Looking toward the second half

If the Braves can get healthy over the next few weeks, I think they can make a run at the NL East title. They are set at many positions:

Catcher - Brian McCann/David Ross
First Base - Casey Kotchman/Martin Prado
Shortstop - Yunel Escobar
Third Base - Chipper Jones
Center Field - Nate McLouth
Right Field - Ryan Church (still in his review period)

That leaves second base and left field as positions in need of help. Right now, Brooks Conrad (1.085 OPS in 10 games) has played well filling in for the slumping Kelly Johnson. If he can keep this up after the advanced scouts have had a chance to poke holes in his swing, then we may have something. In left field, there is the gaping hole that is Garrett Anderson. Matt Diaz should be playing left field, except that he can't hit right handed pitching. Since 2/3 of the at-bats this season have been against right-handers, it looks like Diaz and Anderson will still platoon for the rest of the season.

Tomorrow I will look at the Braves pitching staff....

The Brownsburg 12s beat WDT on Monday advancing to the semi-finals of the winners bracket. They play Eagle Creek on Wednesday night. The Brownsburg 11s lost to WDT and were eliminated from the tourney. The Brownsburg 10s play Fall Creek on Thursday night.

Former Brownsburg little-leaguer Tucker Barnhart was named Mr Baseball for 2009. He is the second Brownsburg High School player to win the award following Lance Lynn's honor in 2005. Tucker was drafted by the Reds in the 10th round and is supposed to sign with the team fairly soon.

Drew Storen pitched for the Class A Hagerstown Suns last night. He threw one inning and struck out all three batters that he faced. In his last 10 appearances, Storen has struck out 21 hitters in 12 2/3 innings giving up 11 hits and ZERO walks. He is 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA this season. Right now, he is 35th on the National's depth chart for right-handed relievers, but there is only one player above him that is younger than he his so he may have a chance to move up quickly.