TURNER FIELD--Monday, July 28th may go down as the lowest point of the season for the Atlanta Braves. The day opened with the announcement that both Chipper Jones and Tim Hudson would go on the DL. A quick check with Jones before the game, and he seemed to think he was going to be able to comeback soon. But Hudson, we would find out later, would be a different story.

So the game begins with no Chipper, no McCann, former UGA catcher Clint Sammons behind the plate and Charlie Morton on the mound.

The Cardinals put up two runs in the second and four in the third. The four-run third was horrible to watch. The low-light...a double off the wall in center by Yadir Molina that, thanks to a throwing error by Yunel Escobar, enabled Molina to come all the away around to score. The Braves fans booed. The large contingent of Cardinal fans cheered. And we all wondered if things could get any worse.

They did.

A few innings later, Braves GM Frank Wren addressed the media. He told us that earlier in the day, Tim Hudson had an MRI on this right elbow. The MRI showed ligament damage. Wren mentioned that Hudson would see Dr. James Andrews later in the week.

I have been doing this long enough to know that when we hear the words "ligament damage" and "Dr. James Andrews" in the same sentence then it usually adds up to Tommy John Surgery.

Of course, that is not confirmed and is only speculation. But this is not good. Hudson probably will miss an extended period. If it is Tommy John, then we wont see him until next year at this time.

So, the list of Braves injuries is nothing less than incredible. John Smoltz: out for the year. Tom Glavine: still on the DL. Mike Hampton: Just off the DL, but not 100 percent. Chipper Jones: on the DL. Brian McCann; out with a mild concussion.

So this makeshift team tries to do it's best. The Cardinals have scored more than 10 runs and punched out---sorry---blasted out---more than 10 hits on the night. Things seemed to be falling apart for the team. But as they say there is a lot more baseball to be played.

Some times that is not a good thing.

No as far as the trade deadline is concerned. It's coming up Thursday and most feel Mark Teixeira will be gone. But what will the Braves do? Trade for some pitching help seems to be the logical way to go. But will that be for a young arm or two, or an established pitcher?

The next few days will be interesting for Braves fans and media members alike. Stay tuned.