Knowing what your answer will be, I've decided to post this. I've heard we can't suffer more than one loss to go to the post season. The Braves have now won 5 in a row. Rare to get that from this rotation. The bullpen has been lit up a couple times with Yates and almost tonight with Soriano. So, if this rotation can keep it up, and with BJ, Devine, and others set to come up (BTW, is Lilli coming up?) Do the Braves still have a shot at a Wildcard?

UPDATE: Ken Rosenthal expects the Marlins to shop the D-Train in the winter. It probably won't happen because we are division rivals, but you can add him to the list as well. Who would you trade for or sign?

Free Agent Starting pitchers
Curt Schilling (41)
Jason Jennings (29)
Koji Uehara (33)
Freddy Garcia (32)
Kenny Rogers (43)
Jon Lieber (38)
Bartolo Colon (35)
Joe Kennedy (29)
Tomo Ohka (32)
John Thomson (34)
Kip Wells (31)
Wade Miller (31)
Livan Hernandez (33)
Randy Wolf (31) - $9MM club option for '08
Paul Byrd (37) - $8MM club option for '08
Jeff Weaver (31)
Tom Glavine (42) - $9MM player option for '08
Kris Benson (33) - $7.5MM club option for '08
Jaret Wright (32)
David Wells (45)
Eric Milton (32)
Kyle Lohse (29)
Matt Clement (33)
Rodrigo Lopez (32)
Josh Fogg (31)
Byung-Hyun Kim (29)
Odalis Perez (31) - $9MM club option for '08
Brett Tomko (35) - $4.5MM mutual option for '08

That's the list of free agents.

My 2008 starting rotation

Smoltz - Old Timer
Hudson - Very effective
Tom Glavine - 1 yr, $5M
Livan Hernandez - 2 yrs $12M
Chuck James - needs to learn a new pitch

Bobby Cox has been thrown out for the 132nd time in his career as a manager. Today, he was called out for arguing Balls and Strikes. He had a good reason too. Chipper had 2 strikes on him, and the ball was thrown in and close to him, well off the plate, and it was called strike three and left the runners stranded on 2nd and 3rd. Chipper had some words, threw some equipment and Bobby said something to get him ejected. All I can say is, Way to go Bobby! You know how to defend your team!

I know Gondeee has this posted just about everywhere on the site, but it couldn't hurt to say it more, especially since I ABSOLUTELY hate Barroid Bonds, but don't forget to wear black tommorow and the rest of the series! I hope we paint the stadium (and the city) black! I want to hear the LOUDEST boos in Turner Field (which I'm sure I will!). I would really like for Barroid to leave Atl crying after how he feels he is appreciated here! Am I being too mean? or do you agree?

In a recent Chop-N-Change comments section, there has been a huge debate between who the better shortstop is, Brent or Yunel. Yunel has shown his strengths in the majors, but also his weaknesses, and will probably get worse. However Brent Lillibridge is building his ceiling high, and has the tools to be an above average shortstop with many all star games. He has speed and a good glove. With Elvis Andrus gone, this leaves the door wide open for Brent Lillibridge to come in and take the job. He has a pretty good chance with the recent performances of Yunel Escobar. The question is, who will be the better shortstop? Keep in mind Lillibridge hasn't been in many Major League games, but was an all star this year in the minors, and will continue to get better. We should see him in the September call ups.

The Mets are paying for his contract too. I don't know if he can help, but he will be a clubhouse leader and be a mentor to Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Scott Thorman. This could be an open door for the Braves to go out and trade one of their first basemen knowing Julio is going to be helping in the clubhouse and firstbase. Open forum about this signing. Very low risk here. Let me add this to what Kristi Dosh at Chop-N-Change said: "you can’t criticize it before we at least give it a try."

Barry Bonds. Or should I say Barroid Bonds. It is obvious he's on steroids. He will end up breaking the home run record. The thing is, he won't be the TRUE home run king. Hank Aaron is still the home run king even if Barry passes him. I have no sympathy for cheaters and he is definitely cheating. Jason Giambi says roids don't help a bit. Tell that to Sammy Sosa. He came up as a scrawny kid, a couple years later, boom. Big Muscles knocking balls out of the park. Same with Barry. MLB won't do anything about it. That's wrong. They know he's cheating and their letting him get away with it. They have that 3 strikes and your out program. Test positive and: 1st time: 50 game suspension 2nd time: 100 game suspension 3rd time: Banned. You know what's funny is that they continue to suspend minor league players for this kind of stuff, and that's good, but they haven't done anything to Barry. He's tested positive at least twice, no suspension, and I guarantee you if you checked now, you'll receive a positive test. He should be banned, but won't. He was almost a Brave in 1993, (thank God that didn't happen!), and I can only imagine if the Braves could have stopped him from being juiced.

Julio Franco has been released by the Mets. He may not be of much help, but I think we should sign him to a one year deal. This is a better option than giving up the moon for Dmitri Young. He and Scott Thorman could platoon while Salty is the Backup catcher/emergency 1B. Makes sense to me. He's still in great shape.

What a bust! Fox screwed the whole thing up. The game was supposed to begin at 8. It didn't start until nine. I hate Fox, ESPN, FSN is alright. I wish every game was on TBS or as I told Finchy, just create a new channel that has Cal Jr and Tony Gwynn as the hosts. Put all special games like Post season and All Star games on it. This would be nationally televised. Another thing with the All Star Game is Tony La Russa. I hate him. He didn't use Pujols for the game winner. He said "I was going to use him in the 10th". Yeah hey Tony: News flash: Gotta get there first! And I can't believe he didn't take Edgar Renteria to the all star game. I hate the idea of all teams represented thing. It isn't the all star game if the deserving players don't go!

The Braves finished just 2 games back in the East and the Wildcard. Not so bad. "They just need to acquire another pitcher that's all". This is what Andruw Jones said in the AJC. Do you think he has a right to decide what the team needs with the way he's played? I know he is a very important part of the team, but he just hasn't played well. I think he will turn it around the second half, but I think he should worry about his hitting before the pitching.