I don't mean to rain on your parade, but it seems to me damon will have a terrible season. He dosen't have the short right field/ bandbox standium to hit in anymore, turner field is a cave... I wouldnt be surprised if he struggles to hit 15 there.... Also, he is one of the worst defensive left fielders in the game, do you really want him running around that huge outfield of yours?

But he does have the whole going from the AL to the NL thing going for him, which is nice.

I think that applies more for pitchers getting to face a free out in the 9 hole ( and some weaker lineups in general) But i'm not sure it adds that much to a hitter... there are plenty of tough NL pitchers.

his line drive pct was the lowest of his career last year while his fly ball percentage was the highest its ever been.. that may very well translate to a lot of lazy fly balls in a big park.

No, it applies to hitters too (Matt Holliday says hi).

Definitely an interesting move. Assuming LF, I guess he probably might be an upgrade over Anderson...maybe.

Looking strong in Spring Training.

yes they have. I am very excited to see how the season goes but truly wonder is it all because of Heyward? Though that man looks just like a total beast.

And it begins.

Heyward didn't take long to make an impact.

Heywards shot was a bomb. And now Mccann just hit one too. Things are looking good them so far.

Every time he made contact in that game the ball was just crushed. If I was a Braves fan, I'd be excited as shit. I'm a Phillies fan though, so...I just bit my nails and peed a little.

It's going to be nice to have some pop in the lineup this year. I feel a return to the postseason coming on.

I was also amused to hear the Braves announcers talk about Zambrano being a changed man in terms of his compsure, then watching him melt down so quickly.

Great start to the season, Heyward is going to be fun to watch!

I was in the 5th row in the section just to the right of the right field bullpen where Heyward hit his bomb. It was an incredible atmosphere at The TED yesterday. I have never heard the place as loud as it was after Heyard's bomb. So excited for this season, the potential is there for a postseason run.

Um. Heyward. Yeah.

I'm a Cubs fan so I just got done watching the whole series. Heyward is definitely a future star. Kid has mad talent, both offensively and defensively. Hopefully, Braves management will lock him up and never let him go.

Disappointing recent games. Hope the day off does some good, though I think it's really strange to have days off in the middle of series.

beginning of the season is strange like that. I hate it as well.

They schedule it like that just in case the opening game is rained out since it was the Padres opening home series and since we don't make another trip out to play the Padres. Sill doesn't make much sense to me though.

Good to come back and win the final two games of the Pads series and finish the West coast trip at .500. The schedule gets much tougher now coming back home. At least the Phils will come to town with Rollins on the DL. Lowe has good numbers the past few years against the Rockies so hopefully he can keep that up tonight.

So why not just put the off day at the end of the series?

It's not just the day off in the middle of the series, though. Open up with 3 in Atlanta with a day off in between, then finish with a night game followed by an afternoon game the next day on the west coast, followed by a series with anohter day off in the middle. That's pretty tough for any team to deal with, especially to start the season.

I agree. The Braves really got screwed by the schedule makers this season. The afternoon game on the west coast following a home night game was just ridiculous, it made absolutely no sense at all. I was extremely happy with a 3-3 west coast trip with the way the schedule set up.

Cobalt, I have no idea why not just have an off day at the end of the series. That would seem to make the most sense to me as well. I just read an excerpt from the AJC about them doing the off day in the middle in case the home opener got rained out.

I would love to take 2 of 3 from the Phils this week. We got lucky missing Hamels and having Happ scratched from his start.

Martin Prado! Holy crap. Even when I see him making an out, always seems like hits a line drive out. The guy is a singles machine.

Kendrick somehow turns in a decent start and then our bullpen fucks it up. Great.

And Heyward is ridiculous for a 20 year-old. As if that hasn't been said enough already.

That was one of the most exciting endings I have seen to a game in quite some time. I mean, it's not just how much talent Heyward has, but to have the mental side to come up clutch in so many pressure situations at his age is just incredible. The kid does more and more to impress everyday. Good to see Glaus and Nate step up finally. Glaus has been killing the Braves in run producing situations thus far.

Needed the win last night since it will probably take something spectacular from Huddy to steal a win vs Halladay tonight.

all I can say is wow.

You know I was thinkning with all the hype and the way people are looking forward to things with Heyward coming up. To me the one move that I remember that had me totally hyped was when the braves traded for Mcgriff. To me the excitement seems to be the same or even more now.

I remember when mcgriff came here he was the piece that we needed to win. Not sure if Heyward is enough but he definetly is a nice start.

Fuck the fucking Braves.

They have to be one of the most frustrating teams in baseball to watch. I mean I have never seen such offensive futility with men in scoring position. With all that being said, Omar Infante needs to be playing most every game. The Braves are a better team when he is in the lineup. Really need a sweep today, but of course Derek Lowe is on the mound so I am not expecting it....

Up 6-4 tonight. If we can hold on tonight and win tomorrow, then take 2 from Philly, it'll be a succesful road trip.

Unfortunately, Jurrjens is on the DL now until at least next Friday. On the plus side, Medlen should be able to hold his own filling in for him, and they called up Craig Kimbrel to the majors. I can't wait to see this kid in action.

within a month from pure excitement to pure disappointment. Just sucks to have the weapons but just can't put it together.

Really need to keep the momentum going on this 7 game homestand. D'Backs, Mets and Cincy coming in. The Braves really need a run right now and not fall too far behind in the division and the wild card.

I really don't like that JJ reinjured his hammy running sprints in the outfield. The Braves have to have him in the rotation to have a chance at a postseason run.

just got back from game.......just can't say enough about Heyward......kid is just too sick

holy crap what a crazy game.

Unfreakingbelievable! I watched the game last night when I got home from work. The resolve that this team has is so great to see. I haven't seen a Braves team in a while that believes they can win the game until the last out is made. Need to take advantage of having 5 against Pittsburgh in the next week and a half. Let's keep this momentum rolling!

nice comeback. also, i'm going to be fallowing jason heyward for years. that kid amazes me.

7-0 win tonight. Huddy looked great, Heyward was Heyward, McCann is getting hot, Chipper is looking better both at the plate and in the field, and Escobar hit the ball hard a few times with nothing to show for it.

The Braves now own second place in the NL East, and should be able to close the gap with the Phillies soon. The next 11 games are 5 Pirates, 3 Marlins, and 3 Phillies in Atlanta. After that, the next 11 ar eon the road in LA, Arizona, and Minnesota.

Fun time to be a Braves fan lately.

Big series with Florida coming up. Man Esky needs to get going badly. I really want to see Infante in the lineup, but I think that the defensive dropoff at short might be too great to do that.

Again, Escobar hit the ball well a few times last night, but he's still trying to force the action.

The Braves squandered too many chances last night, and still would have had a shot had Bobby not left Jesse F'ing Chavez in to pitch another inning.

Here's to getting it turned around tonight and taking 2/3 from the fishies.

Yeah, Chavez really shouldn't see the mound except in blowouts. He has been bad all season (with the exception of the Cincy comeback) and even all the way back to spring training. Didn't quite understand the logic in bringing him in in a 1 run game especially when Moylan hadn't thrown for a couple of days. Let's see if we can take the next 2 of the series with Hanson and Huddy on the mound.

Braves up 7-1 in the 6th at home vs. Pittsburgh. The Philth won tonight, so we should keep pace and stay 2.5 out. We need to take 4 of the next 5 at home starting tomorrow and take a 1.5 game leaded minimum on this nasty upcoming road trip.

Even better we were only 1.5 out starting the night. It would be nice to get within .5 a game of the Phils before they come into town next. I would love to have a shot at 1st when they come in.

I stand corrected. Either way, we really have to take advantage of these next 5 games.

Done and done. The boys didn't let up today and Tommy Hanson looked like he's getting into a groove now. With Huddy and Lowe going in the next two, I wouldn't be surprised to win at least 2/3 this series.

Going to the game tonight. Should be a good one with Huddy against Hamels.

so did you end up staying even though they had the rain delay?

Damn the team is really coming together well.

The Braves completed the sweep today. Lowe pitched 8 innings of 1 run ball to get the W.

I did indeed, and was extremely tired going to work this morning.

It is extra sweet to sweep the Phils even if they are in a massive slump right now. 8 game winning streak is the longest since '03. Very tough 11 game road trip coming up, I will be happy if we end up over .500 for the trip.

Damn. Wish I'd checked beforehand - I ended up going to that game. Was quite fun.

Oh, and...

Bink.

meh we had to lose at some point right? with Hanson/Huddy next two games I think we split at worst for teh series........which isnt bad

man I love watching this team

Tied with St Louis for the best record in the NL. Would be ecstatic if we can get 3 out of 4 from a hot team on the road.