ESPN.com – MLB – Recap – Braves at Diamondbacks – 08/07/2002

Well, nothing’s perfect, not even the Braves’ bullpen, which allowed five runs. Two were off Tim Spooneybarger in the seventh; the others off Mike Remlinger and Darren Holmes in the eighth to lose the game, 6-3. Greg Maddux threw four good innings, then hurt his leg again and had to leave after the fifth, in which he gave up his only run; he had thrown only 63 pitches and normally would have been good for a couple of more innings. Remlinger also left with a pulled groin after facing one batter; he very likely could have pitched around the eighth inning trouble, or at least he had a better chance than Holmes. It was just that kind of starcrossed night. Maddux says he doesn’t think it’s a big deal, but these pulled muscles are getting annoying.

Okay, let’s talk about the umpires and the strike zone. The umpires ejected both Bobby and Leo last night for arguing balls and strikes. Chipper complains in the game story that the Braves didn’t really get beat, more than implying that the umpires were responsible. It’s hard to see it in the statistics (again, I couldn’t see the game because I need my sleep) since only two walks were issued the whole game, both by the Braves. At any rate, this sort of complaining isn’t worthy of the team with the best record in baseball. It’s what I’d expect of the Mets.

Glavine versus Brian Anderson today, at a decent hour for one, 6 PM/5 PM CT. Then the Braves go to Houston, where hopefully they can leave Vinny Castilla behind on a team he can hit for. Castilla didn’t play again last night; Helms had a hit and two strikeouts.