AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > June > 09 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSigns of life after a dismal stretch
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
On the first pitch of the night, Tim Hudson fired a fastball on a rail toward Alfonso Soriano’s ear (Soriano’s rotating shoulder intercepting the delivery).
Now, we can’t be certain if this is what John Smoltz meant when he said of Hudson before the game, “I guarantee you he will approach this game like it’s special.” But when a team has been outscored 22-7 in four straight losses, and its fan base is having acid flashbacks to last year’s 6-21 June, and Soriano is the same guy who clubbed three home runs the night before — hey, we’re not talking Oliver Stone here.
Hudson denied he was trying to dent Soriano’s cranium. Not surprisingly, Soriano’s cranium had a different viewpoint.
Regardless, do you feel a little better about things now? The Braves showed a pulse Saturday. So let’s put the panic on hold.
They won a game.
They trail the New York Mets by 3 1/2 games.
They have 99 games to play. This isn’t have-to-make-a-trade time.
The starting pitching? It’s still not good. On the same day the Braves announced their No. 1 starter, Smoltz, would not start tonight because of a sore shoulder, their No. 2 starter, Hudson was punched for four runs in the first inning and left in the third after taking a liner off the shin. But they dumped the Cubs 9-5 at Turner Field, and all is well for one day.
The Mets’ magic number is 98.
Feel better now?
The Braves started the season 7-1. They haven’t quite maintained that pace. But anybody who expected as much, particularly with the injuries this team has absorbed, was delusional.
If you need a thought to wrap yourself around, consider this: Almost everything conceivable has gone wrong for the Braves in the last two months and still they are only 3 1/2 games behind the division-leading Mets — who, by the way, are 8-10 since starting 28-14.
What the Braves are experiencing now are the realities of a young team. Also, a thin team.
Unlike clubs with fatter payrolls, the Braves generally don’t have bench players who can start or should start or maybe ever will start. They have bench players who are merely cheap. Think of Bill Gates being out with laryngitis, and Fred from the mailroom now running the meeting.
It’s logical to assume that when you lose a projected starting pitcher (Mike Hampton) and a solid reliever (Mike Gonzalez) for the season, your best player (Chipper Jones) sits for an extended period and the player who should be picking up the slack (Andruw Jones) instead nosedives, there are going to be problems.
“It is, and this is not a whine, when the difference between a moderately ranged payroll and a healthier-ranged payroll come into play,” Braves general manager John Schuerholz said. “It’s the depth of the team and the quality of the [backups]. It’s not excuse making. It is what it is.”
Except that, it is what it is in only early June. It’s not July. It’s not August. It’s not a lead in the ninth with plastic explosives coming in from the bullpen.
Maybe the embers from where Chris Reitsma used to sit and last season’s 6-21 June have shortened the transition to panic in some corners of the fan base.
“It’s terribly frustrating and awfully disappointing and sometimes even maddening,” Schuerholz said. “But it’s not panic.”
This is not a dying team. Hudson struggled, but the bullpen behind him was strong. Willie Harris, Edgar Renteria and Andruw Jones, the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 hitters, were a combined 7 for 13 with seven RBIs. Jones made a diving catch in the seventh.
Hudson? At least he sent a message. If he wasn’t trying to plant one in Soriano’s ear, he certainly wanted him to hear the ball whiz by.
“I didn’t see that coming,” Soriano said. “It caught me by surprise.”
Soriano flied out in the second inning. When he jogged past the mound, he said something to Hudson, drawing the expected reaction. Soriano did not divulge what he said, commenting only, “I was very mad.”
Consider that a step forward from an opponent’s laughter. And still 99 games left.
Permalink | Comments (33) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves / MLB, Jeff Schultz
Services »
Comments
By BRAVER
June 10, 2007 12:34 AM | Link to this
HUD DADDY BREAKING OUT THE WAR EAGLE ON SORRYANUS WAS SWEET INDEED.BRAVOS SHOULD’VE PLUNKED HIM LAST NIGHT TOO.HOPE AJ SURVIVES THAT THRILLING CATCH TONIGHT. MANY OF DOB’S BLOGGERS LOVE TO RANT ABOUT HIS OVERRATED GLOVE. DUH!
By jed
June 10, 2007 12:35 AM | Link to this
despite the slide, i agree that our problems are limited and fixable. matter of fact, i only see 2 real problems:
as for first base, play chipper there when he gets back, and leave escobar at 3b. cox hates moving players during the season, but chipper would already be a better defensive 1b right now than thorman. cox also has the option of saltalamachia at 1b. he also has the option of acquiring a guy like jeff conine to platoon against lefties. point being, this is an easy problem to fix, but leaving thorman out there against lefties is not an intelligent choice.
remedies for the the first problem, pitching, are a challenge, but JS is more than capable of pulling off some sort of trade for a quality starter. in the meantime, you do have talented, if inconsistent, young starters—davies, chuck james—who will hopefully settle down as the year progresses. (i know, davies is maddening.) and if davies doesnt pan out, you’ve got cormier (on the DL right now, and yeah, i know, but he had a great spring and shouldnt be suddenly dismissed) and villareal as options. villareal should certainly be given a shot based on last year’s performances when starting.
if you fix these two areas, you’ve got a team that can more than compete with the mets.
By Sergeant Salmonloaf
June 10, 2007 1:38 AM | Link to this
I was at the game last night, and oh, what a game it was, indeed! Andruw’s tumbling catch was awe (and for a second, fear) inspiring.
Being a part of the sell-out crowd on a balmy Saturday evening in June when the Braves came back from a 4 run top of the first hole to win was simply a thrill.
Oh, my, that top of the first when things looked bleak, I yelled out “Hey, Redman, take off that Number 15 and bring us the real Huddy.”
I didn’t realize it was our ol’ Jason Marquis pitching against us until the second inning and it was then that I cheered up, knowing that the Braves would light him up. Same ol’ Marquis. Glad he ain’t a Brave!
I agree with you, jed, those 2 problems are fixable, and I do not forsee a similar June collapse this year.
Playing Chipper at first is a good idea, and I also anticipate a trade for a seasoned starter, hopefully not at the expense of Salty, who could also be moved to first.
So cheer-up naysayers: only 3.5 games back of da Mets, and a fine come back fight last night prove Los Bravos have plenty of moxie to avoid a June ‘06 Deja Vu…
By chil61
June 10, 2007 2:09 AM | Link to this
Dave, nice article, sure it has been frustrating at times this season but it is way too early to panic. Other than a very few teams, everyone is experiencing the same problems, I just think we notice it more because this is the team that we are watching everyday. I don’t think it will happen but I would also like to see Chipper try 1st and keep Escobar in the lineup. Carlyle is pitching today so hopefully he can have another good outing. I don’t have a problem with the lineup other than 1st base right now as long as Harris starts in lf against righties. I hope the rest of the staff will learn from Hudson to take back the inside part of the plate and not let anyone feel comfortable up there. I still think this team will score enough runs to win. Lets just hope that between Davies ,Carlyle,Cormier,Villareal,etc. someone will settle in and prove to be adequate in the 4th and 5th spots. I know the true fans understand how hard this game really is to play and that most of the negative posts on the blogs come from the ones who know nothing about the game. This is a young team that has been hit hard with injuries and are still right in the thick of things.
By brandon
June 10, 2007 3:13 AM | Link to this
wait yall have to be kidding chipper at first in the middle of the year thats not as easy as a transition as you think. Salty would be the better option and then maybe trade thorman as a backup and bring up pena again to be the backup catcher on days that mccann needs a breather. and oh yeah just for kicks escobar for a pitcher? or maybe milledge the other guy that came in the laroach trade. the depth of middle infielders could help us there.
By Coach
June 10, 2007 4:44 AM | Link to this
Jeff , the Braves are 12-17 when facing a lefty and they have one more tonight in Ted Lilly. Who , by the way has stunk recently and it will be interesting to see how our lineup fares against a struggling left hander. I agree , almost everything has gone haywire from the word go. But , here we sit 3.5 games back and June is(like it or not) do or die month for the Braves. We have Thorman and that’s it at first base. Diaz should be playing everyday but both he and Willie are playing so well in Bobby’s platoon and Cox will leave it that way whether we like it or not. Chipper is no longer an everyday player so the young Yunel Escobar needs to stay with the Braves but will Cox end his fixation with Pete Orr ? stay tuned ! We know Willie can play 2B , Escobar 3B and SS and Woodward can play everywhere , so why do we need Pete(I can’t hit my weight)Orr around ? I must disagree on one glaring point , We need a veteran right handed hitting first baseman right freaking now , can you say Jeff Conine real fast ten times. The bullpen is just fine , great in fact even after losing Gonzalez. The starting pitching is well……. having issues to say the least but the offense has to get itself in gear before we can even begin to address the pitching. So , I’m in a generous mood at the moment. I’ll give the Braves a 50/50 shot at the wild card and they will have to earn it the hard way.
By Najeh Davenpoop
June 10, 2007 4:49 AM | Link to this
This team has problems, but the bench is not one of them. When you have players like Diaz, Saltalamacchia, Harris and Escobar playing part-time, the bench is just fine. Of course, it helps that Scott Thorman is, for whatever reason, an everyday player for this team — if he was on the bench where he belongs, the complaints about the lack of depth may have some more merit.
Jed’s right about what really needs to be fixed for the Braves. The rotation needs at least one more reliable starter. Davies and James will probably be good down the line, but it’s unrealistic to rely on them to be consistent so early in their careers. And someone — anyone — has to replace Thorman. Whether it means moving Chipper to 1B or sticking Salty there, Thorman’s a* needs to be introduced to the bench as soon as possible.
And blaming the payroll restrictions doesn’t work. The Braves sank $13 million into Mike Hampton. It’s not like they can’t spend enough money, it’s that they have spent that money on a lemon. Yeah, it would be nice if they could have thrown an additional $6-$7 million at another starter in the offseason, like the Mets or Yanks. But a lot of teams in the MLB, including some teams in the Braves’ own division, couldn’t have afforded to drop $13 million on Mike Hampton in the first place. The Braves are in a much better situation financially than most other teams in the major leagues — just because the Mets are a little better off doesn’t give them the right to complain about payroll.
By Double Deuce
June 10, 2007 4:51 AM | Link to this
Great win indeed. And a much needed boost of confidence. The only problem with Huddy having to throw at Soriano is that it was a day late. Somebody should have stretched him last night and not because he hit three homeruns. That’s something you have to tip your hat to, but when you pose afterwards, sorry, but you should be knocked down. Too bad it wasn’t Tyler with a 96 mph fastball under the chin. Good win, but you have to be concerned about Huddy. Not the same guy we saw early in the year, but if the bats work the way they should, he can win without holding the opposition to under three runs a game. The story for the Braves is going to be hitting. We know we’re searching for pitching, so if we’re going to be in this thing at the end it will be the bats that keep us there until we can find another arm to help us out. Either theses kids will grow up and learn to hit as a team, or we will have to pitch lights out until we hit, but we will have to hit ‘cause there’s not many arms on the market right now. Let’s get healthy and kick a**.
By Scott in IN
June 10, 2007 5:43 AM | Link to this
Regarding Friday’s game, when Soriano it the first pitch of the game out of the park, and then a first pitch homer in his second AB, why in the world would you start him with anything near the strike zone on his third trip to the plate? As soon as I saw that pitch I screamed “No!” at my TV…I was still screaming when the pitch landed in the seats…That being said, the Braves are still in the thick of this race…But they cannot afford another repeat of June 06….
By Scott in IN
June 10, 2007 5:44 AM | Link to this
Regarding Friday’s game, when Soriano hit the first pitch of the game out of the park, and then a first pitch homer in his second AB, why in the world would you start him with anything near the strike zone on his third trip to the plate? As soon as I saw that pitch I screamed “No!” at my TV…I was still screaming when the pitch landed in the seats…That being said, the Braves are still in the thick of this race…But they cannot afford another repeat of June 06….
By bevsouth
June 10, 2007 7:54 AM | Link to this
I agree with Double Duece, Soriano should have been moved off the plate after the first home/admiration the night before.Cudo’s to Huddy for showing the young pitchers the right way to ploay the game. Thorman hitting 184 vs lefties is unacceptable, something needs to be done now. Of the choices expressed by others on the blog I would like to see them give Salty a chance.
By h_charles
June 10, 2007 8:52 AM | Link to this
No, it isn’t time to panic.
BUT, it is time to make a move. While the Braves are only 3.5 out, what you failed to mention is that the Phillies and even Marlins are now breathing down our necks, and if the season ended today 2 teams in the West would claim the wildcard over Atlanta.
It is clear that the Braves MUST address the starting pitching. Chuck James can survive as a 3, but really is a 4 at this point. Davies is barely a 5, and our alleged 5th starters this year are probably the worst in baseball.
Essentially, right now we forfeit one game a week. The Braves must get someone in their that at least gives them a shot to win. He can be an “off again, off again” guy, but when he is on, he has to be able to give a quality start.
If we got a quality 3, you could move James to the 4 (he is a solid 4), and then let Davies, Carlyle, and Cormier battle for the 5, jettisoning the guys who can’t get it done.
Such a move would allow the Braves to compete with tops in baseball.
By rickc
June 10, 2007 8:54 AM | Link to this
Here’s the deal. McCann must play 90% of the games. KJ must play every day. Either play Salty at 1st, trade him, or send him to the minors where he can continue to play and improve. Platooning him with McCann weakens the lineup. Both McCann and KJ hit lefties well so stop playing the L/R card with them. Thorman is a situational player at best. I like Escobar and Harris in the lineup for speed. Matt Diaz could rotate in at 1st. As for the pitching, how about giving Tyler Yates a shot at starting. He has good stuff. We should explore the talents on our own team before we start trading away the future for a marginal player from another team.
By Jim
June 10, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this
excellent article…..a much more accurate analysys of the state of the Braves than Mark Bradley’s negative, whiny column from a few days ago. Things ain’t that bad folks…..They are hanging in there and there are lots of games left.
By rittmann
June 10, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this
Huddy needs to be a solid #2. He hasn’t been the last month. Smoltzie has to be healthy or this team has no shot. Try Harris or Diaz at First. Both are hitting lights out and we need them in the lineup-Thor playing against righthanders only can only help him. I would like to see more attitude such as Huddy throwing at Soriano- It set the tone for the comeback last night-
By Bravesfan77
June 10, 2007 1:53 PM | Link to this
I am growing tired of the players here. We have Harris who is terrific, but does not play because of Diaz who is not as good. We have Thorman who is not that good, we have Johnson who is good but Andruw who is playing the ego game and wont adjust. We have Chipper who is always nursing something and the pitching staff is always hurt or out or has tommy john.
When are they going to get a good set of veterans to play behind Francoeur, McCann and Harris. Renteria is a gem but cant do it all.
Like I said, I have grown tired of the likes of Chipper and Andruw Jones. Diaz and Orr. Woodward 215, Orr 196. These are our bench guys? Liberty better open the purse strings a little.
This team has no punch.
Smoltz, Hudson, James, Wickman, Soriano,Harris, McCann, Francoeur, Escobar and Johnson. That is our team. Fill in around them. Thats what we need to do. Those are the guys worth keeping, the rest can take a hike. Aybar is a drunk, no wonder they wanted to trade him, Gonzo is hurt so that trade is a bust, Chippers a bonehead, Hampton will never pitch again. They need to fix this team now and for the future at the same time. How? By spending some money for vets to fill in the holes. We need pitchers, not journeymen and career minor leaguers. We need to spend a little money. Thats what they need to do.
By Carroll
June 10, 2007 1:54 PM | Link to this
Sergeant: I would kill to have “our old Jason Marquis” back in our rotation at this point. What does that tell you about the sad state of the Bravos now?
And I love how Schultz justifies all the suckiness by reminding us that “everything has gone wrong” for the Braves to this point, as if it was some mystical, out-of-the-blue stroke of bad luck. No, sir. What’s happened to the Braves is EXACTLY what anyone with a brain KNEW was going to happen when you went into the season expecting Mike sorry-a* Hampton to be your savior, then Mark Freaking Redman was gonna be the savior, then Lance Freaking Cormier…; you traded for a guy who told you he had elbow soreness last year and you just thought it would magically go away; you have one of the softest guys in baseball this side of KG Jr as your cornerstone; a total moron batting cleanup; and surround all of this with a bunch of rookies who should still be in AA. WHat in the hell did any of you expect?!
By Kathy
June 10, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this
After 1 win we get the headline “Signs of Life”. Wasn’t it just the other day that the bandwagon was emptying out?!?!?!?! It’s too early to jump the gun either way. The Mets don’t seem to want to run away with the division, but they’ve got Pedro & Duaner Sanchez due back in a month or two. If Chipper comes back completely healthy :fingers crossed: I feel the Braves can still win the division. Need Smoltz to be OK too :)
By Matthew At The SLC
June 10, 2007 3:42 PM | Link to this
What the Braves need to do is package Pete Orr, Chris Woodward, Chad Paronto, and Scott Thorman in a trade for someone like Josh Beckett, James Shields, John Lackey, Justin Verlander, or Johan Santana. It is so simple. Why doesn’t John Shurholtz do this?
By me
June 10, 2007 4:04 PM | Link to this
Nobody wants Pete Orr, Woodward, Paronto, or Thorman, and your talking for a guy like Santana, you on crack?
By chil61
June 10, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this
Matthew are you serious? Do you really think that any of these pitchers could be acquired for the players you mentioned? Its not that simple at all. No team is going to give up a quality starter for a bunch of bench players.
By freezinginalaska
June 10, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this
Matthew At The SLC,
Thank you for reminding me why I don’t usually read AJC blogs…
The reason JS won’t trade Orr, Woodward, Paronto, and Thorman for any of the pitchers you name is because no one is stupid enough to give up a 1 or 2 starter for the group that you mentioned. Truthfully, I’m not even sure you’d get a back-end of the rotation guy for them all…
By your daddy
June 10, 2007 4:20 PM | Link to this
i hear ya matthew… why doesn’t shuerholz trade thorman for pujols and orr for ichiro… i don’t think he knows what he is doing…
By Don Imus
June 10, 2007 4:21 PM | Link to this
Hey, I’m out of work. Think I could try pitching?? I’ve got a good spitball and I could work the pregame show on tv. Just get rid of that nappy headed guy Ron Gant…
By Matthew At The SLC
June 10, 2007 4:56 PM | Link to this
Of course I am serious. All the players on the Braves are quality players and would fill out the other teams roster solidifying them. Santana is having an off year and it might be a bit much to give up for him but I think the Braves coaching staff would be able to help Santana turn things around.
Thorman for Ichiro or Pujols would be acceptable. Ichiro might be a better fit since the Braves could use his speed and hitting for average. Have him lead off and move Johnson to 2nd in the batting order. The Mariners would probably want someone else with Thorman like Orr or Paronto also. The Braves probably need starting pitching worse though.
It is rather simple and it would be nice if Shurholtz would pull the string on a deal like I suggested.
By BRAVER
June 10, 2007 5:26 PM | Link to this
CARDS WOULDN’T TRADE PUJOLS FOR THE ENTIRE BRAVES 40 MAN ROSTER. DUH!
By Paladin
June 10, 2007 5:55 PM | Link to this
Braver: You got that right!
By snellville
June 10, 2007 6:54 PM | Link to this
is it that only two guys on the team besides the manager have the wherewithall to send a message. maybe the first pitcheof each game should be high and inside to send a message. You get them backing off the plate not to get hit.
By Kathy
June 10, 2007 9:01 PM | Link to this
Matthew, I would like some of what you are smoking
By Braves Fan 79
June 10, 2007 9:31 PM | Link to this
AHHHH….. the bases are loaded and woodward is at bat…..ahhh man this sucks! DUMP WOODWARD!!!! I dont care if he gets a hit right now….DUMP THAT EX MET TRASH!!
By Matthew At The SLC
June 10, 2007 11:21 PM | Link to this
Paronto got the win, awesome defensive play by Woodward to begin a double play which keeps the Cubs from scorring with the bases loaded & no outs, and Thorman gets a key RBI then scores the winning run. I guess it is obvious who really knows baseball on this blog and that would be ME!
By Matthew Cafaro is an IDIOT!
June 11, 2007 12:37 AM | Link to this
enough said.
By chil61
June 11, 2007 2:00 AM | Link to this
Matthew you really are a genius and you figured the rest of us out pretty quickly. In a battle of wits with you, the rest of us are unarmed. Should we look for that trade this week? Guess we are stuck with Santana as the 4th starter.