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
tyler
June 16th, 2010
12:44 am
Ha- the guy they keep showing asleep in the red shirt must be related to Resop- good call Jeff.
tyler
June 16th, 2010
12:45 am
Oh crap- just realized we are watching different telecasts of the game- I’m on the Rays TV network…….
Turtsnap
June 16th, 2010
12:45 am
Before I hit the hay, I must get some things off my chest…. While driving home from watching another disappointing Kawakami effort, I thought to myself “Self, is the goal here to try to make the playoffs, or is the goal to stroke players egos?”…. I mean, come on….. Kawakami would not be starting for any other top tier team, and yet Bobby continues to tote him out there every 5th day. Take tonight for instance, number one, he has no business starting PERIOD, but he also should’ve been skipped in the rotation, with the off day yesterday. But, nope, Bobby puts him back in there, and I am sure after the game, Bobby will sugar coat the bad effort.
And then….. another example of stroking an ego is his persistence of putting Chipper in the 3 hole, even when Chipper is not putting up three hole numbers. Don’t give me the crap that I have been hearing from other bloggers that “Chipper has earned the right to stay in the 3 hole as long as he wants”. Again, are we trying to make the playoffs, or are we trying to kiss butts?
I’m out for the night.
CaptainMudderland
June 16th, 2010
12:47 am
As bad as this one appears, I am happy that Chipper got a big one…even when meaningless in the context of this game–he deserves a Dr. Phil “feel good!”
Now you see em, now they burnt off!
June 16th, 2010
12:49 am
Are Mike Woodson’s eyebrows at the game?
The Difference
June 16th, 2010
12:50 am
Chipper Jones doesn’t “deserve” anything….baseball is a business. The objective is to win championships. If you were consistently performing as bad as Chipper, you wouldn’t have a job any longer. I hope we trade Chipper for a minor leaguer within another month or so…..let’s go all Dale Murphy on his azz! lol
Big B CH 99
June 16th, 2010
12:54 am
Chipper has actually had several good swings tonight. A double, HR, and a a lineout that was hit pretty hard early in the game if I remember correctly.
CaptainMudderland
June 16th, 2010
12:56 am
I did not say he deserves to play regularly for this club…he is obviously underperforming…but I’ll be darn if I can’t feel something on a human level for this cat…At your job big boy do you feel you deserve a pat on the back for a good deed? Rather, should that reinforcement only come when your company earns record sales/profits, the like? Go figure!
GT Alum
June 16th, 2010
12:57 am
If the season hinged on that one game, probably Lowe. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good, and, for whatever reason, Lowe gets the win more often.
However, if you ask me whether I’d rather pay Lowe $15M to be our fourth starter or KK half that to be our fifth starter, and I’d take KK all day long.
Jeff Schultz
June 16th, 2010
2:00 am
Good morning folks. I’m about to head home (finally). Just wanted to let you know that a few of us spoke to Chipper’s parents, Larry Lynne, who are in town this week (coincidentally, it seems) outside of the clubhouse. I’ve added quotes to the Chipper column, which you can read by clicking the link. Thanks, Jeff.
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/06/15/chipper-jones-has-more-pride-than-to-sit-back-collect-checks/
Southside
June 16th, 2010
5:41 am
KK is like the new car that you paid 40 grand for and it is a lemon. You don’t want to admit you did something stupid, don’t want to take a bath on selling it and losing your shirt. So you keep driving it hoping it will be all better. Best to just park the car and KK.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
June 16th, 2010
6:56 am
please send KK away and just eating the $$ loss- this is getting really pathetic.
Marvin Mangrum
June 16th, 2010
7:48 am
Kawakami is the second sorriest member of the Braves. The sorriest member of the Braves is the lunatic that keeps bringing him out every 5 days. Look, say he goes, 0-22, could not have Sparky the lunatic dog have done better? I will be glad when this management team is gone. But then again as least we have a backup shortstop. I am 62, so work with me! If the shortstops arm fell off, a replacement from whereever could be there the next day. The next day! Playing with the centerfielder they have who has maybe one hit in 5 games has cost them how many games? Put players on the field. Theres two players who ought to be disabled!
robdawg08
June 16th, 2010
8:09 am
I told all of you in April that the Mets were going to be good and contend for the East with the Phillies & Braves. You said I was crazy. When Beltran comes back the Mets will be an offensive force.
KK needs to go period.
Just like clockwork when McOut (yeah, I coined this name for him) says he is ready to play then it won’t matter if Blanco is hitting .375 he will sit Blanco and play .191 McOut.
You would have to be mentally retarded to choose KK over Medlen as the 5th starter. But with Bobby who knows…
Navigator
June 16th, 2010
8:10 am
What is wrong with Cox, is he a totally stupid and ignorant old man, that can’t be convined that Kawakami will lose every time he goes out. If you’re a manager, manage and bench this guy. Let’s not forget that Cox dumped Mark DeRosa for a midget that tried to act like Peter Rose. DeRosa has had a very good career, and the midget lasted 2-3 years and was out of baseball. Why would a manager continue to throw a guy out for an automatic loss. Can he see this poor man is shell shocked??????
papadawg
June 16th, 2010
8:11 am
Okay enough of Karakama. It ain’t working, time to move on. I’ve said give him a chance but no more, give a young minor leaguer the chance cause he couldn’t be much worse
robdawg08
June 16th, 2010
8:18 am
The bad managing move was not pinch-hitting for KK in the 2nd with bases loaded no outs. Resop had been warming up. The game could have been tied at that point if Hinske or whomever got a hit. Of course, Resop was awful as well BUT the right move was to pinch hit there.
Braves need a power hitting CF bottomline.
So is Chipper retiring or not ? Nice to leave it up in the air AJC writers…
Geezer
June 16th, 2010
8:19 am
Please get rid of this Joke for a pitcher…..demote him to the bullpen or designate him for assignment to Alaska where we never have to see him again…..on the way to being a 20 Game Loser
meh
June 16th, 2010
8:28 am
think anyone will still trade for Resop?
rekingball
June 16th, 2010
8:29 am
Kawakami looked bad last night, but in a lot of his previous starts he pitch well, but not deep into the game, except for 8 innings is AZ.
I think he may just be a Jonah, what with all the bad luck.
rekingball
June 16th, 2010
8:30 am
Would you trade for Resop?
Ph.D.
June 16th, 2010
9:14 am
I understand being upset with Kawakami’s performance; but the bashing hullabaloo needs to stop. He’s a competitor and a respectable team member who truly tries hard. He may be sent to the bull pen, but let’s support him instead of being a broken record for lack of any new ideas. How about some analysis, some interviews, some compassion, and solidarity, instead of too-quick money mongering? It’s so old.
MitchC
June 16th, 2010
9:18 am
Jeff, why doesnt Bobby get a clue and drop KK from the rotation? He is just brutal. We are very lucky to be a first place team. (Abit just barely now), and have a pitcher who is 0-9 in the middle of June.
Contract or no contract, KK should be put in the bullpen as a mop up man. While he has pitched in some “bad luck”, his pitching is also brutal. The last pitcher the Braves had, who I remember, who was as bad as KK, was when Pascual Perez went 1-13, with an over 6 ERA, for the 1985 Braves team that lost 96 games. This team has designs on a playoff spot, whether as wild card or NL East champ, and likely isnt going to lose 96 games. We simply shouldnt have a pitcher who we know is going to get rocked, and lose, every fifth day.
Bobby needs to get a clue and drop KK from the rotation, now.
PMC
June 16th, 2010
9:43 am
Kawakami’s main issue is that he throws way to many pitches. His stuff most nights isn’t good enough. He has to work the corners so he ends up throwing lots of balls. If he’s on he’s really effective kind of like Jamie Moyer. He can get guys off balance. If he’s throwing 100 pitches in 5 innings… it’s just not a good night. So far it hasn’t really been a good year for him yet run support or not.
DaveinNEPA
June 16th, 2010
9:43 am
These last few weeks many posters on these blogs have been calling for the Braves to bring up Resop to give the pitching staff a boost. I’ve told them to “be careful what you ask for”.
Judging from his performance last night, he isn’t any better than he was when he was here 2 yrs ago. No, he didn’t cost the Braves the game, but he put it so far out of reach that it was virtually impossible to catch up.
Kawakami and Resop should both be DFA’ed.
macfleetwood
June 16th, 2010
9:55 am
ATTENTION:
C.Jones..GO HOME!!
M.Diaz..GO HOME!!
N.McLOUTH..GO HOME!!
K.KAWAKAMI..GOHOME!!
Why don’t you guys MAN-UP and get the hell out of here?????
How long is the sorry-a– management going to put up with all the “dead-wood” on this average team???? Once again, they have shown that they CAN-NOT compete with the better teams in the league!!
robdawg08
June 16th, 2010
9:57 am
I think KK has been giving Bobby some Saki to keep his mind screwed up. Anyway, Bobby’s mind IS screwed up. Playing Nate hitting .191,starting KK every 5th day,benching .375 hitting Infante,batting Chipper 3rd with his .228 avg.,telling Glaus “come on kid” when he’s hitting (Glaus is 30 something years-old).
robdawg08
June 16th, 2010
10:00 am
Escobar hitting nothing and his defense led to the bad 1st inning last night. get well soon Infante. So you can sit and watch Escobar play instead of you. I’d ask to be traded if I were Infante.
Pi$$onaDawg
June 16th, 2010
10:29 am
DawginLex where are YOU? Have you not made it to this Blog to do your lil Girl Crying?
papadawg
June 16th, 2010
10:53 am
I think Karakami has the tools but he doesn’t need to be in the starting rotation right now. Send him to the minors or bullpen until he gets it together
Chuck
June 16th, 2010
11:12 am
Pretty soon, when Jair Jurggens is ready to return, Bobby is going to have to make a decision. Is he going to keep KK in the rotation or is he going to keep Kris Medlin there. Medlin has been delivering. If performance and results were the only decision factors, then Medlin would stay and KK would be demoted to long reliever.
Bobby Cox, however, rarely works that way.
Techman
June 16th, 2010
11:13 am
Other than wins and losses, KK’s numbers are better than Lowes. Lowe gets more run support. I will take KK’s salary and spot in the rotation any day over Lowe.
Reid Adair
June 16th, 2010
11:36 am
Kenshin Kawakami’s “career” numbers as an Atlanta Brave: 38 starts, 7-21, 4.04 ERA, 229.2 IP, 232 hits, 24 HR, 82 BB, 155 K, 1.37 WHIP.
Kawakami is a disaster – and it’s not just the 2010 season and the “lack of run support” he’s gotten in some starts. This isn’t working. He needs to be out of the rotation as soon as Jair Jurrjens is back with the Braves.
Techman
June 16th, 2010
12:36 pm
By saying KK is a disaster, are you saying Lowe is better? if so, that’s ridiculous. The numbers don’t back it up any way, unless you’re only looking at W-L. If you are, then yes, it’s fairly well documented, Lowe gets a lot more run support.
Btw, a 4.04 career is not considered bad.
Techman
June 16th, 2010
12:37 pm
To add to that, a 4.04 ERA from your #5 (or 4, for that matter) is really good.
Techman
June 16th, 2010
12:38 pm
dang, my comment went away.
I am assuming if you think KK is a disaster, you think Lowe is worse. Otherwise, that’s a ridiculous comment.
Fred
June 16th, 2010
12:47 pm
Jeff, Kawakami san needs to return to Japan and regain his dignity. He has made a tremendous error in coming to Atlanta: he started his time here by buying a Maserati and a mansion from a rap star. I fear he has focused too much on living the American Dream and not on the challenges of facing major league hitters. Now he had dug himself such a hole that he will be fortunate not to be shipped home before the All-Star break! It is a pity.
GTSteve
June 16th, 2010
12:51 pm
If he gets normal run support he is .500 or above…it’s not all his fault, and yeah4.04 is not bad for a #5…D Lowe is higher and he is what ..8 and 5 or something
Steve
June 16th, 2010
1:03 pm
Once JJ gets back it will be bullpen for KK and let Medlen keep his spot in the rotation. Right now he give us a very good fifth starter.
Ted
June 16th, 2010
1:35 pm
JJ!!!!
JR
June 16th, 2010
2:38 pm
It’s time to close the sushi bar. Something is beginning to smell a little ripe.
Rankings that matter: Falcons are better than Saints | Jeff Schultz
June 16th, 2010
3:04 pm
[...] ♦ LIVE blog: More bad history for Kawakami (0-9), but Chipper homers [...]
Mitchell
June 17th, 2010
3:17 am
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).
What’s the big deal? That’s every Jamie Moyer start for the last six years.
Bobby is doing the guy no favors whatsoever. He puts the absolute weakest line-ups out there for him most of the time, leaves him in games too long and instead of skipping his start when we had an off-day and he’s schedule to pitch against the opposing team’s ace, he just let’s him go right out there to embarrass himself against the best team in the American League.
pcb mike
June 17th, 2010
4:17 am
I like the idea of Glaus at third and Freeman at first next year. Still pulling for our young cf to make it back from the wrist injury to the Braves, too.
We're LIVE from Braves-Rays (and consider Chipper corked) | Jeff Schultz
June 17th, 2010
8:52 pm
[...] ♦ LIVE blog: More bad history for Kawakami (0-9), but Chipper homers [...]
heartofdarkness
June 19th, 2010
12:26 am
Jeff, you said 0-25 is a possiblility for KK, I said statistical improbability. However, the trend is your friend. So I salute you. But I wouldn’t be buying KK puts.