Morton faced 25 batters, tossed 101 pitches in 6 innings, gave up 5 hits, 3 earned runs, 4 strikeouts and only walked one batter. This kid has nerves of steel. Morton’s first MLB strikeout was delivered to the Los Angeles Angels third baseman and leadoff batter, Chone Figgins. Morton followed it up by strinking out Maicer Izturis, both of his first two strikeouts going the full 3-2 count and when the pressure was on Morton delivered and maintained his composure.

Morton is a 24 year old righty from Flemington, NJ and was a 3rd round by the Atlanta Braves in 2002. A draft in which included Jeff Francoeur, Brian McCann, and Chuck James.

Francoeur did not lose consciousness, but had lacerations inside his lower lip. Team spokesman Brad Hainge said it was unclear whether he would need stitches. He was hit by Cardinals right-hander Todd Wellemeyer. The outfielder was accompanied by a trainer on his walk to the visitor’s clubhouse.

“I’m glad,” Wellemeyer said. “It was just a changeup that got away from me.”

Francoeur had the orbital bone around his right eye broken in 2004 when he played for Class-A Myrtle Beach, one reason the Braves were concerned. He was hit on the left side of his face Sunday.

“There’s no doubt I’m feeling some pain,” Francoeur said. “Luckily it didn’t mess up my jaw.”

He is batting .314 in 35 spring at-bats with one home run and eight RBIs. Gregor Blanco pinch ran for Francoeur and then replaced him in right field in the bottom of the second.

Hampton, 2000’s NLCS Most Valuable Player, and the first pitcher ever to win a Rawlings Gold Glove and Louisville Silver Slugger award in the same season (2003), hasn’t pitched in a major league game since August 2005. Hampton is sitting on top of a $15,000,000 salary in 2008 with the Braves. The only other player on the team who is clearing that much per year is Chipper Jones but if there is a player on the Braves who is worth that much it’s Jones because of his consistency and overall performance.

Here’s the last week’s reports on Mike Hampton’s status according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Mar. 13 : Hampton did not experience any problems while pitching a simulated game on Wednesday. He is expected to make his next scheduled start Monday against the Cardinals.

Mar. 12 : Hampton said Tuesday that he is ready to to pitch after waking up with no pain. He is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Thursday.

Mar. 11 : Hampton looked good during his bullpen session on Monday, but had a little tightness in his groin toward the end, reports the Augusta Chronicle. He is expected to throw in a simulated game on Wednesday rather than in the exhibition game against the Indians.

Mar. 10 : Hampton (groin) has been receiving therapy and is expected to make his scheduled start on Wednesday.

Mar. 9 : A day after leaving a spring training start with a strained right groin, Braves pitcher Mike Hampton said he doesn’t expect to miss his next start and plans to throw again Monday, according to published reports.

Mar. 7 : Mike Hampton of the Atlanta Braves left his spring training start Friday because of a strained right groin.

“I don’t really look at it that way,” the Braves manager said Wednesday about possibly entering his last spring training. “I’m going to leave everything open. No reason to shut the gates.”

This will be his 27th season as a big-league manager, all but four with the Braves. He’ll be 67 in May, and he said a year ago during spring training that he was leaning toward retiring after the 2008 season. Cox quickly hedged on that statement and hasn’t repeated it. He says he’ll manage as long as he enjoys and has the energy to do it and the Braves want him.

Bobby Cox has been named Manager of the Year four times (1985, 1991, 2004, and 2005) and is one of only three managers to have won the award in both the American and National League. He is also the only person to have won the award in consecutive years. Cox has also been named Manager of the Year by The Sporting News eight times (1985, 1991, 1993, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005).

On May 12, 2007, Cox passed Sparky Anderson to become the fourth-winningest manager in major league history, with a record of 2,195 wins and 1,698 losses. He led the Braves to win their division every season from 1991 to 2005, excluding the strike-shortened 1994 season; the Braves have competed in the National League East Division since 1994 and competed in the NL West prior to that. He has won a World Series Championship in 1995. In 2001, he became the most successful manager in Braves history. [3] Cox’s .561 winning percentage is fourteenth in all-time among managers with at least 1,000 games managed, and is the second highest among those who managed the majority of their career after the creation of divisions within each league in 1969.

On September 21, 2007, Bobby Cox was ejected from a game for the 133rd time during the eighth inning in a Braves’ game against the Milwaukee Brewers; he currently holds the all-time record for most ejections, previously held by John McGraw.

As a long time Atlanta Braves fan, it would be hard for me to imagine watching the Braves play without Bobby Cox in the dugout yelling encouragment at his players when they’re at the plate or on the mound. Even more entertaining is when the grumpy old skipper waddles his way onto the field to dispute an umpires call.

What do you Braves fans think? Is it time for Bobby Cox to hang his hat and retire or should he stick it out as long as he can?

Here’s the schedule:

Atlanta Braves 2008 Spring Training Schedule

Dates, times and opponents are subject to change.

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