Interesting Week Ahead...

An interesting week lies ahead-- that's for sure.

I have two more 10 page research papers to write and turn in. One is due Tuesday and the other is due on Friday. I also have two finals to take this week. I have to take the first one Tuesday morning and the other on Friday morning. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I have to play two softball games. The first game will be on Tuesday night and the other on Thursday night.

I think that's it. . . .

Oh wait. . . nevermind. . . I forgot something else.

I have to race home after my softball game Tuesday night to rewind my Tivo to watch American Idol. And after church Wednesday night, I'll have to rush home to catch the results. By the way, I'm rooting for David Cook.

When Friday comes though, I won't be just anxiously awaiting the results regarding my semester grades. I will be reviewing what will be a very pivotal week for the well-being of the Atlanta Braves.

Coming into Sunday afternoon's game, the Braves have safely won 6 out of their past 9 games. That's pretty darn good. It can't get much better than that, can it?

Nope, but it can sure get worse.

In case you haven't caught the past couple of games. The Braves came confidently into the Mets' series with Jurrjens, Hudson, and Smoltz going for them on the mound. Needless to say, Braves nation felt pretty comfortable with their chances of sweeping the Mets. As a matter of fact, a poll on ajc.com asking the public their prediciton of the results after this past weekend's series was taken and a cool 94% said the Braves would leave with a broom in their hands. In case you don't know, that's a "cool" way for saying, "they will sweep the Mets." And if you are not sportsy at all, that means the Braves would win all three games.

After Friday night's game, Jurrjens took a shower in the visitor locker room feeling pretty good about himself. After a few horrible calls, a 4 walk 3rd inning, and a Bobby Cox ejection, Jurrjens, again, showed a sign of maturity by remaining composed to retire the next 10 consecutive batters he faced. Result? A 6-3 win for the Braves.

So, they were definitely off to a great start. From Friday night's stellar performance, everything went downhill from there. Who would have guessed it? I mean the Braves had their two aces on the mound for the final two games of the series.

I'm not gonna give you the statistics because they will just get your Monday morning off to a terrible start. Let's just put it this way, they looked horrible. Period. With Hudson, there's just no excuses. If Hudson is going to be our ace, then darn it, he needs to pitch like one. Just uncalled for. . . .

I'll cut Smoltz and his forgettable outing some slack. Smoltz, unlike any other Braves pitcher, has been playing through some shoulder pain since the season began. Going into yesterday afternoon's performance (or lack thereof), he had miniscule ERA-- 0.78. I told myself that if he continued dominating batters with his hurt shoulder in this manner, then perhaps God really did spend a little more time making his right arm than He did the rest of His children.

Well, Smoltz reminded us yesterday afternoon that he is indeed mortal and far from perfect. I will warn you to be a bit concerned for Smoltz and his shoulder. It doesn't look so hot to me. Cox will be extra careful with him. In other words, don't be surprised if he misses his next start.

Okay, so other than my academic results, what else will I be "anxiously awaiting" come Friday night?

To begin, Glavine looks to return from his first stint on the DL on Tuesday against a very hot Redding and the Nationals. Mind you, Glavine will be pitching off the same mound that he strained his hamstring on a few weeks ago. Scary, I know.

Both Chipper and Escobar, our two very valuable pieces of the lineup, will look to return, along with Glavine, on Tuesday against the Nationals. Should be an nervously exciting game.

So, when Friday night comes, here's what you can be "anxiously" reviewing with me:

-How did Glavine look in his return on Tuesday against the Nationals?
-Did Chipper's back spasms create a problem for his return on Tuesday against the Nationals?
-Did Escobar's bruised right index finger cause futher problems in his return on Tuesday against the Nationals?
-How did Michelle Hampton's second rehab assignment go?
-Did Soriano's elbow discomfort cause him to remain on the DL?
-Did the Doc prescribe Moylan to undergo season ending Tommy John surgery?
-Did Smoltz continue to feel shoulder soreness in his bullpen sessions?
-Did Bobby Cox lose all of his hair because he suddenly realized that he is healthier than his players?

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No game tonight, folks. Gather your thoughts. And if you're one of those nuts who say baseball prayers, include the list above in your conversation with God.

I'm out.