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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.
I mean, if I were an impartial fan I’d be ready to scream, or laugh to keep from screaming, at the remarkable string of injuries the left-hander has endured, including what surely was a record five DL stints in one season (2005).
But for everyone to be up in arms over Chipper’s slightly sprained ankle yesterday tells me everyone’s just waiting for Hoss to come up lame so they can pile on. (By the way, no word yet on whether he’s in lineup tonight vs. Houston).
Like he said yesterday, if it were a regular season game he wouldn’t have come out. And it’s not as if Jones asked out; Bobby saw him limp and pulled him, seeing no reason to have him push it the second week of March.
Here’s what I’m going to suggest, and feel free to not give it a moment’s consideration if you don’t want to: Unless and until Chipper goes on the DL this season or misses more than a couple games with an injury, why not just see if perhaps he can stay healthy and we can talk about something else in the interim?
By that I mean, he’s had two years where he’s played 110 and 109 games, back-to-back injury-plagued years. But he did play 157 games a year for eight straight 100-or-more RBI seasons through 2003. And his 137 games in 2004 were _ are you ready for this? _ more than J.D. Drew has played in six of his eight full seasons in the majors. Yes, six out of eight.
Ken Griffey Jr. hasn’t played as many 130 games in any of the past six seasons, and played fewer than 110 in four of the past five.
Granted, Drew and Griffey are hardly the guys you want to measure yourself against in terms of durability and reliabity, but I’m just pointing out that relatively speaking, Chipper has been an iron man for most of his career. Compared to them _ or to Hampton, for that matter _ Chipper is Cal Ripken Jr.
Hey, if he gets hurt again early this season, lands on the DL, then we’ll all write about how injury-prone he is, as we should. I’m just suggesting that right now, while he’s having no problems with his chronic feet and his troublesome oblique _ hey, that’s alliteration, or rhymin’ as Mark Bowman would say _ maybe, just maybe, the dude is headed for the type of season he had for eight consecutive years, rather than one like he’s had the past couple. Maybe.
(Blogmaster EDIT NOTE: OK, as was pointed out to me much later, this isn’t actual example of alliteration. In fact, it’s simple rhymin’, so my insult on Bowman actually came back and bit me. Touche.)
As for Hampton, he’s one of my favorite guys to talk to, absolutely hilarious, and he’s worked his butt off to get back. But I’m afraid at 34, the man is breaking down. I mean, his string of injuries _ back, knee, elbow, oblique, tonsils (just seeing if you’re reading _ are just mind boggling.
That said, are all the bloggers and e-mailers (I get a lot, believe me) that suggest the Braves are idiots for not cutting bait and releasing these two guys, are all you folks just not up to speed with baseball’s economics? I think maybe too many people don’t even think about this stuff before they make such suggestions, or they just assume baseball is like the NFL.
For any of you folks who aren’t aware _ veteran baseball players are on guaranteed contracts. Period. You can release them, send them to Richmond, whatever else some of you suggest, but you’re still going to have to pay them.
So why would the Braves, out of frustration over Hampton’s injuries _ again, Hampton isn’t dogging it, he’s just breaking down _ send the lefty to Richmond or release him? You going to pay him $29.5 million over the 2006-07 seasons to sit at home or pitch for Richmond? Sure, that’d make a lot of sense.
And say what you will about Chipper, but I think most Braves fans realize what he’s meant for the organization over the years. He’s likely headed for the Hall of Fame someday, wearing a Braves cap. He’s one of the three or four best switch-hitters in history, by virtually any statistical measure.
And keep in mind, until last year, Chipper Jones never finished a completed season on a team that was not in first place _ not in Little League, high school, the minor leagues, or the majors. That’s astonishing.
Maybe some of you believe it’s just wild coincidence, but some might suggest that’s the definitition of a winner. Hoss can be moody, and he pulls for the damn Gators, and he doesn’t like real country (Johnny, Waylon, Hank, the Possum) as much as the watered-down pop country.
But he’s had a helluva career, and most of you folks have no idea how important he’s been and continues to be to most of these young guys’ development. If you ever have a chance to talk to any of them _ Francoeur, Langerhans, McCann _ just ask them.
Has he come up short in several postseasons? Absolutely. But so have most other Braves, including Andruw Jones and former Brave Gary Sheffield, a couple of other pretty fair hitters.
OK, I’m rambling. I’ll stop.
Night game tonight… Great pitching matchup of Tim Hudson vs. Houston’s Roy Oswalt. Three night games in four days. That’s not what spring training is about, dammit, especially not with the NCAA Tournament starting and Kansas playing Friday night. But we’ll keep our nose to the grindstone (I know, you folks are really feeling sorry for me).
Hey, how about that West Region? Five of the blue-blood programs _ Duke, Kentucky, Indiana, UCLA, Kansas _ all in the same region. Of course, a few of them aren’t exactly having typical stellar seasons, but still, pretty rich.
Bike Week is not for the meek: But man, is it fun. I was only over there for a day, but that’s a blast, riding around Daytona with tens of thousands of other folks on bikes of every description, from the biggest Harley cruisers to Japanese racing bikes to maxed-out $50,000 choppers and everything between, including several others I saw on Triumphs like mine.
But I can’t get into many details here, other than to say the scenery is spectacular and those people do not hold back when it comes to having a good time. In any way.
Something about seeing a pretty lady riding a Harley on a beautiful 78-degree Florida day, with low humidity and breeze coming off the ocean a block away. Yeah, that ain’t bad.
Where else can you see members of the Outlaws motorcycle club riding side-by-side with senior citizens on Honda Gold Wings? Everyone living in chrome-and-leather harmony, at least for 10 days. Good stuff.
In preparation for seeing the fine-in-every-sense Lucinda Williams tomorrow night here at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando, here’s another of her gems:
“PINEOLA” by Lucinda Williams
When Daddy told me what happened/I couldn’t believe what he just said/Sonny shot himself with a 44/And they found him lyin’ on his bed
I could not speak a single word/No tears streamed down my face/I just sat there on the living room couch/Starin’ off into space
Mama and Daddy went over to the house/To see what had to be done/They took the sheets off of the bed/And they went to call someone
Some of us gathered at a friend’s house/To help each other ease the pain/I just sat alone in a corner chair/I couldn’t say much of anything
We drove on out to the country/His friends all stood around/Subiaco Cemetery/Is where we lay him down
I saw his mama, she was standin’ there/His sister, she was there too/I saw them look at us standin’ around the grave/And not a soul they knew
Born and raised in Pineola/His mama believed in the Pentecost/She got the preacher to say some words/So his soul wouldn’t be lost
Some of us, we stood in silence/Some bowed their heads and prayed/I think I must’ve picked up a handful of dust/And let it fall over his grave
I think I must’ve picked up a handful of dust/And let it fall over his grave
Chipper limps off field … again
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I was about to write about the probably futile but nonetheless commendable efforts of South Georgia’s Willie Harris to win an infield job on a team loaded with young, talented infielders.
But as I was wrapping up the blog … THIS JUST IN: Chipper Jones left the game in the first inning, limping off the field with what appeared to be a recurrence of his chronic foot problems.
Alas, an announcement 30 minutes later from the Braves said it was a sprained left ankle _ which, as long as it’s not severe, is a far less troubling injury than his foot injuries, which tend to linger and cause other, compensation-type injuries.
The Braves said he’s “day-to-day” (arent’ we all?) and that indicates to me it’s not severe. But I could be wrong. Should know more if we get to talk to Chipper when we go down to chat with John Smoltz in a few minutes.
(Oh, by the way, great outing by Smoltz, who allowed one hit and one walk with four strikeouts in four scoreless inniungs, and threw 30 strikes in 46 pitches. Ho hum, he’s pretty good.)
Chipper didn’t make it halfway down the first-base line on his first-inning groundout to first base. He limped back toward the dugout and was replaced by Pete Orr to start the bottom of the inning.
For a minute there, thoughts of Yunel Escobar were beginning to grind away in my head. After all, backup Willy Aybar has been out a few days with a strained hand, and Escobar is considered too good to keep on the team in a backup role anyway. So if Chipper’s out …
Meanwhile, back to our regularly scheduled blog:
When Willie Harris saw the Braves non-tender their second baseman/leadoff hitter (Marcus Giles), the journeyman decided his home-state team would be a good place for him to get a crack at the lineup or at least earn a roster spot.
If he’d looked a lot closer, that view might have looked a bit different.
Harris, who hails from tiny Cairo, Ga. _ hometown of Jackie Robinson _ is doing about all he can to win a job in spring training, batting .364 (4-for-11) before Monday with a double, three RBIs and four steals in four attempts.
But at the risk of sounding cold, it probably doesn’t matter.
The chances of the 28-year-old non-roster invitee winning an infield job on the opening day roster of this team seemed almost non-existent when camp opened, and haven’t improved much since.
This just in: The Braves are absolutely loaded with middle-infield talent, from veteran utility man Chris Woodward to top prospect like Yunel Escobar and everything in between.
Even with Woodward and Willy Aybar, who were projected to be the two backup infielders, both dealing with nagging injuries and not certain to be ready for opening day, Harris still seems like the longest of long shots to make it.
Prospect Martin Prado is more versatile, is having a great spring (.450 average before Monday) has shown he’s ready for a major league job. Tony Pena Jr. is a smooth fielder who’s out of minor league options, so he’ll need to be traded, kept on the roster, or likely be lost to another team on waivers.
If Woodward’s calf injury keeps him out of the lineup much longer, many assume Prado could be in line for his spot. However, Prado is viewed as more of a second baseman and third baseman than a shortstop.
Pena can definitely play solid defense at three infield positions including shortstop, but he’s just a .252 career hitter in the minors with 99 doubles and 25 homers in over 2,500 at-bats.
Escobar is the most talented of the youngsters, but the 24-year-old Cuban is too good a shortstop/third base prospect to have him play sporadically as a utility man in the majors.
Escobar only played 1-1/2 seasons of pro ball, and none above Double-A. He hit .264 with two homers and 26 errors at Double-A Mississippi last year, then hit .407 with 22 RBIs in 22 games to win the Arizona Fall League batting title.
He had some incidents and attitude problems at Mississippi that raised red flags in the organization, but he’s exhibited far more maturity this spring.
Anyway, if you’re Willie Harris, you keep plugging away and hope to either catch another organization’s eye or make a good enough impression with the Braves that they might call you up from Richmond this summer if they need help.
Phil Stockman update: For those wondering why the Aussie reliever who had the great stats at Richmond last year hasn’t thrown a pitch this spring, it’s because he can’t. Not until he gets his work visa.
It’s a rather complicated situation the Braves hadn’t mentioned until I asked today, but here it is in a nutshell: Stockman came to the U.S. for hamstring surgery in January, was allowed in without a work visa because of the medical reasons.
In order to get his work visa, he has to actually go to a U.S. consulate in another country (hey, I don’t make up the rules, I just report them). And since he was involved in his rehab and all and wasn’t ready to pitch anyway, he hadn’t done it yet.
He was supposed to be ready a couple weeks ago, but injured his back. Not a serious injury, but it slowed his progress. But now he should be ready to get in games once he gets his visa, which will happen in the next two days.
He was to fly to Nassau in the Bahamas today for an appointment to get his visa down there. Since it’s only a one-hour flight, that made more sense than flying to Toronto, the other place that’s easiest to handle this matter.
Peter Moylan, the other Aussie reliever on the roster, said he had a similar incident last year with Triple-A Richmond.
Richmond made a trip to Canada to play Ottawa, and he wasn’t allowed to re-enter the country because he had no work visa. Moylan had entered the U.S. on a tourist visa with his Aussie World Baseball Classic team last spring (didn’t need a work visa because he wasn’t paid to play for that team).
He didn’t know he’d be staying in the U.S., but the Braves signed him off that WBC team. Moylan had to stay in Canada a couple of days and get his work visa in Toronto before he could rejoin his Richmond team.
And if I never have to write another story about visa problems, I’ll be a happy man.
Anyway, Cox was disappointed that Stockman’s had problems with his back and the visa, because he really believed the hard-throwing Aussie had a chance to make the team this spring. Doesn’t look like he’ll have enough time now, and he’ll likely be part of a very solid Richmond bullpen in the early season.
OK, gotta see if I can find out more about Chipper’s injury.
Remind me to tell you guys a little about my first trip to Bike Week in Daytona Beach. I rode over on my motorcycle last Thursday on my day off. Quite a scene. LOT of scenery.
LATE ADD, by popular demand, lyrics (I’m on a Steve Earle jag lately):
“POISON LOVERS” by Steve Earle
I was almost out of here/Nearly left this time/I saw you in my rearview mirror/And I pulled up on a dime
But nothin’ ventured, nothin’ lost/You can’t say we didn’t try/That is unless you weigh the cost/Of every tear we cried
Why do we do this to each other/I guess we were always poison lovers
If you could look me in the eye/And tell me what you see/Maybe you can tell me why/I let you torture me
I know that your lips are soft/And they sing the sweetest songs/But Ive been listenin’ long enough/My heart has turned to stone
Why do we do this to each other/I guess we were always poison lovers
Another time, another place/Another wind to blame/Cover every track and trace/I’ll find you just the same
And even if we made our peace/And went our separate ways/You’d go west and I’d go east/And we’d meet here in this place
Why do we do this to each other/I guess we were always poison lovers
Why do we do this to each other/I guess we were always poison lovers
Flying to Jupiter, ruminating on Redman
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hello again everybody, good to be back and bringing you fine folks a spring rarity _ a Sunday blog. (With Skip Caray sitting here talking to me and distracting me, I thought I’d start out with a radio-man lead-in to the blog….)
Anyway, I’m recharged for the final three weeks down here. Three days off were perfect, and Carroll did a helluva job. Nice to know the blog is in good hands when I’m away _ even if those are the hands of a … Blue Devil. Yikes.
(Speaking of yikes, Kyle Davies just walked two guys in the first inning.)
By the way, for those keeping score, three nights with Carroll in the rental house were preceded by four with Jeff Schultz, which means I’ve spent the past week with either Blue Devil or the actual devil himself.
No, I didn’t ask the Braves to withhold the Hampton news until Carroll took over. But it sure worked out well for me. And I think she enjoyed diving right back in and doing some newsy stuff instead of coming up with features.
My take on the Mark Redman signing was the same as many of you had: Helluva pickup at that price. I mean, they’re basically paying him what they’re paying Tanyon Sturtze or Chris Woodward. Braves were very fortunate to have a proven guy available at that price, fortunate that he didn’t take one of the better offers he had earlier in the winter (the guy could have signed this winter for three or four times what the Braves are paying him).
Honestly, wouldn’t you rather have him in the rotation than, say, Jason Marquis, who had a 6.02 ERA last season, was dropped from the Cardinals’ roster of the postseason, and then got a three-year, $21 million contract?
Make no mistake, Redman will be in the opening day rotation. They didn’t sign him for that affordable deal with the expectation he’d have to win a job. It’s only a minor league contract because the Braves’ 40-man roster is full right now and they’ll need to trade someone or expose someone to waivers to create a spot for him by opening day.
And if and when Hampton gets back, the Braves will have some rotation depth, a luxury they could have certainly used last year when they scrambled to find anyone to fill in (Hello, Jason Shiell, can you start at St. Louis tonight?).
OK, game’s starting here at sunny Jupiter, where there’s standing-room only tickets available for games today and tomorrow vs. Los Bravos. Bill Parcells, who has a house nearby, stood at the batting cage during Braves batting practice.
Several Braves introduced themselves. “Hi, coach, Chipper Jones,” was overheard. Bill Belichick is supposed to be here tomorrow. Coaches from other sports are always coming to Cardinals camp and hanging out with La Russa, whose buddy Bobby Knight always comes down for a few games after his hoops team is eliminated from postseason play.
All Braves position players except Willy Aybar and Chris Woodward made the trip (only overnighter of spring), and Martin Prado (2B), Brayan Pena (C) and Craig Wilson (1B) are lineup. Regulars at other spots. Prado leading off.
Aybar’s right hand/wrist is sore, something he did in winter ball, but Braves don’t think it’s serious. Hand specialist checked it out, no hamate bone break or anything else that would cause problems. Just sore, strained, whatever.
Abiding and ridin’ with music…. Warning, this is a longer-than-usual music entry, so if you don’t want to read it, skip it. The baseball portion of my post is over, so you have no excuse for venturing into tuneage territory. So please, all I ask is that you don’t complain if you do. It’s not hard to scroll down from here.
OK, fellow music lovers: The two-hour drive down to Jupiter was easier than usual, because a. It’s Sunday and absolutely no traffic, enabling 85 mph cruising, and b. Trip was fueled by incredible new music. I blew the budget at Park Ave. CDs, a great indie-record store in Orlando (yes, Orlando, the old part of the city near downtown, the part of town that has a soul and beautiful old houses surrounded by big Spanish Oaks and blah blah blah).
Remember last year when I played the new Hank III “Straight to Hell” CD for the first time on the way to Vero Beach and said it made me want to stop and burn down a barn or something? Well, I played the new Arcade Fire CD, “Neon Bible,” on the way today and it made me want to hang out of the sunroof and pump my fist. Which I actually did, until a trucker flipped me off (kidding).
Anyway, it’s incredible. I thought their album a few years back, “Funeral,” was probably the best rock album in several years. I really did. Well, this one’s every bit as good. It’s phenomenal. Arcade Fire is what the Killers might be if the Killers were really good and had something to say and cared more about making great music than they do about growing cheesy moustaches.
Try cuts “Intervention,” “Antichrist Television Blues” and “No Cars Go” off this Arcade Fire album and tell me they aren’t incredible.
Then I played the new Son Volt “The Search” album, and I’ve gotta say, either it’s Sunday morning and everything sounded good, or this is their best album. Their last one was really good, but this one, to me, is even better. But I expect to get some argument from Son Volt “purists” as it were who don’t like the horns and strings on some songs. I love it, sounds like a twangy version of Spector’s Wall of Sound, or like Memphis or Muscle Shoals sound added to their Americana. Great stuff.
”NYC” by Steve Earle
He was standing on the highway/Somewhere way out in the sticks
Guitar across his shoulder/Like a 30 ought six
He was staring in my headlights/When I come around the bend
Climbed up on my shotgun side/And told me with a grin
I’m going to New York City/I never really been there/Just like the way it sounds
I heard the girls are prettyThere must be something happening there/It’s just too big a town
He was cold and wet and hungry/But he never did complain
Said he’d come a thousand miles/Through sleet and snow and rain
He had a hundred stories/About the places that he’d been
He’d hang around a little while/And hit the road again
I’m going to New York City/I never really been there/Just like the way it sounds
I heard the girls are pretty/There must be something happening there/It’s just too big a town
See I’ve been to New York City/Seems like it was yesterday
I was standing like a pilgrim/On the Great White Way
The girls were really pretty/But they wouldnt talk to me
I held out about a week/Went back to Tennessee
So, I thought Id better warn him/As he climbed out of my car
Grabbed his battered suitcase/And shouldered his guitar
I knew I was just jealous/If I didn’t wish him well
I slipped the kid a twenty/Said Billy give ‘em hell
I’m going to New York City/I never really been there/Just like the way it sounds
I heard the girls are pretty/There must be something happening there/It’s just too big a town
I’m going to New York City/I never really been there/Just like the way it sounds
I heard the girls are pretty/There must be something happening there/It’s just too big a town
Redman to the rescue?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here we go, Day 2 in my blogging tenure and I’m late getting this to you. Just be happy the Braves work a lot faster than I do. By now you know that the Braves signed Mark Redman this morning.
I’m not sure how you guys feel about Redman’s ability. He clearly doesn’t have much of a resume outside of his 2003 season with the Marlins (14-9, 3.59 ERA). He was sitting at home without a job when the Braves called him on Thursday. But from what I hear that had something to do with the money he was asking for.
But for what the Braves needed - a veteran who could come in and stabilize the middle of this rotation and on a moment’s notice - I’m betting you guys have to like this signing. In fact, I’m beginning to wonder if the Braves’ front office has been combing this blog for suggestions.
For those who don’t like the move, well I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. And we won’t have to wait long. Redman wants to pitch tomorrow against the Blue Jays. (That has a certain full circle feel, since Mike Hampton was supposed to make his first start tomorrow but now his replacement will go.)
The Braves have had their reclamation projects in the past, and successful ones, even scrambling much later in spring training than this. John Burkett anyone? (He was acquired right before the Braves broke camp in 2000, the year John Smoltz was out following Tommy John surgery.)
The Braves saw Redman at his best in 2003. He pitched a complete game five-hitter that year against the Braves for one of his two wins against them with as a Marlin. Surely they are dreaming up ideas of how to get him back to that form.
So Lance Cormier and Kyle Davies will go back to fighting out for the fifth spot and Redman will come in and try to plug the hole. And time will tell the rest.
Meantime, I’m in Bradenton today, where it’s 77 degrees. It feels like spring training should (ahem) because there’s an ocean breeze. Palm trees behind the outfield fences are blowing in the wind. It’s lovely.
I still don’t have much time for chit-chat yet with all the recent happenings around camp, but I’ll just say my music tastes are probably more mainstream than O’Brien’s but I can appreciate Johnny Cash (I loved the movie Walk the Line. Does that count?) And lame as it might sound, I was just excited that I found a radio station that played 80 minutes of non-stop 80s music for my drive over here this morning.
Oh, and I take my barbecue eastern North Carolina style please, vinegar-based. And being a Carolina girl (though NOT a Tar Heel) I take my cole slaw ON the sandwich. Yum.
Braves are up on the Pirates 1-0 on a homer first inning by Willy Aybar, Chuck James pitched three solid innings, no runs allowed…..Again, sorry for the late post. Somebody give O’Brien a hard time, would you? He’s leaving me with all the news.
Hampton’s injury cause for panic?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
OK, folks, I had all these big plans to introduce myself to you today. To be cute, funny, charming, to do the best I could to hold up David O’Brien’s blog while he’s taking a day or two off. Then I walk in the Braves clubhouse door this morning and I find out Mike Hampton has injured his side.
So it was news bursts for you guys this morning rather than introductions, though I’ll at least say I’m Carroll Rogers and I’m going to be O’Brien’s backup on the Braves beat this year. Hey, nice day to take off, Dave!
Naw. He needs it and deserves it. Meantime, my latest burst of information is X-rays this morning on Hampton’s side were negative. There are no broken ribs, “just” a strained oblique. He seemed to feel positive about that.
I’m no doctor but I wonder if broken ribs might have been easier to deal with. The bone heals; there you go. But with an oblique strain - those are the injuries that seem to drag out. You try to come back, you come back too early, boom, pull the oblique again. They seem to like to bother people all season, especially with hitters.
And shoot, on Thursday morning Hampton said he was having a hard time laughing, breathing, sneezing, and he wasn’t looking forward to using the restroom, if you get my drift. (Would Dave have been more blunt about that? I’m a girl, OK. I can’t do it. And no, two Rs and two Ls don’t make me male.)
So best-case scenario, Hampton figures, is a month out to rest his side, then a month getting his arm back in shape, so he’s looking at maybe May. This is after 17 months out following his elbow surgery. So in the meantime the Braves will turn to Kyle Davies and Lance Cormier. Oscar Villareal could stretch it out and start if need be.
Hampton is 34. His body seems to be failing him in weird ways. He knows it and he’s not happy. At the very least, he says, his elbow will get a little longer to recoup from the surgery (normally recovery is 12-18 months. He’s at 17 months.) But can he come back from this too? The Braves always put on a calm exterior but it was clear today under the surface this was not at all good news.
What I want to know from a fan’s perspective, is it time to panic? I know you guys are probably already talking about this quite a bit, but I’m curious your thoughts given the latest info.
Oh and p.s.: the New York Yankees are in camp today. Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon, Jason Giambi, and the guys. It’s a gorgeous day and the game has been long sold out. But on a day like today, with the Hampton news, that’s an “oh by the way.”
Too early to raise warning flags
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s 12:10 p.m. here at Tigertown in sunny Lakeland, the only place where it feels as much like “real” spring training as Dodgertown does. Outstanding.
I’m walking back from the media dining spread and they just played, back-to-back, Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” and Johnny Horton’s “When It’s Springtime in Alaska.” Like I said, outstanding.
The place is packed, and here’s a great scene that could have come straight off black-and-white film footage from the 50s: The team lineups are posted on the wall on the concourse by the souvenir stand and hot dog vendor, and there’s a line of 12-15 mostly older fans, men and women, dutifully penciling in the names on their scorecards as Cash’s booming baritone plays over the PA system.
Hello, heaven.
OK, it’s only the first week of March, and they’ll probably just go three innings apiece, but this is a tantalizing pitching matchup today _ Michigan native John Smoltz, originally drafted by the Tigers, of course, vs. Jeremy Bonderman. Not bad at all.
The guys most of you folks are more concerned about, however, are probably Rafael Soriano, Mike Hampton, Kyle Davies and perhaps Mike Gonzalez. I only say Gonzalez because he’s been a bit erratic in his first two appearances and I saw Buster Olney quote a scout saying that Gonzalez’s mechanics are out of whack.
While he did look a little messy on a couple of pitches, I haven’t seen any reason for concern with his mechanics. Considering these were his first two appearances since August, and for a new team and teammates he’s naturally trying to impress, since they traded away a 32-homer first baseman for him.
But the important thing with Gonzalez at this stage is the elbow, and he says it’s absolutely fine and told me his “elbow issues” are a thing of the past and no longer even a factor. People, if he’s healthy, he’ll get guys out. Period. So don’t worry about his mechanics. Long as he’s healthy, he’ll be effective.
Hampton is scheduled to throw an inning Saturday vs. Toronto at Empire Sports Sector (Disney’s Wide World of Sports). It’ll be the most closely monitored three outs so far this spring. Roger McDowell said today he still thinks Hampton can be ready for the opening of the regular season.
The other most-scrutinized inning will be the first one that Soriano throws. There is some consternation in Braves Nation, because the former Seattle setup man was one week late because of visa problems and still hasn’t made his debut because of a sore shoulder.
Manager Bobby Cox and pitching coach McDowell again downplayed the situation today, and so far no one’s expressed any real concern to me, on or off the record (via rolled eyes or other telling looks) that would indicate they’re worried. So I’ll give it another few days before I raise big red flags.
However, the fact he’s had a couple of DL stints for shoulder soreness in the past is reason to keep an eye on it. More likely, perhaps, is that he just tried to do too much, to impress too much in the bullpen after arriving late to camp.
Sore shoulders in the first week of camp aren’t at all uncommon, so don’t get too stressed, even if Horacio Ramirez threw three scoreless innings for Seattle in his debut, and right now two of the Braves’ projected five starters (Hampton and Kyle Davies) either haven’t pitched in a game (Hampton) or haven’t pitched very well (Davies) in their most recent outing.
Fortunately for the Braves, they have not just a lot more quality in their bullpen, but a lot more quantity. Not that I think Soriano will need to start the season on the DL, but if he did have to have a stint on the DL now or later, the Braves had a lot of guys _ Tyler Yates, Chad Paronto, Macay McBride _ get a lot of pressure-situation experience last year.
Leyland on Smoltz: So this morning I go over to talk to my man Jim Leyland, whose Marlins teams I covered for two years that produced a lifetime of Leyland stories and jokes that can’t be told in a family newspaper. And I ask him one simple question: John Smoltz, what do you think of him? And here’s Leyland’s response, verbatim:
“I can tell you this. Hands down, take it to the bank, John Smoltz is the best postseason pitcher I’ve ever seen _ by far. Such a competitor. I don’t know him very well, but I’ve always had the utmost respect for what he’s accomplished. But he’s the best I’ve ever seen in the postseason.”
Then I said Smoltz wasn’t bad in the regular season, either.
And Leyland said, “Slam dunk Hall of Famer. He’s a special guy. One of those freaks who….” He stopped to re-phrase. “There are certain players and pitchers who, when they come on the field, people _ fans, other players _ stare at them a little longer and say, ‘What is it about this guy?’ There’s something special, an air about them.
“Even as an opponent, I enjoyed competing against John Smoltz. That’s what this business is all about.”
Then Leyland turned to go do his group press conference with Detroit writers. But he stopped and said again, “But without question, best postseason pitcher I’ve ever seen.”
Speaking of Leyland…. He also pointed out to Detroit writers that he’s 10-10 vs. Cox in postseason play. Leyland told me last year that he’s never been close with Cox, they just say hi to each other and shake hands, whatever. But he said he always appreciated Cox for being a straight-shooter who doesn’t act like he’s your best buddy when he hardly knows you.
Aussie Aussie Aussie!… Here’s some advice. If you’re ever around Australians, especially an Aussie relief pitcher with a biting sense of humor, don’t do their famous chant unless you do it right. A few days ago, when I was only two cups of coffee into a morning, quick-witted Peter Moylan walked by on his way to the Aussie corner (him and reliever Phil Stockman) of the clubhouse and I gave him a weak, “Aussie Aussie, oi.” It was pathetic, I’ll now admit.
I couldn’t remember the exact cadence of the sporting chant his countryman use, but that wasn’t it obviously. “See there, you embarrassed yourself, mate,” Moylan said in his thick accent. “It’s ‘Aussie Aussie Aussie, oi oi oi,” three times.” Then he shook his head at my Yank usage of a term apparently viewed as overused by some Aussies. “Rather primitive if you ask me,” Moylan said.
Dull only to the dull-minded
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tell you what, these morning drives around Central Florida ain’t bad when the sun is shining, you’ve got a good cigar to enjoy, and a rental car with a booming CD player putting out John Lee Hooker’s “Live at Cafe Au Go-Go (and Soledad Prison).”
So I roll into the pressbox this morning at Space Coast Stadium in Viera and scrawled on the message board is this: “Baseball is dull only to those with dull minds.” _ Red Smith.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Actually, couldn’t have said it as well. But that’s why he was Red Smith. (But answer this: Could he have blogged? Could Mr. Poetic Old School Baseball Scribe have handled modern blogging? You’re damn right he couldn’t.)
Anyway, those of us who couldn’t have carried Mr. Smith’s typewriter appreciate our stations in life, much as everyone else connected in any way with baseball does. It might take years to develop a proper appreciation, but it usually happens.
You can see it in the faces on a March morning like day, when the venerable Bobby Dews is sitting in the visitors’ dugout sipping a steaming cup of coffee, in full Braves uniform, no longer a coach but not willing to stop coaching, at least in spring training.
Or Bobby Cox, holding court with a couple of old small-town scribes from Florida beach towns, treating them just as he would if we were at Yankee Stadium and he was talking to a couple of columnists who were around back when Cox played for the Yankees. Always with respect.
If Bobby’s ready to do something else in a couple years, he shows no sign of burnout on a morning like this, or any other morning when he’s in a uniform, for that matter. Only time I’ve seen the man look worn down and tired of the grind was last season, when the Braves were blowing leads and falling out of the division race and he was inwardly coming to grips with the end of their reign while outwardly trying to convince everyone it wasn’t over till it was over.
He really does seem rejuvenated by this year’s team. But I think he’d already made up his mind about giving it two more years and walking away, and saying so to reporters is maybe his way of making sure he sticks to the plan _ because if he doesn’t tell anyone he probably knows he’ll probably never walk away until someone kicks him out the door, and that ain’t going to happen.
So anyway, we all appreciate it, I think is what I was rambling about a few graphs back. Listening to John Lee Hooker singing “I’m Bad Like Jesse James,” as you pull into a stadium for another spring-training game … hey, we make a small fraction of what the guys playing make, but doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of it and enjoy it in your own way just as much as they do, right? Got to, since it pretty much makes a “normal” life and the pleasures that accompany a normal life impossible.
Cox: No trades necessary… The skipper says he still doesn’t know how second base and left field are going to pan out, but he made it clear this morning that those positions will be filled by guys on the roster. Just in case some of you were wondering, particularly about second base. “It always works itself out,” Cox said. “We don’t need to go out and trade for anybody, for dang sure. We’ve got it all here. Good looking kids. And Kelly [Johnson] is still a kid. He sat out a year with that [elbow] operation….”
Willy Aybar is likely to make his spring debut Wednesday against the Tigers in Lakeland. He’s been taking ground balls at shortstop, by the way, because the Braves want him to be able to play there in addition to second base and third base. “He needs to play everywhere,” Cox said of Aybar, who’s the principal backup at third base, where the Braves hope they don’t need him too often.
Cox had more praise for Martin Prado today, and pointed out that he’s actually a very good left fielder in addition to his slick infield work. “He’s smooth,” Cox said. “He makes all the plays. A lot of scouts like him.” Only drawback on the kid is the power, which sort of eliminates him from third base for most teams, unless they’re getting a lot of power from an unconventional power spot and don’t need it from the hot corner.
Chris Woodward hit off a tee yesterday and has begun riding a bicycle, but that strained calf muscle could keep him out at least another week or so. Braves expect him to be ready for opening day, but aren’t certain.
Don’t entirely rule out the possibility of Yunel Escobar , Prado or Pete Orr making this team. One way or another, I’ve got a feeling we’re going to see Orr this season, whether he’s on the opening day roster or this summer.
“Our fans probably don’t know Pete Orr is,” Cox said, “and he’s a good player. He’s played good for us. And he’s is a second baseman. Can’t keep him out of that mix. Remember he hit .340 one year in the minors.”
Actually, the best Orr hit was .320 at Richmond in 2004, but that’s pretty damn good. He was almost as bad as Jesse James that year.
Oh, one more thing: Bobby again downplayed Rafael Soriano’s sore shoulder, said he was going to throw this morning back at camp. So was Mike Hampton . Roger McDowell stayed back there this morning to watch the side sessions, then was supposed to come over here for the game.
So if I don’t forget, I’ll ask Roger about those guys after the game. Clubhouse is closed now.
Talk to you later. Time to watch some ‘ball.
Oh, and here’s a song to get us rolling, off Josh Ritter’s terrific “Animal Years” album from last year:
“GIRL IN THE WAR” by Josh Ritter
Peter said to Paul you know all those words we wrote/ Are just the rules of the game and the rules are the first to go.
But now talking to God is Laurel begging Hardy for a gun/ I got a girl in the war man I wonder what it is we done
Paul said to Peter you got to rock yourself a little harder/ Pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire
But I got a girl in the war Paul the only thing I know to do/ Is turn up the music and pray that she makes it through
Because the keys to the Kingdom got lost inside the Kingdom /And the angels fly around in there but we can’t see them
I got a girl in the war Paul I know that they can here me yell/ If they can¹t find a way to help her they can go to Hell/ If they can’t find a way to help her they can go to Hell
Paul said to Peter you got to rock yourself a little harder/ Pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire
But I got a girl in the war Paul her eyes are like champagne/ They sparkle bubble over and in the morning all you got is rain/ They sparkle bubble over and in the morning all you got is rain/ They sparkle bubble over and in the morning all you got is rain
Too early to make decisions; just enjoy the sun
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Well I’ve seen enough in less than a week’s worth of games here in sunny Florida for me to confidently make out my Braves opening day lineup:
Martin Prado, 2B; 2. Yunel Escobar, SS ….
Kidding, folks. Trying to make a point that it’s folly to even begin to base personnel decisions on what we’ve seen _ or you’ve heard about _ from a couple of weeks of workouts and a handful of games in Florida.
Or even after we’ve seen four weeks of games in Florida, in most instances.
And by that I mean, some players have track records that are going to supersede what uproven players do in spring games, especially in early spring games when half the pitchers they’re facing won’t be on opening day rosters.
That said, Prado (5-for-9 before today) and Escobar (5-for-10) are off to strong starts in camp. But I don’t know whether either had or has much chance to make the team unless there’s an injury or projected second baseman Kelly Johnson shows he just isn’t ready.
That’s not to say guys are given every job before they get here. But rather, team officials obviously put a lot of thought into what they project to be their lineup and bench and pitching staff.
They’re not going to toss aside all the hours they spent discussing it based on a few weeks of spring training games.
But again, if K. Johnson struggles this spring and Prado surpasses expectations and shows them something they didn’t expect, then I’d imagine they’ll consider reevaluating. (Escobar hasn’t worked at 2B enough to be considered, I’d assume.)
But we’re just not even close to reaching such a point of reevaluation. I haven’t seen anything yet to make me believe Johnson won’t be the second baseman. So far, he looks good defensively, but he hasn’t even handled a double-play situation in a game yet. That’s how premature it is to start giving out jobs.
(A brief aside: utility man Chris Woodward is still out with a strained calf, and will be out at least the rest of the week. And infielder Willy Aybar, who just got here Saturday, will work out a couple more days before his likely debut Wednesday. OK, back to the previous train of tought…)
I will say this regarding Escobar: I’ll predict that a year from now he’s on the 25-man roster and competing for a starting job _ whether with the Braves or another team.
With all the teams that have expressed interest in the talented Cuban, who is older (24) than most prospects, I can see the Braves coming to a fork in the road with him, where they either decide he should have a spot in their lineup within a year, or that they can fill another organization need by trading him.
Here’s the thing to think about: In every conversation I’ve had with Braves officials, coaches, etc., everyone seems to be in agreement that Brent Lillibridge is an absolute keeper.
The impossibly baby-faced shortstop, who came from Pittsburgh along with Mike Gonzalez in the LaRoche trade, is what old-school baseball folks call the proverbial “baseball player,” the kind the Braves love to have, who combines not just talent and athleticism but a baseball-player mentality and instincts.
That mentality and approach is difficult to define, but instantly recognizable by this baseball lifers when they see it, and they all see it in Lillibridge.
What that means is, I’d be willing to wager more on him being in the Braves’ lineup within two years than I would any other prospect they have, including Escobar, whose sheer physical talent is probably a bit above Lillibridge’s.
Spring training isn’t reality: No, I don’t mean as far as the games and players’ performances and all that. I mean overall. Us living in a rental house, no mail or newspaper delivery, living in what becomes a virtual baseball-only news vacuum.
And right now, sitting here on another gorgeous late morning in Central Florida, a cloudless sky, temp approaching 70 degrees, low humidity, flags atop the big green scoreboard/batter’s backdrop billowing in a light breeze, a few dozen folks standing on the grass berm beyond left field, waiting for baseballs to clear the fences, a gorgeous lady behind the Braves’ dugout applying sun screen … oh, wait, mind wandering.
Hampton, Soriano updates: Yes, both of them will someday pitch. Actually, both should pitch by this weekend, Rafael Soriano perhaps by Thursday.
Mike Hampton was far more encouraged after his latest bullpen session Saturday than he’d been previously, and will throw another Tuesday. If that goes well, he could pitch Friday vs. Pittsburgh or Saturday vs. Toronto, probably just an inning but maybe two if his pitch count is low. Talked to him this morning and he sounded a lot more upbeat than he had been last week. Said he thinks he’ll be ready when season begins, though he knows he might need to stay under control and rely more on location and change of speed, work at 86 mph instead of 90-92 for a while. “I can do that and be successful; I’ve done it before,” he said.
Roger McDowell assured me Soriano hasn’t had any setbacks and that they’re just being cautious with him because he was a late arrival to camp. But regardless of what anyone says, I’ll guarantee you there are plenty of people crossing fingers and hoping he’s completely over the post-concussion problems that kept him out of the final month of the 2006 season after he got nailed in the side of the head by that vicious line drive off the bat of Vlad Guerrero.
(BLOGMASTER NOTE: See below about later news that Soriano’s shoulder is a bit sore. How sore, not quite sure. But he was on DL last summer for 15 days with “shoulder fatigue.” Can you hear any alarm bells sounding?)
There’s a lot of competition in the bullpen … But I think when all’s said and done, there are only two openings and Chad Paronto is almost certainly assured of one. I’d bet Tyler Yates will get the other; someone would have to really surprise us this spring for the Braves to put Yates on waivers (he’s out of options). Paronto is a groundball guy and Bobby Cox likes to have one of those “double-play specialists” in the ‘pen.
But there’s so much more depth this year than there was last year when the Braves had to scrounge to find anyone to bring up from the minors who they could rely on to fill out the ‘pen. Guys like Aussies Peter Moylan (sidearmer, can be tough to hit) and Phil Stockman (98 mph fastball), young lefty Will Startup (impressive on Sunday at Dodgertown), Blaine Boyer, and talented-if-erratic Anthony Lerew, plus non-roster guys like Steve Colyer (also quite impressive Sunday) and Buddy Carlyle … all of them could be called upon at some point, and a couple of them could get strong consideration this spring for the opening day ‘pen.
But again, barring a trade, I think Paronto and Yates, at this early juncture, seem most likely to get the last two spots.
The locks, barring injury: Bob Wickman, Mike Gonzalez, Rafael Soriano, Oscar Villarreal, Macay McBride.
There are worse places to be, for sure
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I figured it would be a good day when I turned the Ipod to shuffle mode at the rental house and the first song was Greg Brown’s “Where is Maria?” Great song for a Sunday morning, coming down or otherwise.
As if that wasn’t great enough, the next five were revved up numbers, in order, by Black Lips, Led Zep, Flaming Lips (seriously, two Lips bands almost back-to-back), Sonic Youth, Public Enemy (“Fight the Power”) and then a Merle Haggard beaut, “I’m a Lonesome Fugitive.” That’s a helluva start, folks.
Then there’s the fact that the first sometimes-gnarly drive of the spring, to Vero Beach, is on a Sunday, so traffic not an issue at all. But a lot of cops on the Florida Turnpike. A LOT of cops.
I envied a lot of the bikers headed the opposite direction to Bike Week in Daytona. But then again, I’m sure a lot of people would like to be where I am now, at tradition-steeped Dodgertown. Place never gets old (well, actually, it’s quite old; I should say it never gets tiresome coming here).
If the Dodgers leave after next year, as planned, and no team replaces them here, it will be so depressing to see this old complex start deteriorating with no team on the fields, no young players staying in the dorms, no “Wecome Back To Dodgertown” sign over the street welcoming the players back for spring training, no Dodgers legends and coaches on beach-cruiser bikes in full uniform, peddling from field to field…. Shame, shame, shame.
The Orioles are nuts to stay in Fort Lauderdale when they could come up here and take over this place. And that’s from a guy who lived in Ft. Liquordale for 13 years. Great town, but not for spring training, and not in that bad park they have, next to the traffic snarl of I-95. But anyway…. I know that city finally capitulated and agreed to a lot of upgrades at that park to keep the Orioles.
But as I said, some team needs to be here at Vero Beach, at Dodgertown. It IS spring training, the fans right on top of the field, literally able to reach out and touch _ or just talk _ to players in the open dugouts with no roofs.
Francoeur spent 20 minutes signing autographs behind the Braves’ dugout after batting practice today. I was asking him some questions while he was signing, and you should’ve heard all those fans, so appreciative that he was taking the time to do that for old, young and everone in-between.
He reminded me of Cal Ripken, who could be a real high-maintenance guy for team officials and sometimes the media to deal with, but was a tireless autograph-signer for the fans. That was really cool, to see Cal doing that every day, every city, for a half-hour or so. Let’s hope Francoeur never forgets how important that is, how such a relatively easy gesture can make so many people so grateful.
Those folks today, I’d imagine are huge Francoeur fans now if they weren’t before….
But enough sappy stuff for one day…. I’m walking with Schultz past the Braves clubhouse over the dining troughs (their spread here is fit for kings, or at least more fit than ink-stained wretches deserve, complete with waiters and waitresses), when an older woman says in a disappointed tone to anyone in general and, apparently, us two AJC staffers in particular: “I drove all this way to see Chad Paronto pitch, and he’s not here….”
I’m assuming she wasn’t related to Chad, since she would’ve probably known he wasn’t coming, theoretically at least. And so, that leaves only one conclusion: The big man Paronto has at least one fan who will drive long distances to see him pitch in a spring training game. And that’s nice. That’s a fan of a man.
Rubbing sticks and stones together makes the sparks ignite…. I’m wondering if the Disney drones (and I say that lovingly) who program the song loop that plays before every Braves home game realize what the Starland Vocal Band’s “Afternoon Delight” is about. If so, I tip my cap to them….
Old Florida, good Florida: Not only should every baseball fan who hasn’t been to Dodgertown schedule a trip before the end of next spring training, but also make sure to drive into Vero on the state road that runs into the Turnpike at the Yeehaw Junction exit (those who’ve not been here think I’m kidding about Yeehaw Junction; I’m not).
Anyway, the road, which is perpetually under construction, offers the chance to see a slice or two of old Florida. I always stop along the way in one of the little driveways with the No Trespassing signs, because I’ve just driven an hour or so from Orlando and consumed much coffee, if you know what I mean. I always stop at one of these little driveways that are surrounded by palm trees and Spanish oaks and all sort of tropical vegetation growing wild, and you can usually see a rickety old house beyond the fence. There were a bunch of real, live, flamingos nearby standing on one leg while I, uh, looked around.
Anyway, it’s a great 20-mile or so stretch of road, with endless orange groves. I literally could reach out over the fence and pluck an orange or two off a tree (of course, that’s if I wanted to and asked permission from the homeowner, huh-um). And this old guy had a stand with a handpainted sign that read: Peanuts, Georgia peaches, Gator jerky, tomatoes.
OK, gotta go down and talk to Chuck James, who gave up three hits and two runs in two innings. Just got a call that he’s ready in the clubhouse. Later, folks. Enjoy your Gator jerky, if you got any.
The inimitable LaRoche returns
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We couldn’t make this stuff up if we tried: Adam LaRoche showed up with the Pirates to play his old team Friday wearing No. 96. “First game, forgot my jersey,” he said, unable to keep from laughing.
(LaRoche said he thought he gave the jersey to team equipment managers Thursday before he drove over to stay at his home at Reunion Country Club outside Orlando Thursday night. But anyway, had to happen to him, right?)
So I’m talking to him in the visitors’ clubhouse here at the Disney Empire and we start to head to the field. The tunnel to the visitor’s dugout is directly to the left of the clubhouse door, but LaRoche turns right and starts heading down the long hallway the other direction _ towards the Braves clubhouse.
“You’re kidding, right?” I say to him, figuring he’s playing up the absent-minded thing. “No, I’ve never been over here,” he says innocently.
After I point him in the right direction, we make it to the visitors’ dugout, and the procession starts. One-by-one, then two-by-two, Braves players and coaches come over to hug LaRoche, rub his red beard, ask about his wife and kids, razz him about any and everything.
“This is what you get when you get traded,” shortstop Edgar Renteria says, turning him around to look at the 96 on the back of his black jersey.
(By the way, LaRoche said he’s wearing No. 25 this season, “In honor of Andruw Jones.”)
Pirates PR man Jim “Jimmy T” Trdinich enters the dugout and says he needs to check on numbers, since the Pirates have had a few recent changes. I point out to him that LaRoche also has a new number because he forgot his jersey.
Trdinich glances, smiles, says, “He sure did. And he’s wearing 96. Good job, Adam.”
They love him in Pittsburgh _ his teammates, coaches, manager, and especially the fans. He was a huge hit at FanFest. They’re looking for him to bring some of the Braves’ winning ways to Pittsburgh, to help show the young guys and guys who’ve only been on perennial losing teams, to help show them how to go about things.
“Ol’ Rochy,” as Bobby Cox calls him, says he learned an awful lot watching John Smoltz and Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones and other Braves veterans over the past three years, and said it was a luxury being able to operate “in the shadows” during that time, with those guys deflecting most of the attention.
(Well, until a certain play involving a certain Washington Nationals baserunner and a Braves first baseman last May, after which LaRoche was often front-and-center on Atlanta talk shows and headlines, first for his mistake in not getting to the base in time, then for his three-month hitting surge that propelled him to a .285-32-90 season and a .915 OPS that ranked 10th in the National League.)
Anyway, the Braves were, to a man, thrilled to see him Friday. It’s no exaggeration to say he was as popular in the clubhouse as any player they’ve had in recent years. And LaRoche, who played golf with John Smoltz, Jeff Francoeur and Smoltz pal Tiger Woods recently, said he misses his Braves friends and wishes he could see them more often, but that he’s happy where he’s at.
And you could tell he was being sincere when he said it.
“It’s not a situation where I wish was back over here,” he said. “It’s great to see these guys, but I’m happy where I am now. I really like it in Pittsburgh. So far it’s been awesome. They’re trying to build on last year, keep it going.”
The Braves traded LaRoche and a fringe outfield prospect to Pittsburgh for lefty closer Mike Gonzalez, who’ll be a setup man and part-time closer this year as long as Bob Wickman stays healthy, and top shortstop prospect Brent Lillibridge, who looks 16 but has put up huge numbers in the minors and impressed all the Braves who’ve seen him with his smooth defense.
“I think [the trade] was pretty good for both sides,” LaRoche said, echoing what every Brave I asked said earlier this morning. They all miss LaRoche, but they all like what the addition of Gonzalez means for their bullpen, and most of them seem to believe rookie Scott Thorman will do just fine at first base.
“I’m honestly rooting for Thorman,” LaRoche sid. “I’ve always liked him. I hope he tears it up. I hope they’re not going to start platooning him. I don’t want to see him have to do that at this point of his career.”
As I’ve said a bunch of times, you guys would’ve really dug this guy if you could’ve spent some time with him. As genuine and down-to-earth as they come.
Dawn of a new era: It’s official, the Braves are moving into a new era. Anyone doubting that should see the cover of the new media guide, which was handed to me literally two minutes ago. There are two, and only two, players on the cover. There’s no mention of 14 division titles. Just the logo, the tomahawk, and “2007 Media Guide.”
The two players? Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann, shaking hands on the field at the end of a win.
They might as well have put “The New Era Is Here” across the top.
Then again, they didn’t really need to. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words, right?
We’re finishing off Cash week: Not that every week isn’t Johnny Cash week here at the Braves/Man In Black, but we’ve tried in our small way to appreciate the legend on the week of his 75th birthday. We’ll go a different direction today, with a (very) contemporary song, “Hurt,” he covered and made his own with inimitable voice and style, and a incredibly powerful, emotional video that may never be surpassed in that art form. Seriously, it’s the best music video ever.
It begins and ends with a frail Johnny, leaning on his guitar, sitting at piano, sitting at the head of a table of food, his gnarled hands shaking, at one point his recently deceased wife June looking down on him from the stairs. Interspersed throughout is black-and-white footage of young, vital Johnny performing, aiming his guitar like a rifle, riding the rails, goofing around with June. If you’ve not seen it, you really should. It’s utterly moving.
Rocker Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) said he was at first upset to learn Cash was covering his song. But after hearing the from-the-gut version in Johnny’s gravelly baritone, Reznor said he was humbled and honored.
“HURT” by Trent Reznor
I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that’s real
The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything
What have I become?
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar’s chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
Beneath the stains of time
The feeling disappears
You are someone else
I am still right here
What have I become?
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
If I could start again
A million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way
Smoltz won’t use Schilling approach
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Standing in the dugout about 20 minutes ago talking to Smoltz, Rafael Furcal strolls over in his Dodgers uniform towards us and shouts from 20 feet away to Smoltz: “Johnny!”
Smoltz lights up, his mood instantly changing from the seriousness he’d had while discussing last season, the meaning of the division-title streak (he downplayed it), Kyle Davies, Tim Hudson, Smoltz’s future, his lack of votes in the 2006 Cy Young voting, etc., to sheer joy at seeing the always-upbeat former Braves shortstop.
“Remember, all fastballs this year,” Smoltz shouted back to him. “Try to get a bunt down against me…. Not going to happen.”
Then it was back to serious talk. Most of it I’ll try to work into other stories today and down the road, but I did ask him about his contract.
Specifically, I asked him about it in relation to the rather similar situation of Curt Schilling, who’s in the final year of his contract with Boston and recently raised a stink by asking for an immediate extension (Schilling said he’d be willing to sign for the same $13 mill he’s making this season, but wouldn’t negotiate after opening day, and said not signing him now might cost Boston more when he files for free agency).
The Red Sox pointed out he’ll be 41 in 2008 and said they need to be conservative.
He reported to camp vastly overweight, and has alternated good seasons with eight-win seasons for the past four years, but Schilling’s bloody-sock glory in the 2004 postseason for the World Series champions apparently should outweigh his 8-8 record and 5.69 ERA in 2005 and his struggles late last season. I guess.
But anyway, I asked Smoltz, who turns 40 in May, has been with the same team his entire 19-year major league career, has led the Braves with 30 wins and 461-2/3 innings over the past two seasons, and would probably have (far) more right or justification to complain about the lack of an extension, what he thought of Schilling’s outspoken stance on his contract.
Smoltz’s pull-no-punches response will please you folks, I bet. Or at least it probably should.
“That’s stupid, in my opinion,” Smoltz said of Schilling’s stance, and said he wouldn’t make a similar demand. “That’s the reason I’ve been here so long, the reason the city is great [to me], the fans are great, is because I’ve avoided all that silly stuff. I had one little hiccup last year, which won’t happen again.”
He was referring to his complaint late last season about the Braves’ delay in picking up the relatively bargain-rate $8 million 2007 option on his contract.
Soon after, Braves GM John Schuerholz broke with recent team policy in two ways, signing closer Bob Wickman to an extension in September and exercising Smoltz’s option the next day. At the time, he also made a point of saying that there was never any doubt about the team picking up the Smoltz option (but in the past, the Braves would’ve waited until the offseason to do it, for whatever reason).
Schuerholz and Smoltz have had their run-ins and disagreements, but seem to finally be in agreement on handling contract matters and opinions of team personnel moves a bit more discreetly. (Damn, I hate that for selfish reasons _ kills a good half-dozen stories this year.)
Pena assigned to Davies? Brayan Pena is catching and batting fifth today vs. the Dodgers, probably a pretty good indication he’ll be assigned to catch Kyle Davies’ starts this season.
Bobby Cox indicated during pitching camp last month that he’d go back to using his backup catcher for a specific pitcher, the way he did most seasons until last year, when he started out the season with Brian McCann and veteran Todd Pratt in a platoon.
There will be no platoon this season, with the All-Star McCann expected to catch four days out of five, at least (he would probably get some of Davies’ starts along the way, especially late in the season in a playoff drive). Of course, all this is assuming Davies is the fifth starter, which I think he will be unless he falls on his face this spring.
Chuck James trade rumor Someone told me they saw a former GM turned TV guy saying that the Braves were so concerned about 2B Kelly Johnson that they are considering trading Chuck James for a second baseman. Uh, really?
They’re not trading Chuck James. How much sense would that make? You have concerns at second base, so you trade away a very promising young lefty who was your best starter for much of his rookie season? You build the bullpen so that you can go into the season with even more questions than you already have in your rotation?
Winding down The Man In Black’s week: As we continue our tribute to the late, great Johnny Cash on the week of his 75th birthday, here’s one of his earliest songs he wrote while at Sun Records:
“BIG RIVER” by Johnny Cash
Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry,
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.
And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you Big River.
Then I’m gonna sit right here until I die.
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl.
Then I heard my dream was back Downstream cavortin’ in Davenport,
And I followed you, Big River, when you called.
Then you took me to St. Louis later on, down the river.
A freighter said she’s been here but she’s gone, boy, she’s gone.
I found her trail in Memphis, but she just walked up the block.
She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone.
Now, won’t you batter down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on.
Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans.
Go on, I’ve had enough; dump my blues down in the gulf.
She loves you, Big River, more than me.
Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry, cry, cry
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.
And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you Big River.
Then I’m gonna sit right here until I die.
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