Braves’ Kenshin Kawakami now on pace to go 0-25
Kenshin Kawakami appears to give himself the choke sign. He speaks for everybody.
Phil Niekro is a Hall of Famer. But he also owns an unfortunate page of the Atlanta Braves’ record book: The top five single-season records for most losses in a season: (20 losses twice and 18 three times).
Kenshin Kawakami? He is not a Hall of Famer. But he is on pace to provide Niekro with a cleansing breath — and Frank Wren with his career Waterloo.
Kawakami, quite possibly the worst free agent acquisition in Atlanta Braves history, lost again Tuesday night, this time 6-4 to Florida. He is now 0-7 after nine starts. At this pace, he will go 0-25 in 32 starts. He’ll make over $7.33 million this season. I wasn’t very good in math so I’m not sure yet how that factors out per victory.
There’s always the chance Kawakami’s arms will fall off or his transmission will blow. Presumably that would trigger the warranty. Wren did purchase the warranty, didn’t he?
When the Braves signed Kawakami last season, Wren proclaimed: “This is a very significant signing for the Braves Not only is this a historically-important day for the Braves franchise, but with Kenshin we have acquired a pitcher who will be an integral part of our pitching staff over the next three seasons.”
Thank you. Try the veal.
Wren gave Kawakami a three-year, $23 million contract. In year one, the pitcher went 7-12 with a 3.86 earned run average. Relatively speaking, that was a Cy Young season. This year he is 0-7 with a 4.93 ERA. He has allowed a staff high seven home runs and opponents are hitting .327 with a .500 slugging percentage.
(For the record, it’s unfair to lump Niekro in with this guy: Niekro actually went 21-20 and 19-18 in two of the record-losing seasons.)
Kawakami is getting better. He has allowed only three earned runs in 12 innings in the last two starts. Still not quite worth $23 million. At this point, he seems to be destined for the Zane Smith/Pascual Perez pallet of death. Smith went 1-12 with the Braves in 1989. Perez was the last Braves pitcher to start 0-7 (in 1985, when he finished 1-13).
Now all Kawakami needs to do is get lost on I-285 and Wren’s worst nightmare will be complete. (For the young or uninformed: Perez missed a start in 1982 when he circled I-285 looking for Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.)
Kawakami’s next scheduled start is Sunday against Pittsburgh. I promise I’m not making this next part up: Among the ex-Braves who will be there for fans to meet after the game: Zane Smith and Phil Niekro.
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182 comments Add your comment
Rey
May 26th, 2010
1:55 am
First….
Chipper Jones should retire…
Coach (2011 or Bust)
May 26th, 2010
1:56 am
Kawakami deserves better but our Braves will continue to underachieve as long as Cox is steering this ship.
Our Bravos are 23-22 after 45 games. Frank Wren knows this team has huge holes, he will attempt to fix them even though it’s not the correct course of action. Why? Because Cox will find a way to under manage this team. They will finish with a winning record, they will come up just short of the playoffs. Count on it.
vin
May 26th, 2010
2:17 am
Kawakami is straight up terrible! Once Jurrjens is back I hope they make him a RP and keep Medlen in the rotation.
Tweets that mention Braves' Kenshin Kawakami now on pace to go 0-25 | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
May 26th, 2010
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richard nieh
May 26th, 2010
2:38 am
Trade for Oswalt now please. The Braves rotation is terrible. Jurrijens and Hanson will bounce back but they are dragging the team down. The team is a good team and they are playing good baseball with a lot of heart but the rotation is becoming the weakest link.
Joseph
May 26th, 2010
2:42 am
“I wasn’t very good in match so I’m not sure yet how that factors out per victory.”
dwb
May 26th, 2010
3:03 am
Wow, I didn’t realize they let 14 year old boys write articles just for the purpose of venting. Act like a professional, or is this what I’m supposed to expect when I read your crap?
Whopper Dawg
May 26th, 2010
3:05 am
To lump Mr. Niekro in with this dude is a great disservice to Phil. For many years, Niekro was the only class in the joint, he got tagged for so many losses because, quite frankly, Niekro in the eighth was better than anyone coming fresh out of the pen. If Phil had pitched for almost any other franchise except Atlanta, he would be revered as one of the greatest pitchers of all time, which he is.
Jeff, you need to take his record and subtract 5 losses a year from his record and add 5 wins a year, that is about right if he had played for another team. How does he look then?
Road Dog
May 26th, 2010
3:14 am
Well, I had a few simple thoughts — but I guess the only three posts pretty much says it all. Nobody cares anymore. Like the Hawks, this team stinks from the top down. Wren has no clue. Cox appears to have Alheimer’s Disease. There’s no leadership at the top. The players are just flopping around (only word I can use to adequately describe them without being censored) with no direction whatsoever. If you are going to mail it in — night in and night out — you should at least put a stamp on the envelope!! KK can’t even do that. Hugging that money — while fuglying up the entire baseball stadium. Hello, Bobby. The guy is 0 and 7 and you keep running him out there like he is the reincarnation of Cy Young. I only have one simple question. Why??? I’ve got a fifteen year old son who can spot the ball better than that. He’s been here, what, two years?? Learn the language so you can be a team mate instead of a cancer!! Throw that interpreter — not on the next bus out of town — but preferably under it!! This guy needed to be released in spring training. I know the millionaire’s club that is professional baseball tend to take care of their own. But you can’t seriously respect the game, or the fans, and have this guy as a starting pitcher. 0 and 25. That’s not a reach at all, Jeff. Hugely possible.
Unless somebody comes to their senses. See you in the funny papers — ’cause I’ll never see this team with this manager in a wild card playoff game — much less a World Series!
Mitchell
May 26th, 2010
3:25 am
Who did he beat last year?
Oh wait, let me see if I can remember… Roy Halladay, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Johan Santana (twice if I’m not mistaken).
Okay, that’s all I can remember but that’s pretty good for a 5th starter. Plus he threw 7 shut-out innings in a pivotal game against the Dodgers, in LA.
Only it would have actually been pivotal if we had made the playoffs but we didn’t so it wasn’t. We are squandering talent left and right like Wagner, your best example, while we wait for Bobby to finally get lost.
We used to lose in the playoffs every year, that was one thing. Now our fate is to fall short of even making the playoffs (and be happy about it as far as some people are concerned). With Wagner in his final year and Heyward a guy who could truly shine in that heightened spotlight, it’s a damn shame. KK would have been our secret weapon in October had we been there. Perhaps not so much in 2010 but good Lord, if he got half of Jamie Moyer’s run support he could be starting the All-Star game this year.
vin
May 26th, 2010
3:30 am
I’m getting sick of ppl who always pin KK’s poor outings on the Braves offense. Were getting at a point where that excuse can no longer be used..
ReddJonn68
May 26th, 2010
4:13 am
Is it just me, or would batting Chipper deep in the order might be the thing to get him some good pitches too hit. Oh what am I talking about Bobby would never move Chipper any where else in the order if his life depended on it. Chipper is looking lost out there. Some of the pitches he’s missing on is by a lot. Let’s forget hitting for power right now we just need him to put some balls in play. Some of these young guys have never faced him & are going right at him. Screw the scouting report pitch to him until he makes you pay.
Tim L.
May 26th, 2010
5:22 am
Yep when JJ comes back KK should head to pen. And against RHP Chipper should bat 2nd and Heyward 3rd. Chipper still has a high OBP because he walks a lot.
And Phil Niekro in todays’ game would never lose 20 games or 18. The 2 seasons he lost 20 games he made 43 and 44 starts (won 16 and 21). His ERA those years – 4.03 and 3.36. Today 34-35 starts a season is max with many doing 30-32.
The 18 loss years Phil made 42 and 38 starts with 2.88 and 3.63 ERA.
Southside
May 26th, 2010
5:28 am
Phil won over 300 games playing for teams losing 90 and 100 games a year. He was consistently in the highest IP in the majors. He rarely missed a start. KK may well be out of the majors in a year. Who would want him at his price? Wren needs to cut his losses, demote the guy, and give a young arm a chance.
MitchC
May 26th, 2010
5:52 am
KK is the Anthony Young of the Braves. That guy had no luck. He finished his career 15 and 48 with an ERA of under 4, and had a 27 game losing streak spanning two seasons at one point.
If KK’s losing continues, Bobby really should put him in the bullpen as a mop up man, and bring up someone from Gwinnett. I know it will be a while before JJ comes back, but, we can’t just keep sending a guy out there every fifth day knowing he is going to lose.
Braves have lost two straight after a good run. Hopefully this is just a mini losing streak, and not the beginning of another major funk.
wakeuptimetodie
May 26th, 2010
6:12 am
Not fair. In KK’s nine starts, the Braves have provided an average well shy of 2 runs per game in support. How’s the guy expected to win?
The trouble here is bats. And frankly, it has been for the last few years. How many times have you watched the Braves lose a tight one 2-0? Or 5-2? Or even 3-1? The answer is LOTS of times.
Get some bats, Bobby! A couple guys who hit for average, have speed, and can make life miserable for opposing pitchers. We have power. We need GUYS.ON.BASE.
Wally
May 26th, 2010
6:31 am
Third paragraph- “I wasn’t very good at match…” Maybe so, but you’re not very good at proofreading an article, either. Welcome to the big leagues, Mr. Schultz.
Rich
May 26th, 2010
6:57 am
“Kawakami, quite possibly the worst free agent acquisition in Atlanta Braves history …”
How quickly we forget Albie Lopez, Dan Kolb, Ray King, …
Willy
May 26th, 2010
7:13 am
Did the Braves retire “I-285″ from their team jerseys?
Chris
May 26th, 2010
7:23 am
I know this article is primarily about Kawakami, but you can move Medlin to the rotation or trade for Oswalt, etc. He isn’t the only pitcher to have pitched against the East ( the division where we reside). They’ve beat the Mets once in 6 tries, the Phillies twice in 6 tries, the Nationals once in 3 tries, and we just lost last night to the Marlins who give us fits all the time. GET THE PICTURE.
The majority of our games are against the East. No matter who is on the mound we haven’t been winning in our own division. If that doesn’t change it will be another post season with the Braves sitting at home.
Stuart
May 26th, 2010
7:32 am
Seriously, you can’t put this all on KK… he is getting no run support whatsoever. If the run support (and bullpen) was there for the good outings he’s had, the record wouldn’t look so bad. Plus last year he started off semi-slow then lit it up the second half of the season, arguably being the team’s best starter over the final stretch. Sure, I would have rather kept Vazquez than KK (all about the $$..), but saying KK is the worst acquisition in Braves history?? You’ve got to be kidding me… There have been FAR worse. KK is a decent starter. I’d take him on my team…a team that can actually score runs and hold the lead for its starters….
jeffrey d
May 26th, 2010
7:34 am
Last I heard KK was top (bottom?) 3 in run support in the Majors. Shouldn’t that be mentioned when ragging on a guy for his record? He’s received a loss or no decision for games in which he’s allowed 3 0 3 3 3 and 2 runs.
I know he hasn’t been lights out this season, but I wouldn’t call him the worst free agent acquisition in Braves history. Keep in mind he’s our 5th starter (he’s not the one who offered himself a $23 million contract)
tiger7_88
May 26th, 2010
7:36 am
This might possibly be the stupidest thing Lib-Prog Jeffy has ever wrote.
And considering the massive volume of stupidity that has been output by him over these many years, that’s really saying something.
BugKiller
May 26th, 2010
7:42 am
Ummm… Jeff.
Kawakami might be horrendous.
But Albie Lopez is still the Atlanta Braves worst free agent pitcher signing. I’ll believe that for the rest of my life.
MelkySucks
May 26th, 2010
7:44 am
Another great article by JS. Does this guy know KK gets no run support and when he does the bullpen blows the lead. How are you able to continue to write this garbage?
Hunter
May 26th, 2010
7:53 am
Two Braves-related articles are up on B/R. Check them out and let me know what you think.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/396858-braves-1st-quarter-report-relievers
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/396832-braves-1st-quarter-report-starting-pitchers
Braves smell
May 26th, 2010
7:56 am
I agree, Jones should retire. When a suposed star like Chipper is leaving 8 runners on base, its time to think about that number 3 spot. Chipper is the game coster.
KK didnt do all that bad last night. He did not deserve to lose this one. If Chipper would have just brought in a couple of those opportunities and Chavis returned to AAA, then KK wins. Why in the world Cox leaves Jones in the number 3 spot is far beyond my imagination. The guys career is over. Double play after double play. Last I heard this was a team (TEAM) sport and Chipper is not a number 3 hitter, Hayward is. Move him for the remainder of the year and send Chavis and his base on balls and poor pitching to the minors. Bring back JJ and leave Medlin in the number 5 spot. KK is not a starter, but good long relief.
The end of this season needs to see KK released, Chipper retired and take the bit and trade for Oswalt. He wants to come here. Spend the money if he will rework his contract. Move Freeman up to the majors and move Glaus back to 3rd. Bring up Schafer as soon as hes ready and send Caberea packing. We might have a team them ya think?
Tweets that mention Braves' Kenshin Kawakami now on pace to go 0-25 | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
May 26th, 2010
8:00 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by AJC , jmeucci. jmeucci said: RT @ajc: Cy Young Award doubtful: On his current pace, Kenshin Kawakami would finish the season 0-25, Jeff Shultz says. http://bit.ly/dfzX3m [...]
Clay
May 26th, 2010
8:03 am
If Bobby were to stick around until Chipper retires, he would keep sending his body out (a la “Weekend At Bernies”) game after game, batting in the 3rd spot, even after his ave. got to .000.
Bobby in the dugout: Come on Chip! Come on Chip!
Mr. Know It All
May 26th, 2010
8:04 am
The real problem is Chipper (aka Quitter) Jones in the 3 hole. How many rally killers is this guy going to have before Bobby Cocks mans up and moves him out of the 3 hole. Chipper is a 7 hole hitter at best! Pitchers are pitching around Heyward to get to Chipper….if a pitcher is pitching around the 2 hole hitter to get to the 3 hole hitter then we have MAJOR ISSUES!
Revamped lineup we need ASAP:
Prado
Escobar
Heyward
Glaus
McCann
Hinske
Chipper (…..would rather see Conrad here at 3B)
McClouth
Pitcher Spot
tp
May 26th, 2010
8:05 am
Forget about this just being the worst free agent acquisition in Braves history. This is probably the worst free agent acquisition of a Japanese ballplayer in baseball history! Seriously, what Japanese player has been worse?
Angus
May 26th, 2010
8:06 am
Luck/circumstance certainly plays into this – compare KK and DLowe’s stats.
KK’s got a better ERA, K/9, WHIP, and a lot less walks.
If you ignore the W-L, KK’s been the better pitcher, but KK’s 0-7 and DLowe’s 6-4. Go figure.
F-105 Thunderchief
May 26th, 2010
8:06 am
He’s Kawa-crummy! Wren was on a Japan kick last year. He made an offer to legit prospect Tazawa. And then when he signed with the Red Sox instead, Wren inexplicably picked this bum off the scrap heap and made him a rich man.
Mr. Roboto
May 26th, 2010
8:07 am
Thank you very much Atlanta for finding home for Mr. Kawacrappy. No have to worry about losses no more here in Japan.
Also, no ‘I was no very good in match’-y. Think you mean ‘math’-y Mr. Schultz. Please no forget proofread you nice articles even if on late night drinking sake after another Braves loss cause by Bobby Cox stupidity. Good job anyways. Domo arigato.
db
May 26th, 2010
8:07 am
Pasquel was funky. good times
tp
May 26th, 2010
8:08 am
Hey Jeff: My six-year-old son is considering playing baseball in the Fall. Perhaps I should let him take some batting practice against Kawakami. After roping a few hits off him, I’m sure his confidence will be built up enough to take his chances against tougher Little League pitching.
Angus
May 26th, 2010
8:08 am
Looking back to check my stats, KK’s statistically been better than JJ also – they are both winless.
F-105 Thunderchief
May 26th, 2010
8:10 am
Actually, unless Kolb and Wickman came here in trades, Kawakami is not the worst free agent signing.
Clay
May 26th, 2010
8:10 am
Why get on KK and not Chavez? I’ve missed watching about three games, and so far I haven’t seen him pitch when he didn’t allow at least 1 run. Usually the runs come in bunches. Knowing this, why would Bobby bring him in only one run down, when he has at least 4 other relievers who would have kept the lead at 1?
Morrus
May 26th, 2010
8:13 am
Curiously, in a supposed anti-incumbent year, most of the departing are not retiring but seeking higher office. We may recycle more than we replace. The bad news is that a frustrating 114 seats still have but one contestant. Two of them aren’t even incumbents, meaning they will affect state policy without being vetted by voters. And I have to think that we’d be better off if many had run instead for the Legislature — and cut down on the number running unopposed. Georgia’s problems are numerous. They aren’t going away. There’s too much stale thinking at the Capitol, on both sides of the aisle. New voices would be welcome.
Bobby
May 26th, 2010
8:15 am
Can’t any reporter get my quotes right? When I say I have “confidence” in Chavez, I’m confident that he’s going to give up at least one, hopefully two runs per outing. Are we clear now?
Voice of Reason
May 26th, 2010
8:18 am
Have been wondering what is happening around the baseball world with other “stars” – read this link about Todd Helton of the Rockies. He is having a power outage like our Chipper is but is hitting at a better average and his OBP is still quite good, like Chipper’s.
http://www.denverpost.com/kiszla/ci_15148609 – Hope this link works from the Denver Post. Thought the comparison was quite good and maybe it is time for either Jeff or Mark to also take a hard line on their thoughts on Chipper being moved in the lineup. I do believe that with his OBP and ability to put ball in play, he would be better suited for batting 2nd in the lineup. Having J-Hey behind him might get him better pitches to hit and his batting average would improve, too.
Sid Bream
May 26th, 2010
8:18 am
Where were you when I slid?
Otis Nixon
May 26th, 2010
8:20 am
Where my coke at?
John Rocker
May 26th, 2010
8:21 am
How the hell did you monkeys get in here?
Reid Adair
May 26th, 2010
8:21 am
Kenshin Kawakami isn’t on his way to being Frank Wren’s Waterloo; Wren has long since passed that stage of his Atlanta career.
That being said, I wasn’t in favor of this signing when it occurred, and it’s just gotten worse. In his nine starts, Kawakami has given up less than three earned runs only twice – and one of those was against the Reds to give him that wonderful three earned runs in his last 12 inings.
Kawakami isn’t cutting it. I realize Jair Jurrjens is hurt, but they need to do something for this spot instead of conceding a game virtually every time he comes up in the rotation. Call somebody up. Do something.
On a separate note, the story about Pascual Perez getting lost on 285 is one of my favorites.
Samurai
May 26th, 2010
8:28 am
So KK gets a quality start, and you insult him like this, Shultz. May the Bird of Paradise poop on your forehead.
Melky C.
May 26th, 2010
8:30 am
Quality move having Chavez pitching in the 8th. Its a 3-2 ballgame with a full and rested bullpen and the guy in there when the game is on the line has an 7.71 ERA and gets his brains beat in 2/3 times he pitches. Its not like its the 6th inning. Moylan, Eric O., somebody else besides this clown and we win the game.
Clay
May 26th, 2010
8:31 am
Um, Morris, clean your reading glasses. . .
Marvin Mangrum
May 26th, 2010
8:33 am
Really, whoever got this bum ought to be fired. Thats PERIOD! Chipper should be on first, anybody should be in center, and Glaus should be on third. If after this week Escobar has not gotten a hit, he should become a pinch hitter, following Melky Cabrerra. But you know what, I already know Frank Wren doesnt read the AJC, its obvious, I want players, not races of people. I want winners. If I went to ATL on Sunday and paid to see a game that had Sundays lineup I would sue someone to get my money back. When is this crap gonna stop? When are you freaking writers going to put a stop to this? Is everything these folks do ok? Can a sports team do anything and be ok? The Braves are pitiful, because management is pitiful. I mean, damn you can see that, right. Chipper batting third, me sitting at home hoping he is gonna get hit by the pitch, McLouth batting 8th, Escobar batting 7th. And except for 3 or 4 folks this even is not a team. Really, just stay at home till it changes.
Yep
May 26th, 2010
8:35 am
I am sorry, but if I had the track record of KK in my job, I would have been canned a while ago. It is inexcusable to go 0-7 as a major league starter and still have a job in the bigs. You can argue run support or injury or whatever else you want, but that doesn’t change the fact that the guy is 0-7. I guess we are paying him by the “no decision” games he throws. It is sad when a no decision is a win for a pitcher.
meh
May 26th, 2010
8:38 am
they should flip Chipper and Heyward in line up. Or flip Glaus and McCann. Right now, Chipper and McCann are slumping. It’s gonna kill the Braves having them next to each other in the line up.
George P Burdell
May 26th, 2010
8:42 am
“I wasn’t very good in match so I’m not sure yet how that factors out per victory.” Uhmmm, were you good in spelling (emphasis on past tense)?
Melky C.
May 26th, 2010
8:44 am
Lets play a little game called “Guess Who”
I play almost everyday.
I’m 85th in the NL in Batting Average.
I’m tied for 99th in the NL in Home Runs.
I’m tied for 94th in the NL in RBIs.
I’m tied for 104th in the NL in Hits.
I’m 82nd in the NL in Slugging Percentage.
I’m 92nd in the NL in Runs Scored.
But hey…I’m 17th in the NL in OBP!
beauvighn
May 26th, 2010
8:45 am
Chipper left a samll village on base last night. The cat just can’t get it done any longer. How long does Bobby continue to let us sink in the division before he shows some guts and pulls the trigger. My guess is never and he will go down with the ship…
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2010
8:49 am
Richard — Oswalt’s not going to happen, but I think you already knew that. If this team makes a significant trade it will be for a bat.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2010
8:49 am
Joseph — Or spelling. (Fixed.)
Dave
May 26th, 2010
8:50 am
I love Chipper. He’s one of my favorite Braves ever, and a first-ballot hall of famer. But when do we start thinking about putting Conrad or Infante at 3rd? He’s killing us right now.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2010
8:50 am
DWB — Yes.
Brian from SC
May 26th, 2010
8:50 am
Not even close, unless you’re still in the dark ages and think a pitcher’s value is determined by his win-loss record. Kawakami had a better-than-average ERA last year (ERA+ of 107), and had a WAR figure of 1.7, putting him at a value of $7.8 million dollars. His salary last year was 7.7 million. Go figure.
This year, he’s pitching really about the same. The strikeouts are down and the homer are up some, but his walk rate is down a good bit. The ERA is inflated due mainly to poor defense behind him and a very low LOB rate. He’s on pace to be worth about $5.7 million this year, which is a little below his 6.7 million salary. But that hardly qualifies as “worst free agent signing ever”. Derek Lowe’s signing has been a good bit worse than Kawakami’s in terms of value compared to salary.
He hasn’t been Greg Maddux out there this year, but he’d be a lot better than 0-7 if he got even just average defense, relief pitching, and offense to back him up. All three have been well below average when he’s in the game this year.
meh
May 26th, 2010
8:50 am
I wouldn’t put it all on KK. He should’ve had a win against the Reds had the bullpen not blown it. And he could easily be 2-5 or maybe 3-4 with better run support.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2010
8:51 am
Whopper Dawg — Hey, I did start this by noting he was a Hall of Famer. But the fact is that he does own the record. (And yes, they shouldn’t be lumped in together.)
Playoffs!?!?
May 26th, 2010
8:51 am
KK is a decent # 5 starter–his record wouldn’t nearly be as bad as it is this year if we scored him some runs. His last two starts are- by major leauge standards–quality starts.
He gives the Braves a chance to win almost every game he pitches. So kick him while he’s down if you want to.
Here’s the real puzzling question: Why would a GM pay $7-8 million for a No. 5 starter? Not even the Yankees or Red Sox do that.
Dam
May 26th, 2010
8:52 am
“There’s always the chance Kawakami’s arms will fall off”
Are you seriously wishing for a player to get hurt? Jesus, that’s the worst piece of writing I’ve ever read. I can’t believe that writers to considers wins and losses as a good way to measure a pitcher’s effectiveness are still allowed to write.
Sonny Clusters
May 26th, 2010
8:52 am
Aunt Myrtle Clusters could pitch for this team and get beat and Aunt Myrtle was undefeated for the entire time she pitched minor league ball. Some of these announcers are going to get fired pretty soon pointing out that Chipper isn’t going quite as well as Bobby would have us think in his press conference after the games. We was thinking maybe running Chipper out there in the 3rd spot in the batting order again and again and letting Escobar play with that .180 average means Bobby isn’t doing all he can to win games. If Bobby won’t maybe the players won’t either. We was always skillful at using the bullpen when we was coaching ball and if Bobby needs some help from us we would be available.
DirtyDawg
May 26th, 2010
8:53 am
I’m curious ‘yep’, just what kind of a job do you have that they can ‘evaluate’ your day, or week, or year, on a ‘win or lose’ basis? Did you make the company money that day? Did you just cost the company money that day? Did you badger people into working harder and longer? Did you make all your customers happy or did you disappoint some? And I suggest that you don’t ask you boss to keep a scorecard on you cause you might not like what he’s measuring.
Regardless, KK can’t catch a break. If the Braves had given him the kind of support they’ve given Lowe, he’d have a winning record. At the same time, it seems to me that he’s lacking a pitch or two to ever be successful in the ML. Greg Maddux could get by with an 88 mph fastball because he had pin-point control, a great change-up and could ’set up’ hitters like, perhaps, no other pitcher in baseball, ever. KK, as far as I can see, has no change, can’t control his curve, can’t throw hard enough to get by when his two-seamer breaks back over the middle of the plate and, oh yeah, doesn’t even come close to Greg’s control. You’re right to figure that he needs to go to the bullpen when JJ returns, or maybe even put him there now and let Venters have a go at starting.
Brian from SC
May 26th, 2010
8:55 am
Playoffs!?!?-
Teams don’t sign guys and pigeonhole them into roles like that. They signed him for around 7 million a year because they thought he would be worth 7 million a year. So far, he has been worth very close to what he’s been paid.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2010
8:55 am
Vin — I was getting ready to post a comment and then I saw your’s. Right on target. At some point, a pitcher has to win a game 1-0, 2-1, 3-2. It’s not like that’s a foreign concept to anybody in Atlanta. When this team was on top, Smoltz, Glavine, Maddux had to do it all the time. And yes, I know Kawakami isn’t on the level of one of those guys. But the point is the same. And for the person who noted that Kawakami is pretty good for a No. 5 starter, well, that’s the problem. At $23 million, he wasn’t supposed to be the No. 5 starter. So please, no more stats about quality starts or lack of run support. Just do what it takes to go win a game.
ASN
May 26th, 2010
9:00 am
Jeff: The fact that you didn’t mention KK has one of the lowest run supports in the league makes your article lack credibility. Crunch some numbers, and write a meaningful article that discusses it, instead of just sharing your opinion. For instance, what would KK’s record look like if he got average run support? Sometimes — and I know this might be a stretch for someone like you — look at other statistics besides the win-loss record. It’s probably the most ridiculous statistic in baseball.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2010
9:00 am
Bugkiller — I’ll give you Albie Lopez. ‘Course, he wasn’t getting $23 million. … Maybe we should do poll on all-time worst braves.
Brian from SC
May 26th, 2010
9:01 am
Who made up these rules as to what a “No. 5 starter” or a “#1″ or a “#2″ are supposed to be? Does No. 5 starter mean the 5th best starter on the team? Then Kawakami’s not our #5 this year so far…he’s our #3. #4 if you count Medlen, I guess. Does that mean he’s underpaid as a #3 starter?
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2010
9:01 am
MelkySucks — Given your name, I’ll write about Melky next time.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2010
9:01 am
TP — Couldn’t hurt. I’ll see if I can arrange it.
Sonny Clusters
May 26th, 2010
9:03 am
We was considering that ballgame last night and how hard it is for the Braves to score runners who are standing on second base with fewer than 2 outs. Then we decided what was needed! This team needs somebody who can put the ball in play in those situations. Instead of hearing, “C’mon kid” from the dugout encouraging the 3-run homer, maybe we should be hearing the seldom heard, “get that runner over” . . . and start playing a little National League baseball. We was reminded how Bobby kept sending Andruw up to the plate when he was stretched out so wide in his stance that he would fall down when he took a swing – and then we was reminded how you-know-who would come up and be out on the first or second pitch and almost never see more than 3 or 4 pitches in any at-bat. Those players didn’t fit the situation but they was the ones Bobby sent to the plate regardless.
ASN
May 26th, 2010
9:03 am
Jeff: The fact that you didn’t include KK’s low run support makes your article lack credibility. I think the W-L record is the worst statistic to judge a pitcher. What would be a much better article would be for you to crunch some numbers, find out what KK’s W-L record would be if he got average run support, and write about that. Maybe throw in what his fielding-independent pitching would be. Wouldn’t that be a more meaningful article?
Dam
May 26th, 2010
9:04 am
So you’re saying that when a pitcher throws 6 or 7 innings and allows just one or two runs, if his team doesn’t score a run and loses the game, that’s the pitcher’s fault? Tell me how the pitcher is supposed to control how many runs his team scores? As far as I know the pitcher is not supposed to drive runs in.
Ed
May 26th, 2010
9:05 am
How many times did pascual drive around 285 looking for afcs? Wasn’t it like 3 times?
Scott
May 26th, 2010
9:06 am
Dam
Look at his era. It’s worse over last year. Other pitchers have had a couple of games with lousy run support. That is no excuse.
ASN
May 26th, 2010
9:07 am
Brian from SC: thank you for enlightening me.
Jeff: “Just do what it takes to go win a game” didn’t do much for me. I’ll continue to read your articles because I’m a big Braves fan, but I would like to see something more out of your analysis.
Brian from SC
May 26th, 2010
9:07 am
Starting pitchers have a tough gig in that some people still judge them based on W-L, when in reality it’s ridiculous that they have to be responsible statistically for what the other players on the team do. There is not a single GM in baseball that will look anywhere near a pitcher’s W-L record when making personnel decisions. And for good reason. Believe it or not, GMs aren’t that interested in evaluating how well a pitcher’s team played when they pitched, but in how the pitcher himself performed.
Angus
May 26th, 2010
9:08 am
At some point, a pitcher has to win a game 1-0, 2-1, 3-2. It’s not like that’s a foreign concept to anybody in Atlanta.
Technically, no Braves starter has done that this year.
Brian
May 26th, 2010
9:10 am
Scott, using ERA is a little better than using W-L to evaluate a pitcher, but still not ideal, because ERA is affected a good bit by the defense around the pitcher.
Nobody’s saying Kawakami has pitched like an ace this year. He’s been a little below average this year. But to put him in the category of “worst signing ever” is blatantly ignorant.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2010
9:10 am
Dam — let’s be real. It’s not like that happens every KK start. Otherwise his ERA would be 2.12, not in the high 4s or low 5s for most of the season.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2010
9:11 am
ASN — Would getting more run support mean his own ERA would be in the 2’s?
Sonny Clusters
May 26th, 2010
9:11 am
If a player has a hole in his game it will be discovered at some point. Escobar is having a rough go right now but when he was called on to bunt a few games ago we got to see how horribly suited he was for that role. Do the coaches teach? Should they have to at this level? Is something missing in the way this team is prepared each spring? I would like to go ahead and endorse Chino Cadahia for the next manager of this team. Chino could always get a bunt down and fly down to first base. Looks like he could still play a little. That would be a good skill for this team to learn.
Clay
May 26th, 2010
9:12 am
Dave, “we” all have been thinking about that, or at least moving him from the 3 spot in the lineup. The problem is that Bobby will not do it, even if it betters his lineup. He let Chipper kill rally after rally last season and never moved him and he won’t now. I guess moving Chipper would “dis-honor” him.
Bobby is a “player’s manager.” Now I understand what that means.
ASN
May 26th, 2010
9:13 am
But Jeff, Dam’s point is that KK’s W-L record wouldn’t be 0-7…which is in response to your article. Get it?
Sonny Clusters
May 26th, 2010
9:13 am
We was just kidding about Chino.
Playoffs!?!?
May 26th, 2010
9:13 am
I don’t think KK was ever projected by the Braves to anything but a back-of- rotation guy. Did they really rank him above Vasquez/Hudson, or Jurrgens, or Lowe ( the $15 million guy) or even phenom Hanson? KK only pitched every 6th day in Japan.
And, of course, it’s unfair to compare KK ( or anyone!) to Glavine, Madduz and Smoltz.
In today’s baseball, pitchers are not expected to go 9, 8 and even 7 innings is unusual.
However, bullpens are still expected to hold leads the majority of the time. And teams are still expected to play adequate defense behind their starter. This hasn’t happened much in KK starts.
Clay
May 26th, 2010
9:14 am
Jeff, KK’s era is lower than Lowe’s. Lowe has 6 wins. So either Lowe is very lucky, or KK is very unlucky. Right?
Brian
May 26th, 2010
9:15 am
The Braves have won 9 games either 1-0, 2-1, or 3-2 since the start of last season. Kawakami was the starter in 3 of those, more than any other Braves pitcher.
ASN
May 26th, 2010
9:15 am
Jeff: I understand that KK’s ERA is bad, but getting more run support would mean his win-loss record would not be 0-7. Your article deals a lot with the fact that KK is winless. All I’m saying is that the W-L record is a bad statistic to judge a pitcher. Consequently, it’s a bad statistic to use when making an argument about who is the worst free agent signing ever.
Brian from SC
May 26th, 2010
9:16 am
I’ve very interested to see whether Jeff has a counter to any of my points.
ASN
May 26th, 2010
9:17 am
“The Braves have won 9 games either 1-0, 2-1, or 3-2 since the start of last season. Kawakami was the starter in 3 of those, more than any other Braves pitcher.” Great research, Brian.
Roger
May 26th, 2010
9:17 am
“Kawakami, quite possibly the worst free agent acquisition in Atlanta Braves history …”
Nick Esasky, anyone?
ijudgenot
May 26th, 2010
9:20 am
KK and Lowe are 5 inning pitchers at best. You can’t take Lowe and put him in bullpen at 12 mill a year., but you can take KK and make him a long reliever until he gets a win or two. Let Medlen pitch his 5 innings and bring KK in in 6th inning. Just try something different Bobby to show team that you want players to succeed and team to win but team winning comes first.
Whats the over and under that Chipper will not have any injury that keeps him out of lineup for more than a day befrore All Star break.. I will take the under. i don’t think Chipper will risk being out of the lineup for more than a day because the logical move would be to bat Heyward in the 3 spot. If Heyward continued to kill the ball during that time in the 3 hole the pressure would come from mgt. to keep him there and bat Chipper 2nd. From now until All Star break whenever Chipper needs a rest so will Heyward.
Worm
May 26th, 2010
9:21 am
I hear there’s a Chinese pitcher available-Win One Soon
tiger297
May 26th, 2010
9:21 am
I love slanted journalism…lets ignore all the points that say he isn’t that bad (6 of 9 quality starts, 3rd best ERA of braves starting pitchers with more than 3 starts, last 2 starts bullpen has allowed 7 runs in 6 innings) among others
meh
May 26th, 2010
9:21 am
If you want to jump on a Braves pitcher, jump on Derek Lowe. I know you’re gonna be all “he has 6 wins, he’s my hero” but his ERA is 5.30 (KK’s is 4.98). He only has 6 wins because the Braves score 9 or 10 runs every time he pitches. you can’t judge a pitcher based on wins alone Mr. Schultz. There’s too many variables in that stat.
Terry Strecker
May 26th, 2010
9:22 am
Frankly, Kawakami is bad, but for what we are paying him D-Lo is worse. What would his record be if we weren’t scoring six runs for him every time he pitches? And he makes double Kawakami’s money. We could have probably gotten one real player for the $23 mill a year these two clowns are getting. Maybe an outfielder who can hit above .200 or a real starting pitcher?
meh
May 26th, 2010
9:23 am
I think Reggie Sanders was the worst Braves acquisition ever. That guy didn’t do anything the year he was here.
DP
May 26th, 2010
9:28 am
KK’s not even the worst free agent acquisition on the current Braves pitching staff. That would be Derek Lowe, who is paid more than twice as much and whose 2009-10 ERA is worse. What would Lowe’s won-loss record look like if he had received Kawakami’s run support?
The competition for the worst free agent acquisition in Braves history is pretty stiff. I think Andy Messersmith, Bruce Sutter and Nick Esasky would all rate ahead of Kawakami.
Pepe Frias played here.
May 26th, 2010
9:29 am
I really think that we keep Medlen in the rotation when JJ comes back. KK pitched a lot better in relief last year than he did in the starting rotation. As far as the worst free agent signing ever , i would have to argue Dan Kolb or Albie Lopez.
As far as the lack of run support, Niekro suffered through that in those twenty loss seasons, especially in 1979. In that year, the rotation was Niekro, Ruthven and whom ever we could scrap up. Remember Buddy Jay Soloman?
ASN
May 26th, 2010
9:31 am
How about Garrett Anderson for worst recent FA? Didn’t he bat 5th in the order? Geez.
Clay
May 26th, 2010
9:31 am
Son’t hold your breath, Brian from SC. I’ve noticed that sportswriters in all media, including ESPN, are largely ignoring the new stats, still throwing out the old ERA, RBI, stuff.
SowegaDawg
May 26th, 2010
9:32 am
#10=Rally Killer, over and over again. Move him down to #6 in the order starting tonight—-PLEASE!!!
ASN
May 26th, 2010
9:33 am
ESPN has done a much better job recently. Check out this blog, which I think is pretty darn good: http://capitolavenueclub.com/
Clay
May 26th, 2010
9:33 am
Brian from SC and Brian, I think you’ve made Schultzie pout . . .
Brian
May 26th, 2010
9:33 am
I’m just a little offended he responded to so many folks, but totally ignored mine. I made very reasoned, salient points that I thought deserved some response, since he seems not to be shy about making replies to folks.
Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised. It was a very lazy article, and since he didn’t think or analyze with any depth to begin with, why should I expect him to do so in response to me?
Brian from SC
May 26th, 2010
9:34 am
By the way, Brian is the same as me…for some reason it keeps on deleting the “from SC” part, and I have to keep adding it.
Oddibe McDowell
May 26th, 2010
9:37 am
Nick Esasky was definitely the worst free agent ever for the Bravos. When it comes to terrible pitching for this franchise, the late 80’s bullpen of the “Ghastly Boys” would have to win.
Pat Mycrotch
May 26th, 2010
9:38 am
KICK HIS A** OFF THE TEAM!!!
Clay
May 26th, 2010
9:40 am
Huh, ASN? G Anderson wasn’t great, but his ‘09 numbers are probably unreachable this season by the guy currently batting 3rd in the order. Just saying …
Delbert D.
May 26th, 2010
9:43 am
What is the average ERA of all of the other NL 5th starters?
Mr Miyagi
May 26th, 2010
9:50 am
Jeff Son, you need press and hold backspace key when writing column this bad. Press and hold. Press and hold. Goooood.
ASN
May 26th, 2010
9:52 am
First, G. Anderson had an .303 OBP in 2009. That’s pretty bad. And I was thinking about recent FA signing to give us a recent comparison around the time KK was signed. (D Lowe is probably the worst, of them all).
Second, Chipper’s done better than G. Anderson. I think his hits will come around, too.
Ph.D.
May 26th, 2010
9:53 am
The Braves have to hit, period. No need to throw Kawakami under the bus. This could easily be Lowe or JJ. What is the team’s batting average? How many runs does the team score daily on average, less the once a week 10 + runs? Suck it up, grin and bear it, pull yourself up by the bootstraps–my derriere.
ASN
May 26th, 2010
9:54 am
By the way, did the comments on this post actually scare Jeff off? He was responding a lot, and then, once pointed arguments were made attacking his analysis, he leaves?
Come back Jeff, this is all in good fun. You must expect criticism, right?
Reality 4
May 26th, 2010
10:01 am
Calling KK as the worst free agent signing is ridiculous. He has kept the Braves in the game most, if not all, of his starts this year. Even yesterday, if Prado had knocked the ball down in front of him, the first run wouldn’t have scored.
One of the problems he had last year was his control – he could barely go past 5 innings because of his pitch count. He’s been doing better in that category the last few starts. At this point, though, it is becoming a psychological thing. I think he might be trying too hard not to make mistakes.
Clay
May 26th, 2010
10:06 am
G Anderson: .268 ave, 13 hrs, 61 rbi. Chipper better pick up the pace, ASN!
I really don’t know if he can, either. Didn’t Chipper bat right around .200 for the second half of last season? Chipper’s new norm may be .225 with little power.
TommyJack
May 26th, 2010
10:08 am
Ah, memories of Zane Smith. STILL captain of the all-ugly team.
heartofdarkness
May 26th, 2010
10:09 am
Jeff,
The probability of someone being able to achieve a record of 0-25 is astronomically small. From what I have been reading, you should be a bond trader on Wall Street. And maybe KK would like to be your quant.
An Adult
May 26th, 2010
10:10 am
Rey … great to be first is something as important as this eh? I hope you put it on your resume. Oh, sorry, middle schoolers don’t know what that is… some day, when you grow up and try to be first at something that counts, you will know what a resume is… in the mean time, keep glued to the internet to be first on sports writers’ blogs for a local newspaper. If you can’t go and play a sport, then at least you can keep sniffing the jocks of wannabe sports writers.
ASN
May 26th, 2010
10:16 am
Haha, Clay. I know. His numbers are down this year, but his OBP is still great. He’s no longer a bona fide # 3 hitter, though.
FSUSEMINOLES
May 26th, 2010
10:19 am
kawakami need to ask for a trade because THA BRAVES SUCK THAAAAAAAAAAAAA BRAVES SUCK
Melky C.
May 26th, 2010
10:20 am
Lets play a little game called “Guess Who”
I play almost everyday.
I’m 85th in the NL in Batting Average.
I’m tied for 99th in the NL in Home Runs.
I’m tied for 94th in the NL in RBIs.
I’m tied for 104th in the NL in Hits.
I’m 82nd in the NL in Slugging Percentage.
I’m 92nd in the NL in Runs Scored.
But hey…I’m 17th in the NL in OBP!
My name is Chipper Jones. Quality bat hitting 3rd every day!
DP
May 26th, 2010
10:20 am
Jeff, if you had any interest in being fair to Kawakami instead of inciting a lynch mob you might have mentioned that in his start prior to the one last night he left the game with a 4-0 lead and the bullpen coughed up the lead before Heyward won the game 5-4 in the last at bat with an RBI double.
6375309
May 26th, 2010
10:21 am
–So jeff will pile on the asian guy who gets no run support, but defends tooth and nail the 14-million/yr Black Hole batting third, or the obviously incompetent hitting coach, or the senile lard-assed manager…
bvillebaron
May 26th, 2010
10:23 am
DP:
It should be patently obvious to all who read their blogs that neither Jeff nor Mark have any interest in being fair and analytical about anything.
freshd
May 26th, 2010
10:36 am
If WREN wants to save face, why dont he just trade managers with the MARLINS while the BRAVES are down there. It would be so easy, and all they would have to do is change dugouts, and uniforms. FRANK could even throw in CHIPPER and TP too, and KK, MELKY, and NATE and YUNEL..
Mr Miyagi
May 26th, 2010
10:37 am
Yeah, he piles on the Asian guy!!
Eli
May 26th, 2010
10:39 am
vin i totally agree kris medlen has the arm to go 6 or 7 innings and kawakami only has about an inning a game where he allows some so if we move him 2 middle relief it will be good and the braves will get back on track also we need to get escobar goin
Tom B.
May 26th, 2010
10:41 am
anyone else out there tired of Chipper excuses….”the ball didn’t fall………….i hit it on the nose…….i’m struggling. The best thing Frank Wren can do other than quit, is to force Chipper toaccept a trade to the AL, or force him to retire now. The second thing he needs to do is send Kawakami to the minors.
hawesg
May 26th, 2010
10:43 am
Worst FA signing? You forget the ’80s. Bruce “Ouch” Sutter and Nick “Bat? What Bat?” Esasky.
Those were worse because unlike the Kenny Kamakaze signing, they strangled the club for years.
Tucker T
May 26th, 2010
10:51 am
I was also going to mention Esasky as the worst FA signing but that was only $5.6M over three years in 1989. Even given inflation I still don’t think you can get to KK’s money. Also, Esasky was forced to retire after only 35 at bats in the first season of the contract due to his illness and the insurance paid the remainder of his contract. I would also suspect that insurance paid a large part of Sutter’s contract as well because he was hurt so much. Unless KK turns it around this season and next, I think he would probably be the worst FA signing in Braves history.
Timmy
May 26th, 2010
11:02 am
Overheard from the Braves front offices after Kawakami loses 7th game of year to go 0-7 : “Shut up just pay me.” – Kevin Kawakami
Dwayne
May 26th, 2010
11:46 am
Booby, TP, Chumper and Yunice need to GO…..I can hear Bob Qui Qui now…Sekerrity!!!!
Dwayne
May 26th, 2010
11:47 am
*Bon*
Zack
May 26th, 2010
12:17 pm
Wow Shultz… you obviously have no idea what you are talking about. All you use are wins and losses to prove your point. This was the same pitcher that out dueled Roy Halladay, Johan Santana, and pitched a fairly decent game against Tim Lincecum in his first start of the season. The reason why he is 0-7 is because we don’t give him any run support. Yet, when Derek Lowe pitches, runs just seem to come out of Bobby’s ass. Kawakami is 0-7 and STILL has a lower ERA than Derek Lowe. Why don’t you get on his case? He makes $15 million a year, yet I don’t see a column about how we he was the worst free agent signing in Braves history. Here’s a bit of a stat for you:
“Here’s the run support the Braves have given Kawakami this season: 2, 0, 2, 0, 2, 3, 0, 4, and now, 2. Of the 148 pitchers with at least five starts this season entering Tuesday, Kawakami ranked 137th in run support.” Please tell me how you are supposed to get a win if you get that kind of run support. Let’s look at Derek Lowe’s run support this season
Derek Lowe: 15, 7, 9, 3, 4, 7, 0, 9, 2, 4.
Do some research first before you decide to write a pointless article. I can guarantee you that Kawakami would be a #3 or #4 starter in other rotations.
castle
May 26th, 2010
12:20 pm
Jeff, I can’t fathom why the AJC is paying you to write about baseball if you think that W/L record is an indicator of pitcher performance. Maybe you should try looking at ERA to evaluate how KK has pitched, or god forbid more advanced statistics. The fact that you’re picking on him instead of Lowe (who has a higher ERA and a higher salary) smells a little like racism to me, but I’ll gonna give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you simply don’t know how to evaluate pitcher performance
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2010
12:26 pm
Thanks, Brian from SC, Zack, and others who actually do research before posting, thereby making me look like an uninformed hack.
Zack
May 26th, 2010
12:41 pm
Good job getting ownedswordian at your own column.
GTmasterZ
May 26th, 2010
12:47 pm
Am I the only one who is peeved at Escobar and Chipper. I mean Infante was hitting well above .300 last time he was a regular in the line up and Escobar is barely touching .180.
Chipper is definitely a HOF in my books but the way he is swinging the bat these days, I am in utter disbelief. He had two chances yesterday to drive in runs and what does he do? Hits the ball into a double play and gets out to end the inning. Bobby should realize that he owes Chipper nothing and if he is not performing then let Conrad start for him, its not like Conrad can be worse than him defensively.
extremus
May 26th, 2010
1:06 pm
Mr. Schultz,
There’s an interesting article about minor league pitcher (and a guy who’s played stints for a few big-league clubs before having Tommy John surgery) Chris Resop on MLBTradeRumors.com that my brother just directed me to; they’re comparing his recent work in the Braves’ minor league system in some ways to Stephen Strasburg, in that he too has been dominant. I’ve copied and pasted some of his numbers from the article below:
Resop has a 2.03 ERA with 10.4 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9. He has not been pitching deep into games, but he has allowed just 34 hits in 48.2 innings.
The big deal about this story is that there’s a clause in Resop’s contract which requires the Braves either to promote him to the Major League level by June 14 or allow him to be picked up by another team. Given Kawakami’s struggles (which fairly are not all his fault; Lowe’s ERA and effectiveness are at least as bad) bringing up Resop to fill the fifth starter position could be at least a short-term positive solution. Kawakami could do long relief perhaps, but leaving him out there as a starter right now with the run support and plain bad luck he’s having would be detrimental to both him and the Braves’ playoff chances.
What are your thoughts on this? Considering I didn’t even know Resop was on the Braves’ minor league roster until today, with stats like that I’m sure he can’t stay under the radar for very long.
jerry
May 26th, 2010
1:38 pm
Why is Jeff picking on a non star when this is plenty to say about Chipper and his 8 month “slump” and that old fart who keeps hitting him third? I guess they are untouchable “stars” huh?
ijudgenot
May 26th, 2010
1:54 pm
Chipper, Chipper,Chipper, this year is a repeat in a lot of ways to last year. Last year it was Escobar who was tearing the cover off the ball and arguably the Braves best run producer with a rediculous batting average with runners in scoring position. However, with Chipper having a down year in power numbers he was never moved out of the 3 spot and Escobar put there. This year its Heyward hitting with power numbers and Chipper still having low power numbers but continues to occupy the 3 spot in batting order. I know the excuse Cox will give is that he was and is protecting Escobar and Heyward. That having Chipper bat behind them would assure them geting good pitches to hit, is there anyone who believes pitchers now are saying “lets let Heyward hit the ball cause we don’t want to walk him ahead of Chipper”. Its like Chipper batting any place other than 3 or 4 would be a challenge to his manhood or something. Cox switch Chipper and Heyward in the order for a couple of weeks. If Heyward goes in a slump you can always switch him back, but to leave things as they are and see Chipper flounder at driving in runs is doing a disservice to the potential Heyward has and to the legacy that Chipper has earned over the years.
sidslid
May 26th, 2010
1:58 pm
I wonder if there has ever been a 20 game loser on a team with a winning record?
Wnen Jurrjens comes back, does Medlen stay in rotation?
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
May 26th, 2010
2:39 pm
I honestly believe KK will finish closer to 1-24 than 0-25.
Braves are bound to score 10-or-15 runs in one of his starts.
coo coo bird fan
May 26th, 2010
2:45 pm
Kawakami doesn’ t get the run support, period! U don’t like that excuse then your ignoring the FACTS. Lowe has a higher era and How many games has he won, not to mention a 8 million dollar difference. HIs luck will turn, I thought it was the Pitt game but Chavez messed that one up also. I stull like Venters in the 5th starter role, we need a lefty in the rotation. He has nasty stuff and needs a shot. Love Medlen but would like a lefty better.
Algenis
May 26th, 2010
2:48 pm
The fact that you didn’t include the total run support that KK gets per inning makes this article irrelevant.
KK deserves much better then his record indicates. How about the WORST OFFENSE IN BRAVES HISTORY!!!!!!!!
How about mentioning that a major league roster has about 4 or 5 players hitting under .200???? What pitcher wins with an offense that is that crapy????? An offense that is lead by an ex-utility player and a 20 year old rookie????
KK has done a nice job. Os he worth $23 million, NO! But at the end of the day, this is a team sport and. For the most part he is doing his share.
Algenis
May 26th, 2010
2:54 pm
Another point…Bobby needs to stop being a punk and move Chipper down in the order. He’s hurting this team. Heyward should be batting 3rd. And another thing. Escober needs to get deported back to Cuba. This guy is an automatic ground-out. Play Omar Infante!!
Jojo the Monkey Boy
May 26th, 2010
4:05 pm
Don’t blame others who actually have some semblence of intelligence on the subject for making you look like a hack. You did that all on your own.
And to the guy who is saying KK is the worst Japanese signing, you also need to learn what you are talking about before opening your mouth. Among several examples, see Kei Igawa, who is getting the same from the Yankees for pitching much worse than KK does, but doing it in AAA.
droopydawg
May 26th, 2010
4:06 pm
I believe you meant “young or uninformed” not “young or uniformed”
chip caray's eyebrows
May 26th, 2010
4:42 pm
THANK YOU SCHULTZ!!
Cut the run support crap. His ERA is horrible. I don’t care how many runs they score for him, that has NOTHING to do with his ERA. He pitches well LAST YEAR at times against some good pitchers, but every dang pitcher in the big leagues can do that on a given night. I don’t get the sympathy for him from bloggers, announcers etc. He has a 23 million dollar contract, he is 0-7 with a near 5.00 ERA, and yet it’s all bad luck. Why must you defend the guy? He makes no excuses (which i respect), why should you? Run support is an argument for a guy who is 2-5 with a 2.50 ERA. Did you ever think about why they don’t score runs for him? Take last night. They get him a 2-1 lead, and bam, he gives up a long homer to the first batter he faces. That kills morale. I have nothing against the guy personally, but he gets paid to do a job, and he has not done that job. Quit making excuses for him.
Ladies and gents: We introduce Chan Gailey ... visionary? | Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2010
7:40 pm
[...] ♦ Braves’ Kenshin Kawakami now on pace to go 0-25 [...]
MitchC
May 26th, 2010
7:47 pm
Jeff, unless I’m missing something, while you did say KK is on pace to go 0-25, you did not say what you think needs to be done about him. Should Bobby keep him in the rotation? Demote him to the pen? Send him to the minors? I doubt he’d be released due to his contract, but, what do you think is the solution for what to do with KK?
JSS
May 26th, 2010
9:18 pm
@ Jeff Schultz…
It’s freakin’ 65 degrees, cool breeze my Pink’s Hot Dog!!! Thank goodness I’m getting paid for this!!!
Here are five words: Bruce Sutter and Nick Esasky! The debate begins and ends there… Kawakami is a scape goat for the lack of run support (I grew up watching that sadness with Niekro, Ron Reed, Zane Smith and Buzz Capra) and a bullpen incapable of holding a lead when he was actually winning a game (vs. Cincy)! By the way, go look at his last 5 starts, really look at his pitching line…
eww
May 26th, 2010
11:44 pm
I get sick of all the jack legs bashing Bobby all the time.
I will just have to figure that when he’s no longer manager next year that we will begin a run of world series titles that will be second to none.
Bruce Funk
May 27th, 2010
1:09 am
Awesome. To this day, when I get bored, I will tell my friend I’m going out for a “Pascual Perez” for time to think. This, of course, means I’m taking a trek around I-285 for music and meditation. Sometimes (not during rush hour), it’s just fun to pull a Perez.
Justin
May 27th, 2010
8:15 am
This might be the dumbest article that I’ve read since I used to read Highlights as a kid. Several games were lost for Kenshin, who held the opposing team to a limited amount of runs.
How can you call out a 0-25 season when we’re about 1/4th the way through the year?
Marty
May 27th, 2010
8:20 am
This may be the dumbest Braves-related article I’ve ever read, which is saying a lot. I’ll repeat what others have said about Kenshin not even being the worst PRESENT free-agent starting pitcher acquisition on the Braves (here’s looking at you, Derek Lowe), let alone the worst free-agent acquisition by the Braves all-time. Yes, I remember Nick Esasky. How about Jim Presley?
Also, KK obviously has not even pitched that poorly this year, and he actually pitched quite well for the majority of last season.
Lastly, Coach is — as usual — a moron.
come n
May 27th, 2010
8:58 am
the people that say well KK is just getting bad luck and no runs behind him, well let me tell u something he is 0-7 and an era over 4. u dont get there with bad luck, u get there by not being any good
Joey M
May 27th, 2010
1:01 pm
Amazingly enough, that would still put him behind Anthony Young for most consecutive losses without a win. KK will get a win. He is a good pitcher. The balls that are falling against him will start to get caught. He is better than Lowe. I would rather have Medlen and KK in the rotation than have Lowe in it.
Hawks' Sund lacks string of great coaching hires in past | Jeff Schultz
May 27th, 2010
1:50 pm
[...] ♦ Braves’ Kenshin Kawakami now on pace to go 0-25 [...]
John
May 27th, 2010
3:58 pm
i have lost faith in Kawakami. he will never be a quality pitcher. and dont give me that crap about how he makes some good pitches. yea sometimes the runs dont come in, but you would figure he would be better than just average in at least one of those starts. i bet my sushi chef could pitch better than him, at least he looks just like him. (no joke they could be twins)
ryan
May 27th, 2010
4:38 pm
The Braves need to move Kenshin to the bullpen like NOW!!! Call up another player or sign a pitcher until Jurrjens gets back and is healthy enough to pitch. The Braves also need to upgrade their outfield. I wouldn’t necessarily say get someone with power but get someone that atleast hits for average and will get on base. But for right now, play Melky over McLousy!!!
ChiTownBravesFan
May 27th, 2010
4:55 pm
You are all missing the point. This wonderful contract forced us to give away Javy Vazquez. Instead of competing this year for a division, we will now have to wait for the power arms in our system, which are fantastic, to be ready to contribute around 2012. A rotation of Hanson, JJ, Delgado, Teheran, Minor, Medlen, Hudson in some form with Heyward, McCann, Freeman leading the offense will be a team that competes for WS titles for awhile. We have a Rays like wave of talent about ready to explode, it’s just a shame that we will be fighting for wild card spots until then due to bad planning.
Dorothy Davis
May 27th, 2010
5:07 pm
I have a comment for Jeff Schultz: You call yourself a sports writer, but obviously you haven’t been watching the games Kenshin Kawakami has pitched. If you had, you would have known that the team has NEVER given him any run support and when they did give him a couple runs, the bull pen blew it for him. So pay attention before you make stupid comments.
Schultz doesn't actually watch
May 28th, 2010
1:36 am
Everyone on here that focuses on record is purely an idiot. Plain and simple, no further discussion required.
Jorge Sosa / Marlins | Jorge Sosa called up | Sporty Twits
May 28th, 2010
7:59 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Marlins get no relief again in loss to BravesSun-SentinelEffective Friday, the Marlins will designated Meyer for assignment and select Jorge Sosa from Triple-A New Orleans. Meyer's ERA climbed back up to 10.80 …When it rains, it pours for Florida Marlins' bullpenMiamiHerald.comMarlins fall to Braves after long delayFlamarlins.comPrado, Braves beat Marlins 8-3The Associated PressThe Canadian Pressall 696 news articles » [...]
SG10
May 28th, 2010
9:18 am
Jeff,
I think you are being rough on the guy. I know his ERA is terrible but ERA of 4.5 means he gives up average of 3 runs in every 6 innings. That should buy him more wins than Zero. I think he has also been quite unlucky but I do believe over 162 games, luck averages out so we should see him with better luck and more wins…and far from projected 25 losses.
Jorge Sosa / The Marlins will purchase Sosa’s contract from Triple-A New Orleans on Friday, the team’s official site | Sporty Twits
May 28th, 2010
9:59 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Marlins get no relief again in loss to BravesSun-SentinelEffective Friday, the Marlins will designated Meyer for assignment and select Jorge Sosa from Triple-A New Orleans. Meyer's ERA climbed back up to 10.80 …When it rains, it pours for Florida Marlins' bullpenMiamiHerald.comMarlins fall to Braves after long delayFlamarlins.comPrado, Braves beat Marlins 8-3The Associated PressAccess North Georgiaall 702 news articles » [...]
Anon21
May 28th, 2010
12:32 pm
Jeff Schultz: Worst freelancer signing in AJC history?
Sorry, I try not to be petty and nonsubstantive like that, but honestly…evaluating pitchers in terms of wins? Is this 1910 or 2010?
Gary
May 28th, 2010
12:34 pm
I like Kawakami. He is much better than his record, but the Braves havent scored many runs for him and they seem to play horrible defense behind him. I’ve seen him go toe to toe with some of the best pitchers in the league. At the very least, he consistently eats a lot of innings while giving the Braves a chance to win. Derek Lowe on the other hand gets great run support so has a much better record, despite his lousy ERA. We got a lot more for our money with Kawakami than Lowe, not even close.
JC from DR
May 28th, 2010
3:00 pm
Sometimes i wonder how can a ”writer” like Jeff Schultz have a job! Writing about a sport he clearly knows nothing about?
KK is a good pitcher who has found himself in the center of an incredible bad luck, most of his losses have been due to the lack of offense the Braves bring to the table whenever he’s on the mound, and you’re saying KK is the worst aquisition in Braves history? OMG!
Reggie Sanders, Vinny Castilla, Derek Lowe (who could easily be 1-7 if it wasn’t for the fact that the Braves scored a lot of runs in his first couple of starts, which were all atrocious)… and a lot more people who simply $uck balls during their time with the Braves.
Who the real KK is? I saw him outduel Halladay, I saw him pitch a gem last year at LA, a couple of starts back he didn’t allow a single run, but the bullpen screwed up, against the POS Mets he pitched a quality game and the Braves didn’t even scored. A lot of quality starts where the Braves failed to score runs to back him up, that’s what KK has gone through.
What a frikking writer…
csg
May 28th, 2010
3:21 pm
I love it when people evaluate pitcher’s performances based on wins and losses. Its about as useful of a stat as RBI’s. Im sure you feel that Hanson sucked the night he gave up 1 unearned run and picked up the loss too. Kenshin has a career 4.1ERA 1.35WHIP in ATL and you think he’s the worst FA signing of all time. He’s cheaper and better than D Lowe, check any stat other than wins/losses and compare the two. You my friend are clueless.
BluesMan
May 28th, 2010
8:55 pm
All due respect Jeff,
Let’s be realistic about Kawakami, his run support is…erm…well..PATHETIC. If there’s two things they (the team) needs to change offensively is giving KK better run support & doing better against other starters in our division. In 3 starts that KK has had this year…I think Bobby pulled him too early, & should’ve let him pitch himself out of trouble…he was doing that really well last year. (Not on the Bobby Cox hate train, however no-one’s perfect) Although most of his starts have been rough for this year, he IS showing signs of improvement. Again, there’s one element missing in his starts that would make his record look like it should…RUN SUPPORT.
I hear the fans whining & moping about overpaid pitchers…is D-Lowe overpaid? Probably, but he was a necessary ingredient to solidifying our rotation after ‘08…It would’ve been idealistic to sign him for 10-13 mil./yr. I do think he’s worth that. Although we haven’t seen it, he’s consistency as an innings eater & a veteran presence (the fruits of that we won’t see until Medlen becomes a mainstay in the rotation, Lowe has mentored him some). Is KK overpaid? I’d also say yes (I’d have offered between 5-7mil./yr. However, KK is being criticized for ALL the wrong reasons.
You want to know the worst & most overpaid starting pitcher we’ve ever had? Good ‘ol MIKE HAMPTON. What a waste of payroll & time. God forgive me, but I laughed & said good riddance when I read that he was hurt YET AGAIN after going to Houston for less money. You foolish fans think D-Lowe & KK are bad? Just think about what ‘wonders’ (cynicism & sarcasm) Hampton did for our team.
is30303
May 29th, 2010
12:32 am
wow. this may be the absolute dumbest article i’ve every read in the AJC. . . what happened to journalistic integrity? Lets address the obvious:
1. Comparing Phil Niekro to KK?? Hall Of Fame pitcher to a backend rotation starter. . . nice.
2. Ignore ERA is based on innings pitcher: KK can’t go 6 innings so he’s ERA is inflated – this is he is number one problem, he needs to go past 6 innings BUT. . .
3. When you get this for run support: 2, 0, 2, 0, 2, 3, 0, 4, and now, 2, you’re going to get yanked for a pinch hitter.
4. He gave up 5 runs once, and besides that it has been 2,4,3,4,3,3,0,3
5. Oh, yeah, thats including the runs given up by our bullpen after he’s out of the game
6. You replied: just get wins and Tired of excuses? so this is no longer a team game? What do you want, KK to start jacking homeruns? idiot. this is baseball. there are other players on the team. One man cannot win games by himself. Ask Zack Grienke.
Hey man, just admit the truth of the matter and say you’re a racist and you don’t think certain people should be in the Major Leagues. You’d at least be respected for telling the truth, instead of spewing this garbage. This is Atlanta, there is a market for racists like you, don’t worry. People will still love you even if you hate people based on the color of their skin. Be open about your racism but don’t be an absolute idiot and write articles like this, you’ll lose your integrity.
Woody Woodward
May 29th, 2010
2:12 pm
I remember Braves fans thought it was Christmas when Ted signed Andy Messersmith. We found rocks in our socks.
As for KK, he’s the best 0-7 pitcher I’ve seen in a while.
ray k.
May 29th, 2010
5:36 pm
Stats aside, Derek Lowe has been a worse signing. As was the case last year, his ERA is higher, his reputation as a front of the rotation starter more established, and his salary bigger. Derek has been a huge bust–I don’t care how many wins he has. Blaine Boyer could have 7 wins with the kind of run support Derek gets.
Pirates Will Win Against Braves Kawakami Helping Him Pursue Neikros Records | Rum Bunter | A Pittsburgh Pirates Blog
May 30th, 2010
11:22 am
[...] of Famer. Joe Neikro has the top five single season loss records for a Braves pitcher. Kawakami is on pace for an 0-25 season. The Atlanta press is calling him the worst free agent acquisition in history, and well, sort of [...]
DJTT
June 1st, 2010
1:51 am
Kawakami has almost identical stats to Lowe who has notched 7 wins and those wins are only because of run support. Please research a little bit more before you slam a pitcher who has provided some quality starts with nothing to show for it because of low run support and some bad luck. Obviously Bobby Cox feels like he deserves some more starts before he sits him down and that is very warranted.