The Weekend Buzz while you, as a proud, new, taxpaying General Motors shareholder, were drawing up blueprints for a new sports car. ...
1. Tommy Boy: He came, he saw and ... well, Atlanta phenom Tommy Hanson didn't exactly conquer in his big league debut on Sunday.
But anybody questioning why Hanson is in and Tom Glavine out in Atlanta need only to have watched the kid's first start on Sunday -- an 8-7 Braves win -- to obtain some direct answers. Put some of that Stephen Strasburg buzz on hold -- at least until after he's picked No. 1 in Tuesday's draft and throws a few professional pitches. Hanson is here now.
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| Ignore the seven runs Tommy Hanson allows in his debut and focus on the great stuff he showcases. (AP) |
• Hanson allows seven in debut | Glavine may file grievance
That Hanson, 22, took the start Sunday that was supposed to have gone to Glavine only added more drama.
"I understand Tommy Hanson and who he is," Glavine said during a conversation at the Braves' complex in Florida on the morning of March 4. "In all likelihood, he'll be here next year and I won't. In all likelihood, that's down the road."
"Down the road" came Sunday, a mere three months later. And despite all the clumsiness in the way it was handled -- very, very unusual for a normally classy organization -- Hanson began showing why his time is now as soon as he took the mound.
Now, being that he was charged with seven runs (six earned) in six innings while earning a no-decision, this might sound odd: Aside from three pitches -- which each turned into two-run home runs for Milwaukee, the latest illustration of the difference between pitching in Triple-A and the majors -- Hanson was outstanding.
He fanned four of the first nine Brewers he faced, retired each of the first 10 and only rang up two three-ball counts in the first five innings. He threw mid-90s fastballs (touching 96 and 97 at times) and killer sliders. He whiffed Prince Fielder in the first for his first big league strikeout on a 94 mph fastball. He struck out the side in the second.
Braves general manager Frank Wren said this spring that Hanson, who had never pitched above the Double-A level, was getting close enough to the bigs that the Braves were "at least hearing the whispers." Those whispers lately had turned into screams: Over his last four Triple-A starts leading into Sunday, Hanson had compiled a 0.70 ERA, struck out 33 hitters and walked only four over 25 2/3 innings.
Sunday, he fanned five Brewers and walked just one over six innings, but the one walk was a big one: He put J.J. Hardy on to start the sixth with slugger Ryan Braun up next. Mistake. Braun, who had belted a two-run homer in the fourth on an inside fastball, cracked another one when Hanson left a fastball up. Later in the sixth, Mike Cameron walloped another two-run homer on another inside fastball.
There is no shame in making a couple of mistakes to this lineup, as long as he learns from it. The big-swinging Brewers rank third in the National League in home runs and fifth in runs scored. And there is every chance Hanson will only get better from here.
His catcher Sunday, David Ross, says that Hanson, 6-6, 220 pounds, is the best young pitcher he's ever caught. Scouts compare his wicked slider to that of former Braves ace John Smoltz. Chipper Jones, a former teammate of Smoltz's, agrees.
"He's one guy I'd compare him to," Jones said this spring. "Only with a better repertoire."
A better repertoire than Smoltz. Sizzling fastball with movement. Big, breaking curve. Hard slider. A change-up that's getting better ...
Jones lobbied hard this spring for Hanson to make the opening day rotation "even if you have to go to a six-man rotation, I would do it. ... Once he gets his sea legs in the big leagues, he's going to be a No. 1 starter."
Meantime, with Glavine's camp issuing threats of filing a grievance (clubs are prohibited from releasing players for reasons that are only financial), Hanson can pretty quickly make that a moot point. If he pitches well, it will be pretty easy for the Braves to have evidence of their claim that the decision was not financially driven.
2. It's easier with Ethier: They played for the National League Championship Series last October and the Phillies and Dodgers clearly are the two best teams in the NL again this year. But to stay that way, the Phillies are going to have to help closer Brad Lidge (six blown saves, including back-to-backers in Dodger Stadium on Friday and Saturday) through the rapids and they're going to have to pitch smarter to Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier.
Ethier, better known before this weekend simply as The Guy Who Bats Behind Manny (well, before Ramirez was suspended), delivered a ninth-inning, game-winning double against Lidge on Friday and a 12th-inning, game-winning homer against Chad Durbin on Saturday.
Through the exuberance, the smart and likeable Ethier didn't exactly sound overly impressed with himself, either. "Sure enough, they threw it right down the middle again," he said following the homer.
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| Who will play the role of Vin Mazzaro in the 'Moneyball' movie? (AP) |
4. Steven Soderbergh: The beleaguered Hollywood director (The Girlfriend Experience, Traffic) is scheduled to start filming Moneyball next week (Brad Pitt to star as Athletics' general manager Billy Beane) and darned if it already doesn't look like Hollywood is taking on the wrong chapter in Oakland history. The A's won their sixth consecutive game on Sunday (they've outscored opponents 38-8 in the process) and rookie Vin Mazzaro now has thrown 13 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings to open his career. Now who plays Mazzaro -- Rob Lowe?
5. Angels polish halos: Look out, Texas. With Kelvim Escobar back in the rotation (five innings, two runs at Detroit Saturday), the Los Angeles Angels are positioned to make their strongest run of the year in the AL West. Escobar, Ervin Santana and John Lackey, each of whom opened the season on the disabled list, are all back to active duty. Already, the Angels have used 11 starting pitchers this season -- most since 2000, when they used 16.
6. David Ortiz to get eyes checked: Boston skipper Terry Francona says Big Papi has dry eyes. On the other hand, with Big Papi batting .197 with just two dingers, there's not a dry eye in the Fenway Park house.
7. Tampa Bay owns Mariano Rivera: This year, at least. Twice already this season, the Rays have socked him with the loss. When he enters a tied game, Rivera's ERA this season is north of 7.00.
8. Ichiro struck: Aw, it's over in Seattle, where Ichiro Suzuki's hitting streak was snapped at a club-record 27 consecutive games on Friday night by Minnesota. On the other hand, he immediately started a new hitting streak. Heading into Tuesday's series opener in Baltimore, he's hit in two games in a row.
9. Bo Derek, Roy Halladay and Marisa Miller: Perfect 10s, all. The best pitcher in the majors -- yes, that's right -- became the first to win 10 games on Sunday in another dominating performance. Not only did he throw a seven-hit shutout over Kansas City, but Halladay threw 73 strikes in his 97 pitches. He's worked seven or more innings in all 13 of his starts. Next stop: American League starter, All-Star Game.
10. Nationals closer: Joel Hanrahan has lost his job as closer for the second time this season, replaced by Mike MacDougal. In a related story, I rearranged my sock drawer over the weekend. The Nats are 15-40! Why do they even need a closer?
