Section 435 An Atlanta Braves blog. From the upper deck at Turner Field.

Player of the Website: Mark Kotsay

Atlanta 3, Oakland 2. In an anti-climactic roster move, Bobby decided to sit Mark Kotsay in favor of Gregor Blanco, seemingly just to screw up my story about Kotsay . Or maybe to screw with the folks who decided to put Kotsay on the cover of the Game Day for the series.

It was a cold night in Atlanta, upper 50s and windy. I was desperately missing global warming for the evening. If one of our old farts had been pitching, they probably would have strained something warming up.

Jair Jurrjens gave up 2 in 5 innings. Lesson learned about pitching him on short rest, I hope.

Dana Eveland threw a great game for the Athletics, but started to come unraveled in the 6th. When the A’s pulled Eveland in favor of Joey Devine (of Kotsay trade fame), Bobby proved that he still understands the drama of the game by bring in Mark Kotsay to pinch hit for Matt Diaz. While most of the 31,004 at Turner Field probably didn’t understand the significance of this moment, it was certainly a highlight of the evening. Unfortunately, Devine got the best of Kotsay, getting him to ground out for the final out of the inning. Devine is on fire since being called back up to Oakland. He looked like a different pitcher from the one we last saw giving up long balls in Atlanta.

In the eighth, however, Kotsay would continue his hot streak and drive in the go ahead run with a hustle double. And for that performance, Section 435 salutes Mark Kotsay even more than usual tonight. He’s our Player of the Website for May 16.

I will say I wasn’t a Devine hater and I kinda hated seeing him leave for an at the time veteran I was afraid would turn out to be another Craig Wilson.

But I think this move has benefited both clubs and Devine may have a great career ahead of him. I honestly haven’t followed him too closely since his departure but I’m a Kotsay believer now.

I’ll be at the game tomorrow. Nice post on last night’s game. I especially like the “Old Farts” line.

Go Braves!

JB, definitely a good move for both clubs. I don’t think Devine was ever going to be successful in Atlanta after the infamous grand slams. One of those change of scenery kind of deals. I hope he continues to do well in Oakland, at least after the series is over.