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Friday, April 14, 2006
Starters can’t get worse (right?)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Braves’ starting pitching has to get better. It can’t get much worse. Can it?
Pitchers have been getting hammered all over baseball, but the situation with the Braves is the most dramatic because of the mound success the team has had during its run of division titles.
With San Diego coming to Turner Field for a weekend series, it should be time for the Braves’ pitchers to get well.
If they don’t, it could really get scary. On Monday, the Braves open a three-game series with the streaking Mets in New York.
Everyone will be watching Tim Hudson in the series opener against the Padres. His first two starts have been awful. Is there something wrong physically with the right-hander?
John Smoltz will pitch Saturday and John Thomson on Sunday. Both had encouraging outings in their previous starts.
Of course, the encouraging news out of Thursday night’s loss to Philadelphia was the hitting of Jeff Francoeur, who broke out of his slump in a big way.
The Braves can’t keep wasting all these runs. It is past time for the pitchers to step up, beginning with Hudson.
No more big innings, please.
