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
Mitchell
June 20th, 2010
3:57 pm
Jeff, I just saw a cricket riding a tumbleweed.
bubba
June 20th, 2010
3:57 pm
Kinda funny how Infante is batting .300 without fail and has to be benched all the time for spoiled rotten Escobar. Just like Hinske getting benched when he was on fire but Cabrera is batting .260.Doesn’t get any better than that. Take away KK and all the bazaar lineup changes and the Braves are the best team in baseball.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 20th, 2010
3:59 pm
bubba: How do you endure the torment? Braves are rolling! Lighten up man!
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 20th, 2010
4:01 pm
Gary Coleman’s little brother on first next to Troy.
braves70
June 20th, 2010
4:02 pm
Yayh. Phills lose to the Twins.
GT Alum
June 20th, 2010
4:03 pm
TruthSeeker, the one stat you’re missing is Lowe is one of the league leaders in run support with 6 runs per 9 innings, while, coming into today’s game, KK’s gotten half that. That could explain a good bit of why Lowe is 3rd in the league in wins while KK is winless.
bubba
June 20th, 2010
4:07 pm
Braves are good for two quality starts then its anyones’ ballgame after that. Lowe is a good stopper though after the KK episodes. We will see who will be in the Cliff Lee sweepstakes this year. Look out for the Phillies.
Mitchell
June 20th, 2010
4:08 pm
Oh my God. Driving and Crying sand God Bless America.
If it was anything like all of their forgettable third rate, poorly produced southern rock albums then it was probably totally awesome.
I’ll never forgive myself for not being there.
Marty
June 20th, 2010
4:10 pm
I would love to see the Braves get Cliff Lee just to keep him from the Phillies and the Muts. Lets get greedy.
Mitchell
June 20th, 2010
4:11 pm
I’d like to see Kyle Farnsworth get attacked by an escaped, rabid police dog.
And I mean that in a good way.
cattle dawg
June 20th, 2010
4:12 pm
Where did MclOUT go?
Marty
June 20th, 2010
4:12 pm
Jeff, have you heard of any talk around the organization about Cliff Lee? I know we have more important needs, but imagine or rotation with him in it.
Marty
June 20th, 2010
4:13 pm
At least the Mets have lost.
Mitchell
June 20th, 2010
4:15 pm
Come on Craig.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 20th, 2010
4:16 pm
How valuable is Ross?
Mitchell
June 20th, 2010
4:17 pm
Wow. That could not suck more.
cattle dawg
June 20th, 2010
4:18 pm
They have bloop hit us to death.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 20th, 2010
4:19 pm
Craig could never qualify for a Gilette anthing.
Bill
June 20th, 2010
4:20 pm
KK needs to go down to Rome to be trained.
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
4:21 pm
Marty — If team makes a trade, I guarantee it won’t be for a starting pitcher.
Bill
June 20th, 2010
4:21 pm
The Braves have better pitchers than KK. We need to use them. No wins, 9 loses should be telling the Braves something.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 20th, 2010
4:23 pm
Bob Costas is really out of his realm in golf.
Rocky Mountain Brave
June 20th, 2010
4:24 pm
Seriously, why is Kawakami still even in the rotation? This game should not even be close.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 20th, 2010
4:24 pm
Bill: doesn’t that = losing 9 in a row? I with you.
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
4:25 pm
That’s two. Amazing if he can work out this.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 20th, 2010
4:26 pm
Y’all, I’m a terrible typer compounded by Crown Royal.
Rocky Mountain Brave
June 20th, 2010
4:26 pm
Costas may be out of his element, Chef…but Chris Berman is excruciating awful. He absolutely ruined the first two days on ESPN for me.
cattle dawg
June 20th, 2010
4:27 pm
I cant stand Costas.
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
4:27 pm
Wow. That’s kind of huge.
Reality Bites
June 20th, 2010
4:28 pm
Ok people…..the over-paid kawasaki wont win once. And imma die hard braves fan. Wren can shop the auctions and garage sales, but keep him AWAY from the big ticket items…please!
cattle dawg
June 20th, 2010
4:28 pm
Thats some clutch pitching!
Marty
June 20th, 2010
4:28 pm
Way to fight your way back Craig.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 20th, 2010
4:28 pm
IMO, Berman is / was a joke. Costas on the radio I still enjoy.
Rocky Mountain Brave
June 20th, 2010
4:29 pm
Amazing work by the kid pitching out of that jam. Preferences being what they may, Cattle Dawg, Costas is a consummate professional. Berman is not only painful to listen to, the man is an idiot with his constant little word plays on names and his back, back, back nonsense.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 20th, 2010
4:30 pm
Gotta admit Costas and his handlers know baseball, wait, I meant Yankees baseball.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 20th, 2010
4:31 pm
That was a balk.
cattle dawg
June 20th, 2010
4:32 pm
Your dead on about Berman. I wish Berman an Stuart Scott were banned from tv. Whlie Im wishing , I would like Screamin A Smith to lose his voice an Kim Kardashian to be my maid.
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
4:33 pm
Old Man Chipper on base four times today: 2 walks, 2 doubles.
cattle dawg
June 20th, 2010
4:34 pm
Im not saying that Costas isnt good at what he does. Im just not a fan.
Rocky Mountain Brave
June 20th, 2010
4:34 pm
We can hate on the Yankees any other weekend but this one. At lease the Bronx Bombers have helped us out with a little breathing room. Now if we can just take care of business and finish this sweep.
Cornfuzed
June 20th, 2010
4:35 pm
I’m waiting for Glaus to charge the mound
cattle dawg
June 20th, 2010
4:36 pm
Who will be the hero today?
Rocky Mountain Brave
June 20th, 2010
4:37 pm
Hinske! Hinske! Hinske!
Rocky Mountain Brave
June 20th, 2010
4:38 pm
Yes!
Rocky Mountain Brave
June 20th, 2010
4:38 pm
Called it! Woo hoo!
cattle dawg
June 20th, 2010
4:39 pm
SWEET
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
4:39 pm
Huge clutch hitting. Been the earmark of this team of late. For what it’s worth Glaus came up limping after he slid into home (which wasn’t necessary since throw didn’t come home).
Marty
June 20th, 2010
4:39 pm
How huge was that?
Rocky Mountain Brave
June 20th, 2010
4:40 pm
Troy’s fine (I hope). He’d better be.
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
4:40 pm
It’s Wags Time.