4/5 - 4/12: Start out the season winning 5 out of 6 on the road versus the World Series champion Phillies. Rookie phenom Jordan Schafer homers in his first at bat.
4/13 - 4/21: Lose 7 out of our next 8 games, including a 5 game losing streak. Average just 2.6 runs after putting up 6.3 in those first 6 games. However, Francoeur has hit .309 up to this point (4/25) and Schafer, though only hitting at about .270, has on OBP of .400. Sure, he's striking out more than once a game, but who cares?
4/22 - 5/5: After winning 3 in a row, the Braves went 2-7 at home, getting easily outplayed by St. Louis, Houston, and New York. Mac goes on the DL with a bizarre eye problem.
5/6 - 5/13: The Braves then took an NL East trip, traveling to the Mets, Phillies, and Marlins. They win 6 out of 8, but Frenchy's OBP has plummeted to .273 and Schafer is clinging to life above the Mendoze line (.214), with 44 K's in 34 games.
5/15 - 5/24: On this homestand, the team goes 6-3, including a sweep of the AL East-leading Blue Jays. Kawakami has seemingly turned things around after a rough start, pitching an 8 inning, 3 hit gym. To close out the sweep, Jurrjens continues his dominant start, yielding only 2 runs. But, Kelly Johnson is hitting .230 in the leadoff hole, finally prompting a change in the lineup that is immediately abondonded after a game.
5/25 - 5/28: Another 4 game losing streak, as the good guys get outscored 7 to 23 by the Giants and Diamondbacks. Chipper has a nagging toe injury that may land him on the DL.
5/30: 2 runs in the third give the Braves an early lead, and Javier Vazquez continues to blow people away, striking out 8 in 6.1 IP. However, the offense can't get anything else going, and the bullpen finally yields in the 11th. A 3-2 loss.
6/2: Flash to the 7th inning. The Braves are getting no hit by a rookie. They're flailing at everything. Chipper finally gets a hit, then we cut the lead to 2 in the 8th. In the bottom of the 9th, the much-maligned "hometown hero" Francouer blasts a two out homer to tie the game. Soriano mows down a few Cubs in the 11th and 12th, until Chipper drives home the winning run in the bottom of the 12th. Braves win 6-5.
6/3: After recovering from last night's huge win, the Braves have sent Schafer to work his problems out in the minors. But, when things are looking up, news comes across that Tom Glavine, who threw 11 shutout innings in his last two rehab starts in anticipation of being called up for his next appearance, has been cut by the team. I was never in favor of this signing, but it felt like the Braves just strung along a legend then discarded him. I'm pretty down about this.
But wait! We called up Tommy Hanson to make his first major league start on Saturday. The super-prospect is almost the symbol of hope for this franchise. What's that? Nate McLouth? We got some power in the outfield? And he steals some bases? So we gave up Gorkys and Charlie Morton, this outfield could actually produce some runs! McClouth has 7 SB, the entire Braves team has 12. The outfield has hit 10 HRs so far, McClouth 9. I'm excited. I'm pumped up. This team will never slump again, right?
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