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Atlanta Braves pitcher Tommy Hanson pitches against the San Fransisco Giants

Wow, this kid’s good.  As a Braves fan since 1995 (the year I moved to Atlanta), Tommy Hanson is just the type of pitcher to help carry on the Braves tradition of great pitching — only he can carry it to another level.  Atlanta has not had this kind of power pitching since John Smoltz in his heyday. 

Last night against the San Fransisco Giants and their fresh off the no-hitter pitcher, Jonathan Sanchez, Tommy Hanson put on a pitching clinic.  After a rough first inning in which he allowed two runs, Hanson settled nicely and cruised to an 11-3 Atlanta victory. 

Hanson retired 14 straight batters until the seventh, when Nate McClouth misjudged a fly ball that eventually led to another San Fransisco run.  Hanson struck out 11 Giants, the most by a Braves rookie since 1963 (thanks to Elias Sports Bureau, c/o espn.com), and he did it with three great pitches. 

Hanson’s fastball averaged 94 mph for the night.  That’s simply overpowering dominance.  Hanson was on both sides of the plate all night, and threw with calm and confidence. 

The Braves rookie is making a strong case for Rookie of the Year honors with the way he’s throwing.  He likely will not have accumulated enough stats to merit the honor, but clearly he is proving himself as a force to be reckoned with. 

If the Braves are to try and make a play at the Wild-Card and division this year, their going to need Hanson the rest of the way. 

Through his first eight starts, Hanson is sporting a 5-0 record, with a 3.00 ERA, while holding opponents to a .216 batting average.  Take away his major league debut, in which he allowed six earned runs over six innings, and his ERA is well below 3.00. 

But looking beyond this year, the future looks bright for the Braves.  Top prospect Jason Heyward has made a case for a September call-up, and he will likely have every chance at securing right field next season. 

Jordan Schafer, who began the season as the starting center fielder, should be back starting again next season as well, in either left or center.  Throw in first baseman Freddie Freeman, who may also have a shot, and the future is bright indeed.

So while the Braves look to make things interesting the rest of the way, vying for athe Wild Card, also remember that the future is bright. 

*Thanks to espn.com for statistical data*

A-Rod against Seattle

Did you ever think you would see such a title?  Alex Rodriguez, the game’s best 3B since moving there in 2004; the shoe-in at the corner to start in the midsummer classic each year.  Could it be that he has been snubbed from this year’s all-star festivities?  The argument could be made, and in researching, it’s a pretty valid case.  But before I begin, a couple disclaimers -

1) Evan Longoria has been the best third baseman in baseball  this year, and deserves to be starting in this years game. 

2) A-Rod missed the first month of the season, therefore hurting his chances of being picked up as a reserve (most reserves have not missed significant time due to injury). 

And 3) Yes, there is the whole PED’s (Performance Enhancing Drugs) issue; but honestly, how can we hold only his feet to the fire…just ask Manny Ramirez how he’s doing in ‘Mannywood.’

The two, and possibly three third-basemen who are all-stars this year have all had solid seasons.  The aforementioned Longoria is batting .290 with16 HR and 64 RBI.  He’s projected out to have 32 HR and 129 RBI, and also has a .914 OPS (On-base + Slugging Percentage – the new “it” stat in baseball).  Michael Young, who moved over from SS this year (as A-Rod did in ‘04), is batting .315 with10 HR and 33 RBI.  This translates to roughly 20 HR and 67 RBI, withan OPS of .872.  Then there is Brandon Inge, having a career year already with 19 HR and 54 RBI (previous season high’sare 27 HR and 83 RBI, bothin 2006, respectively), while batting .266 with a .867 OPS.  Inge is projected for 38 HR and 107 RBI this season. 

Now to the man with 567 career HR.  Rodriguez, who’s played 26 games fewer than Longoria and Young, and 29 fewer than Inge, is batting .244 so far, well below his career average of .305, but also has 14 HR and 43 RBI.  Projecting out the rest of the season, A-Rod ends up with 36 HR and 109 RBI – and it is safe to assume the batting average will rise - the man isn’t a lifetime .305 hitter for nothing.  Also factoring in his OPS for this season, and A-Rod leads all AL third basemen in OPS, and trails only San Fransisco’s Pablo Sandoval (.954 OPS) in all of baseball.  Comparing Rodriguez’s numbers this season to his two worst previous seasons, he still hits 36 HR (he hit 23 in ‘97, his second full MLB season, and 36 in ‘04 - his first season in NY), and drives in more runs than ‘97 (84) and ‘04 (106).   

The simple fact is, even when A-Rod is at his worst, he is still among baseball’s best.  The truth is we are witnessing greatness every night when he takes the field.  Yes, Bud Selig is likely breathing a huge sigh of relief for not having Rodriguez at the game this year answering all the questions, and having all the other players be asked all the questions about Rodriguez and his use of PED’s. 

Yes, this may be the year in which Inge, a career utility man who caught more games at catcher in 2008 (60), than he played at 3B (51).  It’s a great story – but, in the theme of keeping interest in the game (i.e. Ratings), ask yourself this: Who would you want to see come up to bat in the 8th inning, with the AL trailing by 1.  Rodriguez, Inge, or Young?

*Writer’s Note: Inge is currently in the running for MLB’s Final Vote,in which fans vote for the final All-Star.  Inge is runnign against Ian Kinsler, Chone Figgins, Adam Lind, and Carlos Pena.