AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2006 > August > 23
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Like having teeth pulled with a hammer
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There’s a scene _ actually two scenes _ of teeth-pulling-by-hammer torture in the outstanding movie from a few years ago, “Oldboy.”
That’s all I could think of as I watched the eighth inning of Tuesday night’s Braves loss to the woeful Pirates.
Unfortunately for Braves fans, there have been many more than two torture-by-bullpen-meltdown scenes in this erratic season.
The bullpen has been improved since the addition of Bob Wickman before the trade deadline. Unfortunately, that improvement has been mostly limited to the part of the bullpen that features Wickman.
If it’s not the ninth inning with the Braves in the lead and Big Wick on the mound, then it’s still a roll of the dice every night with this unit. Or a pull with the hammer. And that’s no way to win a wild card.
Only Milwaukee (4.64) has a higher bullpen ERA than the Braves (4.62) in the NL, and check out this telling stat: Of the motley assortment of 20 pitchers who’ve worked in relief for the Braves this season, 15 have ERAs above 4.00.
Of the five who don’t, one is on the DL (Phil Stockman, 2.25), one is in the starting rotation (Chuck James, 2.38 ERA as reliever), one has only four appearances (Wayne Franklin, 3.86) and one is Chad Paronto (2.49).
If someone had told you in spring training that in late August, Paronto would have been your second-best reliever over the course of the season, Braves fans wouldn’t have believed it. Couldn’t have believed it.
So what are we to make of Danys Baez, who had another dance with pitch-command dementia in last night’s collapse? Well, we begin to see why the Dodgers were so willing to let him go, and why he crumbled in the glare of the L.A. spotlight as their closer earlier this season.
You just never know with Baez, whether he’s going have command of his nasty repertoire and dissect hitters in a quick 1-2-3 inning, or throw pitches that threaten to take off the heads of batters and/or frighten fans trying to make cell phone calls in the first row.
He’s an all-or-nothing guy many nights, reason enough to scare most teams from considering him as a closer next season. In 12 games with the Dodgers through April 29, Baez converted 8 of 9 saves while allowing no runs, a .208 opponents’ average and only one walk with 10 strikeouts in 13 innings
In 45 appearances since, he’s converted 1 of 8 saves with a .284 opponents’ average, 16 walks and 29 strikeouts in 46-2/3 innings.
And in 24 appearances since June 21, Baez is 1-3 with a 6.56 ERA, 24 hits and 10 walks allowed in 23-1/3 innings.
Last night he was charged with two hits, four runs and two walks while recording one out and blowing a lead. Two runs scored after he turned it over to Ken Ray, who did what he’s done way too often in the second half.
One more note on Baez: It was the fourth time since June 1 that he was charged with three or more runs, and in three of those games he recorded one or no outs.
Seven of his 13 walks in 32-1/3 innings since June 1 have come in three games in which he recorded a total of two outs (that’s two outs in three games combined), with two of those games as a Brave. In his other 31-2/3 innings since June 1, he has six walks with 20 strikeouts.
All or nothing, indeed. Not an attractive trait for a closer, just in case anyone still thought he was one.
And please, before anyone jumps in on the Betemit tip, please consider: Wilson Betemit went 10-for-20 with five extra-base hits and 10 RBIs during a torrid four-game run with the Braves July 15-18 at San Diego and St. Louis, when half the team was hitting as if possessed by some Pujols/Bonds demon.
In 29 games since then, with the Braves and Dodgers, Betemit has hit .216 (21-for-97) with nine extra-base hits, 11 RBIs, 28 strikeouts, and a .692 OPS. So please, let’s wait a bit longer before we make him out to be the next Dodgers superstar.
We all like Wilson Betemit, who’s a good guy. Everyone agreed would have been a candidate to play SS or 3B if the Braves had an opening there. But his initial impact with the Dodgers _ at a time when Furcal and others were also raking _ may have raised expectations for Betemit to unrealistic levels.
He went 14-for-45 (.313) with seven extra-base hits, eight RBIs and a 1.011 OPS in his first 13 games with the Dodgers. He’s 4-for-29 (.138) with zero extra-base hits, two RBIs and a .350 OPS (.212 on-base and .138 slugging) in nine games since that opening tear.
But back to the Braves:
As for Ray, well, the Braves got more _ far, far more _ than they ever could have expected this season from a 31-year-old rookie. But now, well, he’s pitching like a journeyman pitches.
Ray had a stunning 1.38 ERA and .182 opponents’ average in his first 26 games though May 31. But in 32 appearances since then, he has a 6.02 ERA and .295 opponents’ average.
And the numbers have really gotten ugly lately. Since July 21, Ray has a 9.49 ERA and bloated .400 opponents’ average, with 22 hits, 13 runs and seven walks allowed in 12-1/3 innings over 14 appearances.
Oh, by the way: The Braves are now 14-26 with a 5.16 ERA and 41 homers hit in their past 40 home games.
In their past 42 road games, they are 24-18 with a 4.23 ERA and 77 homers.
On a bright note, Adam LaRoche is 2-for-3 with two homers off tonight’s Pirates starter, Ian Snell (sounds like a soccer player, doesn’t it?)
On the other hand _ taking his good/bad, glass half-full/half-empty thing all the way to the end of this blog _ the game is at home. Not best for LaRoche.
Here’s the update on his ridiculous home/road splits: On the road since July 1, he’s hit .375 with 11 homers, 22 RBIs and a gaudy .903 slugging percentage in 21 games.
At home since then? He’s hit .273 with one homer, six RBIs and a .394 slugging percentage in 19 games.
Yes, .903 slugging on the road since July 1, .394 slugging at home since then.
Oh, and if it seems like Todd Pratt is really struggling, well, he is. He’s 1-for-20 with seven strikeouts in his past 10 games.
But not all Todds are slumping (what a transition; that’s why I get the big bucks):
TODAY’s STRONG RECOMMENDATION: Todd Snider’s brilliant new CD, “The Devil You Know.” Might be his best, and that’s saying plenty. Great singer/songwriter, for those not familiar with him. If you like Steve Earle, you’ll like this guy.
Here’s a couple of comments of praise from others:
“He reminds me of me.” _ Billy Joe Shaver (BLOGMASTER NOTE: That should be enough for anyone to buy it, when the great Shaver says that).
“A Southern songwriter in a Steve Earle vein who writes incredibly knowing songs about rambling and debauchery.” _ Blender Magazine
“Todd Snider writes great songs and also is a great performer. He totally connects with every audience. Hardest act to follow since Steve Goodman. _ John Prine (BLOGMASTER NOTE: I saw Snider open for Prine in Houston this summer, and it was quite a rich evening of music)
“Todd Snider is a true songwriter.” _ Kris Kristofferson
