Quote Originally Posted by Braves.com
NEW YORK -- When Braves manager Bobby Cox didn't turn to Bob Wickman during Thursday's potentially disastrous ninth inning, it was apparent that the veteran closer was likely battling some sort of physical ailment.

After Oscar Villarreal fortunately retired the only two batters he faced to record the save and secure the Braves' 7-6 win over the Mets, Cox confirmed Wickman has been battling soreness in his right forearm and will be evaluated by Braves doctors in Atlanta on Friday.

Wickman traveled to Atlanta on Thursday night with guarded optimism. But he's encouraged by the fact the discomfort he's felt in his forearm for the past two weeks isn't similar to the pain he felt before having to undergo Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery in 2003.

"I'm done worrying about what's the worst-case scenario and stuff like that," said the 38-year-old Wickman.

Wickman's most recent appearance came on Sunday, when he completed a fourth consecutive scoreless outing. Since the All-Star break, he's allowed one run in 9 1/3 innings and converted two of his three save opportunities.

If Wickman receives a clean bill of health, Cox is hopeful that he'll arrive in Philadelphia in time to be available for Friday's game. If not, the veteran manager may choose to use Octavio Dotel or Peter Moylan as his closer. Despite his recent woes, Rafael Soriano might also be a candidate.

Leadoff hitters frustrate Smoltz: While attempting to downplay the ongoing discomfort he was feeling in his right shoulder two weeks ago, John Smoltz playfully said, "I'm just getting old." Unfortunately, now that his shoulder appears healthy, the 40-year-old hurler finds himself battling a cranky back.

Smoltz tweaked the back while stretching to grab Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar's errant double-play relay in the sixth inning of Wednesday night's loss to the Mets. While the ailment won't force him to miss his next start, it's still one that could hinder the veteran hurler's attempt to regain the dominance he displayed during the first two months of the season.

"It doesn't feel like a truck hit me," Smoltz said Thursday morning. "Just a small car."

In hindsight, Cox admits he maybe shouldn't have sent Smoltz out to pitch Wednesday's seventh inning, during which the Mets scored two runs to tie the game. Those two runs -- which were plated against left-handed reliever Ron Mahay -- came after Smoltz surrendered singles to two of the first three hitters he faced.

"I've got to get more leadoff hitters out," said Smoltz, who has seen opponents compile a .250 batting average against him with nobody on and nobody out this season.

During the 11 starts he made before right shoulder discomfort forced him to miss his May 29 start, Smoltz was 7-2 with a 2.58 ERA. Opponents were hitting .248 against him, and he'd surrendered a .208 (15-for-71) batting average against those hitters beginning an inning.

In the 11 starts that have followed, he's 3-4 with a 3.53 ERA. Opponents have hit .281 during this span, and the most glaring trend has been the fact that he's seen opposing hitters beginning an inning compile a .294 (20-for-68) batting average.

With clean innings being sparse, Smoltz has been forced to physically test himself with more pitches and realize the mental drain of having to pitch around trouble on a consistent basis.

"Constantly giving up leadoff hits makes for a tougher game," said Smoltz, whose next start will come Tuesday, when the Braves begin a three-game series against Barry Bonds and the Giants at Turner Field.

AJ not clutch: When Jeff Francoeur grounded into a forceout at the plate with the bases loaded and nobody out in the ninth inning of Wednesday night's 4-3 loss, there was reason to be surprised. But when Mets closer Billy Wagner escaped the jam unscathed by inducing an Andruw Jones double-play groundout, there wasn't much reason for surprise.

From the beginning of the 2000 season through the end of 2003, Jones batted .273 with runners in scoring position. Since the beginning of the 2004 season, he's hit just .234. This year, he's hitting just .224 -- a mark at least better than his overall .215 batting average.

During his young career, which began midway through the 2005 season, Francoeur has hit .334 with runners in scoring position. This year, he's hit a team-best .351 in that situation.

Sticking with Soriano: If he felt he had a more viable option, Cox would likely remove Rafael Soriano from his duties as the primary setup man. But for now, he says he'll keep Peter Moylan in a middle-relief role and hope that Soriano returns to the dominant form he displayed during the season's first 10 weeks.

During his first 29 appearances this year, Soriano completed 28 2/3 innings, posted 2.20 ERA and surrendered two homers. In the 24 appearances that have followed, he's completed 23 innings, posted a 5.87 ERA and surrendered eight homers.

In the 13 appearances he's made since the All-Star break, Soriano has been charged with two losses and incurred each of the three blown saves he's experienced this season.

Although he battled some arm problems with the Mariners, it doesn't look like Soriano's struggles are a product of health. The game-winning homer he surrendered to Moises Alou in Wednesday's eighth inning came on a 96 mph, 0-2 fastball.

"It's all location," Cox said. "It's not how hard you throw it. It's where you put it."

Congratulating Glavine: Although he'd anxiously awaited the opportunity, as of about an hour before Thursday afternoon's game, Cox still hadn't had the chance to exchange pleasantries with his longtime favorite Tom Glavine, who recorded his 300th career victory for the Mets on Sunday night.

As Glavine was going to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday afternoon, he had the opportunity to see Smoltz, who played with him in Atlanta from 1988-2002. The Braves 40-year-old hurler playfully questioned the need for further preparatory work now that the milestone has been reached.

"I said, 'Why you got to go throw on the side?'" Smoltz said. "He said, 'Yeah, I know, I just realized I've got to go back to work.'"

Coming up: The Braves will begin a three-game series against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Friday night at 7:05 ET. They'll send Chuck James (9-8, 3.84 ERA) to the mound to oppose Cole Hamels (12-5, 3.57).
Glavine should of got his 300th win as a Braves.