How Bad Can It Get For The Braves?

Pretty bad, apparently. For anyone paying attention to the injury riddled Braves, catcher Johnny Estrada was knocked into next week by Angels first baseman and former football player Darrin Erstad (6'2" 215 lbs) during a play at the plate last night. Figuring to see some fireworks, I tuned in for the first inning at Turner Field.

On his first pitch to Erstad, Braves pitcher Horacio Ramirez pulled an Estes by throwing behind the very large Erstad, missing him by about a foot. Erstad didn't even have to squeeze his butt a la Clemens to avoid the pitch. In fact, he didn't even move out of the box as the home plate umpire immediately warned Ramirez (and the Angels) against further reprisals. Erstad stood in the box, and while staring down Ramirez, not-so-subtly took hold of his, uhm, area, as if to say "you couldn't hit the side of a barn, stupid Brave." Darrin, you are now my favorite non-Met player. Just don't ever do that to Mike, or you will be my sworn enemy.