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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2008 > May > 04 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USGlavine will be key to Braves’ long run
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Braves can’t afford to have days like these. They spent a third consecutive game smacking around Cincinnati’s Little Red Machine. This time, they won 14-7 on Sunday at Turner Field. It’s just that the way they did so was disturbing in the overall picture of what will remain a cozy race of three in the National League East.
So let’s get picky for a moment, because when you’re talking about tight competition in a division for long stretches, you’re also talking about little things becoming big things. Actually, this is a big thing: Courtesy of injuries and whatever else, the Braves starting pitchers are pathetic regarding baseball’s most underrated statistic, which is innings pitched.
The more innings thrown by your starters, the less thrown by your relievers. Not only that, the higher probability you’ll win more than you lose.
More specifically, the Braves began Sunday’s action with the fewest innings pitched by starters (158-1/3) of any team in the league. Not good. Neither was what happened in the Braves’ series finale against the Reds after roaring to a 7-0 lead through the first couple of innings with Tom Glavine and his Hall of Fame arm on the mound. He was pounded out of the game by the Reds’ normally feeble hitters before the end of the fifth inning. He was responsible for seven hits, six earned runs, five walks and several more reasons to wonder if the Braves’ bullpen will become an absolute mess by the All-Star break.
Glavine suggested that we should stop wondering, at least regarding his role in this situation. Said Glavine, “You know, those (blowout) games aren’t always the easiest to pitch in, especially when you’re out there in the situation that I was today where I wasn’t locating where I wanted to, and I was struggling. Those guys are behind, and they’re being a little bit more patient and waiting for a pitch. It makes it a little bit tougher trying to hit your spots.”
That’s encouraging news for the Braves. If they wish to survive the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies down the stretch, they’ll need a lot of Glavine for a lot of innings. During his second coming with the Braves after that five-year pit stop at Shea Stadium, he has overcome whatever negatives are involved with having a 42-year-old arm. He has given the Braves enough solid innings out of 22 overall in five starts to deserve more victories than his current total of zero. This was his second start since leaving the disabled list for the first time in his 21-year career with a strained hamstring.
Which brings us to the best news of the day involving Glavine. That is, he didn’t have any more aches or pains. “I felt really good, probably too good,” he said, sounding like few Braves pitchers these days.
Among relievers, Mike Gonzalez, Peter Moylan and Rafael Soriano are hurting or recovering. The same goes for starters Mike Hampton and Chuck James. Then you have John Smoltz, the starter turned closer turned starter turned whatever he’ll become in the future. He is on the disabled list with a nagging tendon problem on his right pitching arm. No wonder only the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals entered Sunday’s action with more innings pitched by their relievers than the Braves.
Still, the Braves have a three-game wining streak after dropping four straight before that. They also trail the division-leading Phillies by just two games. Before long, though, they’ll need to improve that innings-pitched issue. The days of Cy Smoltz, Cy Glavine and Cy Maddux going 200-plus innings in their rotation are gone. Tim Hudson has struggled during three of his last four starts. Who knows if youngsters Jair Jurrjens and Jo-Jo Reyes can stay potent for the long run? So, with the Braves in search of a 15th division title in 17 years, an innings-producing Glavine is among the keys.
It might be the key.
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