AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > March > 06 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWaiting for answers to Braves’ questions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
‘Tis that time of the year when the flame of hope burns high in the breast of the baseball hopeful. And sometimes for aging stars who may be running low on the same. Also in the hearts of crosscheckers and scouts who look out across the field, fearing for the fate of one so prized they would stake their careers on him. It may not have occurred to you that how you played has no bearing at all on your status as a pursuer of talent.
What occurs to me is that this is not your usual spring training for the Braves. They are charged with having to rebuild on their first losing season since 1990. They must restructure the right side of their infield with Adam LaRoche and Marcus Giles gone. That means there are 43 home runs and 150 RBIs to be replaced. Not like pulling rabbits out of a hat. As they went into rehearsal, the two jobs had been handed over to a first baseman who’d had been to bat 128 times in the major league, the Canadian Scott Thorman; and second base had been reserved for Kelly Johnson, who’d come up as a shortstop, moved to the outfield, and now, after a season spent in surgery, would replace the pugnacious Giles.
Of course, it could be an all-Canadian side, should Johnson fail. Pete Orr, who comes from Ontario, might move in at second, though Orr’s value has been coming off the bench, a .300 hitter two seasons ago.
On the left side, there is age to be dealt with, not that Chipper Jones and Edgar Renteria are ready for the boneyard. Jones will be 35 in April, but a chipper one only when his underpinning is firm. Renteria is sound, not the flashy Rafael Furcal type. He’ll hit a few home runs and drive in a decent number for a shortstop, but the better part is that he made only 13 errors last season. He had made 30 with the Red Sox and was grateful to find refuge from the booing. Harsh, demanding fans, those Beantowners.
After seasons of dealing with gypsy mercenaries to complete the outfield — Gary Sheffield, J.D. Drew come to mind — they are now dealing in homebodies, Andruw Jones and Jeff Francoeur. (And speaking of millionaires, wait’ll Jeff comes to bat at the bargaining table next year.) If Matt Diaz played Ryan Langerhans’ kind of defense, and if Langerhans swung Diaz’s kind of bat, the Braves would have the perfect left fielder. Oddly, though, last season the left-handed Langerhans hit .308 against left-handed pitching, the right-handed Diaz .295. Who knows? If things don’t work out at first base for Thorman, he might find himself in left field. But then who would play first?
Glad you brought that up. A year ago James Jurries arrived in camp full of promise. He’d hit .284 with a generous sprinkling of 21 home runs at Richmond. No threat to Adam LaRoche, still a study on defense, but a right-handed batter. Then he dropped out of sight, and his average plunged to .205 at Richmond, and pffffft! He’s back this spring, still swinging the bat, but no threat, from what I see.
You’ll notice that pitching has not been mentioned, and that’s because only the brave broach that subject. We have already spoken on the displeasure of sending LaRoche away for another bullpen body, Mike Gonzales. Makes no difference how strong your bullpen is if the closers have no lead to close on. John Smoltz, Tim Hudson, Chuck James, Mike Hampton and Kyle Davies make a comforting sound for starters, but there are ticklish doubts there. Hudson has to become the pitcher he was in Oakland, and from what I read, the news coming out of Disney World about Hampton gives you the shingles.
He hasn’t thrown a business pitch in nearly two years. The Braves have a big paycheck on their hands and Hampton has a long way to go, the way it seems. Actually, this team is well stocked in pitchers with possibilities, a corps of setup guys, but only two left-handers who might start, Macay McBride, who’d love it, and Gonzales, whose future is invested in the bullpen. There’s a lot to be threshed out at Lake Buena Vista, and I can’t wait to see it live.
Permalink | Comments (20) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves / MLB, Furman Bisher
Comments
By BRAVO
March 6, 2007 8:29 PM | Link to this
FURM DADDY, PLEASE LET DOB FILL UP YOUR IPOD BEFORE EMBARKING ON YOUR TRIP TO DISNEY.HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT TIME! BRAVES CAN DEFINITELY UTILIZE YOUR INPUT.IN FACT, BOBBY COX SHOULD LET YOU TAKE PAT’S OLD PLACE IN THE DUGOUT FOR A COUPLE OF GAMES DOWN THERE.PROBABLY MORE BASEBALL KNOWLEDGE IN THAT DUGOUT THAN ANY OTHER I CAN THINK OF.
By TheSouthernJackAss
March 6, 2007 11:43 PM | Link to this
Furman Bisher definitely doesn’t need any help from David O’Brien in any area!…
By Head Coach
March 7, 2007 1:08 AM | Link to this
Me thinks that many of these questions will still be unanswered come April 1st. June 1st is more likely to bring solid answers to the question of : Is this team a contender or a pretender ? We shall soon know the truth.
By PoliticalMan
March 7, 2007 7:21 AM | Link to this
One suspects that the problems of the Braves are just a bit more than they (Cox and Scheurholtz) are willing to admit. First and second base and left field are question marks. Let’s not forget the frustration that Francoeur generated last yr with his inability to put the ball in play. Andru Jones the same.
Pitching looks really questionable. Smoltz is old, Hudson is not where he was at Oakland, Hampton may be finished. James seems to be a bright spot. The bullpen will be better - hopefully good enough.
Spring training talk - that’s all it is.
By David
March 7, 2007 8:57 AM | Link to this
To keep nay-saying the trade of LaRoche for Gonzalez is idiotic. One of the failures of this team throughout our glory was an inability to hold leads. We have had flashes of closer brilliance with Wohlers and Rocker, but they flamed out after a time. And they all had issues before assuming the role. To say that one player, in this case LaRoche, would be the difference in having a lead three nights out of four is ludicrous and shows an amazing lack of baseball knowledge. A truly good hitter may only have a defining impact in one or two games per week. Now, the Braves have a closer-in-waiting who has proven he can do the job, and all this guy can talk about is the hitter we gave up. Maybe LaRoche fails miserably in Pittsburgh, maybe he doesn’t. Maybe Gonzalez fails here, maybe he does a great job. But to keep hitting that dead horse, until we know how it turns out, is stupid. Until we know, you have to look at it from a baseball perspective, not an old writer’s perspective.
By Jeff R
March 7, 2007 9:11 AM | Link to this
“Pitchers with Possibilities” sums it up. Let’s hope those possibilities pan out.
By True Braves Fan
March 7, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this
I am deeply saddened that one of my heroes has somehow turned into “Mr. Negative.” Please, Furman, hang it up, and go out on top….
By jackso
March 7, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
Pitching, pitching, pitching!!! Our potential is as good or better than most teams. Smoltz, Hudson must produce. Hampton, who knows? But we have other people. Every team, including the Yanks look for magic pitchers. Ask Torre about pitching. We were desperate for bullpen help. John S. did a good job for the best people he could get. You have to give up something for something—LaRoche. It looks good on paper but who knows how it plays out on the field. I`d hate to second guess Bobby on who he plays and where, but I will guess he will go with all the veterans he can. Good news is he has LOTS of options, I just hope he is not too stuborn to make changes if we cannot score any runs for the “New/Old” pitching staff.
By Kevin NYC
March 7, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this
The Braves season will turn on whether or not Hampton and Hudson can be productive. I believe Smoltz and James will be fine. Despite the euphoria here in New York, the Mets have a serious problem with their starting pitching. The Braves have a real chance to take back the East if these two veteran starters can pitch the way they have in the past. Giles can be more than adequately replaced by Johnson and Prado. We”ll score less runs without La Roche but the new trio in the bullpen should adequately cover this defecit.Starting pitching is the key.
By SC
March 7, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this
No lead to close on. You mean like the 29 blown saves last year. If we win half of those we are in contention for the divison title.
By JohnGTFan
March 7, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this
Furman…few words to describe you. 1st of all, please stop saying “we” voiced our displeasure of trading LaRoche. That was YOU. All of your complaining about no offense and criticizing the pitching..I’m certain you didn’t speak that way in the 90s. All you did was hype the importance of pitching, especially from the bullpen. Now look at you. Please do not write anything positive when the Braves win the division this year.
By ben
March 7, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this
I believe the biggest problem isn’t the hitting or pitching. The biggest problem is GM / Manager next year. The owner after Liberty will increase the budget to make a splash. The fans of this team proved once that it could be a massive draw. I think they should put a retractable roof on the Ted to draw more to it. Summer isn’t a novelty, it’s a begrudging way of life in this town.
By Disgruntled D
March 7, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this
Furman, your a grump. This article is littered with fallacies, and i bet you havent had your metamucil today. Whats wrong with you?
but only two left-handers who might start, Macay McBride, who’d love it, and Gonzales, whose future is invested in the bullpen
What r u talking about? Why would Those be the only two potential left handed starters? And Shingles? I mighta gotten the heebie jeebies before, but never did i feel like i was getting the “shingles”. Absolutely ridiculous. The AJC needs some new braves reporters, because you’re all boring and tiring. I cant believe i even wasted this time to write a response.
By DonCoburleone
March 7, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this
“Actually, this team is well stocked in pitchers with possibilities, a corps of setup guys, but only two left-handers who might start, Macay McBride, who’d love it, and Gonzales, whose future is invested in the bullpen.”
Huh? Aren’t Chuck James and Mike Hampton lefties? Or did you mean left-handers in the bullpen? If that is what you meant, then I ask you, HOW MANY DO YOU NEED?
By DonCoburleone
March 7, 2007 12:45 PM | Link to this
And at least we don’t have to watch LaRoche WALK to first base and get beat out by the runner, leading to a 4 run inning and John Thomson never being the same pitcher (look it up, Thomson had an ERA under 3 at the exact moment LaRoche did that, then he gave up a double, a base hit, a homer and got hurt 2 starts later)…. Good riddance to that lazy a$$!
By Barrett
March 7, 2007 1:17 PM | Link to this
I hate how this is so negative. I want to know one team that doesn’t have a question mark in atleast one area. I also love how adam laroche was amazing last year when most people wanted Jurries to play at this time last year. If rochey didn’t have a stellar second half, that trade for Gonzales would have been a straight steal. I hate how reporters jump on the band wagon with everything. I’ll take DOB… I don’t agree with all he says, but atleast he seems like he knows what he’s talking about.
By Joel K. Jones
March 7, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this
I haven’t heard or seem what is going on in the pre-season, but only what I read.
And what I read, they are winning in the pre-season so far. So Furman, what does the pre-season performance tell you about the Braves to this point.
By Biff Pocaroba
March 7, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this
The Braves are going to have a good year. Andruw is playing for big time bucks. Mike Hampton has doubts that McDowell can fix with a little bit of coaching and maybe some insight from Dr. Llewellyn (cough up the number, Smoltzie). The injury bug bit hard last year, but this team will be solid. Mr. Cox will do his usual, outstanding job. The boys are playing for pride this year, and I think that’s going to make a big difference this year. Mr. Bisher, have a good trip.
By Tuckerboy
March 7, 2007 5:15 PM | Link to this
LaRoche blows one play and now he is responsible for a journeyman pitcher for losing his stuff! Talk about a stretch! Let’s remember that Laroche had a .997 fielding percentage and was responsible for far more outs than errors!
LaRoche is gone but it still was a stupid trade. Not so much in losing his skills and potential,which are considerable, but getting so little in the trade. Trade Thorman now and throw in Gonzalez for a real first baseman.
By Lawdog
March 7, 2007 7:28 PM | Link to this
About a dozen years ago, I joked with a friend that Mr. Schuerholz had rebuilt the Braves and transformed them into a contender when he picked up Terry Pendleton and Sid Bream.
You know how that worked out. YOu have to keep in mind that Mr. S is not one to purchase a new Caddy when a few spare parts will do. I hope it works again this year and see no reason why it won’t.