Escobar and the “next wave” are killing Braves
I hope the ball isn't coming at him, because it looks like Yunel Escobar isn't paying attention again. (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)
A few days ago, Yunel Escobar forgot to throw the ball to home, allowing a run to score against Pittsburgh.
On Sunday, Yunel Escobar botched a double play and a run-down play in the first two innings, leading to several runs at Baltimore. Braves manager Bobby Cox became so incensed that he benched his starting shortstop — in the third inning — and later referred to him as lackadaisical.
It was right about this time when I started wondering: “Is there some reason why Jeff Francoeur is the only Brave who is central to trade rumors?”
We’ve heard a lot about the “next wave” of Braves players. It’s normal any time an older and high-payroll team releases veterans or lets them sign elsewhere in free agency. A transition to younger players make economical sense. The problem is when the “next wave” of players look flawed. And these Braves have been just that.
Here are four players out of the Braves’ system that were supposed to make a difference — in a good way — this season:
♦ SHORTSTOP: Escobar. The good news is he’s hitting .293, which makes him relatively Ruthian in the Braves’ batting order. But he has become a mush head in the field. He has eight errors in 53 games, which puts him on pace for 24 — eight more than year’s 16. Overall, the field percentage of Braves shortstops is only .969, which ranks 23rd out of 30 teams.
Worse is the mental errors that don’t show up on the scoreboard (at least not under “E”). In Baltimore, he hesitated before throwing to first base, which would’ve completed a double play. In the second inning, pitcher Derek Lowe had the Orioles’ Brian Roberts picked off first. But during an ensuing run-down play, Escobar passed on a chance to tag Roberts (which would’ve ended the inning) and instead threw home too late to get the Orioles’ Robert Andino, who had been on third.
Cox: “We pride ourselves on doing things right and being in the game [mentally] and don’t do things lackadaisically.” Also this, ”I’ve talked to him an awful lot since he’s been here.” Understand, this is somebody who almost never criticizes a player. So for Cox, this is as close as he comes to throwing a player under the bus.
♦ SECOND BASE: Kelly Johnson: The Braves weren’t sure about his defensive abilities at second base when he came up but thought he could provide some offense. That assessment seemed on target when Johnson raised his average from .276 two years ago to .287 last season. But he’s now down to .238 and has a career-low on-base percentage of .301.
Before you ask: No, Jeff Francoeur did not break the bat over his head. (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)
♦ RIGHT FIELD: Francoeur. I won’t bore you too much. His nosedive has been debated ad nauseam. But his batting average is down to .250 and, even though he is striking out less, he has hit only four home runs in 61 games.
Chipper Jones had some interesting things to say on Francoeur the other day when I asked him. The first thing stood out the most: “He’s got a million batting coaches. A million. And he’s listening to all of them.” (Feel free to read between the lines.)
But Jones believes the problems with Francoeur are not all mental: “He’s tried. He’s worked. But he has some fundamental issues that he can’t feel. You can tell him don’t arm-bar at the plate [keeping arm stiff and parallel to ground]. I can show him what it does to his swing but he can’t fix it because he can’t feel it. If you can’t feel it, you can’t make the adjustment. You can show him his stance in his rookie year and show him last year and all the major differences. But he doesn’t feel it.”
♦ CENTER FIELD: Jordan Schafer. How many times did we hear in the last three years, “Jordan Schafer is going to be great”? And he still might be one day. But right now he’s a mess. There was the drug-related suspension last season, which pushed back the team’s plans (even if circumstances surrounding that suspension remain sketchy).
This season there was some debate within the organization as to whether he was ready or not. The Braves took a chance. The answer: He’s not ready. He was hitting .205 with 63 strikeouts in 167 games before general manager Frank Wren screamed “uncle.” So Schafer is down at Gwinnett and Nate McLouth is the starting center fielder for the foreseeable future.
So there you go. Four hot prospects. Half the line up. All struggling.
So why is Francoeur the only one being rumored in trade? It’s harder to find somebody on the team who isn’t tradable.
It’s OK for a team to get younger, faster and cheaper. But when there’s something wrong with the replacements, this is what you’re left with.
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320 comments Add your comment
kissell
June 15th, 2009
7:30 am
These bums can’t turn a 6-2-1 double play like dey used to. What time are you people coming over to fix my sink??
curtis jones
June 15th, 2009
7:33 am
Good comments Jeff. To elaborate, let’s go down the lineup:
1B: Kotchman: good glove, low impact bat. HIs RBI numbers, when it counts are pathetic.
2B: Johnson: not a second baseman. Stevie Wonder could see that. Why can’t Cox?
SS: Escobar: million dollar arm, ten-cent brain.
3B: Jones: Part-time player
LF: G. Anderson: Did any Braves exec actually see this guy play last year?
M Diaz: “A” for effort, but not an everyday starter.
CF: McLouth: Why would the Pirates part with this guy? I think we’ll find out.
RF: Francoeur: See Escobar, above.
C: McCann: Best hitter on team, catching will cut his career short.
C: Ross: Deserves more AB’s. Find a spot for him.
PH: Norton: Retired during off-season, didn’t tell anyone.
IF: Prado: Backup infielder, nothing more.
IF: Infante: 2nd best hitter on team, no one told Bobby.
SP: Lowe & Vazquez:: Serviceable, not big-game pitchers.
Jurrjens: Hope we don’t screw him up.
Kawakami: Adequate, overpaid.
Hanson: See Jurrjens, above.
RP: Soriano, Gonzalez: See Lowe, Vazquez above.
Moylan: Probably headed to DL, where all failed relievers go under Cox.
Bennett: Not a big-game pitcher.
Medlen: Not a big league pitcher.
Acosta: See Medlen.
MiltonDawg
June 15th, 2009
7:38 am
the past 2 games were absolutely disgusting. the Braves always play to their level of competition. Before the series, the O’s hadn’t scored more than 4 runs in 9 something games. of course when the play the Braves, the open up on us. We have a ton of talent of team..problem is coaching (i.e. TP). if we are not at least a few games over .500 by July 1rst..we’re done.
R Cagle
June 15th, 2009
7:40 am
It’s not just the players. Something has gone out of this club from ownership right down to the fans. Once they were “America’s Team!”. Now, the Brave’s seem, well, pointless.
Nativebird
June 15th, 2009
7:41 am
All four highschool draft choices that came up through the farm, where Braves traditionally TAUGHT young men with ability how to be a major leaguer. It appears our farm ain’t what it used to be…and our big club hitting coach is a joke.
Why aren’t you spending ink about that? It easy to pile on young players who are struggling. What about the organization who’s job it is to DEVELOP ball players?
Coach (2010 or Bust)
June 15th, 2009
7:42 am
The only error or mental flaw I see is the one sitting in the managers office. All this hubbub over Escobar and yet we are forced to watch Jeff Francoeur fail two seasons in a row???
Give me break!
David
June 15th, 2009
7:44 am
I would like to blame Frank Wren. But the truth of the matter is you can’t win on a budget. However, if we did have some money, he would not be my guy.
Cletus
June 15th, 2009
7:45 am
Much like last year, the Braves no longer play professional baseball.
Cletus
June 15th, 2009
7:46 am
The guy that said “can’t win on a budget” musta never heard of the Tampa Bay Rays. Or the Marlins, who have won more World Series than us.
Edo River
June 15th, 2009
7:50 am
I think there are some underlying issues which have gradually developed over time which your column only touches on the superficial or the results of those underlying issues. To address something as all encompassing as preparing a minor leaguer for the Show, requires a hell of alot of commitment, coordination, and constant vertical and horizontal fine tuning, (committee meetings of coaches and staff) I think the Braves, like any large organization, have drifted. It is normal. Drift happens. Go take any general management class in a junior college to show you how normal it is to have these kinds of problems. Only we fans have studied it as it applies to business corporations. Since when have sports organizations been exempt from the laws of human organization? Go read any of Peter Drucker’s 39 books on management if you think I’m lying. edition.
i cant take it anymore
June 15th, 2009
7:54 am
Jeff…your articles the last few weeks have been awesome.
thanks, man
Sam Si
June 15th, 2009
7:55 am
The Bobby Cox era is over. He was good in his time. Trade Bobby Cox.
curtis jones
June 15th, 2009
8:01 am
Can anyone picture Lowe, Medlen or Moylan pitching in a playoff game? They couldn’t see home plate through the sweat dripping down their face.
KingfishStevens
June 15th, 2009
8:02 am
As Jed Clampett used to say, pitiful just pitiful.
Atlanta Journal Constitution » Blog Archive » Escobar and the “next wave” are killing Braves
June 15th, 2009
8:03 am
[...] Jeff Schultz | ajc.com – [...]
gayle
June 15th, 2009
8:05 am
I just don’t understand how all of these problems and recent (and past) embarrassments continue to bypass the manager – how he is somehow the victim, rather than the architect, of this team and its problems?
All of this talk of trades is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic until ownership (who owns this team anyway?) is willing to address the changes that really need to be made.
This team is stale, uninspired and unmotivated. The recent lapses of Escobar are not the problem, but indications of a much larger issue.
The relic in the dugout needs to go – no real change will occur to this team until this happens.
Steeledawg
June 15th, 2009
8:08 am
I agree with Edo River regarding drift.
While this latest wave of players may not be the same caliber of as the Chipper, Klesko, Javy, Dye, Millwood, etc. group this current group lacks fundamentals. Sac flys, sac bunts, moving runners to third, hitting the cutoff man, things like that used to be automatic. Over the last 3-4 years I have noticed a tremendous drop off in these things.
I would give these guys until the end of July. If we are still .500 and 6.5+ games out, I am taking offers for not only Francouer, but Escobar, Johnson, Kotchman, Kawakami, etc.
Cherokee STH
June 15th, 2009
8:11 am
It frustrates me, as a decades long season ticket holder, to see AAA baseball in Turner field. Escobar has long been one of my pet peeves…however, I thought he would be improving in the mental part of the game, and he simply hasn’t. My new favorite peeve is Garrett Anderson. I don’t think I have ever seen someone that uninterested in playing the game…he is slow to react in left, nonchalant at the plate, no power, doesn’t appear to have an arm, and isn’t hitting for average. He looks good in the uniform…but so did Brad Komminsk. Francouer at least gives you half a run a game in defense. I can actually live with the .250. Put Infante at short and give Escobar a shot in left where decisions aren’t as critical. Leave Frenchy at the bottom of the order and let it go. Defense wins ballgames.
Sonny Clusters
June 15th, 2009
8:18 am
“The Braves got their offense from an unusual place — the eighth spot in the order — as Jeff Francoeur went 3-for-4 with a two-run double.” – AJC
Me and Jeff went to school together and was good freinds since we’re little boys playing ball. Jeff could always hit the ball far but I was the one with good grades and he got most of the girls because he could always hit when we was playing ball in school together. Jeff is still real smart and he can figure this problem out if everbody will just leave him alone and not upset him because he used to get upset when we’re little boys playing ball. I remember a game against Brookwood where he got so mad and cried so hard that his chest was heaving and something was coming out of his nose and the umpire made him change shirts and some of the girls left and wouldn’t come back even when we wanted to go to the Dairy Queen with them after the game. I think that is the problem right now and I am going to text him and let him know that I think that he should know how to fix it if he won’t get upset when he cant pull the ball like he did when we was young except that game when the girls left and wouldn’t come back so we could go to the Dairy Queen and Jeff couldn’t pull the ball and he failed a test the next day. Well, I agree that being the hometown boy can be a distraction for everbody and that he might do better with an American League team. I don’t think they would like him in New York though because of the girls leaving when the fans see him get his chest heaving like he did at that game when we was young. I can tell you some more Jeff S. if it will help you write some more positive storys about Jeff F. that can mention his old freind Sonny that played some first and some third and was on a couple of different teams that he was the star and I was probably his best freind in the world back then when we was playing together. We was younger and Jeff could pretty much get away with anything as long as the ball team was winning and scoring a lot of runs because the girls would come back to see the long ball and Jeff could hit the ball out most of the time if he got a good pitch when we was playing ball together. Parkview is a pretty smart school and Jeff and I did good. He’ll figure this out and then watch out for him hitting like Hank Arron. I enjoy this blog because I like to read your stuff in here.
NC Braves Fan
June 15th, 2009
8:19 am
gayle: I got no dog in the Cox hunt, but do you think McCann and Chipper are uninspired? I mean come on – these are adults here and they’re well-paid to do what they do.
Any issues Esco et al are having are their own issues, for which they are responsible.
Jeff Schultz
June 15th, 2009
8:21 am
CURTIS: Nice run down.
MILTON DAWG: I understand the criticism of Cox, Pendleton. It goes with the territory. But I question the “We have a ton of talent” statement. Just my opinion.
I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE: Thanks, man.
SAM SI: Cox has a no-trade clause. Kidding.
CURTIS: Fortunately, I don’t think you’ll have to worry about them in a playoff game.
Sonny Clusters
June 15th, 2009
8:28 am
When we was young, Jeff and me was real good ballplayers and we went to baseball camp and learned everything we needed to know about hitting and catching. That’s why Jeff don’t listen to the coaches because he already knows how to do it and has been doing it all through high school when me and him were playing for state champonships. How many state champoships has Terry Pendeltom won or Bobby Cox? You just wait and see if everbody on the team don’t start playing just like Jeff.
Hot Phone Sex Princess
June 15th, 2009
8:29 am
Jeff,
No one is untouchable.
Falconian
June 15th, 2009
8:35 am
I would love to see McCann tried at 3rd next season. I love Chipper, but if the Braves are going to crap out this year, why not see if one of the big gun teams will take him and his salary?
Saying that, I believe the Braves could still win this division this year by doing 1 more thing…get Adam Dunn. Put him in right field, and hope not many balls come his way.
Bob Horner
June 15th, 2009
8:41 am
curtis jones (2nd post in the column) — why do you even bother watching the Braves with such a “sky is falling” mentality? Everyone on the team sucks huh? You’re a prototypical “fan” – what a bi*ch!! Go sniff some Yankee jock
Jeff Schultz
June 15th, 2009
8:42 am
WHOOOAAA! And the Innuendo of the Week Award goes to HPSP. Again.
Dawg A
June 15th, 2009
8:43 am
I am a season ticket holder and it seems real evident that over the past few years we are just not a very good team. As much as we gave Cox credit when the braves were winning division after division ….. it is time for him to get some of the blame for what is taking place now! As a Manager you adapt to the players that you are given. He seemed to be the “Greatest thing ever” when he had great pitchers. But the test of a great manager or coach is what you do with less. Tony Larussa is a great manager because he has done really good every year regardless of the talent he was given. it’s real simple….. no moves will matter until Cox is gone! I use to think the Braves would never get rid of Cox because of loyalty. But ask Glavine and Smoltz about that!!!!!
MIKE lump
June 15th, 2009
8:43 am
All you need to know about Escobar is the fact he dyes his hair… not to mention he has been in the major years for 3 seasons and still can’t converse with any reporters in English… No excuses, drop me in China in three years i will know enough Chinese to carry a conversation. He probably has no clue what Bobby is saying and could care less. Instead of getting focused in the on deck circle, he’s scoping the Suntrust seat for chicks. It’s a tired act trade him to the Mets where they tolerate those kinds of things.
sansho1
June 15th, 2009
8:43 am
Who let Benjy Compson in here?
MiltonDawg
June 15th, 2009
8:44 am
JS: what i meant to say concerning our “ton of talent” is that the players we have are good but could be a lot better. they’re lacking basic fundamentals of the game (offense & defense) which tells me that A) the players are lazy or don’t care or B) the coaching has gone by the wayside.
Chop It Up All-star
June 15th, 2009
8:52 am
Schultz, I’m not “completely” buying what you’re saying here buddy. Schafer is still a question mark. Your take on Kelly Johnson and Jeff Francoeur are pretty much spot on. But Escobar is arguably the best all around player on this team. There’s no question that for a few games this year his decision making has been suspect, but to imply that he should be traded is ridiculous. I guess lost in those few games are all the amazing plays he makes that no one else can. Or, all those clutch hits that he has gotten to help propel the clutch deficient Braves to the few victories that they have this year. The reality is, Escobar is only going to get better, but the question is, will the Braves be better without him?
ET
June 15th, 2009
8:53 am
I have this strange urge to go to Dairy Queen.
Rusty
June 15th, 2009
8:57 am
Chipper’s comment about Frenchy’s one million batting coaches is quite revealing. Certainly doesn’t say much for Terry Pendleton, now does it? The Cubs fired Gerald Perry over the weekend, and he’s only failed for 2-1/2 years as their hitting coach. Numerous other batting instructors have also been shown the door over the last few years (the Yankees must’ve fired 3 or 4). I’m not saying it’s just T.P.’s fault, but SOMEONE’s got to take the blame if Bobby’s not. Sometimes a change does some good. Look at what’s happened with the Rockies after firing Clint Hurdle. This team has just lacked passion for so long. That’s the thing that ails it most, I believe.
Kenbud
June 15th, 2009
8:57 am
Trade Francoeur! Bench Escobar! Frank Wren sucks! Everything’s to blame for Braves woes ……………………………………………………………..but the coach.
Just sayin’.
bull-gator
June 15th, 2009
8:57 am
Escobar is a definite headcase. Does he even know how to play shortstop? When a bonehead play by not tagging the runner. A 10 year old little leagure knows what to do in that situation. I’ll bet he didn’t even know how many outs there were. As far as Francoeur goes, Chipper is right. I don’t think Francoeur understands the art of hitting and maybe never will. Johnson is serviceable at 2nd, but he needs to pick up the pace in the hits department. As for Schafer, he needs 2-3 more years in the minors.
Mister Earl
June 15th, 2009
8:58 am
Sonny Clusters – you used a few hundred piss-poorly structured words to say what exactly?
turkey
June 15th, 2009
8:59 am
I have said it before and I’ll say it again, the Braves will not improve until Arthur Blank is allowed to purchase the team. Winning starts at the top and Liberty Media could care less.
Reid Adair
June 15th, 2009
9:01 am
Very well said, Jeff.
I just can’t figure out what happened. When Frank Wren threw Tom Glavine out and activated Tommy Hanson, the vast of commenters on the various AJC blogs were convinced that was the final key to get the Braves to the playoffs, maybe even win the division.
It seems that they had overlooked the poor excuse for an “offense” and the other issues that you have outlined.
This team does NOT have “a ton of talent.” It has some potential in the starting rotation, and that’s about it. They can say what they want about Bobby Cox, but he is not ultimately responsible for deciding which guys are on the active roster.
Mister Earl
June 15th, 2009
9:01 am
Chipper Jones is right. “….(Francoeur) has some fundamental issues that he can’t feel…. If you can’t feel it, you can’t make the adjustment. You can show him his stance in his rookie year and show him last year and all the major differences. But he doesn’t feel it.”
Baseball is not a paint-by-numbers game. You got to feel it. Please note how many times Cal Ripken Jr was able to adjust his stance, to match his physical gifts, throughout his maturity.
Sonny Clusters
June 15th, 2009
9:04 am
“As far as Francoeur goes, Chipper is right. I don’t think Francoeur understands the art of hitting and maybe never will.” – b-g
When we was in school together playing ball me and Jeff learned all about hitting and it ain’t no art. Hitting is about swinging the bat hard and making contact so the ball will go out and then the girls will ask you out. That’s when a trip to the Dairy Queen is special.
Ghost of Moose Granger
June 15th, 2009
9:06 am
And not a single mention of the dozen or so rally-killing baserunning errors that Escobar has made this season? Are you actually watching this team or just reporting on what other people are writing???
Alphare
June 15th, 2009
9:08 am
If you have 2 or 3 players who can play above average while the other 5 or 6 play below average, your team is below average.
If this is the 90’s, some players like Jeff F, Kelley J would be let go or benched long ago.
Sonny Clusters
June 15th, 2009
9:08 am
“Sonny Clusters – you used a few hundred piss-poorly structured words to say what exactly?” – Earl
Earl, you need to learn to read for comprehensive. When you can do that you can ask me questions. Me and Jeff are a lot alike and always have been. I don’t take no crap and Jeff don’t take no coaching.
Doug
June 15th, 2009
9:08 am
I stopped watching weeks ago! I could see we were anonly going to be a 500 team.
I love the game of baseball, just not this bunch of underachievers style. This teams reminds me way – way to much of the teams in the 70’s and 80’s.
Get ready folks, it may be a while before we see another pennant here in Atlanta.
I will take a peak, then hate what I see and leave, probably like most of you.
PMC
June 15th, 2009
9:09 am
They don’t have the talent in the organization to replace the guys who were supposed to be difference makers right now.
They simultaneously had 3 or 4 guys go from solid everyday contributors to…. well… what they are now.
Hoosier Aaron
June 15th, 2009
9:12 am
With all due respect to Bobby Cox – I think he needs to apply his “We pride ourselves on doing things right and being in the game [mentally] and don’t do things lackadaisically” across the entire roster…instead of making Escobar his “example”. Throwing to the wrong base from the outfield, not moving runners into scoring position….it’s a problem that is deeper than Escobar. This team is far from being fundamentally sound.
Here’s a quote from Mike Scioscia about his team’s poor play –
“A lot of guys in that room are playing hard and some guys need to play better,” Scioscia said. “Until we can become the team that we are, all that is, is potential. Potential’s not going to get you anywhere. You need to perform.”
For the last two seasons – Howie Kendrick’s batting average was .322 & .306 – after 186 ABs this year he was batting .231…now he is playing at Salt Lake.
“We feel it is time for Howie to go down to take a little bit of pressure off and exhale a little bit and get some at-bats,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “We want him to find his swing and then get back up here and hopefully be a quick turnaround once he begins to feel it in the batter’s box.”
“When I got sent down to the Minors around ‘96, ‘97, I remember how upset and annoyed I was and it just lit a fire under me,” Torii Hunter said.
“I really need to find myself as a hitter and find the fire inside me,” Kendrick said. “If I put in the work and hit, I know I will be back up here again.
In my opinion, Mike Scioscia is the best manager in the game – his teams play like he played….HARD and SMART.
All I’m saying is – don’t make an example of one guy when the entire team “needs to perform”…as Scioscia said.
Jeff Schultz
June 15th, 2009
9:14 am
MILTONDAWG: That I would agree with. I think we agree that some kids today — look at me, I sound like the old guy on the porch rocker — aren’t as disciplined, mature as they used to be. But part of that is they’re rushed through the minors more. (see: Schafer).
SONNY, ET: DQ rocks!
RUSTY: Actually I think Chipper was making a point about Francoeur, not Pendleton
KENBUD: Thank you for the comic relief.
GHOST: No, I didn’t mention that. But you’re right. I’ve never actually watched a baseball game. Is it still four quarters, I forget?
Ash
June 15th, 2009
9:14 am
G. Anderson couldnt move fast if his pants were on fire.
PMC
June 15th, 2009
9:16 am
We just have to be patient. They haven’t had the makeup of a playoff team for several years. They have only had a very slim chance to compete the last couple of years. It is just going to take a while to find the right players to fix the lineup. They can’t win with this bunch though unless they start hitting better. I said 85 wins at the beginning of the year but at this point 81 or 82 seems more realistic.
Jan
June 15th, 2009
9:18 am
When one watches as many games and listens to as many announcers as I do one realizes that no team is “perfect”. No matter how small or obscenely rich there are holes. Yep, brother, we have many holes that leave us scratching our heads and muttering obscenties. The difference in our club and others is that the “holes” in other clubs are smart enough to do things that help the team. ie move the runner over, bunt, look to take an extra base, etc. Our team just sux. 15 out and in 4th will be our lot in life for the near future without a shake-up. Unfortunately the shake up won’t come from our minor leaguers and free agents won’t come here. Garrett was once a proud man and productive player but even he has caught brave-itis. It’s a shame. If Smoltz were here he’d be chewing some fannies…it’s not his arm I miss the most it’s his desire to win and make sure those around him play to win.
Joe Fan
June 15th, 2009
9:19 am
The Braves feel old and stale and it starts right at the top meaning John Shuerholz and continues right through Bobby Cox and his cronies. Change is necessary. Lets see if Cox is tendered another 1 year deal, something tells me he want be back.
Chuck T
June 15th, 2009
9:20 am
sansho1, that might be the funniest thing I’ve read in days, a William Faulkner reference in a sports blog! I wish I had some of the Jack Daniels that he had when I watch this year’s Braves, though.
Hot Phone Sex Princess
June 15th, 2009
9:20 am
I’ve often wondered how long the “But he’s from Cuba that’s how they play there” defense would be employed for Escobar. In fact I’ve asked some of my friends but they just shrug their shoulders and say, “Getting back to the matter at hand…”
Mister Earl
June 15th, 2009
9:22 am
SonnyClusters – of course, everybody and their Grandma knows chicks dig the long ball. But how many people know you can’t get a blizzard at the Snellville Dairy Queen if your teeth are clenched and your hands are tight throughout the swing?
Go watch some tape of Hank Aaron in 1957 and get back to us.
Bob
June 15th, 2009
9:26 am
And I see the 20 yr Elvis Andrus in Texas is playing great D, hitting a respectable .263 at his tender age, and listens to his coaches and mentors. And we traded him away for a rent-a-player so we could keep Escobar?? Hmmm, how did that work out or us? Johnson never was a good 2B and now he can’t hit anymore either. And before we make a McLouth a HOFer, let’s not forget he was hitting about .250 when he came here so why are we thinking he’s the latest savior. Agree with the earlier post on GA. He absolutely looks like he has no desire at all to be here. And maybe a little hustle, or even interest in the game, would be a start. So, our outfield continues to be a joke. McLouth has good potential, the corner outfielders are AAA material.
When does next season start?
Bob
June 15th, 2009
9:29 am
81 wins if you count spring training. This team will have more losses than last year.
Mister Earl
June 15th, 2009
9:31 am
Hot Phone Sex Princess – can I get the digits or what?
The Braves lack rhythm and Chipper cannot do it alone.
BigHittas
June 15th, 2009
9:36 am
I have to give you big props Shultzy, you’re the only AJC sports guy that see the Braves for what they are as far as I’m concerned. Seems the rest are kissin up to somebody somewhere.
This is one time that Bobby’s being loyal to players has hurt him. Kinda reminds me of Jim Donnan and Quincy Carter. I’m a big Bobby Cox fan but maybe he should take over at GM and get some new blood in here. The past few years and lack of $ has made the Braves into a really great farm team for the yearly winners in MLB.
jch
June 15th, 2009
9:39 am
At what point do we stop looking at the players and start looking at the coaching?
Take a look at the batting averages top-to-bottom – not too many bright spots are there? We keep blaming Franceour (myself included) for his hitting woes but, he isn’t that far behind the majority of the team. What’s the common denominator? Hitting coach maybe??? Two of our best hitters (if not the two best) have their own hitting coaches (McCann & Chipper) and the rest with decent averages are new to the club for the most part. Honestly, who can Pendelton point his finger to and say “I made this guy a great hitter? Maybe the reason Franceour felt he needed to go to Texas in the offseason is he wasn’t getting anything of value here.
You can make the same arguement with McDowell – where are the All-Star pitchers he’s coached?
Both guys were tremendous in their careers at their respective coaching acumen but that doesn’t necessarily make you a good coach. Doing something at a high-level is one thing, teaching someone else to do it at the same level requires a completely different skill set.
the “talent” we have is pretty substantial – not just by the Braves organizations claims but by the national press and it’s been pretty unanimous. I just don’t see those guys being this wrong on this many players.
BigHittas
June 15th, 2009
9:40 am
one other thing. When guys on the field don’t remember how many outs there are, that’s a reflection on the skipper, and it’s really inexcusable at the pro level. It’s really bad when you need to take pro level players back to the basics but evidently some of them need that.
Supes
June 15th, 2009
9:41 am
Jeff,
that’s all good and well but you foget who assembled this team. FRANK WREN. Just a thought.
As far as your point that only Jeff F. has been “rumored in trades” that’s not accurate at all. Perhaps keeping up with DOB over the winter would do you some good.
Kelly Johnson was rumored to go to the Cards this off-season in a package (possibly with a pitcher) for Ryan Ludwick, but it never got serious enough. At any rate, he was shopped.
Yunel Escobar was offered as the “center piece” for the now much regrettable Jake Peavy debacle. He was going to be one of 4 or 5 players going over there (more like 4) for Jake Peavy straight up. The sticking point to that trade was (the first time, the Padres wanted Hanson and were holding out and Wren said absolutely no), and (second time, apparently Jake Peavy never truly wanted to come here and treatened to exercise his veto power, as he was holding out for the Cubs to makea move for him).
I don’t believe Jordan Schafer has ever been shopped around, so I’ll give you that one.
But don’t say that Kelly or Yunel haven’t been shopped around. They have. They will continue to be (as long as they fail to perform up to their potential here).
Infact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Yunel is traded to the BoSox (if the Braves are out if by the July trade deadline).
Kelly could be traded this off-season for a corner outfielder.
Herschel Talker
June 15th, 2009
9:43 am
Schultz – you’re all over it again. Mazel Tov. Keep up the great writing. You and Bradley have been on fire lately. Maybe you can teach a thing or 2 to DOB, the blind home who thinks the Braves are always just on the cusp of greatness
Braves Fan
June 15th, 2009
9:47 am
Very good and timely article. I still think we can build a team around McCann, Escobar (if his head can be reshaped) and McClouth. Anderson just doesn’t have it any more. Francoeur and Johnson have been given every chance and fist base is a continuing experimant.
Bill in VA
June 15th, 2009
9:50 am
Good rundown of the situation, Jeff.
Swaga1
June 15th, 2009
9:52 am
When is this lame concept of a “Business Approach” to baseball going to end for the Braves?…its not working with these younger players and quite frankly it’s getting tired. They bore me to sleep watching them on TV. The team has no identity or fire.
jacket3
June 15th, 2009
9:54 am
Uninspired talent. Motivation comes from the coaches. At this point my little league team could probably stay on the same field with these guys. Has anyone bothered to watch the College World Series in Omaha? They play for pride, and honor the game. Cox’s boys cannot hold a candle to their desire. Any ideas on trading the Braves to Omaha for the opportunity to host the CWS. Baseball would be awesome again in Atlanta!
PS – The Dogs and Jackets would take any series against these professional “wannabees”.
Dr.R
June 15th, 2009
9:56 am
Baseball runs in cycles. The Braves were in a good one for awhile, now not so much. Many teams bank on young players who don’t turn out. Maybe the next generation — Heyward, Freeman, Hanson — will turn the ship around. But don’t put it on Bobby. You football freaks don’t understand that, unlike in amateur football, the skipper in baseball is stuck with the players the front office gives him and has to make do. You can question his moves and his lineup all you want, but the bottom line is that he doesn’t have the players. It’s amazing they’re only two games under. No manager could win with this bunch. Signing and developing baseball talent is an inexact science, not the same as recruiting a bunch of blue-chip high school kids with new cars and pretty coeds.
And commenting on a previous comment: “Me and Jeff went to school together and was good freinds since we’re little boys playing ball. Jeff could always hit the ball far but I was the one with good grades …” Well, either those grades weren’t for proper spelling and grammar or the grading curve at Parkview is pretty loose.
Sonny Clusters
June 15th, 2009
10:01 am
Jeff and me both could hit and I told Jeff once that I figured he’s be a better right fielder than Hank Arron and could hit more dingers. You just wait Jeff will get it going and the whole team will be playing just like him and me used to play when we was in school together.
josh
June 15th, 2009
10:01 am
curtis jones, you do realize that derek lowe pitched flawlessly for the red sox in game 7 of the 2004 ALCS? and he’s been pretty solid all year so far. sounds like you just want to complain about stuff.
Bookie
June 15th, 2009
10:03 am
No one understands Yunel. He tries to play major league baseball with a lot on his mind. Himself.
Shane (The original)
June 15th, 2009
10:03 am
SP: Lowe & Vazquez:: Serviceable, not big-game pitchers.
Can anyone picture Lowe, Medlen or Moylan pitching in a playoff game? They couldn’t see home plate through the sweat dripping down their face.
You do realize Lowe pitched the clinching game of the World Series ( and the other two series Boston played that year) with the enitre Red Sox nation staring at him and the curse and all that crap. He went out and pitched great and won the game so your notion that Lowe is not a big game pitcher is a tad off base.
I dont know whats worse , You not knowing that or the Smoltz apologist not knowing it.
ATLfan15
June 15th, 2009
10:04 am
I totally agree with the posts about this team not displaying any desire to compete; I’ve never seen a team who looked more uninspired than this bunch. And from Day 1, Anderson has acted like he would rather be anyplace else than in a Braves uni…what’s up with that?
As for the person who’s claiming that hitting is NOT a science, I beg to differ. Francoeur could benefit greatly from reading ‘The Science of Hitting’ by Ted Williams. Williams’ insights will help any hitter.
100 Man
June 15th, 2009
10:04 am
Good article.
The Braves need to be serious sellers in the coming months…
Outside of McCann and Hanson, there isn’t a player on this team I wouldnt trade if the deal was decent. Im willing to sacrifice a year or two to TRULY rebuild for the future. Please quit trying to piece together a team with scraps and rebuild some young, quality talent.
Dana
June 15th, 2009
10:06 am
Sonny Clusters… is that code for “My name is really Jeff Francoeur and my grammer skills are about as sharp as my hitting”?
jaygee
June 15th, 2009
10:07 am
I think it would be a mistake to trade Escobar. He’s a dunderhead, but he’s got a ton of talent. This guy is going to hit, and hit with increasing power in the years ahead. I’d have no problem bidding adieu to Francouer and Johnson, though I think Francouer might deserve a tad more time. He’s got too much potential, and he’s still relatively cheap, to just give away for a minor league pitcher. Johnson is done, in my opinion. Too bad, because I thought he had the makings of a solid player. Can’t wait for Infante to get back. He plays smart, he knows how to hit, he’s got some passion. We can hope that Garrett Anderson will perk up and drive in some runs–in any case, I don’t think he’s tradeable. So that leaves us with Chipper, McCann, McClouth (who I think is a brilliant aquisition), Escobar and Kotchman, who I’d keep. He was starting to heat up when he got beaned. He’s an excellent fielder, and I think his best days are ahead of him offensively.
New second baseman, new right fielder. Infante could play second. But who’s going to right? There’s no cash for a big name.
And just think where we’d be right now if we’d given Kawakami’s money to Raul Ibanez….
Stoned Mountain
June 15th, 2009
10:07 am
http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/
See all baseball payrolls, team by team, year by year…
This year:
Braves — $97 mill
Phillies — $113 mill
Red Sox — $121 mill
Mets — $149 mill
Yanks — $201 mill
Sonny Clusters
June 15th, 2009
10:07 am
“And commenting on a previous comment: “Me and Jeff went to school together and was good freinds since we’re little boys playing ball. Jeff could always hit the ball far but I was the one with good grades …” Well, either those grades weren’t for proper spelling and grammar or the grading curve at Parkview is pretty loose.” – Dr.R
Drr, I told you I don’t take no crap and Jeff don’t take no pitches. If your so smart where is your punctuation? If you can play ball like me and Jeff when we was in school you dont need no grading curb.
Dr.R
June 15th, 2009
10:08 am
Yuni seems to have a chip on his shoulder, maybe because of how he left Cuba and what we went through. Last year, he seemed to go through a funk when his buddy Brayan Pena got released. Baseball is a game where emotions need to be controlled and he hasn’t mastered that. The flipping of the bat, the on-deck circle jumping jacks, the styling in the field. He’s just too geeked up, trying too hard. Can’t play the game like that. He needs to unclench a bit.
Sonny, you’re a put-on, right? Surely no one is dense enough to put Francoeur and Aaron in the same sentence, or suggest that major league coaches should back off because they haven’t won a state championship. Big-league ball is not Class AAAA high school ball. Get a grip (but if it is a gag, well played).
sansho1
June 15th, 2009
10:10 am
Thanks, Chuck. Faulkner was a helluva sportswriter, too. One of the first issues of Sports Illustrated featured his report of the national cheerleading championships. Beat that, Schultz!
Chief Canthitahoma
June 15th, 2009
10:10 am
Though the Braves were a huge part of my childhood (the ’80s Braves certainly stunk for the most part, but they did have Dale Murphy and thus were watchable), there are several reasons why the 2009 Braves are all but impossible to chear for:
1. Chipper Jones is a great player, but I hold my breath everytime he swings, throws, runs, walks, chews, sits, talks, smiles, breathes, etc.
2. Jeff Francoeur was a can’t miss who has become a can’t hit. He thought he deserved a raise this past offseason because……???
3. Yunel Escobar has ALWAYS thought he’s special. He could be a great player, but his ego has to get out of the way first.
4. I’m not sure why Kelly Johnson is still in the lineup.
5. I’m not sure why Jeff Bennett isn’t flipping burgers (but to do that you still have to hit the grill with the burger. That might explain it.)
6. I’m not sure why Bobby Cox and Terry Pendleton still have their jobs. Enough is enough.
7. Is Garrett Anderson awake??
8. Jordan Schafer lowered the electric bills for most Atlantans with the cool gale force winds that eminated from his bat.
9. Peter Moylan throws the ball to no one in particular with great repitition.
10. Skip Caray left us too soon, and Pete Van Wieren decided he couldn’t take another year of the above mentioned.
11. Smoltz and Glavine are better than Kawakami. (And cheaper, too)
12. The Braves no longer seem to even try. If they don’t care, why should I?
I knew that the run of the ’90s would end one day. But I never imagined that it would get THIS bad! I never thought I’d say this, but I miss Ted Turner!
We’ve become just another small market franchise. So sad.
Stoned Mountain
June 15th, 2009
10:12 am
Jaygee, Escobar will become a better hitter, maybe a steadier fielder, but he’ll never get smarter. Trade him, while somebody sees value in him. You need a smart shortstop.
Sonny Clusters
June 15th, 2009
10:16 am
We was one of the smartest teams in our classification. Sometimes we would pitch out and catch runners getting ready to go and we’d catch them and tag them out and then Jeff would come up the next inning and hit one out. That’s the way to play ball and when everybody starts playing like Jeff your going to see it.
Mister Earl
June 15th, 2009
10:19 am
Who does Yunel Escobar’s highlights in his hair?
Somewhere Dave Concepcion is laughing his butt off.
Outside Robber
June 15th, 2009
10:22 am
Some good comments here and, on occasion, excellent analysis as well. The one comment that cuts to the heart of the matter is…
Turkey @ 8:59am. Well said, and I agree.
Dorothy Davis
June 15th, 2009
10:26 am
You could trade most of the team and it won’t change anything till you trade Bobby.
Dr.R
June 15th, 2009
10:27 am
“The Braves no longer seem to try.” Well, there’s the football thinkers at it again. You can’t head butt your way on base, man. If you’re a lousy hitter and you go 0-for-4, sure, it looks like you’re not hustling. You have to GET ON BASE to hustle. Baseball is a game of skill and concentration, not just running into walls. I guess the good news is that the great baseball towns like St. Louis and Detroit and Cincy have winning teams because it matters more to them. Whatever the Braves do doesn’t matter much by mid-August when most of you goobers get all worked up about children’s football or NASCAR and forget about baseball entirely.
Sonny, my apologies. I fell for it. Well done.
Sonny Clusters
June 15th, 2009
10:28 am
“excellent analysis as well.” – OR
OR thanks, we was just playing hard and loving the game. The thing with the girls just happened because we could hit the ball out and win the games and stay out late at night and get free stuff at Dairy Queen. Baseball ain’t that hard if you swing hard and ever hit it. State champonship baseball is more what the Braves need to be playing if there going anywhere this year.
Alphare
June 15th, 2009
10:29 am
How did Jeff F do in the minor? anybody know? It seems to me pitchers and scouts overlooked him a bit when he just came up to the major, which may explain why he did OK in the 1st 1.5 seasons in the major. Once they figured him out, he cannot hit squash anymore.
jacket3
June 15th, 2009
10:29 am
Dr. R has it right . Good grammar is important in business and life – it is just a small thing, but it tells a lot about a persons mental abilities. If Frenchy plays ball about as well as the embellished Dairy Queen days then no wonder Frenchy swings at the first pitch EVERY TIME. If you talk the talk you must walk the walk the same way.
Chipper states that “Frenchy has a million coaches telling him how to correct his swing”, this and that. Almost every player that I can remember since TP was “anointed batting coach” has forgotten the abilities that got them to the Braves club in the first place. In his era TP was good, real good at his position, and with the bat. Those that constantly hit for steaks like Jones and Mac do not listen to him, and the results are patently obvious.
No grades – just statistical facts.
Dr.R
June 15th, 2009
10:33 am
Yeah, OK, Bobby Cox is an idiot, says the peanut gallery. He’s only won more games than three other managers in the game’s history. Players love to come to Atlanta because of him, and he is respected in the baseball community as one of the best skippers of his time. But you semi-baseball fans who don’t really understand the game will always look at him askance as if he should be doing something differently when the players can’t play. Like what? Make them practice harder? Yell and scream? Call a draw play? Sheesh ….
Batting coaches in baseball are overrated. They are mostly consultants there to help guys who seek help. But if the player doesn’t execute, it doesn’t matter. Do you think TP is telling Francoeur to swing at pitches in the dirt? I would guess not. You can only coach guys who can take that instruction and apply it. But maybe Frenchy just isn’t bright enough. Hung around Sonny too much at the Dairy Queen, perhaps.
Dr.R
June 15th, 2009
10:36 am
“Cannot hit squash anymore?” Well, no, he doesn’t do too well swinging at vegetables in “the major.” Man, what I am doing in here?
Sonny Clusters
June 15th, 2009
10:42 am
Best looking girl I ever dated saw me catch a ball that was going over my head and I jumped and it caught in the web of my glove and I came down on the bag and turned around and throwed the ball to the plate but it was late and Jeff hit a homerun to win the game. That’s some real baseball and everbody knows it. I don’t think that new first basemen could jump for a ball but having Jeff back their behind him makes him a better player.
James D Feely
June 15th, 2009
10:43 am
In the 30 years I’ve lived here and supported the team, I can’t say I’ve seen a team ike this one, even in the 80’s. It’s hard to believe Scheurholz is in the background and Wren is making the moves. Cox other than his short fuse seems to be micro managing again, especially with pitchers. Does he ever let a pitcher finish a game or is he so locked into pitch counts it doesn’t matter how well the game is being pitched. Pendleton is an oddity; a nice guy who can’t teach. Me thinks internal problems in a very secretive club house may be at the root of many of the problems. Good column Jeff, but look beyond the players.
Sonny Clusters
June 15th, 2009
10:47 am
Sometimes I’d take the cutoff and Jeff was good about throwing it to me so I could turn an gun down the guy trying to stretch one out. We was a good pair working together when we played ball. If you see Jeff throw a ball and miss the cutoff just think Clusters.
gayle
June 15th, 2009
10:51 am
NCBravesFan – I agree with you about Chipper and McCann – but I was not calling out players, I was calling out the team and putting the whole mess at the Manager’s feet – where it needs to be.
To single out a player for shortcomings as Escobar is here deflects the blame from where it belongs.
The saying has been in the past that when a team plays badly, you can’t fire the team so the manager has to go.
But when you see these players called out (JF, Escobar, Andruw, Justice and others before them), aren’t the Braves trying to do just that?
Aren’t the Braves trying to dump players and embrace their relic manager?
To the Cox enablers, ask yourslef when was the last time you heard JS or McGuirk criticize their manager?
jaygee
June 15th, 2009
10:52 am
Stoned Mtn: John Rocker is the only dude who’ll never get smarter. OK, so Escobar’s not a shortstop. Heck, let him play first or right or left, where he doesn’t have to think. I say if the Braves trade Escobar, they’ll regret it. It’s not like he could do any worse fielding in left than Anderson or Diaz. Having said that, I love Diaz’s effort, but his legs are too dang short. If only his legs were as long as his heart…
RHR
June 15th, 2009
10:53 am
he has some fundamental issues that he can’t feel. You can tell him don’t arm-bar at the plate [keeping arm stiff and parallel to ground]. I can show him what it does to his swing but he can’t fix it because he can’t feel it. If you can’t feel it, you can’t make the adjustment. You can show him his stance in his rookie year and show him last year and all the major differences. But he doesn’t feel it.”
In other words, he’s uncoachable? Take that, TP bashers.
ERich42
June 15th, 2009
10:58 am
I hope Jeff Francouer kept his tapes from High School because after this year that will be all the glory he can enjoy. Francouer the blue eyed Sports talk show host here did thier part by pumping you up but you failed them. You could not hit a broke hooker giving discounts
Mike
June 15th, 2009
10:59 am
Do not make the mistake of trading Escobar. You can critize all you want, but the fact is he is one of the best young shortstops in the game. Benching him to get his attention is fine, but we better not trade him. This weekend was going well until we brought Moylan in the game Saturday night. Please get him out of here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hoosier Aaron
June 15th, 2009
11:00 am
Here’s a question….(after this comment) Some blame the manager, hitting coach, pitching coach, etc…others say the hittting coach is a consultant…I’m not saying either is wrong.
But where does our “approach” at the plate come from?
We have a LOT of hitters that swing at the first pitch…Frenchy, Yuney and Diaz.
I watched Cliff Lee mow down the Cards last night. When they talked to LaRussa between innings he said, “We’re making too many first pitch outs.”
My question is…Do we have an “approach” that is taught by our manager, hitting coach, or organization that includes swinging at the first pitch. It certainly appears to me that we do.