Sports Page Atlanta

Yes, if you feel that this Braves season feels a little familiar, you are not alone. Not since Bill Murray had one AWFUL day in Groundhog Day, has something been so familiar to you, me, and most Braves fans. In one inning yesterday for the Braves, two pitchers were taken out due to injury, Blaine Boyer and Tim Hudson. However, unlike the M.O. for the Braves this season, both seem to be okay, and won’t miss much, if any, time.

Tim Hudson left with a strained hamstring one pitch into the seventh inning. However, Hudson told reporters today that he felt fine this morning, and that he shouldn’t miss his next start. In fact, according to Jerome Jurenovich of Braves Live, Hudson said that other parts of his body hurt more than his hamstring. That’s welcoming news to a starting staff that has seen John Smoltz move to the bullpen, Tom Glavine go on the DL for the first time EVER, Mike Hampton hurt his…well…he’s just Mike Hampton, and Chuck James get called up, give up HR’s, get sent down, get called up, give up HR’s, get sent down (someone call Bill Murray).

Blaine Boyer left in the seventh inning as well, with a knee injury. He underwent an MRI Monday in Atlanta, and should be fine.

So, that’s welcoming news to a team that desperately needs to keep things afloat at home. No team can play as great as the Braves have played at home all year, and no team can play as poorly as the Braves have played on the road all year. Whichever one of those trends fades first will tell the tale of the 2008 Atlanta Braves.

The Atlanta Braves have a record of 3-5 to start the season, and believe it or not, all five losses have been one-run losses. Last night’s 4-3 loss in Colorado had nothing to do with the bullpen, but that was a first, as every other loss for the Atlanta Braves has been a result of Braves relievers. Let’s take a look at a few other facts about the 2008 Braves bullpen.

• Braves relievers are 1 for 4 in save opportunities. Blaine Boyer, Will Ohman, & Peter Moylan all have blown saves.
• Braves relievers (as a whole) rank 21st in ERA with a 5.14 ERA.
• Braves relievers have taken 4 losses thus far, the most by any team in baseball.
• The bullpen has given up 5 home runs, ranking 29th behind only the Oakland A’s who have given up 6.
• Only 4 teams have more relief innings pitched than the Braves. Overwork may be an issue here.
• 4 of the 7 Braves relievers have an ERA over 7.00

As bad as the relief crew has been, remember we’re only eight games in. It’s early enough in the season to chalk all of these bullpen woes up to bad luck. The Braves could use a nice one-run victory to turn things around.