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Every baseball season, the dog days of August roll around. The season has been going on for a while, but the end is still too far away to get excited about the postseason and/or offseason plans. And the day-to-day routine stuff tends to get a little boring.
We've reached that part in Spring Training. There hasn't been much of anything on the news front.
The Braves have now played 16 exhibition games, going an even 8-8 in that stretch. The team started off a bit slow, but they've picked it up lately outside of a 10-2 loss to the Marlins on Sunday. With still three weeks left to go before opening day, the guys at Disney will continue going through the motions as they prepare for the season.
Thankfully -- and I knocked on wood before typing this sentence -- there haven't been any major injuries. Eric O'Flaherty and Jordan Walden have been bothered by back issues, but they're nothing serious. Dan Uggla took a ball to the back of the head/neck area but was able to shake it off. Everyone else seems to be feeling good.
Entering the weekend, Atlanta led the Grapefruit League in home runs hit. They were fourth in strikeouts. My guess is this could very well continue to be the trend from now until October.
Here are some links to check out as the Braves face Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals on Monday afternoon...
2013 Team Preview: Atlanta Braves - CBSSports.com
Go Braves, Beat Nationals
Tim Hudson, offense struggle in loss to Marlins | braves.com: News
Marcell Ozuna drilled a three-run home run and Chone Figgins enjoyed a four-hit performance as the Marlins got the best of Tim Hudson and rolled to a 10-2 win over the Braves at Champion Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Braves notes: Minor, Laird mix it up well against Yankees | www.ajc.com
If this had been a year or two ago, Braves pitcher Mike Minor might have shaken him off when a veteran catcher flashed the sign for a curveball or slider in some of the situations where Gerald Laird called for those pitches Saturday.
Braves pitcher J.R. Graham showing he has what it takes to start | braves.com: News
With only 34 starts in his professional career, prospect J.R. Graham has shown he has the skill necessary to be an effective starter. In Sunday's game against the Marlins, Graham struck out two in two scoreless inning.
Adam Eaton, Andrelton Simmons among fantasy sleeper steals options in National League - Fantasy Baseball - ESPN
Simmons gets some love for those of you preparing for a Fantasy Baseball draft. ($$)