AJC > Blog > Archives > 2007 > May > 02
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Hop on the Chuck Wagon
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Driving to work this morning, I heard one of the local sports radio hosts refer to the Braves rotation as “Smoltz and Hudson and Three Days of Cussin’.”
Whoa. Back up there. THREE days of cussin’? Why diss Chuck James? Play “The Third Man Theme” whenever he takes the mound at The Ted for this guy because we’ve got ourselves a gem here, folks.
James’ overall stats tell me that, barring unforeseen injury (let’s NOT go there) or what have you, the talent is there. The numbers: 14-6 (W-L), 3.87 ERA, 116 Ks to 59 walks. Serviceable and at 26, plenty young enough to keep on getting better.
Right now, the knock on James is his road ERA — a whopping 6.10. He’s had a so-so start in ‘07. But let’s remind ourselves of last season, when he posted that stellar 11-4 record. What stands out? Chuck James didn’t falter when the 2006 Braves did. He didn’t post a fair-to-middling record that other newbie starters would be OK with, seeing as how they were still getting their feet wet in the bigs. James donned the Tomahawk, took the mound and looked like he deserved to be here (he did) without getting big-headed about it and losing focus.
All Chuck James did from June-Oct. 2006 was step up. Do his job (i.e., win games). Again, the numbers:
During a forgettable June, James, in two starts, went 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA. In July, he started four games, went 2-2. 8.53 ERA. When August rolled around, he put in six games, going 3-1, pruning his ERA to 2.97. At season’s end in September/October, James finished the season with a 4-1 record, 3.29 ERA, through another six games.
In 2006, Chuck James led the Braves’ pitchers in winning percentage at .733. That’s something. Something good.
It’s early. Let’s not fork over the NL East to the Mets just yet, Gods of Jock Radio. Not when the numbers demonstrate that, really, Chuck James should just be warming up as the first divisional sprints of the long, hot baseball summer are merely beginning.
Permalink | Comments (32) | Post your comment | Categories: Chop Chick
