Smoltz has 15Ks going into the 8th

[HomerJSimpson]

He is pitching a one-nothing shut out so far. Of course posting this means he'll probably give up 8 runs this half inning, but...

[timmynausea]

You son of a bitch.

[HomerJSimpson]

What'd I say? Gave up a two run homer without getting an out.

[HomerJSimpson]

Originally Posted by timmynausea

You son of a bitch.

I know. I suck.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by HomerJSimpson

I know. I suck.

Your suckage is nothing compared to the mighty Braves bullpen.

[HomerJSimpson]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Your suckage is nothing compared to the mighty Braves bullpen.

They don't suck, they blow.

Nah, one bad game. I'll forgive Colon, but Martin needs to go now.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by HomerJSimpson

Nah, one bad game. I'll forgive Colon, but Martin needs to go now.

{sarcasm}But he's our most trusted lefty in the pen{/sarcasm}

[ISiddiqui]

Didn't matter what the pen did. Smoltz's HR given up by itself would have lost the game. For all the K's Smoltz had, Pedro was more dominating and the Braves had little answer.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by HomerJSimpson

They don't suck, they blow.

Nah, one bad game. I'll forgive Colon, but Martin needs to go now.

Well, you called it.

Braves release reliever Martin, promote Foster

By GUY CURTRIGHT
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/16/05

PHILADELPHIA — Tom Martin obviously wasn't getting the job done. Now John Foster gets his chance.

The Braves released veteran reliever Martin and promoted Foster from Class AAA Richmond on Friday as they continued their search for a trustworthy left-hander in the bullpen.

That certainly wasn't Martin, acquired from Los Angeles at the trade deadline last July. In four appearances this season covering 2 1/3 innings, the 34 year old had a 19.29 ERA as opposing hitters batted .500 with a homer.

"I don't know why, but he just didn't get it going," Braves manager Bobby Cox said.

On Wednesday against Montreal, Martin faced four batters and allowed a double, two walks and a line out. The Braves had seen enough, deciding to eat the $950,000 they owed Martin as part of a $1.9 contract that was still covered 50 percent by the Dodgers.

Foster, 26, didn't pitch last season after undergoing shoulder surgery for a labrum tear and frayed rotator cuff. But he had a 1.59 ERA in three appearances for Richmond, giving up just two hits in 5 2/3 innings.

"It's been a long 12 months," said Foster, who had surgery last April and was without a job when spring training began before calling Braves director of player personnel Dayton Moore.

The Braves gave Foster a chance, although he was still building up his arm strength. Five weeks later, he is back in the majors with the team that originally drafted him. "This is where I wanted to pitch," Foster said.

Foster pitched briefly with the Braves in 2002 before being traded with Wes Helms to Milwaukee in the offseason for Ray King. He was never completely healthy with the Brewers, however, and his shoulder finally gave out in the spring of 2004 after he was taken by the Chicago Cubs in the Rule 5 draft.

Now that he's healthy again, the Braves hope Foster will be able to plug a hole in their bullpen. Cox remembers why Foster caught his eye in the spring of 2002.

"He challenged the hitters, throw a lot of strikes and kept the ball down really well," Cox recalled. "He got a lot of ground balls."

[HomerJSimpson]

I hope Foster can do a better job.