With a lefthander going tonight, this would be a good day to again rest some of the regulars and get hot hitters like Reed Johnson some more playing time. A sweep of this series would be REAL sweet.
Jayson Stark has an interesting take on the Manny Ramirez deal. And there's also an interesting take on Dusty Baker's troubles with the Reds in that link, with Baker apparently blaming everyone but himself for the Reds' bad record.
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The last time we saw Tom Glavine, he was trudging off the field at Wrigley Field on June 10 with an elbow strain which has kept him on the DL ever since. The Cubs hit him pretty hard that day, too. Today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution says that today's start is an "audition" of sorts:
The next six weeks could determine whether Tom Glavine hangs up his spikes at the end of the season, or keeps pitching and tries to script a more satisfying ending to his career.
The 42-year-old Braves left-hander will come off the disabled list to start tonight's series finale against Chicago, his first major league game since leaving a June 10 start at the Cubs with elbow pain.
"I guess I'm auditioning for myself and for the people upstairs," Glavine said, referring to Braves officials.
Here's hoping the Cubs send him to a comfortable retirement. Glavine is 15-14, 3.72 in 36 career starts vs. the Cubs, but since 2006 that mark is 1-3, 6.08. Aramis Ramirez is .480/.576/.920 vs. Glavine lifetime (12-for-25, 2 doubles, 3 HR). Jim Edmonds is 4-for-21 vs. Glavine, so I'd expect him to sit tonight.
Ted Lilly was the starter and winner in that June 10 game, allowing four hits and three runs and striking out eight in 6.2 innings. From that day through his last start, 12 outings, Lilly is 6-1, 3.33. Players currently on the Atlanta roster are 11-for-49 (.224) with 1 HR (by Greg Norton) against Lilly.
Today's game is on CSN and Peachtree TV and on EI. Also see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Once again, a reminder that you can find the overflow comment threads, including the first pitch thread, on the right sidebar of both the front page and any interior page in the box headed "RECENT STORIES IN GAME THREADS". Today's first pitch thread posts at 6 pm CT, and the overflow comment threads will post at 7 pm, 8 pm and 8:45 pm CT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.