out at home

We’ve seen the last of the Mississippi Braves for 2012 — unless you’re planning a trip to Mobile for the team’s final series. Attendance — an announced average of 2,904 — was up at Trustmark Park for the second straight year, but the team’s performance was pretty much a downer. Yes, there were shining moments from certain individuals. Andrelton Simmons jumped to the big leagues. Christian Bethancourt was invited to the All-Star Futures Game. Seven M-Braves went to the Southern League All-Star Game. Todd Cunningham may yet win the league batting title. Three different pitchers won league player of the week honors. But the team will miss the league playoffs for the fourth straight year. A big reason: The M-Braves were just 32-37 at home. To win a division title, you’ve got to clean up at your home park. The M-Braves’ pitching wasn’t a problem at the TeePee, which favors the guys on the mound. The staff ERA there was an excellent 3.12. But the hitting just never came around. The club, which finished with 13 home runs in those 69 home games, struggled much of the year to produce runs. The M-Braves averaged 3.75 per home game. Maybe that’s just a number, but this much is obvious: It was not enough. See ya next April. P.S. Ole Miss product Lance Lynn delivered a solid outing on Monday in his first relief appearance since being yanked from the St. Louis Cardinals’ rotation. Lynn pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing just an unearned run and earning a hold, as the Cardinals beat Pittsburgh 4-3 in a key National League Central series. Lynn, an All-Star this year, was winless in five straight starts before the demotion.