More bad history for Kawakami (0-9), but Chipper homers
What's that about a picture telling a story? Here's Kenshin Kawakami after allowing a two-run homer to Evan Longoria in Tampa Bay's four-run first inning. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
And in other news, Kenshin Kawakami probably also feels like retiring.
Kawakami hasn’t quite built up the pension that Chipper Jones has, and he certainly doesn’t have “longevity” stamped on his forehead right now. The Braves’ Japanese import just became the first starting pitcher in franchise history to start 0-9, by virtue of a 10-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
The last franchise pitcher to start the season 0-9, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, was Tom Tuckey of the 1909 Boston Doves. But Tuckey was not an exclusive starter. He lost seven games as a starter and two as a reliever.
Since baseball is a number’s game, here’s one to chew on: at 0-9 through 13 starts, Kawakami is on a pace to go 0-22. But that assumes he’ll be in the rotation the rest of the season, which probably isn’t a safe assumption.
When Braves general manager Frank Wren signed Kawakami last year to a three-year, $23 million contract, it was somewhat of an historical moment for the organization. But the pitcher is making the wrong kind of history. Even before Tuesday’s game, Kawakami earned the distinction of becoming the first pitcher in major league history to start the season 0-8 while playing for a first-place team.
The Braves just came off a 6-5 road trip (four one-run losses) and were returning to Turner Field, where they were 19-6. But after a two-hour and 20-minute rain delay, Kawakami seemed intent on wrecking the party. Tampa Bay pounded him for four runs in the first inning, including a prodigious two-run homer by Evan Longoria to left field. Through two innings, the Rays had five runs and five hits, including a home run and three doubles.
By the time Kawakami left in the fifth inning, he was assured of going through his 13th start without a victory. His totals: five innings, five runs (fortunately only two earned), seven hits and three walks (one intentional). He threw 100 pitches in five innings. He also committed two errors in the fifth inning on an errant pickoff attempt and a fielding error, though somehow he escaped without allowing a run.
“I’m just getting into a bad rhythm every start,” Kawakami said. “It’s my fault that some of the games are going this way. I have to improve on that.”
Jones managed some improvement. After a day of retirement talk — and having missed nine of the previous 11 games with a sore ring finger on his right hand — Jones doubled and homered in the game. If every game had gone like this, a retirement announcement probably wouldn’t seem imminent.
But everything points to an announcement soon. I spoke to Jones before the game and have updated and re-written the column, which is online now. Chipper wasn’t at his locker after the game, dressing in a back room, away from the media. But his parents, who are in town for game, spoke and had some interesting comments, which you can read in the Jones’ column.
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346 comments Add your comment
Beach Dawg
June 15th, 2010
9:49 pm
Steve – Hope they have a seat ready for KK in the pen!
Why do we want to screw up the pen???
Landrum
June 15th, 2010
9:49 pm
At least we don’t have to hear Braves apologist/cheerleader Joe Simpson talk about how great KK has been pitching this year.
GT Alum
June 15th, 2010
9:52 pm
Well, doesn’t look like anyone is going to get to talk about KK’s tough luck after this one. He’s well on his way to earning a L.
The Difference
June 15th, 2010
9:53 pm
lol @ Chipper….he hit that one as hard as he could!!
G12Jason
June 15th, 2010
9:53 pm
Come on J Hey!
Steve
June 15th, 2010
9:54 pm
Beach Dawg they won’t just release him. I’d rather him be in the pen then starting.
GT Alum
June 15th, 2010
9:54 pm
Thanks TB for the the free run!
Jeff Schultz
June 15th, 2010
9:54 pm
Any way you get them.
Tweets that mention We're LIVE from Braves (Chipper and Kawakami are still here) | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
June 15th, 2010
9:55 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Hank Humphrey, Jeff Schultz. Jeff Schultz said: First pitch 9:30 … 2:30 rain delay . . . . and we're blogging LIVE. http://bit.ly/9ZYnDk [...]
The Difference
June 15th, 2010
9:56 pm
BMAC!!! 4-3!
The Difference
June 15th, 2010
9:57 pm
close!!
GT Alum
June 15th, 2010
9:58 pm
Too bad this isn’t basketball. We could trade KK’s expiring contract at the end of the year. Well, assuming Wags does retire, and considering Saito may not be back next year, we might have room for him to be the little-used mop-up guy at the back of the ‘pen.
Long Way Home Brave
June 15th, 2010
9:59 pm
Man, almost. Any one know where i can watch this online without paying ?
Zach
June 15th, 2010
10:00 pm
Medlen has to be the choice when JJ comes back…right….right???
skip
June 15th, 2010
10:00 pm
We need to trade KK and have medlin be the 5th starter….. im thinking a bat in center would be nice!
G12Jason
June 15th, 2010
10:01 pm
I wished cant watch it here either
Long Way Home Brave
June 15th, 2010
10:01 pm
Nobody wants KK, not even Japan
Jeff Schultz
June 15th, 2010
10:02 pm
Somebody, please get him out of there. Every ball has been hit hard.
Zach
June 15th, 2010
10:02 pm
AHHHHHH,…. I did not wait 2 hours and 20 minutes to watch this crap
Beach Dawg
June 15th, 2010
10:02 pm
Me thinks when JJ comes back KK and Medlin to the pen and Resop in the rotation. Maybe even Resop to the rotation before JJ returns.
Steve
June 15th, 2010
10:02 pm
SKIP who the heck would take, or want KK?
Reid Adair
June 15th, 2010
10:03 pm
Kenshin Kawakami continues to impress … four runs in the first on three hits (including a two-run homer) and two walks. Jair Jurrjens can’t get back to the Braves fast enough. Look at Kawakami’s numbers over his entire time in Atlanta. He may well be the worst of the Frank Wren acquisitions.
The Braves have to get him out of the rotation. Kris Medlen is much better than Kawakami.
Long Way Home Brave
June 15th, 2010
10:03 pm
KK will earn this L tonight
Steve
June 15th, 2010
10:04 pm
Pretty sad that the pen has to be up with one out in the 2nd. Thanks KK. Lets hope this is his last start!
Long Way Home Brave
June 15th, 2010
10:05 pm
Dont send the pen in, make him take this all himself
Steve
June 15th, 2010
10:07 pm
Well I think we all thought, going into this series, that our best bet was to win games two and three with Hanson and Huddy going. Two out of three still works for me!
GT Alum
June 15th, 2010
10:07 pm
KK really hasn’t been terrible the past season plus, but tonight he’s leaving everything up and getting tagged. He’s probably a better than average fifth starter. There’s only 2 problems with that – we’re spoiled to good pitching, and he seems to always get matched up with the other team’s ace.
mclOUTh
June 15th, 2010
10:08 pm
Any chance J-Hey can take KK out like he did Nate?
Long Way Home Brave
June 15th, 2010
10:09 pm
GT Alum those are all great points, couldnt have said it better myself, except you left out he gets the least run support ( unless JJ gets less which could be true )
GT Alum
June 15th, 2010
10:11 pm
It’s funny – people were worrying about the Braves’ lack of starting pitching depth. A few weeks ago, one columnist even wrote about how the Braves should try to get Oswalt. Now, we’re talking about how we have too many good pitchers who could be starting to have KK in the rotation – Resop, Medlen, even Venters.
Jeff Schultz
June 15th, 2010
10:11 pm
Reid — if you factor money into it (3 years/$23 million) there’s no question he has been the worst free agent signee of his regime.
was wrong about Glaus
June 15th, 2010
10:13 pm
Can Chipper pitch? He could not be any worse that Kamikaze.
Long Way Home Brave
June 15th, 2010
10:13 pm
But NO ONE and i repeat NO ONE is worse the the MIKE HAMPTON pick up
Steve
June 15th, 2010
10:13 pm
Nice! Pinch hit Bobby!
Steve
June 15th, 2010
10:14 pm
Well Jeff, not sure if anyone predicted KK going 2 WHOLE innings tonight.
GT Alum
June 15th, 2010
10:14 pm
Well, Long Way Home Brave, that could have something to always getting matched up with the other team’s ace, but, yeah, that’s an issue too. A pitcher like Maddux could find a way to be successful without getting much run support. You can’t expect someone like KK to do that consistently.
bob
June 15th, 2010
10:15 pm
wuts duh score
mclOUTh
June 15th, 2010
10:15 pm
Maybe J-Hey can clothesline him during BP tomorrow?
Steve
June 15th, 2010
10:15 pm
Oh never mind. I thought Blanco was pinch hitting.
bob
June 15th, 2010
10:15 pm
dont have no tv
Eve
June 15th, 2010
10:15 pm
Is Kawakami trying to set a new record for losses?? WHEN will our Braves cut THEIR losses and send that dude back to Japan – where he can AT LEAST speak the right language?? He can’t pitch himself out of a paper bag. This dude is seriously NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME. Bobby – PLEASE bring up someone else and ditch this dude before he ruins any chance we might have for a pennant!
Long Way Home Brave
June 15th, 2010
10:16 pm
I don’t at all, and never wanted the club to pick him up at his asking price at his age. To old to teach no tricks to and most of those over seas guys are good for a year to a year and a half and then they get t’ed off on or racked if you will
Jeff Schultz
June 15th, 2010
10:16 pm
McLouth — now that’s a funny visual.
Jeff Schultz
June 15th, 2010
10:17 pm
OK, here we go — the classic help-yourself moment for a pitcher. bases juiced.
mclOUTh
June 15th, 2010
10:17 pm
WHAT THE HECK??? We’re letting him HIT??? Are you KIDDING ME???
Long Way Home Brave
June 15th, 2010
10:17 pm
Bobby, please dont let him swing
Jeff Schultz
June 15th, 2010
10:18 pm
Never mind.
mclOUTh
June 15th, 2010
10:18 pm
Maybe Chipper can bust his ring finger…
bob
June 15th, 2010
10:18 pm
whos bases are loaded
Steve
June 15th, 2010
10:18 pm
Lets go Prado! How about a long one?