With a partial title of “Why ESPN Sucks” you might think I’m about to talk to you about:

• Jon Miller and Joe Morgan’s awful broadcasts
• The over glamorization of the Yankees – Red Sox rivarly
• Buster Olney’s incredible stupid rumors
• The fact that they only pander to big market teams/names.

I actually going to show you this mind boggling article from ESPN.com. The article will be in bold and my little retorts will be in italic. Here we go.


One thing that has been an obvious cause for the resurgence of the Atlanta Braves recently and for the overall steady play of the Philadelphia Phillies this season — pitching.

Okay, lets stop right here. Resurgence? What are you talking about? I hope you mean on a season to season basis. At first I thought, ‘well maybe they mix up the teams’. Because the Phillies sure as hell have not had overall steady play from their pitching.

And those two pitching staffs will be on display this weekend when the
two teams meet in Atlanta in a series. And be sure, this is an
important series because the Braves are still within arm’s reach in the
NL East. 

Ok.

You’ve got some strong matchups, with Joe Blanton vs. Jair Jurrjens (Friday), Cole Hamels vs. Kenshin Kawakami (Saturday) and J.A. Happ vs. Javier Vazquez (Sunday).
 

What? “Strong Matchups”? Jair Jurrjens is easily the favorite. Cole vs. Kenshin is the only one I’d consider “Strong”, Although they’re both weak. Still equal. Happ and Vasquez is close, but still favors the Braves.

If Atlanta is going to continue to surprise and pull off a true
Cinderella season, it is going to have to match arms with other teams
down the stretch.

Its like Showatler has never seen the Braves play this season, seriously. They’ve been matching arm since the season began.

The Braves have a chance to do that this weekend at home. I’m sure they know they are lucky to miss Cliff Lee, who pitched — and won again — for the Phillies on Thursday.

Aww. Want a cookie? I have this felling the Braves don’t care if Lee pitched or didn’t because they have a 24 – 16 record against lefty pitchers with a dominant LH lineup.

Being six games back in the loss column to the Phillies here in mid-August tells me that it’s time for the Braves to make their move. A series at
home against the division leaders gives them a great opportunity to do
just that.

Notice the wording, they are only 4 back in the win colum, not a big deal.

It won’t be easy, though, because of that Phillies’ lineup and the way
those bats are rolling coming off a sweep of the Chicago Cubs at
Wrigley.

First, Cubs suck, always have, always will. Secondly, Braves bats have been just as hot the past 7 games. And Atlanta has won 7 of their last 8 including 3 against the then, best team in MLB, the Dodgers.

Philadelphia’s first six hitters might be the toughest first six in baseball. When you have to deal with Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez and Jayson Werth,
well, that’s just not easy. That’s almost a blueprint at what you want
at each position, and a real grind for any opposing pitching staff.

No argument there.

Despite the fact that there are some unknowns in that rotation, this team has come to terms with the fact that Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz aren’t coming through that door.

This is the worst! There is not a single “unknowns” in this rotation, you want to talk about unknows how about Cole Hamels, Pedro Matinez, Joe Blanton? You know guys with 4+ ERAs. And there is not a single Braves fan that is crying over the fact that those legends (are) retired/suck.

The Braves are going about the task of developing young arms from
within the organization, but that takes time. A lot of people forget
that even Maddux and Co. struggled when they were young.

I don’t… I don’t even know what to say.

One good thing they have going for them at home is a pitcher-friendly
park, and I think all that work is now beginning to reap some results.

Changed my mind, this is the worst. There is only ONE GOOD THING you can think of? I can think of at least seven. How about the fact that their the hottest team in Baseball? Or the pitching advantage? Jesus have mercy on Buck Showalter. Please!

The Braves have a lot going for them…

Ok. He realized he made a mistake and gracefu…

…in that no one really expected
much from them this season. That frees them up to go out there and be
aggressive, to just let it fly.

OH! So close. No one expected much from them? Ben Nicholson-Smith of MLBTradeRumors.com said they were a 90 win team. Many picked them for the Divsion champions and even more picked them for the Wild Card. Why would Frank Wren work so hard on trying (and successfully doing so) to build a great pitching rotation, if he thought it was cool to piss it all away?

Bobby Cox has surely built them up a bit. Any time you have a winner
like Cox writing your name on a major-league lineup card, that has to
give you a world of confidence. This group won’t be intimidated at all,
even if it is facing the World Series champions. They’ll play free and
easy.

Ok, that is passable, Mr. Brown Nose…

In fact, there’s more pressure on the Phillies. One of the toughest things in sports is to win when you are expected to. Everybody has expected Philadelphia to compete.

Wrong again! Phils have a 5 game lead. No pressure at all. If the Braves lose (knock on wood) they’ll have to pick up the pieces and start over again.

Not only are the Phillies as good as they were last year, but they might even be better.

This is the only accurate thing said. They are better than last year number wise, this year, they scored more runs, allowed fewer runs, and have a better record.

Right now, their only real red flag is at closer. Brad Lidge
just hasn’t been the same — his ERA is 7.42. That just doesn’t make
the closer a red flag; it makes it a big red flag. It’s an
uncomfortable feeling for a team to wonder every night how many runs
are enough. 


They have another red flag in Hamels. Their “ace” has a 4.77 ERA and just when he shows signs of getting back on track, he derails.

All things considered, Atlanta might have an edge this weekend.

Atlanta DOES have the edge.

They have nothing to lose.

Except everything.

Well this should be a good series, and you can sure as hell bet I’ll be listening to Sunday’s game on the radio.

Go Braves!!!

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/notebook?page=bbtn

Thats all for me folks!