AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2006 > June > 02
Friday, June 2, 2006
It’s not all Ramirez’ fault
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This morning I received an e-mail from a reader who made a couple of good points about last night’s game, and how it wasn’t just Ramirez’s error that caused the loss. He was wondering why I focused so much on that play instead of pointing out all the other problems.
The reader understood after I explained to him that, due to space and time limitations (especially time limitations), the game story simply isn’t a good forum to provide an in-depth analysis of all the fundamental problems that have affected the team, etc. When I explained to him that I literally had to write the game story between the time the error was made and the last pitch, to file before I went down for interviews, he understood what I meant by deadline restrictions. Before that error, it was a 0-0 game. Not a lot to write. And the play obviously changed everything.
But his point is one that’s valid, and that is, Ramirez’s error didn’t have to result in a loss. Particularly if Mike Remlinger had been able to get that third out, as the two relievers before him had gotten outs. And particularly if Edgar Renteria hadn’t been thrown out unwisely trying to advance to third on a ground ball hit in front of him to the shortstop.
Also, what about Chipper’s failure to get the ball to the right side to advance Renteria to third base? The rule is, by the way, that the baserunner shouldn’t go in that situation unless the ball goes behind him, because otherwise there’s very little chance he’s going to beat the shortstop’s throw to third base. Fundamentals, something Renteria has excelled at throughout his career, but not last night.
There’s a lot of little things the Braves haven’t done particularly well this year, a lot of things that could have helped them win some of those major-league leading 24 one-run games (they’ve lost 14 of them). While one-run records are often based on luck more than anything, the Braves could have helped themselves a lot of times by moving runners over, playing “small ball” better than they do.
Having veteran sluggers like Andruw Jones and Chipper Jones and other guys who never bunt, like LaRoche, can limit some of the thigns you can do in a tight ballgame, in my opinion. But others like Langerhans and Francoeur — especially Francoeur — aren’t exactly adept at hitting the ball the other way to move runners over or laying down bunts on occasion, either. The Braves just don’t have many such guys in the lineup or on their bench.
OK, Remlinger. Bobby’s big thing this spring was how Remlinger’s new breaking ball would allow him to use him against righties and lefties, unlike in past when Remlinger wasn’t much against lefties (his changeup made the veteran lefty bettter against righties than lefties). But it’s not working out. Rem has been hit for a .324 average by lefty hitters, so using him to get lefties out isn’t making much sense one-third of the way through the season. Only Macay McBride (4-for-22) and Chuck James (1-for-11), among the lefty relievers, have been effective against lefty batters, and James is at Richmond now, building arm strength to return to starting.
It’s worth noting, Ken Ray’s .196 average allowed by lefties is another reason to believe he might just make a solid closer. He’s as good against them as against righties. Again, we won’t know until he faces the best hitters more in pressure ninth-inning situations, but it’s time to try unless and until the Braves get someone better through trade (again, I haven’t heard anything yet, but those talks should be heating up in the next few weeks).
Alright, don’t have much time to write. Running late today. Gotta get ready and get out to the park. Just wanted to thank the fan again for the e-mail, and for understanding my explanation about time restraints, etc. I think that’s one great thing about this blog forum, it allows us to talk about stuff and for you guys here to mull over all the little things that happen in the game, stuff that simply has to be left out of a game story in the paper because of the space and deadline restrictions.
Oh, and how about this: Braves have hit just .234 in 12 games since Brandon Webb stuck it to them at Arizona. And in last three games vs. D-backs, they’ve hit .146 and scored three runs.
And how about these alarming two-strike stats. We know the Braves are striking out entirely too much, but check these three in particular. Averages when batting with two-strikes: Langerhans is 9-for-78 (.115) with 46 K, Francoeur is 10-for-82 (.122) with 42 K, and Giles is 13-for-92 (.141) with 38 K, but does have 22 walks.
