Sitting at 2.5 Back

The Bravos pounded the Redbirds last night at The Ted in the return of Julio Franco. Franco had a two-run single to show that he can still get around on the ball (he hit it to left field, a rarity for Franco).

This season will be his 6th in a Braves uniform - his first stint was 2001-05. Julio has played for 8 different MLB clubs. The Indians are the only team whom Franco has spent more time (8 seasons; 1983-88, 1996-97).

This is an interesting move. I guess Schuerholz and Cox think that Franco can help as a pinch hitter and at first base. I don't think they signed him for the "veteran leadership" as some of the media outlets have reported. I don't think the Braves, or any other big league team, would give a roster spot to a soon-to-be 49 year old to be a "father figure."

The Braves sent Jose Ascanio to Mississippi to open a roster spot for Franco. The Braves also moved Kyle Davies to Richmond and actived reliever Wil Ledezma (who had been on the "restricted" list since the end of the All Star break - his passport had been damaged in a load of laundry or something and he was stuck in Venezuela while he got a new one.

I think the Braves are concerned with left-handed hitting 1B Scott Thorman enough to make this move. Thorman is hitting .212 with 9 yayas and 33 RBI. He has Ked 57 times in 241 AB; that means he fans every 4.2 at bats. As previously mentioned, Thorman is out of minor league options.

Golden Child Jarrod Saltalamacchia has been spending a good amount of time at 1B, but that leaves the Bravos without a catcher on the bench. The Braves seem to have no interest in adding another catcher, and with Pete Orr now down on the farm Matt Diaz is the only "emergency catcher."

Salty has made 2 errors in 103 innings at the first sack - not all that bad for it being a new position. His batting average has dropped quite a bit. He was hitting .330 on July 1. After yesterday's 0-4, his average was .278.

We'll see how this whole thing plays out.