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Home > Mark Bradley > Archives > 2008 > May > 17 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USRare error: Braves rushed Devine
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s a mistake the Braves rarely make, but they made it with Joey Devine. They rushed him. They rushed him to the extent it could have, maybe even should have, ruined him.
The happy news is that it didn’t. Devine is in uniform at Turner Field this weekend, possessor of a 3-0 record and a 0.51 ERA. The bad news: He works now for Oakland.
The Braves traded him to the A’s in January for Mark Kotsay. The Braves got a center fielder. The A’s got a good young arm in dire need of a change. “I was very excited,” Devine said Saturday. “I built a lot of relationships with the Braves, and playing for Bobby Cox was a blessing. But I just felt a fresh start was what I needed.”
After what befell Devine in 2005, it was fair to wonder if anything good would happen for him in this organization. The year started nicely enough, Devine becoming an All-American closer at North Carolina State and the Braves making him their No. 1 pick in the June draft. On cue, Devine blew through Class A and AA, yielding only six earned runs in 22 outings.
Meanwhile, the big-league club was trying to make do without a real closer. (The overmatched Chris Reitsma would finish as the team’s saves leader with 15). On Aug. 19, the call was made for, ahem, Devine intervention.
“He was pitching at a high level, dominating in the minor leagues,” said general manager Frank Wren, then John Schuerholz’s aide-de-camp. “In hindsight, it would be easy to say we [rushed him], but he had the sort of stuff we thought would let him be successful. And we didn’t envision him as a closer; we envisioned him as someone who would help fortify our bullpen.”
Said Cox: “We didn’t have anything else. We were out of everything.”
Devine stayed up all night packing in Mississippi. He caught a morning flight to Atlanta. The Braves were playing San Diego in a Saturday afternoon game on Fox. It went to extra innings. The new guy was deployed to open the 12th. Working on “zero sleep” but a heaping helping of adrenaline, he got through it.
Cox sent Devine back out for the 13th. On the inning’s second pitch, he tore a hip flexor. “I should have been more open with the organization,” Devine said. “I should have stopped immediately, but I didn’t want my major league debut to be an injury.”
It became something worse. Xavier Nady hit a two-out grand slam. Three days later, Devine was touched for another, this one by Jeromy Burnitz in Wrigley Field. Thus did the No. 1 pick become the first pitcher to surrender grand slams in his first two games.
Soon he was back in the minors. It was only during his first bullpen session in Richmond that Devine told coaches about the hip flexor. He healed quickly enough to be named to the parent club’s playoff roster. Alas, another indignity was awaiting.
“If you play 18 innings, somebody’s going to hit something,” Wren said. “It just so happened that [Houston’s] Chris Burke hit a 300-foot popup that got into the first row of seats.”
So that was Devine’s rookie season: Five different uniforms (counting N.C. State’s), two grand slams, one season-ending homer. Over the next two seasons he bounced between the minors and here, never quite seeming the hot prospect he’d been.
Ask Devine if he believes the Braves hurried him, and the first thing he’ll say is, “Not at all.” But then: “It might have been a little quick mentally. To go from the draft to being in the big leagues a month and a half later and then being in the playoffs, I never had time to sit back and think about what was going on.”
At a time when half the Braves’ pitchers are hurt and the cry to promote Charlie Morton from Class AAA is reaching full volume, it’s prudent to recall Joey Devine. “We try to err on the side of caution,” Wren said, and for good reason.
Permalink | Comments (50) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves/MLB
Comments
By STL Falcon
May 17, 2008 7:17 PM | Link to this
He may have been rushed,but I think Wren has done an awesome job. Would you want Devine and A. Jones? I think Kotsay has been a pleasent surprise to just about everyone. Trades aren’t made to be 100% in one team’s favor - and good for Devine that he’s having success.
Go Braves
By N8
May 17, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this
STL Falcon
“Would you want Devine and A. Jones?”
The thing is, it wouldn’t have been Andruw Jones. It would have been some other guy in CF.
Depending on who that “other CF” would have been, is where the answer to that question lies.
That being said, Kotsay has been a fine pick up. Every now and then, you have to give something up to get something.
By gobirds42
May 17, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this
well said falcon. i agree. if joey was the only pitcher oakland would take then i would take this trade every day. wish we coulda gave him cjames tho!!
By bravesfanatic404
May 17, 2008 8:08 PM | Link to this
kinda wish we kept oscar villareal…would’ve helped out this year
By Bowie
May 17, 2008 8:17 PM | Link to this
N8 good answer to STL. Josh Anderson would have been just fine and might have been better and we would still have Divine. Divine are no other player will say anything against Cox and Braves because they know they will be black balled. Its better for Joey to get new start away from Cox and McDowell. I wish him well. It will be a great day when Cox is gone.
By Jeff321
May 17, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this
Oscar Villarreal gave up six runs — two earned — and three homers in his inning of relief against the Rangers on Friday. Villarreal is sporting a 6.04 ERA.
Btw, I can’t believe Bobby Cox didn’t yank Hudson! Sheesh, all we need is 6 runs to win as of right now, eh.
By Coach (Braves in 2008 to the playoffs)
May 17, 2008 8:21 PM | Link to this
Yes, the Braves screwed up with Joey Devine. Absolutely correct.
But, comparing the situation of Charlie Morton to Devine’s is totally different, like night and day. Morton has S-I-X, C-O-U-N-T-E-M O-U-T L-O-U-D, S-I-X full minor league season under his belt with 85 starts and 563 innings under his belt.
Morton is currently pitching in his S-E-V-E-N-T-H minor league year and completely D-O-M-I-N-A-T-I-N-G minor league hitters(2-0 with an ERA of 1.69). If he isn’t ready to pitch in Atlanta right now, he never will be.
The Braves will start Jorge Campillo on Tuesday during the Braves/Mets double header. If that is what the Braves prefer, they will continue to play .500 baseball.
The legendary patience of Bobby Cox runs together with his stubborness like blood and water. The two character traits are indistinguishable from each other.
Cox will wait and wait until it’s to late, by the time he realizes that the Braves need Morton, the season will be unsalvageable. This 2008 Braves squad is playoff capable and Cox is at the moment, running it right into the ground.
By gobirds42
May 17, 2008 8:23 PM | Link to this
a great day?? wow….
By Mark Bradley
May 17, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this
I agree that the careers of Devine and Morton haven’t run parallel. But Morton hadn’t been a dominant pitcher until last August, and the Braves are bound and determined to give him every chance to ripen. That’s why you’re getting Campillo in the DH next week and not Morton. And I can’t blame them for them for their caution. On the contrary, I applaud it. That was, pretty much, the idea behind this whole little effort.
By Coach (Braves in 2008 to the playoffs)
May 17, 2008 8:48 PM | Link to this
Bradley, I’ll agree to disagree. The Braves patience with Morton will pay off either way. But, will they have enough pitching to stay in the playoff race?
Stay tuned.
By Mark Bradley
May 17, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this
We can agree to disagree. That’s allowed.
By The Truth
May 17, 2008 9:06 PM | Link to this
Joey D. was nasty w/ the Wolfpack and would’ve been a terminator for the Braves as well. Yes. he was rushed and not given a fair shake. He’s a good guy and here’s hoping he does well on the left coast.
By The Grinch
May 17, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this
I saw Morton in Spring Training; his stuff’s electric but he doesn’t seem to have that much confidence in it. He was clearly rattled by the Georgia Bulldogs. If he ever gets his mind right, he’ll be an ace. Of course, if my Aunt had %$#@ she’d be my Uncle. Here’s hoping.
By MeNoWhoYou?
May 17, 2008 11:19 PM | Link to this
To The Grinch, If you believe Morton was intimidated by the one hit he gave up to UGA (a college team), how do you explain his performance in AAA which is full of players who are recycled up and down to the big leagues, guys who have played their fair share in the show, and guys who are about to play in the MLB? How do you explain that he was intimidated by group of kids that may send Maybe 3 or 4 players to the pro ranks….? Just asking…
By MeNoWhoYou?
May 17, 2008 11:21 PM | Link to this
To The Grinch, If you believe Morton was intimidated by the one hit he gave up to UGA (a college team), how do you explain his performance in AAA which is full of players who are recycled up and down to the big leagues, guys who have played their fair share in the show, and guys who are about to play in the MLB? How do you explain that he was intimidated by group of kids that may send Maybe 3 or 4 players to the pro ranks….? Just asking…
By 3Pitch
May 17, 2008 11:23 PM | Link to this
The Devine for Kotsay trade was a mistake. Kotsay is a good player, but Devine was far too much payment to expend to make the trade. Even one good year of Kotsay is not enough for six years of Devine. They already had Blanco and had just traded for Josh Anderson when they acquired Kotsay.
Blanco or Josh Anderson should have been penciled in as the club’s starting CF before spring training. Someone in Braves’ management got nervous about the CF situation when they should have waited until at least the 3rd week of spring training before adding Kotsay. If they had shown a little patience, Blanco would be the starting CF and we would still have five more years of Joey Devine.
By BravesLover
May 17, 2008 11:39 PM | Link to this
Agree with your assessment of rushing Devine and would add Francoeur to that, also. In three seasons he is still a child among men. The “I’m gonna do it my way” mentality of AJ is too appearant. That is the wrong role model and JF can go the way of AJ and he won’t be missed. He’s saved 19 runs by throwing people out with his arm and failed to score 104-109 by failing to drive in teammates in scoring position. Not a good trade off. Fortunately at this time his biggest supporter is BC and he’ll continue to play. Unfortunately he has two wonderful role models to talk with in CJ and Kotsay. Both are bringing their professional A games to the park this year. Yet JF learns nothing but walk up, swing hard, and hope. Thus, in my humble opinion, we brought him up too soon before he could learn the ins and outs of situational hitting, going the other way, learning pitchers and tendancies, making EVERY at bat count, etc. Better sign a contract now before he loses even more value. We don’t need for him to be a boy among men any longer. Chuck James was mature enough to say he needed to learn to pitch again…can Francoeur say he needs to learn to hit for the first time?
By D'Andre Williams
May 18, 2008 12:54 AM | Link to this
www.braveselite.wordpress.com
By LuisGuillermo
May 18, 2008 1:14 AM | Link to this
WTF!!!?!!? Is David Wright leading the NL in voting at third base??? What’s going on?
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080515&content_id=2705203&vkey=allstar2008&fext=.jsp
I hope that changes… FAST! Do you imagine Chipper missing this year’s All-Star Game?
By LuisGuillermo
May 18, 2008 1:19 AM | Link to this
Sorry. My bad. Is just that I got a little mad when I first saw that. It was just a projection based on popularity.
Let’s vote for those who really deserve to represent the NL. And I think both Chipper and McCann (maybe Yunel too) deserve to play in this year’s summer classic. What do you guys think?
By Najeh Davenpoop
May 18, 2008 2:18 AM | Link to this
From what I remember Devine was rushed even before he joined this team… I seem to remember reading somewhere that the Braves were gonna draft him mainly because he was “MLB-ready” and could possibly fill the then-unsettled closer role the same year. Clearly it didn’t work out.
By AsFan723
May 18, 2008 3:30 AM | Link to this
dont forget jamie richmond was in the deal, he needs to be promoted soon, dominating lowA again
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Jamie%20Richmond&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=447842
By Mark Bradley
May 18, 2008 6:40 AM | Link to this
I don’t have a problem with the Kotsay trade. The Braves needed a center fielder, and too much bad had happened for Devine here. When you go through a year like 2005, it’s hard for anyone — organizational types or the player himself — to forget. He needed to go somewhere else and start over. He did, and he has. Good for him.
By Mantuan
May 18, 2008 8:10 AM | Link to this
I guess I am more than a little surprised that now, in May, we seem to think that in January, we could visualize Blanco to have the season he is thus far having.
Me thinks that part of what is going on here is that, in Jan/Feb, the view was that the Bravos had some pitchers who would not be with the team in 2009, and this was THE year to make one major push to get to the WS again before needing to start the pitching rebuilding taht was going to have to occur.
Devine for Kotsay to move from a rook in CF (can we agree that was the future w/o trading?) to an experienced player does not at this point seem like too high a price.
Let’s keep in mind — and yes — Devine was a #1 Draft Choice (but this isnt’ the NFL or the NBA and how draft choices are viewed) … part of the purpose (PART, not ALL) of a minor league system is to use as poker chips to get other pieces you need to complete your puzzle.
I think “Da Man” (my nickname for Scherholz) and Wren saw this as an “All In” year, and felt that letting Devine (and Richmond) go for an experienced OF was a good call.
I wish Joey well … but falling in love w/one player too much is not a healthy way to GM …
My take …
By stew
May 18, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this
What makes everyone think that Kotsay/Blanco/Anderson/ or Schafer could ever have the stats Andruw had in his worst season or ever come close to playing the type of defense Andruw plays. I’ve seen at least 7 balls fall in front of Kotsay that Andruw would have caught. Don’t kid yourselves, forcing Andruw to walk was a big mistake. Kotsay’s a good centerfielder, but he’ll never be clos to AJ offensively or defensively. The same goes for Gregor/Josh/Jordan or Gorkys. Maybe we can get him back and have the Dodgers eat some of his contract.
By RN
May 18, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq_e2Q2HxXg
Guy on Youtube imitating teams….Braves just got posted. Funny stuff.
By fieldofdreams
May 18, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
Kotsay’s a fine player but he shouldn’t be here. He’s a rent-a-Brave at best, with all the prospects we have in the outfield, and getting him here cost us what we desperately need: pitching. Wren seems to lack the necessary intellignece to compete at this level; Trade (red-hot)LaRoche for a pitcher with a bad arm, then trade four prospects for Texeira (and his agent from Hell), and watch Texeira hit .250. And first base is still not solved.
By 96,sc
May 18, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
Mark, I agree with your 6:40 post. IMO he wasn’t rushed but was overused. I remember watching that first game and wondering why Bobby brought him out for the 13th inning. Several guys from work were talking about this the next day and were wondering if his confidence would be shattered. Maybe new uniform, new confidence level.
By Snyman
May 18, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this
Sorry if someone already responded to this, but for bravesfanatic404, you said that you wish we still had Oscar Villareal???!!!! Do you realize that he is having an AWFUL year?
Stats to date: Season IP 22.1 H 28 R 19 HR 10 ERA 6.04
By Bowie
May 18, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this
stew; AJ is hitting 170 5rbi 1hr. and you would take that over what we have now. Defense is not hurting! Go back to smoking what every u was smoking. The Braves saved 38 million .
By ryan
May 18, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this
were no darn playoff team cant beat Harden we sure aint going to beat Webb next weekend
By Kentavo
May 18, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
Fieldodreams, Wren didn’t make those trades, Homeboy Upstairs did.
By observer
May 18, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this
Who is that Stew guy? Must be AJs mother. Letting Jones $38mill, 170 average walk was the smartest this the GM did so far. Unfortunately one of the dumbest was not trading AJ 2 years ago when he was having a killer season BEFORE his 10 year mark. The Braves could have gotten some nice young pitching talent then. Now they basically gave up young pitching talent to let him walk, and it STILL was a good deal.
By Charlie
May 18, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this
Other stuff…Man, I hope that the Braves are smart enough to trade Mark (“I’m a slooooooow starter”) T. before the July trading deadline. Try to get something for him. He’s a Boras Boy, out for the big bucks, and the Braves won’t be able to re-sign him. (He should play the 2009 season for the Braves, at half price to make up for how poorly he’s played this year.) I wish Bobby Cox had the guts to at least drop him down in the lineup. His lack of product is killin’ the team. But…Bobby won’t. He’s a “players manager”…don’t upset the players. Too bad. Tex is the Braves 2008 version of Andruw Jones…choke in the contract year. What a joke.
By bravesfanatic404
May 18, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this
to snyman it seems like oscar had his best luck with atlanta…he got us out of jams in 2006 and 2007 check his stats from them, despite giving up a hit per inning, he still got us out of jams (maybe its the transition from one team to another, i dont know i dont play in the majors)
By Ron Roberts
May 18, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this
I blogged a coupla days ago about Devine on the ‘MIB’ blog, and sorta had the same sentiment you did, Mark Bradley.
To me, the Joey Devine story could’ve been the Braves’ pitching version of “Brad Komminsk” - but thankfully for him, he’s come through a better player.
What I really like about Devine is his class when questioned for this column. Never once did he pin any blame on the Braves’ organization or Bobby Cox for putting him in situations he might not’ve needed to be in, etc. Instead he accepted some culpability for the hip flexor issue he kept to himself.
Truth be told, yes, the trade does work for both teams. That’s a good trade to make, then, right? We needed a capable CF and we’ve been blessed with what Kotsay’s provided this team; given what we knew about his past two seasons, we had every expectatoin ot be let down, but he’s so far superceded his expectations.
And for giving that up, the A’s were rewarded with the guy that should’ve become our closer at some point either this or next season. Was that too high a price to pay? So far, I’d say no, because our bullpen’s actually fared well.
But if we find ourselves never getting Soriano back to his premiere status, and/or is Mike Gonzalez doesn’t come back to be the pitcher we traded for, it’s a trade worth re-visiting.
I’m glad Devine’s doing well, and I agree we rushed him. Just glad it all worked out for all parties, in the end.
By Mark Bradley
May 18, 2008 7:47 PM | Link to this
Let me also say a word about Frank Wren: He could’ve pulled the old “I wasn’t the GM at the time and therefore I can’t comment” routine regarding the rushing of Devine, but he didn’t. He answered all my questions. I’ve always liked dealing with Frank, but this took my esteem for him to a new level.
And he is, it must be noted, very close to becoming the dean of Atlanta GMs. (Depending on what happens with Don Waddell.) Frank has been in place since October. It is, as you know, a strange time in our fair city.
By JEB
May 18, 2008 11:30 PM | Link to this
MB* totally agree with you! But, I think J. Devine could have been handled better. He came into that game against San Diego and pitched a perfect 12 th inning. If my memory is right he struck out the side or had at least 2 strike outs. Bobby C. should have pulled him RIGHT THEN! It would have been HUGE to his confidence. But, he sends J. Devine out for the next inning. As you said, he gets hurt and gives up the GS HR! The rest is history. One of Bobby’s rare bad moves. (lol)
By Ted Striker
May 18, 2008 11:34 PM | Link to this
Agree with your rationale for the Devine for Kotsay trade. Who knows what might’ve happened if Devine’s rights been retained — or had he spent more time in the Braves’ minors. There again, nobody expected him to be “needed” so very soon in his early career. The important thing is the Braves have now filled a need with the trade.
Good point (and insight) about how Frank Wren answered the question about the “rushing” of Devine. It’s nice to know he approaches things in such a candid, take-charge manner. Those type replies pay dividends down the line.
Good reporting AND follow up, Mark — as usual
By Bowie
May 18, 2008 11:53 PM | Link to this
Ron Robert: agree its to early to tell if good or bad. U and Mark have good points.
Mark, do you think Waddell is gone?
By Mike
May 19, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this
The mistake made with Joey in his first game was by Bobby not trying to win the game in the 12th inning. If I remember correctly, the Braves had two runners on, and Cox send Devine up to hit instead of using a pinch-hitter. Try to win the game, and the 13th grand slam never happens.
By jcarson
May 19, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this
Charlie Morton is not a kid….he is 24 years old…send him up.
By Gene
May 19, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
That Houston game was a nightmare. I don’t think that any young player objects to being called up to the majors. Overall the Braves have made pretty good trades. Just because Devine is doing well in Oakland, does not mean that he would be doing well in Atlanta. I like Kotsay, but I really like Anderson’s speed, and hope that we see him in Atlanta soon.
By Mark Bradley
May 19, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this
The point about Cox using Devine to bunt with one on and nobody out in the bottom of the 12th is correct. (He struck out instead.) And Devine hadn’t gone 1-2-3 in the 12th — Robert Fick, of whom you’ve heard, singled. The box score and play-by-play is available at http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL200508200.shtml
As for Don Waddell: I wish I knew. I’m pretty sure he’s not gone, but whether he’ll remain the GM (as opposed to president) is apparently an evolving matter. Though it hasn’t evolved much in the the past eight days.
By Mark Bradley
May 19, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
The Braves, I should add, make two points about Charlie Morton: He’s pitching exceedingly well, but he didn’t really become a good pitcher until last August. For all the time he has spent in the system, this level of domination is still new to him.
By GM R
May 19, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
Let’s be honest, the damage had been done by bringing Devine on way too early - those who say the Kotsay trade was a bad deal are playing Monday morning QB. Who knows how Devine would be doing now if he stayed with the Braves - a change of scenery was the right thing for him and only fair after he was sacrificed due to poor decisions on closers - dare I say Dan Kolb?
By Chip
May 19, 2008 10:58 PM | Link to this
Not only did they rush him, but I still believe they rushed Andruw Jones in 1996. He needed at least one more full year in the minors; Joey Devine at least developed some maturity playing in college. I think its wise to give a player more time in the minors even when he appears ready.
By GLEP
May 20, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
Would have been swell if we could have dangled C.James insted of Devine for the ‘Z’man(Kotsay).
But DOUBT if there are any who would have been dumb enough to fall for that one.
Our scouts apparantly are the only ones who see potential in James
By dpay
May 21, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this
Rather interesting that the question arises, “will the Braves have enough pitching?”
The Braves lead the NL in ERA, even with Smoltz, Soriano, Hampton, Moylan, and Gonzalez on the DL.
The relievers and the spot starters have really stepped up. Way to go, Jorge Campillo!
By Cindy
May 28, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
John Smoltz is partial owner in Acceleration Sports Insitute in Spartanburg SC. They shut the doors without prior notice to any members and kept all MONEY. What does John Smoltz have to say about ripping off all the innocent kids he screwed out of there dreams? So much for being an American HERO. http://www.wspa.com/midatlantic/spa/home.apx.-content-articles-SPA-2008-05-27-0022.html Shame on you!