Talk About The One That Got Away!
Everybody talks about how awesome the Atlanta Braves’ starting pitching is, but think about this for a moment: In the third round of the June 1992 draft the Braves drafted a tall, skinny California high school left-hander.
They offered him $45,000 and college tuition to sign, but he decided to attend Southern Cal instead. Three years later he was drafted by, and signed with, the Expos. But just imagine what the Braves’ rotation would be like now with Randy Johnson in it, too.
Struggling Sanders
Reds right-fielder Reggie Sanders continues to struggle. He struck out four times Wednesday night and has now whiffed in 14 of 22 postseason at-bats. But he said that doesn’t keep him up at night. “Actually, I sleep better because I have so much on my mind,” he said. “I don’t have to show my frustrations. It’s nobody else’s problem. It’s my problem”
Clearing the bases
Braves first baseman Fred McGriff set an LCS record with three doubles. “It was just one of those nights,” McGriff said. “A couple of them weren’t real pretty. But the last few days my mechanics have been real good.” … Braves shortstop Jeff Blauser was unable to play Wednesday night. He has a deep right thigh bruise, suffered when Cincinnati’s Hal Morris slid into him Tuesday night. Rafael Belliard started in his place; Blauser, who missed the final game of the division series with a sprained ankle, is listed as day-to-day … After Thursday’s travel break, the best-of-7 series resumes tonight at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium with Greg Maddux scheduled to start for the Braves against Cincinnati’s David Wells. “Most of our players have never seen Wells, but we know he’s a real good pitcher. Sparky Anderson really liked him in Detroit,” Braves manager Bobby Cox said … A scalper, quoted in Thursday’s Cincinnati Post, had this take on the small crowds at Riverfront Stadium: “I lost 500 bucks. Where’s the loyalty?” … A rumor making the round at the NLCS: Del Unser, the Phillies’ director of player development, has been interviewed by the Montreal Expos to replace departed general manager Kevin Malone.