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March 2007
Ozzie’s back at the Ted
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Is it just me or are we in Atlanta in the center of the sports universe this weekend?
Go on, brag to your friends who aren’t smart enough to live here. Ask them where else they can go and watch the Thrashers win in overtime Thursday night fighting for their playoff lives, the Braves come home to Turner Field Friday night to show the home folk what all their optimism is about, then Saturday have Florida, UCLA, Ohio State and Georgetown duking it out in basketball at the Georgia Dome.
Speaking of, only way it’s any better is if Duke were in the Final Four.
Oh stop it.
And oops, ok, you don’t have $12,000 to shell out for a ticket to the Final Four? You haven’t promised your first-born son to Augusta National (Did thou neglect to mention the Masters coming up next week?) Just come to Turner Field. Thanks to today’s afternoon shower - woohoo - I think you can actually do it without snorting pollen for the better part of three hours.
You’ll get Chuck James tonight, Mark Redman tomorrow, and a long-awaited taste of baseball.
It’s a rare chance to see some American League and the only chance to see the White Sox this year. The Braves get Minnesota, Cleveland, Boston, and Detroit in interleague play.
On the Braves end, we’re awaiting word of the last 12 roster cuts. Cox has been saying cuts would be today or tomorrow. Either way, I’ll be bursting, blogging, whatever b word the moment calls for, to keep you abreast.
Judging from the coverage of our esteemed Braves beat writer- O’Brien, who is catching his breath for two days - it wouldn’t seem there will be any huge surprises. He’s betting on Chris Woodward and Pete Orr as utility guys - over Willy Aybar who’s probably headed for the DL - and Chad Paraonto and Tyler Yates (out of options) in the bullpen. We shall see.
And on a bright note on a potentially dour day for those packing up for the minors, or worse: this day seven years ago, Ozzie Guillen was cut from the Braves 25-man roster as a backup shortstop. Today? He’s at Turner Field managing the White Sox, having already won a World Series ring.
Love stuff like that. …
I’m heading to park soon. If you don’t hear from me in a couple hours it means I got swallowed up by traffic and Final Four tourists have discovered my backroads. Let’s hope not!
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Let’s take ‘er north, boys
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We’re taking this thing north. Finally.
And if you denizens of the Braves/Man in Black and throughout Braves Nation are half as optimistic as the players are, you must be dying to get this thing started Monday at Philly.
I’m not kidding, as a group this is as eager and optimistic as I’ve heard the Braves in a few years. Everyone you ask in the clubhouse comments about how strong the bullpen is and the great chemistry in the clubhouse.
And everybody says “if.” As in, “if we stay healthy.”
“If everybody stays healthy, I like our chances,” Andruw Jones said. “No doubt we’ve got a great team. I love our chances.”
And what of the NL East champion Mets?
“Now they have got what we had every year _ the pressure to repeat the title,” Jones said. “We just have to go out and do what we do. Our main thing is, stay healthy. If we stay healthy, we’ve got a great chance.”
Oh, before I forget, must share a classic exchange from an hour or so ago in the dugout, before the last game down here at Disney, “Where Dreams Come True” (trademark). (And by the way, my dream is to be anywhere but here tomorrow).
A few of us are talking to Bobby Cox in the dugout and Andruw comes off the field during batting practice to get a drink of water.
“Play short today?” he asks Cox, the 1,000th or so time that Andruw has asked the manager about the possibility of the Gold Glove center fielder getting to play shortstop, where Andruw often takes ground balls in batting practice.
“Free agent year, I don’t think I should,” Cox says, laughing.
“[Bleep] free agent,” Jones answers, and spits out a mouthful of water. “It don’t mean nothing.”
Cox laughs and says, “That’s what I say. We’re on the same page, Andruw.”
And with that, I was just about on the floor, laughing so hard.
By the way, Andruw took batting practice wearing a jersey with “Dos Cinco” instead of his name above his No. 25. I’ll be stunned if he’s wearing it when they come back on the field for the game.
That won’t fly with Bobby, who doesn’t even let players wear their sunglasses on top of their hats when they’re taking batting practice. But for B.P., on the last day of spring in Florida, and with Andruw, the manager let it slide.
Roster decisions this weekend: The Braves are taking all 37 players left in camp to Atlanta for the Friday-Saturday games against unhinged manager Ozzie Guillen’s White Sox (I can kid about Guillen being a little wacko, because I’ve known him for a while since his coaching days with the Marlins. But some of the things that he says … wow. Hey, at least he’s honest. But wow.)
Where were we? Oh, the roster. Taking everyone north, and the final cuts will be made Friday or Saturday, Bobby said. He didn’t know which day he’d do it.
My gut feeling, barring any unforeseen developments, on the last spots: Pete Orr (over headed-to-the-DL Willy Aybar) and Chris Woodward as the backup infielders, and out-of-options Tyler Yates (unless he’s traded at the last minute) and Chad Paronto in the bully.
I think Lance Cormier’s going to get the last rotation spot over Kyle Davies, but only if Cormier’s arm is OK when he long-tosses today and tomorrow, but especially when he throws in the bullpen Saturday. That’ll be the real test.
Couple of injury updates: Ryan Langerhans has a bruised arm after getting hit by a pitch Wednesday, but he’ll be fine. Not playing today, but he took batting practice…. Mike Hampton keeps progressing, will accompany the Braves to Atlanta and Philly, pitch in sim-game conditions to hitters once in Philly, then return to Florida for an extended-spring game before starting a minor league rehab assignment. Still targeting early May for return, as early as first week of the month.
Most impressive springs: Among the young guys, Yunel Escobar and Martin Prado really opened eyes and let the Braves know by their performances that either is ready if needed this year.
If something were to happen to Chipper before Aybar (hand) is ready, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Escobar. Don’t think anything’s going to happen to Chipper, but just making a point _ they really were impressed by Escobar here.
The discs played most: These 10 did it for me this spring through 3,000 or so miles in the Hyundai Santa Fe SUV rental (which has a few coffee stains and a pleasant cigar aroma), and I’d recommend them to any with eclectic music tastes. Some very old, some very new, some somewhere between. All full-length CDs (none of that download-the-single crap for me, thanks. I’m a dinosaur). Oh, and Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” saved my life one night when I was dozing on drive back from Viera and put it in to jerk me back to alertness; but it was only time I played it down here, so didn’t make top 10:
Tom Waits “Orphans” (three-CD set)
Son Volt “The Search”
Centro-Matic “Fort Recovery”
Arcade Fire “Neon Bible”
Lucinda Williams “West”
Johnny Cash “Unearthed” (five-CD set)
Van Morrison “Astral Weeks” (does music get any better?)
The Dears “Gang of Losers”
The Birmingham Sound: The Soul of Neal Hemphill (compilation of incredible old soul music culled from the vaults of the great Southern studio owner/producer)
Elvis Presley “From Elvis in Memphis” (Kentucky Rain, In the Ghetto, etc)
Now take us out, brother Townes:
“PANCHO AND LEFTY” By Townes Van Zandt
Living on the road my friend,/Is gonna keep you free and clean
Now you wear your skin like iron,/Your breath as hard as kerosene.
You weren’t your mama’ss only boy,/But her favorite one it seems
She began to cry when you said goodbye,/And sank into your dreams.
Pancho was a bandit boy,/His horse was fast as polished steel
He wore his gun outside his pants/For all the honest world to feel.
Pancho met his match you know/On the deserts down in Mexico
Nobody heard his dying words,/Ah but that’s the way it goes.
All the federales say/They could have had him any day
They only let him slip away/Out of kindness, I suppose.
Lefty, he can’t sing the blues/All night long like he used to.
The dust that Pancho bit down south/Ended up in Lefty’s mouth
The day they laid poor Pancho low,/Lefty split for Ohio
Where he got the bread to go,/There ain’t nobody knows
The poets tell how Pancho fell,/And Lefty’s living in cheap hotels
The deserts quiet, Cleveland’s cold,/And so the story ends were told
Pancho needs your prayers it’s true,/But save a few for Lefty too
He only did what he had to do,/And now he’s growing old
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Frenchy halts skid with slam
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Can’t think of a better way to interrupt a slump than with a grand slam, which is what Jeff Francoeur did in the first inning today against the Mets.
He was in a 1-for-16 slide before crushing a 2-2 pitch from Mets righty Jon Adkins in the five-run first inning here at Tradition Field.
(And by the way, Tradition Field and Legends Field _ good thing those New York teams aren’t pretentious or anything….)
Says something about how hot Francoeur was for much of the spring that he was still hitting .305 coming into today despite his 1-for-16 jag.
He really does look a lot better at the plate, a little more patient, taking a few more pitches, and staying back on the ball a little longer in his slightly altered stance this spring.
Oh, and who is Jon Adkins? He’s one of six relievers scheduled to pitch today for the Metropolitans. They’re not using a starter today.
He’s the right-hander who was with San Diego last season, had a 3.98 ERA in 55 appearances.
Lance Cormier is feeling better ever day. The shoulder scare from Monday doesn’t look like it was serious, probably just mild inflammation in the lat-triceps area. But the Braves are going to be careful. He hoped to play catch back at Dark Star (Disney) today, but it sounded like the team might have him wait another day before testing it.
He’ll probably skip his scheduled turn Saturday vs. White Sox, but could still be in the opening day rotation if this is as minor as Cormier thinks it is and the Braves hope it is.
Oh, and here’s a good example of why Cormier was likely to beat out Kyle Davies for a rotation spot: After the Braves scored five runs in the first inning today, Davies walked the first three batters in the bottom of the inning.
He got out of it with relatively little damage, giving up one run on a double-play grounder and another on a Paul Lo Duca single. But just the wild streak was an reminder of the work Davies still needs to do to be able to throw strikes consistently. Those three first-inning walks raised his total to nine in 15 innings (not including the rest of today’s game; we’re in bottom of second now).
Glavine in Braves home opener: The Braves tried to sign Tom Glavine as a free agent this winter, and now they’re likely to face him in the home opener April 6 at Turner Field. He’s expected to start that game for the Mets. The Braves’ pitcher for the home opener is undetermined and could depend on Cormier’s health. It’ll be Cormier, Mark Redman or Davies, that much we know.
Glavine will start opening day Sunday for the Mets at St. Louis (Braves don’t open season until Monday at Philly), then have his regular rest before facing the Braves in each team’s fourth game.
“BOOM BOOM MANCINI” by Warren Zevon
Hurry home early - hurry on home/Boom Boom Mancini’s fighting Bobby Chacon
Hurry home early - hurry on home/Boom Boom Mancini’s fighting Bobby Chacon
From Youngstown, Ohio, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini/A lightweight contender, like father like son
He fought for the title with Frias in Vegas/And he put him away in round number one
Hurry home early - hurry on home/Boom Boom Mancini’s fighting Bobby Chacon
Hurry home early - hurry on home/Boom Boom Mancini’s fighting Bobby Chacon
When Alexis Arguello gave Boom Boom a beating/Seven weeks later he was back in the ring
Some have the speed and the right combinations/If you can’t take the punches it don’t mean a thing
Hurry home early - hurry on home/Boom Boom Mancini’s fighting Bobby Chacon
Hurry home early - hurry on home/Boom Boom Mancini’s fighting Bobby Chacon
When they asked him who was responsible/For the death of Du Koo Kim
He said, “Someone should have stopped the fight, and told me it was him.”
They made hypocrite judgments after the fact/But the name of the game is be hit and hit back
Hurry home early - hurry on home/Boom Boom Mancini’s fighting Bobby Chacon
Hurry home early - hurry on home/Boom Boom Mancini’s fighting Bobby Chacon
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Despite tonight, Braves look good
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m so tired of reading about the Red Sox in the last blog that I’ve posted a new one. Red Sox Nation my … hey, whoa, how you doing out there?
Actually I’m just late filing a blog. Bunch of stuff going on as we wind it down here in _ YIKES, we interrupt this blog to inform you that Scott Thorman just made a really bad, bounced throw past shortstop Edgar Renteria in the first inning on a potential double play. We’re gonna miss ‘Ol Rochy, folks….
Smoltz gave up three runs and three hits in the first inning against the Tigres.
Anyway, where were we? Oh, yes, had to write a Francoeur feature this afternoon (which I was going to write yesterday, before the Cormier injury changed the plan), then get my motorcycle over to the guy’s trailor for the trip back home, then wait around to find out about Cormier’s next-day status. In case you missed my update on the last blog, he’s feeling much better today.
Braves will take a wait-and-see approach before making any decisions about the first-week rotation. If I had to guess now, I think it’ll still be Cormier over Davies, but we’ll see. Wouldn’t really surprise me either way.
We’re going to keep this short tonight, since it’s late and all. No, really, we are. I always say that, but this one’s going to be brief.
How are you all feeling about this team?I’ve got to say, they look good, primarily because the pitching has been so solid, the bullpen transformed from sieve to strength, and depth in the rotation that makes what might be a terrible problem _ finding a fifth starter on short notice _ no problem at all, really.
Worse-case scenario, Cormier is DL’d retro to today and the Braves can bring him back late by the middle of the second week of the season, if they want to.
The lineup is going to be fine. I think Kelly Johnson _ who looks better than I expected at second base; actually looks quite good _ will do well in the leadoff role, better than Giles did last year with a higher OBP.
Thorman hasn’t been overly impressive this spring, frankly, but Ryan Langerhans’ solid spring makes it easier to consider a first base platoon. By that I mean, with Langerhans playing so well, Bobby Cox might not need to use Craig Wilson and his arthritic shoulder much in left field _ Langerhans and Diaz can handle it _ and can use him more than originally planned at first base.
The Braves said after LaRoche was traded that Thorman would probably get a chance to play every day, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. Just getting the feeling, from comments here, stuff overheard there, that Wilson is going to platoon with Thorman, which I think is a good idea.
Wilson has always raked against lefties, and Thorman hasn’t hit them much in the high minors or majors. Why try to force it with Thorman, when you’ve got a quality, proven hitter in Wilson, who might be more inclined to getting hurt playing left field and making a demanding throw from out there, when you can play him at first base against all lefties and maybe a few righties.
Wilson’s only signed for a year, and if Thorman plays well _ he’ll get plenty of at-bats, at least 350-400 even if he platoons _ then they can give him the full-time job next season. In the meantime, Wilson and his robust .296 career average (.938 OPS) against lefties are in the lineup plenty, either at first base and occasionally in left field.
WOW _ we interrupt the blog again. SMOLTZ just about got his head taken off by a Magglio Ordonez screamer up the middle. He ducked and it went past inches from his noggin.
What is it about his old hometown (Detroit) team and Smoltz? Couple weeks ago it was Carlos Guillen who hit Smoltz in the chest with a line drive that knocked him off his feet.
Enjoy the rest of the game if you’re watching on TV. And how’s the Boog-Joe team doing on the broadcast?
ONE MORE INTERRUPTION _ Andruw Jones just made a sensational catch on a dead sprint at the warning track, then hung on as he went into the wall. That one will be on SportsCenter, folks. The man is peerless, and the slimmed-down Andruw might be about as good as he’s ever been defensively. Should be fun to watch this season, even more than usual. Provided, of course, that you don’t start thinking about what the future might look like without him in center….
Lastly, in tribute to the late, great Warren Zevon, who had several of his best albums remastered and re-released today, here’s one of his gems.
One last interrupton (I promise, last one): Edgar just went deep, opposite-field homer down the right field line, his first of the spring. Braves down 5-2 after three.
(I wasn’t very brief, was I? Sorry. We’ll try to do better.)
“CARMELITA” by Warren Zevon
I hear Mariachi static on my radio/And the tubes they glow in the dark
And I’m there with her in Ensenada/And I’m here in Echo Park
Carmelita hold me tighter/I think I’m sinking down
And I’m all strung out on heroin/On the outskirts of town
Well, I’m sittin’ here playing solitaire/With my pearl-handled deck
The county won’t give me no more methadone/And they cut off your welfare check
Carmelita hold me tighter/I think I’m sinking down
And I’m all strung out on heroin/On the outskirts of town
Well, I pawned my Smith Corona/And I went to meet my man
He hangs out down on Alvarado Street/By the Pioneer chicken stand
Carmelita hold me tighter/I think I’m sinking down
And I’m all strung out on heroin/On the outskirts of town
Carmelita hold me tighter/I think I’m sinking down
And I’m all strung out on heroin/On the outskirts of town
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Francoeur alters “caveman” approach
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Chipper Jones hit .265 with 23 homers and 99 strikeouts in his first full season in the majors in 1995, and Jeff Francoeur hit .260 with 29 homers and 132 strikeouts in his first full season in the majors in 2006.
But that’s about where the hitting similarities between the Braves’ Golden Boys past and present (no offense to Brian McCann) probably start and end.
Francoeur will probably have a long and productive major league career, but he might never have anything approaching a .402 on-base percentage in any season, much less for 13 seasons (that’s Chipper’s career OBP).
They’re very different hitters, Jones the disciplined, patient switch-hitter with power, who uses the entire field and “takes what the pitcher gives him.” He doesn’t try to pull a well-placed, low-and-away strike when he’s protecting the plate on a 2-2 count. Jones hits it to the opposite field.
Francoeur has had what Jones called a “captain caveman” approach to hitting, at least until now. Frenchy admits as much, saying he tried to hit everything as hard as he could.
All that being said, Francoeur seems to be grasping the necessity of making adjustments and refining his approach if he wants to become a great hitter instead of a guy with a .260-.270 average, an anemic .300 OBP and a bunch of dramatic home runs. He’d like to keep the dramatic homers and improve the rest.
“We were saying the other day that we needed to stop the presses because he got a couple of hits to right field,” Jones said of Francoeur, who has indeed had several hits to the opposite (right) field this spring.
He’s hitting .321 this spring despite going 1-for-12 in his past four games. Francoeur, who’s getting a rest like most Braves regulars today, leads the team with three homers and has more RBIs (nine) than strikeouts (eight) in 56 at-bats.
“I was determined to have a better year as far as my batting average,” said Francoeur, who hit .300 in 70 games in 2005 before his average sunk last season in large part because pitchers exploited his first-pitch aggressiveness.
“It’s funny, I had a pretty good year last year,” he said. “But I went up there with no approach. I did pretty good having no clue what I’m doing. Watching McCann, Chipper and some other guys, I learned things.
“I’m a better hitter than .260. Finishing at .260 drove me to work and figure out what I could to make me a .290 or .300 hitter. I’m not going to be a .340 hitter, but there’s no reason I can’t be a .290-.300 hitter every year.”
Jones busts Francoeur’s chops all the time, because he likes him and wants to see him do well. Some fans might wonder if there’s ever been any jealousy from Jones toward the young kid with the cover-boy looks, who was already a near-legendary Atlanta high school athlete before he even signed with the Braves.
Well, there’s not. Or I should say, if there is, Jones has never given any indication of it. He’s been close with Francoeur since the day he entered the clubhouse, helping him when Frenchy asks for tips and sometimes when he doesn’t.
Jones took Francoeur and McCann under his wing. Kelly Johnson and Ryan Langerhans, too. He’s always taking them aside, talking to them about this pitcher or that one, and about the proper approach to hitting, to making pitchers throw you strikes and being willing to take a walk if they don’t.
Francoeur has only drawn 34 walks in 232 major league games, a stunningly low total. According to Stats Inc., he swung at 52.2 percent of first pitches, and Vlad Guerrero (49.2) was the other major league over 45 percent.
Even though he hasn’t drawn a walk yet this spring, he has been working a lot more pitchers, taking more first and second pitches to get into hitters’ counts, or at least to see what a pitcher is throwing and wait for a pitch to drive.
“The biggest thing I learned is unless it’s where I want it, don’t swing,” Francoeur said of his new approach to pitches at the beginning of a plate appearance. “Too many times last year I was 1-0 or 2-0 and gave away an at-bat by swinging at the next pitch just because I was ahead in the count.
“I looked at film this offseason and saw how pitchers took advantage of my aggressiveness. On the first pitch you could see [catchers] setting up off the corner of the plate and tapping their glove out here to make sure the pitcher threw off the plate.”
His new strategy is helping him, probably even more than the adjustment he made in his swing. He’s staying a little lower now, and bringing his front foot back slightly before striding forward.
“He just has to stay back,” McCann said of his best friend and former housemate. “He can’t get too anxious and hit the first pitch he sees _ and he realizes that. We’ve talked about it a number of times, about making pitchers come to him and throw strikes.
“[It makes a] huge difference. The more pitches they throw, the more likely they are to make a mistake.”
When someone mentioned that Francoeur should really be able to hit if he takes some pitches and waits for better ones to swing at, McCann smiled.
“He can hit when he doesn’t,” he said. “Twenty-nine bombs and 102 RBIs last year, helluva season _ for a rookie.”
Matt Diaz looks like a hockey player. And that’s not good. Diaz lost part a top front tooth this morning during batting practice when he leaned down to pick up the weighted bat donut and Chris Woodward accidentally hit him in the face with a bat as Woodward was loosening up.
“Woody, that’s the hardest hit you’ve had all spring,” cracked Craig Wilson.
When I mentioned to Diaz that he looked like a hockey player now, he said, “I don’t even like hockey.”
“You really look like you’re from Lakeland now,” another Brave joked to Diaz.
He was knocked to the ground by the impact, but got up and finished his round of batting practice as teammates and others looked for the bottom half of his damaged tooth, though it was doubtful that anything could be done with it.
The piece of tooth was found, and Diaz was scratched from the lineup and taken to his regular dentist an hour or so away in Lakeland, Fla.
You folks on the blogosphere tell me, someone who knows: Wouldn’t he have to get a cap for that? I doubt Bobby Cox’s good-natured suggestion _ “Super Glue” _ would do the trick.
A skeleton crew of a lineup: Even before Diaz was scratched, the Braves’ lineup looked more like a “B” game lineup, with the exception of Andruw Jones batting cleanup and Craig Wilson hitting fifth.
Pete Orr was playing third and leading off, Willie Harris in right batting second, Woodward at shortstop hitting third, Doug Clark replaced Diaz in left hitting sixth, and Martin Prado (2B) and catcher Corky Miller rounded out the lineup.
Bobby said he just wanted to give Chipper, McCann and Kelly Johnson a rest because they’ve played a lot lately, and backup catcher Brayan Pena was handling Mark Redman’s start in a Triple-A game here at Kissimmee against the Astros.
The fact that Redman is pitching in a Triple-A game means nothing. The Braves have been preparing six starters (they’ll choose five, obviously) and just want to keep everyone on regular rest, which means someone has had to pitch in a “B” game or a minor league game lately.
I’d be really surprised if Cormier and Redman aren’t the last two starters behind Smoltz, Hudson and Chuck James, with Kyle Davies headed to Richmond. I haven’t gotten any indication at all that the Braves are trying to trade any starter, even though they have a surplus in an area many teams are desperately short-handed.
When I mentioned to Bobby this morning that they would have seven legit major league starters when Hampton comes back in May, he said, “That’s good. I like to be in that position. Just subtract Redman and Hampton and see where we’d be.”
Have I mentioned Metallica saved my life? The other night driving back from Viera, I was falling asleep at the wheel of the rental car on a toll road, in traffic going about 80 mph. Not good. So I reached into the CD case for the only thing I thought might help: Metallica’s Master of Puppets.
The headbangers got me through the final 30 minutes of my drive in one piece, no driving on the shoulder. I thank them, and will have to include them in my list of top 10 CDs that have gotten me through this spring training later this week.
“IN SPITE OF ME” by Mark Sandman (Morphine)
Last night I told a stranger all about you/they smiled patiently with disbelief
I always knew you would succeed/no matter what you tried
and I know you did it all/in spite of me
Still I’m proud to have known you/for the short time that I did
Proud to have been a step up on your way
Proud to be a part of your illustrious career
and I know you did it all/in spite of me
In spite of me
Late last night/I saw you in my living room
You seemed so close but yet so cool
For a long time I thought that you’d be coming back to me
Those kind of thoughts can be so cruel
So cruel
And I know you did it all/in spite of me
In spite of me
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We’re sleep-deprived but stomach virus-free
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The creeping crud still has a few Braves back at Dark Star dehydrated and weakened, but we soldier on, sleepless but stomach virus-less, toward the finish line of spring training, the 5K preamble to the marathon that is the regular season.
Today’s stop is Clearwater and Bright House Field, which is close to perfect once you get past that typically awful corporate name. This place is a few years old and could be the blueprint for how to build a modern spring-training park, with a little second deck made of steel and a grass berm surrounding almost the entire outfield.
Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that it sits between the bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Niiice. Palm trees and flags are fluttering in the breeze, sun’s shining.
By the way, during batting practice Jeff Francoeur hit a couple of balls up to Frenchy’s, the thatched-roof bar/restaurant beyond the left-field fence. He was quite pleased.
I saw assistant GM Frank Wren working the CrackBerry even more than usual during batting practice today, and the Braves have a couple of their top scouts/special assistant types here, Jim Fregosi and Bobby Wine. Bobby Cox spent a lot of time huddled with them in the dugout during B.P.
In other words, I won’t be the least bit surprised if a trade goes down in the next few days. I don’t think it’ll be anything big, probably the Braves trading a spare infielder or infield prospect for a prospect in an area where they’re thin, or for a journeyman type that might be good to have at Richmond and help out in case of injury. I know that’s a broad range, but I’m just not hearing specific names. If I do, I’ll let you know.
Rafael Furcal’s ankle injury wasn’t nearly as bad as they first feared, just a minor sprain that probably won’t keep him out more than 4-5 days. So I don’t know that the Dodgers will feel compelled to offer anything of value for Tony Pena Jr. or another young Braves infielder.
You know how quickly this stuff can change, so I’ll let you know if I hear anything from the scouts, scribes or attractive hostesses in the press lounge.
Kyle Davies is pitching today… Who’d have thought two months ago that Davies might bring a 2.25 ERA into his final Grapefruit League start and still have seemingly little chance of making the opening day rotation?
Unless I’m really getting a bad read on this, I get no indication that Davies will be kept over Mark Redman or Lance Cormier. But Bobby Cox isn’t showing his cards, other than his comment a couple days ago that certainly made it sound like Redman is assured of a spot (which should have been obvious anyway, since the Braves went out and signed him to a $750,000 contract that’s far below market value for a veteran starter who can probably be counted on for 10-12 wins.)
We’re supposed to see Mike Gonzalez in relief of Davies. Gonzalez said a couple outings ago, after giving up two runs and a homer, that he was only an outing away from being ready to crank up the intensity how his arm was feeling strong.
In two outings since, he’s allowed one hit and no walks in two scoreless innings.
Davies is going against lefty J.A. Happ, a non-roster invitee who was rated the No. 8 prospect in the Phillies organization by Baseball America. Happ didn’t give up a run in his first two starts, but got whacked for six runs, six hits and two walks in just two innings of a pounding at Houston’s hands March 12 in his last start.
Phillies expected to toe the slab after Happ exits include Tom Gordon and Ryan Madson today.
Is there a Grapefruit League ERA title? I don’t know and don’t care, but the Braves are third in the NL (Grapefruit and Cactus circuits) with a 3.97 ERA, which includes a few hideous numbers for pitchers no longer in camp.
Spring stats are relatively unimportant, but it’s worth noting that four Braves starters were among the Grapefruit League’s top 10 ERA qualifiers before today: Cormier (1.29), Tim Hudson (1.80), John Smoltz (1.80) and Chuck James (2.57).
Davies doesn’t have enough innings to qualify, nor does journeyman Buddy Carlyle (0.00 ERA in 10 innings).
Langerhans among stricken: The stomach virus did to Ryan Langerhans what pitchers have not been able to _ put him on his back and cooled that bat. He ranks among Grapefruit League leaders with a .375 average, but missed his second straight game because of the bug that’s bit a handful of Braves this week.
Matt Diaz was back in the lineup Friday, told me he lost five pounds in one day (I’ll spare details) and spent the morning chugging PowerAde on the bus ride over here.
OK, game’s starting. Gonna watch a little ‘ball. Chipper just doubled to the left-center gap in the first inning….
“If Drinkin’ Don’t Kill Me, Her Memory Will” by George Jones
The bars are all closed/It’s four in the morning
Must have shut ‘em all down/By the shape that I’m in
I lay my head on the wheel/And the horn begins honking
The whole neighborhood knows/That I’m home drunk again
And if drinking don’t kill me/Her memory will
I can’t hold out much longer/The way that I feel
With the blood from my body/I could start my own still
And if drinking don’t kill me/Her memory will
These old bones they move slow/But so sure of their footsteps
As I trip on the floor/And lightly touch down
Lord it’s been ten bottles/Since I tried to forget her
But the memory still lingers/Lying here on the ground
And if drinking don’t kill me/Her memory will
I can’t hold out much longer/The way that I feel
With the blood from my body/I could start my own still
But if drinking don’t kill me/Her memory will.
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Chipper apologizes to writer; let the pigeons loose!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fourteen years into his major league career, there was another “first” for Chipper Jones on Thursday.
Hoss apologized to a reporter.
No, seriously. He did. But first up, we have NEWS.
I’m hearing whispers that Brian McCann might be close to signing a multi-year contract. If so, that’d be a very wise move by the Braves, who couldn’t pick a better guy to “lock up” long term.
(They should also do it with Jeff Francoeur, but not sure if they’re in agreement with Frenchy on value, given the fact that he was just unilaterally renewed by the club when the parties couldn’t even agree on his salary for 2007.)
Anyway, I’ll let you know soon as I hear something on McCann.
Next, I need to inform you of a pitching change for today’s game. John Smoltz is going instead of Kyle Davies. No big deal, it just works better for Smoltz to have a more normal schedule as he approaches his opening day start, and he won’t have to face Philadelphia Friday, the team he’ll pitch against on opening day.
They flip-flopped the two, and Davies will now go tomorrow vs. Philadelphia. Smoltz is now going on regular rest today since his last start Saturday vs. St. Louis, and Davies will be on six days’ rest tomorrow.
Smoltz is scheduled to start March 27 vs. Detroit, then perhaps pitch a tune-up inning if he needs one during the March 30-31 games vs. the White Sox at Turner Field before starting opening day April 2 at Philly.
Davies is competing with Lance Cormier for the last available spot in the rotation, but at this point it seems more likely Davies will be the opening day starter at Richmond.
Now, the apology.
When he saw a couple of us standing near his locker this morning, Chipper asked, “Where’s Travis?” Meaning Travis Haney of Morris News Service.
Unfortunately, Travis wasn’t there yet. So the actual apology will have to wait until after this interminable closed-door players’ association meeting with Don Fehr ends and we writers can race down to the field and see Chipper tell young Haney he’s sorry. Travis says we’ll have to wait to see what his reaction will be, but that it will probably be indifference.
(Hey, he’s headed off to cover Steve Spurrier and South Carolina in a couple of weeks, so what the hell does he care whether Hoss apologizes?)
Oh, the setup: Travis was the one who asked him on Saturday morning if he was sure he didn’t want to talk, after Jones had twice that morning declined to discuss his health status after being scratched the night before with a strained oblique.
“How many times do I have to say it,” Jones snapped at him. And that was that.
Chipper kinda acted like a jerk. Something I do only once every six or seven hours. But he’s paid a lot more money, so he’s supposed to be nice (OK, it doesn’t work that way, but it should, right? No? OK, nevermind).
Now the oblique is feeling good and Chipper is feeling bad _ for his admittedly overzealous reaction to a simple request for a comment on his oblique. OK, he’s not feeling that bad, but we ink-stained wretches (actually, I’m just a coffee-stained wretch today, spill on my authentic guayabera purchased by ex-wife in Miami) tend to take any bone thrown our way and then exaggerate this stuff.
So let’s do that. We all know he’s tired of talking about his injuries, but long as one of the faces of the franchise keeps getting hurt, he’s going to get asked. It’s our job.
Anyway, I don’t want to overplay this (yes, I do). It really wasn’t a big deal when it happened. There are tense moments throughout a season between reporters and players, reporters and the manager, etc. It’s the nature of the beast.
“I jumped his [stuff] pretty good,” Chipper said, and gave it one of those patented Chipper smirks that said he was getting a kick out of this apology thing.
Relatively speaking, this was nothing. The only reason it was even noteworthy was that it was Chipper, who rarely snaps like that (he usually just stays in the player’s lounge and plays cards or watches a NASCAR race if he doesn’t want to talk to us), and, as previously mentioned, never apologizes to a writer.
It was funny more than anything else. There’s no tension, not that any of you would give a rat’s a@* one way or another. This kind of stuff actually spices up the mundane stretches of a season sometime, and especially the dog days of spring training.
Oh, yeah, Chipper’s playing today.
At least Betemit’s playing, right? The old Aybar-for-Betemit trade isn’t looking particularly good for either side right now (I like to update it every few days, to stoke the passion that some still have for one dog or the other in this race, as it were). But at least Betemit’s playing. Not particularly well, but at least he’s playing.
Aybar keeps sitting, and at least a few Braves folks are wondering now about Aybar’s desire. He played hurt last year after injuring his hand in his first game with the Braves, but now he’s sitting out far longer than anyone imagined would be necessary due to soreness in his wrist.
It’s not like the Braves can do much with him, other than DL him. They traded away Betemit to get him, so they certainly aren’t going to dump the switch-hitting Aybar, who’s out of options and has plenty of talent, when he actually plays.
Maybe this will all blow over soon, if Aybar gets back on the field. But it seems more likely he’ll start the season on the DL now, since he’s only played three games this spring (4-for-9, home run).
The only thing good that could possibly come out of that would be if it somehow allowed the Braves to keep Tony Pena Jr., say by having him on the opening day roster and then trying to slip him through waivers a couple of weeks into the season. He’s out of options and it seems unlikely Pena would clear waivers if the Braves tried to get him through before the season opener.
It’s sometimes easier to get guys through after teams set their rosters and start the season, since they want to see the guys they’ve got at that point. But even then, some teams are looking for such a late move by other teams.
Pena is, by all accounts, outstanding defensively at shortstop and very solid at 3B and 2B, by major league standards. And he’s starting to hit more now _ .282 last year at Richmond (though only 17 extra-base hits including one homer), after hitting below .260 in each of his previous six minor league seasons.
Oh, almost forgot: Betemit was hitting .211 (8-for-38) before today with no homers, two doubles, two RBIs, two walks, a .268 OBP and .263 slugging percentage.
At least he’s playing.
“INTO THE MYSTIC” by Van Morrison
We were born before the wind/Also younger than the sun
Ere the bonnie boat was won/as we sailed into the mystic
Hark, now hear the sailors cry/Smell the sea and feel the sky
Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic
And when that fog horn blows I will be coming home
And when that fog horn blows I want to hear it
I don’t have to fear it
I want to rock your gypsy soul/Just like way back in the days of old
Then magnificently we will float into the mystic
And when that fog horn blows you know I will be coming home
And when that fog horn whistle blows I got to hear it
I don’t have to fear it
I want to rock your gypsy soul/Just like way back in the days of old
And together we will float into the mystic
Come on girl…
Too late to stop now
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Braves pitching shakes out like this
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
No time for sleep and proper diet or exercise in this mind-numbing stretch of spring training, when the weather’s absolutely perfect outside here in Florida but the motorcycle sits in the garage, me unable to ride because of a list of stories and other stuff due by Monday for the AJC special section.
But time must be made to feed the beast that is the Braves/Man in Black.
So before I get back to knocking out these player-bio boxes and drive over to Viera on the coast for a night game against the godawful Nationals _ OK, folks, what’s the over-and-under on Nat losses? I’m going 115 _ let’s do this.
We covered the so-called position-player question marks (LF, 2B, 1B) in the last blog, at least to some degree. So let’s hit on the pitching situation today.
Unless I’m misreading it _ possible, but I don’t think so _ then as I’ve said for a couple of weeks, I think Cormier beats out Davies for the final spot in the rotation (which is technically the No. 4 spot, but only because that’s the way it was laid out when Hampton was still projected to be in the rotation and they wanted him to have an extra couple days’ rest before what would have been his first spring start, had it not been delayed, delayed and then blown away after he pulled his oblique).
So it’ll be Smoltz, Hudson (who has looked a bit shaky at times this spring, despite his good numbers), Chuck James (also a bit shaky at times this spring, but not sure he knows it’s spring or that opening day is in, what, 12 days?), Cormier (who’s been too good this spring and last September to keep out of the rotation), and Mark Redman (who might just be the softest-tossing pitcher in the majors besides Jaime Moyer, but should be good for 10 wins with run support).
Now, what happens when/if Hampton comes back in May, assuming he avoids straining his back or pulling a calf, quad or hammy while rehabbing the oblique? Well, they ain’t paying the former 22-game winner $14.5 million to pitch for Richmond for the summer, and I’m told by a somewhat reliable source that the Braves aren’t getting insurance money for his time on the DL this year or next, that they weren’t able to renew the policy when it ran out after last season.
Which makes sense, given that the only two or three big companies that write policies on ginormous-salaried baseball players stopped writing them for more than three years back in the late 1990s, when they got taken over the coals on a few marquee players who fell apart in the middle of huge contracts.
Anyway, what happens to Hampton? He moves back into the rotation, either for someone who’s injured or someone who’s stinking it up, or just the unlucky person who’s making the least money and/or has options left (Cormier would fit the bill on both counts among the current rotation, not including Davies).
Some of you have asked about Redman, whether they might drop the lefty and go with Davies and Cormier in the last two spots. Can’t see that happening. They didn’t rush to sign Redman to an extremely affordable ($750,000) contract after Hampton’s injury so they could drop Redman after Davies had a couple of decent spring starts.
Say what you will about Redman. Say he can’t break a pane of glass with a rock and a running start (who said that? that’s mean), but the guy knows how to pitch at the major league level and has been consistent, even if consistently just-decent with a one-year splash of good, most of his career. Being consistent at the major league level is something Davies, talented as he is, is not. Not yet.
And the Braves _ or Davies _ probably can’t afford to have him go through another rollicking ride of highs and lows, with three-inning shellings that tax the bullpen and put the defense on its heels and suck the life out of a team in the early part of the season.
Davies could certainly benefit from having a couple months, or more, of solid, consistent performances at Richmond, to rebuild his confidence and remind him of how good a pitcher’s pitcher he can be.
He’s still too young and too talented to even begin to think about writing him off. I still think in a couple of years we’ll be looking at a solid major league pitcher and Davies will be talking about those first couple of seasons and what a great learning experience it was going through the struggles and injuries.
As for the bullpen… Again, as we’ve said for a while here, I think the last two spots, the only semi-available spots (though not really, if you know what I mean) entering spring training, will go to Tyler Yates, who’s out of options, and Chad Paronto, the “groundball guy” Bobby Cox likes to have (remember Kevin Gryboski, who stuck around long after he stopped being effective? Paronto’s effective most of the time, so he should stick a while).
Buddy Carlyle hasn’t given up a run this spring, but he’s a journeyman with barely half a season of major league service in 11 years of pro ball, including a couple of seasons in Japan. There’s usually a reason for that. Can some guys figure something out, or develop a pitch later in their careers, or just finally get the break they deserved? Yes, see Kenny Ray, or Peter Moylan. But….
But they’re not going to waive Yates to make room for Carlyle, who will likely go to Richmond and get a call at some point this summer, provided he’s effective down there. That’s what a performance like his in spring training can do for you _ move you to the front of the line when it comes time to call down to Richmond for help. If the bosses remember what you did in spring training, it helps.
Trade winds blowing? I don’t know. I suspect a deal will happen, but just haven’t heard any rumors yet from reliable enough sources to throw your way. But when I do, I’ll certainly share them. As we’ve said, Braves have middle infielders to spare, including out-of-options Tony Pena Jr., if any team will offer anything for him. But since teams know he’s likely to be waived, it’s tough to imagine the Braves will get much in return at this late date.
I know several teams are interested in Escobar and at least one or two in Prado, but don’t know if the Braves are willing to let either go for what they’ve been offered. Escobar’s stock has risen this spring, for sure, because he’s hit, fielded well, and demonstrated a better attitude than he had last year at Double-A Mississip.
And Prado has been talked up at every turn by the Braves, which to me sounds like they’re trying to get a team to bite on him as an every-day second baseman.
The Braves also have some extra bullpen arms they could trade, but again, it remains to be seen what teams will offer for the less-than-accomplished older guys that Atlanta has available.
Here’s one thing I can guarantee: Richmond is going to have a hell of a lot better Triple-A team than it did last season.
More on McCann…. Some of you remarked on my Brian McCann story and how astounded you were by the stats. Well, they’re even more impressive in full context. For instance, his .471 average (24-for-51) with runners in scoring position and two outs not only led the major leagues, but by a huge margin. Next-highest was some guy named Albert Pujols (.435), followed by Texas’ Michael Young (.426) and NL batting champion Freddy Sanchez (.421).
And in all situations with men on base, McCann led the majors with a .368 average, ahead of AL batting champion Joe Mauer (.367). Only other guys as high as .360: Derek Jeter (.366), Sanchez (.364), Pudge Rodriguez (.362) and Lance Berkman (.361).
McCann was in some tall cotton, indeed.
Jason Isbell was in fine form: Took a few hours away from work last night to see the Drive-By Truckers’ guitarist do a solo show at a great dive in Orlando. By solo, I mean without the other Truckers. But he has a crack band playing with him on this little tour, and the material is excellent, both the solo stuff off his upcoming album and, yes, a bunch of DBT songs.
Which really was a pleasant surprise. I mean, about 50-60 of us (that’s how many there were by the end) are standing in this hole-in-the-wall bar watching Isbell and his band play “Decoration Day” and “Outfit,” two of my favorite Truckers songs. And they closed with an ode to a Floridian, doing an excellent cover of Gainesville son Tom Petty’s “American Girl.” A good night.
Oh, one more note and a thank you: To all the bloggers, seamheads and pop-culture sponges who’ve made the Braves/Man in Black a pretty good place to hang out and engage in discourse about ‘ball, BBQ, J.R. (Cash) and other music giants, and Scorsese, Uma, Penelope and other luminaries of the silver screen. We won a Best of Cox (not from Bobby, from our newspaper chain) award for top blog. And that has at least as much to do you with you all as it does with me.
“DECORATION DAY” by Jason Isbell
It’s Decoration Day/And I’ve a mind to roll a stone on his grave.
But what would he say/”Keeping me down, boy, won’t keep me away.”
It’s Decoration Day/And I knew the Hill Boys would put us away,
but my Daddy wasn’t afraid/He said “We’ll fight till the last Lawson’s last living day.”
I never knew how it all got started/a problem with Holland before we were born
and I don’t know the name of that boy we tied down/and beat till he just couldn’t walk anymore.
But I know the caliber in Daddy’s chest/and I know what Holland Hill drives.
The state let him go, but I guess it was best/cause nobody needs all us Lawsons alive.
Daddy said one of the boys had come by/the Lumber Man’s favorite son.
He said, “Beat him real good but don’t dare let him die/and if you see Holland Hill run.
Now I said, “they ain’t give us trouble no more/that we ain’t brought down on ourselves.”
But a chain on my back and my ear to the floor/and I’ll send all the Hill Boys to hell.
It’s Decoration Day/and I’ve got a family in Mobile Bay
and they’ve never seen my Daddy’s grave./But that don’t bother me, it ain’t marked anyway.
Cause I got dead brothers in Lauderdale south/and I got dead brothers in east Tennessee.
My Daddy got shot right in front of his house/he had no one to fall on but me.
It’s Decoration Day/and I’ve got a mind to go spit on his grave.
If I was a Hill, I’d have put him away/and I’d fight till the last Lawson’s last living day.
I’d fight till the last Lawson’s last living day.
I’d fight till the last Lawson’s last living day.
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Two weeks to go, what do we know?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After thirty-four days, 2,100 rental-car miles, 12-15 cigars and approximately 300 cups of coffee (conservative estimate), what have we learned about this Braves squad with only two weeks until opening day?
Glad you asked.
A few things, but not much definitive in the areas that were considered question marks.
Yes, Kelly Johnson looks like he can play at least serviceable defense at second base, but has he played well enough this spring to absolutely win the job? No. But that’s if there was an open competition for the job, which we’ve said several times, doesn’t appear to have been the case.
It was probably his to lose unless he fell on his face, and he hasn’t fallen on his face. So Johnson will almost certainly be the opening-day second baseman, and Martin Prado and his .406 batting average will either earn him a spot as a utility man for Atlanta or he’ll be back in the minors.
Some will say that means baseball, like life, isn’t always fair. But the Braves aren’t going to base an important decision on three weeks of spring games against a mix of minor- and major-league pitching.
And at least consider this: Johnson had a .281 average with 131 doubles, 72 homers and 274 RBIs in 2,142 minor league at-bats, while Prado has a .299 average with 87 doubles, 12 homers and 191 RBIs in 1,915 at-bats. Prado never drew more than 41 walks in a minor league season; Johnson drew 71 walks one year, and 51 and 49 in two others.
The Braves believe he can hit for .280 or higher average with 20 homers and a high on-base percentage in the majors, though maybe not right away. Prado does not project anywhere near that high in homers and isn’t a high OBP-type guy. He’s the far better defensive player, but on balance the Braves clearly thought enough of Johnson’s potential to convert him from outfield and pencil him into the 2B/leadoff spot over the winter.
And they aren’t going to chance that opinion based on three weeks of spring training games, I’m pretty certain.
That said, I think Prado’s chances of sticking around have improved in the past few days with Willy Aybar’s continued absence due to the sore hand/wrist. He was supposed to play vs. Cincinnati on Sunday but said he still couldn’t hit left-handed, and apparently he didn’t want to hit right-handed vs. a right-hander.
So the switch-hitting utility man continues to sit, with a total of nine at-bats in three games and perhaps a tenuous spot as the Braves’ backup third baseman when the season begins.
Given Chipper Jones’ health, can the Braves feel comfortable starting the season with Aybar as his backup? They’re not saying no, but I’m getting the impression they are getting uneasy now with his continued absence.
Yunel Escobar, the Cuban shortstop/third baseman who has impressed everyone _ and I mean everyone, even the cynics and grizzled types who don’t buy into hype _ is starting at third base again today. In part because Pete Orr fouled a ball off his shin yesterday (he’s OK, could have played) but also because the Braves want to see Escobar (.452 average, just one strikeout in 31 at-bats before today) as much as they can at a position he could end up playing some this season.
I don’t think they’ve ruled out the possibility of Escobar on the opening-day roster, since Chris Woodward could handle backup second base and shortstop if Escobar was needed for a stretch at third base. They would prefer to get him more seasoning, since he hasn’t played above Double-A, but Escobar is so impressive, so physically ready and so much more mature in his attitude this spring, he’s getting a good look.
And as reluctant as he was to play second base last season, Escobar hasn’t expressed any reluctance to take grounders in early work at second base this spring, and you can be assured he woudn’t object to playing there if it helped him stay on the roster.
A lot of teams are interested in Escobar, but I’m getting the impression the Braves are really not anxious to deal him unless they get a lot of talent in return, even though they’ve got middle infielders stacked up in the system. He’s special, in that his power potential separates him from most other prospects at his position, and makes him a legit candidate for an every-day third-base job if that’s where he was needed by a team.
The same can’t be said for Prado, who doesn’t hit for enough power to be a third baseman, but could play second base for a team that gets plenty of power elsewhere.
Scott Thorman is coming around: He’s started hitting the ball in the past week or so the way the Braves hoped he would and expected he would. Thorman said he always gets off to slow starts in the spring. “My swing just takes time to thaw,” the Canadian joked today when I asked him about it. He’s still hitting only .244 with no homers, two RBIs and 10 strikeouts in 45 at-bats, but he’s had two doubles and a triple in the past few days and hit a few other balls on the screws, as the baseball folks like to say.
But while Thorman is coming around, I think Craig Wilson has already won enough points with Bobby Cox to assure he’s going to get plenty of playing time at first base, and perhaps even open the season in a straight platoon, whether it’s announced or not. We’ll see. But Wilson looks good at the plate, and his sore shoulder has prevented him from playing the outfield except for one game.
Ryan Langerhans is doing what he needed to do: With Wilson unable to play left field most of the spring, and Matt Diaz scuffling (.216, two doubles, no homers, nine strikeouts in 37 at-bats), Langerhans’ .378 average (14-for-37) and two homers are looking pretty damn good, especially given his far superior defense over the other LF candidates. His beloved Longhorns bit it yesterday, but “Langy” is having a heck of a spring.
OK, we rambled with that stuff. We’ll have to wait and address what we’ve learned about the pitching staff in tomorrow’s blog. But let me know what you guys think is going to happen with the infield, the backups, and with LF. I’m curious to know what you think will happen and what should happen.
”BLACK EYE” by Jeff Tweedy (of Uncle Tupelo)
He had a black eye/He was proud of
Like some of his friends/it made him feel somewhere outside/of everything and everywhere he’d been
Like his brothers/he emptied himself/and played it safe
Like their father/he wanted to remember/but he almost always/forgot what he was gonna say
Black eye
Black eye
When he realized/that this one was here to stay
He took down/all the mirrors in the hallway/and thought only of his younger face
Black eye
Black eye
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Braves rotation is firming up
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just sitting here enjoying a cigar and some watermelon on a warm, humid Florida day by the pool on the rental-house patio with the new Albert Hammond Jr. CD playing on the rental-house CD player.
Hey, I hate night games in spring, but might as well enjoy the afternoon if a night game’s on the Braves’ schedule, right?
We get our second look at Braves newcomer Mark Redman tonight when he faces Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter in the first of a two-game set with the World Series champions at the ballpark of Entertainment Sports Sector. The game’s on TV (FSN South) _ for those who want to flip back and forth from KU-Niagara.
After Lance Cormier’s lights-out work against the Yankees last night (five scoreless, and it was a particularly impressive five scoreless), it’ll be interesting to see of Redman can pitch as well as he did in his Braves debut last week, when he pitched so well against the Pirates after not having even sim-game work since last fall.
If Redman pitches well the rest of the spring, as I said this morning on the previous blog, I really think the Braves would actually have fewer questions about their rotation today than they did before Mike Hampton got hurt taking batting practice a week ago.
As odd as that might sound initially, consider that the Braves would have a guy (Redman) penciled in who’ll give you 10-12 wins, maybe slightly more, since he’s done that even with bad teams in recent years. And you have a guy (Cormier) who has been consistently solid in his three starts this season and was also good in most of his starts last year, despite the 2-4 record in nine games as a starter.
He had a 4.31 ERA in nine starts in 2006, and the Braves scored one or no runs while he was in five of those games, and three or fewer in three others. Four of his last six starts were quality starts (six innings of more, three or fewer earned runs) and he gave up two runs or fewer in four of five September starts.
I’m not completely writing off Kyle Davies yet for the opening day rotation, but all signs point to Cormier and Redman in the last two spots. They didn’t sign Redman to not have him in the rotation.
Davies can only benefit from going to Richmond and getting a good month or half-season under his belt to regain confidence and get that groin injury out of his mind without worrying about it while facing major league hitters.
And once Hampton’s healthy, the Braves won’t have to count on him as heavily as they were before. But if he’s healthy, what a boost he could be this summer. Either way, the Braves are going to have depth they sorely lacked last season, with Davies and Hampton in the wings (assuming Cormier wins the final spot).
OK, back to hoops: No major damage done to my first-day bracket. Three losses, but all three teams that let me down (Texas Tech, Gonzaga, Duke) I had going out in next round anyway.
I couldn’t watch anymore NCAA coverage on ESPN News this morning because I can’t watch that twerpy host ESPN must feel obligated to keep around since he won their awful game-show host contest/reality show a couple years ago, the show hosted by insufferable Stuart “Cooler than the other side of the pillow” Scott.
And please, ESPN, a nation implores you (or at least I do): More Stacey Dales and less Stacey King on hoops coverage. Nothing against King. Good player, had some great games against my Jayhawks back in the day. Not a terrible analyst.
But both Staceys played at Oklahoma, and I’m guessing one of them is absolutely fine with most KU fans, or most college hoops fans in general. And it’s the one formerly known as Stacey Dales-Schuman. She’s tough, knowledgeable, keeps Digger in line, and, oh yeah, flat-out gorgeous.
Success sans Strokes: I really like this Albert Hammond Jr. album, “Yours to Keep.” It’s the solo debut by the Strokes guitarist, and I really like it better than either of the last two Strokes albums, which I never got into. Totally different sound.
He draws on influences of ‘50s and ‘60s rockers and incorporates a mellow, earthy vibe into the mix. You can tell he was influenced by bands his dad was around or listened to (Albert Hammond wrote and sang the great song “It Never Rains in Southern California,” among others in the ‘60s and ‘70s).
Speaking of great songs, I hadn’t heard the Flaming Lips’ cover of “Space Age Love Song” (yes, the Flock of Seagulls song) until I got this “20 Years of Weird: 1986-2006” compilation by the Lips. Nice homage to the Seagulls song, with tons of psychedelic guitars instead of synths. It somehow works.
Open House at Turner Field: I keep forgetting to mention this, but at least I remembered today. The Braves are having a free “open house” thing tomorrow (Saturday) at Turner Field for fans, who can watch the Braves-Cardinals game on the high-def ginormous video board in center field (it’s televised by SportsSouth tomorrow). Gates at Turner Field open at noon, game starts at 1:05.
Here’s some other stuff from the press release, which I don’t have time to go over because I’ve gotta shower and get to the ballpark:
Fans can register to win autographed Braves items in between every inning, visit the Braves Museum and Hall of Fame, and tour the Braves Dugout and Clubhouse, play games in Scout’s Alley and Tooner Field (hey, I’m just repeating the release here, folks), see the Braves Heavy Hitters Drumline perform and meet the Braves Tomahawk Team (that might be worth the price right there, especially since it’s free).
There’s also a “Select A Seat” going on at same time for the 2007 season (you didn’t think they were going to pass up an opportunity to sell tix, did you?)
Everyone but Frenchy to face the Yanks
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
EVIL EMPIRE, Fla. — Coming to you from the spring home of the other Empire, the Yankees’ Legends Field, where I just walked in the door and was immediately asked by a N.Y. scribe whether the Braves would be bringing out-of-options infielder Tony Pena Jr. on the trip.
I think it had more to do with his dad being a Yankees first-base coach than possible trade interest from the Yankees, who are pretty well locked in with Miguel Cairo, for better or worse.
While I’m thinking about it, Braves brought almost everyone over, the entire lineup except Jeff Francoeur. Craig Wilson is hitting fifth as DH and T.J. Bohn is playing right and batting seventh.
Neither of the still-hurting utility men, Chris Woodward and Willy Aybar, is on the travel roster for the Braves, whose bus hasn’t arrived yet (traffic pretty brutal entering Tampa). Barring a late change, we can assume yet another day of no at-bats for those two.
Both are going to need to start playing very soon to get ready, but as Bobby Cox pointed out yesterday, the minor league spring games are about to start, and either or both of them can go over and hit in every inning of a game or two on that side to build at-bats quickly.
Aybar’s hand/wrist thing, however, could be one of those nagging injuries that is only going to linger if he dives in with a ton of work 0-to-60 in nothing flat. Keep in mind, as we get nearer to opening day, Aybar is out of options, so he’ll either have to be on the roster or on the DL.
Speaking of the Aybar trade — damn the transitions, the blog’s late as it is — those of you who might be of the opinion that Wilson Betemit-for-Aybar and Danys Baez was a bad trade for the Braves, not so fast.
I was just talking to someone in L.A. and they’re so concerned about Betemit’s spotty hitting late last season and this spring, they’ve seriously discussed moving Nomar Garciaparra to third base. Betemit was 5-for-26 (.231) with one extra-base hit (double), one RBI, a team-high seven strikeouts and a .250 on-base percentage and .481 OPS before today.
Andy LaRoche (Adam’s kid brother) has a chance to win the job, but he’s not hitting much better and had a staggering six errors in 10 games (Betemit had two in one game vs. the Braves, but I don’t think he’s had any others).
In a related note, a report out of Cleveland says the Indians are concerned about former Braves third-base prospect Andy Marte, who hit .226 in 164 at-bats in the second half last season.
He was hitting .240 with one homer and no walks in 24 at-bats this spring before today, and had played only six games at third base this spring, because the Indians are taking a look at several others at third including Casey Blake, who had been expected to platoon with Trot Nixon in right field.
The scouting report on Marte is the same as it was when he was traded from the Braves: Feed him breaking balls away, he can’t hit them.
How can this be? The Braves have Bob Wickman, Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano in their bullpen, and the Red Sox have as a closer — Mike Timlin, who is 41 and injured and might not be ready for the season opener. If he can’t go, they might have to turn to never-a-dull-moment Julian Tavarez.
Of course, the Sox can always move Jonathan Papelbon back from the rotation to the closer role, where he was the best in the majors for much of last season.
As for the Braves, I think we’ve already seen the importance of having all three of those guys. What looked like overkill to some — including me — when the Braves were making the moves now looks a bit more shrewd. Not that spring performances are overly important for veterans, but so far Wickman has been more hittable than we saw after he was traded to the Braves in July, and Gonzalez has been erratic with his command as he tries to recapture his form and arm strength after missing the final month of the 2006 season with elbow tendinitis.
Meanwhile, the one of the three that so many folks here seemed to have doubts about, Soriano, is the guy who looks practically unhittable and very intimidating this spring.
Marcus to leadoff again? Saw in Buster’s always-informative blog today that the Padres are apparently leaning toward having Marcus Giles bat leadoff instead of Termel Sledge.
Either Marcus’ attitude about the position must have changed dramatically or the Padres have told him they absolutely don’t want him to change his aggressive approach and try to work counts and take pitches if they bat him leadoff.
That, or the Padres didn’t pay attention to the Marcus leadoff project in 2006.
Lu was amazing, as always: I’ve seen Lucinda Williams five times, and I think she might be the most consistently great live performer that I’ve seen multiple times with the possible exceptions of U2, Prince, and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
Last night’s show before a full house at Hard Rock Live in Orlando was yet another night of soulful, bluesy brilliance from an amazing artist. She plucked gems from her vast catalog spanning the past 25 or so years, including Ventura (she opened with it), Joy, Change The Locks, Pineola, Lake Charles, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, Come On, Drunken Angel, Righteously, Where Is My Love, Get Right With God, Crescent City, Too Cool To Be Forgotten — and on and on.
But unless my memory’s failing, no Metal Firecracker, Right In Time, Six Blocks Away or Learning How to Live (my second-favorite song off the new album West, after “Are You Alright?” which belongs among her greatest work and is the best song I’ve heard this year that’s not on the new Arcade Fire album).
Extreme fighting and infield options
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Another sunny day, another full house to see Los Bravos here in Kissimmee, just down the road a piece from The Entertainment Sector, but a world away. There’s a rodeo arena next door, the Silver Spurs Arena, which used to be pure old-school until they enclosed and air-conditioned it a few years back.
Anyway, there’s Extreme Fighting at the arena this week, folks, and I’m considering going just for the people watching. But probably not.
We got Lucinda Williams tonight in Orlando, but for today we’ve got us a Chuck James vs. Jason Jennings pitching matchup. It’s a multi-Pena lineup for the Braves, with Brayan behind the dish and Tony at shortstop.
Talked to a scout before the game who had spoken with a Cubs official this week and heard they (Cubs) are looking for a utility man. Chris Woodward’s name was mentioned, but I don’t know whether the Braves are considering moving him or not.
He hasn’t played a game yet because of his strained calf, but Bobby Cox said this morning that Woodward might play tomorrow.
The only reason I would think it might be possible is the performance of Martin Prado this spring. He does look ready to fill a utility role, and a couple of Braves coaches (and Bobby Cox) have said so repeatedly. But he hasn’t played any shortstop in his career.
I just asked John Schuerholz this morning whether Prado is a super-utility type guy and he said no, he’s an every-day second baseman. When I asked if that meant he thought Prado was too good to be a utility guy, he said yes, to him (the GM) he was too good for that role.
Don’t know whether that means they wouldn’t consider it, or whether he just meant for the long-term he’s not a utility guy. We’ll see. But again, that important consideration to note: Prado hasn’t played shorstop. At all.
Since Willy Aybar has played little shortstop, the Braves wouldn’t have an experienced backup for Edgar Renteria if they kept Aybar and Prado as their utility infielders. Thus I don’t see that happening. They signed Woodward with expectation of him backing up Renteria, among other duties.
Tony Pena Jr. is out of options and certainly would be a very strong defensive utility guy at three positions including shortstop, but does he hit enough? He’s a .252 career hitter in seven years in the minors, with 25 homers in 2,572 at-bats.
Anyway, it’ll be interesting these next couple of weeks.
Talk about embarrassing… The dude singing the National Anthem forgot the words and stopped about 15 seconds in. He apologized to the crowd, then re-started from the beginning. This time the fans helped him along by singing the words with him.
Chad Paronto’s foot wasn’t broken last night when he got hit by the hot grounder and left the game. No report from Braves other than that, and he didn’t make this trip. But it’s not expected to be something that keeps him out.
I still believe Paronto and Tyler Yates will have the last two spots in the bullpen, with the Big Three _ Wickman, Soriano, Gonzalez _ plus Oscar Villarreal and Macay McBride. By the way, for those who watched last night, how good did McBride look? Outstanding. Him and Soriano look ready to start the season.
When McBride throws like that, using three pitches the way he did last night vs. the Astros, you can see why Bobby says he could be a starter. He hasn’t gotten right-handers out in the past, but if he pitches like that he will.
Frenchy flirting with .400… Jeff Francoeur came in batting .385 (10-for-26) with two homers, five RBIs and only three strikeouts, then got a hit in the first inning just now. He still hasn’t drawn a walk, but no one’s going to complain the way he’s going now.
Talked to him before the game and he said a couple of adjustments he made to his swing since last season, staying lower and keeping his weight back longer, are letting him to see the ball longer and on a better plane (at least I think that’s how he put it; I spilled some coffee on that page of my notes and am having trouble deciphering them).
Pork chops, mashed potatoes and broccoli were on the menu in the dining room today, and all were fresh and well prepared. You don’t know how good that tasted after the limited rotation of lunches we get at The Sector, including tuna salad that put one other Braves writer in a very bad state late last night.
Came across a really good CD this week… For fans of rootsy/Americana rock, a group from North Carolina called the Bill Noonan Band. Their debut CD, “Catawba City,” is solid. Good lyrics, great slide and steel guitars. Tough to compare the sound to anyone in particular, but I hear some mellower Skynyrd in there, some Neil Young, some Tom Petty. But it’s about equal parts country and rock. Worth giving a listen to. Try “Get Off My Land,” the sixth track.
Hoss doesn’t get benefit of doubt
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Nothing like a relatively serious Mike Hampton injury and a relatively nothing Chipper Jones injury to get Braves Nation all bent out of shape in the middle of spring training, now is there?
The uproar over Hampton’s injury _ seriously, a pitcher pulling an oblique muscle taking batting practice, while in the final lap of rehab from elbow surgery? _ is understandable.