Braves Aquire Teixeira, Mahay

ATLANTA -- There's no longer reason to speculate about Mark Teixeira's immediate future. The Braves have landed the switch-hitting first baseman from the Rangers, and he'll immediately bolster their lineup when he joins it Tuesday night.

A Major League source confirmed Monday afternoon that the Braves and Rangers have finalized a deal that sends Teixeira and left-handed reliever Ron Mahay to Atlanta in exchange for catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Minor League shortstop Elvis Andrus, Minor League pitcher Neftali Feliz and a player to be named later.

An official announcement is expected later Monday afternoon.

There's a possibility that the player to be named will be 22-year-old left-handed pitcher Matt Harrison, who was scheduled to have his left shoulder examined by Braves doctors in Atlanta on Monday. Harrison experienced this soreness during a six-inning start for Double-A Mississippi on Tuesday.

With Saltalamacchia, Andrus and Harrison all being legitimate top prospects, the Braves showed a definite desire to acquire Teixeira, whose presence will significantly bolster their lineup and significantly improve their chances of returning to the postseason.

Teixeira, who averaged 38 homers over the past three seasons, is hitting .297 with a .397 on-base percentage and .524 slugging percentage this year. Paired with fellow switch-hitter Chipper Jones, he immediately strengthens the middle of the Braves' lineup, which has been hindered by Andruw Jones' .216 batting average this year.

With the addition of Teixeira, the Braves no longer have to worry about the lack of offensive production they've received at first base.Their first basemen have hit .211 with a .270 on-base percentage and .363 slugging percentage -- all of which rank as the lowest marks in the Majors.

While getting Teixeira, who has averaged 38 homers over the past three seasons, is the centerpiece of the deal, the Braves will also greatly benefit from the presence of Mahay, who will become their only left-handed reliever. The 36-year-old southpaw has limited opponents to a .236 batting average in 28 appearances this year. Left-handed hitters have batted .250 against him.

Teixeira, who has won two consecutive Gold Gloves, could earn around $12 million through arbitration next year and then become eligible to test the free agent market.

With Scott Boras serving as his agent, it seems unlikely that the Braves will be able to sign Teixeira to a long-term deal before the conclusion of the 2008 season.

Braves Dominate Diamondbacks

Yes, it is a new post. I have been going through a lot for the last couple weeks, but now I should be able to resume posting on a daily basis. A lot has happened during that time, such as old man Julio Franco rejoining the team.

The Braves beat the Diamondbacks today 14-0 and ended their 8 game win streak. Maybe this win will put the Braves back on track?

-Tim Hudson pitched yet another great game. 7 innings, 3 hits and 5 strikeouts. Although I can't figure out why he didn't continue pitching with a shutout and only 80 pitches going into the 8th. With the extra inning games and recent poor bullpen performance, I think it would be best to give the bullpen more rest.

-Andruw Jones hit his 20th home run of the season. He still is hitting poorly, but he's been a lot better than he was a month ago.

-Chipper Jones had 5 rbi tonight. Chipper should be at least mentioned for MVP consideration, because he is having an amazing season (OPS,VORP,RC/27). Top 5 hitter in the NL this year no doubt. The amount of playing time he missed has seriously hurt his chances though.

-I started to doubt Willie Harris, but he still has been impressing me. He scored 4 runs tonight.

-Jeff Francoeur has been playing well lately too. His average is almost at .300.

In other good news, Wil Ledezma has been designated. He was no help for the team. Too bad they basically gave away a potentially good pitcher in Macay McBride for him.

As you may have heard, there has also been a lot of rumors regarding Mark Teixeira. It seems that it is pretty close to being a done deal. Jarrod Saltalamacchia is most likely gone, as well as another top prospect (Andrus?). I'll be sure to post if this trade happens.

I have been actually warming up to the idea for trading Salty. There is really no place for him on the Braves, and he just might not pan out to be a superstar(I think he will). However Teixeira gives you gold glove defense, and .300 avg, .400 obp, .500 + slugging numbers. If the Braves do land him, I would love to see them sign him to an extension. This would be my lineup with him on the Braves.

Harris
Renteria
Chipper
Teixeira
Andruw
Francoeur
McCann
Johnson
Pitcher

or

Johnson
Renteria
Chipper
Teixeira
Andruw
McCann
Francoeur
Diaz
Pitcher

That is a pretty darn good lineup regardless of order. We will see.

The Braves get a day off tomorrow, and will be back home to play the Astros on Tuesday.

Braves Sweep Pirates

The Braves swept the Pirates yesterday as they beat them 5-1. Buddy Carlyle was impressive again going 8 innings and allowing one earned run. Although with 91 pitches after the 8th, I thought he should have finished the game. Can he remain this good for the rest of the season?

-Edgar Renteria went 4-5 with an rbi and a stolen base.

-The rest of the team contributed well except Andruw Jones. Which is ok, I don't expect him to hit a home run everyday.

The Braves will begin a new series vs the Cincinnati Reds. Kyle Davies will face rookie pitcher Bobby Livingston. Livingston is a lefty and the Braves are unfamiliar with him. I don't like the chances of tonights game. A win here is a must.

AJC Article

I thought I would share this article with you if you have not read it. It is good news.

Moves by Mets reek with panic

By Mark Bradley | Friday, July 13, 2007, 10:51 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Mark Bradley

If a blink can make a sound, that sound you heard Thursday was the Mets blinking. A first-place team fired its hitting coach and added to its staff one of the biggest Me-Firsters in the long history of baseball. A first-place team sought to quiet its recent palpitations by adding the calming influence of … Rickey Henderson?

Never mind that Henderson has never coached. Never mind that his contributions to the epic Braves-Mets 1999 NLCS were limited to exiting Game 2 in the second inning — an upset stomach was the reason given, though there were howls throughout the press box when the diagnosis was announced — and by allegedly retiring to the clubhouse to play cards with Bobby Bonilla while their Met mates were blowing late leads in the climactic Game 6.

The same Henderson was introduced Friday as the Mets’ new first-base coach. (Howard Johnson, who used to coach first base, is now the hitting instructor, replacing Rick Down.) If nothing else, Henderson’s presence should assure the Mets of always having a fourth for bridge. Beyond that, it’s hard to know what fueled Omar Minaya’s decision — manager Willie Randolph made it clear the GM had acted unilaterally — beyond a bizarre sense of panic.

Meanwhile, here in Atlanta, all is calm. Serene, even.

The Braves reopened for business Friday feeling really swell. “I thought we might be in first place, to be honest,” Bobby Cox said, and soon his team would draw within 1 1/2 games of the Mets by beating Pittsburgh while New York was losing to Cincinnati. And if you can’t be on top, running a close second to a leader so shaky it has turned to Rickey Henderson is surely the next-best thing.

It has become fashionable, at least in some shortsighted circles, to characterize the Braves as being too businesslike. If the alternative is hiring Rickey Henderson, then here’s to the bean-counters. Say what you will about this organization, but it never gets rattled, never makes a move just for the sake of generating some motion.

Said John Schuerholz, speaking of himself and Cox, each on the far side of 65: “We’re too old to panic.”

There’s a good chance the Braves will trade for a starting pitcher before the month is out. (Indeed, Schuerholz had a list of possible deals written on an index card, which he declined to make available to the media.) There’s no chance such a trade will be made in haste. These are the staid Braves, not the kneejerk Mets.

Every potential trade partner asks about Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Yunel Escobar, of whom Schuerholz said: “Those two guys are known to be two of the finest young players in the game.” Of Salty in particular: “I don’t have any intention of trading him.”

One more starting pitcher, Schuerholz conceded, could tip the balance of the NL East. The Mets are also looking hard, and so are the Phillies. “But it has to be one more properly talented starting pitcher,” he said. “Not just one more pitcher.”

Even if the Braves stand pat, Schuerholz likes this about his team: “Our guys have played very well against [the Mets]. Our guys know that, and the Mets know that.”

There is, however, one tweak this team might make involving a former Brave who just became a former Met. Julio Franco was released Thursday. “We like Julio,” Schuerholz said. “We like the impact he had in our clubhouse. There’s interest there, yes.”

The Mets just brought Rickey Henderson into their clubhouse and ushered Franco out. The Braves would welcome the latter back in some capacity and would never in a million years employ Rickey Henderson. That’s why the Braves became the Braves, and it’s why the Mets, for all their talent and money, are starting to look like their silly old selves.

This is what I like to see, the Mets in panic mode, while the Braves are at ease. It will be only a matter of time before the Braves get back in that familiar position...1st place. I also hope JS is man of his word, and doesn't trade Salty.

Braves Take Game One VS Pirates

The Braves are off to a good start in the 2nd half by beating Ian Snell and the Pirates 9-1. Beating Ian Snell is not an easy task, but the Braves made it look easy by scoring 7 runs off him (4 earned).

-Brian McCann was the player of the game, going 3-4 hitting two home runs and a double. He drove in 4 runs.

-Andruw Jones also had a home run. It was his 16th of the year.

-Willie Harris is currently having problems at the plate. His batting average has declined from .373 to .338 in a little more than a week of playing time. He may pick it back up, but his career numbers indicate that it is unlikely that he will continue to hit as well as he has been.

-Tim Hudson had another solid outing, going 7 innings, giving up 5 hits and no runs.

-Jose Ascanio was brought up from double A in place of Ledezma. Ascanio allowed 1 run on 3 hits and struck out 2 in one inning. Wil Ledezma damaged his visa when he forgot to remove it before washing his clothes. He is expected to return sometime next week.

-John Smoltz shoulder has been feeling better. If everything goes alright, he should be expected to return from the DL on scheduled time.

The Braves have another tough test tonight as they face lefty Tom Gorzelanny. Chuck James will be on the mound for Atlanta.