AJC > Blog > Archives > 2008 > June > 17 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USYouth movement trying to end Braves’ road woes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With all due respect to the veterans on the disabled list, they should take all the time they need because I’m pretty happy with these new-look Braves.
The average age of the starters coming out of spring training was 34.4, weighed down by 41-year-old John Smoltz and 42-year-old Tom Glavine (along with 35-year-old Mike Hampton, 32-year-old Tim Hudson and 22-year-old Jair Jurrjens).
The average age of the five guys who’ve given up only eight runs in 36 1/3 innings over the past five games is 26 (Hudson, Jurrjens, 23-year-old Jo-Jo Reyes, 24-year-old Charlie Morton and 29-year-old Jorge Campillo).
Having a little youth and speed in the outfield hasn’t hurt, either. I’m still not sure what Josh Anderson did to get sent back to Richmond, but Brandon Jones has certainly made a case for being with the big club, and Gregor Blanco has picked it up of late and should be given a shot at the leadoff spot.
Given the chance to play on a regular basis, these youngsters have reversed the Braves’ road woes and helped them win three of their past four games on this trip that started out so dreadfully in Chicago. And they’ve given the rest of the guys a boost, too. The bullpen sorely needed the break the starters have provided, and Jeff Francoeur even drove a ball to right field last night and got a hit with men in scoring position.
So Glavine, Hampton and Mark Kotsay shouldn’t rush themselves back. These Baby Braves are doing more than holding down the fort — they may actually be building a better one.
Upcoming TV Schedule
Tuesday: at Rangers, 8:05, Peachtree TV
Wednesday: at Rangers, 8:05, FSN
Thursday: at Rangers, 2:05, Peachtree TV
Friday: vs. Mariners, 7:30, Peachtree TV
Saturday: vs. Mariners, 7:00, Peachtree TV
Sunday: vs. Mariners, 1:30, SportSouth
Permalink | Comments (38) | Post your comment | Categories: Chop Chick
Comments
By JonBee
June 17, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this
CC! Good to see the new column/blog. Agree that the youngsters are doing the job - hopefully that will continue as scouting reports circulate. That will be the key to McDowell’s coaching as he helps these guys adjust to the adjustments. Looking forward to seeing the “old man”, Hudson, pitch tonight - he has really pitched well over the last few weeks and is due to have a win to show for it. The chicken took a while to work, but it was good. I got the bar-be-cue style - best sacrifice ever offered for the cause. (Changed my name because there was another with the same who was inappropriately blogging - not my style to be negative nor risque’ - CC - keep up the good work!)
By wde
June 17, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this
This is the way teams make extended runs. They get young and sign good, young players for a long time at a good price.
By Turfman
June 17, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this
actually i think kotsay is still missed. maybe when he comes back let francouer sit with blanco in right. lets keep it going baby braves!
By KyleH
June 17, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this
I have to say I was probably never going to stop watching the braves no matter how bad it got. These young pitchers excite me and i anticipate every game as if we were in first place. As for the people who think that these pitchers are having sucess just because there are no scouting reports on them yet. Well I’m sure Jair and Jojo have already been scouted seeing as theyve been pitching most of the year. So Charlie Morton is the only one you really have to worry about there. But with the stuff he has it may be hard to hit it even if you know its coming. For the first time in well…any time this year, our bullpen may be too rested. most of them have only pitched once or not at all this in the last 4 games. So im not saying the braves are coming back or anything like that, but these young pitchers are exciting and their getting the job done by not only pitching well but going deep in games. And they have the right attitude. (not saying the old guys didnt, but not all rookies handle things the way these guys do) When talking to the media yesterday Jair Jurrjens said that “Charlie, Jojo and himself were just trying to make it fun.” And last week when he twisted his ankle, he wanted to pitch soo badly, but rest may have been good to his blisters. Finally i started thinking about fun is what this team needs. I mean who could have thought that the braves offense would be the problem this year. Anyway, i was watching the phillies/red sox game on espn last night. (and hoping the phillies would lose) And the old Francoeur story with the phillie fanatic came up when he took the keys to the four wheeler and made the fanatic do the tomahawk chop to get them back. Maybe just a little fun to take some pressure off would make everyone forget about the losses on the road and make it seem a little more like home. They just put too much pressure on themselves in road games.
By Jeff
June 17, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
While it is good to see new talent doing a great job, lets not get our hopes up. HITTING IS STILL HORRIBLE!! 18 runners left stranded last night, Tex left 6 of them. These pitchers can go out and pitch their best games but our offense is still not helping them out. Keep up the good work guys..hopefully TP will light a fire under their butts.
By Jerry
June 17, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this
Cox should rest his starters every 5th or 6th game. Notice how when they have that time off they come back better. They are getting worn down and losing effectiveness of their pitches. Thats happened 3 times this year with pictures missing a start and then coming back stroung their next game. Campillo, Jair and Huddy
Huddy is my buddy
Huddy is my buddy
How many games has he left with the lead to have the bullpen lose it.
Cy Young if his team mates would act right.
Remember when he was at bat this year and a pitcher threw at his head and he raised up and you could see the fight in his eyes. Thats what we need to capture.
Good job and Go Braves!!!!!
By Ruthless One
June 17, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this
Bobby,
Please try this lineup! Just once!
Bench: Infante, Norton, etc.
By Donnie Dangler
June 17, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this
The Braveas are on Peachtree TV tonight. Meaning, we have to be tortured by Chip Carey’s play by play. Could he be a bigger BOOB?
Braves/Cubs the other day was agonizing… Derek Lee hit a homer and you could just sense that Chip creamed in his pants. He probably went down to the clubhouse afterwards and sniffed a few jock straps.
This clown makes Jon Sciambi look like Ernie Johnson. Get with it Peachtree TV! If you’re going to hire someone based on their last name, hire Josh Carey - he’s better than Chip or Skip!
By Donnie Dangler
June 17, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this
The Braveas are on Peachtree TV tonight. Meaning, we have to be tortured by Chip Carey’s play by play. Could he be a bigger BOOB?
Braves/Cubs the other day was agonizing… Derek Lee hit a homer and you could just sense that Chip creamed in his pants. He probably went down to the clubhouse afterwards and sniffed a few jock straps.
This clown makes Jon Sciambi look like Ernie Johnson. Get with it Peachtree TV! If you’re going to hire someone based on their last name, hire Josh Carey - he’s better than Chip or Skip!
By Robert S
June 17, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this
I had heard that the reasoning for bringing up Brandon Jones and demoting Josh Anderson was to showcase Jones for a possible trade. This reasoning didn’t come from the Braves obviously, but from Buster Olney of espn.com. Bobby Cox gave some inane, nonsensical reason for bringing him up.
It may be wrong to judge a player from only one week of play, but this Brandon Jones fellow looks like the second coming of Jermaine Dye. We all know what happened after the Braves traded Dye to the Royals….
Do I sense a repeat here? Hope not.
By justin
June 17, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this
I don’t get the clamoring for Blanco in the leadoff spot. His OBP is 376, compared to 379 for Esco. The real best option right now is back in AAA, although I have to say I am proud of Brandon Jones so far, love seeing the 25 in the outfield putting up good numbers from the left side again. Francoeur has an attitude problem, and it was evident again last night. When he was lollygagging in the outfield and allowed Hawpes single to become a triple, he seemed to jump on Blanco’s back like it was Blanco’s fault! Thats two games in a row Frenchy has allowed an extra base hit because of lazy a* play. Hopefully he can pick it back up in Texas!
By el jefe
June 17, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this
They should just go ahead and cut Hampton and move on. Its obvious that he doesnt want to pitch again, and is more concerned with cashing that big paycheck of his. Instead of worrying about ifs, ands, and buts, we should concentrate on what we do have (some great young arms) and move the heck on.
Nice to see Frenchy get a somewhat clutch RBI double last night…now if he could just do it when we need that hit to take a lead.
Chipper/Huddy in ‘08!
By jukeandjive
June 17, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this
Frenchy’s foot problem hasn’t gone away, but everyone here seems to forget that. Everyone watches Tiger do it on 1 leg and praises him for gutting it out. Frenchy on 1 foot, and everyone thinks he has an attitude problem or he’s lazy. Quite the opposite. He loves playing and trying to help his team win so bad that he’s fighting through the injury. If Kotsay wasn’t hurt, I bet we would have seen Frenchy rest a bit more.
By JC
June 17, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
Chipper, Smile dude! You act like you are to cool to talk to anyone around you. You are great at what you do but if you don’t act like your having fun at it then it kinda cancels the.400avg out.God gave you this ability to play baseball for a living making mega bucks. It can’t be all that bad. Most people would play for nothing.Show a little enthuasism.YOU DON’T REALIZE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WATCHING YOU OR DO YOU!
By Ruthless One
June 17, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this
To Justin:
The reason everyone is clamoring for Blanco to be leadoff is because he is the best option. Maybe Escobar has a better on base percentage, but he also has Johnson, Chipper, and Teixeira batting behind him. Not to mention that when you compare Escobar’s numbers in the 2 hole, compared to leadoff, he is definitely better suited to be a 2 hole hitter.
Kelly Johnson also has better numbers in the 7-8 holes than he does in the leadoff spot or the 2 hole. Put Yunel back in the 2 spot.
I agree that Anderson would have also been a nice leadoff man, but unfortunately he is not an option at the moment.
I say give Gregor a shot at it (hasn’t had his yet) and see if he can produce. Maybe a change from the bottom of the order to the top is exactly what he needs to improve his OBP!
Go Bravos!
By Will
June 17, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this
One thing i just keep wondering is why they took so long to bring Brandon Jones up to the big leagues? I dont care what people say the East/Wild Card defecits may have already been dug too deep by the Braves.
By Wayne-o
June 17, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this
You can tell there is something electric in the air with this “new” braves team. feels like september. I bet Franceour is regretting that contract he turned down.
By RandallPinkFloyd
June 17, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
Will.. are you kidding me? The hole has been dug too deep for the East division? I haven’t even checked but we’re down what 6-7 games? It’s mid-June. Crawl out of the cave you’ve been in! The Mets blew the division with a 7 game lead with 17 left! By the way, the Phils have no starting pitching past Cole Hamels! We are in perfect position to still win this thing if we can get healthy and start hitting.
By RandallPinkFloyd
June 17, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
Will.. are you kidding me? The hole has been dug too deep for the East division? I haven’t even checked but we’re down what 6-7 games? It’s mid-June. Crawl out of the cave you’ve been in! The Mets blew the division with a 7 game lead with 17 left! By the way, the Phils have no starting pitching past Cole Hamels! We are in perfect position to still win this thing if we can get healthy and start hitting.
By justin
June 17, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
Ruthless One
I gotta disagree man. Yeah sure, maybe moving him up in the lineup will bring the OBP up. But look, just two or three weeks ago his OBP was in the 410 range. He has dropped steadily since then. Remember last year when everybody thought Willie Harris was the second coming? I don’t wanna say Blanco is the same type of player because obvisouly he is not, but I don’t think Blanco is the answer in the leadoff spot. Tell you what, to make both parties happy what about a split lineup righties/lefties with Blanco leading off against the righties and Esco against the lefties. Blanco has not proven to hit lefties AT ALL this year and that is who we struggle against, no need to have him set the table against them.
Jukeandjive
Frenchy may be hurt, but that is no excuse for the way he APPEARED to come down on Blanco last night when Frenchy made the mistake. Weather he did or not I don’t know and they looked to be fine later on in the game, but Frenchy seems to be lollygagging in the field right now. If he is too injured to play then he doesn’t need to be playing. Just bring Anderson back up and move Jones into right and Blanco into left. He’s not hitting, and he’s not playing good defense. I know he’s the golden boy, but it’s time he share in some of the blame with his teammates.
Robert S.
I hope you’re wrong man. Jones right now has that Justice/Dye look to him. He’s got a good bat and he’s producing for the Braves, I don’t see what we could gain by trading him. Greg Maddux for August and September for another 40 something nostalgic arm? If these starters we have now keep pitching the way they are, frankly I’m not gonna wanna see Glavine come back.
By Ruthless One
June 17, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
Justin,
I have to disagree with you once again. If moving Escobar to the 2 hole improves his numbers dramtiacally compared to his leadoff numbers (which you obviously think are soooo stellar - what a joke) and moving Kelly Johnson to the 7 or 8 hole which he has also had way better numbers then what is the issue?
You are improving 2 players and 2 spots in the order.
My point was that Blanco is the best option at leadoff considering the added benefits it would have by moving Escobar and Johnson as a result.
My other point was that Blanco has not had a chance to prove he can be leadoff yet. So specualting that he will not produce in the leadoff position because he has certain numbers in the 7 or 8 spot is pointless. Let him try before we say it will not work.
We already know and can compare the numbers for Escobar and Johnson in leadoff, 2 hole, and 7 or 8 hole. The numbers do not lie!!!!!!!!!!
Escobar is better suited in the 2 hole and Johnson is better suited in the 7 or 8 hole.
Bottom line:
You strengthen 2 spots in the order and “possibly” three with Blanco in leadoff.
I have to think Blanco will see better pitches to hit (rgardless if they are lefties or righties pitching) if he bats in front of Escobar, Chipper, and Teixeira as opposed to “Oh I don’t know” the PITCHER!
By tomahawkchop
June 17, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
man we have to listen to chip caray today…ugh..
By Clayton
June 17, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this
Justin, I am glad someone else is seeing how lazy Frenchy is becoming. Maybe its my bad eyesight but it sure looked like he could have made an attempt to catch the homerun hit in the Angels final game that lost the Bravos the game. That ball cleared maybe 3 or 4 rows and the fence at that wall only looked waist high. Maybe they should play Anderson in Right field and bench Frenchy, besides his arm he doesn’t do anything else for the team.
Has anyone ever seen him dive to catch a ball. No hustle whatsoever!
By Lemke
June 17, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this
Don’t knock Frenchy’s hustle. Kid hustles. The real problem is that Frenchy cannot dive. Not sure if it is genetic or what. He assured me that he has tried, but just cannot make it happen. “Sounds silly,” you say? Remeber that Derek Zoolander couldn’t turn left. Hopefully, Frenchy will have a Zoolander-like breakthrough and show us his “blue steel”.
By SoWeGa Fanatic
June 17, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
Peachtree TV = NO TV! SUCKS! COME ON, DISH NETWORK! GET IN THE GAME!
By JonBee
June 17, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
To Justin & Clayton - the play that you are saying Frenchy did not hustle was one that Blanco got in the way of JF going after the ball to extend to reach - once GB reached the play, there was no way to extend to the ball without causing a collision. therefore it appeared that JF was not hustling. IBTD on that - it was an awkward chance and one that two men hustled to get in position but actually got into each other’s way. I was disappointed in Joe Simpson’s call on that since he has played the outfield but failed to see that the two men were too close to have either of them extend to the ball without running into the other. Braves are playing well right now - the energy is back - looking forward to the move to be made between now and All-Star break. Keep those votes for McCann rolling in - he is the best catcher in the NL and getting better every day.
By AGTfan
June 17, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
JonBee Glad to see that someone on THIS blog has some sense and is actually paying attention. I don’t know why CCs blog seems to attract the less knowlegable fans.
By R. E.
June 17, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this
The new guys has been the best part of the last few years to me. Beginning back with Mccann and Johnson, instead of knocking Jeff think about Texeirra doing his best Andruw Jones impersonation. How about moving the .300 hitter Mccann to cleanup, as much as I’ve always liked Glavine the worst thing about Glavine is him costing the Braves their first round pick and did the Braves get no PICK for Jones moving to L.A.I’m going to start early with this one, please do not allow Scott Boras to hold a gun to your back and pay Tex 20 mill a year, he isn’t worth it.
By Desperado Dave
June 17, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this
Ruthless, try this one on for size:
CF- Josh Anderson SS- Yunel Escobar 3B- Chipper Jones 1B= Mark Texiera C- Brian McCann RF- Jeff Franceour LF- Brandon Jones 2B- Kelly Johnson P= Jair Jurggens
Jurggens has developed as their stopper. That’s sad to say, but true. I say begin scrapping older vets like Mark Texiera, Tom Glavine, Mike Hampton, Mark Kotsay and Matt Diaz and go with some of the younger players while you get a new influx of prospects for these guys while they have some value.
By Hugo
June 17, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this
I know some of you think that I am off the mark but here goes. The Braves are not going to do anything until they start being consistant winners using common sense. Where has B Jones been? Guess he is being showcased too. Why not give the guy a real chance to stay. I know he is Black but???? Yes you have a tendacy to get rid of the Black players in a majority Black city. Who was the last full time AA to play everyday? Justice? Gamt? Please let Hampton go. Be patient with these young guys and it will pay off.
By Ruthless One
June 17, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this
Desperado Dave:
I like that lineup too, but Anderson is not available right now. Also, if you are wanting to go younger then why not keep Tex over Chipper? It is easier to want to keep an older player who is having a great year. I assume if Tex was having one then you would have put him on that list?
I do agree that we should go younger though. Especially with our pitching. I think the position players will work out fine because we have some youth and it wouldn’t hurt to have 2 corner infielders as veterans.
Good Post!
By Ruthless One
June 17, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this
Hugo
Please STOP! This has nothing to do with race. When was the last time the Hawks had a white player since John Konkak or that un-named player that rides the bench all year?
I hate posts like that. Baseball is a predominately White and Hispanic sport. Get over it!
The best players are put on the field. Willy Harris got a great shot last year and faded the last half of the season. I think it is time you come to the realization that the “White Man” is not out to get Black athletes. The Braves have had plenty of Black athletes who played here for years.
Talent is talent and if the better baseball player happens to be white or hispanic then so be it. Put the best team on the field.
Brandon Jones came up last year and did not tear it up like he is now. So it is easy to say “Hey why haven’t this racist organization that we call the BRAVES give this guy a shot”? They DID! He did not produce.
He is up here now and he may stay up here. If we do trade him we might even get a black athlete or 2 in return. You never know!
By santa3247
June 18, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this
Hi, I’m Seong-Ho,Yoon living in Jinhae City southkorea now.
Doll Cox did use twistdancer Jeff Ridgway after Ace? ^*^For the purpose of losing to other team? PT,GM,Manager are like toy of Babylon I think.
Hey!! Owner of Atlanta Braves!! Are you crazy? informaly being stolen by Babylon’s army? ^*^
May the force of Messiah be with you
P.S: Hey Women over the world!!!!If you would not using resonance schumann, you must seek man who can win over Neutron or sound of brain waves. Or? you can freely be divorced by Babylon.
In my experience, almost real reason of divorce, being orphan, is Babylon’s neutron attack.
Don’t do surgical operation of abortion or plastic operation. When you were under the anesthesia, you must be implanted. In southkorea, doctors are almost using resonance schumann and in nurse implantor exist.
Search whole women who did abortion operation, 99.9999% would say “Don’t believe santa3247”
By Ruthless One
June 18, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this
Seong-Ho,Yoon
Are you sure you are from South Korea? Sounds to me like you are from another planet! Was there even a real comment about baseball in there or some mindless babble that made no sense to normal people?
By THE BEAR
June 18, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this
Donnie Dangler, if and when your cup ever gets half full please drop in again.
By Matt
June 18, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
Please, no more Hampton. Knowing him, the instant he comes back he’ll bruise a nipple and be out for 2 more months.
By santa3247
June 19, 2008 4:15 AM | Link to this
Hi, I’m Seong-Ho,Yoon living in Jinhae City southkorea.
Jeff Ridgway is greater than Phillip Sockman?^^ M.Acosta and B.Boyer and J.Ridgway are under the P.Stockman.^^
Don’t try to divorce without full attack from babylon by your implanted wife and try to exterminate neutron and resonance schumann and HAARP being radiated from antennas of Seoul Tower.
[The confession of medical heretic] by Dr. Robert.S.Mendelson. And Slave who can’t read this book shut up about medical science!
Last year in southkorea, Jesus religious people of korea went to Afganistan in spite of blocking from diplomatic institute. And kidnapped by Terrorist. ^^ And whole Jesus religious people shouted “Let’s go attack Afganistan” “Send ranger-commando force and Marin corps to Afganistan”^^
But in troops like that No Jesus Religious people or Babylonian exist. Because they are almost Yamato Tribe’s descendant and had no way but entering Army like my father who was Navy and died in 1988.
But, just before the provision of a ball cartridge, Babylon stopped providing a ball to army. Why? ^*^ For fear of making COUP D’ETAT.
So USA have to know fact like this, and furthermore now Army of Japan want to attack Korean Peninsla’s neutron antennas USA must know I think.
So many japanese(Real Yamato not Babylon’s slave or friens) know well who I am.
USA have to make E.S.W.A.T for extermination of Meutron from earth eternally.
Yamato tribes living in southkorea and southchina and Japan are the most severely attacked by Babylon’s neutron attack. Keep in mind!
May the force of Messiah be with you
By santa3247
June 19, 2008 4:24 AM | Link to this
Ah!!! I forgot this!!!
Check Daniel Smith please!!!
Missisipi drown to under the water!!!
Something happened to him I think!!!
^*^
May the force of Messsiah be with you