AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2008 > July > 23 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThis isn’t funny-like-a-clown funny
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Miami — So I’m listening to this recording of an interview I did yesterday with Will Ohman, and in the background you can here a great scene — “Am I funny like a clown? Do I amuse you? — from the movie Goodfellas, which they were showing on DVD in the visitor’s clubhouse yesterday.
Anyway, it seemed appropriate for some strange reason. Maybe I’m just tired.
As for the interview, I was doing it for the WSB thing I do, the 45-second bites that air during drive-time in early mornings in Atlanta. And I asked Ohman about the mood in the clubhouse during this difficult time when it seems the season is dying on the vine.
“The mood in the clubhouse is one of purpose,” he said before last night’s game. “Obviously we understand there’s a truncated timetable for us to turn things around and start playing better baseball. So I think everyone’s aware of that, but we’re not letting it be something that’s consuming us.”
(Yes, he really said “truncated.” Hey, he went to Pepperdine.)
Any more games like last night’s 4-0 shutout, in which the Braves mustered just one hit, and you can bet it’s going to tougher to keep it from consuming them. Because when the Braves get home from this trip, they’re going to still have two months left in the season, and it could be two months like this organization hasn’t spent in a long, long time.
Even last season, the Braves had legitimate hope until the last couple of weeks of the season. And the year before, 2006, when their 14-division-title run ended, they had optimism in the clubhouse because the young Braves talked of being fired up to begin a new streak the following year and all that.
Well, that hasn’t panned out, and now the Braves are headed for a third consecutive postseason without them involved, unless Mark Teixeira or Will Ohman or perhaps Mark Kotsay is playing for another playoff-bound team after the July 31 trade deadline.
They’re all eligible for free agency after the season, and the Braves aren’t likely to bring back any of them. If Kotsay’s back had held up all season, I’d guess they might try to re-sign him given the uncertainty now surrounding CF prospect Jordan Schafer since Schafer’s 50-game HGH suspension and his lackluster play in Double-A since he got back from that suspension.
But Kotsay’s back is a problem, and I can’t see the Braves going into next season with him penciled in as their CF, as much as everyone including manager Bobby Cox loves having the guy in the lineup and in the clubhouse.
Anyway, where was I? Oh, yeah, Ohman.
I asked him a question with you denizens in mind, or at least some of you. The ones who keep asking why Cox isn’t “held accountable” for the team’s performance this season.
I asked Ohman if he agreed with those who sugges that much blame should be placed at the feet of Cox. Keep in mind, this isn’t a player who’s spent 10 years playing for Cox, not one who’s enjoyed winning seasons under him.
It’s Ohman, who came here from the Cubs and who knows, because of a likely big raise he’s going to get as a free agent, that he’s not going to be here beyond this season, and that there’s a good chance he won’t be here beyond July 31.
“I don’t think you can place any blame on Bobby for what’s gone on,” he said. “It’s been an unfortunate scenario where we’ve lost some really high-profile guys who we came out of spring training counting on their presence on this team, and that’s always difficult to come back from.
“But you look at the way guys — obviously I’m in the bullpen — you look at what those [relievers] have done down there when thrust into roles that maybe they weren’t fully prepared for, and how we’ve succeeded, and I think that’s a good test of character.”
Coming back to the Cox question, Ohman continued:
“I think that blame is placed at the feet of the manager far too many times. He’s writing out the lineup card, but we’re the ones playing the game. So if we lose, unfortunately, it’s something that reflects on him but it’s not necessarily losing the game. I don’t think that would be correct to even suppose that would be the case.”
When someone suggested that Cox isn’t managing any differently than he did all those years the Braves enjoyed so much success and he won multiple Manager of the Year awards, Ohman agreed.
“Unfortunately,” he said, “we haven’t gotten the timely hit, or the timely out, made the pitch — whatever the case may be, you can generally go to one play per game that really turns the tide, and unfortunately we just haven’t been able to put that together.”
Mets meltdown: A few hours after I told someone yesterday that I thought the Mets might just be ready to pull away from the pack, they had a devastating ninth-inning meltdown last night.
This after manager Jerry Manuel decided to pull a very effective Johan Santana after he’d thrown 105 pitches in eight innings.
Don’t know if that says more about the state of the game today - the highest paid pitcher in the game can’t go for a complete game when he’s only thrown 105 pitches? - or about Manuel’s instincts or what, but given that sore-shouldered closer Billy Wagner was unavailable to pitch, you gotta wonder what Jerry was thinking. Seriously.
Anyway, we’ll see if there’s any carry-over from that loss at Shea Stadium. We were watching on a clubhouse television at Dolphin Stadium, while waiting for Francoeur to come out after last night’s Braves loss, when the Phillies put together their huge ninth inning.
I was out in a hallway (there’s TVs all over the place in there) and I heard Bobby Cox shout, “What happened?” from his office. I looked in and he had the remote in his hand; he’d just clicked back to the Phils-Mets game and the score had changed dramatically since he’d turned the channel a few minutes earlier.
Anyway, hey, it’s gonna be an interesting NL East race, without or without the Braves.
By the way, the Jose Reyes defensive gaffe in last night’s game on a would-be double play, his poor decision to try to do it all himself, was a perfect example of why I didn’t have him on that list of 10 guys I’d build a team around in the NL when someone asked me yesterday.
Tonight’s game: Odds wouldn’t certainly seem to be in the Braves’ favor for tonight’s rubber game with the fledgling Fish. But of course, we’ve said that plenty of times before and it didn’t necessarily work out.
But really, tonight’s pitching matchup … it’s Tim Hudson vs. Ricky Nolasco. Hudson, who is 6-2 with a 2.84 ERA in 12 career starts against the Marlins, including 4-1 with a 2.95 ERA in seven at Miami. Against Nolasco, who’s 0-3 in his past four starts against the Braves, including two losses this season in which he’s been rolled for 21 hits, 13 runs and seven homers in 10-1/3 innings.
Chipper Jones is 9-for-14 with three homers against Nolasco, including 6-for-7 with three homers this season.
On the other hand, Hudson is 0-4 with a 4.74 ERA in his past seven road starts. And Nolasco was 9-1 with a 2.84 ERA in a span of 13 starts before giving up four runs and seven hits in seven innings of a loss Friday against Philadephia.
That loss snapped a four-start home winning streak in which Nolasco had posted a 1.29 ERA and .160 opponents’ average. So we’ll see. Could be a good one tonight.
Speaking of Ohman… He’s 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA and .130 opponents’ average in his past 23 appearances, and all of the five earned runs he’s allowed in that span came in one two-out appearance against Seattle on June 20.
In his other 22 games in that stretch, he’s allowed one unearned run, six hits and five walks with 19 strikeouts in 19-1/3 innings.
It’s too bad the Braves probably couldn’t find a way to squeeze a $3-plus mill salary for him into next year’s payroll along with the combined $9-10 mill they’re going to probably be paying relievers Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano.
Francoeur with bases juiced: I’ve gotten more than a dozen e-mails from people since his at-bat last night, The At-Bat, when Francoeur struck out swinging at four straight bad pitches after Florida’s VandenHurk had walked the bases loaded with three consecutive walks to start the inning.
Many called it the worst at-bat they’ve seen all season. Some said the worst they’ve seen in their lifetimes.
I would have a hard time disagreeing.
Anyway, for those who think the Braves absolutely stink with bases loaded, actually they don’t. Not as a team, overall.
They rank third in the NL with a .282 average (29-for-103) with bases loaded, and fourth with a .307 OBP in those situations.
But Francoeur is just 3-for-22 with no walks and seven strikeouts in those situations, and that’s twice as many at-bats as any other Brave has had with bases loaded (so yeah, his work in those spots does come to mind, understandably).
Without Francoeur’s 3-for-22, the rest of the Braves have a combined .321 average (26-for-81), including Chipper’s 3-for-4 with one walk, Mark Teixeira’s 5-for-10 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch (.538 OBP), and Brian McCann’s 5-for-11 with two doubles.
Tune for a daughter: The late, great Townes Van Zandt wrote this song for his daughter Katie Belle. You gotta hear him sing it in his distinct, whiskey-ravaged Texas twang to get a full apprecation, but the words alone are gorgeous.
”KATIE BELLE BLUE” by Townes Van Zandt
There is no deeper blue
in the ocean that lies
as deep as the blue
of your laughing eyes
no sweeter sound
than your gentle sigh
no heart was ever so pure
Dream pretty dreams
touch beautiful things
let all the skies surround you
swim with the swans
and believe that upon
some glorious dawn
love will find you
Come some day
I’m bound away
wind and wings on the water
whatever may
you must stay
and remain my beautiful daughter
There is no deeper blue
in the ocean that lies
as deep as the blue
of your laughing eyes
no sweeter sound
than your gentle sigh
no heart was ever so pure
Good night Katie Belle, good night
Comments
By SpensBross
July 23, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
We’re all familiar with Bill Buckner’s error in game 6 of the 1986 WS.
Some of us will also be familiar with Merkyl’s Boner….forgetting to touch second on a single that would have cemented a world series spot for the Cubs (it was then a forceout).
We’ve seen Canseco bounce a ball off of his head into the outfield stands.
As baseball fans we’ve seen it all, but ladies and gentlemen, history was made this very night.
The night of July 22, 2008 occurred the single worst AB in major league history.
That’s right! There must be millions of AB in the history of the Majors…but tonight, we have witnessed history!
Created by the one…
The only….
The beard……!!!!!
JEFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF ‘FRENCHY’ FRANCOEUR!!!!!
Yes, of course, I’m talking about the bases loaded, no out, AB in the 4th inning tonight. Four pitches at eye level (and the last one, I swear, was even higher), so predictable, so terrible, and yet so funny.
I gotta tell you all, I turned to my dad and said ‘You know, earlier in the season, he’d just ground out to SS, but at least we’d score a run. He’ll strike out, I bet you’.
And he did.
Our homegrown boy!
I must laugh at the FO for their Francoeur move. Send Francoeur down for three games…he’ll work it out. He didn’t work anything out…except a hissy fit.
So here’s the thing….when it’s time to resign Francoeur…we don’t. We just don’t.
By Chop Chop
July 23, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
There’s no gunfire in that famous scene from Goodfellas, DOB.
Tommy’s just busting Henry’s balls in the restaurant. Here’s the clip I’m talking about…
The famous Funny Guy scene
By big chief, no fart
July 23, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this
I’m all for a good fart joke; but, it needs to be one that sounds serious, not “guy walks into a bar” joke, or “indian chief walks into a drug store”, type joke that tips itself off at the intro.
Something that can be played off as dead serious, until the punch line.
By SLM
July 23, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the Townes Van Zandt tune—-I’ll be looking that up…Regarding the Francoeur at-bat, it is completely mind-boggling that after three straight walks he wouldn’t take even one pitch! It’s bad baseball at any level.
By It's all Scatalogical
July 23, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this
What’s wrong with fart jokes?
By i cant take it anymore
July 23, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this
Was the at-bat by Franker really THAT bad? Like andruw jones bad? nice blog, david.
By Bobby's Cox
July 23, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
The braves shouldn’t emphasize that these games are important.
Obviously this team isn’t good under pressure, so putting pressure on them to perform isn’t going to go well.
By It's all Scatalogical
July 23, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
Oh, I get it.
This blog needs more flatulence jokes.
By Bobby's Cox
July 23, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this
Braveheart
Great 2:03 post today on the last blog.
Looks like you came to play today. Watch out.
By f.n. hale
July 23, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this
DOB, He didn’t really say “truncated” did he? Big word for a relief pitcher. Does anyone here agree with me that the trade for Tex could go down as one of the worst ever? Not saying it will for sure, but if he walks at the end of the year and all we end up with are 3 picks for all those guys, and assuming some or all those guys live up to their projections it could be sooooo one sided. I realize that GM’s, as we all do, make educated guesses, and the better educated you are the better guesses you make, and JS has guessed right more often than he has wrong, but still…. I still think JS was as good as they come, though I do think he out punted his coverage a bit on this one, we won’t know for a few years.
By Nick
July 23, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this
DOB, I love Cox, and have a lot of faith in Wren, but what would you say about their handling of Francouer?
Did they bring him back from Mississippi too early? Should they send him back twice in one season (what would that do to his confidence)? Has bobby hurt the team and his confidence by batting him 5/6 in all these high pressure, bases loaded situations?
If this situation doesn’t improve I’m wondering if a nasty divorce is in the near future, seeing as Francouer was extremely bitter about being sent down the first time.
By Original Jon
July 23, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this
Chop Chop I dont think he was being literal with the whole Gunfire thing. It was a figure of speech.
By Novice Ned
July 23, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this
I’m sorry, but after seeing almost daily updates on how badly Andruw was playing the past year or 2, why can’t we “pile on” Frenchy?
By It's all Scatalogical
July 23, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this
Bobby Cox is full of beans!
By Chop Chop
July 23, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this
Great song, by the way.
Anybody who’s ever been depressed, hit the bottle a few too many times, or found themselves brought a few rungs too low by life can identify with Townes Van Zandt. I’d still kick Steve Earle off Dylan’s table, though.
Ha.
By Bobby's Cox
July 23, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this
Anyway, hey, it’s gonna be an interesting NL East race, without or without the Braves. DOB
Did you mean to type it that way….cuz it was one helluva line…
Pretty funny stuff DOB.
By THWG
July 23, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this
In some sort of lucky stroke for me, the power went out at my house (metro Atlanta) soon before the bases loaded debacle. So while I was spared the suffering of having to actually watch the inevitable, just listening to Frenchy whiff over and over with ducks on the pond I could tell it was probably not an at-bat that I (nor any young children) should have to witness.
By Chuck
July 23, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this
Two people are the reason for the team’s bad play this year: Tex and Frenchy. It doesn’t matter if Tex hits .400 the rest of the year, he stunk and got us 7 games out. Frenchy’s “unconventional” approach to hitting, which involves swinging at everything and relying on God-given talent to put it in play for a hit, left when he put on the extra weight - or when he started the Andruw ‘swing-so-hard-you-dip-your-head’ swing, take your pick. It’s a shame that with all the pitching injuries and patch-ups that have worked, those two guys have killed that great effort. Not that Kelly Johnson is playing well either, or that Escobar hasn’t given away his share of games with rookie mistakes. Even McCann is looking choke-prone these days. The disease is catching. I really hope they come out of it soon, soon, soon! But I’m afraid they just don’t have the healthy bats and power to do it.
By Nick
July 23, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this
DOB, are you thinking of the scene where he shoots the kid for talking back to him in front of the Fellas? Chop Chop is right, Pesci is pretending to get all p** off and then starts laughing about it.
By DHD
July 23, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
Will Wren panic? That will be the question. We’ll know the answer on August 1.
One concept I would consider would be to be a buyer AND a seller. Everybody asks which one we’ll be. We could do both. for example, sell Tex and get some young players AND pick up Jason Bay for some young players.
We need to prepare for next year. Then, sign Furcal in the off season. Lineup:
Furcal, ss….Escobar, 3b….Chipper, 1b….Bay, lf…..McCann, c…..Francoeur, rf…..Johnson, 2b….Blanco/Schafer, cf
By It's all Scatalogical
July 23, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
What about the batting drill where you write numbers on the baseball & the hitter has to recognize the number?
Even better, what about the drill where the BP pitcher farts on the ball and the hitter has to smell it?
It might help Frenchy compensate for loss of vision. Use the force, son!
By Cecil34
July 23, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this
After last night, there can be no question in anybody’s mind now - Jeff needs to go to Mississippi for the rest of the year.
If in fact he excels there, then see if he can excel at Richmond.
Since this season is 99.9 % in the tank, then there is no reason to let Jeff continue to flounder and be ridiculed up on the big club.
He can finish out down there at one of those two clubs this year, and then be invited to spring training to win his position back.
This is of course assuming he gets back on track down there. Remember, he did not spend that much time in the minors to begin with.
Frankly, there is nothing for him to accomplish on the big club this year, except take more of a PR black eye.
No doubt he made some statements the last demotion that he should have bit his tongue on, but remember, this is a man who has not had to deal with any real adversity in his ball-playing life.
He was always expected to be here. His parents, his friends and his boyhood and high school coaches knew he would be here. And treated him as such. He is a Parkview legend after all.
He has had success at every level, even the majors. But now it has left him surely as that strikeout last night attests to.
Can he get it back?
Heck yes….
It is all in how you handle him.
By i cant take it anymore
July 23, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this
f.n. hale…I cant agree with you on the tex trade being the worst ever. I dont think it’s nowehere close to being the worst.
By GT80
July 23, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this
Anyway, hey, it’s gonna be an interesting NL East race, without or without the Braves.
Was that a freudian slip or just a reality check?
Regarding all the trade talks, if the Braves have so much trouble scoring runs, why do we think getting rid of the 2nd best offensive player, and best power hitter, on the team is going to help. You’ve got to spend some money on payroll to compete in this game, and if the Braves are just going to trade Tex because they don’t want to pay him, then why should fans pay to go watch them play.
DOB, do you think Tex just doesn’t want to resign with the Braves? If so, I guess the trade needs to happen.
But if he wants to resign, they need to do it, even if it is for 5 yrs @ $20M. This team needs some bats, and major league bats. Right now there are 3 in the lineup.
And Jeff’s AB, the worst AB ever? That’s harse…but probably true.
By brent a.
July 23, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
Glad to hear that Ohman is supportive of Cox.
Whenever a guy makes comments like that, it is interesting to pay attention to him; but, it’s also interesting to note who the comments are coming from.
Ohman hasn’t been around here for years. The things that people criticize Cox for are not necessarily things that Will Ohman would have seen consistently.
People get mad at Cox because of the way he coaches offense (and handles the bullpen). They get sick of seeing Yunel Escobar pop-out on the first pitch after a walk, instead of letting Gregor Blanco try and steal on a catcher who has not thrown anyone out all season.
They get frustrated at the team’s inability to hit in key situations, like last night, when they loaded the bases with nobody out, and failed to score. (Strangely reminiscent of last season’s game on 9/6 against the Mets, when the Braves loaded the bases with no one out in the 6th, and also failed to score - an inning that basically defined our entire season).
Yes, there are injuries, and yes they count.
But last night, in the 6th inning, Jeff Francoeur, Kelly Johnson, and Mark Kotsay were the ones who cost us, and they are not replacements for injured players. They are everyday guys whom the Braves expected to get good production from this season.
Many of us have been watching this stuff for years, and we are tired of the approach.
I’m not saying that Cox isn’t any good, or that he never was any good - he was GREAT! - but, the approach that is being taken does not seem to be effective with this bunch, and hasn’t for a few years.
Yes, it’s effective with Chipper and Smoltz, and seemingly McCann. It also was with Andruw Jones (at least Andruw said he loved Cox), even though AJ seemed to tune him out a bit in his last year and a half in Atlanta.
Plus, Ohman is a middle reliever. Now, I’ll admit that I’ve never spent time with a major league team; but I do wonder just how much attention a guy like Will Ohman pays to the offensive approach of guys like Jeff Francoeur and Kelly Johnson? It may be a ton, and I am happy to be mistaken about that. But even so, he’s only been here since the spring, and it may well be fair to say that Bobby’s great reputation and over-all approach to managing a club, may overshadow any negative feelings a guy like Ohman might develop toward Cox, based upon team performance.
Plus, Ohman has been given a nice opportunity, and has pitched well. He seems to be a solid professional, and based upon his strong performance, I’m sure that he and Bobby have had a great realationship this season.
Yes, we have had injuries.
But, injuries did not get us Corky Miller as back up catcher.
Where injuries did bite us is the time we spent without Chipper, the time we spent without Kotsay, and the time we spent without Escobar. Prado’s injury also hurt.
And yes, I can see how that has cost us some offensive production.
Losing Smoltz, Glavine, Hampton, and Soriano also hurt, but over-all, the pitching has been good.
But, from my very limited perspective, injuries to the team have not led to our offense nearly being no-hit in three of its last 11 games.
There seems to be an approach issue with this team. Yes, injuries affect that, but it’s not solely injuries.
I like Bobby, I want him to succeed; but, you can’t just sit back and ignore our recent post-season failures and struggles of the last 3 seasons, and say that it is strictly on the players.
If it is on the players, and only on the players, then there would be no need for managers, bench coaches, etc. There is a reason why those guys get paid as handsomely as they do, and it isn’t just so they can be fired when things go badly for a team.
By Bobby's Cox
July 23, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
What will the arbitrator give Frenchy next year? We know the braves won’t sign him since Frenchy wants too much and the Braves now want to see how he’ll do in ‘09.
So, how much will the arbitrator give him? He’s had 2 seasons of 100+ RBI, 1 season 1 HR shy of 30, and 1 season 1 HR shy of 20. But, he could finish this year in AJ territory with a .220 BA, with less HR (14) and less RBI (75).
Will he get awarded very good pay $10 million discounted by 33.3% for the awful year (6.67 million for ‘09)? What do you all think he’s worth next year?
By timthebrave
July 23, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this
Tex wasn’t the worst trade ever. Not by a long shot. So we gave up Saltalamaccia(?) who would be playing every 4th game and doing only slightly better than corky. You don’t expect him to beat out Mccann do you? It was a good move and gave us a chance to win it all. We also go Ring and Dotel and will get 2 more minor leaugers after the season. It didn’t work out because of injuries, bad luck, whatever but still I liked the move then and I’m glad we got the balls to pull the plug on big time trades
By tvsportscaster
July 23, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this
f.n. hale in regards to your 2:57 post saying that perhaps the Tex trade was the worst the Braves ever made, I give you the Brett Butler, Rick Behenna, Brook Jacoby trade for Len Barker, and the J.D. Drew for Adam Wainwright’s trade as ranking worse. Besides the guys traded for Tex had no place to play in Atlanta. Salty was blocked by McCann and Andrus was blocked by both Escobar, Lillibridge and Hicks. So no, the Texieria trade was not the worst the Braves have ever made.
By cabravesfan
July 23, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this
For those of you who are still advocating signing Rafael Furcal for next year (DHD not meant as a shot at you- there have been plenty of others who have suggested it as well)- He is dealing with a pretty serious back injury and is currently on the 60 day DL- do we really want to risk signing another guy with a questionable back? Besides- we have a pretty good SS already…
By etownbrave
July 23, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this
Listening to Pete VanWieren on the radio, I told my son JF would swing at each pitch as it went higher and higher. And of course, he did. You just knew that was what the pitcher was going to throw and JF just could not stop himself from swinging. Again, bases loaded and no score! A loss tonight and one would guess that the mood in the clubhouse will be quiet and somber. Trades would have to bring immediate returns and if not, then hold fast and wait for the draft picks next year. I have not waved the white flag and will always have hope as long as the Braves are on the field.
By brent a.
July 23, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
Tex trade is not the worst ever.
We got a good player, who has provided good (and at times, great) offensive production.
Lots of teams get good players and then lose.
Bad trades are when you give up some young stud who becomes an absoulute stude for a stop-gap solution, or a guy who gets vertigo, or something.
Kobe Bryant for Vlade Divac was a bad trade.
Unless one of the studs we sent to Texas becomes an absolute superstar, this trade was actually a pretty fair trade. The only real problem, as I saw it, was the way we ended up sticking in an extra player at the end due to some injury concerns.
Plus, we also got Mahay. Who was pretty good, IIRC. (Which, to be honest, I don’t, because the end of last season was so depressing).
By Tardy71
July 23, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
Despite how you want to sugar coat it this team isnt going anywhere with the current lineup! It has been abundantly clear that trades have to be made to shake things up at the very least!
By Bobby's Cox
July 23, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this
*It’s all Scatalogical *
Now that’s the type of practice I was talking about! Get to work JF!
By Tardy71
July 23, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this
Despite how one may want to sugar coat it this team isnt going anywhere with the current lineup! It has been abundantly clear that trades have to be made to shake things up at the very least! Trading Tex for some young pitching and some outfield help would be a big step in that direction. The key is to get players that are major leaguers or almost at that level!
By braves70
July 23, 2008 3:23 PM | Link to this
DOB, Thanks for asking Ohman about Booby Cox. I am not sure we got a straight answer from Ohman. It certainly is not an answer with which I agree. I think Booby Cox is a big reason this season has been a disaster.
Ohman probably learned his lesson from Chicago. He said some things which probably caused him to get traded to the Braves to start with.
From the December 4, 2007 Chicago Daily Herald: The 30-year-old Ohman, a 1998 draft choice of the Cubs, got himself into the organization’s bad graces in August, when he was optioned to Class AAA Iowa. On his way out, he told reporters his left shoulder had been “barking.”
Later that week, Ohman went on WSCR radio in Chicago and said the medical staff and trainers knew about the injury, but that manager Lou Piniella was not told.
Everybody from the front office to the trainers to Ohman’s teammates felt Ohman had done the trainers an injustice. Ohman was part of the Cubs’ September call-ups, but he maintained a quiet presence in the clubhouse the rest of the season.
By brent a.
July 23, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this
timthebrave
Ring and Dotel were acquired in two separate deals.
Ring from San Diego (for who knows what?) and Dotel from Kansas City for Kyle Davies.
By bgvt
July 23, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this
Chuck —
I don’t buy your “two people to blame story” at all. Sure JF is a huge part of the problem but what exactly did you expect from Tex?
He is on pace to drive in about 118 runs, hit 31 HR, his average is .278, OBP is .383, SLG is .504, and OPS is .887.
Let’s compare that to his numbers in previous years. His career AVG/OBP/SLG/OPS is .285/.372/.535/.907. Much of that was in a better hitters’ park than the Ted. The 31 HR’s and 119 RBI’s are pretty typical of Tex — maybe ever so slightly below an average year for him. He certainly isn’t more than a two-week hot streak from being better than his career numbers.
If I wanted to point fingers, here is my list:
JF
very little power from LF (Diaz / Blanco) or CF (Kotsay / Blanco)
Injured starting pitching leading to the inconsistencies of Jo-Jo and Morton. Together, those two have started 22 games (more than 20% of the team’s total) and have an ERA of 5.28. Not good.
Ever shifting roles in the bullpen. They’ve done an admirable job but one wonders how much better the pen could have been with Moylan and Soriano having years anywhere close to last year.
KJ and Yunel taking steps backwards instead of a big step forwards in terms of offense.
Tex having a slightly subpar year.
The positives (relative to expectations):
JJJ stepping up bigtime.
Campillo surprising everyone as a starter.
Chipper having a great year.
McCann continuing to develop into a star.
By It's all Scatalogical
July 23, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this
Bobby Cox knows that it is far tougher to make up ground in August/September than in May/June.
By McFann :Ô:
July 23, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
Chuck—
“Choke prone”?
With RISP, McCann is hitting .295 (28-95).
With the bases loaded, he’s hitting .455 (5-11).
His AVG with runners on base is .310 (48-155).
Choke prone?
By KT
July 23, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
How much money do you have to make playing a sport before you are consumed by losses? On one hand, I get Ohman’s point - dont let the losses get to your head. Still, if you are paid ridiculous amounts of money to play baseball, you should expect to win and be angry when you dont. Watching movies in the club house after getting one hit is unacceptable. They should have been taking mandatory batting practice. For that, I do hold Cox and Pendleton accountable. They cant physically go out and win the games but they can ight a fire under these guys and make sure they understand that losing is not what is expected when you wear a Braves uniform. That is what the problem is right now. The one time they take a stand on Francouer, he complains to the press and they bring him back after three games. There are too many games in a season and players start to get complacent about a loss here and there. Next thing you know, youre in fourth place, seven games back. The only thing the Braves should be watching on TV is that commercial for the hitting DVD that Fred McGriff used to hawk…
By McFann :Ô:
July 23, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this
BTW:
Thanks for the new blog, Chief!
And the Braves are like a clown sometimes…I mean, they cann be scary!
By It's all Scatalogical
July 23, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this
Ohman was part of the Cubs’ September call-ups, but he maintained a quiet presence in the clubhouse the rest of the season.
Silent but deadly.
By Token Gringo
July 23, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this
I’m kinda tired of Frenchy bashing. It sure as heck isn’t helping him.
By joe
July 23, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this
Even if they were still in the race people would only be paying attention for about one more month at the most. That is when College Football starts.
By N8
July 23, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this
GT80
Your comment about Tex is true. I don’t think he’s “worth” over 20-25 million per year. But is ANYBODY really “worth” that much money.
Maybe it’s worth it to the Braves to break the bank on him, with all the other dollars coming off the book (Glavine - maybe Smoltz), and still spend the rest of the money wisely.
I’ve always been a guy that would rather have 3 guys making around 8-10 million dollars and being consistent (even if that means consistently average or slightly better than average), rather than having one guy making 20 million and 2 other guys making league minimum.
Maybe you catch lightning in a bottle and the “cheap” (usually young) guys have monster years and it all works out.
I’m with you. If they CAN sign Tex to a reasonable contract (without a full no-trade clause), and leave enough wiggle room to move him before he becomes a 10/5 guy. Then by all means do it.
While he is not capable of carrying his teams, he’s a nice part of any team. That’s for sure.
But if LM doesn’t raise payroll, I surely don’t want one guy taking up 20 percent of the payroll. That’s a recipe for disaster. If there is a sense by Wren that there is ZERO chance he’ll re-sign at a rate they can live with, and they can get more for him in a trade than they feel the draft picks will bring…..move him.
DOB
I’m with you on Ohman. It would be nice to keep him, and I’m a guy that wasn’t sold on him right away. He’s been outstanding for a couple of months now.
But there’s a growing sense in me that thinks he might actually bring more than Tex will. Because a team like the Yankees can trade for him, and then be assured to outbid anybody for a middle reliever. 3 million per year (or so) for a guy like Ohman, for a 2 or 3 year contract is NOTHING to the Yankees, but a lot of money for a team like the Braves to commit to a guy that’s NOT gonna be closing. Especially with Soriano and Gonzo on the roster next year.
But I tell you what. I think the team might be better served to invest 13 million into a trio of reliable end of the game relievers (Ohman, Gonzo and Soriano), than to invest 25 million into Tex. More “bang” for the buck, IMO.
As for his comments on Cox. As I’ve always said, I have no problem NOT blaming Cox for the failures of the past 2-3 seasons. Just so long as the people that find that notion ridiculous (players, media and other bloggers), aren’t insisting that Cox is the ONE REASON that the teams of the 90’s were as successful as they were.
It can’t go both ways. If he’s not responsible for failure of guys struggling, he’s not responsible for the success of good players. The truth lies somewhere in between.
I’ve always given credit for Cox keeping the guys level-headed, but have often blamed that “business like” mood of the clubhouse for some of the flat performances in the post-seasons.
It seems that the guys with the fire or guys that wear their emotions on their sleeves (Smoltz, Chipper, Avery, TP, Justice) have been the guys that succeed in the pressure of October. While the business guys like Glavine, Maddux, McGriff rule the regular season, and fail to “step up” in October.
That being said Grissom (a pretty mild mannered dude) and Glavine are pretty much responsible for the one WS title in 1995. So take it for what it’s worth.
By R.Hobbs
July 23, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this
DOB, So true regarding Francoeur’s AB last night. I know hitting MLB pitching is one of the hardest things to do in sports, but the plate discipline is just horrendous. This feels too much like watching Andruw decline the last few years at the plate. It reminds me of a video game pitching sequence — you know the slider down and away is coming for strike one swinging, strike two is usually fast ball looking, and then it’s climb the ladder for strike three or keep throwing the slider in the dirt. Painful to watch.
On the Townes tune…as someone who loves a ton of Townes influenced music and the whole Americana/roots rock genre in general (Earle, Lucinda, Uncle Tupleo, Whiskeytown, etc), what’s a good start in listening to Van Zandt himself?
Thanks as always for the great taste and great writing.
By Brent A(ss) Clown
July 23, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this
I just HAD to get Kobe in the blog today! I LOVE Kobe!
By It's all Scatalogical
July 23, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
McCann…Choke prone
You can’t eat a ton of fried food and then squat all afternoon without having an occasional “accident”.
By 18 Wheels of Love
July 23, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
Great stuff DOB!
Some other lyrics come to mind, lyrics from The Drive-By Truckers….
“So I’ll meet you at the bottom if there really is one They always told me when you hit it you’ll know it But I’ve been falling so long it’s like gravity’s gone and I’m just floating.”
I love Bobby Cox and I am sure he is still the players favorite…BUT…I have to question his ability when he continued to bat Andruw in the 5 hole and this year when he continues to bat Frenchy 5 or 6 and not 8th, where he is less likely to come up with the bases loaded.
You can’t make chicken salad out of chicken spit, I understand that, but I also know that the chicken salad goes bad if you leave it uncovered too long.
By timthebrave
July 23, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this
Still not a bad trade. Most of those guys were not going to play for the Braves ever…Why are people blaming Bobby Cox for last night? You know he was suspended and not there?…I guess it was still his fault. Give me a break
By THB
July 23, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this
Some more thoughts on Manny:
We have money coming off the books this season. Instead of signing Tex for 20+ million for 8 years, we could sign Manny for 1-2 years while we have the money at most likely a little less money. Manny would drive in all the guys we have on base and hit for power and average. Then our goal this offseason is to find a 1B. I have an idea on that, too. The Rangers have been linked to Mike Gonzalez. Maybe Gonzo for Chris Davis and a minor leaguer? Or get a 1B back for Tex if we trade him…
By It's all Scatalogical
July 23, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this
Tex may not be clutch, but he can hit a ball farther than anyone else on the team.
By Shaun
July 23, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this
KT, I think Ohman’s point is like the cliche, “you have to take it one game at a time.”
It would do more harm than good for the Braves to try to go out and gain 7 games in the standings in one game, so to speak. I think that’s his point.
By DHD
July 23, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this
Maybe correct concerning Furcal. The Braves would make sure he’s OK before signing him. Maybe there are others we could sign. I’m not totally opposed to moving Chipper to first, leading off Blanco and playing Lillibridge at ss and Escobar at third. That way, we could spend money on pitching since we have Smoltz, Tex, Hampton and Glavine’s salary coming off.
Blanco,cf…Escobar, 3b…Chipper,1b….Bay, lf….McCann,c….Francoeur,rf….Johnson,2b….Lillibridge,ss
If Francouer would wake up, that ouldn’t be a bad lineup. With some pitching and reserve additions, we should be good.
By coach k
July 23, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this
SHOCK TIME GET RID OF PENDLETON, SEND FRENCHY TO MISS, SIT KOTSAY AND BRING ME UP 2 KIDS WITH SOME DESIRE TO PLAY WITH BLANCO IN THE OUTFIELD, OH NEED A BACK-UP CATCHER FOR MCCANN NOT THE CLOWN WE GOT.
By It's all Scatalogical
July 23, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this
This team doesn’t pass the smell test.
By bravegator
July 23, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this
timthebrave - It didn’t work out because of injuries, bad luck, whatever but still I liked the move then and I’m glad we got the balls to pull the plug on big time trades
You pull the trigger on big trades
You pull the plug on this season
By BravesFanInRockies
July 23, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this
OK, I’m being a meanie here, but I can’t let this one slip.
From the last blog:
To have made myself clear, I should have said reciting stats is for losers. Certainly stats have a place in evaluatingballplayers. But DOB keeps throwing out all those stats about low ERA and team high (compared to other teams)batting average so how do you explain all those losses?? Would you rather have 10 usless hits that make your batting average look good, or 1 clutch hit that drives in a run????? Jack G
The last time I checked, wins and losses are stats.
Have at it, denizens —
By Threadkiller
July 23, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this
Are we going to make any deals?? Or are we going to wait till 11:55pm on Jul 31? We’ll wait till the midnight hour, make a trade and it will take the new player almost a week to get here..A lot of teams are doing deals, even the Astros made a trade yesterday!
By RG
July 23, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this
I think Cox deserves a lot of blame because most other managers, expecially ones that are supposed to be as good as he is, would move Francoeur out of that spot, and bat him 8th in the line-up instead of giving him all of those wasted RBI opportunities.
By RedEyedAndBlue
July 23, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
DOB -
Are those emails in re: Frenchy’s at bat from friends, colleagues (sportswriters), or “baseball people?”
By Lee in S GA
July 23, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
Don’t see any of the Braves players coming right out and blaming Cox for any of this mess. Most players like playing for Cox. If it comes down to actually a player playing for a winning team for a manager he dislikes vs playing for a manager on a losing team he likes - I would dare say what the majority of baseball players would chose.
By Random
July 23, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
DOB: “I could be covering college football tomorrow. Or metro government. Whatever the AJC higher-ups tell me to cover. Hopefully, they’ll keep me covering ‘ball a long time.”
AJC announces section changes, staffing …
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will cut its workforce by 8 percent, or about 189 jobs, and eliminate all of its geographically targeted news sections as part of a cost-cutting plan announced Wednesday… . Mellott said the AJC will maintain news bureaus in Gwinnett, Cobb, DeKalb and North Fulton, adding that the daily newspaper’s metro and sports sections will expand to handle coverage from those areas.
The Good News: DOB still has a job.
The Bad News: DOB will now be the Beat Reporter not only for the Atlanta Braves, but also for the Gwinnett Braves, West Georgia Braves, Long Branch Braves, Hightower Chiefs, College Park Warriors, Cross Keys Indians and Creekside Seminoles.
PS: apologies to Chop Chop.
By Shaun
July 23, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
I don’t think there is a such thing as “choke prone” or “clutch prone.” A player can hit or he can’t. Every situation is a pressure situation when you’re a major league player.
Again, I challenge anyone to find a player with a sample of say 500 plate appearances in the clutch who was significantly better in clutch situations or significantly worse in clutch situations than he was normally.
Given enough plate appearances, a player’s clutch performance is going to be fairly close to his overall performance.
I brought this up when everyone was talking about Francoeur as a great clutch hitter as if he had an innate ability to hit well in the clutch. But where are those people now?
By The Irish Moose
July 23, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
Sometimes teams have to be realistic. I was confident in this team in April. You know what, it was unrealistic. Glavine, and Smoltz were in their 40s, Kotsay had a bad back, Soriano a bad elbow, and Hampton had a bad everything. It is time to go young. Keep Chipper and Hudson (unless the offer is loaded with great prospects) and let Tex go for the draft picks or better prospects now if we cannot afford him. If we can afford him then sign him. Trade Ohman for youth, say goodbye to Glavine, Smolotz, Soriano and Hampton. Spend wisely on the new money we save from the above contracts. Find out if French and Schaefer are the future. Let them play now. I have a bad feeling about Schaefer. I expected him to tear up AA to show people the HGH was over hyped. Right now it looks like it was all HGH.
By David O'Brien
July 23, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
f.n. hale: I kid you not, he said “truncated.” He’s quite a literate fella, this Will Ohman….
Any of you ever listen to a comedy CD (or tape, back in the day) in your car, and you’re laughing hysterically, and someone drives by you and looks at you as if you’re certifiable?
Just now I’m driving down the Florida Turnpike toward Dolphin Stadium, laughing uncontrollably at the Patton Oswalt bit about Kentucky Fried Chicken’s failure meal in a sadness bowl, and I got some looks from people. Love it. Dude’s so very funny.
By Jeff R
July 23, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
It’s goofy to blame Cox for the Braves diminishing fortunes. He’s managing like he always has - expect he doesn’t have higher caliber players to manage. Some part any undertaking - including sports - is being in the right place at the right time. For Cox, this season, the music stopped and he doesn’t have a seat.
The team needs to reposition for 2009 and beyond. A good start is moving Super Tex and Ohman. The market is starting to heat up, and will continue to do so right up to deadline. Super Tex and Ohman are worth more with each passing day.
And I just can’t believe that the Braves’ brass is sitting in their offices believing that this club has a genuine shot at post season. Got to believe they have their eyes set already on 2009.
By Lee in S GA
July 23, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
THB
I don’t think the majority of fans in Atlanta or Cox could handle “Manny being Manny”. I could …. don’t get me wrong. The only reason he pulled it off in Beantown so easily was due to 2 W.S. championships.
By D.Ellis
July 23, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this
I’ll always love the Braves. Support the braves….root for the Braves.
BUT THIS TEAM SUCKS SOMETHING FIERCE.
This ship is sinking. It;s been sinking for 2 and a half years. It will be fun watching Wren restock the farm system and begin another run. Just like the 90’s!
However I find it highly funny that in Sunday’s sports section Cox called the organization buyers and not sellers????
That could be a start of the problem….no recognition of seeing when things stink and changes are needed….alas which obviously translates to Batting Frenchy in the 5 or 6 hole or even playing him everyday to begin with.
Don’t get me wrong. I love the Braves. LIFE LONG FAN…the reload will be fun and the off season moves wil lbe intresting
GO BRAVES!
By David O'Brien
July 23, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this
The real Coach K would NEVER type in all caps. Undignified.
By Milton Jeff
July 23, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
Frenchy’s AB in the 4th definetly made me vomit all over the place. KJ & Kotsay was frustrating as well..at least they lasted longer. Ahh what to do, what to do?? I think we’ve already established the Braves need to be sellers..lets start working on ‘09. Keep the young arms and Huddy. Like McDowell..Get rid of TP. Any new approach in hitting i think will help the mindset of these players.
By Shaun
July 23, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this
N8, it’s hard to know how much success or failure a manager is responsible for. My guess is not much of either.
But my guess is Cox helps his players succeed a lot more than he causes them to fail, given his reputation and overall track record in every game (not just October).
Regarding McGriff, he hit .303/.385/.532 in the post-season.
Certain types of players just aren’t suited for the post-season. Maddux was never a power pitcher and power pitchers usually are the ones who succeed in the post season. Same with Glavine.
By Steve from OH
July 23, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this
N8, others:
I don’t really think the “moral” question of “is player x worth x amount of dollars?” is really applicable in the modern world of baseball. I will agree with you that no one is “worth” 20 million/year to play baseball (or do anything else, for that matter). However, if you consider that the Braves had a revenue of nearly 200 million dollars last year, it is reasonable to expect players to make a ton of cash, given that the 25 guys on the field are the primary “generators” of the revenue? People don’t pay to see FW make trades or Liberty Media secure marketing deals. They pay to see guys like Tex play ball. So if you think in terms of who should get the extra profits (in this case, a 20 Million salary)-Teixeira or the ownership group, the answer is a no-brainer: Tex, and the rest of the 25-man roster. Of course, some of the revenue pays concession workers’ salaries, front office salaries, etc, but the vast majority is pure profit before you include players’ salaries. So, if you paid everyone the league minimum, where would all of this cash go? Would it not be more justifiable to give it to the guys who brought it in instead of ownership?
DISCLAIMER: I’m not an economist or anything, so if anyone has info that rebukes this argument, I’m all ears.
By N8
July 23, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this
“Why are people blaming Bobby Cox for last night? You know he was suspended and not there?…I guess it was still his fault. Give me a break”
Yeah. Because being relegated to the club-house, watching the game on TV, means that NOBODY is allowed to run into the clubhouse and relay instructions.
Besides. Nothing in last nights game really WAS his fault.
In GENERAL, not instructing Jeffrey to take a few pitches falls on the coaching staff. Correct me if I’m wrong, but if Cox (or TP or Chino) were to give Frenchy the “take” sign, he’d oblige, wouldn’t he?
The fact that TP and Bobby have not only allowed, but encouraged Jeffrey to remain aggressive at the plate, falls on their shoulders a bit, doesn’t it?
I realize that not every player can follow instructions or teachings of the coaches the same as everybody else. That’s the complexity of being a coach. Knowing how to get the message across and get the most of of each individual human being.
But I’ll believe to the end of his slump, that sending Jeff down for only 3 days was WORSE for him (and the organization), than had they not sent him down at all.
Not only did it NOT help him (you can’t tell me that in 3 days he solved his issues - especially with the pending results upon his return), but now he’s pizzed at the organization for sending him down.
NOTHING good came of that incident, IMO.
By VaBravesfan
July 23, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this
Worst at bat by a Brave that I can recall: Early 80’s, Bob Horner after 3 straight walks hits a first pitch one-hopper to the pitcher for a double play.
By rlinaug
July 23, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
i feel sorry for Francouer, cause he really does seems to be a decent fellow and he’s lost. but he’s been awful. still, i blame the coaches. I mean, they can’t get a bunt down, they don’t hit behind the runners, Francouer is not the only brave guilty of swinging at bad pitches. Keep in mind, AJ didn’t learn a thing in 12 years of playing with Cox. I’m convinced, Cox was simply the beneficiary of a great GM with some money.
Thanks for the Townes Van Zandt song. He’s the best song writer ever, I think. Unfortunately he died a virtual unknown. But we know when Brittney gets a haircut. Strange world.
By Joe
July 23, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
trade Frenchy for 10 bats and a bag of balls!!!! he will never be as good as he was a couple of years ago. For real I would try to make a package of Frenchy and others for Holliday.
By STRETCH
July 23, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
We all should have seen it coming when Liberty Media took over. Atleast i saw it. Since 06, its been Chipper, Edgar and BMac or Tex being the constants on offense. I mean these guys were solid when healthy. But after these guys, what? A mediocre offense day in and day out.
Look at the surrounding cast last night and the past couple of seasons. Not good. They have been flirting with getting “NO HIT” for the last couple of weeks, and im pretty much expecting them to get tagged with that 0 0 0 at some point this season.
Some of the blame is on Bobby, but, alot of this is on management for the personnel they brought in! These guys are making waaaaaaaaaay too much money to be performing they way they do. How many times are we going to see the bases loaded and “NO” outs and they keep coming up with nothing?!
Bobby should go, and Tex will be gone, Glavine and Hampton…let those old arms go plus Kotsay(love the guy, but he’s damaged goods) and theres plenty money to throw out there at a LF and a 1st baseman.
Can somebody tell me about how much money would be out there if the above happens for next season? The pitchings going to be fine, just gotta get some offensive minded players in a bad way.
People keep saying they Braves can come back, well the way i see it is…they would have to catch 6 teams to get the Wild Card and 3 teams to get the division. Folks, with that anemic lineup, do you all honestly expect to catch anyone???
By RedEyedAndBlue
July 23, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this
There is a very good, brief breakdown of the MLB free agent compensation process on www.mlbtraderumors.com by Tim Dierkes.
Helps explain (among other things) why Ohman might be considered a Type B free agent and what that means exactly (that we’d get one sandwich draft pick for him).
By knowitall
July 23, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
I agree that Frenchy probably shouldn’t be batting 6th. But on the flip side of that who exactly are you going to bat there? KJ has been almost just as bad as Frenchy lately so whom exactly do you put there?
By GotCurry
July 23, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this
I think most people will agree that Francoeur is a talented player. He just happens to be in the slump of all slumps. What I don’t get is why he continues to hit (or not hit) in the #6 spot. I love Bobby, and I’m not one of those people saying he should retire, but he’s given the guy enough chances. It’s very clear where Francoeur belongs in the lineup, at #8. He is killing this team by coming up in bases loaded situations. He needs to switch places with Kotsay in the lineup.
By TennesseePaul
July 23, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this
[People who complain of Bobby] get sick of seeing Yunel Escobar pop-out on the first pitch after a walk, instead of letting Gregor Blanco try and steal on a catcher who has not thrown anyone out all season.
They get frustrated at the team’s inability to hit in key situations,
I didn’t get to see the game last night, so perhaps I’m missing this “call” by Bobby when he coached his offense into a pop up… But just from that description, the line “team’s inability to hit in key situations” seems to go smoothly with “Escobar pop-out… instead of letting … Blanco try and steal”. Sounds like a failed hit and run tactic. A game plan mostly associated with “small ball” which happens to be a persistent criticism of Cox for his supposed lack of use.
Oh well, damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Well, I guess in this case it’s more like “Damned if you do, damned if he doesn’t.”
But I could have the whole scenario wrong having not seen it go down any way…
By Brett
July 23, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this
While Jeff’s stats are horrific and he obviously is more than struggling; I have only seen 1 person on this whole blog mention that Kelly promptly struck out next after him (swinging at an eyeballer I believe). I guess we could call that “The 2nd At Bat”
Brings me to my next point (would love DOB’s opinion on this): Giving Jeff’s struggles with the bases loaded and VH having just walked the bases loaded; WHERE IS THE TAKE SIGN UNTIL HE GETS A STRIKE?
I don’t care if Bobby is in the clubhouse suspended or not; my old little league coach would know that. Another example of how the “sit back and let the players play” attitude around here (remember this is in place Feb-Oct.) has hurt us again.
I wish we would quit pinning this season on our 24 YEAR OLD RF who is clearly in a funk he has never dealt with before. His struggle with runners on are HUGE I agree; but he is not the reason we have lost every game.
I am going to lose it if I hear someone else call him a whiner for sticking up for THE WAY THE SITUATION was handled. Imagine going to work and doing a good job EVERYDAY for 2 1/2 years, then struggling, then having your Mngt. tell you in under 5 minutes you’re demoted,bye-Bye.
No warning after so much and too quick of a meeting would have made a lot of people defensive too. To get called back so fast makes you wonder if they ever knew what they were doing anyways.
Time for people to start thinking about all these things we discuss. It is a team game and besides injuries our season can be summed up in one phrase (to unfortunately take from the booth): IF IT’S NOT COMING FROM CHIPPER, McCANN, or TEX; WE’RE NOT GETTING IT AT THE PLATE!
By Ron Roberts
July 23, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this
I think those that pay any attention to my posts here over the years could tell you I’m no Bobby Cox apologist, and that I’ll criticize the guy when it’s due, but you can’t put this team’s 2008 performance on him. There’s not a manager out there who’d get much better, if any better, out of this squad, having to overcome losing an ace starter, a number two/three starter, n