McCovey shot."

Whew!

Really, though, the most exciting things about Heyward are the little moves he's making. Working the count for walks. Taking second base on a ball in the dirt, something he did twice in his second spring training game, March 3 against the Mets.

Heyward homers to lead Braves to 12-4 rout of Tigs (AP) ...more ?
Jason Heyward made his first spring training homer a memorable one. The Atlanta Braves' 20-year-old right fielder almost cleared the batting cage behind the right-field wall Monday with a two-run homer off Max Scherzer in the first inning of a 12-4 exhibition victory over the Detroit Tigers. "That's one of the longer ones I've seen hit in this ballpark," said Braves manager...

Hanson has soild start for Braves (AP) ...more ?

This time last year, Tommy Hanson was a confident prospect who knew it wouldn't be long until he made the major leagues. After a half-season rising through the Atlanta Braves system, Hanson made his major league debut and surprised no one, going 11-4 in 21 starts for the Braves. Now, his confidence is just as high.

Oswalt shaky in first spring start (AP) ...more ?
Roy Oswalt threw two rocky, yet scoreless innings in his spring debut and the Houston Astros beat the Atlanta Braves 3-0 Saturday. Oswalt walked three and loaded the bases in the first. He allowed just one hit and struck out two while throwing 44 pitches, 25 for strikes. The right-hander said he stuck to fastballs and changeups.

Lowe pitches 2 scoreless inning for Braves (AP) ...more ?

Derek Lowe got off to a solid start after a rough first season in Atlanta, pitching two hitless innings in the Braves' 11-8 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday. Atlanta's new closer, Billy Wagner, did not fare so well. He gave up three hits and two runs in the third inning. Yunel Escobar went 3 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored and Melky Cabrera had two hits and an RBI for...

Lowe pitches two scoreless inning for Braves (AP) ...more ?

Derek Lowe got off to a solid start after a rough first season in Atlanta, pitching two hitless innings in the Braves' 11-8 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday. The Braves new closer, Billy Wagner, did not fare so well. He gave up three hits and two runs in the third inning. Yunel Escobar went 3 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored and Melky Cabrera had two hits and an RBI for the...

Lowe's new delivery doesn't include barbs (Yahoo! Sports) ...more ?
A maturing Derek Lowe spent the offseason rebuilding his delivery instead of gloating over the McCourts' misfortunes.

Stew Book Review: Chris Jaffe's 'Evaluating Baseball Managers' (Yahoo! Sports) ...more ?
Evaluating Baseball's Managers: A History and Analysis of Performance in the Major Leagues, 1876-2008 by...

Former Pirate McLouth helps Braves top Pittsburgh (AP) ...more ?
This time last year Nate McLouth was hoping to avoid another season in last place. This year, he's poised to be the starting center fielder with serious championship hopes. McLouth scored a run to lead off the first inning and help lead the Braves to a 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, his former team.

Hudson sharp for 2 innings, Braves beat Mets 9-5 (AP) ...more ?

Tim Hudson wasn't taking his first start of the spring too seriously. Hudson allowed only two hits over two shutout innings, facing the minimum six batters in a 9-5 win over the New York Mets on Wednesday, and said he can't wait to take the mound again. "It would be an awesome thing if it were in July," Hudson said.

Play Ball! Mets beat Braves in first spring game (AP) ...more ?
Cross another last off the list for Bobby Cox. Atlanta's longtime manager got two scoreless innings from Tommy Hanson, but the New York Mets spoiled Cox's last spring training opener with a 4-2 victory over the Braves on Tuesday. Cox announced last September that he plans to retire after his 21st consecutive season in Atlanta's dugout -- the longest tenure of any active manager -- and...

Get the nets! Braves aim to protect selves against Jason Heyward (Yahoo! Sports) ...more ?
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Bobby Cox insisted that he wasn't kidding and visitors to Champion Stadium on...

Spring Snapshot: Braves seek one more postseason trip for Cox (Yahoo! Sports) ...more ?
Every day in spring training until we're finished with the entire league, Big League Stew takes a brief...

Chipper Jones still says he'll rebound or retire (AP) ...more ?
An offseason of reflection hasn't softened Chipper Jones' stance. The Atlanta Braves' third baseman still says he will walk away from the game if he can't bounce back from a disappointing season. Jones, who will turn 38 in April, said this week he won't hang around just to collect a paycheck if he's no longer playing up to the standards which have made him one of the best...

Look out! Heyward's drives doing serious damage (AP) ...more ?
Jason Heyward's batting practice drives are costing the Atlanta Braves -- but local body shops aren't complaining. Heyward launched a shot over the right-field wall this week that smashed through the sun roof of assistant general manager Bruce Manno's car. The bill was $3,400. Heyward has dented other vehicles, too.

Braves' Glaus enjoying good health at new position (AP) ...more ?
Troy Glaus is making his move from third base to first base look easy. Now the Atlanta Braves just want to see him stay on the field from April to October. Glaus, a third baseman most of his 11-year career, is launching a new phase of his career as a full-time first baseman. He has played only six games in his career at his new position but was signed by the Braves to replace Adam LaRoche.

Expectations continue to rise for Braves Heyward (AP) ...more ?
The comparisons already are out of control for Atlanta Braves prospect Jason Heyward. Chipper Jones said the 6-foot-5, 245-pound Heyward looks like former Braves first baseman Fred McGriff, only bigger. Eric Hinske said Heyward hits line drives like Cliff Floyd. Leave it to manager Bobby Cox to trump those comparisons.