Tim Hudson ($12 million club option) – All indications seem to be that the Braves will pick up Hudson’s option. And with the way he pitched so well so soon after Tommy John surgery, why not?

Adam LaRoche – This will be a tough call for Frank Wren. LaRoche is decent enough and is certainly an improvement over the sad sack we were employing before he returned. However, I’m expecting LaRoche will want a long-term contract. As such, it might not make a whole lot of sense to pay to bring him back. For what it’s worth, LaRoche is projected to be a Type B free agent.

Rafael Soriano – Right-handed relievers are a dime a dozen. He’s going to be a Type A free agent. Let him walk. Take the compensatory picks.

Mike Gonzalez – Left-handed relievers that can also retire right-handed batters are a slightly rarer bird. I’d bring him back. His lack of a “closer” tag should make him slightly cheaper than Soriano. Should the Braves decide to let him go, Gonzalez would also be a Type A free agent.

Garret Anderson – If Wren re-signs Anderson and his .723 OPS, I might become a Mets fan.

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.

Greg Norton – Meh. Why bother?

The struggles for Braves closer Mike Gonzalez continue as he gave up a solo home run to Stephen Drew in the top of the 9th to tie the game.

But the Braves were able to load the bases in the bottom of the 9th with 1 out. Yunel Escobar then came up and hit a sac fly that drove in Casey Kotchman off Tony Pena to give the Braves the win in the bottom of the 9th. The final score was 4-3 Atlanta.

One bright spot for the Braves was starter Javier Vazquez, who went 7 innings, allowing 2 runs all int eh 1st inning and striking out 10. It was his 2nd consecutive solid start even though he didn’t get the win tonight. At the plate for the Braves Chipper Jones went 1-3 with his 4th home run of the year. Other than that the RBI’s came from a Yunel Escobar sac fly, and a Jordan Schafer RBI single. The Braves bats and closer continue to be the story of the year for the Braves as once again they get a solid outing from their starter jsut to have it blown by Gonzalez. Look for the Braves bats to get going tomorrow against youngster Max Scherzer, who is winless in his major league career.

Tonight’s Box Score

As many of you know, last night “closer” Mike Gonzalez blew his second save of the season, ultimately leading to the loss last night for the Atlanta Braves. So far this season Mike Gonzalez has appeared in 17 games, 7 of those being save oppurtunities, and he has an ERA of 3.68. And his closing counterpart Rafael Soriano has appeared in 16 games, and is 3 of 3 in save oppurtunities, and Soriano has an ERA of 1.13. As of now Bobby Cox has said that both men will continue to split the closer duties, but so far it has seemed that Gonzalez is the favorite, but after last night don’t be surprised to see Soriano get more and more of the save chances. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few weeks with the closer situation in Atlanta. Tell me what you think!

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Once again the Braves failed to provide run support for Jair Jurrjens. The only offense came from the 5, 6 , and 7 hitters. Catcher Brian McCann went 3-4 including a double that plated a run in the 7th. Kotchman kept it going with another RBI and Garret Anderson added a sac fly. The only other Brave who really hit the ball at all tonight was shortstop Yunel Escobar, who hit 2 doubles and he scored 2 runs. Chipper Jones was back in the lineup and had two hits and scored a run, but the story was the pitching for the Braves.

Braves starter Jair Jurrjens pitched 7.2 innings, allowing 7 hits, 2 earned runs, while walking just 1 and striking out 4.  He cruised through the game till the 8th inning when Jeremy Reed singled, and then after he got Omir Santos to fly out Ryan Church singled. Jose Reyes then came up and doubled palting both Reed and Church, but Reyes was thrown out stretching it out at 3rd. Other than Jurrjens was excellent.

In the bottom of the 9th the Braves called on closer Mike Gonzalez, and he blew it again. The first batter he faced Carlos Beltran hit a double of him. He then got Mets 3b, David Wright to foul out to 1st.  Carlos Beltran stole 3rd and Gonzalez then plunked Fernado Tatis. With runners on 1st and 3rd Louis Castillo hit a sacrifice fly allowing Beltran to score tying up the score 3-3.

In the top of the 10th Chipper Jones lead of the inning with a single, and he then stole 2nd. Brian McCann was then intentionally walked by Mets closer Fransisco Rodriguez. But both Casey Kotchman and Jeff Francouer flied out to end the inning. In the bottom half of the 10th the Mets got a single and a stolen base from Jose Reyes. And then Alex Cora was intentionally walked. Ramon Castro was called on to pinch hit for the Mets and he drew a walk loading the bases. This brought Carlos Beltran up with bases loaded…and Braves pitcher Jeff Bennett walked him! Once again Jair Jurrjens is hurt by lack of run support and shaky bullpen work!

Tonight’s Box Score