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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
924 comments Add your comment
Couch Tater
April 27th, 2009
8:09 am
Braveheart,
RE: your 11:32, I tried to get up-to-date. Many think A.J. McCarron or Phillip Sims will be the next great QB. (It’s kinda like prospect huggers.) FR,Star Jackson and SO,Thomas Darrah(from Newnan,GA) both need to improve their reads and will likely compete for the backup role,this year. Evidently, neither Star or Darrah had great protection during the game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBqjpcVc6E4
Ugaman
April 27th, 2009
8:18 am
DOB,
Sorry about not saying Red Letter Agent in the previous posts. They told me they were going by RLA in ATL. Yes, they were in ATL for about 5 years playing in many different venues and going on a few tours around the States and once overseas. They really love U2 and I think they’ve tried to pattern their music after them. James Templeton is the lead singer/song writer for the group. He’s really talented,(IMHO). I’d love for you to check them out sometime and let me know what you think. You can check them out here:
http://www.myspace.com/redletteragent
Steve from OH
April 27th, 2009
8:23 am
BAS, I’m honored that you would share your cheapest non-scotch with me. Great stuff last night…
David Eckstein has a World Series Ring AND a World Series MVP Award…
What the f’ing h*ll has Kelly Johnson done?!
Oh yeah, I can answer that….NOTHING!
Eckstein may not have gaudy numbers, but himself along w/ all those guys BC mentioned in his list were all if nothing else, more CONSISTENT than Kelly…
That no matter how you want to put it can not really be argued…
What the hell is wrong with you people? BAS, I’m gonna need a helmet to protect me from all these walls people make me want to smash my head into. Jesus, people, this is like baseball 101–David Eckstein sucks. I mean, seriously, he consistently OPSes around .713 a year and consistently hits about 5 home runs a year. Why would we want a second baseman who, in his two full seasons with the Braves, OPSed about 100 points higher than that and averages 3x as many homers a season? Do us all a favor, go over to http://www.firejoemorgan.com (RIP), search “David Eckstein” and read the literally millions of enteries regarding said ballplayer. Educate yourself, and one day you too can prevent me from smashing my head into a concrete wall.
cabravesfan (12:16)–yeah, tell me about it…
dogsbrekky
April 27th, 2009
8:28 am
Morning all
Interesting last week or so, fatty Moylan has looked better but still does not look 100% fit to me…
Gonzo looks terrific and back to 2006/7 levels it appears
We need more “animal instinct” on the hitting side, we just do not scare too many people when we get behind in a game,………….. at least we are giving Brandon Jones another shot, he looks much better at the plate this year
KJ is a real worry at 2nd base, he doesnt get to many almost routine balls at 2nd or effs up very simple plays… how long do we let him make blunders or allow a 200 ish average………… let the Prado kid play and show us what he has for a whole week or 2
Doc Holiday
April 27th, 2009
8:35 am
The Marlins, despite a six-game losing streak, remain in first place in the National League East. But Nationals manager Manny Acta, whose team has already played everyone else in the East, said Sunday he still considers the Mets and the Phillies the favorites.
“It’s not a secret that the team here [in New York] and the team in Philadelphia will be battling it out until the end,” Acta said. “Florida has a starting rotation that is going to give everyone in the division a hard time. The Braves have a good rotation, and they have Bobby Cox. They could make it tough, but at the end I think it’ll be the two that have been battling it out the last two years.”
Doc Holiday
April 27th, 2009
8:38 am
In his last 13 decisions dating back to last season Santana is 12-1 with a 1.05 ERA. Yes, he loves pitching in the NL.
Marv Kleeman
April 27th, 2009
8:49 am
Some thoughts about the Braves eighteen games into the season:
The biggest blunder of the 2009 season was the decision to trade Josh Anderson.
I, for one, was looking forward to the Josh Anderson era of Atlanta baseball. For the first time since Rafael Furcal was a rookie back in 2000; the Braves had a leadoff hitter who could create havoc on the basepaths. An improving hitter who was almost impossible to erase once he reached base.
Then the Braves go out and sabotage their own game plan and for what purpose but to accommodate some young upstart who comes to camp and makes a big impression.
This is not meant as a putdown of Jordan Schafer as his time will come. But if Schafer is indeed a better player than Josh Anderson than why isn’t Schafer our new leadoff hitter? Instead he is buried in the eighth spot in the batting order to protect him against major league pitchers.
So we trade our opening day leadoff hitter (Josh Anderson) but the guy we replace him with (Jordan Schafer) is only qualified to bat eighth in the lineup.
And now we are once again stuck with Kelly Johnson as our everyday leadoff hitter.
It’s going to be a long summer.
Blame
April 27th, 2009
8:52 am
All Atlanta Brave problems are a result of batting Kelly Johnson leadoff.
Original Jon
April 27th, 2009
9:05 am
Doc Holiday, so i take it you arent counting No Decisions then, correct?
flange1
April 27th, 2009
9:17 am
Morning All,
In all of Coach’s rants on speed, the only part that I can agree with is that Josh Anderson is a perfect 4th OF. Good defense and he can run.
But to be able to keep him on the team, you have to have a full time (not a platoon) LF.
At this point that is NOT GA, BJ or Matt Diaz.
AT the time GA was signed and Josh was traded, the Braves did not have a full time LF.
SO, unfortunately, Josh had to go.
IF the BRaves could have pulled off the Ryan Ludwick for KJ deal (which I don’t believe was ever really discussed) Prado could have played 2B, Josh would be the perfect 4th OF. (probably bye bye Matt Diaz)
But all of that is spilled milk….
My hopes are that Brandon Jones RIPS the ball while in the ATL and gives Braves management an option if GA can’t get it going.
Both KJ and Mattie should heat up…..
Slugger
April 27th, 2009
9:21 am
Marv -
Great analysis.
Do you work closely with Al Davis?
Josh Anderson needs to either learn how to walk before your comments can have any sort of relevance, at all.
We’ll see what you say in two years when Jordan steals 25-30 bags and hits over 20 HR (all with a higher .OBP than JA).
Thumbs down for your post.
Cameron
April 27th, 2009
9:23 am
DOB,
What is your honest opinion on Kenshin Kawakami? I think he has looked masterful at times. But, obviously not so much at others. His control has never been a problem, until now. I don’t know if he hung a lot of breaking balls in Japan and got away with it, but he will not get away with them here. I think he can get it together. If it is a mechanical problem, I don’t trust that Roger will fix it too much.
Slugger
April 27th, 2009
9:24 am
All -
I still think we should have traded/signed or kidnapped Micah Owings to be our long-term left fielder.
He has three doubles already.
Sethual Healing
April 27th, 2009
9:26 am
The textsfromlastnight.com site is great. Feels like college…
Run Heap Run
April 27th, 2009
9:31 am
The Josh Anderson Era? Apparently I was overly medicated when he got in those 40 games for Atlanta last season, wish I had been paying more attention. Sounds like I missed out on the next Ricky Henderson.
Also it appears that overnight I have been deemed “the resident cougar”? How embarrassing….
Doc Holiday
April 27th, 2009
9:32 am
Original Jon,
That was a copypaste from cbs or fox…….dont remember 100%.
Epinephrine
April 27th, 2009
9:45 am
So Kelly has a bad April, which should mean a good May. I have to say, it is disappointing that he appears no closer to developing any kind of consistency. I do think he is not at all suited for the lead-off role (or about as well suited for it as Casey Kotchman is to hitting cleanup-those two should be 7/8). But I don’t know what the alternative is.
KK looks pretty bad, but given that he is playing in a new country with a new ball, I think we are going to have to ride this one out until at least around June. Considering the money we are paying him, he will get a prolonged shot at proving he doesn’t belong in the pen. And honestly, he deserves that chance. Too early to give up on him.
As for Hanson, if anything, he has proven that he absolutely needed to be in AAA. Until he can get out of the 5th inning consistently (with fewer than 100 pitches), he isn’t ready to consistently contribute to the major league club. I think he will be flat out filthy by the end of May-but this was a stretch he needed.
Steve from OH
April 27th, 2009
9:47 am
The “Josh Anderson Era??” What era is that, the era of .720 OPSes?? Man, what was Frank Wren thinking?
18 Wheels of Love
April 27th, 2009
9:51 am
KJ seems like a great guy and he has a great upside if he can ever level out his peaks and valleys. My problem is that his defense makes me hold my breath every time a ball is hit to him. Yesterday was a good example on the ole’d grounder up the middle, granted not the easiest play, but he made a terrible attempt at it. He’s serviceable at lead-off but certainly better suited for a different spot in the lineup. We aren’t in the worst position with him at 2B and leading off but both I imagine there is a better solution.
McFann Ô
April 27th, 2009
9:54 am
Steve–
Haha…thanks for posting that photo…
McFann Ô
April 27th, 2009
9:57 am
OK, time to start all the when-the-heck-is-it-gonna-be-3-o’clock-or-whatever-time-DOB-gets-to-the-clubhouse-so-we-cann-find-out-the-latest-on-McCann posts.
Count that as being the first.
Original Jon
April 27th, 2009
10:13 am
Ok, cool, in his last 13 games pitched he is 10-1 with 2 no decisions. One of those NDs was against Atlanta.
DAP
April 27th, 2009
10:20 am
p-town bravea position that usually commands you be above average defensively
if every 2nd baseman was above average defensively, wouldnt that make them all average…? i dont think your statement is accurate.
coach i dont disagree with you exactly, but if the braves had kept josh anderson, they probably still would have signed garrett andderson. josh would be playing CF, and we wouldnt have schafer. i get the point of your post, but looking back, it wasnt garrett vs. josh, it was josh vs. jordan.
nolie you need to drift back into watching lost. season three was in the midst of the producers trying to figure out where to take the show. during the season, they agreed on an ending date for the series, which really propelled the show full steam ahead. the end of season 3 has some of my favorite episodes, season 4 is short but real good, and season 5 has been very good so far.
Random
April 27th, 2009
10:21 am
Don’t know if this was mentioned yesterday, but imo Kawakami did not hit Janish in the 5th yesterday.
RH-hitting Janish squared for a bunt and the pitch glanced off his right hand (which was on the bat) and then ricocheted off his right shoulder and hit the ump (or Ross — I forget which). You could see janish shaking his hand as he went to first, and taking his glove off and looking at his hand once there.
If I’m not mistaken, a pitch hitting the batter’s hand while it’s on the bat does not count as HBP. Am I wrong about that?
So essentially, Janish fouled the ball off his shoulder. Ump didn’t hear the ball hit the bat ’cause it hit his hand.
Did anyone else see the replay that way?
CB
April 27th, 2009
10:23 am
The trading of Josh Anderson was a bad mistake in that it took away flexibility in our lineup. I have been of the belief that Greg Norton is the one that should have gone. The issue was forced with the signing of Garrett Anderson. I still wish the Braves would have given Brandon Jones a chance instead of Garrett imo.
Macon Braves (RIP)
April 27th, 2009
10:30 am
Random–If he had offered at the pitch and it hit his hand, yes, it would be a foul ball, just as if he had swung at a pitch and it hit his hand. Since he was pulling the bat back, it is a HBP because he didn’t offer at the pitch.
DirtyYuni
April 27th, 2009
10:36 am
In case those of you arguing for Josh Anderson (which is water under the bridge at this point) would like some evidence to strengthen your case, you might cite his numbers in Detroit so far:
Games:14
ABs: 33
Runs: 9
Hits: 12
Doubles: 3
Triples: 1
HRs: 0
RBIs: 6
BBs: 3
Ks:4
SBs:6
CS: 1
OBP: .417
SLG: .515
OPS: .932
Those are pretty good and numbers the Braves could surely use at the top of their order. I was all for going with Anderson in center, too, and was sad to see him go. But, Schafer was the heir apparent and made a much stronger case in the spring. So, I don’t necessarily think the Braves made a bad choice. Just hasn’t worked out perfectly so far, especially with Kelly doing a pretty poor job leading off.
Carroll Rogers
April 27th, 2009
10:42 am
Good morning folks. Just wanted to check in. DOB is on his way back from Cincy and I’ll be on the clock today. Working on a new blog to post here around lunch time. Stay tuned…
getnathan
April 27th, 2009
10:42 am
Kawakami is getting done in by one bad inning in his starts, so that says to me that the teams catch up to his pitching pattern and hit him. Do you all think that if this continues, does he go to the pen and we call up…Hanson?
Random
April 27th, 2009
10:43 am
nolie (6:33 am): “He did lose it , his latter stuff got weirder and less coherent.”
Yeah, that’s what happens with some writers when they get too “big” (and big-headed) to suffer an editor. Happened to RAH immediately after Stranger, sales of which set him up for life, probably.
Same thing happened to Piers Anthony right after his Cluster and Xanth successes. As I recall, the first book affected was called Mute. That monstrosity was begging for an editor.
DirtyDawg
April 27th, 2009
10:44 am
I still say that if Dusty Baker thinks so much of Kelly Johnson, then we should work out a trade for Brandon Phillips right now while both of ‘em are in a funk. Brandon’s a much better second-baseman (Golden Glove, I believe) and is sure to hit with power – something we’ll be lacking for the rest of the season if we don’t make some moves.
getnathan
April 27th, 2009
10:44 am
Other than that, I love the way the pitching staff has been keeping us in games, and the pen is starting to close out and win the one run games.
DAP
April 27th, 2009
10:45 am
randomIf I’m not mistaken, a pitch hitting the batter’s hand while it’s on the bat does not count as HBP. Am I wrong about that?
i think youre half-right. if the ball hits the batters hands while swinging or squaring to bunt, then its a swing and a foul ball. if the batter is not swinging, then it is a HBP.
if swing or go to bunt and then try to stop your swing to dodge the pitch (for instance, pulling your hands back suddenly) then its a HBP.
janish was squaring to bunt, but if you watch the replay, he was pulling back and trying to move out of the way when the ball hit him, so its a HBP.
if janish had stayed right there, squared to bunt and taken it off the hands, it would have been a foul ball, or if a player takes a full swing and the ball hits him, its a foul ball.
i think.
ncscoots
April 27th, 2009
10:51 am
All Atlanta Brave problems are a result of batting Kelly Johnson leadoff.
As good a summation as we are likely to hear in this forum, LOL. I think I’ll go with that.
Johnson is doomed on the blog, anyway. The guy can’t have a slump without inviting six gazillion “inconsistent” comments. That’s his label here, and, as long as he is human and like every other MLB player, he’s going to have slumps. And get ripped for them every time. Just the way it is; doesn’t much matter that peaks and valleys occur with all players.
The guy would have to errorless in his next 3000 chances for some here to forget a single error in a game long ago, and he would have to hit .280+, week in and week out, 24 weeks in a row, to lose the “inconsistent” moniker. Neither of those will happen, and some here will always call for his ouster when they don’t. The name of his blog-favorite replacement may change, that’s all.
McFann Ô
April 27th, 2009
10:52 am
Ms. Rogers Working on a new blog to post here around lunch time. Stay tuned…
Don’t worry, I will!
getnathan
April 27th, 2009
11:00 am
KJ is only keeping the leadoff seat warm until they feel JOrdan Schafer is ready to take it. It’s only temporary folks.
Interested Observer
April 27th, 2009
11:03 am
Now that someone has captured a picture of DOB and Bowman in the same place, we have to continue our search for a picture of the ever elusive Carroll Rogers.
Heath
April 27th, 2009
11:05 am
Carroll and Dave, How will tomorrow’s big changes affect coverage of our Braves? I am sure that the powers that be are smart enough to let y’all do what you already do very well, but you never know.
Btw, congrats to the AJC on losing Cynthia Tucker. Maybe that will help prevent more nearly 20% readership losses.
Random
April 27th, 2009
11:06 am
DAP (10:45 am) –
Gotcha — thanks. I do recall his bat being at something like a 45 degree angle when the ball got there — so presumably he was pulling it back.
MFin04
April 27th, 2009
11:07 am
How long does he take to put Jordan Schafer higher in the lineup that or try Infante there. The top of the order not consistenly getting on base is killing our team. That and not having any power 1-9. Left field or first base has got to get some power soon.
DAP
April 27th, 2009
11:07 am
brandon phillips is a nice player with good power, but a francouerish OBP. i think you could argue that kelly is still better than phillips offensively. although phillips is much better with the glove.
Efrim
April 27th, 2009
11:09 am
ncscoots, but why is that? Did Kelly do something personally to some here? I just don’t understand it. It’s really sad. Like I said before, I hope the kid gets traded, maybe to the West Coast.
18 Wheels of Love
April 27th, 2009
11:09 am
ncscoots, you need to re-review KJ’s peaks and valleys. They are massive and while I don’t know how they compare to other productive second basemen out there, I know they hurt us. Kelly is either really good or really bad. For a guy that is expected to produce, he needs to level that out. Sure, every player has slumps but KJ’s seem to be extended. And while he did get hot in Spet., it did us no good since we were long gone. Gotta true it up for us to be successful.
Random
April 27th, 2009
11:10 am
Heath (11:05 am): “Btw, congrats to the AJC on losing Cynthia Tucker. Maybe that will help prevent more nearly 20% readership losses”
Take it to “The Vent”, jackass.
Knowitall
April 27th, 2009
11:11 am
Run Heap Run,
I always assumed that you were a guy so initially the cougar talk really threw me for a loop……
Tomas
April 27th, 2009
11:12 am
How will the Braves face Pujols? It is not possible. The offense needs to make at least 5 runs, and always have the bases empty for Pujols.
ozzie
April 27th, 2009
11:12 am
KJ was, is and always will be a streaky hitter. Many fans and Braves mgt are waiting for some miraculous turning of the corner that may never come at least not at the level this team needs from its lead off hitter.
Some guys just are streaky there is no crime in that.
You can live with guys like that especially great club house guys (KJ is a great kid and team player) but not at lead off and likely not in a line up that has too many other question marks. In the latter case the implication is Prado at 2B and KJ in LF or traded for an OF bat or middle reliever.
The first thing BC should do (starting May 1st) is move KJ to 7th in the order and leave him there no matter what happens. Weld KJ to the 7th spot and never look back.
Next put Schafer at lead off and commit to it for 2mos. If after two months he cannot hack it then try someone else (likely some one who will be acquired via trade).
The bigger problem for this team is LF. Diaz is picking up where he left off in 08 before he ran in the wall. The guy is a 4th OF and is seeing far too much playing time.
Heck I would rather start BJones every day and only see Diaz when Brandon needs a day off.
Diaz as a starter is the same level of decoy that KJ is at lead off. You think you have something but you are looking through rose colored glasses.
Bottom line a .500 to sub .500 ball club in this division does not go to the playoffs in any shape or fashion.
GA is a bust. Diaz is a bench player. Wren needs to make a move but in the meantime give Bjones a shot to win the job at least until the deadline. I doubt he will be worse than Diaz who like KJ has shown us the best he can offer and that best is far outweighed by the lack of consistency (in their respective roles).
18 Wheels of Love
April 27th, 2009
11:13 am
Put it this way with KJ…on a team with a ton of power, his defense and stats might get over looked. On this team everything is magnified because there is a need for everyone to produce more evenly.
Doc Holiday
April 27th, 2009
11:14 am
I dont care who hits leadoff………..it just cant be a guy hitting .212………….no matter what his name is.
ncscoots
April 27th, 2009
11:14 am
The top of the order not consistenly getting on base is killing our team.
Johnson and Escobar have each scored 9 runs this year, even given how poorly each has hit over the last week-plus. Jimmy Rollins and Jose Reyes have not. Guess it’s time to move those guys down in the order, too, huh?
getnathan
April 27th, 2009
11:14 am
Would Braves have to give up KJ and another player to get Brandon Phillips?
getnathan
April 27th, 2009
11:15 am
KJ hits better when he doesn’t hit in the #1 position in the lineup, but who else do we have until Schafer is ready. Infante?
ncscoots
April 27th, 2009
11:16 am
Sure, every player has slumps but KJ’s seem to be extended.
Like this?
First six games: 11-for-24
Next six games: 3-for-25
Next three games (last played): 5-for-12
Yunel Escobar. He inconsistent, too?
getnathan
April 27th, 2009
11:17 am
NOW I wish we would have done the KJ for Ludwick deal lol
Random
April 27th, 2009
11:18 am
Macon Braves (10:30 am) –
Thanks.
Efrim
April 27th, 2009
11:21 am
ncscoots, but Escobar is clutch and plays great D.
Doc Holiday
April 27th, 2009
11:23 am
Lets put it this way……….you move schafer to the leadoff spot, he hits .250. You move KJ to the 6th spot, he climbs to .280 and gets 20% more chances to get RBI than when leading of. Is that considered a good lineup move or not?
abwright
April 27th, 2009
11:23 am
Random, 10:21 am “Don’t know if this was mentioned yesterday, but imo Kawakami did not hit Janish in the 5th yesterday.
RH-hitting Janish squared for a bunt and the pitch glanced off his right hand (which was on the bat) and then ricocheted off his right shoulder and hit the ump (or Ross — I forget which). You could see janish shaking his hand as he went to first, and taking his glove off and looking at his hand once there.”
When I watched it live, I thought that the ball had glanced off Janish’s hand (on the bat) for the reasons you listed. On replay, it did not look like it hit his hand. Even if it had hit his hand, he was drawing the bat back, rather than offering at the pitch. I’m pretty sure that in that circumstance, the hand is not considered to be part of the bat.
It glanced off Janish’s shoulder, then hit Ross and may have hit the ump as well.
Regardless, it was not a good pitch in that situation. I think it was a good call.
monty
April 27th, 2009
11:25 am
Throw out yesterday’s performance by KK and say hypothetically speaking, Glavine was pitching and had KK’s same stats going into yesterday’s game, IMHO most people would be very happy with that. Very optimistic, so why all the doom and gloom over one rough start for KK? Can anyone really believe that if Glavine had started as many games this year as KK has, that some team wouldn’t have “lit him up” at least once? C’mon you know they would. Granted more money is invested in KK right now, but did anyone really believe he would come in and start winning immediately without any learning curve? Be reasonable. Suddenly everyone is an expert and all the BRaves scouts are idiots. KK has Vazquez type stuff except that Vazquez has been pitching and winning in MLB for years now. At least give KK a few months before you write him off as a horrible deal.
Original Jon
April 27th, 2009
11:29 am
Monty, I was in full agreement with you until you said KK has Vazquez type stuff. That is off base by a lot.
Run Heap Run
April 27th, 2009
11:31 am
Hey Carroll, good to have you, even though Dave threw you under the bus when he pointed out that the Braves were 1-4 on your watch. The trick is when you write today’s blurb you need to really talk up the Cards, how good they are, how amazing Pujulos is and how crappy the Braves are.
Knowitall – I guess my name isn’t very girlish, don’t really care if people know if I’m male or female, not trying to get a date here..and not really a cougar either.
I’m pretty sure there’s a pic of Ms Carroll on the FB group page.
getnathan
April 27th, 2009
11:32 am
KK has had one bad inning that seems to doom his whole start. I think he might have to make adjustments as the games go on, because it seems the hitters are making adjustments in the middle innings, and that’s when his bad innings have happened mostly.
Random
April 27th, 2009
11:32 am
getnathan (10:42 am): “Kawakami is getting done in by one bad inning in his starts, so that says to me that the teams catch up to his pitching pattern and hit him.”
I dunno — yesterday’s 5th inning was a fluke in at least 3 aspects: the HBP on the bunt attempt, hitting Janish’s hand as he was pulling the bat back; the hit baserunner which prevented a DP; the infield single, which (with 2 outs and the IF palying back) would’ve been a routine ground-out (if the previous ball had not prevented the DP).
Don’t remember his first 3 starts as well as yesterday’s — we’ll see.
ncscoots
April 27th, 2009
11:32 am
Efrim, I wasn’t knocking Escobar, at all. Just trying to refute the fallacies of logic inherent in most of the Johnson diatribes. What the heck, I have a little time on my hands today and it doesn’t take a whole lot of research to knock holes in most of the arguments, LOL.
Truth is, I might be coming around to the idea that KJ isn’t comfortable hitting leadoff. I believe that most hitters hit, regardless, but still…
Unfortunately for him, if he isn’t still hitting leadoff when he breaks out of the slump, he’ll just reinforce the perception that “he hits better lower in the order”. Whether it’s true or not (my personal jury is still out on that one).
Random
April 27th, 2009
11:35 am
Even with the HBP, no runs at all would’ve scored in the bottom of the 5th if we had got that DP and the following 6-3 ground-out.
MFin04
April 27th, 2009
11:36 am
KK has pitched well…the D has let him down a lot. 3 starts before last… 6 innings 3 ER, 6 innings 4 ER, 5 innings 2 ER, that isnt too bad for a fourth starter. The offense needs to score some runs in order to get KK and the rest of the staff some wins. Ask JJ how run support is.
Macon Braves (RIP)
April 27th, 2009
11:37 am
Doc–Yes, I think that is a good lineup move. I move Escobar down to 6 or 7 as well though and put Kotchman in the 2 hole.
1. Shafer
2. Kotchman
3. Chipper
4. Francaeur
5. McCann (when off DL) Johnson till then
6. Johnson (Escobar till McCann back)
7. Escobar
8. Diaz/B. Jones (Ross here and these two move up to 7 till McCann comes back)
MFin04
April 27th, 2009
11:37 am
By the way Schafer has scored 10 runs…and doesnt have a guy named Chipper hitting behind him.
bravofan
April 27th, 2009
11:38 am
Really were trying to come up with a deal to trade KJ stay with him guys he will boucnce back
Doc Holiday
April 27th, 2009
11:39 am
This KK situation is kind of alarming. He is not fooling anyone so far. Hope this is an adaptation thing and that the braves find their way out of it.
Sethual Healing
April 27th, 2009
11:39 am
Does anyone know how Tim Hudson is doing with rehab?
By the way, next year’s rotation is going to be filthy if he can come back strong. Lowe, Hudson, Jurrens, Vasquez, Hanson, (Kawakami?), (Medlen?)
Macon Braves (RIP)
April 27th, 2009
11:39 am
Maybe flip Johnson and Escobar when McCann comes back to break up McCann and Johnson being lefties.
MFin04
April 27th, 2009
11:39 am
Im sure there is a good reason…but why not put Ross in the 4 or 5 spot since he has some pop in his bat? It’s like 2 weeks before McCann is back correct?
getnathan
April 27th, 2009
11:40 am
I don’t live in ATL, but the highlights I’ve seen of KK, he baffles hitters. he strikes them out looking on pitches that look like they are right down the middle, so he mixes his pitches well apparently, and he knows what he’s doing out there, but I think he needs to avoid these big innings. It looks like he’ll pitch 4 scoreless innings and give up 1 or 2 hits, and then in the 5th he’ll give up 3 or 4 runs.
DAP
April 27th, 2009
11:41 am
random in kawakami’s last start, an error led to two unearned runs. the braves lost 4-3. so you can see how that one could have been different. its not like kawakami has been blowing them away, but hes been the victim of some bad luck.
Random
April 27th, 2009
11:41 am
abwright —
Thanks. Yeah, it looked to me too that he was pulling the bat back — I just didn’t know the rule.
You, DAP and Macon Braves are unanimous in your schooling of me. Thanks to all!
ncscoots
April 27th, 2009
11:42 am
By the way Schafer has scored 10 runs…and doesnt have a guy named Chipper hitting behind him.
No, he doesn’t. He has a guy named Johnson hitting behind him. And your point?
Chop Chop
April 27th, 2009
11:43 am
Outside of Chipper, McCann and (maybe) Yunel , our everyday lineup is streaky. If you need proof, go look up Matt Diaz, Jeff Francoeur, Kelly Johnson and Casey Kotchman’s career month-by-month career totals. Schafer’s a typical rookie, so he’s going to have cold streaks.
Kelly catches the most hell because his streaks are much more pronounced.
bravofan
April 27th, 2009
11:43 am
I like the idea of Ross in the 5 i dont know about the clean up spot just yet maybe if he does well in the 5th spot move him up maybe he has some pop remember that bomb he hit in Pittsburg
McFann Ô
April 27th, 2009
11:44 am
Just saw the replay of Tacoby Bellsbury stealing home. That was great! And being against Pettitte made it all the better.
Yeah…stealing home is pretty cool, but hopefully no one will ever do it against us…
Chop Chop
April 27th, 2009
11:44 am
Great post by me.
If I type “career” one more time, I’ll be the Joe Morgan of “career.”
DAP
April 27th, 2009
11:44 am
doc
i disagree. i have personally seen kawakami fool some guys. hes got good stuff.
Chop Chop
April 27th, 2009
11:44 am
And so it goes.
Random
April 27th, 2009
11:45 am
DAP (11:41 am): “in kawakami’s last start, an error led to two unearned runs. the braves lost 4-3. so you can see how that one could have been different. its not like kawakami has been blowing them away, but hes been the victim of some bad luck.”
That’s pretty much what I was thinking. Am I now off the hook from going back and looking at his first 2 starts, then? I mean since we agree and all. Please?
Doc Holiday
April 27th, 2009
11:45 am
Macon Braves (RIP),
Thats a good idea, but as it was discussed yesterday, I prefer having Yunel behind Schafer and use the hit and run as a regular weapon since yunel makes lots of contact. Once Schafer is on the move it would be easier for the ball to find a hole.
MFin04
April 27th, 2009
11:46 am
Point is Schafer is the catalyst to our offense and would score a lot of runs if he was batting in the first spot in the order. This team is lacking in offense…why not try to jump start it with Schafer in the one spot. His speed might help us getting an extra run or so a game.
bravofan
April 27th, 2009
11:48 am
what is wrong with KK he has pitched in 4 games yall always find something to nit pick are yall forgetting that this is his first year in the majors!!!!!!!!!!
getnathan
April 27th, 2009
11:49 am
Kawakami has shown he can pitch well, but he has to avoid that one big inning. I think he has only one quality start (6 IP, 3 runs or less). It probably could avoid that big inning. It seems like he’ll pitch scoreless ball for four or five innings, but then give up 3 or 4 runs in an inning, thus making his whole start when in actuality he didn’t pitch that badly.
Random
April 27th, 2009
11:50 am
Chop Chop (11:44 am): “Great post by me.
If I type “career” one more time, I’ll be the Joe Morgan of “career.””
And you could apply to be Chief of the Department of Redundancy Department.
Doc Holiday
April 27th, 2009
11:50 am
DAP,
He has good stuff but second time around he is getting hammered. So far he has not been an upgrade from james……..
MFin04
April 27th, 2009
11:51 am
I think we have all argued that the big inning…has always had an error in it….sooo….
Macon Braves (RIP)
April 27th, 2009
11:52 am
MFin04—I wouldn’t mind at all seeing Ross in the 5 hole as long as he’s swinging a hot bat.
Doc—Thing about Escobar in the 2 hole is he’s lacking patience so far this year. Would rather see Shafer try more straight steals but hit and runs would be better than what going on at the moment. Thing about Kotchman to me though, he doesn’t seem to have quite as much power as Escobar (I know both are more “gap power” than homerun power, just think Escobar is more consitent power) Therefore his patience would be more suited for 2 hole and Escobar to me is more of a run producer.
But no matter where you put Escobar, I think he’s got to start being more patient.
Efrim
April 27th, 2009
11:53 am
ncscoots, I wasn’t knocking Escobar either, just saying that everyone blames KJ for all of the Braves problems. It bothers me…..
and people don’t understand what sample size is….that bothers me too.
DAP
April 27th, 2009
11:53 am
random haha, im not sure if im reading you well. i offered that tid bit about kawakami’s last start to support your previous point….but yes, i forgive you. for whatever.
abwright
April 27th, 2009
11:54 am
McFann Ô, 11:44 am“Just saw the replay of Tacoby Bellsbury stealing home. That was great! …Yeah…stealing home is pretty cool, but hopefully no one will ever do it against us…”
But if it’s got to happen, I guess you wouldn’t care as much if it happened in the next couple of weeks.
MFin04
April 27th, 2009
11:56 am
Macon….do you still have the Whoopie hockey team? Also..Kotchman would be a good #2 if and only if a speedy guy was in front of him like…Schafer…he could be patient and let Schafer get to second. It’s worth a try. The thing I dont understand is why when we arent scoring any runs…do we continue to send the exact same lineup out there? Its just insanity.
McFann Ô
April 27th, 2009
11:58 am
abwright–
Yeah, that wouldn’t be quite so bad…
getnathan
April 27th, 2009
12:00 pm
So…if this continues to happen to KK, does BC put him in the bullpen and call up TH, or CM? My initial thought (no pun intended) is that if it does continue, he goes to the pen.
Random
April 27th, 2009
12:00 pm
MFin04 (11:46 am): “Point is Schafer is the catalyst to our offense”
What does that even mean, “catalyst”? Whatever you want it to mean, I suppose.
Schafer has a combination total RBI and Runs Scored of 13, lower than any other regular starter except for Kotchman (10 for him). KJ has 18.
You call that a “catalyst”?
ncscoots
April 27th, 2009
12:00 pm
[Schafer] would score a lot of runs if he was batting in the first spot in the order.
Sure he will. At some point. What’s the harm in getting the guy another 30 ABs at lower stress before making him deal with the greater adjustments to pitching and game situations that he’ll encounter hitting 1? Do you really think that having him hit leadoff today rather than a week from today is going to impact the season that much?
More likely, the extra experience before thrown into more difficult circumstances will help him adjust more quickly once it happens. Still have five months of the season to go, best to be sure as possible that Schafer can stay at leadoff once he gets there.