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
3,788 comments Add your comment
Michael
October 16th, 2011
11:46 pm
Nolie, I would not want to be back either if I were TP. I think he will be a manager somewhere else soon…….
yes
October 16th, 2011
11:47 pm
agree Rilo
nolie
October 16th, 2011
11:48 pm
I will be surprised if they make any attempt to get another starter, I think they feel that they have that covered.
I also think they will attempt to work the youngsters a little longer. Delgado, Teheran etc came up when they were already approaching IP limits. If they start the season or come up early I think we’ll see them pitch longer as much as they can.
I doubt they will do it, but I wish they would make an effort to deepen the pen to where they have 5 or 6 very good pitchers at least rather than the rag-tag bunch they often have at the bottom half of bullpen.
yes
October 16th, 2011
11:49 pm
I didn’t care for TP but now I think he would be a good manager. He has more fire than Fredi.
Michael
October 16th, 2011
11:50 pm
Yes, I believe TP has taken a lot of heat and hits from you guys in the past, haha.
yes
October 16th, 2011
11:51 pm
Cards win…Oh What could have been for Braves…
Michael
October 16th, 2011
11:52 pm
OK, I think all teams drink. But Cards saved theirs till now, while Braves/RedSox had theirs a while ago during the season………..
nolie
October 16th, 2011
11:54 pm
I was kidding some, not agreeing that they are totally worthless, but they have no ability to force anyone to do anything. They must wait until a player is ready to accept help and willing to change. As we have seen, that is often slow to come even in a bad year, because these guys got to the bigs with their current approach and are invested in it.
Even when a player is willing it can be a long process because under pressure most revert subconsciously to established approach and mechanics even if unsuccessful.
I think the most value is in guys with a keen eye to notice snags and the ability and willingness to approach each player differently.
Bravo Nam
October 16th, 2011
11:54 pm
Hear what you’re saying Nolie, but it’s an issue that worries me.
One thing that intrigues me is Gonzalez’s comment at the end of the season where he said that they’re going to devote some time to pitching. In my opinion, the bullpen is covered… was he referring to this or SPs?
yes
October 16th, 2011
11:56 pm
Michael, Nolie, Rilo…you guys are great fans.. we can’t solve the Braves problems but its fun knowing your opinions. Have a great night.
Rilo
October 16th, 2011
11:57 pm
I just think it takes a while for a hitting coach to make an impact/gain trust. To be honest, I would normally be demanding the best hitting coach in MLB but im trying to be rational about it this time. I thought Parrish was the wrong answer from day 1 but I also thought we would have a better year without Bobby Cox. So, I’m willing to admit I’m wrong and
Rilo
October 16th, 2011
11:58 pm
Try to approach this hire with a little more humility…
yes
October 17th, 2011
12:00 am
agree again Rilo
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
12:00 am
Hello everyone! Interesting…….Throw Fredi under the bus for T.P. Who was the worst hitting coach I ever seen being a Braves fan,and some want him as coach. LOL…..
nolie
October 17th, 2011
12:00 am
my biggest pitching worry is what the overuse of the big three relievers will do to their arms this year. Perhaps nothing, but it is not unusual for guys to decline after hard use the previous year.
and I really think they need two more options to spare them some without a big decrease in effectiveness.
David O'Brien
October 17th, 2011
12:03 am
I think if the Braves want to have a chance of reaching the playoffs next year, they’ve got to protect their bullpen better and bring in one or two dependable innings eaters. I would look at using Lowe (Braves cover most of his salary), Jurrjens and one of our good pitching prospects to trade for one or two of these guys. What are your thoughts on this issue? If you agree, what pitchers do you suggest the Bravos could trade for? — Bravo Nam
Lowe is 38 and coming off the worst season of his career, and Jurrjens has finished each of the past two seasons on the DL with a knee injury. You can’t trade Lowe without eating a huge chunk of the $15 million he is owed, and certainly aren’t going to get talent in return from any team that would agree to provide salary relief by picking up any significant portion of his remaining contract.
And I’d be surprised if the Braves traded Jurrjens for the simple reason that his value is again reduced (as it was at this time a year ago) because he spent so much of the second half injured and didn’t return late in the season and prove to teams that he’s healthy.
nolie
October 17th, 2011
12:04 am
Who was the worst hitting coach I ever seen being a Braves fan,and some want him as coach. LOL…..ward
c’mon ward that is a ridiculous statement. Considering the players we could afford up and down the lineup, his teams hit well and scored well year after year for the most part. Parrish was much worse.
I’m not saying he was the greatest but he was way better than many here scapegoated him as
David O'Brien
October 17th, 2011
12:04 am
It does not take a rocket scienist to figure that something is terribly wrong and needs to be addressed. Michael
If firing the hitting coach is not addressing the problem, what else do you recommend?
Linebrinks Security
October 17th, 2011
12:06 am
Cardinals will make another World Series run …. and continue to build upon the Braves epic collapse. Makes you rethink, wow all the Braves had to do is win 2 more games and the Cards never even get to this point.
Just remember Cardinals, when you win (and even though you had to go on an incredible run) give the baseball team from Atlanta a shout out (because it took an equally incredible fail to make it all complete)
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
12:06 am
DOB: What do you think about “The Walking Dead” series? Interesting how they ended that tonight.
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
12:07 am
nolie ,TP is greatly over rated……..
Rilo
October 17th, 2011
12:09 am
Isn’t it amazing how each issue is built off other issues? Because we couldn’t score we put pressure on our SPs to pitch very gently to other teams. This drove up the pitch count which prevented them from going deep into games. Extra innings games also contributed to the overuse of the bullpen. it’s like a big circle
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
12:09 am
I think the Braves shouold hire Chris Chambliss,some one who’s been in the system….
Venice Jim
October 17th, 2011
12:10 am
Ward – good win for the G-men today…
nolie
October 17th, 2011
12:11 am
yes there are so many different things that affect baseball games. It was designed that way.
That’s why 6 wins in 10 games is such a good record in this sport though nothing great in others
nolie
October 17th, 2011
12:12 am
c’mon man, how in the world can he be overrated when almost everybody here used him as a punching bag?
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
12:14 am
Good win for our Giants…..
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
12:16 am
Since TP has been in the dug out. The Braves haven’t dune well with their hitting,and missed the Play-Offs too. TP has been a cancer…..
Bravo Nam
October 17th, 2011
12:21 am
Thanks for your thoughts, Nolie and DOB.
Like you Nolie, my concern is with our big three bullpen arms… even with some decent bullpen additions, if the starting pitchers don’t pitch more innings next year, they’re going to get burned again.
I agree with both points you made DOB- that’s why I suggested Lowe (Braves eating most of his salary), Jurrjens and another pitcher- then again, as you rightly note, they would get below par value for Jurrjens.
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
12:22 am
Look at the hitting coaches,before TP,and look at the Braves number of wins with TP in the dug out. I think some of the Players went to TP,and that caused problems too.
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
12:26 am
Like,just an opinion……
nolie
October 17th, 2011
12:28 am
you’re judging a hitting coach on the number of team wins, even though pitching is usually considered a bigger part of winning? Really?
Judge them on the team’s offensive numbers, they have almost no control at all over wins and losses.
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
12:28 am
nolie I think the season should be cut to 142 games,and make all searies best 4 out of 7 in the first round……Go with 10 teams instead of eight……
nolie
October 17th, 2011
12:30 am
Glad to see the Cards win. Not really a brew Crew fan at all.
You would think that the WS will be a high scoring affair for the most part with St Louis and Texas, but baseball does surprise us pretty often.
GO CARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
12:30 am
I’m judging TP preformance,as a hitting caoch. He didn’t fair any better,and would like some one who knows some thing about hitting.Like George Brett,or Tony Gwynn.
monty
October 17th, 2011
12:31 am
“if the starting pitchers don’t pitch more innings next year, they’re going to get burned again.”
If the Braves don’t score considerably more runs than this year, they undoubtably will, because neither the SP nor the pen will have any margin for error.
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
12:31 am
nolie, I think the Cards are going to beat Rangers……better pitching.
nolie
October 17th, 2011
12:32 am
I do not want to lose regular season games myself, I enjoy watching baseball too much for that.
I would like to see them cut spring training by 10 days though and start the season earlier. thus allowing 7 game series.
monty
October 17th, 2011
12:35 am
Cards had the worst pitching during the reg. season of all the playoff teams in the Nat.league, best hitting team. Go figure.
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
12:35 am
nolie,best out of five sucks,and doesn’t give teams a chance much?
nolie
October 17th, 2011
12:36 am
Great player very often make crappy coaches ward. They can have a hard time explaining what comes so easily to them and can lack patience when mere mortals struggle . The greatest hitting coaches of the last 5 or 6 decades were all mediocre to poor hitters themselves.
Two entirely different skill sets
though I would be intrigued to see Gwynn give it a shot since he was such a student of the skill on top of being great at it.
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
12:36 am
meant to say three out of five.
The A Bomb - OUTCHOKED ® TWICE!
October 17th, 2011
12:37 am
Really bothers me we are being led by a manager who’s career has been defined by the choke.
Upon analyzing the schedule I see at least 10 fewer wins next season. I look at September as an NL East 2012 preview.
75-80 wins. There WILL be carryover. Team leadership SUCKS.
nolie
October 17th, 2011
12:37 am
what I am really not gonna like is the one game playoff they are considering. Might as well play Russian Roulette……
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
12:38 am
I would like a great hitting ,caoch but have to keep in mind that it’s up to the players too.
nolie
October 17th, 2011
12:38 am
I find it hard to imagine them having a losing season if most stay reasonably healthy A Bomb
The A Bomb - OUTCHOKED ® TWICE!
October 17th, 2011
12:40 am
nolie — talent is there, no doubt. I see carryover combined with a brutal schedule. Interleague is the killer.
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
12:42 am
If they go with 15 teams each Division,and go with the top seads. I would consider that.
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
12:43 am
Braves will be there,and much better too. Just,and a couple of tinks here,and there. Braves could go further?
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
12:43 am
Braves will be there,and much better too. Just,and a couple of tinks here,and there. Braves could go further?
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
1:00 am
If we go with 142 or 148.That would be o.k. with me,and junk Inter-league play,and go with the old rivals…..
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
1:08 am
We have our Play-Off system like Hockey,or Basketball. Draw more interest. Well, I’ll talk later,or tomorrow…….peace my friends.
Bravesfan54
October 17th, 2011
1:17 am
Appropos Bill James, but are their any stats (of course, there are!)on the efficacy (read: statistical co-relation)of batting coaches. We all aware of stories where a “Bob Uecker” has been hired as a batting coach for this team or that. (In the case of Uecker, he was a career .211 or something like that…realistically, how is a multi-million dollar player going to take advice from what are almost always career ml underachiever and low-salary busts? Just how does this work?
If you say it does, then it stands to reasons that we’d hear about so-and-so who improved this team or that team’s OBP or BA- but we never do… same for pitching coaches. Braves have experience. Three HOF’er all having years of experience with a “coach” who lefts the great trio and produced NOTHING!
My thought, seriously downgrade the position of “pitching coach” and “hitting instructor” – and upgrade (see “Billyball”) the position of “statistician”. Also, keep multi-year, multi-million dollar contracts at a minimum – if at all. There is scant stat evidence that justify many of these obscencse contracts: think Hampton, Lowe, McLougth, Kawakami, Andru Jones LA, Raphiel Soriano, Kyle Farnsworth, et al.
Eddie
October 17th, 2011
1:23 am
1) – DOB – Interesting read on the Braves postseason hitting woes. I agree that Braves hitters have under-performed in the postseason. At the same time with all the focus on their hitting woes and (in my mind incorrectly perceived flaws) in Bobby Cox’s managerial moves in past postseasons and in some circles the revolving door in the bullpen, I think not enough attention has been placed at the feet of our outstanding starting staff of the era. Time after time I saw Glavine, Maddux, and Smoltz out-pitched by opponents. I would be very interested to see a comparison of the starting pitching lines from Braves postseason appearances versus opponents.
2) Greg Walker is originally from Georgia. In addition to being a outstanding baseball player, he was also starting quarterback for Coffee County High School in Douglas GA back in the mid to late 70’s.
3) After watching the Tigers dispatch the Yankees to my immense pleasure, I haven’t really watched much of the ALCS and NLCS. It’ll be hard to watch the World Series as three former Braves (included in the disastrous Mark Teixeira trade) play a prominent role for the Rangers – closer Neftali Feliz, shortshop Elvis Andrus, and starting pitcher Matt Harrison. Since I do not care for Tony LaRussa, I will be pulling for the Rangers though.
4) I wonder how many more years will pass before some Braves fans realize how fortunate they were to have Bobby Cox as manager.
Mitchell
October 17th, 2011
1:25 am
Hitting coach? What do we care about a hitting coach?
It’s not even that big of a deal.
So the Braves went from first to eleventh in on base percentage. Big deal.
What, are we just going to fire Larry Parrish because we went from first to eleventh in on base percentage?
What’s that? We already did? Oh.
Well then, Frank Wren did what he had to do, didn’t he?
Hi, I’m Mark Bradley.
Michael
October 17th, 2011
1:30 am
DOB – Thanks for reply. My point, however, was that if Wren knew from day 1 or early in the season he was not a good fit why did he wait for 6 months to act?
Luv 2 Hate Me
October 17th, 2011
1:31 am
If the Braves would’ve won the last series between them and the Cards the WS outcome would’ve been different. If Kimbrel didn’t blow the save in game 1 of that series (sigh). I just don’t think the Cards deserve to be in the WS. I’m hoping Texas sweeps them out of the fall classic. Go Braves!
Mitchell
October 17th, 2011
1:45 am
The A Bomb – OUTCHOKED ® TWICE!
October 17th, 2011
12:37 am
Really bothers me we are being led by a manager who’s career has been defined by the choke.
Upon analyzing the schedule I see at least 10 fewer wins next season. I look at September as an NL East 2012 preview.
75-80 wins. There WILL be carryover. Team leadership SUCKS.
Team leadership SUCKS indeed.
Chipper in particular is tidal wave of pessimism and self-defeat but what continues to bother me most is the lack of vocal endorsement of Fredi Gonzalez in his first year as the Braves manager compared with that of Bobby Cox’s final season.
Traditionally, this is a team and an organization that does things quietly (not to mention unimaginitively and uninspired) so it was rare enough for them to openly state their goal of playing to get Bobby Cox one last shot at (blowing) the playoffs.
Not surprisingly when they did get him there, and it was pretty much all them and any number of configurations of last at-bat wins they were able to conjure, he blew it.
But they still made it and making it is a hell of a lot better than not making it.
My question is where was that same desire to win for their new manager? That’s right, nowhere.
They never said anything about wanting to win for Fredi Gonzalez and it showed on the field.
This is a staggeringly rudderless team. The amount of talent, whether fully developed or never to be fully developed, there’s no excuse for not being able to win ten games in the final month of the season, a number that would have essentially been their ticket stamp to the post-season.
A month of games to go from 80 wins to 90 and they couldn’t suck it up and do it.
As long as we look to the schedule in late September next year and beyond and read the name Washington Nationals with dread, there is little reason for hope of change.
Mitchell
October 17th, 2011
1:52 am
It’s funny, the old saying holds true.
The World Series still goes through Atlanta these days. Just not the way it used to.
The Cardinals may not deserve to be in the World Series but they sure as hell deserve to be there more than the Braves ever would.
It makes you wonder how we could ever think of the Braves as being superior to a team with Rafael Furcal, Matt Holliday, Lance Berkman and Albert Pujols. Not to mention Chris Carpenter and Yadier Molina.
No wonder they kicked our @$$.
DawgDad
October 17th, 2011
1:54 am
Congratulations, St. Louis Cardinals, who have proven convincingly THEY belong in the playoffs.
The Braves proved in September they are a team headed to the basement in the NL East, fast. They’ll start next year with a glut of very young and very old starting pitchers, and three guys recovering from serious injury. Only one can reliably get into the sixth inning. Two expiring Boras clients in the mix, each beat up and perhaps untradable. The bullpen needs help from the right side. The regulars are a misfit cast of has-beens, wanna-bes, question marks, and a Boras client. There are no reliable big guns in the middle of the lineup any more. This is a prescription for a tumultuous season, with most of the tumult likely to accumulate in the loss column.
What to do? It’s too late. They’re stuck with Chipper, Lowe, and Uggla’s budget-busting contracts. I’m willing to be pleasantly surprised, but I’d be shocked if this team plays .500 ball next year.
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
1:56 am
Mithcell: We don’t know what’s going to happen yet? Saying that is too early,and to say the Braves we finish 70 wins ,and 85 loses is way too early….Too much talent for that.Wren hasn’t made any moves yet.
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
1:57 am
Mitchell, we just have to wait until the moves are made,and the season is under way.
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
1:59 am
Let me correct your wins75-80wins Mitchell, too early for that.
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
2:00 am
I think the Braves could do much better than 80wins…..
NickB
October 17th, 2011
2:02 am
I think much blame should go on the back of John Schuerholz. His leadership at the top is troubling. The Braves are one of the few remaining teams that haven’t embraced (at least in some form or another) the concepts of OBP and modern sabremetric statistical analysis. I didn’t expect it to happen with Bobby there (he was always a “hunch” kind of mgr.), but I thought they would bring in a new young mgr and start anew, preaching the fundamental principles of working the count , plate discipline taking walks and wearing out starting pitchers early (in fact the 2010 team did this quite well, 2011 did it very very poorly) However, this didn’t happen (in fact JS said when asked about Moneyball that he thought “it didn’t work” (ask the Red Sox about that JS!! 2 rings after waiting 80+ years after Epstein and Francona adopted the Bill Jamesian method of judging talent and offensive approach)…no, just a coincidence. The A’s never won a WS because they ran into juggernauts when they were making the playoffs there for awhile. Considering that their payroll was less than A-Rods … I think that shows that Beane knew what he was doing a little bit…..
If the team would just preach the philosophy of working the count and not flailing away at any white thing that goes near the plate they could be a 100 win team. The starters could actually have some leads to work with, lower their own pitch counts, and help spare the bullpen. As stated above, these things all work together. BUT IT STARTS WITH PLATE PATIENCE!!!!
Russell Bell
October 17th, 2011
2:02 am
Following is the ending to an article at: http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/17686/cardinals-bash-bumbling-brewers
Nothing Earth shattering – just recounts the improbability that is the Cardinals ending up in the 2011 World Series.
It should make for a fun World Series of tactical moves and decisions. Both teams have deep benches. The Cardinals have the red-hot Freese (12-for-22 with nine RBIs in the NLCS) and the Rangers have the red-hot Nelson Cruz (six home runs, 13 RBIs in the ALCS).
What’s perhaps most amazing of all: After losing on Aug. 24, the Cardinals were just 67-63. They were 11.5 games behind the Braves in the wild-card race.
Their season was over.
Almost over. They went 23-9 to make the playoffs on the final day as the Braves fell apart, a minor miracle essentially lost in all the attention given to the collapse of the Boston Red Sox.
Almost over. And now they’re four wins away from a World Series title.
A great bullpen. David Freese delivering huge hits. Who saw this happening back in August?
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
2:06 am
Guy’s I was upset too,but the blame game isn’t going to solve things. I’m moving on to where the grass is green,and the flowers grow…..
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
2:07 am
Rangers,and Cards. Cards,because of pitching is better. I’m going to say good pitching will be good hitting in this game.
NickB
October 17th, 2011
2:09 am
Dawg Dad……. Umm McCann, Uggla, Freeman,Prado and Chipper all have histories as reliable above average hitters. Heyward , if back on form adds another. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the team make a trade for a SS and/or a LF’er (regardless of what they say about Prado not being moved, he could easily be traded along with one of our young arms for both positions ). I suggested we trade Minor, Lowe and $10mill and Prado and Pastornicky to the White Sox for Alexei Ramirez and Carlos Quentin. Ramirez is locked up through 2014 (by then Simmons will be ready) Quentin is a FA after 2012 and I doubt he accepts arby, so they let him go and take the draft picks. It’s something…. Regardless, even if the exact same starting 8 is out there, there is no reason to expect them to hit this bad again, not with a new hitting coach preaching plate discipline (which ,IMO, has to be what got LP fired , his over aggressive hitting philosophy, what else could FW have “heard” that he didn’t like?
I know that some of y’all are upset about the collapse, but don’t start making predictions of losing records. That’s very very unlikely to happen.
Ward High Hopes back
October 17th, 2011
2:10 am
Well, I’ll talk tomorrow,all be cool,and peace…..
nolie
October 17th, 2011
2:32 am
ah yes……….
nolie
October 17th, 2011
2:47 am
all this losing record stuff is starting to remind me of an Athens band………Widespread Panic.
Couch Tater
October 17th, 2011
5:33 am
As for speculation that Wren must contend with a lower payroll under Liberty’s ownership, McGuirk said, “The payroll, under no circumstances, will go down. It will go up.” – October 12, 2007, SI
From Forbes:
2007- Player Expenses: $110 million, Revenue: $183 million.
2011 – Player Expenses: $97 million, Revenue: $201 million.
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2011/33/baseball-valuations-11_Atlanta-Braves_336642.html
Veer
October 17th, 2011
5:45 am
It was disappointing to see Tim Hudson have such limited role in the movie Moneyball.
His only dialogue was ” YES SIR”
I mean come on Huddy deserved more time.
Guys like Damon, Mulder, Issringhausen, Hatterberg, Justice, Pena were give more coverage in the movie. Very good movie but disappointing to not see Hudson get more airtime then just simply saying “YES SIR”
Couch Tater
October 17th, 2011
5:52 am
According to Cots…
2001 – Opening day payroll $91,936,167.00.
2011 – Opening day payroll $91,044,524.00.
“It will go up.”
wjones
October 17th, 2011
6:38 am
Well, looking at Ryan Braun’s last at-bat last night, the Cards did finally figure him out. He took three weak swings at three bad pitches and sat his butt down. I was squinting at the screen to see if I could find a tomahawk on his chest.
Gary O
October 17th, 2011
7:54 am
From Buster Olney on Mike and Mike;
The irony;
Phillies sweep the Braves, so Cardinals win WC – and then eliminate Philly in the playoffs.
In the all star game, Fielder hits homer off Texas pitcher C.J. Wilson to give NL home field advantage, Cards eliminate Brewers and will face C.J. Wilson and the Rangers in the WS. Game 1 in STL.
Fastball
October 17th, 2011
8:01 am
I recommend that they replace Frank Wren and Fredi Gonzales.
richbrave
October 17th, 2011
8:02 am
FALL BALL
Everything is on the previous article page 58 at 4:52 p.m. and 7:24 p.m. except MEXICO
NAVOJOA
Lead-off CF MATT YOUNG [.250 BA] 2-5, 1 R, 1 SO.
Lemke's Knuckler
October 17th, 2011
8:23 am
Reports are out that the Rockies should be looking for starting pitching.
Maybe Jurrjens for a package including third-base prospect Nolan Arenado? Kid had 122 RBI in 134 games at a 20 year old in high-A Modesto this year. And he hits righty.
STRETCH
October 17th, 2011
8:25 am
Like the article as always.
But DOB,
I really dont think the sole problem was the hitting coach. He was just the scapegoat. He was NOT here all those playoff years when they could NOT score.
Bottom line is the Braves still play for the 3 run homer and were boring as they are every year. They only injected some excitement this year with the addition of Bourn and Constanza helping generate runs.
And we see how NOT being able to hit in clutch situations burned them for the second year in a row.
People always blame the hitting coach, how about the Freddi G? That was the worse management of a pitching staff ive seen since, since….Bobby Cox.
Stop blaming the hitting coach. THE PITCHING COACH CANT STAND IN THE BOX AND HIT FOR THESE GUYS.
You just cant win without hitters in your lineup. Atlanta as used the pitching formula for almost 20 years and have only 1 championship to show for it. This organization has been good enough during the season but the team is not designed for the post-season.
I love my Braves, but i realize with current management and owners, the best chance I have and winning the big one is with Playstation.
Clueless
October 17th, 2011
8:33 am
The stimulus is working!
Voice of Reason
October 17th, 2011
8:38 am
Case in point…the Braves had arguably the best pitching staff in baseball for several years in a row and have, what…one championship?
Jeff R
October 17th, 2011
8:38 am
Thanks for the new blog, DOB.
Dave Magadan… Might hang on at Boston, but I tend to doubt it. When mangers are fired, coaches tend to follow. My guess is that Boston ownership needs to a fresh start, so their overhauling the front office, field management, and coaches.
Really, why reach out of the organization if the Gwinnett hitting coach is capable? Good communicator and sound instructor? Respected? That’s what’s needed.
Beyond that, the Braves need to shake up the offense. I’ve always been a pitching and defense guy, but a team needs at least competent offense to win. The Braves didn’t even reach competence most of the season.
I really think LF and RF are the two positions where Wren can insert players who boost the Braves’ offense. As Wren said, Heyward’s potential is solid, but he needs to produce now… no more riding his potential. Prado can swing back to super utility.
Jeff R
October 17th, 2011
8:42 am
STRETCH… Wren has stated that he wants to introduce more speed in the lineup, guys who can mix up the offense, get on base, make things happen. A healthy Heyward, finally producing as projected, would bring multi-dimensions to the Braves’ offense, for instance. Let’s hope.
brave fan since 1957
October 17th, 2011
8:43 am
If the Braves had Albert Pujols or any of the Yankee greats, they probably would not hit in the post season.
This team is jinxed for hittinhg.
ncscoots
October 17th, 2011
8:45 am
Prado can swing back to super utility.
all you have to do, then, is find an OF who can go .300/.350/.450 at a lower cost than Prado’s arb salary. The cost has to be lower, because you’re suddenly escalating the cost of your bench enormously. Think they can find an .800+ LF for the cost of Hinske and Conrad?
STRETCH
October 17th, 2011
8:50 am
Jeff,
I know but is he going to do something about hitting? I just think they need another big bopper. Did you see St Louis and Mil series? And Texas and Detriot could have gone 7 games if they(Det) would have stayed healthy.
Man, the Braves need someone other than Chipper and Uggla. McCann didnt look well and he’s pretty much produced tons that past few years but SS, LF, RF and 3B are areas that need a bick stick inserted cause Chipper wont last like he did this year.
Heyward should bounce back, get a full season of Bourn, fix LF and SS and add a bat to 3B while Prado goes back to super utility. The pitching staff gets healthy, while bringing up young guns. Watch out NL East!
Jeff R
October 17th, 2011
8:51 am
ncscoots… yep, budget will be a driver in any decisions Wren makes. Wren has a little wiggle room but not much. But I’ve got to believe he’ll consider options – such as they are.
Can Wren find a .800 plus for Conrad’s or Hinkse’s salary? No. With almost a third of the Braves’ payroll locked in to two declining performers (Chipper and Lowe), Wren’s got a sturdy set of handcuffs on.
Baseball Fan Lou
October 17th, 2011
8:59 am
Good article but the intangible is the manager. Yes ballplayers get hot and cold, regular and post season but the reason the Cardinals are going to the World Series is Tony LaRusa, one of the best baseball managers the game has ever seen. If he was managing the Braves this year, they would have made it to the playoffs. LaRusa got a DUI during spring training, a reason to fire a manager, but the Cardinals front office knew what they had and worked it out. What does that tell you. They were willing to take the embarrassment to keep this baseball genius. If you see this guy during the game when the cameras pick him up you see a man that has a million thoughts going through his head strategizing on the most seemongly insignifcant things but all come together. The fans mayu be watching the first inning but he he in the ninth inning.
Jeff R
October 17th, 2011
9:00 am
STRETCH… as others have commented previously, on paper, the Braves’ should have hit in 2011. Injuries to key players factored in, of course, but does Wren come out of team meetings concluding that a healthy line up means the sort of offense management projected? Did Braves’ hitters have just bad luck slump throughout 2011?
I think Wren will probably conclude that the team needs to add a good bat with some pop for 2012. Whether or not Wren can do so is another matter.
STRETCH
October 17th, 2011
9:03 am
And i must say that im so freaking happy that Nyger Morgan is going home! Nothing against the Brewers though.
TennesseePaul
October 17th, 2011
9:03 am
Thanks for the work DOB.
Lemke's Knuckler
October 17th, 2011
9:03 am
“Super Utility”
Is that the hot catch phrase of the month?
Baseball Fan Lou
October 17th, 2011
9:07 am
After eeading Braves; fans posts which are very insighful, I think the Braves need to trade a young front of the rotation guy like Hanson or Juergens for a power bat. Chipper Jones’ great career is over and he should be an occassional 3rd base guy and pinch hitter. Call me crazy but the Braves should approach the Mets about David Wright. The Mets need an ace and the Braves need a power hitting 3rd baseman. Think about it.
Lemke's Knuckler
October 17th, 2011
9:08 am
“And i must say that im so freaking happy that Nyger Morgan is going home! Nothing against the Brewers though.”
That team partially took on his personality, so I say “everything” against the Brewers. I’m just glad I no longer have to see that stupid gorilla hug thing those players kept doing with their arms every freakin time they got a hit.
STRETCH
October 17th, 2011
9:27 am
Not a bad idea Lou,
But i would really look at trading for Young from the Rangers as well. Or this is whats out there:
Third basemen
Wilson Betemit (30)
Casey Blake (38)
Jorge Cantu (30)
Eric Chavez (34)
Craig Counsell (41)
Mark DeRosa (37)
Greg Dobbs (33)
Edwin Encarnacion (29) – $3.5MM club option with a $500K buyout
Jerry Hairston Jr. (36)
Kevin Kouzmanoff (30)
Andy LaRoche (28)
Felipe Lopez (32)
Jose Lopez (28)
Nick Punto (34)
Aramis Ramirez (34) – $16MM club option with a $2MM buyout; Ramirez can void
Omar Vizquel (45)
bill
October 17th, 2011
9:29 am
Fredi should get a ring from St. Louis for his contribution to their WS championship. He would get my vote for league MVP.
JASon
October 17th, 2011
9:32 am
“That’s four more postseason wins for the Cardinals in 29 games over the past six years than the Braves have in their past 41 games”
Atlanta sports fans know better than anyone in the country that professional sports are about more than the players you sign and put on the field. We have long had organizations that can draft the big names, but not develop their talent to a championship level. But that’s okay, because we can watch a real organization like the texas rangers take our talent and actually make something out of it.
DAP
October 17th, 2011
9:33 am
nolie my biggest pitching worry is what the overuse of the big three relievers will do to their arms this year.
are we sure they were overused? has that been settled? because im not sure they were.