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Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2008 > June > 08 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USInjuries sinking the Braves
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In Frank Wren’s first season as general manager, the Braves have seen 14 players go on the disabled list 16 times for a total of 481 man games. These are considered extraordinary totals in early June, especially given the fact Mike Hampton still has time for another comeback.
“We felt like, coming out of spring training, we were a very good club,” Wren said Sunday. “But by the end of the first week, we were already taking on water.”
Yes, well, sticking with the whole water theme, the Braves’ life signs lately have been limited to air bubbles.
They lost to Philadelphia, 6-3, Sunday. They were swept in a home series for the first time, unlike on the road, where they now head for 10 games and realize losing sweeps are commonplace.
They are 6-1/2 games out of first. They were only a game out until losing 10 of 15. That whole thing about skating through a period of injuries? Gone. Turns out, Hades is a pretty short flight.
“I think it caught up with us,” Mark Teixeira said. “I’m not going to use it as an excuse, and I don’t think anybody in here will. But when you’re missing key guys like Chipper [Jones] and [Mark] Kotsay and Matt Diaz and John Smoltz, and our bullpen is banged up, it’s going to catch up with you sooner or later.”
The trade deadline is July 31. Sorry, but Wren doesn’t have nearly that long to wait before making a move.
The roster Wren brought to spring training was deep and enabled the Braves to withstand a normal number of injuries. The problem is the team passed normal a month ago, morphed into a cartoon and drove straight into a wall.
At various times this season, the Braves have lost nine members of the pitching staff, including their best starter (Smoltz, for the season) and their best reliever (Rafael Soriano, for 45 games). The 14 players on the disabled list — eight currently — tie for the most in the majors.
To give you some idea the extent of the injuries, consider this: Their total man games lost of 481 projects to 1,218 over a full season. That’s nearly 300 more than last season (920).
It has gotten so bad that the Braves can’t even hold Chipper Jones Bat Day without it turning into pathos. Jones was scratched from Sunday’s lineup because of a quad strain. The marketing department should’ve stuck with something safer, like Mike Hampton MRI Day.
Injuries and sports are frequent dance partners but Wren admits he hasn’t quite experienced anything like this. “I’ve had long meetings in the training room every day. That’s not where I want to have my meetings,” he said. “I’ve had more injury rehab calls this year from minor-league managers than I care to remember.”
The Braves are back to .500 (26-26). Even before Sunday’s loss — which saw the Braves strand 10 baserunners and reliever Blaine Boyer get whacked for three runs in one-third of an inning — Wren knew the team was living a charmed existence.
“I feel good that we’re still above .500,” he said. “When you look up and see eight, nine, 10 guys on the disabled list, that’s a lot of scrambling to do to keep a club on the field. So far, we’ve been able to keep our head above the water. But we’re getting to the point of the season where keeping your head above water is not quite enough. You’ve got to swim.”
He wouldn’t say whether he felt the team had to acquire a starter. Or a reliever. Or anybody who remembers how hit with runners in scoring position (team average: .259). General managers, as a rule, don’t like to tip their hand.
“You never want to make a move with the other club thinking you’re desperate,” Wren said.
They don’t have to think it. The DL is public, and everybody can see the bubbles.
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By braves70
June 8, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this
The whole problem with this organization can be summed up in Frank Wren’s statement “I feel good that we are still above .500.” That attitude doesn’t get you anything but another 3rd Place.
By Supes
June 8, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this
Corky Miller should not be on the Braves roster. He is the worst backup catcher the Braves have ever had. Where is Damon Berryhill or Chalie O’Brien when you need a decent backup catcher. Hell, even Javy Lopez would be a better option as the backup. Which is why it’s puzzling that Bryan Pena was released and Clint Sammons was not called up (yes, Sammons could use the AB in the minors and benefit more…but why have Corky who’s been terrible at the plate and not as good as advertised defensively?)
FRANCINE has been utterly disappointing offensively. Yes, he’s won 2 or 3 games with HR, but other than that, what has he done? Nothing. 2 for 15 with bases loaded will not cut it. He’s lost at the plate, can’t see the ball well. He’s turning into Andruw Jones Jr faster than Andruw cutting in line at an all you can eat buffet!
Bobby Cox has struggled to put together the lineup b/c he lives and dies by the 3 run jack…but other than Chipper, Tex and Mac…the ability of the rest of the order to produce one is less than achievable.
Kotsay’s really hurt the Braves by not playing. No Kotsay…Diaz’s injury as well, b/c you lose any kind of possible HR production out of LF spot. Norton is a pinch hitter and Josh is a speedster. Just like Blanco. So you get no pop from the LF and CF spots with Gregor and Josh, but you gain speed and small ball play. You get nothing out of FRANCINE. Effectively, the Braves right now have the worst offensive productive outfield in the majors.
No chipper complicates this even more on the infield. Infante is a decent bench guy, a jack of all trades, but can’t replace chipper.
Top to bottom the lineup has too many holes without Chipper, Kotsay and a healthy Matt Diaz.
What complicates matters is Jordan’s 50 game suspencion. Surely he could have been called up earlier when Kotsay went down, if he hadn’t been suspended, and his game is more dynamic than Blanco and Anderson.
With the current injuries, Bobby Cox needs to change and play more hit and run, small ball, move runners over, steal, etc. You must adapt to what you have available to you, and until today…he’s refused to do it!
So there you have it, all those things combined have resulted in the Braves losing games during this homestand, that they should have won.
By JEB
June 8, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this
No truer remarks can be made concerning this team right now. Everyone has been pressed and stretched to be able to be .500 right now. Our starting pitching has been good. But the bullpen has been worn out! The only consistency in the line up has been Chipper and BMac. Tex is starting to warm up (we REALLY need him!!) Frenchy has been terrible and nowhere near clutch when the team needs him. KJ is streaky, and Yunel is a good surprise. Missing Kotsay has really hurt this whole line up. Kotsay’s injury has been the BIGGEST hurt to our offence. Right now our offence is VERY weak. Especially if Chipper is not in there. We can only hope to score 2 -3 runs at most and hope the pitching will hold each team to 1 or 2 runs just to give us a chance to win.
The Kotsay injury though has been the biggest impact to our line up - no doubt about it! Check out our record since his injury.
By RichmondBrave
June 8, 2008 7:03 PM | Link to this
When does football start?? Chipper, our only offencive threat is out with a TORN muscle. Even Superman (who chipper has been) can’t keep playing through that! Yes, we need to make a move, but we can’t trade for an entire team. We have no clutch hitters right now. From time to time we get men on base, but the two out hit is as rare as a World Series championship right now. The bullpen needs more help than we can expect to get in any trade. I love my Braves, and I always will, but this season is over. Try and trade Tex, and start building for next year.
By Tomy Fournier
June 8, 2008 7:04 PM | Link to this
Please…is not the injuries…is that not body is hitting and the pitching staff(including Mr. McDowell)is not doing their JOB(pitching well)and the Manager(Mr. Cox)is doing nothing…is not an agressive Manager and he is doing nothing to manufacture runs….With all this old people including the manager…what you are waitinf for…it is not a dogout,,,it’s a HOSPITAL….MEDI-CARE STATION….YEAAA!!!!
By ATLien
June 8, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this
Someone please give me a rational explanation as to why Corky Miller is our back-up catcher. You mean to tell me Javy Lopez, even an old Javy, couldn’t hack it like Corky? And Bryan Pena wasn’t up to Corky standards?? I mean the guy looks like a recovering alcoholic. Looks more suited to play for a men’s softball team. What is doing in a major league line-up. I mean, Jorge Campillo out hit him today. Jojo Reyes has twice as many hits as him this season. Someone please offer an explanation for this insanity. And please don’t reference his defense. He couldn’t hang on to two called strike out pitches today. The guy’s a joke.
By EB
June 8, 2008 7:30 PM | Link to this
OK, they need bullpen help — maybe pitching help, period — so who do you get and who do you give away?
By Supes
June 8, 2008 7:34 PM | Link to this
ATLien, there is no reasonable explanation, other than Bobby Cox develops a fascination with bench players who can’t produce…like a Woody or Pete Orr, except this year is Corky Miller.
By JMar
June 8, 2008 7:41 PM | Link to this
Besides replacing Corky, there aren’t really any moves to make - otherwise, you’re left demoting or waiving players who are just as good. Pick up bullpen help? Then you have to let someone go when Gonzalez comes back. Another outfielder? If we could’ve found one better than Josh Anderson for a reasonable price, we would have pulled the trigger in the offseason. Good thing we didn’t; now we have an excellent 4th man in Blanco. Bolster the infield? No room, not if you want to hang onto Infante and Gotay, who aren’t great, but you shouldn’t be paying more for utility infielders anyway.
Chipper and Frenchy are the difference-makers: if Chipper goes down or Frenchy continues to stink, we’re out of the playoffs. But you can’t bench Francoeur and there’s no available OF help (besides Diaz and Kotsay).
By 18 Wheels of Love
June 8, 2008 7:41 PM | Link to this
Gonna take a BOLD move(s) by Wren to fix this team. We’ll see if he has what it takes to shuffle the deck and come up with a squad that can be productive.
By Ridiculous
June 8, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this
Who the hell is Corky Miller? Frank Wren is letting them sink, we are a .500 team, its just that simple.
By Kenny
June 8, 2008 7:44 PM | Link to this
All true and good comments which is why you can’t throw away games you have in bag, I mean glove, I mean Kelly Johnson’s lack of glove. You can’t drop pop ups in the major league. Assume he catches it and they lose the next two. Still only 4 and a half back. And maybe winning that game changes the mood for the next two. When you give games away when you’re so thin at every position, that’s a death knell. Sad to say, but how many times has the same kind of loss hit the Braves this year? 16 or so? All those one run losses. Too many damaged goods on this team. The glory days are gone. Please retire Bobby. Somebody needs to come in and change the thinking. And not think Francoeur was Mickey Mantle. He is more like Andruw on the downhill slide. Pretty sickening. Sadly, next year won’t be any better. Kotsay and Smoltz are done and don’t be surprised if Chipper doesn’t get really hurt and miss a lot more. No Tex next year. No Glavine. No Smoltz. It’s gonna stink even worse.
By Supes
June 8, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this
This team need to have the fire lit under them. Where is Ozzie Guillen when you need him to call out some of the players and embarrass their a**es in public. Apparently the “behind the close down” approach isn’t working, if it’s even being done. Bobby is probably patting them on the back and saying how they hit line drives right at people:look:
Bobby Cox - Most over rated manager in pro sports.
By Matt
June 8, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this
Do I hear Jordan Schafer?
By Najeh Davenpoop
June 8, 2008 7:48 PM | Link to this
I have an idea… since the Braves seem to need depth to deal with injuries, and since it’s still up in the air as to whether Mark Teixeira will be here after this season, here’s a little trade proposal I came up with. The Braves trade Teixeira to the Texas Rangers for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus, Matt Harrison, Neftali Perez, and Beau Jones. I think it would be a decent trade for both sides, what about y’all?
By Da Mick
June 8, 2008 7:49 PM | Link to this
I never understood that Corky over Bryan Pena move — Pena could hit, and was good enough to be the backup until he was injured in the past. Corky’s play speaks for itself — I’m wondering if his secret is that he is related to the manager, or something.
I know he has a lot of fans, but I’m really tired of Francour’s soft average, general inability to come through in the clutch, and overall lack of progress. I know they’re waiting for him to step up and take the mantle from Chipper as a team leader, but over the years now, he’s just learned very little about being a major league hitter.
A writer earlier compared him to Andrew, and I think there’s a lot to that in the sense that both rose to the majors on their tremendous natural talent, but both players seemed to have expectations that they could depend on that talent alone to be enough at the major league level. As neither one seeming either able or willing to adjust and learn at this level, they both seem to have flamed out after early success in their careers. One only has to look at the increasing number of catchers standing up behind Jeff and continuing to get high strikeouts like money in the bank, to see the writing on the wall.
As hard as it would be for the Braves, I think they should see if they could receive something sizable for him in trade, before they have to plunk down cash for his contract.
By Rusty
June 8, 2008 7:50 PM | Link to this
Theres always a bright side. Starting pitching is improving.
By Supes
June 8, 2008 7:50 PM | Link to this
At least the Pads just swept the Muts in 4 games, some good news to soften the blow of getting swept by a Phillies team who didn’t pitch their best 2 starters against the Braves.
By Shanfran
June 8, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this
Same old stuff year after year.
By RBG
June 8, 2008 7:57 PM | Link to this
while we are in Chicago we should drop Norton and sign Barry Bonds for the interleague road trip and put him right in as dh. I know people are going to shoot it down but he can be brought here for Brian Jordan kinda money . Say what you will but who would you rather have at bat with the base loaded Jeff Francoeur or Barry Bonds?
By Lawrence
June 8, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this
This team needs a statement from management.The player that needs to go is Jeff Francouer.Trade him for whatever pitching you can get in return.He has not progressed into the player the Braves thought he would.Let him go now and put one of the speedy guys in right field.Release Corky Miller and bring up Clint Sammons to back up McCann.Send a message to the rest of the guys to work hard and improve or be gone like Francouer.Speed and improved fundmental skills are needed now for this team.
By Islander505
June 8, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this
We fans at Newsdays Mets Beat are totally enjoying the Brave less Braves. You are a disgrace to Atlanta, your colored fans, and Native Americans. My greatest thing is to smell a three run lead disappear ha ha ha.
By Supes
June 8, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this
There was one additional thing someone previously brought upabout a former comment of mine. Lifestyles not withstanding, Francouer with a jock on and nothing else, all oiled up and rarring to go is my idea ofa fantasy come true. He actually sends shivvers up and down my spine. Well, gotta go, Quiche is baking, and Hee Haw reunion is on.
By josh
June 8, 2008 8:23 PM | Link to this
We have to do something and fast. we are in trouble!!!!
By bf54
June 8, 2008 8:24 PM | Link to this
Well, said the Mad Hatter to no one in particular: “Mark Teixeira says the injuries caught up with us,” but “I’m not going to use it as an excuse, and I don’t think anybody in here will.”.
Funny he would use the “C” word, because the last time “caught” was used in declarative sentence, the subject of the word, was not someone on the injured list, but,…lo and behold, a healthy KJ -who disappeared into the rabbit hole with the ball…
No, Mr.Shultz, this long term Braves fan (54 seasons!), advises that the “fix” for this year ain’t happenin’!.
Maddox won 2-1 recently, went 7 innings on 69 pitches. Could he help? Yes, indeedy.
We already have Tex…and surely he’s coming along. He does great, except when you need him close and late. Sayonara, Tex and the horse you road in on (Boras).
The numbers on our pitching staff are good, but we don’t run well or bunt well - so “who you gonna call?”.
Batting? Chipper said it well, “loose an Andruw, gain an Andruw”. Sayonnara, Frenchie.
We all know where the “Mendoza line” is drawn, but is batting less than .100 the New “Corky Miller” line. (Letting Javy go was a mistake and I said it then, and more than oncce.)
This is a “good” team - in the sense that we will end up with a very good staff ERA and at least a good team BA - but 85 wins will be hard to come by…and a couple of acquistions aren’t going to change this.
The 2008 Braves don’t play fundamentally good baseball. (…and, by the way, neither Sorianno nor Hampton are ‘gamers’ - so where do suggest Frank When goes looking for “heart and soul”. Fred McGriff ‘ain’t walkin’ thru the door’ anytime soon.
I love this team, but blow it up and reform it w/o Tex, Frenchie, Glavine, Hampton, Sorriano, Miller, and perhaps 2-3 more. Keep the core of the team, but for God’s sake, look to the future. We’ve got some folks that ain’t gonna put on those fat rings.
By mantuan
June 8, 2008 8:36 PM | Link to this
Help me understand on the Pena caper why all the people who see Pena as the #2 catcher are more informed than all the GMs in baseball? Brayan is now at AAA Omaha, a KC franchise.
Just curious …
By Craig
June 8, 2008 8:37 PM | Link to this
HOF Manager or not, Bobby has no rhyme or reason with regard to the utilization of the pitching staff. Countless examples of leaving someone in too long or pulling them when they are obviously on. The whole world knew the Phils would score in the ninth when they pulled Ohman. So what do you do in the 9th? Bring in righty Bland Boyer to face mostly left handed hitters. Yes injuries are a factor, but no one seems to have an ounce of nad other than Chipper, and he is starting to get walked twice a game when he plays.
By SRF
June 8, 2008 8:38 PM | Link to this
Mark your calendar - this will go down in history as the last day that anybody ever believed that the Braves would ever reach the playoffs again.
We now know that they are mediocre .500 team at best, and a AAA team at worst.
By braves fan
June 8, 2008 8:41 PM | Link to this
until francour starts hitting nothing wii solve the problem unless someone decides to replace him——at least 13 rinners stranded not counting saturday
By Singindablues
June 8, 2008 8:42 PM | Link to this
Well, it’s been an extraordinary run of bad luck with injuries this season. It would be a terrible mistake to overreact and start trading away good, young talent to fill short term holes in the lineup. I know it won’t be popular but I think we should just ride it out as best we can, even if that means coming up short at the end of the year. Trying to fix bad luck can weaken the team even further in the future. This just might not be our year no matter what we do.
By Supes
June 8, 2008 8:52 PM | Link to this
Dont you dare sit Francouer, I havent had my fill. Hot tight buns all over me ahhh. Peidmont and Spring have a new bath house just for us, right, Craig and mantuan.
By greenvegas
June 8, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this
no way we should trade FOR players this year. this team can not compete with Philly. Do NOT ruin the future by a dumb attempt to salvage a lost year anyway. If anything, we ought to be looking to get what we can for tex
By Jason
June 8, 2008 9:00 PM | Link to this
honestly i think all of yall are f*** dumb. kotsay sucks. thats the only hole. well besides our pitching which mike hampton sucks. lets keep payin him millions for getting hurt smart move.
By Jason
June 8, 2008 9:00 PM | Link to this
honestly i think all of yall are f*** dumb. kotsay sucks. thats the only hole. well besides our pitching which mike hampton sucks. lets keep payin him millions for getting hurt smart move.
By ben
June 8, 2008 9:09 PM | Link to this
I think fans are tired of hearing all the excuses about injures here and there. All teams have injuries during the season but other players have to pick it up. Has Cox made any adjustments due to the injuries? More hit and runs, bunts and get one run ahead, steals etc. Injuries had nothing to do with Kelly Johnson missing a little league pop fly that cost them the game or Francoeur hitting .125 when runners are in scoring position or Escobar watching a 3rd called strike with runners on 2nd and 3rd. It’s time to quit making excuses!
By Jeff R
June 8, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this
Chipper, Smoltz, Glavine and Kotsay entered the season either prone to injury or, by virtue of age, possible candidates for the DL. That management counted on these four to play important roles in a pennant drive says something about their calculation, or lack thereof. Granted, Smoltz is a well conditioned athlete with no recent history of injury, but any player past forty is a potential DLer. Glavine as well.
Older players aren’t core players. That needs to be reserved for younger talent.
By Bravesfan79
June 8, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this
Im glad other pple are finally calling out the Braves terrible decision to keep Corky over Pena. Not to mention having Pena would be a good thing for Escobar.
I dont think all is lost this season, but i see next season (provided Smoltz is the Closer with Gongalez and Moylan sharing duties, and we get another #1 starter) as the season we can win it all.
By Cooper
June 8, 2008 9:20 PM | Link to this
Well said. Wren needed to act three weeks ago now it is getting ridiculous.
If he doesn’t make 2-3 major trades this team is toast.
These trades can help shore up the team and set them up for next year and beyond.
Little nimble trades for ham n eggers is not going to cut it.\
Get Harden from the As and get Matt Holliday & Fuentes from Colorado and call up Schafer if you are serious about shaking up this team.
By help
June 8, 2008 9:23 PM | Link to this
It’s not Wren, the issue is Cox and how he coddles his players. Some players need to sit when they can’t get it done time after time after time. How many runners did we strand this weekend? The base running mistakes, etc…
It is a business and if I keep getting to the table but can’t close the deal I will be gone and that is the issue with Cox he can’t close the deal. Only one World Series Title with all the talent we have had on his teams.
JF is turning into AJ. He is young but he does appear to be clueless in the box.
By the player
June 8, 2008 9:25 PM | Link to this
When you look at the batting lineup, there’s no reason they should be only scoring a couple runs a game. But Bobby Cox is still counting on the 3 run homer to save the day and refuses to adapt to the situation at hand, whether it’s manufactoring a run or playing “A B C” baseball. When those homers come, he looks great. When they don’t, we’re seeing that he’s not a great manager at all, but simple, a manager who had a bunch of very good players to make him look good. Cox has always defered the glory to his players, and for good reason, it was them, not him.
By Jason
June 8, 2008 9:28 PM | Link to this
Supes, you sound like a sincere, can we meat?/ I am also looking fora macho type, and if you see me at my NBA finals site LABALLTalk.com, we can arrange something.
By Reality Rex
June 8, 2008 9:29 PM | Link to this
Make All The Moves You Want!! When you had 3 future Hall of Fame pitchers together, one of the great switch hitters in baseball history, a formidable line-up far outclassing your division rivals a pretty good bullpen and bench—You Won NOTHING(Well, 1!!! less than the Marlins) with the exception of some silly banners strewn across a facade.
Now you have a left hander who doesn’t want to pitch, another lefthander who would prefer to conduct union activity in Billerica, a great and tenacious right hander who doesn’t know when to call it quits, another right hander whose body is older than his age, a young right hander who is so frail that he is an invitation to break down, sore elbows in the bull pen, that great switch hitter who will soon be as fragile as the left hander from Brooksville—So Yes!!! Wren do something. I am laughing and soon MLB will be laughing!!
Contemptible that a team with a payroll less than A-Rod will probably beat you losers out, AND YES their TOP 3 starters are out—Johnson, Sanibel and Mitre—so peddle that garbage under Simpson’s and Boog’s nose!!
By the way John, Did Pete Rose bet on baseball??? You’ve come a long way since the Ballpark Cafe in Boca Raton. You did way better than Wiechuesin(Sp) AND at least you’re away from PK and Hank.
By thad
June 8, 2008 9:34 PM | Link to this
we cant even beat UGA
well, i said before the season started that we had no depth. we were calling our nursing home pitching staff a top notch rotation. come on… whats up with frenchy and the bases loaded. he cant get a hit to save his life. corky miller is a joke. boyer is absolutely horrible. its horrible.
By SAL
June 8, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this
Braves are an average team. The sum of the parts is less than the whole. Texeria is inconsistent. Kelley Johnson is average hitter with iron glove (will lose more games with glove than he wins with his bat). Escobar will continue to improve. Chipper is still fragile (not on DL, but not in line-up every night either). Francouer is an Andrew Jones in the making. Kotsay was a bad risk to take. Diaz had a career year in 2007, to bad it is 2008. Glavine is a #5 starter (and a 5 inning pitcher). Boyer can’t hold up under pressure. Acosta is a middle reliever at best. Soriano is lame now that he has his muti-year contract. Hampton is Hampton. Smoltz is gone (hope he can return). Blanco and Anderson need a chance to play (speed can’t hurt).
If Gonzalez can return healthy he and Ohman are a solid lefty combination. Only Stockton seems capable from right side if only someone will introduce him to Booby Cox.
Perhaps it is time to either sign Texeria to multi-year contract or trade him for prospects. By end of June Braves may be done. It’s never to early to say wait until next year.
By Lou Vales
June 8, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this
If Gonzalez returns healthy, Mother Teresa will make a special guest appearance in Calcutta. Are you guys nuts??
Hampton, Smoltz, Soriano, Gonzalez—-Warren Spahn will start as many games as Mike Hampton this year. AND if John is as smart as I think he is—he will take a good longggg look at this roster and think:
(1) Win a World Series with this group by staging a miracle comeback
OR!!!!!
(2) Salvage my shoulder from any more trauma so I will be able to play golf—My New Passion—When I’m 60
Is this a tough decision??
By Lou Vales
June 8, 2008 9:53 PM | Link to this
Right!!! Texeria wants to play in Atlanta!!!!! Raffy will be back at short, McGriff at 1b, and Eric Gregg behind the dish as Livan hits the corner—ROTFLMAO——Well, not really!! But that is what he said!!
By Arthur
June 8, 2008 10:00 PM | Link to this
Sir, Other teams have injuries, they don’t cry as loud as our Braves. Face it , the Braves have 4 players of above average major league talent. Chipper,Mark T., Escobar and McCann. They have two above average major league pitchers, Glavine and Hudson. Excluding Kotsay the rest, pitchers and position players, are rookies/inexperienced.
The Braves are a fourth place team in the NL East.
Arthur in Ruckersville
By gayle
June 8, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this
Why all the surprise about injuries? You have two starters over 40 and a third who hurts himself shaving. BC raves about Kotsay but somehow forgets that he was more fragile than Chipper in San Diego and Oakland. Anybody check Joey Devine’s stats lately?
Reality Rex is right. This is a .500 team destined to third place again. Only BMac and Chipper are holding off the inevitable.
Witness what Lidge did in this series and you will see what a real closer can do.
By dogmeat
June 8, 2008 10:06 PM | Link to this
What the he!! has Shafer ever done for fans to think he can play in majors. (beside steroids)He has never played above A and 2 months AA.
Kotsay is not the answer. This team has many problems most have already been talked about. The BIGGEST is Bobby Cox he needs to go. Pay him off for next year and let him go. This team is in a rut ( dull and unrewarding) caused by Management and Bobby Cox. I know some die hard fans will b*** but life goes on and we need new blood.I had season tickets for 9 years. Missed four games during that time( ask Walter) but I refuse to go back till Cox is gone. The Fat Lady has started singing to day, get use to it, same bs over and over.
By Alan
June 8, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this
The bullpen must be totally revamped. Boyer has got to go. He’s terrible. Francouer can go as well - he’s NOT a team player w/men on base, ala A. Jones.
Desperately a starting pitcher - Glavine can’t get by w/out the ump’s expanded strike zone & will give out in August. And yes, any rookie would br better than Corky. Bobby goes way too far with this veteran/experience thing. Other teams use rookies - why can’t the Braves?
By SoWeGa Fanatic
June 8, 2008 10:14 PM | Link to this
I bet all you fair weather fans are mostly the same ones who weren’t around at all before 1991.
By dogmeat
June 8, 2008 10:26 PM | Link to this
SoWeGa? Buddy I was there from 1966 till 2005. How much have you been there buddy. Still a fan but will not go back as long as BC is there. Still pull for players. How much money have you spent on braves?
By Dave
June 8, 2008 10:26 PM | Link to this
This has been a bad team from day one with a few exceptions. Poor conditioning poor attitude and terrible fundamentals. The mistakes and mental lapses are a disgrace. They don’t play to win on everypitch. Perhaps making english manditory for all players coming up would be a start towards development and execution. This is a team that excels only in knowing how to loose. Chipper deserves better and its time for a new coaching staff.
By Jared
June 8, 2008 10:32 PM | Link to this
Payroll…how does Atlanta’s compare to the rest of Baseball. Other than Texiera,Chipper, Smoltz and Hampton who are we payint real money to? Two of those four are on the DL, and a third missing a games from time to time. Hampton might not pitch more than 4 or 5 games this year if he even does that.
Position by position the Bravos have young players paid very little, and a few stop gap players (Kotsay keeping Schafers position warm, followed with some average journeymen (Norton, Infante) and all the fans wonder why we are only a .500 team?
2b Kelly Johnson SS Yunel Escobar, OF Josh Anderson, Matt Diaz, Kotsay, Blanco.
Rotation:
Glavine: was signed for a bargain price, and puts up quality starts as frequently as you would expect for what he is being paid.
Jurjens: Again young, great potential, not a payroll breaker.
Reyes: See above
Campillo: See above
What rosters in major markets are as young as we are with as many rookies through third year players as we have and are expected to compete for a division title?
You can’t only pay your first and third basemen, and two pitchers out for the year and expect to do better than we are doing.
IS OWNERSHIP WILLING TO SPEND, or Do we expect Boston Red Sox Results with Kansas City Payroll?
By Bo
June 8, 2008 10:34 PM | Link to this
Well said. I agree Dave.
By Jared
June 8, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this
Oh, by the way, I don’t think Frenchy is paid a great deal either, so it ownership is unwilling to ante up, how will trading him for a player receiving similar compensation yield different results? Even if you could trade him right now, you would likely get a comparable player if ownership isn’t willing to pay. Besides, isn’t it possible that he still may get out of his Funk and be a great player in a few years? With what we are paying him, can’t we afford that risk?
It is ridiculous to compare him to Andrew Jones. Does he even make 10% of what Andrew does? When is the last time he showed up slow and 30 lbs over weight?
Also, I don’t think we are paying All-Star dollars of our All-Star catcher either.
Let’s keep our perspectives in the proper order, and put enough public pressure on the talk shows and blogs to see if ownership is willing to pay for a competitive team.
With gas prices and the economic decline we are experiencing, fans will have to decide whether the product we are being provided is worth spending our declining discretionary income.
By hop
June 8, 2008 11:09 PM | Link to this
it is past time to clear the decks and prepare for the future. the braves are an old ball game who need to trade for young and talented players who have a bright future.
please do not rape the farm system again and signed some old man that can only help for a half season.
it is time to rebuild from the bottom up and do it now.
By PJ
June 8, 2008 11:58 PM | Link to this
Figures the Braves would make the injuries an excuse. This team could’ve won 8-10 more games had they just been a competent major league team. Losers make excuses, winners go home with the prom queen.
By Don't
June 9, 2008 12:01 AM | Link to this
Agree! Please don’t trade away any more youngsters for player rentals.
Every day I hear how Tex is about to come around; Chipper gets walked every crucial situation to get to him. Trade him NOW or we’ll lose all the players we traded for him for NOTHING! For God’s sake and the Braves’ PLEASE don’t pay him Boras’ price.
It was obvious when Chipper got hurt Sat night. Most of these players don’t even run out ground balls. If he comes back this week he’ll be playing in pain. He is having an INCREDIBLE year and he does play through pain. He’s the best player in ATL history, gave salary back to the team, wants to stay in Atl; we should all realize what we have in him while he is playing.
JF is the sacred cow. They will never trade him; heck, they won’t even sit him.
Devine was mishandled. Joshua Fields made a good decision not to sign with us last year. Maybe he’ll get an organization that knows how to bring along an outstanding closer.
By PMC
June 9, 2008 12:04 AM | Link to this
bottom line, Frenchy could get traded, but you’re not getting much for him. Tex is going to p** off people in new york grounding into Double Plays at 25 mil a pop per season next year…. They just flat out SUCK at the plate right now save BMAC and Chipper. Blaine Boyer is out of options FOR A REASON! Royce Ring, not very good. Manny Acosta… yeah… ok. Basically, this is a team that needed a ton of luck, outside of two Amazing players… they’ve got a heck of a lot of AVERAGE talent. Yes that includes Tex. Even if he does get hot for 2 months a year.. Maybe… you know try in spring training… maybe go the other freaking way a time or two instead of pulling one into another double play or striking out. Right now, he might as well be Adam Dunn without the home runs.
By Roy
June 9, 2008 12:06 AM | Link to this
It is probably too late to salvage this year because the Phillies obviously are the best team in the East and are six and one half games ahead of the Braves. But it is time to start mining for a pitching staff that doesn’t consist of old men, a cripple who hasn’t pitched in almost three years, and a group of rookies. This isn’t going to cut it and the offense is substandard as well. Putting Miller into the game is just giving the opposing team an automatic out at least four or five times a game. Francoeur is looking more like Andruw every day, striking out and hitting into double plays nearly every time he comes up with men in scoring position. Either Terry isn’t doing his job with Frenchy, or Frenchy is overrated and is no more than a .260 hitter with a good arm in the outfield. Boyer and Acosta have been less than stellar recently, giving up runs in bunches in late innings to insure loss after loss. So I do not expect much out of this team this year, and unless Wren does some housecleaning and comes up with some reliable pitchers and hitters who can drive in runs, this team will look more like the teams of the 1980s than the 1990s the next few years. Doesn’t make me happy, but there is no point viewing it through rose colored glasses, hoping things will change. Chipper and McAnn are the two really outstanding players on this team at this point. We keep hoping Tex will break out, but so far that hasn’t happened. Besides he isn’t going to be here next year so we need to discount him for the future and look for a solid first baseman when rebuilding. Depending on Glavine and Smoltz next year is foolishness and we shoud write Hampton off completely. Jo Jo, J.J. and Campillo hopefully will continue to improve, but we need seasoned starters besides Hudson to complement them and give them stability. It’s time to give some of the guys in AAA some seasoning and not expect too much from this team for the balance of the year. Doesn’t look like the guys on the DL are going to contribute much the rest of the year and the ones presently playing don’t seem capable of doing the job.
By PMC
June 9, 2008 12:10 AM | Link to this
Another thing. This 75Mil imposed budget crap… is ridiculous. No stadium has more minor league BS than Atlanta. Everything is sold in that stadium. Every inning another ridiculous promotion. They are making plenty of cash. The thing with Texiera. Outside of two months a year. He dosen’t seem to give a crap about hitting. He’s got plenty of talent, but between him and Francouer they are the biggest reasons the braves can’t score runs.. Chipper has an over .500 OBP and this guy only has 45 RBI’s…. Josh FREAKING ANDERSON has over 60. Nice production Tex, 20 million… nope not even CLOSE to worth it. Frenchy should have taken the McCann deal and been HAPPY to get it. He’s been a travesty at the plate so far.
By Lou Vales
June 9, 2008 12:34 AM | Link to this
PMC, That 75 Mil is 56 Mil less than the team 3 games ahead of you who has won more World Series than the Braves so I won’t feel too sorry for the “poverty stricken” Bravos.
Mike Hampton makes more than 8 of the nine Florida starters combined!!
By kell
June 9, 2008 12:46 AM | Link to this
One solution. We need braves 70, Supes, Tomy Fournier, Kenny, Shanfran, Islander 505, bf54, Craig, SRF, Jason, ben, help, the player, Reality Rex, thad, Artur in Ruckersville, dogmeat and Dave to have a circle jerk in Cooper’s basement. You can come up with a way we can trade for Albert Pujols, Brandon Webb, Lou Ferrigno, Bubba Fett, Jose Canseco, and Jesus. Then Bobby Cox can come down and pull off 80’s WWF finishing moves on all your punk asses. I would pay money to see Bobby Cox give Arthur in Ruckersville a textbook “Heart Punch”.
By widmarc
June 9, 2008 1:02 AM | Link to this
Injuries, stupidity, bad baseball, along with ignorance, has lead to a season so far filled with ignorant decisions.The Braves are trying to play major league baseball with little league bats.
Make some trades, do something, dropping infield flies, striking out with the bases loaded taking a third strike when you should be swinging at anything thrown within a foot of the strike zone. What is going on ? This an’t major league baseball it’s insanity, insanity thats what. either begin to make some changes, I don’t care what kind, pitch Roger McDowell call up Robin Roberts he can pitch better than WheelChair Hampton get him off the roster give him his money and send him into the sunset.
The Braves are playing worse than the 1955 PittsBurg Pirates with Dale Long the O’brien Twins and Dick Cole in the infield that was a bad baseball team that ended up in last place about 350 games out of first. Bobby Cox just sits there like he’s waiting on a bus to richmond or pearl Ms. Well send him on up there. After a pitcher lets the other team score four runs on four pitches he finally figures maybe it’s time to bring in another pitcher who immediately gives up a grand slam homer. The funny part is the starting pitcher was doing fine throwing 65 pitches and on the way to winning the game. So lets remove him and bring in an idiot who couldn’t strike out a batter who is legally blind. It’s a fine mess we find ourselves into when we’re up to our butts in alligators when we realize our main objective was to drain the swamp.
Widmarc
By Coach (Ten games to doomsday)
June 9, 2008 1:14 AM | Link to this
Jeff, you have it partially right. The injury bug is the big problem. What was left out of your column is the fact that Atlanta has NO RUNNING GAME, NO CLOSER and the most overrated excuse for a manager in the history of major league baseball.
I had high hopes for this team when the season started. Now, I see they are about sink under .500 and out of the playoff race during this upcoming ten game road trip.
I was convinced that this was a playoff caliber team and it was, as in past tense. Wren should be ready to sell in about five weeks because this team is dead in the water.
This is one fan who has lost all confidence in Bobby Cox, period. It’s time for the old man to go and I’m talking retirement.
By Lou Vales
June 9, 2008 1:15 AM | Link to this
Dear Widmarc, Don’t criticize Bobby he won one World Series while having 3 Hall of Fame Pitchers, arguably one of the two greatest switch hitters of all time, a starting line-up that everybody in baseball would tell you almost guaranteed him to win his division—especially when considered along with aforementioned pitching—-a strong bench, pretty good bull pens and SOMEHOW he parlayed all that into ONLY ONE FEWER World Series Championship than the Florida Marlins—Truly Remarkable!!Be interesting when baseball historians look back in 50 years and rate the talent of the Florida Marlins, Montreal Expos, New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies from the period 1994-2006 with the talent of the Atlanta Braves—do you think all those people are going to be constructing monuments to somebody who won 1 more Title than Bud Grant??
By Andy G
June 9, 2008 1:33 AM | Link to this
I went to the game today and it was so frustrating to sit through the whole thing in the sun just to lose in the ninth again. Francoeur keeps trying to pull the pitches breaking away from him. He could have had at least 10 RBIs this series if he had driven those pitches to right center. He really is choking in clutch situations. Kotsay being out is really killing us, too. Blanco and Infante are not really everyday type players. More pinch hitters than anything. Hopefully, we will get some of them back soon. Brayan Pena could help us out, too. Corky is not hitting anything and takes up valuable bench space, only to catch every fifth day.
By Casey
June 9, 2008 2:28 AM | Link to this
mantuan,
Brayan Pena is not in the minors. He was designated for assignment, which means the Royals have 10 days to either place him on waivers (the Braves might be able to reclaim him if someone else doesn’t claim him first) or trade him.
By dogmeat
June 9, 2008 2:41 AM | Link to this
I like a man in a tight uniform, especially Francouer, his butt has that soft appeal, want to oil him down and have him strip down to his jock.
By Double Deuce
June 9, 2008 3:03 AM | Link to this
People who are ragging on Blaine Boyer and Manny Acosta are focusing on the wrong person. Boyer is on a pace to have over 85 appearances this year and that’s a pace that will kill even the most experienced arm, and he’s a guy coming back from arm surgery. Unless he gets lucky and gets traded he’ll be this years sacrifice(Peter Moylan anyone)only because he is trying to make a place for himself in major league baseball and earn a decent living. If he says he can’t take the ball(Soriano anyone)he’ll end up with Chad Paronto somewhere. So the message from Bobby is pitch when asked no matter the consequence because Bobby knows how badly these guys want to stay in the big leagues and they’ll blow their arms and future trying, and he’ll let them.
By Kev
June 9, 2008 3:59 AM | Link to this
We cant hit with runners on base bad,bad,deal. Frenchy needs a wake up call back to AAA Richmond for a little while. The team is in bad shape right now. “Help” No one to close Hey give up a couple prospects for Flash Gordon, the guy can still pitch. Proctor would be a good fit right now. Seinez still has an good arm Philly has too many good arms on that team.Make a trade with them.
By grafe
June 9, 2008 6:11 AM | Link to this
“Kelley Johnson is average hitter with iron glove (will lose more games with glove than he wins with his bat).”
kelly johnson has an 830 ops at second base, you don’t know what you’re talking about
By Charlie
June 9, 2008 7:04 AM | Link to this
Ya, injuries have hurt the Braves. They have made BAD trades, for guys that they know have health issues (Kotsay, Gonzales, Soriano, Hampton,etc.) Bad management decisions. Add to that, keeping Boyer was a mistake. Kelly Johnson is a huge defensive liability. Tex is about to be out the door(Bora$ Boy). If he isn’t traded, we’ll get nothing for him (and we gave up alot). Cox, well, is’s obvious, the game has passed him by. As a team they can’t even do the basics (defense, base-running, bunting). Add to that, Frenchy is as big a choker as I’ve ever seen. He is the offense equivilant to Kelly Johnson. Deer-the-headlights Jeff. What a bum. Grim your way back to “A” ball. This team is a joke…upper management lousy…manager lousy…coaching staff lousy…players lousy and brainless. This season is over. Start teaching fundamentals. Dump the head cases. See ya in 2009. Maybe then the Braves will attempt to field a real major league caliber team.
By Glenn
June 9, 2008 7:12 AM | Link to this
Maybe Frenchy could be traded for a good ste up man or even a # 5 pitcher, He sure isn,t pulling his weight, and is probably the biggest culprit in the inability to score runs. Trade him while you can still get something for him.
By uncidon
June 9, 2008 7:12 AM | Link to this
Probably the worst recent news for the Braves (outside of Smoltz career over) is Bobby Cox just signed an extension. Time for a major overhaul, starting with COX……….
By Dana
June 9, 2008 7:47 AM | Link to this
Sign a 40 something with Smoltz and Hampton and this is what you get. Glavine has not been that 200 innings eater. Hes lucky to get 4. Put that with Acasta who cant close a brown paper bag and Boyer who is not any good at all and this is what you end up with. I almost cried when they traded Yates and kept Boyer. I just dont see what the big thing is in Boyer. Soriano is hurting again (no big surprise) Acasta is taking on a roll that he was not geared up to do.
Gonzalez is almost back and Hampton (caugh caugh) is going to attempt a rehab assignment (caugh caugh) so I see it this way. We need a starter, we need two pen arms and Boyer and Acasta need to go someplace else. We need a center fielder and a left fielder. We need a new hitting coach and Tex and Frenchy need to play major league ball and start hitting with runners in scoring position.
I suggest looking at Morton and Schafer. Lets see if they can contribute now. I dont care how young they are. They can either do it or not. Blanco and Anderson just dont have a major league starter career and we are almost half way there. Its time to test the waters but any trade for a starter is going to want either Morton or Schafer so lets use them ourselves. Remember the baby braves. Well lets get some more of them up here where it counts.
The braves need to spend some money. We have nothing around Chipper, Frenchy and McCann. They try to hard to do it all and end up getting nothing. The braves need to start signing players who can field their position and hit consistantly. No not home runs, just get in the runners standing on base. Three years now I have watched while over and over the bases are loaded with 0 outs and we still dont score. This is getting sicker by the moment. I really am not impressed with Tex at all. Let him walk after this year. Let Boras go after billions from some other team. Hes not worth the money. He is no Chipper Jones I can tell you that.
One final thought to throw out there. Why is it everytime the club is in a slump like this, Chipper comes up with a injury. Happens quite ofen now. Team loses Chipper sits. Just wondering.
By Phil
June 9, 2008 7:57 AM | Link to this
Hey Schultz, Your cohort idiot, Mark Bradley, recently said the Braves will be in first place by July 4th! Please take his drugs away from him, the boy needs help.
By Phil
June 9, 2008 7:58 AM | Link to this
Hey Schultz, Your cohort idiot, Mark Bradley, recently said the Braves will be in first place by July 4th! Please take his drugs away from him, the boy needs help.
By D-Cider
June 9, 2008 8:14 AM | Link to this
Hey, Jerk Schultz, the GM doesn’t need to make a trade, the Braves are looking at a rebuilding project. The Braves have traded for relievers with a history of arm problems (Soraiano and Gonzalez) and a center fielder with a bad back and they are surprised players are on the DL?
By D.Ellis
June 9, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this
Well Well, as I got bashed on the blog last week for calling the Braves .500% at best I read it all up and down.
As I said we were in trouble to begin with if the Braves were banking on 2 arms of 40+ pitchers, an arm that has not thrown in a game in over 2 years. The Braves are a “patch work” organization. Moves that are made not to shake things up….not to bring new life…but a quick fix. Frenchy is having a bad year…trade him???? Who knows waht you could get for him….but they won’t…..he brings people in the gate. Corky Miller is horrible. The D-backs jsut sent down their backup catcher Hammock who can play multiple positions and caught RJ’s perfect game here in Atlanta. He IS BETTER THAN CORKY MILLER MARK IT DOWN. Diaz is average at best. I’m sorry but Escobar IS NOT A LEAD OFF HITTER. KJ is a defensive liability BIG TIME. Injuries have played a part they really have but all I heard about at the beginning of the year was how “powerful” our offense was. Waht jsut rolled into town and beat our butts was a powerful lineup….we have an average lineup with below average pitching. Leading the National league or the big leagues in ERA is smoke and mirrors as I read last week from someone. OF COURSE YOU CAN LEAD THE LEAGUE IN STARTING ERA IF ALL YOUR PICTHERS ONLY AVERAGE 6 INNINGS AN OUTING!!!!! Even our ace Hudson only averages a tad bit over 6 innings an outing. It was a big time mistake to be relying on Smoltz, Glavine, and Hampton. Someone please tell me waht we have paid Hampton in the last 2 years and this year and tell me we could not have spent that money on A REAL LIVE PITCHER THAT ACTUALLY WOULD PITCH. This is an AVERAGE BALL TEAM. I SAID THAT FROM DAY 1 and got bashed on here for it. Frenchy might sale tickets but he is in the bottom percentage of RF’s in the game today. Our left fielder (Diaz) is waaaaay below average, Kotsay is a health risk althouhg solid when he plays. We Have 2 300 hitters in this lineup. We have no TRUE lead off hitter. Escobar and his average have steadily declined since being put in that role. I love the braves, and have loved the Braves since Hubbard, Murph, Chambliss, Horner, Washington, HAll and so on. But the expectations upon this team were way to high. What we are witnessing is the Phillies turn in this division to take command and be the best. Oh yeah and waht does this say about how sorry the Mets are when we own them but are a .500 ball club at best. Good Luck Braves. We’re gonna need it.
By jch
June 9, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this
Could the reason we have so many injuries possibly be related to the number of guys over 40 and guys who are injury prone on the roster???
Think about it
Smoltz - 40+, old shoulder Glavine - 40+, old everything Hampton - uhhhhhhh…. Soriano - elbow issues in Pittsburg Gonzalez - TJ surgery Chipper - string of odd injuries Kotsay - recovering from back surgery
With the exception of Gonzo, all of these guys were on the active list on opening day.
Looking at that list before the season you were guaranteed DL time from each and every one.
So, what do you expect from this team???
We need to go back to the good old days when we played young, talented guys developed in our minor league system.
By ChampDawg
June 9, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this
**I have been a regular poster on this AJC web site for a long time.
No more.
I no longer care for the Braves, will not waste my time posting, and will not spend my money going to games. I will cut back on the games I watch on TV.
Francoeur and Tex have been major dissappointments….. how many errors does Kelly Johnson have to make at second before it proves this experiment has failed…. why is Corky Miller even wearing a major league uniform— I’d much rather see Salty back there…. what the hell has happened to the bullpen.
All this wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t the same crap every year.
I’m out and gone.**
By jch
June 9, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this
ChampDawg - good riddance… Wish you’d left before your last post but, at least your gone.
I agree with some of your comments but still love watching and rooting for the Braves - and always will.
By Token Gringo
June 9, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this
Tex’s contract is up after this year. The Yankees are the only team dumb enough to pony up for a player with 4 months left on a contract, and they don’t need a first baseman. Trading Tex is pointless as you get nothing in return.
Everybody seems to want to trade Frenchy, but he was clutch in the past, he just needs to get back in the groove. He’s slumping for sure, but he might get back on track at some point, though his foot must be bugging him because he’s not getting after the ball in the OF like he has in the past. We don’t have anything but prospects to trade, and we’ve traded a lot of them away over the last decade trying in vain to get over the hump. Let’s see, from those trades we have…. Jurjens, no one else.
By used cars
June 9, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this
A few years ago we made a wholesale change in the bullpen in midyear…In ‘05 we brought up the Georgia boys, McCann, Frenchie, Boyer..Maybe it’s time to bring up Sammons and Morton, as well as, dare I say it, Schaefer…Then swap out anderson for borchard or jason perry….someone with a little pop…Wren is working on getting a young starter…maybe our old trading partner KC, who says that Grienke is available…We need that spark and the young guys might provide a sense of urgency that seems to be lacking…Maybe Bobby can have Ozzie come in an read the riot act…
By Notre Don't
June 9, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this
Stop the Corky talk. Who cares … Corky doesn’t look like a deer in the headlights (with a gotee) when he plays like Acosta. Corky doesn’t look like he’s tired after two pitches like Boyer (note to Blaine … maybe those 24 necklaces you wear are weighing you down during the game). Those to guys are a “got to go” decision. Bobby needs to put Greg White (Blanco) leading off and have Kelly bat second. U-None (Escobar) should be down in the order where his mental laspes can be hidden. Bobby is making tons of mistakes this year. Norton is the 5 hole? Not pintch hitting for Jo-Jo with bases loaded when his pitch count was around 95? Putting Boyer or Acosta in a game in a save situation? This team has all the promise, but now it’s gone. Glavine and Hudson are most likely PO’ed about losing wins because of the Frightened Gotee and Necklace Boy. What a watse of a decent team.
PS: Can football start so I can see Notre Dame fail for another season? That would make me feel better.
By 97tdawg
June 9, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
Im with ChampDawg!
WTF is going on around here? Sloppy, slow, crappy baseball! Tex isnt worth the price we paid, Frenchy is Andruw lite, pitching?? why did we pay an injury prone HALF decent closer 9million??(Soriano), why is Blaine still on this team?, why are we surprised Kotsay is hurt?? Corky???……JESUS! i vomit a little in my mouth every time i see him walk on the field!!
Im done. Im sick and tired of watching half hearted BULL SH** baseball! Thank god the college world series is on!!
By John
June 9, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this
All of this was forseeable at the end of the winter meetings last year. A centerfielder with a back history, two “aces” over forty, Hampton in the plans, scrub bullpen, etc. etc. etc. This is a debacle and it is the responsibility of the owner and management. It is a shame that something as hopeful as baseball season has turned to dust so early.
By realdeal
June 9, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
Don’t kid yourselves. You got swept by a far superior team. The Braves are not as fearsome as they once were. Chipper(as always) and Tex are great but beyond them what do you have? The Florida Marlins.
By Spider29
June 9, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this
Please get off the Corky Miller bash train. The guy plays once every 5 games. He is not meant to be the first (or even the fourth) choice to pinch hit. It isn’t his fault that the Braves are 26-26. The problem is injuries to key players, overworked bullpen and lack of clutch hitting. If Corky is responsible for all of that, then we are in bigger trouble than we think. I am much more concerned with the loss of Smoltz on the mound, Kotsay’s back, and the lack of any kind of hitting consistency from Frenchy. He and Tex have got to pick up their offensive games soon. Chipper and McCann have been the only reliable hitters. Yunel has done all right as well. We fans should be disappointed in the way things are going but look at the real reason the Braves are a .500 team at this point. It isn’t because we lack a really good backup catcher.
By Enlightned One
June 9, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
If Kelly Johnson doesn’t stop hot doggin in the field he should be replaced. If Norton doesn’t hustle down the first base line, when the defense drops the ball on the throw, He will never be safe. Were is the intensity, the passion the love of the game…..Oh yeah…when you are guarenteed millions regardless of your production you just don’t have any. We need someone in the club house to kick some buts. I don’t mind the Braves losing but when they don’t put forth any effort the should all be sent back to play A ball.
By Remembering1991
June 9, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this
Look at the top 12 salaries: 1. Tim Hudson 15,500,000 2 a. Mike Hampton 15,000,000 2 b. Chipper Jones 15,000,000 4. John Smoltz 14,000,000 5. Mark Teixeira 12,500,000 6. Tom Glavine 8,000,000 7. Mark Kotsay 7,000,000 8. Rafael Soriano 2,650,000 9. Mike Gonzalez 2,362,500 10. Will Ohman 1,600,000 11. Omar Infante 1,400,000 12. Matt Diaz 1,225,000
and..half of them are on the DL! How effective would you be at your job if you were out 1/5 of the time or more?
Here’s what others mentioned on this thread are making this year..
Sure, Frenchy, Johnson, and Escobar have some problems, but I’d still say they’re “worth” one-sixteenth (or less) of what Braves are paying Glavine and Kotsay, and certainly the 1/30th of what we pay Hampton. Hell, if Hampton and Smoltz no longer pitch, the braves will be spending 1/3 of their 2008 salary (10th in the majors) on 2 guys that aren’t even on the field!!
Someone said it earlier: stop spending outrageous fortunes on has-beens and get back to development.
By bp
June 9, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this
As for blaming the owner,remember we don’t have one.I hate to panic but we got swept by a team that’s going to win the division by ten games.Blow it up and start over.The love affair with Francie is over,the bullpen stinks.The only players worth keeping are chipper esco and Bmac.How in the world are Bomb Boyer and Porky Miller on this roster KJ can hit a little why not try him at left.He can’t play 2nd.This season is over.Stop supporting this corporate team until we get a real owner who wants to win!
By varoadrunner
June 9, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
The Braves are a marketing ploy! Let’s face it, we were told that the Braves were good and could win the division. In reality, they have no chance of winning the division and will not make the playoffs. Bobby Cox has been successful with a loaded pitching staff - Avery, Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz. I could manage that team and win the World Series too. Cox is not the gametime manager everyone gives him credit for…as far as a player’s manager, he is a player’s manager and that is the primary problem. Cox needs to forget favorites and manager to win and not to make his players happy.
Back to us being sold a bill of goods… We’re told how great Frenchy is….hmmmmm - I’m no longer buying it. He is Andruw reborn. Cannot hit in pressure situations because he tries to hit it to Marrietta every at bat. Hitting the ball to the opposite field would be more effective than the double play roller to ss for the 6-4-3. Why has Yunel been left in the leadoff spot. Plus, Yunel is getting to be a premadona - He has a lot of rookie in him even with his Cuban experience. He has the skills to be a star but the brain of a rookie and he is making game losing rookie mistakes. absolutely no excuse for not tagging up and scoring the other night We lost because of Him. I noticed that Kelly used two hands catching a pop-up in yesterday’s game. He learns form miscues, if only the whole team would do so.
We have our Braves and we love em - but they are not a team of winners. With the exception of a few, we are a team of rookies. We are upset because Kotsay is hurt and that his DL stint is the worst….but we knew he had a bad back and why would we expect his back to be better in Atlanta than anywhere else. A poor decision based on his back. He has been terrific, but only when in the lineup. Love em, but they aren’t gonna win and that p** me off….. We’ve been sold a bill of goods!
By GT
June 9, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
“I feel good that we’re above 500”. Nice, Frank. Glad we’re not aspiring to be anything more than average. For all us who wonder about the players lackadaisical performance on the field, statements like this one just show it begins at the top. And don’t look to Cox for any fire.
This team needs to be a seller at the deadline, not a buyer. I hope Wren doesn’t make a move until closer to the deadline, when the return values on whoever we ditch will potentially be higher.
What this organization needs are prospects, prospects, prospects. And a new attitude.
By AB
June 9, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this
Hate to say this, but we might need to start looking towards the future. Give it a few weeks to see if we can somehow make a run. But I think we should trade Tex if we’re not seriously challenging the Phils by the All Star break.
By Fan since 66
June 9, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
Good fundamental skills are a must for a winning ballclub.Ability to bunt or move the runner up,hit and run or steal a base,hold runners on and throwing strikes are all parts of good fundamental baseball.Positoning of fielders is another.How many times have balls hit down the lines hurt us in the late inning’s this year already? We never guard the lines with the infielders and the outfielders either play straight away or bunched toward the center of the field.That appears to be on the manager or coaches shoulders.This team needs to learn these things if it wants to be a playoff contender.Jeff Francouer needs to step to his potential or the Braves need to trade him.This guy has been a liability in the lineup for too long now.And Yunel Escobar needs to learn how to read the pitchers to steal bases.He has good speed but,not a clue about smart baserunning.His continous bat throwing and bickering with umpires needs to change also.The bad reputation with the umpires will hurt the team.He is somewhat of a hotdog and thats not good.He is a fine young player that would be better if he works smart.Our bullpen is overworked and i don’t see a quick fix there.Too much age and injuries have hurt the pitching staff.Rookies and unproven young guys take time to develope into winners but,now may be the time to give them a chance.One thing is clear,waiting on the three run homer is not working.
By CL
June 9, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this
My concern is what is the off season and pre season conditioning like? It seems to me, that yes, lifting, getting bigger, and getting stronger for the onslaught of the summer months is good, but that also has to be tempered with a good amount of stretching and other methods designed to keep the athlete from injuries like muscle tears and shoulder, back and assorted other nagging injuries. The strength specialist for the team is the one who needs to address this problem and to me is the one who is to blame for this sudden rash of injuries.
By oldmike
June 9, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this
I really believe the season went down the drain with Friday’s horrific loss. How can a major league player drop a foul pop up? And, to make matters worse have it hit the chalk. That was the season right there folks. But, the Braves ran themselves out of that game well before the error. The team looks passive. The Phillies have a confident in your face look to them. All the other teams do. They need to start trying to manufacture some runs. Oh wait not gonna happen. And, whatever happened to using pitchers out of the bull pen for more than 1 inning. Or starters throwing complete games. Or at least 7 or 8 innings. Not anymore. Too much pampering. I lost interest Friday. They could return the the Ted on a 14 game losing streak.
By FEAR
June 9, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this
turn out the lights the party is over
By Tomy Fournier
June 9, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this
MY COMMENT IS THE SAME…MR. COX…OUT…MR. GLAVINE OUT…MR. SMOLT…OUT…MR. SORIANO..OUT…I AM THINKING THAT EVERY BODY BE OUT AND BRING A AAA-TEAM IN.MAY BE WE CAN COMPETE IN THIS WAY WITH THE OTHERS TEAM OF OUR DIVITION…NOT WIN,BUT WE CAN ENJOY A BETTER BASEBALL GAME…BETTER THAN THE ONE THAT MR COX SHOWING US NOW….YEAAAA!!!!
By ss11
June 9, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this
Lay off “Frenchy”, He just needs help. Fire Pendleton and hire Brian McCann’s father. He must know more about hitting than T.P.
By Brett
June 9, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
I know the Braves have injuries, but that is part of the game. It is who takes the places of the player(s) who is/are out. McCann isn’t on the DL, but I agree…why is Corky Miller even on this roster? Surely we have someone (Pena should not have been released) from anywhere down on the farm who is more of a threat than him!! And, Frenchie would either be sat down, sent down, or sent out if I were mgr., but he is a fave of Mr. Cox and he is from Atlanta, so we are stuck with him to continue to strike out, pop out or hit into dp’s with the bases loaded. If we continue to go with what we have, it would be this line-up…J. Anderson lf (the only base-stealing threat on the team), Escobar ss, Chipper 3b, Tex 1b, McCann c, Blanco cf, Kelly 2b, Infante rf (yes, no Frenchie), and the pitcher. This is until Kotsay returns (maybe someday) and then he goes into cf, Blanco to rf, and Infante goes to the bench. And, I agree with whoever says Cox is definitely the most over-rated mgr. ever. He just happened to be the mgr. when the Braves pitching was outstanding, and all the glory was thrown at him at that time. Put Frenchie on the block and see what offer(s) you get for him…if any.
By BMF
June 9, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this
My unorganized thoughts: 1. Corky Miller - horrible. Cut him, sign anybody else. ANYBODY. 2. Bump Francoeur down in the lineup, preferrably down to 8th. Start hitting like a 5-hole hitter, and up you go, if not, get used to the 8-hole, and the bench after that. Good lord, he’s the absolute worst hitter you’d want up with RISP. I’d rather have Rafael Belliard up over him with RISP (but not over Corky).
3. Bobby Cox - you gotta shake things up. Get guys on base, get ‘em over, and get ‘em in. A lineup sans Chipper and McCann is NOT going to hit 2 and 3-run HR’s. It just isn’t. Smallball, manufacture runs, whatever you want to call it. All these one-run losses wouldn’t be losses if we could squeeze some more runs out of each game. We can’t score all our runs on HR’s. 4. Bullpen - you guys are doing fine. It’s not your fault that you’ve been overworked. B Boyer’s arm will fall off by august at this rate. Don’t feel bad about yesterday. Couple weeks ago, wasn’t the braves bullpen the best in the majors?
5. Give Tex the money. NOW. The guy can play. He has a history of slow starts, but look what he does after may-june of each year. It’s strange that he can’t do this in april or may, but at least he’s consistent. That’s a guy you can build a lineup around. We won’t be paying Smoltz/Glavine/Hampton/Kotsay after this year, there HAS to be money there to give him his contract. Frank Wren, swallow your pride and give him his money. Do it now, the price is going up by the day. 6. Jair Jurrjens: God bless you. Keep up the good work. Jeff Bennett, you too.
7. The OF: Right now it’s Blanco, Anderson, and Francoeur. I like Blanco and Anderson as 4th OF type of players. Why not bring up Brandon Jones and see what he can do every day in left? Maybe Diaz will be back soon, but man we need some more offense out of the OF spots.
That is all. Just my $.02
By coach k
June 9, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this
INJURIES EVERYONE HAS INJURIES IT IS NOW TIME TO BE ACCOUNTABLE AND THE FIRST IS TERRY PENDLETON, THIS TEAM WITH THE EXCEPTIOM OF CHIPPER HAS NO CLUE AT THE PLATE. WE DON’T DO ANY OF THE LITTLE THINGS AND THIS IS WHAT HAS COST US EVERY POST SEASON. NOW WE ARE JUST WASTING GOOD STARTING PITCHING NIGHT IN AND OUT. FIRE TP AND IF AFTER 14YRS BOBBY CAN’T FIGURE IT OUT FIRE HIM, IF IT WASN’T FOR GLAVINE, SMOLTZ AND MADDOX SAVING IS BEHIND ALL THOSE YRS HE WOULD HAVE BEEN GONE IN 96, IF WE ARE GOING TO MAKE POST SEASON IT IS NOW SHAKE UP TIME
By charles f*
June 9, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this
what did you expect? The Braves signed a 42 year old pitcher to go 5 innings or less for 8 million and a 35 year old centerfielder with a history of back problems and look at John Smoltz. 41 years old and out. Relief pitchers with arm problems.Chipper Jones will miss at least 20 games pr more during the season, and he is 36 years old. The Braves must have something against younger players. again, What did you expect. The Braves will do well to finish at 500 for the year unless they do something fast. The braves and the nationals will fight for the last spot in their division.
By Phil
June 9, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this
Good points varoadrunner, Cox is a total moron. Any manager with half a brain would have benched Andruw last year. Instead he was batting cleanup with a .210 average. Now Francoeur looks like Andruw swinging at every ball in the dirt. Yet that moron Cox keeps him in the same spot in the order. Moving him to 8th might light a fire under him. Cox is an idiot.
By Lou Vales
June 9, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this
Dear Realdeal, NEVER compare the Atlanta Braves to the Florida Marlins. The Marlins have won TWICE!!! as many World Series and have NEVER lost a post season series!!
BUT, you have Bobby Cox who makes Bud Grant look like Red Auerbach.
By Ralph
June 9, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this
The Braves have more problems, then, their pitching, expect for the starters, they have being very good. The team plays like a T. V. rerun. They go on the field with a like a bunch of robots, in need of a grease job, rusty, with defeatist attitude, and a lack of self confidence. One can, just about tell in the first inning that they are going to lose, or win the game. Bobby Cox, shows lack of judgment, when he keeps a player like Corky Miller, who is batting .063, where is Pena, put in the bat boy, do something. Either Bobby is loosing it, or his mined is in another world, putting Johnson, in the second spot, with 41 strike outs in 56 game and playing Francoeur, every game, who has the same number of strike outs, is crazy, and Infante, Norton. are not outfielders. The Brave have more dead weight, than they need. With the game on the line, stop bring in Boyer this guy has a 4.08 era, and blows game, after game. Excuses, can only be used for so long, after, they wear out, you have to face facts, the Braves sink. It may be early, but, it’s also later than the Braves think, and the organization, will say, again wait until you see the team we are going to have for next year, with Bobby, saying “we had a good team, but we lost, it just one of those things, that happens in baseball.” And that why the Braves are looses………..
By Keeping It Real
June 9, 2008 6:25 PM | Link to this
Injuries are not sinking the Braves. It is age. I believe that management went in the wrong direction in trying to go for all the gusto this season at the expense of not getting some young arms for the future. Glavine is the next one to go down and we have not reached the dog days of August and September. It is going to be a long season.
By Kelley
June 9, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this
It’s funny to me to hear people blame Bobby. It’s a wonder this team is still at 500. It’s also a wonder he can even fill out a line up card each week with every one hurt.
Is it humanly possible for Frenchy to come to the plate one more time with bases loaded and do absolutely nothing???
Kelly Johnson should change his last name to Buckner.
Who is this Mike Hampton that you all speak of?
By scottbravesfan
June 9, 2008 7:27 PM | Link to this
The Braves made 199 million in revenue last year and they have a 90 million dollar payroll? 109 million dollars would surely give them the ability to get some bullpen help and another starter. Not to mention a right fielder who can actually hit.
By mark
June 9, 2008 10:22 PM | Link to this
Sign Harry Bonds at least he can hit..Get Maddox from Pods…Keep Josh in the line up, dump some pitchers back to mnors bring up some new junk
By Arkie Fan
June 10, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this
Our Braves play, mostly, like an old team. They can’t bunt, hit and run, steal bases, take the extra base, etc. In Spring Training, I stated, our starters are too old to hold up for a whole season. Hudson is a two or three as a starter. Smoltz is a warrior - but I stated his shoulder could not hold up. JJ will be a good average pitcher for years. We need two GOOD starters - power pitchers. We have enough junk ballers. Kelly is a liability. Tex - If you can not sign him to a long term contract, explore trading him pitching. We need Youth - starting at the manager position. Cox is a hall of fame manager - but. Frenchy, relax at the plate, keep your hands back, don’t tighten your muscles until you swing (Explode) and drive the ball where ever it is pitched. You are trying to be the HERO. You are an easy out. Old starters, old management, old ideas, lets change.
By webhead
June 10, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe the Braves can’t bunt a ball It’s unbelievable that a mlb club can’t do such a basic play. Plus don’t compare Frenchy to A. Jones . Jones was a much better player than #7.Anybody that still thinks Tex is worth 18 to 25 millon a year are nuts If the Braves pay him more than Chipper i’ll stop watching. Trade him now!
By Ralph
June 11, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this
What happen with the general manager Wren, who was going to turn the Braves around, I don’t think he met 360 degree. How can the Braves be winners, when they keep making the same stupid mistakes over and over again. When the manager keeps repeating the same lack of judgment, and comment sense, over and over again. When you have players, who just don’t seem to learn from, their mistakes. As of this moment, it doesn’t look like the Brave will do no better than third, maybe……
By Tomy Fournier
June 13, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
In Atlanta….all around is old…and now some genius are thinking of Madoux…Waooooo!!!! what a bunch of?????…nothing..Atlanta is going no where…just to the botton of the basement…May be with Santa Claus they can win….MY-BE…JA…AND JA!!!!
By Tomy Fournier
June 13, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
In Atlanta….all around is old…and now some genius are thinking of Madoux…Waooooo!!!! what a bunch of?????…nothing..Atlanta is going no where…just to the botton of the basement…May be with Santa Claus they can win….MY-BE…JA…AND JA!!!!YOU KNOW WHAT???MR COX..LOOK ALIKE…YEAAAA….
By Remembering1991
June 27, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
The Phillies and Marlins have been skidding and the Braves are playing the last place team in the AL East. If ever there was an opportunity to maybe move up in the standings. Yeah, I know…
By BravesLover
June 29, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this
We’re sellers this year, boys. Not buyers. Restock, reload and let’s go ‘09.