We’re live from Braves’ miracle watch (day 21)
Javier Vazquez is be pitching for own future, as well as Braves.
Frank Wren went into the off-season last a year ago knowing he would need to add starting pitching. He will go into the off-season this year realizing he needs to subtract.
One obvious conclusion: “It will probably be a little less stressful this winter,” the Braves general manager said.
Somewhat. But a significant issue has been hanging over the Braves all season, and the core of that issue was on the mound Wednesday night. Javier Vazquez, the same pitcher whose heart and big-game ability was questioned last season by the Chicago White Sox’ turbo-lipped manager, Ozzie Guillen, has been Atlanta’s best starter this season. He went into the Florida game with a 15-9 record and 2.83 ERA (4-0, 1.93 in this improbable September).
There’s also a chance he was starting his final game as a Brave.
“I’m not going to get into our decision-making, and I don’t know, quite frankly, what we’re going to do,” Wren said. “We’ll sit down and look at all of our options. It just depends how we configure our ballclub. At the end of the day, it’s how do we put the best team on the field and what 25 players allow us to do that.”
This topic has been debated ad nauseam. The problem is that the season is about to expire, and we’re no closer to clarity. The Braves have six starting pitchers and one has to go – not just to the bullpen, but to another team. Payroll says this. Logic screams it.
The thought of dealing Vazquez seems ludicrous, even with a poor outing Wednesday. Imagine what the top of the rotation would look like next season with these three starters and their respective ERAs: Vazquez (2.83), Tommy Hanson (2.98) and Jair Jurrjens (2.61). But the only thing we know for certain is Hanson and Jurrjens will be here. We also know Derek Lowe and Kenshin Kawakami probably will be here because they carry bloated contracts that don’t nearly match their production. It’s likely no other team would touch them even in a normal economic climate, let alone amid today’s global budget-shrinkage.
That leaves Vazquez and Tim Hudson. Hudson has a $12 million option for next season. He has looked pretty good since coming off Tommy John surgery, Tuesday’s 5-4 loss to Florida notwithstanding. If you’re the Braves, can you just let him walk?
The answer should be yes. Hudson hasn’t been the dominant top-of-the-rotation starter the Braves hoped for when they acquired him. Now is not the time to assume he’s going to turn into that. If it’s really about keeping the best guys, Vazquez stays and Hudson goes.
Here’s Wren on Hudson at his non-committal best before the game: “He’s come back and he’s shown us that he’s healthy and he’s able to pitch at this level. When we get to the appropriate time, we’ll announce our decision on how we’ll move forward.”
I’m guessing he would’ve given the same answer if I asked, “What do you think? Plums or peaches next week at Kroger?”
It was clear Vazquez did not have his best stuff Wednesday. Through three innings, he had already allowed three runs (though only one earned), five hits, a wild pitch, a hit batter and a ground ball through the legs of Chipper Jones. Then came a two-run homer in the fifth. That said, he has had a career-best season. It’s odd, given the Braves are his fifth team in the past seven seasons, and he was ripped by Guillen late last season for not coming through in the clutch.
Wren obviously disagrees. Consider what Vazquez has done in September and on the road this season:10-2, 2.80. (Strangely, he has struggled on the road.)
“Knowing Javy from afar, and now seeing him up close, I think he’s as solid as a rock,” Wren said. “We thought we were getting a real good starting pitcher. He had a history of durability and going to the post. He’s lived up to it.”
Maybe not Wednesday. But he’s a better option than Hudson.
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461 comments Add your comment
Braves=Believe
September 30th, 2009
7:26 pm
Chipper i can say really is not a #3 hitter anymore he is a decent 5-6 hitter at best right now.
Bobby Colton
September 30th, 2009
7:26 pm
I hope Jim Tracy gets ejected tonight. Haha!
Marc from FL
September 30th, 2009
7:27 pm
Prince Fielder
.283/.379/.548 43/137 135 SO
.995 fielding % (7 errors)
Adam Laroche
.282/.360/.500 25/81 134 SO
.999 fielding % (2 errors)
Braves=Believe
September 30th, 2009
7:27 pm
Braves need to open there eyes. They want fans to show up, but maybe the fans have learned that they always turn them down.
Bobby Colton
September 30th, 2009
7:28 pm
I wish the Braves would go ahead and wrap this Wild Card thing up. I need to be studying for mid-terms. Nice grab Nate!
Dallas
September 30th, 2009
7:28 pm
I went to one game this year. I live in Louisiana. Rented a car and drove the 8 hour trek to see us lose the Saturday game during the 5 game skid and sweep at the hands of the Reds. I got their early and caught a ball Adam one hopped over the left field wall. Matt Diaz came out to get a ball that landed between the fence and seats to give it to whichever kid claimed to not have a ball yet lol It was hot that day and my 3 year old and I found some more shaded seats, wasn’t hard given all the empty ones :/
I haven’t lived in Atlanta since ‘97 and even then I felt the crowds weren’t as “into” the games as I thought they should have been lol Seeing all the empty seats last night was sad. If I lived there I’d be at these games.
Jeff Schultz
September 30th, 2009
7:29 pm
Rocknthebeergut — Agreed. They’ve shown a lot this past month, regardless what happens from this point forward.
Braves = Believe — Yeah, but did you see how fast McLouth moved to the dugout after the strikeout? Seriously I know what you’re saying. The problem is there’s just not a lot of candidates to lead off on this roster, and how long have we said that around here?
Bobby Colton
September 30th, 2009
7:29 pm
1-1 in PHIL END 1ST
Bobby Colton
September 30th, 2009
7:30 pm
PHI*
Braves=Believe
September 30th, 2009
7:30 pm
There not chasing
Dallas
September 30th, 2009
7:31 pm
Braves=Believe… I doubt they’re trying to let you down. Cubs fans are there year after year. If you love baseball you love baseball. They’ve played great in the second half and deserve to have more support from the hometown crowd.
Bobby Colton
September 30th, 2009
7:35 pm
2-1 HOU TOP 2ND
Bobby Colton
September 30th, 2009
7:35 pm
Heck yes! Out of the JAM!
Bobby Colton
September 30th, 2009
7:36 pm
Pedro getting rocked in Philly! Haha. Go Astros!
Braves=Believe
September 30th, 2009
7:37 pm
Jeff Schultz
Diaz batting leadoff
41 ab
.439 avg.
.531 obp
1.116 ops
james
September 30th, 2009
7:37 pm
A double, an error, and a walk, and the bases are full of Braves. Bream carries the winning run. Two balls one strike, what tension. The runners lead. There’s a lot of room in right center, if he hits one there we can dance in the street, the 2-1…
Swung, line drive left field! One run is in! Here comes Bream! Here’s the throw to the plate! He is…safe! Braves win! Braves win! Braves win! Braves win!…Braves win!
Dallas
September 30th, 2009
7:37 pm
That 2 – 1 call was BIG…
midnite
September 30th, 2009
7:39 pm
Since Rafael Furcal, so at least 4 years.
Braves=Believe
September 30th, 2009
7:40 pm
hard breaking balls are tough to hit,
Braves=Believe
September 30th, 2009
7:42 pm
Braves cant handle pressure
Jeff Schultz
September 30th, 2009
7:46 pm
Braves=Believe — I know. Impressive. I just don’t see Matt Diaz and think, “Leadoff” guy. I realize that’s not a real scientific answer.
Bobby Colton
September 30th, 2009
7:47 pm
Will the Phillies and Rockies be able to handle pressure tonight?
Jeff Schultz
September 30th, 2009
7:47 pm
Midnite — yes, not since Fooky. That’s part of the reason why him NOT coming back here this season was such a big story.
Dawgfan
September 30th, 2009
7:49 pm
Is it me or do all the Fish look like they are on steroids (including the old manager Clint Hurdle)?
Jeff Schultz
September 30th, 2009
7:50 pm
OK. That wasn’t good.
TN Jeff
September 30th, 2009
7:51 pm
James,
Thanks for the reminder – to me, the greatest moment in Braves history! I still get goose bumps when I hear/recall that monumental victory.
Braves=Believe
September 30th, 2009
7:52 pm
Chipper can u atleast field a ball cleanly since you cant even produce any offense
TN Jeff
September 30th, 2009
7:53 pm
Jeff,
On Facebook you can BLOCK certain people you do NOT want to hear from. Is that possible on this blog deal?
Braves=Believe
September 30th, 2009
7:53 pm
Loss tonight we are officially out
Braves=Believe
September 30th, 2009
7:54 pm
This inning is all on Chipper, inning should have been over
TN Jeff
September 30th, 2009
7:55 pm
McCann – got to throw down. Ugh
Braves=Believe
September 30th, 2009
7:57 pm
WTF
Dallas
September 30th, 2009
7:57 pm
ugly inning
Ross
September 30th, 2009
7:58 pm
CJ, emptier of stadiums, dasher of hopes, owner of 9000 acres. Too special to get in front of a DP ball.
I quit – why is Diaz batting 8th? Why is Hudson suddenly back blowing games? Why is Kawakami, who was clutch all year, in the bull pen? Why is Jone, a broken down surly loafer, in the game?
Next year we’re stuck with $30 million of Lowe and Jones again. You know what, I think I’m finished with this stupid game. Sayonara baseball. It was sometimes fun. I’ve had enough.
-drl
Jeff Schultz
September 30th, 2009
7:58 pm
This isn’t Vazquez’ best night so far, obviously. Doesn’t quite work with the column I’m writing about how great he is, but, oh well.
Ronald Millsaps
September 30th, 2009
7:58 pm
The Braves’ offense needs to get with it.
You can’t expect to beat the Marlins with this stale “back into three runs, and let the pitching and defense win it for you” approach.
Javier Vazquez is facing the best offense in baseball tonight. I expect the Marlins to score, just like I expect them to score every other night; Atlanta’s offense needs to counter strongly.
I’m infuriated by the goings-on in Colorado this past Sunday. The Rockies and their fans are annoying enough, but the Cardinals’ lackluster performance and the horrible play of Albert Pujols were very frustrating, and the INEPT umpiring in the ninth inning (two HORRIBLE calls) and the likewise base-running by Pujols and Julio Lugo just really ticked me off.
Bobby Colton
September 30th, 2009
7:59 pm
Braves will score in the bottom half of the inning.
Bobby Colton
September 30th, 2009
8:00 pm
Yay! Now the Braves can go 3 and out. Go FISH! Haha!
Bobby Colton
September 30th, 2009
8:01 pm
Washington Nationals: 2010 World Champions!!!
JEFF
September 30th, 2009
8:01 pm
game over and wild card hopes are gone people.. with last nights waste of a chance and now we are down 3-0 to pathetic florida. of course coghlan we cant get out and a huge costly error and mistake. well tonights game is the braves season.. so they have 21 outs to get 4 or more runs..
Bobby Colton
September 30th, 2009
8:02 pm
Game over? I thought it was in the 3rd inning?
dave
September 30th, 2009
8:03 pm
It looks like they’ve already quit. Please, let me be wrong!
Dallas
September 30th, 2009
8:03 pm
Third game in a row Braves pitchers haven’t been able to keep the ball down in the zone. JJ got lucky the first game of this series with the Marlins missing some pitches and walking 11 people. Why are we so bad at home?
ashley
September 30th, 2009
8:04 pm
Even if the Braves don’t make the playoffs, they didn’t give up on September 1, when people started discussing the post season. They made September exciting: playing with heart and no fear.
JEFF
September 30th, 2009
8:04 pm
4 k’s in 7 outs? wow way to show up tonight guys…
Bobby Colton
September 30th, 2009
8:04 pm
Jim Tracy for NL Manager of the Year!
JEFF
September 30th, 2009
8:06 pm
have u seen anything tonight that resembles a team that wants it?.. now 5 k’s yea thats it.. wow sad…
Chipster
September 30th, 2009
8:07 pm
Ooops. But you should still pay money to watch me play like this, heh
Ronald Millsaps
September 30th, 2009
8:07 pm
Someone on this blog recently said the Marlins didn’t have any superstars aside from Hanley Ramirez. Folks, you don’t need multiple superstars to win. They have something better than superstars: chemistry.
Besides, these non-superstars all have pop. They can blast the ball out of any park. Last year, their 1-8 hitters each had 20-plus home runs. Not bad.
We need to win this game… badly. Javier Vazquez needs to shake off his start and focus on the present and future. If he can hold their offense and bay from here out, that would be great.
Our offense needs to get going.
Buck Martinez and TBS give good coverage but inconsistent commentary. Honestly, some of the observations from Ripken, Eckersley, etc. the other day were just wrong, and Martinez just likes to argue, it seems.
JEFF
September 30th, 2009
8:08 pm
6 out of 9 outs are k’s … yea thats a playoff team for you good grief..