From What Do the Braves Need Relief?

The Atlanta Braves’ bullpen is getting thrashed and trashed, but as for those rumored deals for Randy Myers, Jose Mesa and anyone with a live arm, General Manager John Schuerholz says, “Throw them in the toilet. This is our bullpen for now. Learn to love it.”

That takes some effort, Georgians are learning.

In the first 21 games of June, Atlanta relievers gave up 41 hits and 28 runs in 40 1/3 innings. They had a 4.69 earned-run average to go with two losses and two blown saves.

Of course, only two pitchers--Mike Cather and Kerry Ligtenberg--remain from the opening-day bullpen.

Adam Butler was demoted to triple-A, Rule 5 pick Brian Edmondson was put on waivers and claimed by the Florida Marlins, Alan Embree was dealt last week to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Russ Springer, and beleaguered closer Mark Wohlers is at the club’s Florida training base, learning to pitch again.

Only the New York Yankees, however, had won more games than Atlanta entering the weekend, and as always the Braves don’t have to look far to find relief for their problems. Their rotation leads the majors in complete games with 12, three more than any other team.

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That animated gentleman giving loud instructions to Eric Young in the Dodger video room Thursday on how to hit down on the ball and make better use of his speed was Tom Lasorda. Anyone passing by couldn’t avoid hearing it and wondering, perhaps, if Lasorda is the first Dodger manager since Burt Shotton not to wear a uniform.

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San Francisco Giant Manager Dusty Baker is one of many who endorses Davey Lopes if the Dodgers don’t retain Glenn Hoffman.

“I’d like to see them give [Lopes] a shot at it, if they’re not serious about keeping Glenn,” Baker said. “I’ve said for years that I think Davey is one of the best baseball people around.”

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Dept. of Long Memory: Ken Griffey’s one-day walkout as batting instructor of the Cincinnati Reds this week involved a catalog of slights dating as far as 1975!

“I was treated with no respect in 1975 when [Manager Sparky Anderson] pinch-hit for me in the eighth inning of a game with the bases loaded and no outs when I was hitting .300,” Griffey said to stunned reporters after ending his walkout. He also told friends, “I’m out of the loop because I don’t drink whiskey, smoke cigars and listen to old stories,” a reference to Manager Jack McKeon, who frequently invites the coaching staff to his suite on the road.

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Randy Johnson, on top of his game, struck out Tony Gwynn twice in the Seattle Mariners’ 2-1 victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.

It was only the 29th time Gwynn has struck out twice in a game, and Johnson was hitting his spots with such accuracy that Gwynn said, “I knew he was a good pitcher who could throw hard, but I didn’t know he could paint.

“The only reason I’m smiling now is that I don’t have to face him again tomorrow.”

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Philadelphia Manager Terry Francona has been telling this one on himself:

Confident pitcher Curt Schilling will make the NL All-Star team and, wanting to put in a plug for other Phillies, Francona dialed the NL manager this week and left a 10-minute message on his answering machine. Atlanta’s Bobby Cox called the next day to thank him for the message and remind him that Florida’s Jim Leyland is managing the NL All-Stars.