If Braves’ Pendleton got blame before, he better get credit now
Terry Pendleton deserves some credit for the Braves turning into one of the better hitting clubs in the National League. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
So does this mean Terry Pendleton isn’t so bad?
(Sarcasm.)
After going 6-5 on what could have been a crushing 11-game road trip, the Braves are 14-5 since a 6-4 loss to Florida – Kenshin Kawakami shockingly was the losing pitcher – and 29-13 (.690) since a nine-game losing streak.
Nobody figured they were that bad at 8-14. Some probably wonder if they’re really this good at 10 games over .500 in mid-June.
But I just wanted to bring something to your attention. Despite still getting little production from their expected primary run producers – Chipper Jones, Brian McCann, Yunel Escobar – the Braves have been climbing in National League statistical categories.
They rank No. 1 in walks (.295), No. 1 in on-base percentage (.352), No. 2 in doubles (124), No. 2 in runs (.327), No. 4 in batting with runners in scoring position (.277), No. 5 in total hits (.565) and No. 6 in batting average (.262). All in all, that’s pretty good for a lineup most of us wanted to blow up in April.
Which leads me back to Pendleton.
During this 14-5 stretch, the Braves are scoring 5.58 runs per game. That’s a full run more than the previous 45 (4.58).
Hitting and pitching coaches get way too much credit and blame. Pendleton wasn’t the reason Jeff Francoeur nose-dived in Atlanta. Similarlly, Pendleton is not the reason Martin Prado has turned into a .332 hitter. Coaches can help only so much in terms of pointing out flaws and making suggestions. Players either adjust or they don’t.
When Leo Mazzone left the Braves for Baltimore, it was comical the way some fans believed the Braves were suddenly going down like Pompeii, as if Mazzone created the greatness that was Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz.
What happened when Mazzone went to the pitching-poor Orioles? Suddenly, he stunk. All those people who whined when he left the Braves suddenly went mute.
Funny. The same thing is now happening with Pendleton’s critics. We’ve gone from screams to crickets.
If Pendleton is going to get the blame for Nate McLouth, he needs to get some credit for Troy Glaus, Eric Hinske and Omar Infante.
Can’t have it both ways, folks.
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181 comments Add your comment
Drew doesn't waste time sending message to Hawks' players | Jeff Schultz
June 14th, 2010
9:58 pm
[...] ♦ If Braves’ Pendleton got blame before, he better get credit now [...]
Shane
June 14th, 2010
9:59 pm
The reason the Braves are hitting is because they stop listing to him,
And how per say would you know that?
Shane
June 14th, 2010
10:01 pm
Bobby and I think most folks are ready for a change. I also believe Frank Wren is one of those people. I agree with Jeff that Freddi G. is both the best and most likely candidate.”
1. Im not ready for a change for changes sake. Why mess with a proven winning formula.
2. Freddi G is a Bobby clone and would mange much the way he does.
reason
June 14th, 2010
10:09 pm
Becasue they’re hitting!!!!!!!!!!
Skeezix
June 14th, 2010
10:11 pm
Jeff: The criticism of TP has always been unbalanced and illogical. I would apply your sentiment in this article also to Bobby Cox. His critics over the last few years, some of whom seem to believe that he’s a senile old man, have suddenly gone silent. Maybe these critics have finally been enlightened to the fact that Bobby Cox wasn’t the problem during 2006-2009. The constant Chipper bashing is beyond getting old—as the Chipper bashers haven’t come up with an original thought in four years. Anyway, this has been a fun team to watch, that Twins series was great and I hope the season ends as well as it has started.
Braves Off Day Links | Tomahawk Take | An Atlanta Braves Blog
June 14th, 2010
10:12 pm
[...] Jeff Schultz says that Terry Pendleton deserves some credit. [...]
reason
June 14th, 2010
10:13 pm
Look, Pendleton had has four+ to proof he was a hitting coach and for four year, the Brave have look like a bunch of pee wee leaguer, they could’nt Grandma Moses slow ball on her worse day.
The Grinch
June 14th, 2010
10:24 pm
Mike Jay, I’m aware Freddie was a coach under Bobby. I’m also aware that since then, he’s asserted his own distinctly different personality. Roughly Half of current NFL coaches/analysts came from under the “Parcells Tree.” Would you say there are at least a dozen Bill Parcells clones coaching NFL teams? Or did they study under him, absorb some things (along with other coaches they studied under or about at some point), and then put their own stamp on the team when they got a chance to do so? Would you say Freddie G. and Ned Yost would manage the same way? How about Jimy Williams and Pat Corrales? C’mon, man; you can do better than that.
turkeycaller
June 14th, 2010
11:34 pm
Jeff, Surely you remember all the games and seasons we couldn’t hit and TP was there doing what he claims to do now. He says hitting instructor. I say bad joke. When this season is over I hope this organization brings in new blood and puts the Cox connection on the highway. TP must go.
kaygeeone
June 15th, 2010
12:05 am
I said it before and I’ll say it again, he can’t hit for the players….good or bad.
mikep
June 15th, 2010
12:07 am
are you kidding – this overpaid undertalented waste of space is getting credit for having one hitter in the starting lineup hitting 300 or higher – wake me when he actually acomplishes something. and please move the braves to another city if he’s the next mgr – 50 win team at best
ChiefKNOCKaHOMER
June 15th, 2010
12:36 am
Every piece of the puzzle matters, Terry is a inticate part of the Braves’s success.
Coach (2011 or Bust)
June 15th, 2010
1:04 am
Grinch , you speak for no one other than yourself. Personal opinion is just that, nothing more. Both Fredi Gonzalez and Ned Yost coached under Bobby Cox. One has had success and the other is still trying to find the same.
To say that the fans will be upset by the Braves appointing Terry Pendleton as their next manager, is too speak ignorance. No one knows what’s between the covers of a book until it’s read. Pendleton has yet to manage one single game as manager, and you cannot prejudge the man based on nothing more than your personal supposition.
King Lear
June 15th, 2010
1:49 am
The Wad
June 14th, 2010
3:03 pm
Art Vandelay…..seemed to have hit a nerve there? I`m glad you got out the ol` dictionary and looked up all those big words but the fact of the matter is too many (not all or most) Latino players are allowed to wallow in there excessive displays of attitude without being called out or held accountable. Their lack of production when it is associated with their display of attitude is something that did not occur by and large until they became a major presence in the MLb. Nor was the display of such ‘unprofessionalism’ seen on a nightly basis at multiple games across the country. Unlike your blast of immaturity to my reality based comments, this is not to paint with a braod brush but rather to bring to light the obvious from those of us old enough to remember a time when facts/truth weren`t hidden in order to prevent the possible embarassment of those involved in an issue.
====
Dude has you pegged. You’re not only a racist, you’re smug-stupid about it. You’re the embarassment. Get lost, bud.
Bill Melater
June 15th, 2010
3:52 am
Ok. I gave TP credit. Now, when is he going to pay back all the other credit he wasted the past 5 years. Fire TP, fire Cox.
Mathman
June 15th, 2010
5:37 am
One probably needs to give TP some credit for Ross’ improved hitting, Hinske hitting better than he ever has; Infante; Prado; Conrad; Glaus.
Chipper and reportedly McLouse don’t listen to him anyway, so they are much to blame for their own problems. Doesn’t appear that Escobar listens to anyone either. Cabrera is improving but his swing is one of worst we have seen. So, no, TP, is not the problem.
Roy Hobbs
June 15th, 2010
7:39 am
I would love to know how many hours of film TP watches per week.
Alan
June 15th, 2010
9:05 am
TP was a very good player, HE AIN’T NO HITTING INSTRUCTOR OR COACH and he has proven that this season, Have any Braves players come out in his defense- NO!!!
L.E.A.D is a BS charity
June 15th, 2010
9:06 am
Chet- stfu…Those comments are outlandish and racist in and of themself.
Jeff – Little late on this…Buck beat you to it last week.
Phil
June 15th, 2010
10:09 am
“Freddi G is a Bobby clone and would mange much the way he does.”
Let’s pray he doesn’t.
“The criticism of TP has always been unbalanced and illogical. I would apply your sentiment in this article also to Bobby Cox. His critics over the last few years, some of whom seem to believe that he’s a senile old man, have suddenly gone silent. Maybe these critics have finally been enlightened to the fact that Bobby Cox wasn’t the problem during 2006-2009. ”
I haven’t gone silent, he’s been the problem for the last 15 years, not just 2006-2009. The man goes absolutely brain dead in the post season.
Getting to the post season has never been a problem until the last few years. Doing something when you get there has long been a problem of Cox. That’s why he will retire as the losingest manager in post season history.
And before you clowns say “that’s because he’s been to more post season games than most managers”, well if you use that theory, then with all those chances, shouldn’t the great HOF manager have come out in the end as the “winningest manager” in post season history? Thank God this is the last season.
TommyJack
June 15th, 2010
10:41 am
Of all sports, baseball posters are the least knowlegeable. By far.
Don
June 15th, 2010
11:22 am
After your post of 12:30 pm, your logic really escapes me. You list 6 of the 8 regular postion players who are underperforming – leaving only 2 players. If Pendleton is not supposed to help these players, what is he supposed to do. Six of our eight regular position players are either producing significantly below what they did last season or significantly below their career averages or both – or in Heyward’s case significantly worse than when he came up. I do not understand your point or your logic at all.
Don
June 15th, 2010
11:29 am
Chet, What you said about race is absurd.
I do not believe that there are one percent of the Braves fans who care what race the hitting coach is or the manager is or players are – as long as they are being productive. The only interest should be (and is by almost all fans) who is the best for the job.
awesomeo
June 15th, 2010
11:33 am
i never blamed him for all our horrible hitting and now he doesnt get much credit.
most of the hitters that are producing
troy
jason
eric
prado
3 of them are from somewhere else.
all our regualrs that terry had spent many years with are not
chip
mac
yunel
nate but he just sucks apparently so thats not on terry
so yeah i think that says more about his inability to help improve hitters than is ability to help
Chipper isn't Hampton: He won't just sit back, collect checks | Jeff Schultz
June 15th, 2010
12:07 pm
[...] ♦ If Braves’ Pendleton got blame before, he better get credit now [...]
The Grinch
June 15th, 2010
4:31 pm
Which is exactly why I said “myself” and a lot of other fans, Coach. By them, I mean the many who have expressed a similar opinion on O’brien’s blog as well as many others I know and have overheard. Which is why you should read someone’s post before calling them ignorant. But then, having read many of your posts in the past (including this very thread earlier) which involve blanket statements about how your opinion is a “no-brainer” and anyone who doesn’t agree with you is an idiot…well, I understand. How does hypocrisy taste?
We're LIVE from Braves (Chipper is in, Kawakami is out) | Jeff Schultz
June 16th, 2010
1:37 am
[...] ♦ If Braves’ Pendleton got blame before, he better get credit now [...]
Coach (2011 or bust)
June 16th, 2010
1:37 am
The truth hurts and neanderthals like yourself simply cannot think outside the box enough to accept it. Terry Pendleton is about to become the Braves next manager and I’m calling it. Then you can prepare to take the verbal abuse in kind from my prophetic lips for many years to come!
Chief Pitchanono
June 16th, 2010
11:42 pm
I totally agree, these are major league guys, rookies or not, by the time they get to the pros they know how to hit and they know how to make adjustments. When guys go through bad spells he’s their to give advice, just like everyother member of the team throws in their two cents worth, but in the end its up to the player to get things going. Baseball is very much mental and no hitting coach can change that, look at Kelly Johnson, he didnt magicly learn to hit over the winter, mentaly he just needed a break, maybe it was the off season, but I think it was the change of scenary that cleared his head. McClouth is going through the same right now, this guy will be good, going on the DL was probably the best thing that could have happened to him right now. Hopefully it will be the thing that snaps him out of his funk, but only time will tell – not pendelton.
Braves #1
June 17th, 2010
8:17 am
Why does the hitting coach always take the heat when a players batting average goes South???It seems he doesn’t get the credit when a player is batting lights out also….People always see the negative in a person before they see the good…..Fans…Lay off Pendelton…he is better than at least half the hitting coaches in Both Leagues…..Now why don’t you Blame Frank Wren….afterall he signed a washed up Troy Glaus and Eric Hinske….They are not Hitting Too Good are they???Yeah Right!Maybe Pendelton hasn’t helped them either…….Give the Bravo’s a Break Fans!
Robin
June 19th, 2010
11:02 am
TP is from my hometown in California, and yes I think he has come a long way, matter of fact I would support his as the next coach for the Braves!!!! GO TP