Atlanta Braves Luckily Avoid Facing John Smoltz...For Now

After the Boston Red Sox defeated the Atlanta Braves by a score of 6-5 Sunday to take two out of three from Atlanta, it was hard to find a bright side in the series. Sure, the Braves showed some fire with the ejections of Bobby Cox, Chipper Jones, and Eric O'Flaherty Sunday, but fire does not necessarily equate to a turnaround. Sitting at 32-36 in fourth place in the NL East, four and a half games behind the division-leading Philadelphia Phillies, the Braves wouldn't know consistency if it slapped them in the face at this point. If anything, barring a possible spur of motivation stemming from their losses to the Red Sox, Atlanta fans can take one consolation away from a dismal weekend. John Smoltz did not take the mound for Boston. Granted, the Red Sox make a trip to Turner Field next weekend and there is a possibility that Smoltz will pitch against his former team of 20 seasons. However, the fact of the matter is that if the worst is to come, it has been delayed and Braves fans can dial ... (link)