Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
312 comments Add your comment
Paddy O
April 28th, 2010
10:00 am
Cox does appear to me mailing it in. Yesterday, Jones got on – I don’t consider him fast anymore; and it seemed a pinch runner was appropriate, but that did not occur. Anybody concur or can argue against this point?
carlchamblee
April 28th, 2010
10:06 am
I concur Paddy. Was wonderin’ the same thing as it happened. Tying run late in game and a ball in the gap you need speed to score from first. Chipper is gimpy right now. Cox is just sitting back waiting for the big HR clapping his hands saying let’s go Glaus-y
David O'Brien
April 28th, 2010
10:09 am
Frenchy didn’t take enough pitches … Heyward takes too many. How long do you sit up at night trying to think of ways to criticize others. Your writing blows. — jonh
All right, then. Thanks. You do realize I was quoting the manager’s response when he was asked in the postgame interview about the Braves missed opportunities last night, right? Would you prefer we not quote the manager if he says something that, for the first time I can remember, is at all critical of Heyward? Censor such comments in the future?
Heywardville Knockahoma's
April 28th, 2010
10:13 am
Paddy O. I agree, but Chipper isn’t that slow either. It would have been an insult to Chipper to have Bobby pinch run him in that situation. You want to win and break out of this skid, but attitudes are down and you don’t want you best player pissed and even more down.
Don
April 28th, 2010
10:14 am
If you think it is bad now — We (for the most part) have a good pitching staff — What if we had only and average pitching staff – and STILL HAD BOOBY COX as manager????
Braves73
April 28th, 2010
10:15 am
I think it may be time for the Braves to make some real challenging decisions. Chipper is probably best served DH for a contender in the AL and Wren needs to consider other viable options at 3rd for the future. Glaus is clearly not the answer at 1st, so cut your losses now and see what a combination of Hinske and Freeman can do. Schafer needs to be given strong consideration in CF and at lead off. Lowe needs to be dropped in the rotation to 4th or 5th spot…he is just not providing quality starts now and for much of the 2nd half of last season. Find a more viable batting coach and move TP to third. TP is was and still is a great emotional leader for the Braves, but he clearly hasn’t helped progress the Braves bats.
Angus
April 28th, 2010
10:15 am
You could easily concur or argue either way Paddy.
The argument, Chipper ran just fine beating out throw in the 7th. And, nobody got a hit, so what’s the point?
BP
April 28th, 2010
10:20 am
Cox is right. Heyward is patient, which is good, but when you get 2-0 and 3-1 pitches down the middle you need to be swinging, especially with runners on. And Coach K, McCann has been bad during the losing streak, but he had a number of clutch hits on the West Coast trip.
Matt
April 28th, 2010
10:21 am
The 20 yr. old rookie is the least of our worries. Lowe had a bad inning. Do any of you know what it does to a pitcher’s psyche when he knows he pretty much has to shut out the other team in order to get the win????? Our baserunning stinks, our offense stinks, our defense has stunk as of of late. The pitching is the only consistently positive thing we are doing.
Let’s be honest. Right now this team is performing the way most of us figured it would. Rather anemic offense with no power threat and no leadoff hitter. This could be the worst year possible to place a 20 yr. old rookie in the lineup. He can’t be expected to produce when the hitters around him are struggling this bad.
Surrounded by Retards
April 28th, 2010
10:23 am
Bobby is not the problem chipper is fine glaus is still healing and mclouth will return to form. everybody in this forum thinks they know everything if u can do it better than bobby call FW and get the go* *amn job. all of u retards say that u cant wait til bobbys gone, hes gonna be in the front office next year it was announced at the beginning of the season, if your not gonna get on this forum to make a legit point please just keep your f***ing mouth shut u just waste everyones time
rico carty
April 28th, 2010
10:24 am
We obviously are not a good baseball team, and it’s very painful. They probably made too big a deal of the Glaus signing, and Melky has been awful. But, if we can step back for a minute, it has been a remarkable run for the Braves. Perennial awful team became a frontrunner for 15 straight years. We owe Cox a lot for that. I too am glad this is his swan song, but he deserves our respect. When I saw Whitey Herzog’s stats, compared to Bobby’s, well no comparison, as Cox’s are far superior. Cox has been great, we just don’t have the horses.
Mike S
April 28th, 2010
10:24 am
THis article is proof positive of the detrimental effect Terry Pendleton is having on Atlanta’s hitters. Patience at the plate is one thing that Terry preaches, and it is directly effecting the agressiveness of the Braves hitters.
Terry goes on and on about patience, and then they b*tch because heyward and others are taking too many pitches.
i think Cox is one of the best managers ever, but his laid back laissez-faire approach coupled with Terry P is taking all of the natural agressivness out of this team and it is showing in lackluster performance on the field.
I really think the team needs a huge jolt – and that JOLT needs to be firing TP and bringing in a more agressive style hitting coach in my opinion. I yearn for the days when Don Baylor was out hitting coach.
Paddy O
April 28th, 2010
10:25 am
DOB: Usually, I am fairly critical of your journalism, but the last few weeks have been really good. Quotes from the participants are alway essential – it allows the fan to see what they are thinking and whether they have contracted alzheimers yet or not. I think this being Cox’s last year is a blessing.
Paddy O
April 28th, 2010
10:26 am
Who thought Melky should have been given an error for the ball bouncing off his glove? WTF? No error? Cripes.
Paddy O
April 28th, 2010
10:27 am
Surrounded is surrounded by retards in a room by himself.
TruthSeeker
April 28th, 2010
10:28 am
Cox has lost it.
Heyward’s patience at the plate is a big part of what made him the mega-prospect that he was. 20 year olds with his discipline at the plate are one-in-a-million. For Cox to suggest that he needs to change his approach because of one early season slump is beyond the pale. I’m beginning to see why promising players like Andruw Jones, Jeff Francoeur, Kelly Johnson and Scott Thorman all utterly lost their ability to hit under Cox’s management. If this is the kind of advice they’re receiving…wow.
You’ve got to let players be who they are. Look at what all their monkeying around with Francoeur did to him. Sure, it would have been nice for him to get on base a little more, but not at the cost of sacrificing his power. Cox and Pendleton turned Francoeur into a guy who looked like a perennial 30 home run guy into a singles hitter, and not even a very good one at that.
I’m of the mind that managers and hitting coaches when instructing a batter should really only focus on making sure they have their mechanics in order. You’re playing a dangerous game when you make them alter their approach. It’s hard enough to hit major league pitching without having to battle your own mind at the plate.
Thank God Cox only has 142 games left with Heyward.
jake
April 28th, 2010
10:28 am
Well that’s just great: “We’re going to talk to him.” Which means Cox and Pendleton, the dynamic duo that has had such success “talking” to Francoeur, Kelly Johnson and Andruw Jones, and no doubt is working up a pep talk for Glaus, Escobar and Diaz, too.
A couple of consultations like that and Heyward will be back at Gwinnett with his buddy Freeman.
J. heyward
April 28th, 2010
10:28 am
Bobby cox needs to worry about trimming those nose hairs and trying to find a way to get the other guys producing instead of worrying about how many pitches i swing at…I got to the big leagues without his or TP’s help and I will be the greatest player of all time without them..
Paddy O
April 28th, 2010
10:29 am
The at bat where Heyward k’d with the bases loaded was not a bad at bat; except you have to protect the plate with 2 k’s, and he swung at a couple of pitches out of the zone. BUT, they were fantastic pitchers pitches.
Heywardville Knockahoma's
April 28th, 2010
10:29 am
We are 20 games into the season and everyone is freaking out? 20 games guys. The Mets, Padres, Oakland A’s are in first place right now, do you think that will last? It’s not Bobby, it’s not TP, it’s not Roger McDowell, and it’s not even DOB. I’m going to laugh 20 games from now where we will be only 25% into the season and the Braves will be playing above .500 and in the thick of things.
I hear it on the radio, see it on these blogs….The Braves will be fine. These guys that are currently hitting sub .220 will bust out of this slump and post their career averages. You really think McCann, Escobar, Diaz, Melky will finish the season batting sub .250? We have a GREAT pitching staff and great position players. Everyone needs to calm down. Glaus is hitting the ball hard, and all the Glaus haters will be jumping ship. Do you see how hard he’s hitting the ball, or are you just looking at the box score?
Also, you don’t think that some of the Braves players get on these boards and review these comments? I’m sure they do. We’re acting and typing like fans in NY, Philly, Boston and all other great baseball towns when their team is losing. If you guys are all so dramatic about the Braves….GO TO THE GAME AND GIVE THEM HOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE AND A REASON TO PLAY HARD FOR ATLANTA!
The Braves will win, just like the Padres will lose.
Support the Braves and give it time.
Paddy O
April 28th, 2010
10:30 am
I thought the Braves showed some life. I do think I would trade Melky to a contender, where his attention span might be a little better – heck, we might get Juan Pierre – who would solve many problems.
Posi-Fan
April 28th, 2010
10:33 am
Last year we were 3 1/2 games out with a week to go and we still had playoff hopes… this year, in APRIL, we’re 3 1/2 out and we give up? Lighten up folks!
ShortBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
10:33 am
Stay positive Braves fans! Braves are capable of pulling anything off. Don’t blame Bobby! Our team knows how to hit..they just need to actually DO IT! We are not Baltimore!
Like I said before, I still believe Melky, Nate, and Troy are going to prove people wrong. I think they are going to turn everything around. Chipper is going to get his groove back! Mccann, J-Hey, Escobar?? You’re forgetting that this is a good team. Just gotta get on base and SCORE!
We have 2 more games with Cardinals. Lets try and tie the series and come back home and whoop them Astros!
Chill Braves fans!
Paddy O
April 28th, 2010
10:34 am
Heck, I am freaking out about the Red Sox – swept 4 straight by the Rays. The painful part is, we were swept by the Mets, and we should be better than the Mets. It appears that Heyward will be hot & cold all season. Rookie year, OK. He looks fairly clutch. I would stick to Glaus to the all star break, if he is still hitting less than 220, then maybe bench him. We know McCann will come around, and Chipper should hit 300. Our bullpen & starting pitching is good. Escobar looked good last night. I would drop Glaus in the line up right now. Big swing, but his timing is still off. He played 111 games last year, so he may be done. I think I would bench Cabrera and play Diaz all the time. Where does this Freeman guy play?
DP
April 28th, 2010
10:39 am
I think it’s odd (and not too smart) for Cox to tell the press that Heyward is taking too many pitches. It’s likely that opposing pitchers had realized he was taking a lot of pitches and therefore they were throwing him strikes to get ahead in the count and then trying to get him to chase. Now that they know Cox is encouraging him to be more aggressive early in the count I’d think they will throw him fewer strikes.
Why wouldn’t Cox and/or Pendleton have had the discussion with Heyward privately so he could have adjusted his approach without opposing pitchers immediately picking up on it?
BuckheadBrave
April 28th, 2010
10:39 am
The only thing that will salvage this season is to commit to our home grown players. Freeman isn’t ready but I think Hinske has already shown to be a fan favorite and he has everyday potential lets not forget he was once Rookie Of the Year. Here is the lineup I think we could all support:
CF- Jordan Schafer
2B-Martin Prado
RF-Jason Heyward
C-Brian McCann
1B-Eric Hinske
SS-Yunel Escobar
3B-Brooks Conrad/Omar Infante
LF-Matt Diaz
Angus
April 28th, 2010
10:40 am
Did anyone else catch what Smoltz was saying last night about Heyward vs. MLB pitching?
I didn’t catch it all, but I think he was saying that Heyward has never seen this level of consistency from pitchers and has feasted on pitchers falling behind and/or making mistakes at lower levels.
Perhaps, that falls in line with Cox’s comments.
BuckheadBrave
April 28th, 2010
10:40 am
now that lineup will not hit a ton of HRs, BUT i think Hinske and Heyward can hit as many as Chipper, so you are getting more there. Plus Conrad and Infante will get clutch hits, you dont have to hit it out you just have to get the runner in.
dpelfrey
April 28th, 2010
10:40 am
It’s early, I’m not giving up on the season and I still think this team will get better (can’t get any worse). But a part of me, way deep down inside, kind of agrees with the poster “Play the Youth.” If the Braves are out of contention this year, and I think we can all agree that right now this doesn’t look like a team capable of being in playoff contention this year, I would love to see them move Chipper, Glaus, McLouth, Ross, Lowe, Saito and Wagner for some young players and/or prospects (although Glaus and McLouth may not bring much in return if they keep this up). Bring up Schafer, Freeman, Hyde, Kimbrel and Minor and prepare for 2011 with hopefully Eddie Perez at the helm and a new hitting coach.
Dylan
April 28th, 2010
10:40 am
You guys have to remember that JHEY has never seen most of these pitchers… he has to take pitches. He is going to get help and succed even more.
ugaaccountant
April 28th, 2010
10:42 am
I watch every Heyward at bat with exactly this concept in mind. I see that good big league pitchers are testing his plate discipline nearly every at bat. They pitch him with the respect you afford great hitters, which says a lot to me.
Yes, I feel he takes about 10% more pitches than he should. It’s not something where I would hope Bobby has a talking to him in general. It’s something where in a film room you can go pitch by pitch and give both positive and negative feedback. It would be 90% positive though.
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
April 28th, 2010
10:42 am
I immediately thought the same thing Paddy. A pinch-runner was a no-brainer in that situation.
Jeff
April 28th, 2010
10:43 am
Has anyone else noticed how far off the plate Heyward stands? Last night the Cardinals pitchers were hammering the outside of the plate. He can reach some of those pitches because of his length but he still seemes way off the plate.
BuckheadBrave
April 28th, 2010
10:46 am
Lets not forget the Marlins won an unexpected World Series playing their youth. We did the same in winning the division in 2005. We don’t have to wait to be out of contention, we have the pieces. Freeman is not ready, i’m not ready to call him over hyped but he has been less than impressive in Gwinnett, Hinske is our best 1B right now. I think Wags will pitch beyond this year, i’d like to see Kimbrel setting him up for a year or two though. I think they should pressure Chipper to move to 1b where he can take less beating and focus more on just hitting, if he won’t then they need to think about a plan B. once Schafer is ready though i hope we see him in the lineup along with Conrad and Diaz who inexplicably are never used.
Realist
April 28th, 2010
10:47 am
BTW, this is an organization-wide problem. Frank Wren was on 680 Monday and he also said Heyward was taking too many pitches. Like TruthSeeker said, Heyward’s mature batting approach is what made him the #1 prospect in the game. Telling him to be ready to “hit every pitch” is basically saying “we want to dismantle that approach and make him just another hacker.”
My favorite is the inherently self-contradictory argument that by taking too many strikes, Heyward is only seeing one or two pitches to hit per at bat. What? That doesn’t even make any sense.
ugaaccountant
April 28th, 2010
10:51 am
Freeman is not ready, i’m not ready to call him over hyped but he has been less than impressive in Gwinnett
Umm, welcome to 2 weeks ago buddy. Have you checked his results again recently? He had a slow 1st week at the AAA level and has since turned it around, at age 20 mind you, and you’re not impressed? Are you aware that most 1b prospects are 22 to 24 when they reach the majors? This Ike Davis kid for the Mets is 22 I believe. Justin Smoak just called up for the Rangers is 22 or 23. Ryan Howard was 25. Joey Votto was 24 or 25. It’s very rare for a 20 year old to be major league ready, especially at a position like 1b.
Freeman’s developmental path is probably most similar to Billy Butler if you’d like to look it up and see what they were doing at similar ages so you have an idea of the hoped for outcome for Freeman.
Kel Varnsen
April 28th, 2010
10:51 am
I don’t get not playing Diaz over Cabrera. If you listen to baseball people talk about Matt it sounds like he’d be starting on other better teams over other players better than Melky.
Pete
April 28th, 2010
10:52 am
Fellows. Jordan Schafer was a product of HGH. He was an average player his first few years in the minors and then had a breakout season. The next year he was busted for HGH and has not been the same since. Wren has put together a bunch of rag tag average players. Melky does not hit for average or power and is fat and can’t run
BRAVOS
April 28th, 2010
10:53 am
Heyward has the 4th most strikeouts in the National League. That doesn’t reek plate discipline to me. All that means is he takes till he has 2 strikes, then freaks out and swings at the next one. I knew all the hype was a bit premature…
Jesse Stone
April 28th, 2010
10:54 am
Translation: By not taking the bat off his shoulders, Heyward is falling behind in the count. You can afford to do this in the minors, not in the bigs. Don’t get your panties in a wad because he’s getting criticized. He’s a big boy, he can take it.
SRF
April 28th, 2010
10:54 am
Lighten Up ? Stay Positive ?
Seriously ?
BRAVOS
April 28th, 2010
10:55 am
everyone in atlanta got all excited this exact same way about francouer a few years ago, dont you people learn anything??
geauxbraves2000
April 28th, 2010
10:59 am
Please don’t screw up JHey. Let him mature his way. He hasn’t seen a lot of these pitchers yet, so let him see what they have. He may strike out a little more know, but it’ll pay off in the future. JF swung at almost everything; now he’s a Met.
Ed from Woodstock
April 28th, 2010
10:59 am
DOB- How’s 9-for-29 a .429 average! I wish some of the other big players would come out of their hitting funk. It’s been very frustrating to watch, but we’ll turn it around. GO BRAVES!
Tralfaz
April 28th, 2010
11:03 am
Mozart uses too many notes….
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
April 28th, 2010
11:04 am
In hindsight, I wish the Braves had waited till the current regime was gone to bring Heyward up.
Heyward’s patience, at his age, is one of the most impressive things about him. Bobby’s public criticism is mind-boggling. He glosses-over the incompetence of our veteran slackers, yet singles the kid out for PUBLIC criticism. AMAZING, and a HUGE mistake.
Paddy O
April 28th, 2010
11:05 am
buckhead – I forgot about Hinski – he can also play outfield – is VERY clutch. I would probably agree with your line up, but leave Chipper and have Conrad play 1B, hinski OF. How is Shafer playing in the minors?
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
April 28th, 2010
11:06 am
Maybe I should have said “Glauses-over.”
Jeff Treadway
April 28th, 2010
11:14 am
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans Spot On !
Although I do think they should have brought him up (Hey) as they did….just imagine what the Braves record would be if Heyward was at Gwinnett…LMAO !!!
Don
April 28th, 2010
11:15 am
To Bobby Cox’s credit — He can’t really be as stupid as he sounds when he makes comments about the team.
BringBackBoog
April 28th, 2010
11:15 am
You can’t get too up or down in the opening month of the season. When I first looked at our April schedule, I thought .500 would be great give or take 2-3 games above/below. The Braves are fine. I think we need a consistent lineup out there everyday that’s more resemblant to the start of the year:
1. McClouth CF
2. Prado 2B
3. Jones 3B
4. Glaus/Hinske 1B – hits in 5-spot vs. RH
5. McCann C – hits in 4-spot vs. RH
6. Escobar SS
7. Heyward RF
8. Diaz/Cabrera LF
9. JJ, Hanson, Hudson, Lowe, KK – in that order
BuckheadBrave
April 28th, 2010
11:15 am
Schafer isnt healthy yet, supposed to be back in Gwinnett sometime in May
Braves Fan since 1956
April 28th, 2010
11:17 am
So—– Heyward’s problem is taking too many pitches and getting behind in the count. Have you ever paid attention to Prado? That is exactly what he does. Our manager proves once again he’s lost a feel for the game.
Don
April 28th, 2010
11:19 am
Mr. OBrien – “For skidding Braves, might be time for the speech”.
How about from Mr. Wren – “Today we are replacing Bobby Cox and Terry Pendleton. We realize that in mid season we may not be able to find the best of replacements, but we do not have anywere to go but up.”
BuckheadBrave
April 28th, 2010
11:20 am
forgot about Hinskie being an outfielder, why has that not been tried. Seriously the fact that starting caliber players sit on the bench while we struggle is beyond my comprehension. If bobby is that set in his ways and that uncreative why has been tolerated up to this point? The fact that bobby is so OCD he refuses to switch up his lineup just makes me see him like some sort of mix of Rainman and the guy that hears voices on a beautiful mind, only he’s not as smart. so let me get bobbys style down, he gives struggling players at bats to get things right, so if they get improved, then he benches them to get the guys on the bench their at bats, so we never at one time have the hottest hitting lineup on the field because if you are hitting well, in bobbys mind you dont need at bats
hard to figure out
April 28th, 2010
11:23 am
So it is all TP’s fault? So since Chipper and McCann always run to their fathers for guidance how is that working out for them? Their batting averages are in the 250’s as well. These guys are paid MILLIONS to hit a baseball, I repeat MILLIONS! A coach can only give so much advice, at some point these millionaires have to start doing what they are paid to do. Like in the real world!
Chip
April 28th, 2010
11:25 am
It’s pretty bad when you’ve got fans clamoring to replace utility players, marginal players & aging veterans that start, with other utility players because there are absolutely no other options….Braves not good.
Braves Fan
April 28th, 2010
11:26 am
I don’t understand Cox’s criticism. Isn’t that what you want in a hitter is to be paitient. We have always criticized the braves line up for being over aggressive. Now you have a guy who’s not and he gets criticized for not being aggressive, I just don’t get it.
tristan
April 28th, 2010
11:27 am
You guys have it all wrong. Bobby is saying that Heyward is taking too many pitches every at bat. The other teams know this and are just throwing first pitch strikes to get ahead. Then they are throwing second pitch strikes and he is getting two strike counts on him which his average with two strikes is sub 100.
I don’t condone what Bobby has been doing, but I understand what he is saying. Bobby has no fire in his soul. Him shaking up the lineup lately has been the first time he has done things like this in years, but it still isn’t working. I am tired of hearing the announcers say “we will break out of this soon”, “we don’t get breaks”, “we are hitting balls hard but right at someone”, etc. Stop making excuses. We are losing plain and simple. Take the nine guys that have the deepest desire to win and hustle in their bones and put them out there. Hinske over Glaus, Infante over Chipper, Melke plays hard, Escobar plays hard when he wants to. Diaz over Heyward (who is slower than Diaz in the outfield). Keep McLouth because you have no other option. Ross plays harder than McCann and his desire far exceeds McCanns. Go with these guys for a week. I have tickets to the Braves Nats next week and I am not even planning to wear any Braves merchandise I am so embarassed.
BuckheadBrave
April 28th, 2010
11:30 am
if you put Diaz OVER Heyward your entire lienup would have less HRs than Heyward will hit himself this year, i’m glad you aren’t manager. Melky plays hard? Really? It’s not little league, i would play hard too, very hard, but i can’t hit a fastball so it means jack sh*t
Jeff Treadway
April 28th, 2010
11:30 am
Buckheadbrave – so let me get bobbys style down, he gives struggling players at bats to get things right, so if they get improved, then he benches them to get the guys on the bench their at bats, so we never at one time have the hottest hitting lineup on the field because if you are hitting well, in bobbys mind you dont need at bats
that is correct sir – see if these names ring a bell —–Kelly Johnson, Mark DeRosa, Jermaine Dye, Ryan Klesko, and the list goes on and on
sportsmandh
April 28th, 2010
11:33 am
There is a big difference between taking pitches and swinging at bad pitches. The whole idea about ‘taking pitches’ is a little off in my opinion. There’s nothing at all wrong at not taking a lot of pitches as long as you’re not swinging at bad ones. THAT was Franceour’s biggest problem. He constantly swund at BAD pitches.
We are not going to have to worry about Heyward consistently swinging at bad pitches. AND they don’t need to make him change his game. They just need to tell him to be more agressive when he sees a good pitch. Tell him if you get a good pitch, attack it. It really is about that simple.
Players get into slumps when they start not seeing the ball well, or their mechanics get off, or they get in habits of doing pitchers favors and swinging at the pitcher’s pitch (see Frenchy again). I don’t think that will happen with Heyward. He is too good. Again, just tell him that taking pitches is not good if it makes you get behind in the count. So be more aggressive when you can be. It really is that simple.
MitchC
April 28th, 2010
11:33 am
Originally, I thought TP was going to be the Braves next manager. One of the writers for the AJC (I cant recall which one now) said that he now thinks the Braves will look outside the orginization.
Bottom line: Heyward is 20 years old. A team that wants to contend for a wild card or division can’t depend entirely on a rookie. Logic says Heywatd will have his ups and downs. I remind everyone. A man named Tom Glavine. 2-4 with a 5.54 ERA in his first season. He’ll be in the Hall of Fame. A man named John Smoltz. 2-7 with a 5.48 ERA in his first season. He’ll be in the Hall as well. Even Maddux was something like 6-14 with a 5 ERA his first season.
This lineup needs another hitter.. now. I dont know why Wren is sitting with his finger stuck up his you know where, while the losses pile up.
Bobby is gone at season’s end. TP may well be too, but if Wren doesnt do something soon, he should be fired, bottom line.
David O'Brien
April 28th, 2010
11:33 am
So—– Heyward’s problem is taking too many pitches and getting behind in the count. Have you ever paid attention to Prado? — Braves Fan since 1956
Batting average with two strikes:
Prado: .304 (14-for-46) with 12 strikeouts, .833 OPS
Heyward: .111 (5-for-45) with 25 strikeouts, .349 OPS
bravesfanbob
April 28th, 2010
11:34 am
Last night was the first time we’ve put runners in motion to create scoring chances, and it worked great. It caused defensive problems for the Cards, and it turned double plays into runners at 1st and 3rd. We don’t have much power on this team, and we have to take advantage of what little speed we have. We need to put the speedier players in between the slower players to create more holes for the slower guys. This needs to be the starting lineup:
1: Martin Prado He can run pretty well, and has a great OBP
2: Chipper Jones He needs to have speed in front of him and speed and power behind him to help him adjust to the fact he has lost so much power. He will get more holes to hit through, and can hit to all fields. Putting Prado in motion will give him more defensive openings.
3: Jason Heyward His power, speed, and his ability to hit to all fields makes him a perfect #3 hitter.
4: Brian McCann He is the only choice we have for a clean-up hitter, although I’d much rather he be a 5 hole hitter.
5: Matt Diaz: He has some sneaky power, but has great base running skills, and will get Glaus or Henske at the 6 hole more RBI chances because of the extra speed in front of them instead of Jones and McCann.
6: Troy Glaus/ Eric Henske: First of all, Henske needs at least 2 starts a week against right handers, and with Diaz in front of him, it creates a 4,5,6 of lefty, righty, lefty to cause managers to blow up their bullpens later in the game. But either will have some power, and will have more RBI chances with 2 lifetime .300 hitters in front of them in McCann and Diaz. Henske will be a great hit and run guy, as he makes good contact, and allows you to put Diaz in motion to create holes.
7: Yunel Escobar: He is the type of hitter that when he slumps, can bring an entire lineup down with him, so he needs to hit behind them. Besides, if you watch baseball, the 7 hitter leads off more innings than anyone except the 1 hitter, because the 6 hitter is generally your last power hitter who strikes out often, and will end innings. So Yunel will be like the other leadoff hitter. Also, he can get a lot more RBI chances in the 7 hole, and is usually a great hitter with men on, and won’t get those opportunities with Melky or Nate and the pitcher hitting in front of him as the leadoff hitter.
8: Melky Cabrera/ Nate McLouth: Only by default, one of them has to play, and we’re only batting them 8th because there’s not a 10 hole.
As you see this mixes speed in between our power to allow us to run more. We have GOT to create more scoring chances on the base paths if we have ANY chance to win this year.
carlchamblee
April 28th, 2010
11:35 am
Bobby needs to worry more about his lousy defense on the field. Errors aplenty and even worse non-errors but plays that should be made like Chipper not turning two last night and Cabrera playing volleyball in LF (use the glove Melky not the wrist)
Dorothy Davis
April 28th, 2010
11:35 am
Excuse me, but now we have Chipper Jones critisizing Heyward for taking too many pitches. Shouldn’t you have to be able to hit the ball yourself, before ctitisizing your team mate? Who has the better average? Sounds like a lot of self faults coming to the surface. At least Heyward doesn’t “MISPLAY” balls that cost a run. Time for Chipper to retire?
90s are over
April 28th, 2010
11:35 am
LET BOBBY GO
LET TP GO
THE 90S ARE OVER!
helmet head
April 28th, 2010
11:36 am
Heyward takes too many pitches…Francouer didn’t take enough…Schaeffer may be ruined. Great job with the talent coaches. Thank goodness McCann listens to his father and not TP
Jeff Treadway
April 28th, 2010
11:37 am
tristan – Heyward is slower than diaz in the outfield? you were doing ok until this part – Heyward runs rings around Diaz as a defender not to mention he covers more ground…ever seen Diaz make a routine catch? I dont think so – every ball to him is an adventure..very uncoordinated and make sure you watch closely the next time he throws a ball – Diaz can hit but his Defense scares the Braves record out of me !
and Id take McCann everyday over Ross – bad judgement on that one too
Ted Abernathy
April 28th, 2010
11:38 am
Great! Let the lameduck regime ruin some more of our players before the regime leaves. Heyward has never seen a major league curveball, so give him time. Let’s hope we get through this year and get some real coaching, not the has-beens we have now trying to manage a major league team.
Gastro
April 28th, 2010
11:40 am
If I see another dingbat here post something about being annoyed at the Braves’ patience at the plate – working pitchers deeper into the count and getting walks – I will go ballistic! THAT’S NOT THE PROBLEM!!! As a matter of fact, that’s the ONLY thing they’re doing CORRECTLY!
armchair
April 28th, 2010
11:42 am
JHey’s numbers will keep falling, I sadly predict, and then the Braves will have ZERO power. The guy is 20. I never for a moment thought he was going to show up with the big team and have a big year. When you’re dependent on a 20-year-old, less than a year out from AA ball, you are in trouble.
NO MORE BOBBY
April 28th, 2010
11:44 am
APRIL 27 – Cox: Heyward taking way too many pitches
“We’re going to talk to him,” Cox said. “He’s taking way too many pitches for strikes. [As a result] he’s getting one pitch to swing at right now.”
MARCH 31 – Braves lead majors in walks, OBP
“We’ve had good at-bats, we really have,” Cox said. “Haven’t chased a lot of [bad pitches]. I think it all started with Jason Heyward. People started to talk about it. He has good at-bats, doesn’t swing at pitches that bounce and all that.”
tristan
April 28th, 2010
11:45 am
and this Chipper Jones. How do you have the nerve to say its just a pitch here or there to win games? How do you have the nerve to say the team has played solid? That is what you have turned yourself into. You think that those things are acceptable. You don’t want to do what it takes to win. You don’t want to accel on those “little things”. You don’t want to play great, just settle for solid. You don’t have the desire it takes to win championships anymore. You are a helluva hitter and a very good student of the game, but you no longer have the desire and inner workings of that killer baseball player that refused to lose. I would think that you belong on a team that was looking for someone who could mentor younger players and show them professionalism. This team has settled for “professionalism” for years and it has showed in the standings. Just look at the Rays and Phillies if you want to see teams who throw professionalism out the window and just grind wins out with determination, guts, and sheer will.
Chip
April 28th, 2010
11:46 am
DOB, have you heard anything about Wren trying to somehow get another bat for this team in the next few days?
P Rose
April 28th, 2010
11:47 am
Heyward looks patient to me – taking a few pitches, working the count, seeing the pitcher’s stuff – as opposed to Frenchy, who looked desperate, swinging at the first pitch every time. I think Bobby is making a mistake if he gets into the kid’s head and makes him think he’s got to be swinging away at everything like Frenchy did.
Chop Chop
April 28th, 2010
11:47 am
Don’t post stuff like that, NO MORE BOBBY.
It hurts my brain.
Gastro
April 28th, 2010
11:51 am
No way Wren will make a move now… he’ll wait to see if the bats wake up before he makes that move. That said, he had better be targeting a slugger – a bonafide hitter and not another experiment with a former great who’s ready to retire – to help these guys over the next month or so…
TRH10
April 28th, 2010
11:51 am
Are u guys crazy! Bobby cox is the reason baseball is even in atl! How could any of this be his fault! Baseball is a game of failing! Come a good batting avg is hitting Around 300! That’s means 30% of the time that play produces a hit! And to say Bobby doesn’t motivate! Then why in the world does evry player want to play for him!! He is a legend! You guys are crazy! If they were winning right now everyone of y’all would be saying how awesome Bobby is. Learn to back ur team up no matter what! Jason is going to be fine! I played ball with him in high school and trust be he will prevail! And buddy ur son doesn’t have better fundamentals then escobar! That’s alittle extreme! Obviously the guy has skill or he wouldn’t be payed to play ball! Quit running ur mouth Bout things you don’t know or I’m sorry understand!!
BuckheadBrave
April 28th, 2010
11:55 am
Bobby Cox is baseball’s Bobby Bowden. Only instead of sleeping during the day in his office Bobby cox gets to sit and nap during the games
BuckheadBrave
April 28th, 2010
11:57 am
TRH10,
Escobar isn’t being paid much to play ball right now, perhaps there is reason behind the reluctance to give a long term deal, just like there was for Francoeur…they didn’t flinch in giving on to McCann
tristan
April 28th, 2010
12:00 pm
Jeff, Matt Diaz doesn’t look great defensively, but Heyward looks to be getting horrible jumps on the ball. If it isn’t speed, then it is bad reading the ball off the bat. Diaz has a K every four at bats, and Heyward is better than one in three. Buckhead, I want to see a team with determination, not professionalism. We have had the same ho-hum team for years now. Let’s get the guys we have on the team that go out and put in 100 percent. I see 100 percent from those guys more often then the other ones on the team. Ross’s average was .08 behind McCann’s last year, but Ross’s homerun every 18 at bats was better than McCanns 1 in 23 at bats. Check the numbers if you want. Ross plays with much more enthusiasm. Baseball is supposed to be fun and these guys hardly have any fun unless its a walkoff deal. I am merely saying don’t give the starts to those guys who are statistically better, give it to the guys who will try the hardest and play with the best emotions.
Gastro
April 28th, 2010
12:00 pm
I agree with TRH10 to some degree – that Bobby isn’t the biggest issue right now; it’s Wren and the players he is fielding first and foremost. Secondly, I think TP is mediocre which doesn’t help.
That said, I really do want to see someone come in with a different hitting philosophy. I like Bobby’s personality re: standing by his players… not one player has ever said they disliked playing for him. His strategy and philosophy, however, is not something I like…
dozer
April 28th, 2010
12:01 pm
This is perfect – Heyward isn’t the prototype “Bobby” offensive player – swing hard, swing early, swing at anything – then he can be in the hallowed tradition of Andruw, Frenchy, Escobar, Diaz, et al. Thank God he’ll only have one year of this…….
Stone
April 28th, 2010
12:02 pm
I can’t believe that Bobby or Chipper would have anything to say. Where is this type of article when Chipper dropped the ball in NY which lost the game? where is the artical of Glaus hitting into double plays to take us out of the game? Are you just pointing out what Heyward does and not the team? This is full of Sh%+. Bobby is too old to know what a strike is he only contributions to Baseball has been getting thrown out of a game and beating his wife and yall celebrate that? And now the only good thing about the Braves is Heyward and now you want to trash him. hope he goes somewhere he’s apprecicated.
BuckheadBrave
April 28th, 2010
12:02 pm
Escobar has every skill in the world, but maybe just not the passion. I played baseball my whole child hood like a lot of people, but once you get to a certain level usually sometime in HIgh School you have to decide if you want it to be your life, i love the game, but i love a lot of other things to. i have the passion to watch in, support it, but i didn’t have the passion for 6 am practice before class, being away from home for long stretches, and all the other grind, just for an astronomical chance i could do it for a living. Escobar never had that choice, baseball was his way out of his country, but now that he has freedoms maybe he realizes he doesnt have the passion to make it his whole world, there is nothing wrong with that. But he needs to decide one way or the other and stop phoning in his effort.
Gastro
April 28th, 2010
12:05 pm
Uhhh… nobody is “trashing” Heyward and you’re way off-base with the comment about Bobby beating up his wife. How aold are you, Stone?
Dorothy Davis
April 28th, 2010
12:09 pm
And if Heyward is taking too many pitch’s, Prado is not? Are we watching the same game? The whole team is taking too many pitch’s, Brian included. They need to get aggresive at the plate and the sooner the better.
OCHOLOCOBRAVOS
April 28th, 2010
12:10 pm
The only knock on Heyward is that he takes too many pitches?? That’s not bad, it’s constructive criticism, and it’s true, but it isn’t a big deal.. He just needs to make some adjustments at the plate when he’s facing certain pitchers. Everyone else at the Major League level does it. the kid isn’t going to just step foot in the Majors and know everything about how to do everything versus everyone.. It takes time.
that being said, yes – he needs to swing at more pitches. Not more bad pitches, but if he gets a first pitch strike over the outer half of the plater then why not swing and try to knock it into LF? Not to toot my own horn, but I’ve literally watched every game this year (yes, even the last 7 L’s) and he just takes & takes & takes pitches til it’s too late. Glaus was doing the same thing early in the season, taking fastballs down the middle til he was down in the count them he’d whiff at the breaking pitches.
All Cox is saying here is that Jason has to be a little more aggressive, adn there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that!
Jeff Treadway
April 28th, 2010
12:13 pm
For those that dont know: TP’s school of hitting is to take the first pitch no matter what — do you guys remember watching him bat? For some guys, it helps to see a pitch, Martin Prado for example–for other guys, this does not help – The rest of the team for example
Gastro
April 28th, 2010
12:17 pm
Dorothy – you’re wrong. Taking pitches = GOOD. The Yanks and Sox have been doing this forever. We, on the other hand, have been known for swinging at anything around the plate – no discipline whatsoever. Now we are finally doing what smart teams do – make the opponents’ pitchers work! If we ever get a slugger or two in the line-up we’ll be outstanding. It’s Wren who needs to be ripped – not the fact we’re taking pitches!
BillS
April 28th, 2010
12:20 pm
I suppose this is a minority view, but — We’re not 30 days into the season yet, and while we don’t look good, we’re not out of the race. We actually have time. This team isn’t going to hit .200 for a season. Nor is Cox a “moron, “senile clown” or bozo” as described here. He struggling to find a way to make this team work (sort of the way we struggle on this blog, only his counts, and he’s a professional, which no one here is). It’s fun and cheap to call out the dogs on Cox and TP — more reason for the latter to go soon — but let’s admit they are not resigned to a fold this season the way some of you are. Like i said, a minority view. I’m hopeful, just not quite as optimistic as I was.
Ted M
April 28th, 2010
12:24 pm
Why the heck aren’t the coaches talking to Heyward everyday or even every at bat?
AJ
April 28th, 2010
12:24 pm
Face the facts, folks….there is no pipeline of major league ready hitters in the minors right now, and it is too early for major league teams to have fire sales on their talented but high priced players. Don’t expect much more than what you currently have. The Braves had an unbelievable 14 year run. Those days are long gone. If the Braves are going to get better anytime soon, it will come from homegrown talent, like what has worked for the Marlins. They don’t have the budget to buy their way into the postseason. It will take a different model of rebuilding the minors to put the Braves back in the right direction. Team speed, defense and pitching with decent offense will bring the Braves back.
Ted M
April 28th, 2010
12:26 pm
Joe Mauer never swings at the first pitch.
Gastro
April 28th, 2010
12:29 pm
Some guys are phenoms, Teddy. Look at the history of the Yankees or Sox… that’s a better gauge than one or two players with that kind of talent!
Clay
April 28th, 2010
12:29 pm
This is what makes me mad about Cox. Taking pitches is not the problem. It’s swinging at the first pitch. If your going to be on one extreme, I would rather Heyward just take pitches. With the terrible quality of bullpens across the league, making starters throw some pitches is not a bad strategy.
Gastro
April 28th, 2010
12:30 pm
Also meant to say – that’s exactly right…
Loyal Homer
April 28th, 2010
12:36 pm
Can’t believe this guy believes Heyward should still be in the minors. Keep up the good work DOB.
http://thesportsdebates.com/category/tsd/the-mlb-phenom-call-up-debate/