LIVE: Braves go for sweep; Kawakami will take anything
See the ball. Be the ball. (Photo by Curtis Compton/AJC)
Good afternoon. Happy Father’s Day. It’s Kawakami time.
Of all the things the Braves and manager Bobby Cox have accomplished this season, where would finally getting a win for starting pitcher Kenshin Kawakami (0-9) rank?
Would it rank higher than being in first place for 20 straight days? Higher than not having lost a series since the first week of May?
Is it something that could be eclipsed only by, I dunno, a World Series?
Seriously, this is just too goofy. It’s one thing for a starter to go thr0ugh his first 13 starts (nine losses, four no decisions) without a victory. It’s another to do it for a first-place team that has gone 28-10 since May 10.
It’s precedent setting in major league baseball for a pitcher to have this kind of start for a first-place team. The Braves’ franchise hadn’t had a pitcher start 0-9 in 101 years. The last to do it was Tom Tuckey of the 1909 Boston Doves (seven starts, two relief appearances). Kawakami has suffered from little run support but he also has been banged around in two of his last three starts: 10 runs, 16 hits and six walks in 11 1/3 innings against Los Angeles and Tampa Bay.
The Braves, who have the best home record (23-7) i n the majors, close out a home stand today against Kansas City. They leave town for only a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox, then return home for nine games (Detroit, Washington, Florida).
One last thing before I turn it over to you. It struck me when Cox called for his second successful squeeze play in a week — last Saturday at Minnesota and Friday against Kansas City — that this might be the best managing job he has done in a while.
Some in the clubhouse disagree. They believe Cox is just taking advantage of having better base runners at his disposal than in the past. Either way, there’s no question he is pulling more strings. The Braves are having more hit-and-run plays than in recent memory. I may make that the focus of the column.
Does it seem to you Cox is being more aggressive in his final season?
And here’s the biggest question of all: Will Kawakami finally win a game today?
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303 comments Add your comment
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
2:03 pm
There goes the perfect game.
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
2:03 pm
Ruled an error. Justified.
JMAYNE
June 20th, 2010
2:03 pm
KK will give up 4 or 5 but the braves will continue to get a few more. He should get the win. Lets just hope they dont start banging on him the second time around. Do you have any stats on that Jeff? KK’s avg against the first time around vs. the 2nd and 3rd time around. I dont know if they are that telling but it seems the more teams see him the more they figure out.
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
2:04 pm
And there goes the no-no. … And oh, I just don’t want to think about what happens now . . .
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
2:07 pm
And there’s one. … By the way, that was Kawakami’s third error in his last 2 starts.
JMAYNE
June 20th, 2010
2:07 pm
4-1. I feel one of those hanging kamakazi balls coming. Lets just hope its not right now
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
2:08 pm
If he blows this, he will never win another game in the U.S. There. I said it.
Mitchell
June 20th, 2010
2:09 pm
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
1:58 pm
Great bit of hitting by Infante on that. He’s like Prado before Prado was Prado. (Does that make sense?)
No, I’m telling you Jeff. If any of my fellow bloggers were cool like me I would have gotten a lot of love for my observation that I’ve made at times.
Prado and Infante are like Side A and Side B.
I mean, come on! That’s good one. That’s T-shirt worthy.
It’s like the Beatles would put out Hey Jude on one side and Revolution on the other. Hey Jude is clearly the more memorable song but Revolution is no worse. They’re interchangeable
Actually, I was going to make a joke that it must be a happy father’s day for Martin and Omar’s dad but now that I think about it, I don’t think either of them have a dad which is kind of a bummer I suppose.
Well done Mitchell. You jerk. If I’ve been keeping up to date with my Chop Talk, I’m pretty sure they were both raised by a single mother. Damn, I was thinking earlier at least one of them had a dad.
But are they not brother’s from another mother?
Mitchell
June 20th, 2010
2:10 pm
That was a cool shot from back in right field they just showed.
I enjoyed it.
Marjah Marine
June 20th, 2010
2:10 pm
I have seen enough of KK already, and I haven’t even seen him pitch this year. As much as I was pulling for him to get a win, it seems like he does JUST enough to loose every time. He gets a lead, he blows it. If its a 0-0 game he pitches lights out just so he can loose by 1.
JMAYNE
June 20th, 2010
2:10 pm
i think kk might have one of those here we go again mentalities. It seems like once he gets into the stretch he starts pressing. by the way, if a pitcher commits the error, i believe the run should still be charged against him.
JMAYNE
June 20th, 2010
2:15 pm
4-0 yankees on tex’s salami.
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
2:15 pm
Mitchell .. I think I’ll stay away from the whole brother/mother thing. … I like the Hey Jude/Revolution analogy. I’m guessing neither one would get it though.
Mitchell
June 20th, 2010
2:15 pm
All we need is one more run Braves and we got a W. Let’s get it. Let’s get it. Let’s go.
Long Way Home Brave
June 20th, 2010
2:17 pm
Jeff, where is Escobar today ?
Mitchell
June 20th, 2010
2:19 pm
What would a day on the old blog be without at least one faux pas?
The day is young though. There could be a few more coming down the pike.
Tweets that mention LIVE: Braves go for sweep; Kawakami will take anything | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
June 20th, 2010
2:19 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Cheryl Hunt, Jeff Schultz, Jeff Schultz, Jeff Schultz, Jeff Schultz and others. Jeff Schultz said: We're blogging LIVE, as Braves-Royals are under way. Is this the day for Kawakami? http://bit.ly/cBPAuO [...]
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
2:19 pm
Chipper worked that walk, but that’s already 5 walks dished by Davies.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 20th, 2010
2:19 pm
Two cars and dog washed, house vacuumed, groceries bought…And you thought Jeff was the only working!
Now, plenty of C & C, golf and Braves!
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
2:20 pm
Long Way Home Brave — Just a rest day for Escobar.
Long Way Home Brave
June 20th, 2010
2:20 pm
Escobar gettn the day off Jeff ?
Long Way Home Brave
June 20th, 2010
2:21 pm
thanks buddy, i figured. Didn’t want my favorite brave back in cox’s dog house
Bravissimo
June 20th, 2010
2:22 pm
Our bench rocks. we can plug guys in all over the place.
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
2:23 pm
Bravissimo — that really helps in situations like this, day game after a night game.
Long Way Home Brave
June 20th, 2010
2:23 pm
Come on Glaus, ya bum hahah just kidding, he’s just warming up for the day
JMAYNE
June 20th, 2010
2:23 pm
Brazil vs ivory coast. kaka vs drogba. tiger vs. the field. kk vs. godzilla. nascar vs. right-handed turns. im so excited. i cant contain myself.
Mitchell
June 20th, 2010
2:24 pm
You know, I don’t ever really see Martin and Omar being all that close. Hmm, how can I say that so it doesn’t sound gay?
They seem like they would be really good friends but I don’t know. That’s not totally clear just from what you see in the dugout or whatever. I don’t know if it’s the case.
What’s your take on that Mr. Schultz?
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 20th, 2010
2:25 pm
KK needs to bean someone, there hanging out over the plate.
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
2:29 pm
RBI single brings out the boos for Kawakami.
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
2:29 pm
And that’s it! Cox pulls him out!
Mitchell
June 20th, 2010
2:29 pm
The guy plays the theme from Mr. Belvedere for Butler. That is genius.
The Braves organist should get a Grammy just for that. I don’t know how that would work but whatever.
I love when Homer wins a Grammy in that Beatles inspired episode and then throws it off a balcony and the guy’s like, “Hey, you can’t throw your trash here.”
Gee whiz, somebody’s a Beatles fan.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 20th, 2010
2:29 pm
Bobby with a quick hook.
JMAYNE
June 20th, 2010
2:29 pm
I thought KK couldnt speak english. How is david ross talking to him? Quick hook by bobby’s standards. But it was necessary.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 20th, 2010
2:30 pm
KK’s work visa just expired.
ernisTbass
June 20th, 2010
2:31 pm
Time to cut the cord on Milosh, I’d rather see Smoltz or Glavine every 5th day and for a lot less money
JMAYNE
June 20th, 2010
2:31 pm
High scoring game. I think someone called that at about 12:30 or so. It might have been me. I like 8-6. Sounds good.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 20th, 2010
2:32 pm
Hide the knifes in the clubhouse.
Chuck
June 20th, 2010
2:32 pm
If KK is still in the rotation when Jurggens returns, Braves fans will be absolutely furious.
There’s no way that Medlin doesn’t deserve to start over Kawakami right now.
JMAYNE
June 20th, 2010
2:32 pm
Whats the deal with this martinez guy Jeff? i know nothing about him.
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
2:33 pm
Seriously, you may not see Kawakami start another game. For Cox to be this upset after his pitcher botches a 4-0 lead? He’s toast.
Long Way Home Brave
June 20th, 2010
2:33 pm
Rotation should be Huddy, Lowe, Hanson, JJ and Medlin. Send KK to the pen and let him figure out how to pitch again
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 20th, 2010
2:34 pm
agreed Jeff.
GT Alum
June 20th, 2010
2:34 pm
Well, the fact that Bobby pulled KK this early would seem to indicate that Bobby’s seen enough, period. The question is what to do with the guy. Any of the teams that could improve their staff by taking him on have such bad staffs because they aren’t willing to take on salary. Does he just become the back of the bullpen mop up guy?
ernisTbass
June 20th, 2010
2:34 pm
hope you are right at least if he does get another start it should be in a different uni
braves70
June 20th, 2010
2:34 pm
I fear we have just seen the last of KK. With his contract it will be togh to find anyone to take him. We may just exile him to the mop up duty in the bullpen like we did with Albie Lopez one year.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 20th, 2010
2:35 pm
KK’s interpreter just posted his resume.
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
2:35 pm
“Chef Tim” — That’s the line of the day. Certificate is in the mail.
ernisTbass
June 20th, 2010
2:35 pm
Milosh could go to Gwinett and throw BP, it seems to be his calling
Chuck
June 20th, 2010
2:35 pm
If he starts again in a Braves uniform, it better be in Gwinnett.
Mitchell
June 20th, 2010
2:36 pm
I don’t get this Buffalo Wild Wings commercial.
There’s no actual inclement weather. How is that going to work? Those guys are gonna get fired.
It doesn’t make sense. Hey, let’s stay and eat buffalo wings. We’ll get away with it because our waitress is able to communicate with the local weather man who’s reporting a storm is going on.
But there isn’t a storm. How is that going to fool their bosses? It’s sunny outside.
Those guys are screwed.