AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 18
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Braves a lot like all NL contenders … except Arizona
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Man, I was wondering what happened to those freezers full of meat I misplaced….
Anyway, back on the case today after a one-day reprieve from the oppressive heat at the ballpark, and wouldn’t you know it cools off Friday night, however slightly. Now it’s heating back up, pushing 100 today. Oh, well. Elments are part of the game, right?
So the Teixeira singers are hitting it big, and the denizens are helping out. That’s good. We like irreverent humor here, always. Those boys sound a lot like a young They Might Be Giants, don’t you think? Good stuff.
Meanwhile, returning to the fray of the races…. September ain’t here, but we can see the whites of its eyes, so to speak. And once that calendar turns, the focus and attention to the playoff races is really going to get turned up.
Which is why the Braves had best take advantage of these next three days. As predictable as the last two losses should have been to anyone paying attention to how Lincecum and Webb had been pitching — not to mention the fact the Giants and D-Backs aces weren’t facing the Braves’ aces either night — these next few days offer the Braves a prime opportunity to reel off a few wins.
Tonight it’s Buddy Carlyle (7-4, 4.39) vs. Micah Owings (5-6, 4.76), who has pitched much better in August after posting a 9.52 ERA in five July starts. Then it’s Smoltz vs. Yusmeiro Petit (2-3, 4.23) as Smoltz attempts to stay unbeaten against opponents named Yusmeiro, in a day-game series finale that the Braves are considering playing in a deep-fat fryer to makes things more comfortable for fans,
Then on Monday at Cincy, Tim Hudson will match up with Phil Dumatrait as Huddy strives to remain unbeaten against opponents named Dumatrait.
Where’s the power?In order for the Braves to succeed, they’d greatly improve their chances by recharging the offense and particularly the power component of their lineup, which has been flat for nearly a week now, regardless of opposition. Now, is that an obvious statement, or what? Thank you, it comes from years of doing this kind of thing.
The Braves bowed up for 21 homers and 91 runs during an 8-4 run from July 29 to Aug. 11. In the last five games before today (writing this Saturday afternoon), the Braves have hit just .219 with ONE homer and 17 runs while going 2-3.
The Braves don’t have to have big power out of McCann, but they could use more than this: He’s got one homer in 109 at-bats over his past 27 games.
Again, they don’t need big power from him, especially if they’re getting it elsewhere and he’s getting his singles and doubles and driving in runs. But one homer in 27 games is notable, considering how he had regained his power stroke for several weeks before this drought.
Salty update: For the curious who might not be keeping up with AL results, yesterday Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit his first homer since being traded to the Rangers.
The rookie had two RBIs in his Texas debut Aug. 1, and has had only two more RBIs in 14 games and 52 at-bats since then.
Salty is hitting .193 with three doubles, one homer and four RBIs in 15 games for Texas, and made four errors in a five-game stretch last week. The first-base thing just does not suit him, at least not yet.
For the season, he’s hit .347 (34-for-98) with three homers, six RBIs and a .385 OBP as a catcher. As a first baseman, he’s hit .159 (13-for-82) with two homers, seven RBIs, 23 strikeouts and a .213 OBP.
For the season, Salty’s hit .258 with nine doubles, five homers, 16 RBIs and 44 stikeouts in 198 at-bats, with a .305 OBP and .379 slugging percentage. He’s hit .163 (8-for-49) with runners in scoring position, including 3-for-25 with two outs.
Odd pitching numbers: The Braves have the third-best ERA (3.94) in NL since break, but only the Brewers have blown as many saves. Both teams have blown seven since the break, the Braves in 13 opportunities, the Brewers in 17.
The races: Still early, but never too early to compare.
The Diamondbacks are the hottest team in the NL, and by a wide margin. They’ve won 20 of 25, which is reminder of how quickly things can change. This 20-5 run began immediately after they went 4-12 to begin July.
Fortunately for the Braves, Arizona will win the NL West going away if it continues playing anything near this level of baseball the rest of the way, thereby not affecting the Braves’ chances of making the playoffs either as a wild-card winner or, obviously, as a division champion.
Outside of Arizona, no other team has put together a sustained run over several weeks recently, though the Cardinals are getting there. In the East, it’s wide open. Someone’s going to have to win it, and three teams can legitimately claim they have as good a chance as anyone.
Anyway, to compare NL contenders and would-be contenders. Here are the teams’ records since June 24 and since July 29:
Braves (26-20 and 10-7); Mets (28-21, 10-7); Phillies (27-20, 11-7); Cubs (28-20, 8-11); Padres (23-25, 10-8); reeling Brewers (19-29, 5-12); Dodgers (21-27, 6-12); Diamondbacks (27-21, 12-5); Rockies (24-23, 10-8); Cardinals (25-23, 10-8).
Anyone see a team other than the Diamondbacks (if they keep this up) running away with anything in that group? I don’t.
Talk about struggling with the jump: Braves 1B prospect Kala Kaaihue’s nickname is K.K., and that’s been appropriate since he moved from Class A Myrtle Beach to Double-A Mississippi.
He hit .298 with 22 homers, 61 RBIs and a .992 OPS (.410 OBP) in 89 games at Myrtle.
At Double-A? He’s 10-for-72 (.139) with no homers, seven RBIs, 37 strikeouts and a .437 OPS (.220 OBP) in 20 games.
For the season, he’s got 129 strikeouts in 381 at-bats.
In the latest Baseball America, he’s rated the seventh-best 1B prospect in all the minors.
“RIVER” by David Allan Coe and M. Yonts
River, you heard my first cry as a baby
And, like my Mom, you sang me lullabies
You knew my fishing pole
When I was eight years old
And, river, you never told me lies
River, I can see you from my window
Your muddy water makes me feel alone
River, you keep flowing
Like you know just where you’re going
But, River, will you ever take me home
River, I’m not proud of what I’ve done
Somehow my fishing pole became a gun
Through these prison bars I see
That you’re still running free
But, river, I’ve got no place to run
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