7/7: Scorching-hot Braves, etc.

Greetings all...

• The Braves get another win last night... that's 3 straight over Colorado and with the win and Philly's loss (finally), the Braves are within 3 of the lead at 52-36... Jair Jurrjens has been ridiculous... 12-3 with a 1.87 ERA before the ASG is insane, and even with the regression definitely coming (look at his FIP, etc.), he's been elite this year... Jordan Schafer led the way with 4 hits, but the most encouraging thing for him was him embracing his inner Kenny Lofton and pounding the ball into the ground while using his legs to get on base... he's not a good lead-off hitter (as the .303 OBP even with the 4 hits attests), but if he hit with the approach of Wednesday, he'd be better off.... one note on the lineup... I can't fathom a world in which Schafer and Gonzalez hit 1-2 in the lineup back-to-back days, but it's happened... this just in, Alex Gonzalez is the worst hitter in the everyday lineup (.269 OBP, wow)... so let's hit him 2nd!...
  
• Derek Jeter has 2,997 hits... wake me up when he gets to 3,000... but one note on Cap'n Jetes... the vitriol of people crapping on him has gone too far... should he be leading off? Nope... but he's better than Eduardo Nunez, and they're paying him $17 million... he's going to play...
• Former UNLV great Armen Gilliam dead at 47... "the Hammer" had a very nice NBA career with averages of 14 and 7, and I remember him with the Nets... RIP...
• Tiger Woods pulls out of the British.... and ESPN throws up in their mouths a little... obviously, the ratings for the 4-day (all ESPN-televised) major will be down... as well as interest from me...
  

What to watch for...

• Rockies @ Braves - 1:00 FSS - Nicasio vs. Hudson - Looking for the rare 4-game sweep... Hudson's been lights-out lately too and the Rockies are undermanned, sets up well
• Cubs @ Nats - 7:00 WGN - Garza vs. Livan - The lesson as always... I hate Livan Hernandez... and Eric Gregg....
• Rays @ Yankees - 7:00 MLB - Niemann vs. Colon - Big fat Bartolo Colon on display!

My apologies for lack of content in this space... between the lockout(s) and a complete and total lack of interest in the MLB all-star game (save a rant for McCutcheon, Konerko, Hanson, and the "one per team")... it's been an ugly sports week...