Time For Hanson

The time has come for Tommy Hanson to make his Major League debut.
For AAA Gwinnett, he's pitching lights out. On the year, Hanson (right) has a 1.99 ERA and a .98 WHIP in 40 2/3 innings with 57 strikeouts.
Remarkably, his record sits at 1-3, but the talent is undeniable. He has four pitches and is without a doubt a better option than Jo-Jo Reyes, who hasn't won since halfway through 2008.
More than that, though, Reyes (below) isn't a MLB pitcher. Nor is he a AAA pitcher. He's a AAAA pitcher who has the talent that translates to success against minor leaguers only to struggle at the highest stage. In 2007 in AAA, he won four games with a 1.00 ERA. For the big club the same year, he had a staggering 6.22 ERA in 50 2/3 frames.
The following year, the same ERA trend continued: 5.88 in MLB and 2.31 in AAA.
Today against the Mets, Reyes sputtered and gave up five runs in three innings to raise his ERA to 6.58.
Thanks to great defense and a timely offense, Atlanta still won 8-7 in 12 innings. An average performance from Reyes would have sufficed and an easier victory would have occurred. Instead, Reyes did what he always does: Struggle and not win.
With Hanson as the starter, there's obviously no guarantees. He hasn't pitched at the big-league level yet, and he might not adjust well. Still, he does give the Braves a better opportunity to win than Reyes.
There's nothing to lose. Reportedly, Tom Glavine is expected back at the end of the month following a successful bullpen session before today's game.
If Hanson struggles, Glavine will be back shortly to take his spot in the rotation. If Hanson thrives, he will have vital MLB experience.
Either way, it's time for Reyes to go and time for Hanson to make his much-anticipated debut.

Kotchman Heating Up

When the Atlanta Braves traded Mark Teixeira last year to the Angels for first baseman Casey Kotchman, they were expecting a player that would hit for a high average while providing extra-base power with great defense.

Through the first couple weeks of this season, however, defense (0 errors in 245 total chances) was the only part Kotchman was providing.

With a .235 average with a mere two RBIs through the first 10 games of the season, Kotchman was obviously struggling at the plate.

Recently, though, the 26-year-old lefty has progressed.

Since he went 0-for-4 in a 3-0 loss at Pittsburgh on April 17, Kotchman has tallied 28 hits in 79 official at-bats or a .354 batting average. Moreover, he's recorded 10 doubles with two homers and has had at least one base knock in 16 of the last 22 games.

As a result, his average has jumped to a season-high .319 going into tonight's game against New York.

More impressive still, Kotchman has had 10 of his 14 RBIs in the last five games.

Which is yet another sign the Braves are getting a player they hoped for all along.

Drew Bennett makes sense

Free agent wide receiver Drew Bennett is visiting the Titans today.
To me, if he comes cheaply and is healthy, it would make a lot of sense to sign him.
Right now, Justin Gage and Nate Washington are going to be the starters. Outside of that, a lot is unknown.
Rookie Kenny Britt is going to be good, but NFL receivers tend to not produce much in their first season.
Then there's Lavelle Hawkins. He didn't do a lot in his first season and should be better this year. However, he's still a big unknown.
Chris Davis and Paul Williams are also on the roster, but they shouldn't make the squad in the fall since they have done nothing in their first three years.
So with the lack of proven receivers outside of Gage and Washington, Bennett would be the No. 3 receiver and give Britt and Hawkins a little more time to develop.
Would money be better spent on say an Anquan Boldin or a Braylon Edwards? Yes. Tennessee, however, won't go that route and secure a highly-paid No. 1 receiver. The team simply doesn't think that way. The running game is the No. 1 option and always will be with Jeff Fisher as coach.
Former Colt Marvin Harrison is also on the free-agent market. But if Peyton Manning couldn't prolong Harrison's NFL career in Indy, what makes you think Kerry Collins will have any more luck?
Moreover, if Gage and Washington sustain an injury, the Titans would have a veteran who signed with the Rams two years ago but has plenty of experience with Tennessee.
In 2004, under offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger, Bennett had his best season with 1,247 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. In six seasons with the Titans, he tallied 25 scores.
So if Bennett is still the player he was a couple years ago, the Titans would have a solid No. 3 option out wide.
It makes a lot of sense.

Titans Growing Up

It has been reported that a pair of Tennessee Titans are starting to mature a little bit.
Quarterback Vince Young and running back LenDale White each told The Tennessean they are starting to grow up.
Young said he's learned a lot after the debacle to start last year against Jacksonville. White, meanwhile, said he's in better shape.
Both are needed.

NFL quarterbacks tend to not last the whole season, meaning starter Kerry Collins probably won't play 16 games. That means Young will at one point lead the Titans. They will need him to be mature in order to take that next step. Young has shown he can win some, but his number haven't been all that impressive. Moreover, beyond this season, Young's status is uncertain. Big money kicks in during the 2010 season, and the Titans won't pay him if he's not ready to take the reins.
White will have to prove he's in better shape, which hopefully makes him quicker and faster. He did a nice job last year, rushing for 773 yards on 80 carries with a team-high 15 touchdowns. But in the Divisional Playoff round against Baltimore after Chris Johnson, who had rushed for 72 yards on 11 carries, went down in the first half, the offense was never the same. White did combine for 80 yards rushing and receiving, but the difference between the two was obvious. A better White will make a huge difference.
And a better Young and White will be needed at some point in 2009. If not, the Titans might be stuck in the Divisional Playoffs.

Closing Time

More often than not this season, when the Atlanta Braves win, it's going to be a close game.
The offense simply won't score enough runs for it to be otherwise.
But this season with a late lead, the Braves haven't lost.
When going into the eighth inning with an advantage, the Braves are 11-0. Six of those wins have been by three runs or less.
Most of the thanks can go to closer Mike Gonzalez and set-up man Rafael Soriano. Both coming off of arm trouble from a year ago, the duo has combined to give up 7 runs in 25 2/3 innings with five saves and holds, a win and zero losses this season.

Gonzalez began the season struggling a bit, but he has picked it up of late. During all five of his saves, the southpaw has been nearly perfect. In five innings, Gonzalez has given up just one hit with nine strikeouts.
More impressive still, during his last 6 2/3 innings, Gonzalez has allowed just three hits with two runs (one earned) while lowering his ERA to 3.86.
Soriano, meanwhile, has been dominant all season. His ERA currently sits at 1.29 with a .86 WHIP in 14 innings. The hard-throwing righty has only allowed one run in two games and has been perfect in seven outings.
So while the Braves' 13-15 record isn't ideal, there has been some positives. And if this duo can keep it up, Atlanta should win plenty more close games.

Frustrating Braves

The frustrating part about the Atlanta Braves in the early part of the season has been the lack of consistency throughout the team. One night the starting pitchers will struggle and the relievers will dominate. The next, the exact opposite will happen.
All of that has equaled a poor 11-15 record going into tonight's contest against the Florida Marlins.
After starting the season 5-1, everything has been downhill. Most of the blame can be aimed to an offense that has scored just 31 runs in the 14 losses during the dreadful 6-14 streak.
More than that, though, the pitching staff has been inconsistent.
During the early part of the futility, the starting pitching was solid. In the first seven losses, they gave up 22 earned runs in 40 1/3 innings. The bullpen, meanwhile, gave up 15 runs in 18 2/3 innings.
Since then, the roles have been reversed. The starters have allowed 28 earned runs in 38 2/3 innings, and the bullpen let 7 runs cross the plate in 24 1/3 innings.
More recently, the defense hasn't been up to par. On the current four-game losing streak, three unearned runs have crossed the plate. Two unearned runs occurred in the fourth inning of Saturday's 5-1 loss to Houston. At the time, the game was tied at 1-1.
Then on Tuesday, New York scored an unearned run in the ninth. The Braves ended up losing by one.
With the offense being so bad, all the other aspects of the game have to be almost perfect.
Instead, they haven't been.
The result is an underachieving team with a poor 11-15 record.

Fantasy Baseball Top-30

Top-30:

This version of the Top-30 sees Albert Pujols stay at the top. Johan Santana, however, fell to the second pitcher on the board, and a closer makes an initial appearance.

1. Albert Pujols (1B): "The Machine" just produces
25 runs
9 homers
29 RBIs
.460 OBP

2. Ian Kinsler (2B): Middle infield numbers are crazy
23 runs, 9 homers, 25 RBIs, 7 SB
3. Chase Utley (2B): Not far behind Kinsler
21 runs, 8 homers, 21 RBIs, .485 OBP
4. Evan Longoria (3B): Just on a tear
21 runs, 8 homers, 31 RBIs, .414 OBP

5. Miguel Cabrera (1B, 3B): Back to old form
16 runs
6 homers
18 RBIs
.467 OBP

6. Grady Sizemore (CF): Nice power, speed combo
17 runs, 6 homers, 21 RBIs, 5 SB
7. Carlos Beltran (CF): On base all the time
14 runs, 4 homers, 18 RBIs, .500 OBP
8. Alfonso Soriano (LF): Sizemore Jr.
24 runs, 7 homers, 14 RBIs, 4 SB
9. Manny Ramirez (LF): Rebirth continues in L.A.
20 runs, 6 homers, 18 RBIs, .500 OBP

10. Hanley Ramirez (SS): Wrist injury slowing him some
11 runs
3 homers
13 RBIs
3 SB

11. David Wright (3B): Too good to be this low
16 runs, 2 homers, 12 RBIs, 4 SB
12. Nick Markakis (RF): Strong start no fluke
29 runs, 4 homers, 27 RBIs, .454 OBP
13. Kevin Youkilis (1B, 3B): Will continue surge in Sox lineup
23 runs, 6 homers, 20 RBIs, .505 OBP
14. Jason Bay (LF): Like Youkilis
21 runs, 6 homers, 22 RBIs, .482 OBP

15. Ryan Braun (LF): Solid start; should move up more
13 runs
5 homers
18 RBIs
.438 OBP

16. Ryan Howard (1B): Nice average but more power needed
14 runs, 5 homers, 19 RBIs, .375 OBP
17. Jose Reyes (SS): Should turnaround slow start soon
10 runs, 1 homer, 8 RBIs, 6 SB
18. Mark Teixeira (1B): Always starts slow
14 runs, 5 homers, 12 RBIs, .356 OBP
19. Zack Greinke (SP): Has been untouchable
6 wins, 54 strikeouts, .40 ERA, .84 WHIP

20. Johan Santana (SP): Strikeout machine
3 wins
44 strikeouts
1.10 ERA
.95 WHIP

21. Carl Crawford (LF): Speed is unreal
16 runs, 11 RBIs, 18 SB, .377 OBP
22. Carlos Pena (1B): On big power surge
17 runs, 11 homers, 28 RBIs, .377 OBP
23. Andre Either (LF, RF): With Ramirez, will have huge season
20 runs, 6 homers, 25 RBIs, .429 OBP
24. Adam Jones (CF): Hard to discount this deep into season
29 runs, 5 homers, 19 RBIs, .418 OBP

25. Michael Young (3B, SS): Surprising power numbers
21 runs
7 homers
16 RBIs
.372 OBP

26. Justin Morneau (1B): Always produces
19 runs, 6 homers, 21 RBIs, .374 OBP
27. Alex Rodriguez (3B): Off of DL soon
N/A
28. Dan Haren (SP): Outpiching Santana; Can it last?
3 wins, 47 strikeouts, 1.47 ERA, .74 WHIP
29. Katt Kemp (CF, RF): Another studly Dodger
17 runs, 3 homers, 17 RBIs, 7 SB

30. Jonathan Broxton (RP): Will save a lot on stacked Dodgers
7 saves
23 strikeouts
.69 ERA
.46 WHIP