AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > May > 03 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBraves get the start they needed
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
There were years when it didn’t matter how the Braves began. Because they were the Braves, they knew where they’d end up. They were 12-14 in April 2001 and 12-15 in April 2002, and the great run of division titles continued apace. That, however, was then.
The start mattered very much this time. The Braves needed to remind the rest of baseball and even themselves that these are still the Braves.
“From a team-identity standpoint, it’s huge,” Chipper Jones said. “Nobody was picking us to win, and that assessment made a lot of people in here mad.”
It was hard to know what to make of the Braves 41/2 weeks ago. They’d buttressed their bullpen over the winter but rendered the right side of their infield devoid of seasoning. Their rotation seemed to hinge on the health of Mike Hampton, never a safe bet. And there was the bigger picture: After the run of 14 first-place finishes, the 2006 Braves finished third. The onset of mediocrity or an overdue blip?
“I didn’t think [the era of excellence] was over,” Jones said. “We have one of the most creative general managers when it comes to maneuvering people and payroll. And we knew what our weaknesses were. We won 79 games and we blew 29 saves. We might have won close to 100 games. We’d be up 6-1 or 6-2, and every time it seemed like we lost the game. We spent a lot of time sitting in here thinking, ‘What just happened?’ We hadn’t done that a lot over the last 14 years.”
Beyond the bullpen, most of the pressing questions have produced positive responses. Kelly Johnson has filled two holes — second base and leadoff. Scott Thorman is hitting .281. After two indifferent-by-his-standards seasons, Tim Hudson is second in the majors in ERA. “He’s the biggest story on our ballclub,” said Jones, being slightly modest.
The biggest story on the 2007 Braves is Chipper Jones. After two seasons in which he played no more than 110 games, he has started all 27. He leads the league with 10 homers. Scheduled to take Wednesday night off due to a tender quadriceps, he played because Brian McCann was hurting worse and, on cue, hit a two-run double.
“We’ve got a good thing going,” he said. “I needed to play … The last two years have been tremendously frustrating. I was tired of having my wife roll me out of bed … I’m fully capable of having a career year at 35. I can still hit as many home runs and drive in as many runs, and I can still play third base.”
The test, for Jones and the Braves and every team in the majors, will come with the fullness of time. Only one-sixth of the season has passed. Jones believes his team, with “a tweak here, a tweak there,” is capable of playing beyond September. Where should the tweaking come?
“The only thing you could possibly point to is the end of the rotation. I still have confidence Kyle [Davies] can throw well, and I’ve hit against Mark Redman and I know how well he can throw. But they’re going to have to do something different than they’ve done.”
What these Braves have done is position themselves nicely. “With so many intradivision games in April, we couldn’t afford [a bad start],” Jones said, “especially against a team like New York, which you know is going to be at or near the top … We’re the reason the Mets aren’t [running away].”
The Braves have taken four of six from the Mets, five of six from the forlorn Phillies. The Braves have all but killed off one rival - Philadelphia will fire Charlie Manuel soon - and kept the Mets from stealing another march. With five months to go, this team is where it needed to be.
“As a player, all you can ask is, ‘Give me a chance,’” Jones said. “Twenty-five out of 25 guys in here will tell you we’ve got an opportunity now. We’re going to try like heck to make something of it.”
Permalink | Comments (26) | Post your comment | Categories: Mark Bradley
Comments
By Darrin "The Vent King"
May 3, 2007 7:04 PM | Link to this
I don’t know, maybe I’m falling for the same ole same o, but for some reason I believe this season (dependant on ALOT of “ifs”) can and will be different. Last year may be the reason. Having something that was taken for granted in the division title taken away by of all teams, the Muts, er um Mets, may have given this squad a scare that the Braves era is over. No athelete once considered among the best wants to lose that. I believe Chipper, B Cox, A Jones, and Smoltz feel this the most and it permiates through the rest of the club. Some of those youngs guys on the team were fans of those guys I just named growing up. Having said that, I believe Chipper needs to remember the times “What happened?” should have at least crossed his mind- THE PLAYOFFS. Winning the div titles was great, but not doing anything with the oppurtunity that comes with it, winning the World Series, is and has been kinda of painful for the fans. Believe me, I appreciate ‘95, but YOU KNOW it should have been more. LaRoche mistook apathy for something no REAL fan wants apart of and that’s low expectations of your fav team. A sense we know what’s going to happen come playoff time. How can you get excited when you feel you know what’s coming? That’s where the Braves need to get away from. I believe they are trying and believe the young guns and the improved bullpen will make it different this season. This team has to address the end of the starting rotation, but if they can do that by getting one more solid starter(thanks Hampton!), they’ll be set barring injuries to Chipper, Smoltz, and Andruw.
Anyway, I hope this feeling I have that this season will be different isn’t just gas.
GO BRAVES!
By ATLplayer
May 3, 2007 7:07 PM | Link to this
OK that’s nice. SIGN ANDREW JONES NOW BEFORE HE REALLY HEATS UP. The Braves can’t afford to lose Jones. I know this is a feel good story however keep your eyes on the prize.
By Darrin "The Vent King"
May 3, 2007 7:11 PM | Link to this
Oh yeah, nice to see Tim Hudson back to being the Tim Hudson we wanted from Oakland. That always helps, just gotta keep it going- it’s a long road ahead.
GO BRAVES!
By Alan
May 3, 2007 7:32 PM | Link to this
Nice column, Mark. It is good to see the Braves playing well and, especially, rebounding from seemingly disastrous finishes like they experienced last Sunday. For all the power in the lineup and the big, powerful pitchers in the revitalized bullpen, what really impresses me is how scrappy and resilient this team is. They play hard and they never quit. That was true last year, too, but this club is more talented. And in the end, talent tells. But scrappiness and grit are good qualities, too, especially over a long season. So far, so good.
By DAD
May 3, 2007 7:33 PM | Link to this
Are you Braves fans having the wool pulled over your eyes? There is no way the Braves can win the NL East this year with what the Mets are bringing to the plate. Mark my word. By August 2007, the Braves weaknesses in left field and first base and the last two pitchers(Davies and Redman) in the starting rotation will cause the Braves to fade and the great Mets team will take off and win the NL East by 15 games.
By Najeh Davenpoop
May 3, 2007 7:42 PM | Link to this
Depth still has to improve for this team to contend in the postseason. The back end of the rotation is still a huge problem. It’s not inconceivable that young, untested players like Kelly Johnson and Scott Thorman are overachieving now and may come back to earth sooner or later. I’m still not entirely convinced that Chipper Jones can stay healthy for an entire season — if he has played 150 games at the end of the year that will mean something, but 1/6 of the way through the season his number of games played doesn’t mean a whole lot.
All that said, last year’s failure seems to have had the effect I thought it would. This team is hungrier than they were last year. The newcomers and up-and-comers (Johnson, Soriano, Gonzalez, Thorman) have played like they have something to prove. The veterans are playing like they want to return to the glory days.
I still think Schuerholz has to make a trade to get another reliable starter. I’m not too comfortable going the rest of the season with Chuck James, Lance Cormier, and Oscar Villarreal as the 3-4-5 starters, as talented as they may be. The Braves can get by if the lower third of the order is inconsistent, but if the back end of the rotation can’t provide quality starts, April is going to look like a mirage awfully soon. But when all is said and done this Braves team definitely looks very encouraging right now.
By Najeh Davenpoop
May 3, 2007 7:44 PM | Link to this
I meant to include Davies when I referred to the back end of the rotation in my last post. But that still doesn’t change the fact that the Braves need another starter. Davies is arguably a worse option than James, Cormier or Villarreal at this point in his career.
By Magneto
May 3, 2007 7:45 PM | Link to this
Dumba$$ DAD,
Redman is already about to be traded and we’ve already kicked the mutts’ a$$ twice this year. Get a life idiot!
By jp
May 3, 2007 8:01 PM | Link to this
I think you forgot the two most important players in terms of translating to wins. That is Brian Mccann and Edgar Renteria. Those two are the biggest reason we are where we are. The bullpen is third then Kelly Johnson then Chipper and Frenchy.
By Marc
May 3, 2007 9:00 PM | Link to this
Don’t get too cocky DAD, your team is much more injury and streak prone than ours. And you pitchers, dispite what you Met fans may be telling yourselves, are not as good as they’ve been pitching so far, they will start having more and more bad starts soon. Pedro wasn’t exactly automatic last year either, and coming off the DL half-way through the season?
Yeah, don’t lay claim to the trophy just yet buddy, it’s already been made painfully obvious over the last 100 years that a great line-up doesn’t always mean a whole lot. I mean, do you think Tampa Bay is going to the World Series? lol
By ellijaydawg
May 3, 2007 11:49 PM | Link to this
Is Dad a gay Mets fan?
By ERic
May 4, 2007 1:33 AM | Link to this
DAD, get real. The Mets were the fluke last season. You and I know that historically they can’t beat the Braves and this year is no exception. Besides, if lineups are all that matters the “other” NY team should have this thing wrapped up by now. Where are they again???? Nope, this year the hunger is back and the new kids as well as the old vets are itching to prove that last season’s meltdown was nothing more than a demonstration of the value of good closers. Still, its a long season and last year should remind us to never take anything for granted….
By Chazs
May 4, 2007 8:54 AM | Link to this
Braves need to “make hay” as much as they can. The Mets will win games; probably not that many from the Braves though. What Atlanta has are pitchers maturing in AA and AAA. Just wait until July for the likes of Matt Harrison. And why do you think they brought up Salty Dog? Showcase BABY! If things get really rough, he will be gone. Not to first base or the outfield, he has limited wheels, but to another team. And please watch what you write. THis is a baseball discussion; there are other venues for preferences and/or hate speech.
By Bill in VA
May 4, 2007 9:35 AM | Link to this
Tom, You’re an idiot. New subject; Willie is a great pickup for left field. i like his energy. He will be a fan favorite and will energize the team. I watched him in Richmond.
By Doug B
May 4, 2007 9:40 AM | Link to this
It takes a whole season to show success. Can the Braves succeed when the injuries remove players from the line-up? Can they succeed if Kelly and C. Jones cool off? Can they succeed if Wickman doesn’t regain his mastery? Can they overcome unexpected adversity?
If they can, there is another championship in the future. I would rather let this season unfold before I go about expecting the Braves to win all season.
Still, it is hard not to be optimistic isn’t it?
By Ryder
May 4, 2007 9:58 AM | Link to this
I like the fact Atlanta got off to a great start, it helps to have the mindset that last year was a fluke. If Atlanta started off slow all the talk would’ve been “it’s all over, doom and gloom, blah blah blah” I think Andruw’s heating up will be a major factor in the latter half of the season. I like the makeup of this team and the confidence in FINALLY having a strong bullpen to end games affects everyone.
That said it is a long season and Atlanta must not forget what happened last year, lest they repeat it.
By RichmondBrave
May 4, 2007 10:06 AM | Link to this
I am loving this edition of the Braves. Harris is going to produce in left and Thorman is going to surprise people with his glove and bat. I hope McCanns had injury doesn’t keep him down long. The pitching is my one concern. What is up with all the walks?? I can’t rember ever having 10 or more walks sooo many times. We have at least 3 pitchers with more walks that strikeouts. Gonzo and Soriono(sp) are awesome. 8th and 9th innings are lights out. Go Braves!
By RedandBlackAttack
May 4, 2007 10:49 AM | Link to this
The Bravos are definitely much more fun to watch and enjoy as they start the season this year. They are doing great and things are coming together much better than anticipated during spring training. The pitching is so much better this year! The hitting has come around very well too!
I just hope that the relief pitching does not get too run down before the end of the season. The Braves will need Soriano, Gonzalez, and Wickman as fresh as possible for a September/October run. If they hold on and the Braves find a consistent #4 & #5 starter, then the Bravos will be a contender for the division once again. Go Braves!!!
By FOR LOVE OF THE GAME
May 4, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this
I have to agree with jp. I believe the x factor(factors) are Renteria and Francoeur. These cats have been steady and consistent from the get-go. Renteria brings smart tools to the plate(line drives to all fields and an excellent bunter) and has anybody noticed Francoeur with a bit more patience at the plate? I am excited about this year!!
By Bo
May 4, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this
HEY DAD, I’LL TAKE THE BRAVES AND 12 GAMES FOR A THOUSAND DOLLARS, PUT YOUR MONEY WERE YOUR MOUTH IS !
By Kelley
May 4, 2007 1:23 PM | Link to this
I wish I personally knew John S. so I could seek his advice on big decisions. For the MOST part, his moves pay off. (before you start, I said MOST part I know about Aybar and Baez, etc.).
Look at who we lost that everyone said would kill us: Betemit and LaRoche: Has either one of thier averages’ reached 150 yet? We replaced Giles with Johnson and it has paid off nicely. Yes, I know Giles has put up good numbers, but his off field behavior turned me off to him. Getting arrested for fighting at a professional football team like a college frat boy is not professional behavior. I also could have done without his public whinings about how badly the Braves treated him by not resigning him, personally, I have a difficult time listen to anyone who makes over a million a year whine about their job. After that, I was glad to see Giles go.
Kelly Johnson has stepped up in such a way that Giles is not missed.
He did a fine job fixing the bullpen.
We need help in the 4th and 5th pitching spot, and I have full confidence in Mr. S. that it will be taken care of, someway, somehow.
John S. and Bobby never get the credit they deserve for the Braves’ success. They are the best in the business. The Mets have a great team, but never count out a John S./Bobby Cox team.
By VanillaDome
May 4, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this
The biggest STORY on the Braves is not Chipper Jones. Are you kidding me?
We’ve seen Chipper hit like this in the past and the fact that he’s made it through a month without injury isn’t a story. Making it through the year w/o injury would be a story.
The story is Kelly Johnson.
We go from not having a 2B to converting an OF who missed all of 2006 due to surgery. That same guy goes onto become the best leadoff hitter in baseball with good power and speed.
Chipper has had a great start but it sure is easier when you ALWAYS have runners on base ‘cause they have to pitch to you.
By Eugene
May 4, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this
I love what the Braves have done and the way they have gone wbout thier business. The bullpen has been solid and the lineup has hit in the clutch. Once Andruw get fully on track and McCann get healthy we will be fine there. I would love for JS to make a move to improve LF. Its still a black hole over there.. GO BRAVES!!!!!
By GT80
May 4, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this
Everyone is saying what a great everyday lineup the Mets have but let’s look at the Mets vs Braves lineups: C - McCann vs LoDuca - Advantage McCann 3B - Chipper vs Wright - Advantage Chipper SS - Edgar vs Reyes - Advantage (slight) Reyes 2B - Johnson vs Valentin - Advantage Johnson 1B - Thor/Wilson vs Delgado - Right now thats advantage Thor, although we’ll have to see over the course of the season LF - Diaz/Harris vs Alou - Big advantage Alou CF - Andruw vs Beltran - Slight advantage Beltran but final power and RBI numbers will be close. RF - Francouer vs Green - Slight advantage Francouer in regards to power and RBI numbers
Thats’ 5 to 3 Braves way and there’s really only a big advantage for the Mets in the LF position.
If the form for the 1st month of the season holds over the course of the year the Braves will be in great shape and the Mets will be hoping to make the playoffs as a wildcard. I think both of these teams battle for the WS birth.
By ChampDawg
May 4, 2007 3:38 PM | Link to this
The rotation is just too weak. And if Hudson or Smoltz at some point in the seaon naturally go through a period of not being as strong as they are now, then this team is in trouble. And you can’t always believe that the young guys (Johnson, McCann, and Francouer) are going to always come through as they have. I’d feel much better about this teams chances if the 3-4-5 spots in the rotation were better and something needs to be done now while the team has the lead and the momentum. I’d also feel better if Andruw had a better BA. Otherwise, I think he’s gone after this year. A 260 batter ain’t worth his money no matter the defense and homers.
By Matthew
May 4, 2007 11:08 PM | Link to this
I have a cat named Buddy. He’s a good boy. Never thought I’d ever have a cat, but hey, I never thought I’d get a couple of knee injuries, be out of the Corps, and get fat; so you know… anything can happen.