None But the Brave

Greg Maddux got rocked today, 10-2. Maddux only allowed 5 of those runs (4 earned) in seven innings, but obviously it was not a typical Maddux day. The Braves once-vaunted but now-rebuilt bullpen gave up five runs on 5 hits and 4 walks in four innings. Mike Hampton and Paul Byrd are on the DL. Tom Glavine, who left the Braves this offseason but whose name is synonymous with the team, lost 15-2. Meanwhile, Kevin Millwood is plying his trade now with the Phils, and was the only one of once Braves' Big 3 to win today.

Do you know who the pitcher for the Braves' next game is?

Horacio Ramirez. Ramirez is a 23-year-old pitcher who's already had Tommy John surgery and was 9-5 in 16 starts at Double-A last year. And he's pitching the Braves' second game of the year.

That and today's game should tell you that the NL East is not going to be dominated by a runaway Braves team this year. It's going to be quite a struggle. The Braves haven't been this weak since the glory days of Dale Murphy. I'm kvelling.