The Series Cynic: Braves get Sox knocked off

Braves swept by streaking White Sox but still remain one Bobby Cox ear hair (0.5 games) ahead of the Mets.

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Cynicism Lineup:
1. “Big Red” letdown
2. Good outings wasted
3. Andruw gets last laugh

—Tommy Hanson has “gingerly” taken a gigantic step backwards following his impressive rookie campaign that catapaulted him into the third slot in the 2010 starting rotation.

Hanson went 11-4 in his 21 starts in 2009 and posted a boastful 2.89 ERA while striking out 116 in just 127.2 innings of work.

So far this season, Hanson has thrown a variety of “hittable pitches”, as they say in the business, and his ERA—now 4.17—has taken a tremendous hit. In fact, Hanson has given up just one fewer earned run so far in 2010 than he gave up all of last season and he’s done so in 42 less innings of work.

Against the White Sox, Hanson lasted just 3.2 innings and surrendered 13 hits, 9 earned runs while striking out zero—the first time he’s failed to fan a batter in his career.

Perhaps the California kid is feeling the sting of the southern heat—just like the rest of us—and the pressure that comes along with be touted as the next great Atlanta pitcher. Let’s just hope he’s got some sunscreen.