Furcal, others aren’t making Braves look bad so far
Here's former Brave Rafael Furcal, presumably looking for a batting helmet to smash. (AP photo)
So I’m heading out to the Braves game today to attempt to assess where this team is at the end of another homestand. (Dime-store analysis: 29-29 overall, 15-16 at home. They’re pretty average.)
But I started wondering something: With all the focus since this winter on all the players the Braves DIDN’T get, compounded by the early failures of Jordan Schafer (.204 before being bussed to Gwinnett), the seeming indifference of Garret Anderson (also a .254 average) and the reality check concerning Kenshin Kawakami (he cost how much?), are the Braves missing much with the guys who aren’t here?
Here’s a rundown of a few, in no particular order:
♦ A.J. Burnett, pitcher, New York Yankees: It has been no loss so far — for the Braves. He signed for five years and $82.5 million with the Yankees, which was way more than any other team was going to pay. Oops. He’s 4-3 with a 4.89 ERA, and he’s been somewhat of a train wreck lately. He’s 0-1 with a 12.91 ERA in two games against Boston — games that are kind of important in New York — and had a meltdown Tuesday night when he was yanked after giving up five runs and five walks in 2 2/3 innings in a 7-0 loss to the Red Sox. Burnett actually started walking to the dugout long before Joe Girardi reached the mound and didn’t even stop to talk or look at the manager. When he got to the dugout, he punted the orange water cooler. Burnett later: ”I’m not the first person to kick over a water cooler.” No, dude. Just probably the richest.
♦ Rafael Furcal, shortstop, Los Angeles: I’m sure you’ll recall the “He’s coming back!”/”He’s not coming back!” exchange between the Braves and Furcal, which sparked denials from his agent that a deal ever was done and claims by team president John Schuerholz that the team will never again deal with clients from that agency (which, by the way, could be in violation of the CBA or some sort of labor laws). But things have cooled down a bit since then. Good thing. Because Furcal hasn’t exactly been worth all of the furor. He’s hitting only .244 with an on-base percentage of .310 for the Dodgers, which is not what Joe Torre wants near the top of the batting order. Furcal is coming off back surgery last year, and he also has missed some time with a strain buttocks muscle. Furcal didn’t quite pull a Burnett the other day, but close. He shattered a batting helmet. I’m still not quite sure if he spiked it, crushed it with a bat or just ran head first into the wall. After Furcal hit .167 on a recent six-game road trip, Torre noted the obvious to the L.A. Times: “He’s getting frustrated. There’s no question. Right now I think it’s just [being] overanxious. Physically, he seems fine.”
♦ Jake Peavy, pitcher, San Diego: Yeah they could use him. He’s a power pitcher the team could use (92 strikeouts and 28 walks in 81.2 innings). He’s 6-6 with a 3.97 ERA but he’s win four of his last 5 starts on a pretty average team. Logic says he makes the Braves better than average. But the fact Peavy hasn’t gone anywhere yet –the Padres never traded him before the season and Peavy recently rejected a trade to the Chicago White Sox — could be some solace for Frank Wren.
♦ Andruw Jones, outfield/DH, Texas: The Braves considered bringing Jones back as a non-roster player but decided against it. He ended up going to Texas, ostensibly to work with hitting guru Rudy Jaramillo, and he made the team as a back up center fielder and designated hitter. Jones got off to a phenomenal start. In early May he was hitting .340 with an uncommon .500 on-base percentage (he actually had more walks, with 14, than strikeouts, 10). But Jones has slid since. He wound up hitting only .245 in May and has started this month going one for 12. When you’re a part-time player, numbers can change dramatically. Jones’ current stats: .258 average, .340 OBP, five homers, 15 RBI.
♦ Josh Anderson, outfield, Detroit: Just throwing him in here because he would’ve started the season in center field if the Braves didn’t decide to promote Jordan Schafer (or, for whatever reason, kept both). The Braves dealt Anderson to Detroit for a prospect because he was out of options. Anderson has mostly platooned in left field for the Tigers and been a nice addition. He’s hitting .261 and, here’s the big thing: He has 14 stolen bases, which is only three less than the Braves have had all season.
(LATE ADDITION: GEEZ. HOW COULD I FORGET….)
♦ Ken Griffey, Jr., DH, Seattle: You’ve got to be pretty bad to make Garret Anderson look good. And Griffey is. He’s hitting .208, although he has more home runs (six) than Anderson (three). Predictably, he also has only 154 at-bats, which places him seventh on the Mariners, having sat out 14 of 59 games to rest is broken down body. If Seattle wants him, they can have him.
So a question to you in the blogosphere:
Are you upset about the Braves not having any of the above players in the lineup?
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147 comments Add your comment
mitch
June 11th, 2009
7:56 am
Who, me? I just want to be first.
Jeff Schultz
June 11th, 2009
8:18 am
You’ve always been No. 1 with me, Mitch. (I’m sorry. Who are you?)
NC Braves Fan
June 11th, 2009
8:29 am
I think mitch may be the Hot Phone Sex Princess. Or not.
Good points all, Jeff. Save for grabbing a good, power-hitting OF this winter, the Braves seem to have done pretty well for themselves overall.
That said, average (and terribly boring to watch at times) sounds about right for Les Bravos in the current construction.
Atticus
June 11th, 2009
8:34 am
You forgot one situation Jeff. Garret Anderson sucks. While the Phillies got Ibanez, the Braves went after a loafing player that hits no home runs and has no speed. That decision cost us ANOTHER year missing the playoffs. They should’ve gone after Adam Dunn or ANYBODY that is hitting better than Anderson. This team has NO CHANCE to make the playoffs without a big hitter. You have 3 players that have contirbuted NOTHING in the lineup, Francouer, KJ and Garret. You can’t win with five hitters. Plug Norton in until Kotch is back and that makes 4.
Hot Phone Sex Princess
June 11th, 2009
8:39 am
To answer your question, Jeff, no, I’m not unhappy that those players are not here.
And to NC Braves Fan, there is only one HPSP and it ain’t mitch.
Jeff Schultz
June 11th, 2009
8:47 am
Attitucs — I agree, particular on Dunn. Don’t suppose $$$ had anything to do with that, do you?
Hot Phone Sex Princess — I need to talk to you about some charges on my last bill. Is it cheaper if I get you in my Friends and Family Plan?
Hot Phone Sex Princess
June 11th, 2009
8:56 am
You know where to find me, however the caller is responsible for all charges incurred during the course of the transaction.
Mac
June 11th, 2009
8:57 am
If I remember correctly, the Braves players were pushing for Derek Lowe when the Braves were chasing Burnette. Thank God for those darn Yankees.
And, didn’t the Braves offer a Japanese pitcher before Kawakami? I’m pretty sure they did. Who was that guy, where is he and how is he doing?
NYCBrave
June 11th, 2009
8:59 am
Nice article Jeff. I would say the Braves haven’t missed any of these guys with the exception of Peavy perhaps, but they tried to to get him.
You could always think of how a change of setting would affect a player’s stats, etc, but that gets you nowhere. Although I think Andruw in a Braves uniform would either be hitting about .163 or have been released already.
NC Braves Fan
June 11th, 2009
9:00 am
HPSP – nice gig! Schultz wants to make you one of his “ten sprinkles” (if you’ve seen the commercial).
Corliss
June 11th, 2009
9:08 am
Garret Anderson=Claudell Washington reincarnated. Need I say more?
Ted Striker
June 11th, 2009
9:18 am
Speaking of missed opportunities, I think the Braves should have treated Mike Hampton like an ‘87 corvette, and just parted him out when someone else on the roster was aching. (Not that those parts would come with a warranty)
TommyP
June 11th, 2009
9:23 am
As always, great article.
What makes all of these players’ struggles all the bit more frustrating is the fact that these guys were the top choices for Wren. Mainly Burnett.
Peavy would’ve cost a king’s ransom and then they go after Burnett for some inexplicable reason. Lowe finally falls into their laps. What if the Mets had done the right thing and signed Lowe? What would’ve been the fall back plan for Wren?
I think your headline needs to be changed. They ARE making Wren look bad ’cause those were the guys he had at the top of his list.
Alan
June 11th, 2009
9:24 am
Its refreshing to see a team like Pittsburg that doesn’t stand a chance to win anything play as hard as they do, on the other hand we have a guy at shortstop who thinks he is god’s gift and seems be be somewhere else when he is in the field.
I watch other teams go up to bat and if nothing else they make the pitcher work to get them out where as KJ, Frenchy and Yunel never seem to think in those terms, its like they are scared to wait for the right pitch, can’t they take a moment and watch Chipper in the box, it cost nothing and they just might learn how to hit.
I have to wonder when Terry is working with these hitters if he trys to get then to understand, if he does the message is getting lost, which brings us back to Bobby.
Corliss
June 11th, 2009
9:25 am
As for Jordan Schafer=Brad Kommisk. When the bases are loaded, I’d rather have Rick Camp at the plate. Also,this is the perfect time to trade Frenchy: maybe he & JS can trade stories about being sent back to the farm in spite of all of their “potential.”
paul
June 11th, 2009
9:29 am
Watching a bit of the Yanks Red Sox last night after the Bravos and noticed Nick Swisher with .256 / 12HR/ +30RBI. He plays right field and made an amazing defensive play… *Sigh*
Jeff Schultz
June 11th, 2009
9:33 am
HOT PHONE SEX PRINCESS: This is getting too complicated. Like all relationships.
NYCBRAVE — I’d still take Peavy. Nothing against Lowe but I love a power guy at the top of the rotation.
MAC: First I heard of there being another Japanese pitcher. Maybe DOB knows but I missed that.
TOMMYP: Hah! Hadn’t thought about that as the headline.
ALAN: I agree. It’s always fun to watch young/hungry teams that play hard even when they know realistically they’re not going anywhere. But I think that’s why the Braves’ trade ticked them off so much. It’s like, ‘Why take our only All-Star?’
CORLISS: Schafer=Kommisk. OMG, I hope not. And Rick Camp. You go back a few years, don’t you?
Jeff Schultz
June 11th, 2009
9:36 am
PAUL: Yeah, and have you seen Swisher’s girlfriend? Wow.
http://www.wagrankings.com/catherine-panagiotopoulos
paul
June 11th, 2009
9:45 am
We will / do have a power guy in the rotation in Mr. Hanson.
Baseball players obtain unfairly attractive women.
Corliss
June 11th, 2009
9:45 am
Jeff, you can’t be a true Braves fan unless you remember the bad times(i.e, the failed Nick Esasky/Rico Brogna experiments@1B, lest I forget about a washed up Chris Chambliss,trading Brett Butler)too. I hate front-runners who call themselves “fans.” If people thought Skip Caray was acerbic, they should have heard him THEN. Good work, Jeff.
VaBravesfan
June 11th, 2009
10:02 am
Paul: He also made a terrible defensive play, but i see your point.
NC Braves Fan
June 11th, 2009
10:07 am
TommyP re: your 9:23 … I think what’s worse than the FA stuff Wren tried to do is the fact that we have glaring holes in several lineup spots and absolutely no one who can come up from the minors to bail them out. No-one. Everyone that is slotted as a replacement is at least a year away from the bigs.
I don’t know that the team would be significantly worse off if Wren had been able to sign all his top-choice FAs at this point.
PMC
June 11th, 2009
10:10 am
It’s just odd that it’s been X number of years and they still are struggling to find an everyday left fielder. It seems like they simply abandoned speed altoegther. Watching McCutchon fly around makes you miss that speed in Center and honestly a couple days of McClouths arm makes me think perhaps he’s a better fit for Left. The entire outfield has been kind of a mess the last few years. It’s really odd that with all the pitching these guys get they don’t ever seem to find outfielders with ANY speed untill this year I guess with the guy from Dade county. Maybe Roy could go watch the kids catch rabbits in Pahokee too and see if he can’t get a few to come play baseball. If the Pirates can scout India surely we can scout south Florida.
PMC
June 11th, 2009
10:15 am
I think Jeff Francouer has pretty much run out of potential at this point too. Sorry, 4 years in, he IS a .240 hitter and essentially a defensive outfielder. Unless he FINALLY starts swinging at pitches in the strike zone all he will ever be is a pretty good defensive right fielder with a cannon arm. He is a liability at the plate and in the line up. He is what he is at this point.
Mac
June 11th, 2009
10:24 am
Got it, Jeff. Before the Braves signed Kawakami, they offered a major league contract to 22-year-old right hander Junichi Tazawa, who signed with the Red Sox and is, I believe, now in their minor league system.
FIRE COX!!!
June 11th, 2009
10:40 am
Garret Anderson is a slug!! Anyone else see him “walk” after balls hit in the gap? I would have shown him the door after Mondays game with the pirates but good ole Bobby loves his old players…..
court
June 11th, 2009
10:42 am
I have less of a problem with not getting the guys on this list than I do with not making a run at guys like Jermaine Dye.
Francoeur hasn’t gotten any better since the league found out he can’t hit a breaking pitch of any kind, and letting him get away with all that whining last year was enough for me to want to get rid of him and take a run at Dye.
How the heck do you compare Shafer and Komminsk ? Komminsk wasn’t a leadoff hitter.
This team has more problems than a few guys they didn’t get in the off season. We have a manager who, when it looks like his team is getting some momemtum, allows a .100 hitter to go to the plate with 2 outs in the 9th after getting a home run to get within a run. This “it’s only one game” attitude has cost the team a lot of post season games.
sad brotha
June 11th, 2009
10:43 am
How is Tex doing in New York?
Brian not a Braves fan
June 11th, 2009
10:46 am
Jeff,
I think the Braves made a huge mistake and signed both Kenshin Kawakami and Garrett Anderson. Kawakami can’t seem to find the plate, and Anderson is over his prime years. As for fixing the Team, I think Francouer must be traded, I hate to say that, b/c he is a great kid, but he is too much like Brad Komminsk. (sorry to drag up an OLD name). I also think its time to get rid of Kotchman. He is a corner infielder that does not hit for power. See any problem with that??
Chris
June 11th, 2009
10:47 am
PMC, agree with you that McLouth is better suited to left field. Hopefully when (if?) Schafer gets healthy and gets his swing back, he will be back in center next year with McLouth in left and G. Anderson sitting on a beach somewhere. Then they have to figure out right field.
Brian not a Braves fan
June 11th, 2009
10:48 am
and one more thing. Swisher’s GF is on the cover of a Dave Matthews Band Cd. Always wondered who she was.. WOW!!
NC Braves Fan
June 11th, 2009
10:49 am
Chris – my guess is that right field will be “figured out” before July 31.
DR
June 11th, 2009
10:49 am
Who cares?
Michael J
June 11th, 2009
10:50 am
Good article Jeff – one measure of how effective Braves trades have been over the years would be to look at what we have given up, and what we have gotten in return. Seems we let good talent go for little or nothing, and then either release players or they just don’t pan out. We gave the Dodgers Furcal & Betemit, with nothing in return. We gave up Salty & Andrus for Tex, knowing that we would never keep Tex because his agent is Boras. I could keep going – Marquis, Millwood, DeRosa, Dye, etc. The Braves braintrust is broken. We got lucky with having three Hall of Famers on our staff in the 90’s, plus other great arms. Once those guys were allowed to go, the team really has not been that much of a force. The farm is weak. Hanson has great promise, but who else is down there that can help? Heyward possibly, and thats it. We’ve given up too much over the years and have received little in return.
Herschworld
June 11th, 2009
10:51 am
Jeff you still look like a retarded Andy Dick and your still a worthless Hack of a journalist EKKKHH you make me sick
Dawg Fan
June 11th, 2009
10:54 am
Who would be better for the braves right now Andrew Jones or Greg Norton? I think we all know the answer to that. Norton is awfull this year.
Braves Fan
June 11th, 2009
11:02 am
They are still just a half team with no reasonable prospect for challenging the Mets or Phillies. They have Jones, Escobar, McCann and McClouth and little else except on rare occasions. That was especially the case in the 3 – 2 loss last night to the Pirates.
Sam Everyman, Citizen Journalist
June 11th, 2009
11:03 am
“This team has more problems than a few guys they didn’t get in the off season. We have a manager who, when it looks like his team is getting some momemtum, allows a .100 hitter to go to the plate with 2 outs in the 9th after getting a home run to get within a run. This “it’s only one game” attitude has cost the team a lot of post season games.” – court
I think Court is right. How many times do they get something going only to have Bobby fail to act and not give them the best chance at a win? Everytime Francoeur goes to the plate is a wasted opportunity. Nothing new here. Last year he failed with the bases loaded, how many times? Now it’s the same with Norton. This Norton is more like the guy who worked in the sewers than one of the best pinch hitters in baseball.
Getting the same results time after time? Try something different. Like the AJC . . . splashes of color in the paper and more frequent blogging from Jeff and Mark. Trying something different.
Bobby might win more games by improving chances for a successful outcome. Oh, yeah, Bobby’s a legend but if he made moves that would increase the chance of something good happening maybe it would excite the players who expect more of the same. Francoeur spends less time at the plate than anyone I can ever recall – including many pitchers.
Homer
June 11th, 2009
11:06 am
Retarded Andy Dick, that’s hilarious. FIRE SCHULTZ!!!
Biscuit
June 11th, 2009
11:08 am
Doesn’t matter, you could put Tony Gwynn in our lineup and Terry Pendelton will find a way to muck him up.
Chris
June 11th, 2009
11:09 am
NC Braves fan, I just don’t see them being able to move Francoer this year. Who would take him for anything other than non-prospects? He does plays good defense, has a great arm. That might be all we can expect.
Paul W
June 11th, 2009
11:13 am
Too little has been said about Garrett Andersen. How can a “professional”, as he has been touted, be so lackadaisical and indifferent on offense and defense. He looks loke he really wants to be somewhere else- I think we should oblige him.
And poor Frenchy is a head case- we owe it to him and the Braves fans to let him go find himself somewhere else.
Hoosier Aaron
June 11th, 2009
11:14 am
As they say, some of the best deals are the ones you don’t make.
Just for the fun of it…go to mlb.com pitching stats…compare the stats of Jake Peavy to Javy Jazquez…..I’m just sayin’….
I’ll match our Top Three starters against ANY in baseball.
Now we need to do something about 5 through 8 in our batting order.
NC Braves Fan
June 11th, 2009
11:14 am
Chris – I can’t remember if Francouer has an option left or not. If so, the minors could be an option.
I think it’s a situation the Braves are going to solve soon no matter what the outcome may look like.
B12JONEAL
June 11th, 2009
11:21 am
GA is going to help us get back to the playoff just wait.The braves havent had their full lineup in their an chipper has had nagging injury.if frenchy starts getting hits an some homeruns we are ok.I been an angles fan for a while. GA always starts out slow but he will end up with 17-20 homeruns an 80-90 RBI.so the braves just have to put it together.they just need a good bat off the bench an thats Omar.
NRBraindead
June 11th, 2009
11:22 am
Trade Frenchy and Jo-Jo to The Rockies for Hawpe.
Sam Everyman, Citizen Journalist
June 11th, 2009
11:23 am
I pretty much understood that 11:21 post. I am beginning to fit in here. Jeff, you do some amazing work.
Blackberry Cobbler
June 11th, 2009
11:28 am
With exception of Chipper, McCann, and McLouth the Braves are nothing but average players. Average players = average team = .500 record. Simple math.
The pitching has been better than last year……… but that ain’t saying much. It’s still woefully inconsistent.
Francoeur, Anderson, and Kelly Johnson are jokes. Escobar, although a decent SS and decent bat, is as dumb as a brick…….. i.e. base running and fielding mental errors.
For all the “improvements” supposedly made in the off-season and including the recent addition of McLouth (he’s a good player but not a super player), the Braves are still very much an “average” team.
After this next road trip, the NL East race will be a dream for the Braves……. they’ll be double-digits out of the lead. Thanks Frank Wren and Booby Cox.
semiballcoach
June 11th, 2009
11:28 am
anderson would have to improve to be as bad as claudell
Rusty
June 11th, 2009
11:29 am
Bring back Bob Horner @ 3rd and move Chipper to left.
semiballcoach
June 11th, 2009
11:29 am
the only way GA can get us into the playoffs is by buying tickets for
semiballcoach
June 11th, 2009
11:30 am
us
power hitter
June 11th, 2009
11:30 am
anyone think a trade for Dan Uggla would make sense? Power hitting righty who could be plugged into the 5 hole, stablizing that spot (anyone else not enjoy having to shuffle our lineup because the catcher rests every day game?)
Other sulutions: there aren’t many.
I keep hearing dunn’s name mentioned, and kind of agree.
I feel yunel has cost us 3-5 wins by his defense being the worst its ever been (7 errors in 49 games…) and i remember 2 baserunning errors in the last week and a half that have caused errors.
While I’m on him, watch him in the box. When he gets a hit, he throws his bat away as he starts to run, but if he is going to get out, he doesn’t throw it hard, if at all…it is very interesting.
I agree that we need more speed and power in the outfield, but Dunn only provides one of those. The problem here is that guys with everything (grady Sizemore, etc. are hard to come by and very expensive.
We also need better infield defense, which negates my idea for Uggla, so this isn’t exactly a one-trade-and-we’ve-solved-our-problems kind of thing.
And while I’m on Defense as well, Chipper has 9 errors, the second most in baseball….
Rusty
June 11th, 2009
11:32 am
Power hitter, Oh yea the errors! What’s up with that? Bring back bobblin Bob. And Claudell..
Werd Cleaver, Beaver's Dad
June 11th, 2009
11:32 am
Frenchy should become a high school baseball coach or a fireman. Both are honorable positions and do not require plate discipline. He can teach the kids how to be “aggressive” (read undisciplined) or he can work the lights and siren. He seems better suited to either job than to a major league batter’s box. Rally killer . Now Norton is becoming a rally killer, too. Schafer is gone . . .
BigHittas
June 11th, 2009
11:33 am
FINALLY~!
An AJC colunmnist that makes some sense. Nice rundown on the Bravos Schultz. Sounds like you’re in a pickle with the princess?
Dr.R
June 11th, 2009
11:34 am
The Braves’ problems aren’t tied to free agency, who they did or didn’t get. Lowe was a nice pickup, as was Vazquez, and Kawakami has had moments. The Renteria for Jurrjens trade is perhaps Wren’s best. And even Kotchman has been OK, if no Texeira. The problem, I think, is with the homegrown players. They aren’t panning out. Francoeur. Kelly Johnson, Shafer (so far), JoJo Reyes, Chuck James, etc., all have failed to live up to expectations so far. You can’t build a team around players from outside your organization, unless you want to spend like the Sox and Yankees. The farm system has fallen off in recent years rather badly, and other than Escobar and McCann, hasn’t turned out much. And since the days of Avery, Smoltz, Glavine, et al, what top-level pitcher has come out of the organization? Adam Wainwright, but he’s in St. Louis. That was the backbone of the team’s success in the 90s and it’s not there now. And agreed, Garrett Anderson is a disgrace. He’s an aging DH who can’t run or play left field and he doesn’t hit enough to justify putting him out there. Time to get rid of Frenchy and Kelly for whatever you can get and move on. I can see McLouth in right, Shafer in center and Heyward in left by late next year.
Russell
June 11th, 2009
11:34 am
How about instead of signing Kawakami and G. Anderson, you use that money to sign Adam Dunn, keep Glavine, and promote Hanson earlier in the season. I think that makes a better Braves team. Think of this lineup with Dunn hitting cleanup!
Sam
June 11th, 2009
11:34 am
Schultz you seriously need to get yourself a Copy Editor.
All I'm Saying
June 11th, 2009
11:37 am
Obviously, we should have not gotten ahead of ourselves and we should have kept Josh Anderson (you didn’t say what his On Base Percentage was but then that would have required research) and instead sent Jordan Shafer down to Triple AAA. But then again, we would not have Nate who is better than both of them.
The best deals sometimes are those not done so (1) not signing Griffey is looking good (despite what Garrett has provided), (2) not signing Burnett is looking stellar, and (3) not giving up a bunch of young talent for Peavy was and still is the smartest move (as pitching is not our primary issue) we didn’t make.
As far as I’m concerned, we need to (a) see if we can get anything for Frenchy at the trade deadline as he has topped out; and (b) aside from the aforementioned, wait and see what this team can do now that we have a legitimate lead-off batter with some speed. Go Nate!
JayDubu
June 11th, 2009
11:37 am
B12JONEAL, Chipper and/or MaCann will be pressed to end up with 80 – 90 RBI, and you expect GA to? Mac led the Braves last season with 87. The Braves don’t hit in that well in the clutch.
In order for GA to finish at that level, he’s going to have a trememdous rest of the season.
Whitey Nichols
June 11th, 2009
11:37 am
I said it before and I will say it again, ” .500 baseball ain’t gonna get it done “.
T.O
June 11th, 2009
11:39 am
WREN SUCKS!! BOTTOM LINE. Who would you rather give 8 million to? Kawakami or Ibanez? Kawakami is the one of the worst signs the Braves have made in awhile. He’s complete garbage. He’ll finish up 6-14 with a 4.50 ERA while Ibanez will be earning MVP Votes. Yes I understand that his huge numbers couldn’t have been predicted but he’s been averaging 21 bombs a year and still has some pop left. He was the only power hitting outfielder available that we could have signed but instead we gave that money to an unproven player who has never pitched in the big leagues. What a joke. Love the McClouth sign but still need another big bat and we could have had it if WREN had a clue what he was doing.
Russell
June 11th, 2009
11:40 am
The Kawakami siging just doesn’t make sense. Why not use that money on a proven MAJOR LEAGUE pitcher? They could have had Randy Wolf for less money. He might not be great, but would have provided innings and at least decent pitching. Kawakami was to unknown/unproven to give that kind of money to for a club that pinches pennies, and won’t even pay to keep Glavine/Smoltz!
Dr.R
June 11th, 2009
11:40 am
Dunn’s a stat guy. Hits big homers but usually just drives in himself, and he gives up more runs defensively than he provides on offense. Not the answer. The Braves already are the slowest team in the league and need more athletes, not just big goons who strike out a lot. That was the MO of the teams of the 70s and 80s and you see how that went.
I’m also wondering how people blame Bobby Cox for this. Let me explain to you college football goobers that he doesn’t go out and recruit the players in his lineup. It’s the organization’s job to draft, sign and develop players. Bobby fills out the lineup card with the hand he’s been given, and it’s pretty weak. You can criticize him for this move or that, but he doesn’t have a lot of options. The guy is a Hall of Fame manager who any other team in baseball would love to have, but the baseball-ignorant Atlanta fans won’t appreciate him until he’s long gone and the latest Russ Nixon clone is running the team into the ground.
B12JONEAL
June 11th, 2009
11:43 am
we have a good lineup when everybody is in their MC.ESCO.CHIPPER.BMAC GA.KOCHMAN.KJ AN FRENCHY.you cant beat that with a stick.Everybody just be pat.GA is coming around wit the power BOBBY shouldnt sit him because he was on a roll an BOBBY sat him a game.He can hit leffty well so hopely 2day he will start.
Dr.R
June 11th, 2009
11:49 am
“Beat that with a stick.” Dude, Anderson, Kelly and Frenchy couldn’t bust open a pinata with a Louisville Slugger. What sport are you watching? Braves have too many guys who give away at-bats jumping at pitchers’ pitches. They don’t work the counts and get on base enough. McLouth is a good step in that direction, but he’s just one guy. That gives them 3, 4 decent hitters at the top of the lineup but nothing after that (and Chip’s dinged up half the time).
Terry Harper
June 11th, 2009
11:51 am
Corliss: I knew Claudell Washington. Claudell was a friend of mine. Trust me Corliss, Garrett Anderson is no Claudell Washington.
Garrett Anderson’s attitude reminds me of Kenny Lofton without the talent. Actually I’ve heard that Garrett was a fine player in his prime but has never been the same since they lowered the pitcher’s mound in ‘69.
BTW, anyone remember when I dislocated my shoulder waving a runner in? Ah yes, one crazy summer indeed!
Anonymous Braves Left Fielder
June 11th, 2009
11:53 am
I think Garrett Anderson is doing a great job. I would list all the reasons, but I am really tired. Typing is hard. Sleepy.
Hoosier Aaron
June 11th, 2009
11:55 am
Kotch is out….Prado is banged up….Norton is hitting .100.
Why not give Barbaro Canizares who is hitting .344 at Gwinnett two weeks at first?
See if he can hit at this level…obviously has no problem raking Triple A pitching….
Some have had his glove keeps him out of the Bigs…AL teams need a DH if he can show he can hit.
We can’t keep sending Norton out there.
Dr.R
June 11th, 2009
11:57 am
I wouldn’t care how laid-back the guys is if he were hitting and could get to a ball in left field. That whole run-around, intensity crap doesn’t translate into production. Y’all just like that ‘cuz it reminds you of Bulldog special teams players.
As for Kenny Lofton, he was on a playoff team nearly every year of his long career, so the guy was doing something right. Let’s look at the results, Bubba, not whether the guy fits in with the old boys down at the VFW.
B12JONEAL
June 11th, 2009
12:00 pm
I here you DR.R.But just wait you will see.the braves are going to win the next 4 seris.GARRETT is going to get hot he will hit a homerun in each seris just watch
Mine This Bird
June 11th, 2009
12:03 pm
I’d rather have Tubbo Jones in the outfield than that brat Francouer.
Dr.R
June 11th, 2009
12:04 pm
Well, it’s good to have faith. And a dictionary. I hope you’re right, but I’m not putting any money on it. I watched this team during the lean years decades ago and I see it slipping back in that direction. But if Hanson pans out and Hudson comes back, that’s a dang nice pitching staff to start next season with. If they can jettison a few weak bats and shore up the corner OF spots, there’s hope.
Jeff Schultz
June 11th, 2009
12:05 pm
PMC – no question the timeline is getting shorter.
FireCox – yeah, I’m not a big fan of Mr. Anderson, as you’ve probably gathered.
Sad brotha – Teixeira is doing very well. But he didn’t really fit into this discussion since the Braves traded him last season to the Angels and were never really going to re-sign him in free agency ($$$).
Herschworld – And I love you, too.
Sam – I think they should just keep changing up the color of my face and Bradley’s face every blog. You know. Like an Andy Warhol effect.
Homer – You and Hersch roommates?
Bighittas – Just playing hard to get. Wait. Did I just write that?
Paul
June 11th, 2009
12:10 pm
Alan,
How could you be calling out Yunel. He is high spirited and gives everything and hitting over 300. One of the few bright spots for the Braves.
joe
June 11th, 2009
12:11 pm
guys and gals,
I’m no expert, but I’ve been watching G.A. very closely, and at first I believed the “loafing” sentiments that are expressed here often. When the season started, I thought he was somewhere else mentally. But the more I watch, I think hes just a laid back dude. I’ve seen some video of him in Anaheim, where he “loved” to play and he doesn’t look any different. He might have had a quicker bat when he was younger, and ran a hair faster, but his expressions are the same. I’ve seen him smiling and carrying on with the guys in the dugout in Atlanta. so if he hasnt changed that much from Anaheim to the real A-town, then it stands to reason that he is trying hard, because you dont have a career like he’s had without giving a damn. He’s not the fastest or the best hitter, by a long shot, but I think some of us are selling him short of character.
B12JONEAL
June 11th, 2009
12:11 pm
DR.R what do you think the braves need to get the wild card spot.i dont think we need to trade GA OR frenchy WHAT you think
BarbaroCanizares
June 11th, 2009
12:11 pm
Hoosier Aaron, I appreciate your vote of confidence. Maybe if you guys keep the heat on Frank Wren, he’ll give me a shot. Hey, I understand his hesitance. I mean, Casey Kotchman has been killing the ball. And look at all of those home runs he has hit. Atlanta probably doesn’t need another bat right now, so I can see how they are waiting. Too much hitting could be a bad thing.
joe
June 11th, 2009
12:13 pm
They just brought up Canizares, so some of you have had your wet dreams fulfilled. Hope he’s as good as everyone thinks he is.
CoastalDawg
June 11th, 2009
12:13 pm
Why is it that some people always bring the blame back to Jeff Francoeur? Surely he is not living up to “potential” (whatever that might be) but he’s not the only Brave to just be “average” at this stage of the game at the plate. He’s good in the field, has an arm that can throw out runners from his position in right field. His batting average has dropped again but so have many other Braves players. I can’t see that Francoeur has cost any games ala Kelly Johnson and Yunel Escobar and even Chipper Jones with sometimes somewhat casual play at their fielding positions. So get off his back and let him play ball. What other right fielder who is as good fielding and good with the bat might even be considered? Frank Wren’s legacy, in my opinion, will be the treatment that he gave Tom Glavine – to say that it wasn’t all about the money doesn’t jive with the fact that the trade for Nate McLouth was announced that very same day with figures similar to the total that Glavine was promised based on his performance, which of course he never got to show. Not only did Wren mistreat Glavine in a stunning way, the fans had been promised, the TEAM had been promised that Tom Glavine would pitch his first major league game this season with the major league Braves. He did everything asked or expected of him, the Braves own website was touting how well his “rehab” was going, yet suddenly when McLouth became available Glavine was shipped in favor of a rookie pitcher who gave up three home runs in his debut. How classless and what pressure to put onto a pitcher who was pitching his first major league game in a spot that should have been Tom Glavine’s. As far as the farm system “falling off” and not producing much in the past few years, that is because the Braves have used the better prospects as trade bait for mostly used up or one season players that go on to other teams. That goes all the way back to Adam Wainwright whom the Braves could desperately use. It will be interesting to see what other awful surprises Frank Wren has in his pocket. His explanation of dumping Glavine so unceremoniously didn’t float well in my humble opinion…I’m beginning to wonder just how much longer I will be hanging with the Braves. The team never gets a chance to get set and gel as a team before another change is made.
B12JONEAL
June 11th, 2009
12:14 pm
GA IS GOING 2 B BIG FOR THE BRAVES FOR THE STRECH RUN WATCH AN SEE
fradz
June 11th, 2009
12:15 pm
‘Bring back Bob Horner?’ Sure and you just heard the name right? Cause Horner was a terrible when his bat mattered. No one on base, ahead by three runs, Horner was great. He and Dale both couldn’t hit a basketball hanging high over the plate when the game was on the line.
BarbaroCanizares
June 11th, 2009
12:18 pm
It is true, your campaign has paid off for me! I’m headed to the big show! Thank you to all the blogging faithful here at the AJC! I won’t let you down! At least, I think I can probably hit as much as my buddy Frenchy! Well, as much as Kelly Johnson. As much as Garrett Anderson! As much as Matt Diaz. Well, I think I can’t do any worse than those guys!
Mine This Bird
June 11th, 2009
12:18 pm
CoastalDawg: TLDR
PS: Francouer is a bum.
fradz
June 11th, 2009
12:19 pm
And if you didn’t suffer though the Bob Horner years, and don’t know what Harper’s talking about with the Kenny Lofton comment, shut the hell up about the Skipper and Shultz. You haven’t been in Atlanta long enought to complain.
Sterling Y. Gershsmith
June 11th, 2009
12:20 pm
Atlanta Braves fans, like Atlanta fans in general, are horrible. Look through and read the comments and there is no appreciation for the team at all. There is only dogging players who aren’t doing well, including the black guy(big surprise down here right?). Well there are real fans Jeff, and we don’t always come on these message boards, but we follow our team for the good and for the bad. We don’t throw players under the bus as easily as those who call themselves fans and post comments on message boards.
Jeff you had some very good points in your article. The Braves do not miss any of those players, though Josh A. or Andrew might have helped. Other than that, we are in the thick of things. Real fans are excited and looking forward. Fairwether fans keep looking back and search for any fault real or imagined.
I say go Braves! And you mealy-mouth player-bashing son of a guns can just go play in the street. We real fans don’t need ya!
joe
June 11th, 2009
12:21 pm
Didn’t we even have BJ Surhoff and Wes Helms over at first at some point? I remember Helms plunking Chipper with a throw across the infield one time.
The Doktor
June 11th, 2009
12:23 pm
IMHO, the best thing they could have done certainly has been proven, which was to do nothing. Let the kidz play and get some experience. 2010 & 2011 should be interesting if things continue to progress along the direction the way it seems to be currently pointing in. Let’s see what happens…
Sterling Y. Gershsmith
June 11th, 2009
12:27 pm
He’s not the fastest or the best hitter, by a long shot, but I think some of us are selling him short of character.
Isn’t it funny how Garret Anderson has respect around the league but not here? If you listen to mlb.com and hear other broadcasters talk, they praise the guy. Also, why can’t the Braves organization and his teammates see his “laziness” or “indifference”? Seems to me that the Braves aren’t paying him a whole lot so if he wasn’t hustling, he wouldn’t be playing as much and if he was just down right “indifferent”, then he’d be off the team?
So what is it that you folks are seeing that baseball and his teammates can’t? Explain please why only a certain segment of the population sees a” lazy” and “indifferent” guy? (Who has similar career numbers to Chipper’s btw, except power numbers and more hits)
Chris
June 11th, 2009
12:28 pm
There was a ball hit the other night that seemed to be in the air for ages. I think it turned out to be a double by the other speedster the Pirates have. As the camera tracked the ball out to the left-centerfield wall, I couldn’t help but think…’Did Garrett forget to go out for the top of the inning?’ Of course I knew it was him before he finally showed up to throw the ball in, because even McCann runs faster.
Here’s what I’d like to see for the rest of the season:
-Release Garrett. Today. Move McClouth there full time. This is going to happen next year anyway, why not now.
-Demote Frenchy. I’m the biggest supporter this guy has left, but he needs to get away for awhile and see if he can sort things out. He has zero trade value, so that’s the only option. Put Diaz in right for the time being.
-Call up Jordan or Brandon when they are ready to play CF. When they are, that’s when Jeff goes to the minors. And for more than a three-day casino weekend in Mississippi this time.
-Give Canizares a shot. Kotchmann and Infante are both down, Norton kills our lineup.
I think the rotation is fine for now.
Fire Cox
June 11th, 2009
12:30 pm
Firing Cox is a necessity. Here we have a manager who was handed a once in a generation, maybe a once in a lifetime starting rotation. Three out of five games, there was a Hall of Famer standing on the mound. Add another Hall of Famer at 3rd base, a center fielder who at the time looked like he might have a HOF career, all supported by some very good players over the years. One World Series to show for it. 14 straight division titles? Big deal. The NL East wasn’t that tough many of those years. What might’ve been with a real manager… Torre, Larussa.. a decent Little League coach…
fradz
June 11th, 2009
12:33 pm
‘Fire Cox?’ Dude go back to whatever rust belt city you come from, and stop trying to act like a fan. Go raise hell about Cleveland.
Homer
June 11th, 2009
12:33 pm
Jeff – Open Mouth, Insert Shotgun, Pull Trigger.
Rusty
June 11th, 2009
12:36 pm
“Sure and you just heard the name right? Cause Horner was a terrible when his bat mattered.” Fradz, what language are you speaking?
joe
June 11th, 2009
12:37 pm
Cox does not do everything right and has his shortcomings. I grant you that. He has flaws. But so does every other human being. Torre and La Russa were both busy with other teams. I suppose you, Mr. Fire Cox, you are a little league coach that presumes you can do better than Bobby? The arrogance from some people is so ridiculous. There is a reason why the players love him and he is respected in the utmost sense across the league. Any Cox detractor is not a Braves fan, or a baseball fan, in my book. And Mr. Fire Cox, you should go see a gynecologist.
Chris
June 11th, 2009
12:38 pm
Hoosier Aaron – all-powerful. We need you to now also suggest that the Braves pull off a trade for Hanley Ramirez for Yunel, and about 2000 indifferent fans.
Go. Only you can do it.
bigstack19
June 11th, 2009
12:42 pm
If any other team had the struggles the Braves offense has had they would’ve fired the hitting coach by now. Kelly has regressed to a platoon player before Omar Infante got hurt. Francoeur has gone from an up and coming star to barely being a major league player. He did nothing to fix Schafer while he was struggling up here. It has been a struggle for the Braves offense since 2006. Pendleton needs to go. He can take Frank Wren too. He had all off-season to fix the outfield and his answer was Garret Anderson. If we needed a DH he would have been great, but he isn’t an everyday outfielder. All of the trade rumors that come up are about the Braves getting more pitching. It doesn’t matter if Cy Young himself starts if you can’t score runs you will lose. Outside of McClouth the two best outfielders at Turner field are Ron Gant and Brian Jordan doing the pregame.
Keeping It Real
June 11th, 2009
12:43 pm
Jeff,
How do the players that the Braves did not get compare to the ones that they have? Also, where are their respective teams in the standings? Are you saying that we are better off with the team we are putting on the field? If so, then baseball is on a severe decline. Maybe that explains why the USA cannot beat Cuba, Japan, The Nederlands(gasp),etc. The NBA and the NFL are putting on better shows than MLB. So much for our national past time.
Atticus
June 11th, 2009
12:44 pm
What people see about Garret is he doesn’t seem to care and perception is reality. I am sure he does, but then why doesn’t he hustle and run out plays at first? Andruw didn’t and Cox benched him. I don’t have a problem with him personally but he wasn’t the right player for this team. I still have a bigger problem with KJ and Francoer’s hitting. Garret may still come around since at least he has a history.