After beating bottom feeders, Braves can get serious now
Jason Heyward's first-inning homer, his 10th of the season, gave the Braves a 1-0 lead Saturday night. (AP photo)
There is an old adage in baseball that the standings don’t mean anything until after Memorial Day. I’m not sure how this got started.
My guess is, back in the early 1900s, there was a manager whose team started the season 2-27 despite an inflated payroll of $172.50 and rather than answer questions about why his team stunk, he screamed at a sportswriter: “I don’t know! Ask me in June!”
So here we are – in the middle of Memorial Day weekend and almost in June. Do we start paying attention to where the Braves stand now? Yes. But less because of the calendar than the upcoming schedule.
The Braves defeated Pittsburgh again Saturday night, 6-3 at Turner Field. Jason Heyward hit a home run, Troy Glaus and Martin Prado had two-run doubles and Chipper Jones stole a base (and then got up!).
But there was a sense of inevitability before it even started. The Braves are now 16-4 against the six worst teams in the National League: Pirates, Florida, Chicago, Milwaukee, Arizona, Houston. At 27-22 overall, that of course makes them 11-18 against not the six worst teams in the National League.
Contrasting results like that can say something about a team’s postseason worthiness. But if you believe it’s too early to draw such conclusions, well, here’s some good news: There’s a potential sledgehammer around the corner.
After finishing this weekend series against the Pirates on Sunday, the Braves play 13 of their next 17 games against Philadelphia (three-time defending National League champions), Tampa Bay (best record in baseball), Minnesota (A.L. Central leaders) and Los Angeles (contending for N.L. West lead).
“We’re going to get a lot of teams that are playing well and leading their division. We’re going to get to see what we’re made of,” Chipper Jones said. “We’re going to see what needs to be fixed. Usually when you play the really good teams, your deficiencies come to the forefront.”
It’s actually remarkable the Braves are in the position they’re in. They’re a mere 1 ½ games behind Philadelphia in the East, despite some moon-size craters in the lineup (biggest holes: Yunel Escobar and Nate McLouth are each hitting .188), two starting winless pitchers (Kenshin Kawakami and Jair Jurrjens, who’s on the disabled list) and a nine-game losing streak in April.
Jones again: “If you had told me we’d be going into June with no wins from those two guys [Jurrjens and Kawakami], I would’ve said we’d probably be 10 games out. And if you had told me we had a nine-game losing steak and me and [Brian McCann] were hitting at or below .250 and didn’t have 20 runs batted in, I would’ve said we’re bringing up last place.”
Bobby Cox’s decision to slide Martin Prado and Jason Heyward up to the top two spots in the lineup. (The Braves have scored 60 runs in the past 10 games). There’s also a belief in the clubhouse that the early struggles were at least partly because they faced several of the league’s premier pitchers. As Jones put it, “We faced five guys who are going to finish in the top five in the Cy Young voting while other teams were getting fat on last-place teams. Now we’re starting to bottom feed a little bit.”
Prado, the team’s best player this season, along with Heyward, “We can’t change anything just because we’re playing Philadelphia or somebody. All we can do is keep playing the way we’re playing and see what happens. We know we have a big challenge coming up. But if we do all the things we’ve been doing, we’ll be fine.”
General manager Frank Wren believes the team’s 11-18 record against the non-six worst teams is “skewed” because those are the teams the Braves were playing early when they were struggling, though he added: “If we’re going to have a good season, we’re going to have to play well against those teams, and I think we will.”
We’ll soon find out just how “skewed” the numbers are.
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90 comments Add your comment
Iceman
May 30th, 2010
10:10 am
My guess is, back in the early 1900s, there was a manager whose team started the season 2-27 despite an inflated payroll of $172.50 and rather than answer questions about why his team stunk, he screamed at a sportswriter: “I don’t know! Ask me in June!”
LOL
Bob Barker
May 30th, 2010
10:33 am
“Jeff Schultz isnt a sportswriter or a journalist” likes men
Braves73
May 30th, 2010
10:43 am
Deficiencies:
1. Bobby Cox
2. Bobby Cox
3. Bobby Cox
We will see deficiencies because Bobby will expose our weaknesses by implementing a heaping helping of Melky, Mclouth, Chavez and anyone else who clearly should be on the bench (permanently). If we are lucky, we will see a Triple A lineup again against the Pirates today and go into tomorrow with a loss.
Glaus-is-half-full-kind-of-guy
May 30th, 2010
10:45 am
Bobby Cox – love him during the regular season, hate him in the post season. He makes me a bi-polar Braves fan.
Sigmund Freud
May 30th, 2010
10:59 am
My research indicates that the early success of youth will be exceeded by the proven performance of
veterans over the long run. Additional data collection will be required as this remains merely a hypothesis. This theory is supported by numerous examples such as Ryan Howard, Andy Pettitte, and Jamie Moyer
Sonny Clusters
May 30th, 2010
11:00 am
Clusters babies was baseball smart right off the bat. We was babies but we was able to grip a baseball before we left the hospital and we was throwing by the time we got home.
Chipper Jones said, “We’re going to see what needs to be fixed. Usually when you play the really good teams, your deficiencies come to the forefront.”
Jeff, did he really say “deficiencies” and “forefront”?
Did he mean forefoot?
We was thinking we already know what needs to be fixed. The question is will they fix ‘em? And who will play today?
Now it gets interesting « Rowland's Office
May 30th, 2010
11:01 am
[...] May In three weeks we’ll know whether the Braves are contenders. Jeff Schultz breaks it down: The Braves are now 16-4 against the six worst teams in the National League: Pirates, Florida, [...]
Carl Jung
May 30th, 2010
11:10 am
Sigmund, just what are your professional credentials ?
Scott
May 30th, 2010
11:13 am
Need a win today to start a sweep and condifence going into the phillies. Too many times we lose this game and then go 1-2 against the phils and then 1-2 in the next series. At least we don’t have to face roy this time around.
ATL#22
May 30th, 2010
11:31 am
There’s also a belief in the clubhouse that the early struggles were at least partly because they faced several of the league’s premier pitchers. As Jones put it, “We faced five guys who are going to finish in the top five in the Cy Young voting
Kyle Kendrick, Livan Hernandez, and Jamie Moyer are going to finish top 5 in CY voting? hmm who knew
Nick Esasky
May 30th, 2010
11:38 am
The way I see it…
1. McLouth has been given ample time to improve. He’s a good guy, but we need MUCH more production out of CF. Why not at least try Melky in CF for a time with Hinkse as the EVERYDAY LF. Once again Bobby confounds logic by starting a guy hitting .188 and benching a guy hitting .340. Does Bobby really think (probably yes) that McLouth is a better hitter against lefties than Hinske?? I think we’ve gone about as far as we can with McLouth.
2. I’m also not sure what’s up with Escobar. He has a lot of talent, but he just seems disconnected this year. He’s never been a hustler, but it’s the worst it’s ever been in 2010. For the here and now, Infante is the better option at SS. He’s the more consistent hitter and he always gives 100% effort. Like McLouth, I think we’ve given Escobar ample time. Maybe he came back from the DL too soon.
3. Chipper is showing definite signs of life, thank God. I was ready for him to retire a few weeks ago. We still need much more production from him, but I think he might just be ok and have a huge 2nd half.
4. McCann is perplexing. I still think he’ll turn it on, but my optimism is fading. Between his eye problems and now his quad, I just don’t know. We need ya, Big Mac. In the meantime, thank God for David Ross.
Jeff – I understand that you think it’s your job to keep it real, but you need to lighten up, my friend. A good team beats up on the weaker teams and plays .500 against the better teams. The Braves are doing fine – and they rebounded nicely from their 9-game losing streak. The NL East is up for grabs, man. Enjoy it!
Fire Frank Wren
May 30th, 2010
12:29 pm
Jeff, the truth hurts when you are a homer. Facts are facts, maybe you should use theory more in future articles. For instance: Let’s assume Cox made reasonable decisions at SS and CF the Braves could score enough runs to finish second instead of third!!!! How is that for homer theory!
rick vaughn
May 30th, 2010
12:30 pm
Thanks, JS. Some folks don’t get that sports writers aren’t suppossed to be homers. Keep up the good work. I enjoy it.
I just hope the Braves keep winning and make you have to work a little harder.
Ted M
May 30th, 2010
1:02 pm
I’m rootin’ for the Braves but they can’t stay close for much longer. The Phillies will soon start hitting again. The Braves won’t be able to over come all the holes in their lineup.
Common courtesy
May 30th, 2010
1:23 pm
Some constructive criticism Jeff. Look at this quote from your colleague, Mr. Bradley
“As ever, I welcome your company. As ever, I say thanks in advance.”
Mark takes the time, upon leaving a live blog, to thank the viewers for their patronage.
It’s good customer service.
Bye Bye Bobby
May 30th, 2010
2:16 pm
Well well well. McCouth kills another scoring opp with a strikeout. When is Donk going to bench him for Hinske? Never. Because the old fool would be compromising his loyalty. As long as Cox is the manager we will not have the best 8 on the field.
Elon Brave
May 30th, 2010
3:44 pm
Shultz, do you ever write an optimistic column, EVER?
This is for you…
http://www.hulu.com/watch/19280/saturday-night-live-debbie-downer-birthday-party
Delbert D.
May 30th, 2010
6:28 pm
What’s important is that the Braves seem to have overcome themselves as one of the worst teams in the National League.
Delbert D.
May 30th, 2010
6:33 pm
Catfish Hunter: the ultimate bottom feeder.
We need to start calling Kawakami “Catfish”. Or “Sushi,” at least.
kal
May 30th, 2010
6:35 pm
You are not showing maturity or professionalism. What are you supposed to do when you play lesser teams? You beat them and then get called “bottom feeders”? You lose to them and then get chased out of town. You have never managed or played in major league baseball and think that you can write anything you want without thinking!
yea Clusters !
May 30th, 2010
8:19 pm
I hate you Shultz. Course I also hated Steve Sommers. Got the tshirt to prove it.
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May 30th, 2010
10:37 pm
[...] Jeff Schultz on the Primed and Ready Braves [...]
Ted Striker
May 31st, 2010
6:33 am
1) Good column.
2)Thank god Sonny Clusters is alive and well.
3) It’s early. I’m going back to bed.
News and Notes from Around the Atlanta Braves Organization | Tomahawk Take | An Atlanta Braves Blog
May 31st, 2010
7:36 am
[...] The AJC’s Jeff Schultz chimes in on the upcoming series and schedule as well: So here we are – in the middle of Memorial Day weekend and almost in June. Do we start paying attention to where the Braves stand now? Yes. But less because of the calendar than the upcoming schedule. [...]
Bill
May 31st, 2010
9:44 am
I can’t get my hope up…its to early and the team still has problems. Its a long season. I’ll keep watching and enjoying, just maybe they’ll pull it off.
Thanks Jeff………
TommyJack
May 31st, 2010
9:47 am
Keep up the negativity, Jeff. John Adams will find a place for you in Knoxvegas.
Brock
May 31st, 2010
9:53 am
Don Sutton is a real life Chia Pet.
Sugarbear
May 31st, 2010
10:03 am
While the Braves aren’t the team they once were and, money aside, the front office suits should gather a much better roster than presently exists,Braves fans should be very happy that the team is beating up on bottom feeders.
In the mid-late 1950’s Cleveland Indians were vastly superior to the Yankees. On straight up games and match-ups Cleveland came out better (but not that much better.)
The Yankees always won each year’s pennant because they consistantly beat the bottom feeders. Cleveland couldn’t do what they were supposed to do – keep it up.
If the Braves win 45% of its games vs. the Phillys & 50+% vs the Mets, they can win the division. Only problem, the Philly’s have the better team.
Braves fan in Budapest
May 31st, 2010
11:42 am
You know back in April I was one of the skeptics – despite the fact that they were 2 or 3 in the grapefruit league before season began. However, since April the Braves have since been proving me wrong. I certainly hope they continue to do so…and yes it is only a matter of time until Yunel starts hitting consistently again.
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May 31st, 2010
1:49 pm
[...] ♦ After beating bottom feeders, Braves can get serious now [...]
SouthgaDawg
May 31st, 2010
6:06 pm
Well Jeff, did a 9 to 3 drubbing start out as “serious” enough for you?
BravesInTheBurgh
May 31st, 2010
6:27 pm
Nothing is more annoying than people saying Heyward “is going to be the next….” whoever whether its Albert Pujols, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron. He wasn’t stamped out of some press mold of the heroes past, he’s an entirely different guy who may eventually have superior skills that nobody else ever had. He’s amazing, yes…but all this talk of “he’s the next…” whoever is getting stale and adds undue pressure onto his shoulders. Let him be himself without undue expectations. Wish the sportscasters/media would understand this too.
BravesInTheBurgh
May 31st, 2010
6:33 pm
Also I think the Braves should just flush Nate McLouth down the john- he had a decent season last yr. here in the ‘Burgh but he’s easily the Braves worst Outfielder this year and before long Atlanta is going to beg Jordan Schafer to come back up from AAA. Melky stinks pretty bad too, but he plays decent from time to time and atleast got his BA up over .200. I was at the game he hit his lone HR this season but the best part was when he was playing the OF and this one drunk guy heckled him the whole game and Melky looked so mad I thought he was going to jump over the Right Field wall and knock the guy out.
CharliesMeat
May 31st, 2010
6:44 pm
What in the world are the Braves keeping J-Hey batting 2nd?! Thats crazy! He is clearly a 3rd-4th slot kinda guy. He’s not a setup guy he’s a smash the ball outta the park and get all kinda RBI’s kinda guy. He was struggling a bit since they moved him there earlier and today when they beat the Phillies he went 0-5. C’mon Bobby, fix it!
Roja
June 1st, 2010
9:25 am
You talking about beating “bottom feeders” like when we swept the First Place Reds or beat the first place Phils or the once First Place Mets or beat the Fish when they were ahead of us in the standings???? Go write for the Pirates!
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June 1st, 2010
2:58 pm
[...] ♦ After beating bottom feeders, Braves can get serious now [...]
T for Texas
June 1st, 2010
5:18 pm
As for the Jeff Schultz argument that the Braves are in first place because of playing bottom feeder teams: The Phils have played 29 games against teams that were at or under .500 at the times those games were played, while the Braves have played 20 games against teams that were at or under .500 when those games were played.
C’mon Mr. Schultz.
T for Texas
June 1st, 2010
5:21 pm
Research is a very important part of journalism. Try http://www.baseball-refernce.com, sir.
T for Texas
June 1st, 2010
5:21 pm
http://www.baseball-reference.com Correction.
Braves Review: Summertime Feels Right « The Grit Tree
June 7th, 2010
12:10 pm
[...] Reading some of the AJC hacks, they will try and belittle this streak. The Braves had series with the Pirates (twice), Cubs, Marlins, Diamondbacks and Brewers. Yes, those are some of the worst teams in baseball. But that shouldn’t be taken as a negative; if the Braves stunk it up against the bad teams then that would be bad. If the Braves are going to make a postseason run, they must beat up on the bad teams. Which they did. [...]