Sticking my head in the sand, or: The Braves aren't that bad!

OK, Braves, knock it off. As much as the 1988 Atlanta Braves appreciate you "turning back the clock" to mark the 20th anniversary of their 54-106 season, we'd all like very much to return to the bright future of 2008 now.

It was another day, another one-run loss for the Braves last night. The normally rock-solid Tim Hudson (my favorite Brave, followed closely by Jeff Francoeur) suddenly proved mortal, giving up four runs in just three innings of work against the first place (huh?) Florida Marlins. Worse, he told the Atlanta Journal Constitution's Dave O'Brien that while he's fine physically, he just couldn't get his normal velocity on his fastball. I guess that's just something that happens... at least, I hope it is. He is, after all, recovering from the flu. Huddy had been virtually unstoppable while wearing the Braves' new blue road jerseys, marking another setback for the new duds that I am trying really hard to like, but still can't quite manage it.

ET TU, TIMMY?AP Photo

I suppose the positive comes from the fact that the Braves' offense battled back from the early deficit, cutting the lead to one run on a Yunel Escobar two-run homer, only to watch Jeff Bennett give the two runs back in the 7th inning. Brian McCann and Matt Diaz both drove home runs in the 8th, but Atlanta couldn't manage to pull even. Florida wins 6-5, dropping Atlanta to 0-7 in one-run games.

Another positive? Mr. Jorge Campillo, who pitched three perfect innings of relief after Hudson's exit in the third. Campillo struck out one while posting zeros along the rest of his line in the box score. That was Campillo's second appearance of the season, and in his 5 innings so far, he's yet to allow a baserunner. As brilliant as Jeff Bennett was in his emergency start in Mike Hampton's place, can we make Campillo our go-to long relief guy from now on? Or, maybe move him into Pete Moylan's set-up role now that Moylan's on the DL? Hopefully, I didn't just jinx the guy.

John Smoltz goes tonight for the Braves. Hopefully we can get this thing turned around!