Braves stressing patience with young pitchers

(more...)

1,511 comments Add your comment

Bat Masterson

May 21st, 2012
10:41 pm

That’s the secret of pitching, being able to put the ball where he wanted to. The kid, is an artist.” _ BravesFAN

$ ……… The pitcher/artist formerly known as Meldeen.

J-MAN

May 21st, 2012
10:41 pm

2nd worst ERA in the Naational League……..BravesFAN please spin that into a positive

ChattTownBrian (CTB)

May 21st, 2012
10:43 pm

How crazy so many of us are talking about getting a starter. Hasn’t that been the main strength with the team for 2 years now?

But yeah, we need another good arm in the rotation. I still could see maybe Burnett or more realistic is a Bedard.

Venice Jim

May 21st, 2012
10:44 pm

Because he’s a great reliever, and might not be a great starter – but I know you ignore my opinion… :)

Lawton

May 21st, 2012
10:45 pm

I think Minor was a little bit fortunate tonight. He wiggled off the hook in the second an never showed command until his last 7 hitters. More mistake pitches and he paid dearly. All 4 homeruns were hit with 2 strike counts.

David O'Brien

May 21st, 2012
10:45 pm

Jair Jurrjens gave up 11 hits, 7 R (6 ER) in 4-1/3 innings tonight in Triple-A Gwinnett’s 10-1 loss to Rochester.

He has a 6.10 ERA in five starts for Gwinnett.

Venice Jim

May 21st, 2012
10:45 pm

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS
#yankees go 0 for 13 with risp tonite. And no, wiseguy, that doesn’t improve their BA in those situations. 6 for last 72.

BravesFAN

May 21st, 2012
10:46 pm

DS1 – I hear you but I’ve been to two of his starts and he couldn’t locate his fastball to save his life. He was very hittable and a lot of that is because he doesn’t have a good breaking ball so if he has trouble locating his fast ball he’s screwed. That’s the main reason Delgado is in Atlanta because he has 3 pitches that are major league ready and Teheran only as two. Regardless, Teheran has had several starts where he didn’t even make it out of the 3rd inning.

His fastball still has a lot of zip and a lot of life, his change-up is very good as well, but he can’t consistently throw the curve with any success and it’s no where near ready for the majors. His curve isn’t even a AAA pitch yet. He still has a lot of work to do. He hasn’t progressed the way Atlanta and the scouts had projected and many are wondering how much work he put in this off season…

Brava

May 21st, 2012
10:47 pm

Of course I do, VJ. Especially when you disagree with me. ;)

cabravesfan

May 21st, 2012
10:47 pm

I don’t think anyone has called Minor an ace…

ChattTownBrian (CTB)

May 21st, 2012
10:47 pm

JJ is gone I think. Meaning as a Brave. He can’t even get minor leguers out now. What a shame at how fast he fell. I know it’s baseball and he could rebound soon, but something is more wrong with him than just velocity and a hidden injury. Between the ears possibly.

Bat Masterson

May 21st, 2012
10:47 pm

Heyward had a couple of chances to come through with two outs tonight, too bad he didn’t.

Bobby needs to get him on the phone and tell him to ambush a few of those first pitch strikes he’s watching pass by. It’s happening too often in the past several games.

DS1

May 21st, 2012
10:48 pm

If Delgado can get over his gransalamiitis, then Minor being the 5th starter is a bit less of an issue.

Brava

First, I love Medlen, and was hoping he would get a chance to start this year. But he’d need to get stretched out before he could be very helpful. Until then, you hurt your staff quite a bit.

I see the Braves patience as eventually paying off with Delgado and Minor.

And while Martinez, Venters and O’Flaherty still struggle, I really don’t see Kris being moved from the pen. And Gearrin might be the real deal, if he truly has figured out how to get out lefties. Not sure I want to count on him at this point.

Martinez, Venters and O’Flaherty are the key as to what happens with Medlen.

Lawton

May 21st, 2012
10:48 pm

Bat:

One of the two outs Heyward made with RISP was smoked right at Brandon Phillips.

Venice Jim

May 21st, 2012
10:48 pm

J-MAN – you need to relax – we won’t be in the cellar all year…

Darth Obama

May 21st, 2012
10:51 pm

DOB,

What is your opinion on calling up Teheran?

Brava

May 21st, 2012
10:51 pm

I just think it’s a huge waste of talent, Wayne. But, I seem to be in the minority. Oh well, not the first time. :)

cabravesfan

May 21st, 2012
10:52 pm

CTB-

I think that JJ’s main (and maybe only) issue is mental- whether it is a fear that he will hurt his knee again or just mounting frustration over the way he’s pitching, but it’s something…I hope he figures it out because I do like him and want him to succeed, even if it’s not in Atlanta. I also agree that he probably won’t be back (or non tendered anyways…not sure if the Braves could resign him at a lesser price if they go that route…)

Brava

May 21st, 2012
10:53 pm

Besides, if Medlen is in the rotation and giving us quality starts, it takes pressure off the bullpen, anyhow.

Lawton

May 21st, 2012
10:53 pm

As for Minor, you can coach his mechanics, you can coach his approach and mindset. You can’t go out there and execute pitches for him. He has to do that himself. You can have great stuff and a great approach, but if you don’t execute pitches, you are going to get hit. It’s the one thing no one has control over other than Minor.

J-MAN

May 21st, 2012
10:54 pm

Minor needs to think like Tom Glavine instead of Randy Johnson…….
Opponets are hitting .286 12 HR and 32 RBIs……Those would be MVP typ of numbers of here were an offensive player…………..He has had 9 Starts…..Its not like having 3 bad starts. I think its time to pull the plug

cabravesfan

May 21st, 2012
10:54 pm

Brava-

but short term, moving Meds to the rotation would put more pressure on the pen, which could have adverse effects later in the season…

DS1

May 21st, 2012
10:54 pm

Brava

I think Fredi and the org is deathly afraid of burning out the pen this year, hence one of the couple of decent reasons to be a bit more patient with Minor.

Minor might not ever be much, but he showed some promise early in the year. Hard to just dismiss that when you play under a restrictive budget. Kinda gotta dance with the one that brung ya sometimes.

Venice Jim

May 21st, 2012
10:55 pm

Brava – I would like to see how he does in the rotation, because I am a big fan – I just figure that this is the route taken for this year, and, unless things go much farther south, might as well stick to the plan for now…

BravesFAN

May 21st, 2012
10:56 pm

Don’t forget the Braves have the 2nd best record in the NL and are currently in 1st place in the NL East. I have a funny feeling the offense will regress some and the pitching will improve. EOF, Venters, and whoever are 5th starter will end up being will all start to pitch better in my honest opinion. If it’s not Minor that will improve it will be Medlen imo. It’s much easier and much cheaper to find a long reliever than it is to find a good starting pitcher. Medlen is a good pitcher period, bullpen, starting, whatever you need from him. Minor will continue to get every chance in the world to improve and if he doesn’t Wren and Fredi will move Medlen from the pen into the starting rotation. A starting pitcher is just more important than a long relief pitcher. I think the Braves have faith that if they move Medlen into the starting rotation they can find one of their many arms in the rotation to replace Medlen in the pen.

TheOnlyBravesFan

May 21st, 2012
10:57 pm

Besides, if Medlen is in the rotation and giving us quality starts, it takes pressure off the bullpen, anyhow

Only if the Braves score 6-8 runs in Kris’ starts. The dude would only be able to go 5-6 innings, he’s not stretched out enough to go 7-8 right now.

Bat Masterson

May 21st, 2012
10:57 pm

Lawton_

Yeah, I thought Heyward hit that ball pretty good but it was hard to tell on TV. I missed another of his PAs tonight when the broadcast froze up. Still in the past several games the first pitch he gets has often been the most hittable one he sees.

cabravesfan

May 21st, 2012
10:58 pm

The dude would only be able to go 5-6 innings

At this stage, Kris can probably only go 3 to 4 innings, at least for a few starts…or go to AAA and get stretched there. Either way, the pen is losing a valuable member and putting more pressure on the ones that are there to pick up the slack

DS1

May 21st, 2012
10:58 pm

Only way Jurrjens stays a Brave beyond this year is if he figures things out in AAA, comes back and dominates. Otherwise, he gets non-tendered. And how many guys who get non tendered when they have lost their confidence/stuff, ever come back to the team.

He will feel jilted (not deserved, but that’s probably how he will feel).

Besides, if he has a problem with conditioning as has been alluded to, then we probably don’t want him back.

J-MAN

May 21st, 2012
11:01 pm

I personally think we need another starter and another reliever to take some pressure off of Venters Medlen and Kimbrel………or MedVentabrel

DS1

May 21st, 2012
11:02 pm

Later Braves fans!

Bo Graves!!! Tomorrow is a new day!

Lawton

May 21st, 2012
11:02 pm

ok, folks, here’s the good news.

Minor only has to pitch once more before the Braves have some off days. On schedule, he would pitch on Saturday against the Nats (5/26). Five days later (the 31), the Braves are off so they could skip Minor there. They are also off on June 4th. Huddy gets pushed back a day and they can skip Minor again without missing a beat. They next time they would need him is June 9th. Maybe they have Minot make one more start then send to him to Gwinnett for a couple of weeks while they skip a couple of his starts.

J-MAN

May 21st, 2012
11:06 pm

Enough Rationalization poor proformances……..Minor hasnt performed…..send him down .
Next Man Up

JJ didnt performed and he gets sent down now its time for Minor to get sent down

ChattTownBrian (CTB)

May 21st, 2012
11:07 pm

Yeah JJ captured all of our hearts after getting relentlessly squeezed by that ump in new york a few years back and he battled to beat the Mets and that ump. He showed ice in his veins and big time maturaty.

What happend to our Jair? :sad:

Lawton

May 21st, 2012
11:08 pm

J-Man, I like your passion for the Braves.

Lawton

May 21st, 2012
11:09 pm

here’s my wrap on the game….

http://scoutseyeview.blogspot.com/2012/05/post-game-wrap-up-red-4-braves-1.html#!/2012/05/post-game-wrap-up-red-4-braves-1.html

richbrave

May 21st, 2012
11:10 pm

Ah, the old trifecta of defeat

1- it’s monday
2- Chipper’s hurt and not playing
3- Mike MINOR’s on the bump.

Yes indeedy. From here, it looked like MM couldn’t hit a bull in the azz with a bass fiddle. He was getting about every fifth pitch where he wanted it. The kid’s got to tighten up if he wants to be an effective ML pitcher. Well, that’s how I saw it anyway. With his style of pitching, he’s got to hit the black all the time to get outs. Most of his stuff is not that deceptive.

Brava

May 21st, 2012
11:11 pm

I just don’t agree. I think it’s wrong to coddle a guy who’s had five bad starts in a row. It sends the wrong message to the rest of the players. I guess I’m looking at the situation through the eyes of an old soldier who doesn’t believe the entire team should suffer for the shortcomings of one guy. Oh well.

TNScott

May 21st, 2012
11:12 pm

Brava- You’re right. The argument of hurting the bullpen doesn’t hold water. You can move Delgado into the bullpen or better call up Cory Gearrin. The fact of the matter is that nobody wants to remember what happened post-All Star break last year when JJ and Tommy struggled and could put only a handful of quality starts together. Does remember what happened to the bullpen in September? It collapsed from overuse. The Braves have one of the highest ERA’s in the majors and a large part of it is due to the 4th and 5th spots in the rotation and Durbin. It makes no sense to keep a starter, who is 6-2 as a starter, in essentially what amounts to a sixth-inning reliever role pitching an inning every 5 days or so.

ChattTownBrian (CTB)

May 21st, 2012
11:13 pm

Minor isn’t going anywhere, people. Not when JJ and Teheran aren’t showing a ton in the minors, especially JJ. I don’t know a lot about this Remond, but Minor still has the ups being more experienced big leaguer and a lefty.

count_schemula

May 21st, 2012
11:13 pm

Hey, had to take a phone call.

Any news on the Oswalt front?

Flatbill Kid

May 21st, 2012
11:14 pm

Anyone else read the article about Cody Ross’s fractured foot from ESPN? In that article, the braves reportedly had scouts watchin youkilis. DOB, can you shed some light here, or is simply the Braves dying their due diligence?

nolie

May 21st, 2012
11:14 pm

really Lawton?

cabravesfan

May 21st, 2012
11:16 pm

Flatbill Kid-

Obviously, not DOB, but I don’t see how Youkillis would fit on the Braves- they don’t need a first baseman, and would only need a spot starter at 3rd for when Chipper needs a break

nolie

May 21st, 2012
11:18 pm

Youh is another guy who seemingly caint stay healthy and it has taken a toll on his performance

David O'Brien

May 21st, 2012
11:18 pm

David O'Brien

May 21st, 2012
11:19 pm

Lawton

May 21st, 2012
11:21 pm

nolie, I guess the “really?” was for liking J-Man’s passion for the Braves. I totally understand your feeling there, lol. I was trying to throw the guy a bone. He can’t be all that bad, can he?

Lawton

May 21st, 2012
11:22 pm

just not sure where Youkilis would fit in with the Braves. If they really were scouting him, I don’t know why.

nolie

May 21st, 2012
11:22 pm

yup, it were, Lawton ;)

Brava

May 21st, 2012
11:24 pm

Only if the Braves score 6-8 runs in Kris’ starts. The dude would only be able to go 5-6 innings, he’s not stretched out enough to go 7-8 right now

I know that, but it still is better than the 4 or 5 innings we are getting from Delgado and Minor most games they pitch. Plus, we’d likely not be trying to come from behind when the pen took over. Of course, this is pure speculation. I may be wrong, but I think the Braves are just putting off the inevitable here. We’ll see.

Brava

May 21st, 2012
11:26 pm

Minor on allowing 4 HRs at Cincy: “I don’t think it was the ballpark.”

Me, either. ;)

nolie

May 21st, 2012
11:26 pm

Youk hasn’t done it a lot but he can play left on top of first and third. guy is making 25 mil over this year and next though, so I think its hard to take seriously

monty

May 21st, 2012
11:27 pm

Being 6′4″ tall and a lefty has it’s advantages. If he were Medlen’s height and a righty, he’d be back in AAA tomorrow.

nolie

May 21st, 2012
11:28 pm

can never say never, but the Braves have continued to express how much of an asset Meds has been where he is at. Would be a real 180 for then to start him

Brava

May 21st, 2012
11:30 pm

If Minor doesn’t work out, where do they go, nolie? Teheran hasn’t exactly been stellar at Gwinnett.

Lawton

May 21st, 2012
11:30 pm

right nolie, on Youks, but if Prado and Chipper are in the lineup, Youks sits. I don’t see Prado sitting much unless he is hurting, so that only leaves 3B for when Chipper is hurting. Chipper sits a couple of times a week, but thats not enough playing time for Youks.

Flatbill Kid

May 21st, 2012
11:31 pm

I agree with all of you about our lack of need for youk and his contract. Pitching is more of a glaring need.

monty

May 21st, 2012
11:32 pm

Hard to win games with only 2 hits, no matter who’s throwing.

DS1

May 21st, 2012
11:33 pm

nolie

If Martinez, Venters and O’Flaherty were pitching more consistently, I could maybe see Medlen getting stretched out. But those 3 have been very inconsistent.

Fortunately for the pen, Livan has been a real pleasant addition. “Gas Can” Durbin not so much.

cabravesfan

May 21st, 2012
11:33 pm

Hard to win games with only 2 hits, no matter who’s throwing.

This

monty

May 21st, 2012
11:33 pm

slugging against Minor has to be out the roof.

nolie

May 21st, 2012
11:33 pm

unless it involved a trade for Prado? I was a huge Youk fan for years, but I just don’t see it for the Braves

Brava

May 21st, 2012
11:34 pm

I like Livan, Wayne. The way he struts around the mound just exudes confidence. I love watching him. He always makes me smile… Well, almost always.

cabravesfan

May 21st, 2012
11:36 pm

No way the Braves trade Prado to make room for a banged up 33 year old hitting .219/.292/.344…who has played 22 games in the outfield in 9 years, and none since 2009 (when he played all of 2)

DS1

May 21st, 2012
11:36 pm

Brava

When I can convince myself to forget about 1997………………..

:wink:

Lawton

May 21st, 2012
11:36 pm

Brava:

after one more start from Minor they could almost go with a 4-man rotation until the end of June. They have 5 days off between May 31 and June 25. Mayube Minor gets work at Gwinnett for a while and the Braves can make a decision who to bring up at that point. Maybe Minor irons himself out. Maybe Teheram steps up. Maybe the trade market heats up and they find a veteran to bring in.

David O'Brien

May 21st, 2012
11:37 pm

Braves are 0-7 with 12 runs scored on Mondays.

nolie

May 21st, 2012
11:38 pm

I don’t know what they’ll do Brava, which is why I said you can never say never. But I think they will run Minor out there for awhile yet

Lawton

May 21st, 2012
11:39 pm

*Maybe
*Teheran

you get the point. I can spell, but I just don’t type all that well.

nolie

May 21st, 2012
11:40 pm

going with a 4 man does nothing to solve the problem of getting a fifth man set for the rest of the year. I will be kinda surprised if they use that approach on a regular basis

nolie

May 21st, 2012
11:41 pm

everybody hates Mondays but the Braves are making it more intense so far AFAIC

Venice Jim

May 21st, 2012
11:41 pm

DS1 – Durbin has not been anywhere near as awful of late as you and your buddy T-h paint him…

DS1

May 21st, 2012
11:42 pm

Brava

I understand the concept of not wasting an effective starter in the pen. I hear you on that. But my point all along is that with the effort to get him stretched out, I can understand that the org instead is willing to give Delgado and Minor more chances than normal, considering that Teheran doesn’t seem to be quite ready now.

Only way I could see the Braves stretching out Medlen under the present circumstance is if they were able to get another pen arm that would be effective. Would that be Gearrin?

Lawton made a great post earlier outlining the fact that we could go without the 5th starter after the Saturday start for Minor. Might be that on Sunday they send Minor down to keep working and bring in Gearrin or one of the other minor league arms to test them out.

Or they could trade for a reliever.

Then I could see Medlen getting stretched out.

monty

May 21st, 2012
11:43 pm

MAybe the Monday thing could be in their head?

Venice Jim

May 21st, 2012
11:43 pm

In his last 5 games Durbin has walked 1 batter (erased stealing) and gotten everyone else out…

DS1

May 21st, 2012
11:45 pm

VJ

You might be right, but he’s only been unscored upon for 5 appearances, that have covered 2 and 2/3 innings.

Just not feeling much confidence in him just yet.

nolie

May 21st, 2012
11:46 pm

that might just mean that he is due to totally implode soon….or nor

DS1

May 21st, 2012
11:46 pm

Meant to say for his LAST 5 appearances.

DS1

May 21st, 2012
11:48 pm

Time to grab a late biscuit…………. later folks.

Venice Jim

May 21st, 2012
11:49 pm

Not completely confident, but he is not exactly the biggest cause for concern on the team…

nolie

May 21st, 2012
11:49 pm

nite oh sensitive one…

richbrave

May 21st, 2012
11:49 pm

DOWN ON THE FARM

GWINNETT

G-Men four hit by the RED WINGS and fall 1-10. The starting pitching was….well, the result was 6 earned of the 10 runs scored for ROCHESTER, and you know who started.

RHSP JAIR JURRGENS [L 2-2, 6.10 ERA] 4.1 IP, 11 H, 1 HR, 7 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO. Phew!

RHRP BUDDY CARLISLE [1.68 ERA] 1.2 IP, 3 H, zeros, 1 SO. BUDDY comes on and extinguishes the blaze begun by JJ.

RHRP JAYE CHAPMAN [2.66 ERA] 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 HR, 2 R/ER, 0 BB, 2 SO.

RHRP JASON RICE [3.38 ERA] 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 0 SO.

1B ERNESTO MEJIA [.305 BA] 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR [7], 1 RBI [32].

LF CHRIS MARRERO [.245 BA] 1-3, 1 2B [7], 1 SO.

RF STEF GARTRELL [.258 BA] 1-3, 2 SO.

SS JOSH WILSON [.234 BA] 1-3, 1 SO.

MISSISSIPPI

Bandits roll and smoke TENNESSEE tonight 8-5.

Lead-off CF TODD CUNNINGHAM [.328 BA] 2-4, 2 RBI [11], 1 BB, 1 SO, 1 SB [6].

SS AL SIMMONS [.285 BA] 1-4, 1 R, 1 SO, 1 SAC.

2B PHIL GOSSELIN [.258 BA] 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI [17]

3B JOE LEONARD [.255 BA] 1-2, 1 RBI [17], 2 BB.

RF CORY HARRILCHAK [.190 BA] 1-4

C MATT KENNELLY [.235 BA] 2-4

LF/3B ALDEN CARRITHERS [.286 BA] 2-4, 1 R

PH TIM SMITH [.500 BA] 1-1, 1 R

PH BARRETT KLEINKNECHT [.183 BA] 1-1, 1 R, 1 2B [6], 1 RBI [7].

RHSP DAVID HALE [4.35 ERA] 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 HR, 4 R/ER, 3 BB, 3 SO. Not a good outing.

LHS/RP LUIS AVILAN [W 1-2, 2.59 ERA] 3.0 IP, 2 H, zeros, 2 BB, 2 SO. AVILAN appears to be a good LH long-reliever.

RHRP MARK LAMM [2.79 ERA] 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 0 SO. MARK didn’t have it tonight.

LYNCHBURG

No game scheduled.

ROME

Postponed.

Brava

May 21st, 2012
11:50 pm

Lawton, yeah, I saw your earlier post. I also hope Minor can figure it out, of course. Just can’t say I have much confidence that will happen.

nolie

May 21st, 2012
11:50 pm

who ARE those people???

ChattTownBrian (CTB)

May 21st, 2012
11:53 pm

I’m a sensitive boy. Somebody is mean to me here and I’m soon in the corner of the room in a ball with my pink tissue wiping away tears of heartache. My emotions run deep.

Brava

May 21st, 2012
11:54 pm

Wayne, I agree with your assessment. Also, think Gearrin may be a good asset for the pen.

Brava

May 21st, 2012
11:55 pm

Durbin has pitched well lately, but I also lack confidence in him. I watch each pitch expecting a disaster to happen. :)

cabravesfan

May 21st, 2012
11:56 pm

I’m calling it a night…

Bye all!

nolie

May 21st, 2012
11:57 pm

nite cab, I still don’t like the ending of The Finder :(

Brava

May 21st, 2012
11:58 pm

Brava

May 22nd, 2012
12:01 am

nolie, I think they will, too. He’s being given all the chances in the world to turn it around. I really hope he can.

nolie

May 22nd, 2012
12:04 am

me too Brava, I have never thought he was gonna be anything real special but I also never thought he was gonna have this kinda trouble. I do know that we remarked on his attitude/body language a couple of the games we saw him struggle in at Vandy

DS1

May 22nd, 2012
12:21 am

The Arby’s chicken salad sandwich is actually pretty good.

All we need from our 4th and 5th starters is to pitch .500 ball; keep us in games.

ChattTownBrian (CTB)

May 22nd, 2012
12:23 am

He looks scared on the mound.

Veer

May 22nd, 2012
1:06 am

Sounds funny now that Wren wanted a Grienke like return for Jurrjens.

Veer

May 22nd, 2012
1:10 am

So much for all the pitching depth bloggers and management claimed we have.
We are stuck with Minor and can’t find anyone to replace him?
If we were the Padres then I could see patience being the answer but we are in the toughest division in MLB history of past 10 years and we have to stick with Minor and an unproven Delgado?

Bobby H

May 22nd, 2012
1:32 am

Veer

Cheer up! Things could always be worse.

Think how bad it would be to be a blogger stuck on here with you.

David O'Brien

May 22nd, 2012
1:52 am

Can I see some more comparisions, DOB, about how Mike Minor will be the next Tom Glavine please? — Michael G.

Sure, but let’s give it a few days at least before we write more on that subject. But that for the suggestion.

Bob in Conyers, you’re up next. What’cha got to complain about with this first-place team? Fire away.

Ward

May 22nd, 2012
2:23 am

Hello everyone! Minor did make it to the 6th inning, and allowed only 4 runs this time. I think Braves just need to keep sending Minor out there,He will only get better.

Add your comment