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DEL.ICIO.USHampton out, Sosa in
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It isn’t often a team loses a starting pitcher and actually gets better. But for the short term, at least, that could be the case with the Braves after Mike Hampton went on the disabled list for the fourth time this season and Jorge Sosa returned to the rotation to replace him.
Let me be clear: Losing Hampton could be a major blow in the Braves’ playoff chances, because a healthy Hampton at the top of his game would give the Braves a No. 3 starter to match up favorably with any team in baseball, including Houston.
However, whether Hampton would have — or still can — get it all together before the postseason was already a major question mark, given that he hasn’t had a quality start (six innings or more, three earned runs or fewer) since mid-May — he’s pitched only 14 innings since then — and there’s only five weeks left before the postseason.
Even the optimistic Bobby Cox now concedes there may not be enough time left for Hampton to get going and be ready for the postseason, and Cox said that’s a big potential blow because he was counting on the playoff-seasoned Hampton to be big down the stretch for the Braves.
Whether Sosa’s Houdini-like escapes from pitching jams can continue through October remains to be seen, and he might give everyone ulcers doing that act in big games. But in terms of holding off the rest of the NL East in the next few weeks, gotta think Sosa has a better chance to help the Braves than Hampton did with his spotty performances between DL stints.
Walking a tightrope or not, Sosa has managed to go 5-2 with a 2.77 ERA in 12 starts entering today’s contest at Wrigley Field. Those are solid numbers, and at least he’s been healthy all year and reliable. Same obviously can’t be said for Hampton, who’s had a remarkable four stints on the DL in one season. That’s only one fewer DL stint than he has wins.
And to think, the Braves owe him $39 million over the 2006-08 seasons. Try trading that chunk of change.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By CC
August 24, 2005 04:07 PM | Link to this
Through 2 games and 6 innings in this series the Bravos have managed a whopping 9 hits total. It doesn’t matter who is pitching since they have already begun hitting like it’s October.
By True Braves Fan
August 24, 2005 04:19 PM | Link to this
I DON’T CARE WHAT THEY DO WITH LAROCHE, BUT GET HIM OFF THE FIELD, AND OUT OF GAMES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By CC
August 24, 2005 05:33 PM | Link to this
Uh……..never mind.
By jeff
August 24, 2005 05:55 PM | Link to this
right now, Sosa is the best option. Given his record for this season, he never should have been taken out of the rotation. Hampton wasn’t ready and Thompson isn’t there yet either. Sosa may have had some sticky situations, but he helped the Braves in a time where our entire rotation (except Smoltz) was on the DL. Sosa deserves to get the ball.
By E Calhoun
August 24, 2005 05:58 PM | Link to this
For some time, I’ve been much more comfortable with Sosa pitching than with any other member of the staff except for the one and two starters. Thompson isn’t going to be ready for the playoffs unless the Braves can afford a sure loss every time he tries to pitch himself into shape. It is somewhat disgusting to me that such highly-paid pitchers refuse to work sufficiently in the minors on rehab until they get into pitching shape. After all, some aren’t ready to start the season after six weeks of spring training so it stands to reason that a few innings against minor league hitters won’t do the job after a month or two injury layoff.
By Gary
August 24, 2005 06:16 PM | Link to this
I believe the Braves will be okay with Smoltz, Hudson, and Sosa as the top 3. Horacio Ramirez will be a legit 4th, but he is consistantly inconsistant. He backs a good start with a bad start. Right now I do not have confidence in John Thompson. I could be wrong, but he may never get back in time for the playoffs. I would much rather have Kyle Davies in the 5th spot right now than I would Thompson. I hope Bobby plays Julio more in the playoffs than he would LaRoche because we need a clutch hitter and Adam is not.
By Tony
August 24, 2005 06:35 PM | Link to this
Has anyone I mean anyone ever told LaRoche that his long, I mean long swing is a pitcher’s dream. This guy is too young to be this bad, slow and so easy to pitch to. I can’t wait when Chipper moves to first to make room for Marte at 3rd. Boyer and Farnsworth looked pretty good. Sosa did his usual. I still don’t see why he was taken out of the starting rotation. Does he really throw that hard? The radar gun had him as high as 97. Geez….
By Nicholas Irwin
August 24, 2005 10:04 PM | Link to this
I’m fully aware and fully admit that LaRoche is playing like dog crap right now, but to say he’s not a clutch hitter is a bit ridiculous considering he single-handedly kept us from getting swept by the Astros last year in the playoffs with his clutch hits. I won’t got throught the long version of this, as I already did it earlier in the year when people were saying that he isn’t a clutch hitter, but I thought I’d remind everyone of that fact before everyone on here agrees that we should not let him play at all in the playoffs.
By True Braves Fan
August 24, 2005 10:59 PM | Link to this
NICHOLAS Since we are bringing up history, Sid Bream slid home with the winning run in the 1992 playoffs, but that did not make him an outstanding base runner. While LaRoche had clutch hits in 3 playoff games last year, that does not make him a clutch hitter. Maybe that is part of his problems, he has been reading last year’s press clippings.
By Jerry Holcombe
August 24, 2005 11:04 PM | Link to this
I think it’s been mentioned before in reference to Estrada that he had a career year last year, and one completely out of character. The same could be said about LaRoche. Nick would have you believe that he will be clutch again when the playoffs get here, but we can’t be concerned with what he might or might not do because we aren’t guaranteed the playoffs yet. I love Laroche’s defense, but it irks the crap outta me with that lame looking swing.
Man, that Boyer looks so good out there. He’s dominating.
By AZBravoFan
August 25, 2005 02:45 AM | Link to this
LaRoche is just in a bad slump right now. I beleive at one point earlier this year he was leading the team in avg. with runners in scoring position. I think TP will straighten him out by October. As far as post-season pitching goes, sometimes you just gotta bite the bullet, go with what you’ve got, and hope someone steps up. Anyone remember what Derrick Lowe’s ERA was in the regular season last year? 5.42 with a .299 opponent batting average against! Obviously not the same guy who showed up in October. Doesn’t mean Ramirez and Sosa will win us a World Series. But they might…..
By Braves fan in Yankee land
August 25, 2005 09:17 AM | Link to this
Thank god for Sosa. Other then Andruw he is the team MVP this year. He single handedly kept us in the race. In regard to Laroche, you gotta play Franco b/c all you gotta do is throw the slider and curve in the dirt and Rochy is staring at the pitcher with that deer in headlights look and then walking back to the dugout.
By bravesfansinceiwas8
August 25, 2005 09:21 AM | Link to this
i agree with the laroache dialogue. it seems to me that he would be a perfect backup. how long can the braves get by with a platoon over there? it seems to me that the biggest problem looking to october is the pen. is kolb really working things out and can retisma handle the big time? i don’t want to see the braves face houston in the opening round that is why i am rooting for the phillies for the wild card.
By Rod
August 25, 2005 09:33 AM | Link to this
Guys, I am a hard core Braves fan. I love them. However, these are the Braves. Chipper is clutch, but honestly, who else is? Since 95, we haven’t been able to have a clutch hitter. Take LaRoche out? Does it really matter?
By BB FAN
August 25, 2005 10:47 AM | Link to this
I would like to see Franco play a little more at 1B but LaRoche has not done that bad. He has 15 HRs and 65 RBIs with 40 games left. And he has been platooned too. He is in a slump right now though. Estrada should be the backup to McCann. Jordan could be valuable but it will depend on how he does in September.
I still like Langerhans/Johnson in left and Francoeur in right. Of course AJ in center. He might need a day off here and there in September though as he has been carrying the team for 3 months.
Sosa and Davies should be in the rotation. Put Thompson back on the DL. Keep McBride, Boyer, Reitsma, and Farnsworth as the main guys out of the pen. Devine and Foster are valuable too. But Kolb still does not have it like he did last year. Even last year, he only dominated in the first half. He has been rocked ever since.
By Tony
August 25, 2005 11:03 AM | Link to this
Rod, when was the last time Chipper was clutch in the playoffs? Ever since he carried the club on his back in 1999 when he had NO help…he hasn’t been the same. I wonder how many years that year took off his career. Had to be stressful. However, he is the only hitter in the lineups pitchers fear, well maybe not fear but worry about. Even though Andruw has 40 homeruns, he still can be pitched to.
As far as LaRoche…he has OBP of .305. That the 2nd lowest of all the Braves hitters. Estrada is next with .298. WOW!! In 360 at bats he has only 26 walks. I thought he was at least getting on base. He is doing nothing. If TP or someone doesn’t work to shorten this guy swing, I don’t see his value as a major leaguer. If you not going to hit 25 to 30 HR as a 1st basemen, you at least have to be the John Olerud/Sean Casey type. Hit .280 or.300, maybe walk 80 to 100 times. Right?
But offense is not the main reason the Braves have failed in the playoffs in the past few years. It has been pitching. I totally agree with Smoltz, that hard throwers do better in the postseason. I believe Smoltz, Hudson, Sosa and Ramirez(against the opposition’s 4th starter) will be OK. Or the best we can throw out there. They are throw hard and can get a strikeout when they need one. Except maybe Ramirez. Boyer looked absolutely fantistic. His stuff is electric. Farnsworth, Boyer, and McBride coming from the bullpen throwing heat sounds nice. I think if we leave Kolb out of the bullpen, we will be ok.
Langerhans. I love the way this guy hustles. Francouer, McCann and Langer bring so much enthusiam to an otherwise boring team. It’s great to watch. Leave Langer alone and I think he will be alright.
By Rod
August 25, 2005 01:32 PM | Link to this
Tony, as I stated earlier, we have not had a clutch hitter in the playoffs since 95. That was the last time Chipper was clutch. I may have been confusing in my comment. In my opinion, for the Braves to make it this year, it will take Smoltz and Hudson dominating. I believe Sosa can step up and be the 3 guy we need. My hope is also that Frenchy will be hot and Chipper keeps swinging like he is now. I don’t know why, but our bats go cold in October. We need dominating pitching and some timely hits to do anything.
By Jay
August 25, 2005 02:23 PM | Link to this
It doesn’t really matter what the Braves are doing right now, what matters is that they are winning and they get on a roll before the playoffs start. I haven’t seen any one Brave do extremely well in the playoffs since the 90’s. TP, Deion Sanders, Ryan Klesko, Mark Lemke, and maybe even Justice were the only ones who got it together and helped out the team but the rest of the guys always seem to fall on their face. Even pitchers with such prestige like Maddux or Glavine sucked it up, without Smoltz and Avery…there wouldn’t be a title in Atlanta. LaRoche is not as bad as everyone makes him out to be, but it doesn’t help him much platooning at first, just like Langerhans or Johnson platooning in left. They need more playing time and they will find their swings. As for Sosa and Davies, they have earned the right to be in the rotation this year and have been doing much better than Hampton and Thompson of late…I’d like to see Thompson in the bullpen to work things out.
By ATLFAN
August 25, 2005 02:56 PM | Link to this
The Braves averaged about 4 hits a game with the cubbies. Who really cares who pitches! The braves had trade bait all year long with Chipper, or some of those talented rookies when they were hot, for example Kyle Davies who everyone thought would be the next Maddux. If Chipper would have been traded, you could have gotten some immediate help in the outfield and perhaps at pitching. Move Frenchy to first and Betemit to third to shore up the infield. That leaves you w/ one hole in the outfield. A blockbuster trade sending Chipper, K. Davies and K. Johnson would have made more since to me. As it is, Chipper hasn’t done crap in the playoffs, what makes you think this year will be any different?
By jim kinney
August 25, 2005 03:09 PM | Link to this
To change the subject on the Braves’ past failures in the playoffs, I trace them directly to Bobby Cox. Someone yesterday on sports radio referred to Cox as the greatest manager in baseball history for managing the Braves to 13 (soon to be 14) straight disional championships.
I agree with that assessment. What he is accomplishing this year is nothing short of amazing and hands doen he deserves the Manager of the Year award. For a 162 game season he is the best.
But when it comes to winning any one particular game or short series, he does not measure up. For in-game strategy, there are many managers better than Cox. I would rate him average to below average in strategic thinking within the game.
His decisions on changing pitchers, reliever selection, when to pinch hit and who to pinch hit, when to pinch run and when to steal…the list of strategic blunders in big games goes on and on…and are more often than not subject to a great amount of “post game analysis”.
He is a great team leader and has the perfect temperment to withstand the rigors and pressures of a 162 game season…but strategically he fails too often in big games…which is why the Braves have only one World Series win during this current 13 year Divisional winning streak.
By Rod
August 25, 2005 03:29 PM | Link to this
The problem with trading Chipper is that he has the no trade clause. Also, he is the veteran leader in the clubhouse. (Along with Smoltz). Without his presence this year, the club would have probably folded. He may not be able to carry the team single handedly, or may not be feared by pitchers on the scale of Bonds, but the truth is this team needs him. He may not be the greatest in post season history, but without him we may not get there, and then it won’t matter. True, Chipper is slack in the post season, but no one produces for the Braves in october. No one has. Sheff didn’t, and neither did Drew. No on has, so what makes us think trading for someone else will? I take my statement back. Lemke was clutch in october, but no one else.
By True Braves Fan
August 25, 2005 03:37 PM | Link to this
ATLFAN: Not sure what the ATL stands for, surely not ATLANTA, GA BRAVES. Go back to fantasy baseball. Nothing you said makes sense in the real world. Move this player, trade these players…WHEW!!!!
By True Braves Fan
August 25, 2005 03:45 PM | Link to this
jimkinney: The value of Bobby Cox as a post season manager has been debated constantly for the past 2 years on these blogs. An example of Cox stupidity was not benching Gary Sheffield in the 2002 and 2003 playoffs when he hit .062 and .143 respectively. Surely, if he was a good manager, he would have pinch hit for Chipper and Sheff in 2003 when they struck out and hit into double play in the bottom of the ninth with no outs; 2 men on; and 1 run behind. Cox is to blame for all the post season failures. (In case there is any doubt, these comments are pure, 100% sarcasm….)
By ATLFAN
August 25, 2005 04:28 PM | Link to this
True Braves Fan, WHEW your the dumb a*!! Be careful what you ask for because I know a whole hell of lot more about braves baseball than you will ever know, so before you start attacking, back your self with some facts before you throw some crap at me!
By ATLFAN
August 25, 2005 04:42 PM | Link to this
This True Fan is funny, you want to talk about these stats like you know what your talking about. And it’s apparent you don’t. The man was completely right about Cox being a great manager over an entire season, but not as effective in a win-at-all-cost playoff series, that has been very evident in the last 9 years true braves fan, like leaving starting pitchers in there too long??
By Fabrizio Di Muro
August 25, 2005 10:15 PM | Link to this
There is no one reason why the Braves have failed so often in the postseason. Does Bobby deserves some blame? Yes, but only a small portion.
If the Braves don’t win the WS this year, there will be people who blame Bobby Cox for this. However, no team with 5 rookies with 100 AB has ever made the postseason. This year, the Braves have six rookies with 100 AB. And not to mention the injuries to the starters and the bullpen. Just making the playoffs is a huge accomplishment. Even Cubs fans understand this. I will be extremely disappointed if they don’t win the WS, but no other manager would have this team in position to win the WS. And that’s what happened to Bobby throughout the run — he’s gotten teams to the postseason that no one else in the game could do.
By True Braves Fan
August 25, 2005 10:15 PM | Link to this
ATLFAN: I am sure you know more about Atlanta baseball team than I do,and have probably been a fan longer. I have only been following Atlanta baseball since 1953.
By BB FAN
August 25, 2005 11:48 PM | Link to this
ATLFAN, Why does the outfield need help? Right now, Francoeur is doing great in right. Andruw is having a grerat season in Center. Johnson and Langerhans are pretty decent in Left. You take away Johnson’s 1 for 32 to start the season, and he is probably at .265 or better. Langerhans has been consistant. And both play good D. In fact, Langerhans plays great D. And why the hell would you move Francoeur to 1st base. That makes no sense. He is a gold glove outfielder with 9 assists in 37 games! That would be be about 40 in a full season.
And you act as if Davies sucks and is washed up. The kid has only made about 12 starts in the majors. He has 6 wins and a ERA around 4.50. Not bad for a 5th starter. And he’s only 21 years old! Let the kid mature. Christ, Maduux did not even do as well in his rookie year.
Those trades and moves do not make sense. No offense.
By Tony Wag
August 26, 2005 09:57 AM | Link to this
Thank you BB fan for putting ATL fan in his place. The fact that he wants to move Franceour to first is absolutely ludacris. And moving or trading Chipper would be dumb as well. Chipper has been gold glove material at third base and is hitting the cover off the ball. He is a clubhouse leader and is desperately needed for tese young kids. If anything, you should bring Marte up and move him to first base. Come up with rational thoughts next time.
By BB FAN
August 26, 2005 12:19 PM | Link to this
Moving Marte to 1B would not be a bad idea. Especially because of CHipper playing great D at 3B right now. Marte probably will be ready next year to join the Braves but will not have a position. We’ll see where he ends up.
At the beginning of the year, I thought getting CJ to accept a trade would be a good thing, but seeing him having fun again and playing well has made me believe he should be a Brave for the rest of his career. In a few years, he can move to 1B. The youthful enthusiasm has caught on with AJ and CJ. That is what this team needs.
Next year, I would like to see the Braves try to rid themselves of Hampton. I would trade him for practically nothing if the other team takes his contract. I wanted them to trade him this year when he started out 4-0. Now he is hurt so they won’t be able to. Oh Well.
By BB FAN
August 26, 2005 12:21 PM | Link to this
The reason I would trade Hampton is to free up money to re-sign Furcal.
By glennbo
August 26, 2005 12:30 PM | Link to this
The reason the Braves suck in the postseason is simple: Bobby has no sense of urgency. During the regular season, this is called patience. During the playoffs, its called lethargy.
Things like platooning, nursing patchwork pitching staffs, and sticking with players to let them work thru a slump are great when you just want to finish the season with a good record. If you wasnt to win it all, though, you have to be dialed in and ready to kick slow starters in the a*. Bobby Cox has had a great career, but he hasn’t figured out how to get thru the postseason and win it all.
1995 was a fortunate fluke for Braves Fans. The short season allowed the Junkball twins, Glavine and Maddux, to be rested with gas in the tank. Come to think of it, Glavine was the Big Cheese in the Onion at the time. HHMMM. Thanks Tom.
By BB FAN
August 26, 2005 02:09 PM | Link to this
glennbo , The 1995 season was 144 games long. That’s only 18 less games than a “full” season. So that’s an extra 3 starts. I don’t think the 1995 WS championship was a fluke because “The short season allowed the Junkball twins, Glavine and Maddux, to be rested with gas in the tank.”
“…Junkball twins, Glavine and Maddux…” Are you kidding me? These guys have won almost 600 games between them. And you refer to them as “junkball” pitchers? That is just ignorant. Both are future Hall of Famers! These guys know how to pitch, that is why they have been so successful. Just because a guy is not throwing 98-100 MPH, does not mean he is a junkballer.
By True Braves Fan
August 26, 2005 03:17 PM | Link to this
BB FAN keep hoping…Maybe we could somehow get out from under Hampton’s contact and have the money to re-sign Furcal. That would be fantastic.
By Tony
August 26, 2005 04:45 PM | Link to this
In a way I agree with BB Fan, no sense of urgency in the postseason. You have to go with who is hot. Bobby hasn’t done that in the past. I also go back to what Smoltz has said…hard throwers do better in the postseason. Beckett, Schilling, Johnson, Smoltz…it’s just a fact.
I still say move Chipper to 1st and Marte and 3rd next year. If they keep Furcal, then do what do you do with Betemit? He’s not getting any younger. Although he’s only 3 years younger than Furcal.