AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 05
Sunday, August 5, 2007
It’s hot, and Braves need to be
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
OK, it’s hot and sticky out here at Turner Field, with the downtown building poking through a haze on the horizon, and the Home Nine have got to be toasty in those red jerseys. But scenery’s good and I’m glad to back on the case after a three-day sojourn to spend time with family.
Back just in time to do this final game of the homestand before heading to the Northeastern corridor for a couple of big series against the Metropolitans and Phillies.
Braves need to win this thing today to end this homestand on a good note and go to off day either 4-1/2 or 3-1/2 behind the Mets and still ahead of the Phillies. But hey, I’ve just about given up predicting what’s gonna happen on any given day, other than the days Hudson pitches (and even those aren’t certain if they’re on the road and a certain someone is pitching at the end….).
Gotta say, Hudson’s defied skeptics (including myself) who believed his downward trend began in his last season in Oakland and that after the first two seasons with the Braves, he just wasn’t going to be the ace he once was.
Right now, most nights he’s very close to that Oakland-heyday form.
Alright, gonna get this blog posted so you ladies and gents have time to fill ‘er up with discourse today and tonight. And I just read over some posts from last night. Sorry about the bile spillage, but nothing much I can do. You folks know where to send your complaints, I hope (if not, there’s a couple of bloggers here who can give you the person’s e-mail address).
By the way, since June 25: Cubs 23-12, Braves 20-15, Mets 21-16, Rockies, 18-16, Phillies 18-17, Diamondbacks 18-18, Padres 17-18, Brewers 17-19, Dodgers 16-19.
Hurtin’ Hoss: Asked Chipper Jones if his sore thumb had anything to do with his 0-for-5, three-strikeout game Saturday, and to his credit, he said it did not. He’s just got problems with his swing right now, he said, something he can’t identify yet that’s making him swing late on fastballs and early on off-speed pitches.
Entering today he’s 6-for-34 (.176) with two doubles and five RBIs in his past 10 games, and one of those doubles (and three RBIs) were on one bases-loaded hot grounder July 29 that got past a first baseman to the right-field corner.
This 10-game slide comes after he hit .401 (55-for-137) in his previous 35 games with 14 extra-base hits, 24 RBIs, a .494 OBP and .584 slugging percentage.
And literally as I typed that sentence, Chipper just doubled off the center-field wall. Apparently all the extra swings he took in the batting cage after Saturday night’s game and again before today’s, helped him out.
He keeps hitting While some have cooled, the unsung left fielder has not. Matt Diaz has the majors’ best average since April 25, batting .376 (71-for-189) with 12 doubles and six homers in that stretch.
Conspiracy in effect: At least according to a couple of very vocal critics who frequent this blog and are convinced they are far better judges of what constitutes a good manager than are the players, media or managerial peers.
I bring this up because in the just-out Baseball American annual “best tools” rankings, done by their peers, a few Braves showed up at the top of categories. One of them is Bobby Cox, rated the NL’s Best Manager in the survey.
John Smoltz was judged to have the NL’s Best Slider, Andruw Jones was named the NL’s Best Defensive Outfielder, Jeff Francoeur’s Outfield Arm was voted the best in the league, and Mark Teixeira was named the AL’s Best Defensive First Baseman (voting done before trade, obviously).
I’m just relaying the results to you. So direct any criticism to the players and front-office types who voted in the survey.
Robert, hope you were having a nice weekend.
So much for Willie’s market correction: Gotta admit, when Willie Harris slumped for most of a month, lot of us thought we were seeing the inevitable return to his statistical norm. We were wrong.
Harris was 10-for-26 (.385) with three doubles, two triples and five RBIs in his past six games before today, and he’s even stopped trying to steal and getting thrown out.
And how ‘bout this stat: Harris hit .190 (12-for-63) without a single extra-base hit or RBI in one month from June 20 to July 20. Since then he’s hit .360 (18-for-50) with EIGHT extra-base hits, 11 RBIs in his past 11 games, that burst kick-started by his 6-for-6, six-RBI game on June 21. Also has a .439 OBP in that 11-game span before today’s game.
Couple more stats of note: Going through leaders and trailers this morning at Stats, Inc., and noticed the worst batting average among NL regulars still belongs to Andruw (.217). And guess who has the worst slugging percentage among league qualifiers? Marcus Giles (.315). This is a guy who slugged .526 in 2003, and .461 in 2005.
”GIMME THREE STEPS” by Ronnie Van Zant
I was cutting the rug/Down at a place called The Jug/With a girl named Linda Lu
When in walked a man/With a gun in his hand/And he was looking for you know who.
He said, hey there fellow,/With the hair colored yellow,/Watcha tryin to prove?
Cause that’s my woman there/And I’m a man who cares/And this might be all for you.
I was scared and fearing for my life./I was shakin’ like a leaf on a tree.
cause he was lean, mean,/Big and bad, Lord,/Pointin that gun at me.
I said, wait a minute, mister,/I didn’t even kiss her./Don’t want no trouble with you.
And I know you don’t owe me/But I wish you’d let me/Ask one favor from you.
Won’t you give me three steps,/Gimme three steps mister,/Gimme three steps towards the door?
Gimme three steps/Gimme three steps mister,/And you’ll never see me no more.
Well the crowd cleared away/And I began to pray/As the water fell on the floor.
And I’m telling you son,/Well, it ain’t no fun/Staring straight down a forty-four.
Well he turned and screamed at Linda Lu/And that’s the break I was looking for.
And you could hear me screaming a mile away/As I was headed out towards the door.
Won’t you give me three steps,/Gimme three steps mister,/Gimme three steps towards the door?
Gimme three steps/Gimme three steps mister,/And you’ll never see me no more.
