AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2007 > June > 13
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Chipper’s back, and hitting cleanup
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We’ll get a new blog up just in case some of you are tired of looking at Scott Boras’ face at the top of our Braves page on the website. Nothing personal, Scott, but some see your visage and cringe. Though if we played pro ‘ball, a lot of us would probably want you negotiating our next contract.
Actually, can you negotiate my next contract with the AJC?….
Anyway, lot of stuff happening, and we’ll touch on it all briefly.
Chipper’s back, and hitting … fourth? Yes, to the surprise of no one, Braves activated Chipper Jones from the DL and Bobby Cox put him in the lineup at the DH spot tonight, so he could avoid diving plays and try to protect his hands.
But to the surprise of many, he put him in the cleanup spot, not his customary, preferred No. 3. Chipper hasn’t hit fourth this season or last season and had only 11 at-bats there in 2005.
But this move made sense, given Andruw’s season-long struggles and the fact that the Braves’ Willie Harris is swinging too good a bat to be buried in a lineup that doesn’t have many hot hitters right now. Edgar Renteria moves from his usual No. 2 spot to No. 3, behind Kelly Johnson and Harris in the 2-hole.
Folks, Harris hitting .412 after last night’s three-hit game. Four-freaking-12. And he’s hit .500 (19-for-38) since May 26.
I asked Cox about Chipper batting fourth.
“What do you do with the other three guys,” he said, “they’re the hottest hitters we have.”
No argument here. And Chipper sure didn’t complain, given the way things have gone with a few others in the lineup recently.
Anway, Chipper last hit cleanup on a regular basis in 2004, when he finished with a career-worst .248 average, 30 homers and 96 RBIs in 137 games, snapping his string of eight consecutive 100-RBI seasons in which he averaged 157 games.
He made it known he preferred batting third, and he’s been there ever since.
But I don’t think hitting fourth had much if anything to do with Chipper’s low average that season (an early season hamstring injury did; he had a career-low 20 doubles that season and just couldn’t run much).
And even though he’s not hitting his usual .300-range with runners in scoring position this season, he’s the Braves’ best hitter and his presence in the cleanup spot will make pitchers work and give the Braves a better chance of scoring runs early than they have been recently.
Andruw’s hitting .217 through Wednesday, the second-lowest average among NL regulars (only ‘Ol Rochy’s lower, at .216).
If McCann weren’t struggling, I’d say bat Chipper third and McCann fourth. But McCann needs to be hitting down in the order (he’s sixth tonight, behind Andruw) until he gets back in a groove and gets over his nagging ankle injury).
Smoltz moved back again: But this time, just one extra day, to Saturday instead of Friday’s series opener at Cleveland. And Smoltz insists that unless something happens between now and then, he’s going to pitch.
He said his sore shoulder felt better in his extended bullpen session yesterday. Not perfect, but better, and that the extra day of rest should benefit him, while also allowing Buddy Carlyle to go on regular rest Friday (the Braves had an off day Monday, so Carlyle will be on full rest).
Bobby left it up to Smoltz to decide, and said he’d just flip-flop Smoltz and Carlyle if Smoltz wanted to go Saturday.
Smoltz will be working on 10 days’ rest when he pitches Saturday. He hasn’t pitched since the doublheader June 5 vs. Florida, because the Braves skipped his next turn due to the sore shoulder.
Two other reasons the move to Saturday makes sense for Smoltz and the Braves: 1. They have another off day next Thursday (June 21), so Smoltz would have an extra day of rest between Saturday’s start and his next turn, and 2. That next turn would be against Detroit on June 22 in the series opener at Turner Field.
Maybe you’ve heard, Smoltz is from Michigan.
Speaking of Smoltz, he was just on the field getting his picture taken with Jack Morris. The two, of course, were principles in the great Game 7 matchup that ended the 1991 World Series at the Metrodome, a series for the ages.
Smoltz threw 7-1/3 scoreless in that Game 7, but Morris was even better in the 10-inning, 1-0 Twins win (I mean, the man pitched all 10 innings. Astounding).
The still-flat-bellied Smoltz looks like he could be his kid brother now, standing next to the gray-bearded Morris, who’s quite a bit larger around the middle than he was the MVP of that World Series.
Boyer a starter? The Braves optioned Blaine Boyer to Richmond to open a spot for Chipper. They were carrying an extra pitcher the past week, and we knew they were going to send out a pitcher when Chipper was activated.
The interesting thing about the Boyer move is what could come next. They’re going to have him work as a starter at Richmond, and there’s a chance they could bring him back in that role instead of reliever. That’s not decided yet, though.
He’s got the stuff to be a good starter. But the midseason move should tell you something about the lack of major league-ready starter in the organization and the expected dearth of affordable starters available on the market this summer.
It might also say a little something about the Braves’ confidence (or lack thereof) in Kyle Davies’ ability to pitch consistently this season. But that’s just me talking.
Back of rotation blues: With last night’s Davies fourth-inning exit and loss, the Braves rotation slipped to 13th in the NL with a 4.63 ERA.
The quartet of Davies, Lance Cormier, Anthony Lerew and Mark Redman have a combined 3-8 record and 7.56 ERA in 22 starts, including Davies’ 3-5 in 12 starts.
Great music town: Minneapolis spawned some of my favorites including Husker Du, the Replacements, the Jayhawks (band, not the basketball team) and, of course, Prince.
Here’s a Replacements tune from the inredible album “Tim.” Just my opinion, but no record collection is complete without the Replacements’ “Let It Be” and “Tim” albums.
“HERE COMES A REGULAR” by Paul Westerberg (The Replacements)
Well a person can work up a mean mean thirst/after a hard day of nothin’ much at all
Summer’s passed, it’s too late to cut the grass/There ain’t much to rake anyway in the fall
And sometimes I just ain’t in the mood/to take my place in back with the loudmouths
You’re like a picture on the fridge that’s never stocked with food/I used to live at home, now I stay at the house
And everybody wants to be special here/They call your name out loud and clear
Here comes a regular/Call out your name
Here comes a regular/Am I the only one here today?
Well a drinkin’ buddy that’s bound to another town/Once the police made you go away
And even if you’re in the arms of someone’s baby now/I’ll take a great big whiskey to ya anyway
Everybody wants to be someone’s here/Someone’s gonna show up, never fear
‘Cause here comes a regular/Call out your name
Here comes a regular/Am I the only one who feels ashamed?
Kneeling alongside old Sad Eyes/He says opportunity knocks once then the door slams shut
All I know is I’m sick of everything that my money can buy/The fool who wastes his life, God rest his guts
First the lights, then the collar goes up, and the wind begins to blow
Turn your back on a pay-you-back, last call
First the glass, then the leaves that pass, then comes the snow
Ain’t much to rake anyway in the fall
.JPG)
-1.JPG)
Services »
