Stay Away, BJ

BJ "blames" the umpire for too many called strikes. Most players, from high school on up, learn the strike zone for that night and accept it. There's not much else to do, because arguing doesn't help. In many cases arguing hurts. Any batter in BJ's situation can only improve by trying to hit the ball where it's pitched, and protecting the plate with two strikes. Until BJ starts making contact he will continue in the same funk he is in.

Do players still want to hit home runs because home run hitters get paid better than singles hitters? I've said this before: It continues to amaze me that players like BJ try to hit home runs at the expense of making contact, hitting singles, and trying to reach base when the team needs baserunners. And don't teams ALWAYS need baserunners? Why is Chris Johnson hitting .340? Because he hits to all fields. He makes the most out of what the pitcher is giving him. Chris doesn't try to hit home runs, but every now and then they comes. So do the doubles and triples.

Is Chris Johnson a more mature hitter than BJ Upton? Knowing less of his background than I do BJ's, I would say so. In his first game in Gwinnett, BJ went 0-3 (strike out, ground out, fly out).

On August 1st the lead is up to 11 games. ESPN is slowly starting to take notice, saying that "the experts" "may have been wrong" about both the Braves and Nationals. Tim Kurkjian admitted he might have been wrong. Perhaps they're gearing up for the big "I told you so" should the Braves eventually falter. On radio last night Jim Powell and Don Sutton spent time talking about the faltering Nationals, wondering if the dismal first half has given way to an even more frustrating second half. Nats manager Davy Johnson says he's standing by his spring training "World Series or bust" boast, though Washington made no moves at the trade deadline. Reporters are starting to ask Nationals players what's wrong, which pours salt on their wounds. Bryce Harper hasn't given up, pointing to the nine head-to-head games the Nats have remaining with the Braves.

Nice that the Braves played so well Wednesday night that several starters were pulled: Freeman, McCann, Minor, and others. Freeman went 4-4 with a walk. Johnson has reeled off six straight multi-hit games, after getting a single and a walk last Thursday in New York. Another quality start: five in the last six games.

Just in: August 29 is Evan Gattis bobblehead night in Gwinnett. I'd been thinking about taking in the Indians that night at Turner Field, but this changes my plans.

Big news…Drunk Ted Turner just followed me!

I always wonder about if any of the Braves get involved in that Biogenesis stuff. You'd hope not Beachy or Kimbrel, who seem to have good heads. Did you see the ESPN interview with Kimbrel during the home run derby? Nice that he got to promote his good works. Gattis is too new and too strong, and after his period of substance abuse stays away from the stuff.