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Baseball gods have it in for Braves so far

By Chop Chick | Thursday, April 17, 2008, 08:56 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

If the breaks really do even out in baseball, the Braves are due for one heck of a torrid streak. Last night, they hit into three inning-ending double plays en route to their seventh one-run loss in the 15 games they’ve played so far.

To say things aren’t going their way on this current road trip would be putting it mildly. In fact, Dave O’Brien quoted Matt Diaz as saying, “I don’t know how bad hell is, but I’d call it the trip from hell so far.”

Case in point: Tuesday night, Chipper Jones blooped two singles on the right-field foul line and then later with two on, he hit his hardest ball of the game — a broken-bat liner right at left fielder Josh Willingham. Or last night, when Mark Kotsay fired a rocket that should have been over the head of the shortstop into left — except that the Marlins shortstop is 6-foot-3.

The number of at-‘em balls these guys are firing off is unbelievable … the baseball gods have certainly had it in for them so far. So what do you do?

In yesterday’s Chop Chick blog, Bill in VA posted: “I’ve played a lot of low level baseball & coached a lot of it too. Baseball is baseball and when there’s no hitting there are techniques I like to see used to shake the game up a little, like drop down a bunt or 2 straight bunts, to get the pitcher moving around and out of his groove. I wonder why I don’t see more of this in mlb. There’s other stuff too; Bobby knows!”

I agree that there are definitely things Bobby could do. Heck, I wouldn’t mind seeing him draw the lineup out of hat just to shake things up and keep the players loose. That’s been done before, and how cool would it be to see John Smoltz hit leadoff tonight? If he got on and helped manufactured a run, no one near the Braves clubhouse would ever hear the end of it.

OK, I”m not entirely serious about pulling the lineup out of a hat, but I do think Bobby plays things too by the book and tends to stay the course way too long, which is partly where the Braves got their “buttoned-down, businesslike” reputation. What are your ideas to help guys get out of the rut they seem to be in?

Side note: I’m trying really hard not to worry about Tim Hudson’s “dead” arm, as Bobby called it.

Permalink | Comments (83) | Post your comment | Categories: Chop Chick

Comments

By geekboy

April 17, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this

1) Tex should not be batting cleanup. I’d try Escobar there and Diaz in the #2 hole againt lefties and probably righties too.

2) Ohman and Bennett cannot be trusted in anything resembling a close game.

3) I’d put Boyer and Acosta in some sort of protective bubble during shipment.

4) I’d consider Hampton at closer.

5) I’d wait it out … things can’t get any worse!!!

By 22oz

April 17, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this

I would like to see Blanco in there for a night, just to see what the kid can do in a full game. In years past, Bobby always made a great effort to get his bench guys enough at-bats to stay sharp. Now, i am not calling for a platoon, that drove me crazy in years past.

What frustrates me about this team is that we can plainly see they are too impatient, but they apparently can’t. Still swinging at the first pitch. This team will continue to go nowhere until they change something, start to play a little small ball. 3 run homer Bobby ball is getting old and predictable.

By jeanE

April 17, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

I think something is wrong with Hudson they don’t know about yet, this is an old staff & as much as they get sick of hearing that, injuries is what happens. Our relievers stink, period. When is Mike Gonzalez comining back??? Moylan is good but is he really OK? Soriano seems injury prone, to me. Not good at all. Its going to be a long season if this is any indication. Our timely hitting is horrendous. We only seems to win if we get a ton of runs. If it’s close, forget it, we’re done.

By jeanE

April 17, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

By richbrave

April 17, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this

poorboy:

Brian Snitker or Dave Brundige are both excellent baseball men and either would make an outstanding ML manager in my humble opinion.

By richbrave

April 17, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this

BOBBYS COX:

Its definitely time for some fundamental changes in the managers approach to the game. If Bobby can�t or won�t alter his approach with the staff anf players then it may actually be time for a managerial change to occur. But change rarely happens when it�s due. So I suppose we�ll roll on with BC adhering to the line that all�s been well before in these circumstances and will be again. I hope he�s right. But there�s also an old expression - �There are none so blind as those who will not see.� Time tells the truth, and fans are just along for the ride.

By knowshon

April 17, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

Matt Diaz is a platoon player at best. He consistently has bad at bats and very rarely swings at strikes. He is also very mediocre in the outfield. The scouting report on Diaz is to throw pitches off the plate and let him get himself out. Tex will get hot he has to good of track record not too. I just think Diaz has been a journeyman for a reason. Bobby needs to get Gotay more at bats, he can hit and we need someone to jump start the line-up.

By Pitching Woes

April 17, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

This season may very well be a look into the near future for this team. Glavine and Smoltz can’t have many more seasons left in the tank, and I’d be surprised if they get 50 innings out of hampton. I just don’t see tex re-signing with the braves with so many other suitors out there at seasons end. Hudson is still a very good pitcher, but I think he will probably see reduced velocity outings alot more over the next several seasons. I hope frank wren has it in mind to use some of the dollars freed up by tex, hampton, and glavine at the end of this season to make a run at sabathia and k-rod. Pitching is what led to the run of division titles, and the braves need stability in the staff and the pen. The team has done an excellent job developing positional talent, and I hink there is plenty in the farm system to work with. Spend all of the free agent dollars on pitching.

By richbrave

April 17, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this

DOWN ON THE FARM

Lines from three different games would drown this space so I’m picking highlights instead this time around.

Braves take two of three from Rochester and their overall record is now 9-4.

OFFENSIVE bright spots.

JOSH ANDERSON goes 3-13 with 2 runs scored and 2 rbi. A merely mortal .231. One hit however is an in-the-park home-run. BA now at .339

BRANDON JONES goes 3-11 a steady .273 with 1 run scored and 1 rbi.

BARBARO CANIZARES goes from supernatural to other worldly, batting .545 (6-11), 2 runs scored and 2 rbi. He hits his team-leading third home-run. BA now .438 (21-48). He is the engine that powers the offense. Carpe diem!!

SCOTT THORMAN has awakened from his early batting slumbers and appears heading toward heavenly amends with rightous indignation. He bashed the ball in this three games at a .400(4-10) clip. Along the way he added 2 runs scored and 1 rbi to his season totals.

DEFENSIVE bright spots.

PHIL STOCKMAN in relief goes 3.1 with 0 walks and 4 strike-outs. His line is now 9 IP with 4 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 11 SO. ERA 2.00 and looking good. A very strong last game. He appears to be rounding into shape.

CHARLES MORTON started his third R-Braves game and was solid in his first win of the season. He went 5.2 in his last two starts, an encouraging sign. His season totals are 16 IP, 12 H, 3 ER, 6 BB, 11 SO with a 1.69 ERA. Best indicators of his relative position at the moment are his hits to innings and BB to SO ratios. Steady, but not yet spectacular.

By RichmondBrave

April 17, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

I agree with Geekboy that Tex has to get out of cleanup. He still looks BAD most times at bat. BK has to do something with the lineup, but all Braves fans know that will not happen. He doesn’t want to upset his players. He should drop Tex to 7 and move Frenchy and Mac up one spot. We need a leadoff hitter and KJ is not the man for the job. I like Escobar at 2 so Chipper can occasionally drive him in with one of his singles if Escobar get a double or triple. Let pray that the offence comes around once we get home and that Smoltz pitches a 9 inning shutout.

By Coach (Lets Go Braves in 2008)

April 17, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this

Chop Chick , all I know is, when Chipper came up to bat in Tuesday nights game with two runners on and nobody out in the sixth inning, he absolutely nailed a fastball that should have been ten rows deep in the seats for a three run bomb.

Instead, the damn bat exploded on contact and it was nothing more than a flyball out to LF.

I knew right then that somebody or something had it in for the Braves because I have never seen a bat shatter when making contact with the baseball right square in the middle of the bat.

Hopefully, the Baseball Gods will eventually smile on this team and start cutting them some slack.

By Carroll

April 17, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this

Didn’t both Mike Hampton and Mike Gonzalez experience a similar dead—yet painless—arm before they began their respectivie stints on the DL?

By "Baseball Gods"

April 17, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this

Yeah…it must be that someone has it out for the braves. This is what happens when you put your pitching staff in the hands of two 40 plus pitchers, a walking injury bug, a rookie, and have a bullpen full of guys without options and ml success based mostly on not having much exposure yet. It also wouldn’t hurt to work a pitch count or two and not be so aggressive. It’s not the “baseball gods”, its a poorly coached offense and a poorly thought out pitching staff. Maybe we can use our first round pick to add a young pitcher…oh wait…….

By Chopper

April 17, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this

Historically, Tex is a slow starter. He did quite all right last year in August and September in the cleanup spot. Bobby needs to leave him there and he will come around. It doesn’t seem to be effecting Chipper’s pitches. He’s still getting good ones to hit if you look at his average. If the Braves weren’t finding so many other ways to lose, I’d not throw Chipper a strike until Tex got it going. I’ve said earlier, I don’t like Kelly in the leadoff spot. I think he’s actually better somewhere in the 6 through 8 spot. It takes a lot of pressure off him and allows him to relax. Escobar would be a good leadoff guy but I can see the argument of leaving him in the number two spot. I don’t think it really matters who bats fifth between Francoeur and McCann. I guess Bobby will go with the pitching matchups which he does way too much! I know it is way way to early to bring this up, but if the Braves are out of it come July, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Diaz and/or Kotsay both dealt for a good starting pitching prospect…

By ChampDawg

April 17, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

Plain and simple— this is Booby Cox worst and last year as manager of this team… no fire and emotion, no execution, no strategy… just the same ol’ “aw shucks” attitude. You can’t keep doing the same things over again and expect different results… shake up the leadoff position, move Tex down in the order, play small ball when you need to.

By Diaz and Kotsay

April 17, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

Who is going to give up a good starting pitching prospect for diaz or kotsay??? Those guys are a dime a dozen, The braves would be lucky to get a 30 year old A ball player for either.

By Nick24

April 17, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

Until Bobby Cox figures out how to put a lineup together to manufacture some runs, the Braves will continue on their downward spiral. This team can not sit back and rely on that big homerun to win the game. They need to steal more bases, do more hit and runs, and bunt runners over. The slumps for our whole lineup will not continue and sooner than later the Braves will score a lot of runs, but please manufacture runs instead of waiting until the 7th-9th innings to score. I watch every game on TV that I can and it is frustrating to see all the opportunities they have to score runs and either someone strikes out, hits into a double play or pops up. Whats wrong with taking a few pitches rather than swinging at the first pitch. I’m tired of watching them let a pitcher off the hook who may be getting into a little trouble. I think they are all anxious to prove that this team can score runs, but they need to be patient in doing so. It is still early in this long season to give up on them. As long as the bats come alive and our pitching can get healthy and consistant the Braves will have a great year.

By COACH K

April 17, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

It’s not time to panic it is time to shake it up and mean do something you don’t ordinarily do, yank Pendleton, and call someone on the carpet, this team is too good to be losing these games to shotty teams. The pitching has been good enough when is anyone going to get it Bobby is clueless, you have to at time manufactor runs, hit and run, bunt it is why he is outcoached in the playoffs and if it where not for Justice and the the sorry Indian he would have not had that one

By Jim

April 17, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

**Remember last year’s free agent year for Andrew? Well I would not be surprised if Tex doesn’t have the same kind of year. If so it serves him right for his greed and everybody loves to see Boras lose it….

Better start hitting and flinging strikes or this one will get away from us fast.**

By Stuart

April 17, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

In the ballgame last night, Matty D hit a dribbler down the 3B line that scored Frenchy to make it 6-5. Kotsay was up with 1 out and hit into a DP. Why not try and have Kotsay try and lay one down the 3B line in that situation? The fish just screwed up on a similar play the pitch before and their 3B has 5 errors already. Maybe Diaz gets to 2nd, maybe Kotsay avoids the DP and moves the order up 1 spot and KJ leadoffs the 9th.

Luck is always going to be a part in baseball, but you also make your own breaks sometimes. The braves have not made their own breaks in years.

By COACH K

April 17, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

why doesn’t the ajc ever print anything about the Braves that resembles a beating, this is such a ho hum town, the game is just an afterthought to their social event, as much as I hate the Yankees and the Red Sox their fans ar passionate. the papers also will wright the bad and the good, it’s time to get anyone in the Braves organization an ATTITUDE freaking WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By laurelbowie

April 17, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

Maybe the Marlins are just much better than anybody gives them credit for being. I know it’s hard to have much respect for a team when all 33 of their players combined make less money than A-Rod (how sad is that?). But they keep kickin’ butt while the tired old Braves sit around feeling sorry for themselves.

By INoIt

April 17, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

Maybe the Braves have been outdone by the Nats and Marlins because of Fredi Gonzalez and Pat Corrales. They each know Bobby like the back of their hands - and if he’s anything, Bobby is predictable…

Shake things up - just a bit at least - play some ABC ball - take some chances… can’t hurt

By RichmondBrave

April 17, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this

Jim I am right there with you one Tex. Another year with a .200 hitter in cleanup. It’s time to drop him in the lineup!

By TIM VAUGHN

April 17, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this

THE BRAVES MAKE THE BIG BUCKS THERE IS NO REASON WHY THEY CAN’T WIN.INSTEAD OF RELYING ON EXPERIENCE MAYBE THEY NEED TO RELY ON YOUTH. TIM VAUGHN

By AGTfan

April 17, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this

I do think Bobby plays things too by the book

Without necessarily disagreeing with you on that statement, remember that the things “in the book” are in the book because they are proven to be successful.

Usually when managers go against the book and it works, it’s overlooked. If they get a hunch and go against the book and it fails they are castigated.

By Headlines

April 17, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

Bottom Line ….. This team SUX and always has. Somethings will never change. The stadium keeps filling up with a bunch of toothless hillbillys even when the products just STINKS year-in and year-out. All I have to say to the fanbase is STOP REPRODUCING, PLEASE.

By Headlines

April 17, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

By Workinlkeadawg

April 17, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

Geekboy- I think the only way Hampton can stay has to be a closer. That way the Braves might be able to retrieve the millions they’ve given him. Let’s face it He’s washed up as a starter. C’mon Bobby quit playing old school. The Marlins are in first for heaven’s sake. Something radical has to be done.

By Ben

April 17, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this

This an’t football. Diaz has proven he’s a good hitter, he’ll come around. The Marlins might really be good. Remember they have Expos staff and they were really good at drafting.

Bobby Cox will be missed when he’s gone.

By Joe

April 17, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this

Does anyone else think Chop Chick’s photo up top is strange? I mean, Bradley and O’Brien aren’t the most attractive guys but at least the paper will print their pictures. What is Chop Chick hiding?

By monty

April 17, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this

This is a bad team and it pains me to say it because this has been my team for 40 years now. THey aren’t bad on paper, pretty good actually, they have tons of potential. But you don’t win games on paper or by potential, you have to go out there and give it everything you’ve got heart and soul, which seems to me what this team is missing. And for that I have to blame it on Bobby Cox. I have never criticized Bobby but if he is ging to get the credit for his wins he should also be responsible for not being able to light a fire under a really decent team that is way under acheiving right now, at least I hope they are!

By ben

April 17, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this

It seems the Braves need to go in a different direction. Much of the youth has been traded away for vets who never perform or hang around for a year. Just look at the Marlins.

By justin

April 17, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this

Joe Simpson said it best last night on TV. They are being overly aggressive on pitches outside of the Zone. They are swinging at balls and not swinging at strikes. This falls back on the hitting coach.

By John

April 17, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this

braves sucks..period!!

By John

April 17, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this

braves sucks..period!!

By John

April 17, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this

braves sucks..period!!

By John

April 17, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this

braves sucks..period!!

By John

April 17, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this

braves sucks..period!!

By gly

April 17, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this

Can’t get worse? Think again. Huddys’ last nite regarding his loss of velocity sounds just like a little guy named Gonzo we got from the Bucs last yr. The braves are pressing and lack confidence. They are not fundementily sound(can’t bunt,consistently throw strikes, situal hit, or hold a lead. And all those homers issued.WHEW.Every opponent is a homer threat. WHen Andrew comes to town maybe we can feel safe for 10 or 12 pitches. Injuries show no fitness,no strength.And when you are counting on guys in their 40’s? what was spring training for? Is it too early. Folks this has been going on for 2 yrs now.

By GAKnight

April 17, 2008 4:36 PM | Link to this

All the offense in the world won’t replace solid pitching. It looks like a fight between the Braves and Nats for 5th place and no relief in sight next year. The staff is OLD by any measure and the minors looks woefully short on starting pitching.

By GAKnight

April 17, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this

By GAKnight

April 17, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this

By Terry

April 17, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this

Why doesn’t anyone mention Campillo? Three innings pitched and no hits! He is looking great and one area to be optimistic about.

By Get the rakes and torches

April 17, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this

This is all the fault of that little toad Robert (Hee haw) who has been sticking pins in his Bobby Cox voodoo doll for years. He’s not even a Braves fan. Get him!

By uhhhh

April 17, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this