Huddy Rolls Through the Reds

It was like being in Oakland. Three hits, no walks, ten strikeouts, and no runs. Hell of a game from Hudson. Chipper got on base 4 times and McCann got a hold of one in the fourth, a two run blast that scored Chipper from second. According to Hudson it was the recurrence of his change-up that kept the Reds off balance all night. The night was definitely Hudson’s, to go along with the 10 Ks, he had 12 ground outs as well. Hopefully this is the start of good run for Huddy. The Braves really need him to step in and be a number one, if he can find consistency with his splitter as well as the change, that won’t be a problem for him.

The offense struggled again, scoring only 2 runs. They’ve scored less than 4 runs in five games straight now, not a good sign. Francoeur, Johnson, and Escobar continue to struggle. Francoeur has lost 27 points in OBP and 46 points in SLG since April 22. Johnson has struggled most of the year and has only collected 9 its since April 15th. Escobar has lost almost 200 points in OPS since April 15th. Thats the first two hitters in the order and a middle of the order guy struggling mightily. Its hard for Tex and Jones to knock anyone in if Jones is the only one ever on base and any rally they start is lost once Francoeur steps in.

Tex continues to dig his way out of the season starting hole he dug. Raising his OPS 150 points since April 15th. Jones just mashes. He really seems focused on the batting title this year. Most of his slugging is tied up in the 8 home runs he’s hit, as he’s only got 4 doubles on the year. Kotsay has started to pick it up a bit and McCann continues to be a perfect 5th batter.

Besides Chipper, no one has really been on a bona fide hot streak, it’s a great time for Johnson and Escobar to start to pick up the pace and give more opportunity to the middle of the order. Hopefully that will happen soon.

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As you’ve all read by now, Smoltz has proclaimed his return to the bullpen. I don’t doubt that its the right thing for him, Smoltz wants to start more, he burns for it, if he’s putting himself in the bullpen, he’s doing it because he feels like he has to. He was right the first time when he volunteered for the Pen, he was right when he went back into the starting rotation, and I have no reason to doubt him on this one. I just wish it wasn’t so.

Smoltz said he couldn’t help the team as a 5 inning starter, I disagree. If the Braves got 5 dominant innings out of him, like they did in all but one of his starts, they can, and have, win. But thats not really the issue, as you could see later in the interview. Smoltz was “lights out’, in his words, “for three innings”, then he was just gutting it out and in pain. He can’t do that all year long, and if he doesn’t head to the pen, then the Braves may not have anything out of him for the rest of the year. Its the right move, its just not the choice you want to have to make.

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JoJo is on the mound tonight against the Reds, so expect a fair amount of walks and lots of scoring opportunities for the visiting team tonight. I imagine the Braves needing to score quite a bit tonight to win, lets hope the offense syncs up.

Have fun watching the game and thanks for reading!