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
Rocky Mountain Brave
June 20th, 2010
4:40 pm
That’s what she said, Marty.
Cornfuzed
June 20th, 2010
4:41 pm
Bring out the brooms and sweep away the Royals aka Braves castoffs!
Reid Adair
June 20th, 2010
4:41 pm
Can’t wait to hear the Kenshin Kawakami supporters try and explain this one. He was awful. Thankfully, the bullpen and the offense saved him (at least at this point with an 8-5 lead in the bottom of the eighth).
Marty
June 20th, 2010
4:42 pm
Now lt’s bring Wagner out and get the sweep.
Cornfuzed
June 20th, 2010
4:43 pm
not good to see Glaus limp off the field. Yikes.
GT Trumpet
June 20th, 2010
4:43 pm
Such exciting games! We may not win pretty, but we win in very TV friendly ways!
Rocky Mountain Brave
June 20th, 2010
4:44 pm
Kawakami has been snakebit this season, there’s no doubt about that. But, enough is enough. The Braves on on the verge of having the best record in the game and are playing consistently far too well to continue to have this hole in their rotation.
It’s time to send Kenshin to the pen, or if he declines, show him the door.
Marty
June 20th, 2010
4:44 pm
Oh no, how bad is Glaus? This could be a big problem.
The Difference
June 20th, 2010
4:45 pm
It appears Glaus has a nice “strawberry” after that slide at home….nothing to worry about folks.
The Difference
June 20th, 2010
4:46 pm
It’s time to cut ties with KK and just eat his contract.
He can’t help us in the bullpen or in the starting rotation. He’s definitely not trade bait either.
Rocky Mountain Brave
June 20th, 2010
4:46 pm
If it’s just a strawberry, with the off day tomorrow Troy will be fine come Chicago.
WindyCityDawg
June 20th, 2010
4:47 pm
A gritty, scrappy game with multiple players contributing substantially, fighting their way out of jams, and coming through in the clutch. What a game.
I’ve been a Braves fan since I moved to Atlanta in 1990 (conveniently) and this may go down as one of my favorite teams, regardless of post-season achievements.
The Difference
June 20th, 2010
4:48 pm
Troy was smiling and getting high fives when he went to the dugout after leaving the game…he was rubbing his rearend (where he slid)….it’s not bad.
cattle dawg
June 20th, 2010
4:49 pm
How crazy is it going to be when Stras burg comes to town?
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 20th, 2010
4:50 pm
Off to golf, enjoyed folks!
Ken Stallings
June 20th, 2010
4:50 pm
Seems like 1991 all over again!
I haven’t seen a scrappy group of Braves like this one since then. Now it seems like every hitter in the lineup is a master of situational hitting. Butting runners over, getting timely hits, and getting hits with runners in scoring position.
The main difference is that our pitching is as solid as a rock.
When JJ comes back it is certain that KK is sent to the pen. Perhaps he will flourish there.
Rocky Mountain Brave
June 20th, 2010
4:50 pm
I can’t wait until this lineup gets a shot at Strasburg.
Rocky Mountain Brave
June 20th, 2010
4:52 pm
It gets overlooked, but Martin Prado is just amazing. I’m so glad he finally got his shot last year to play every day. If he’s not on the NL All-Star squad, that would be a grave injustice.
joerochester
June 20th, 2010
4:53 pm
This team has surprised me all season. They are not afraid to fight back. Hinske has been money and for the most part this season. This is especially a great win after losing a 4-run lead, going down by one run, then tying it and ultimately winning it.
cattle dawg
June 20th, 2010
4:54 pm
Prado is awesome. Im becoming a big fan of Infante as well.
Sports Blog Atlanta
June 20th, 2010
4:54 pm
Safe to say that Eric Hinske was a good off season acquisition.
GT Trumpet
June 20th, 2010
4:55 pm
It’s completely astounding what this group of Braves has achieved. Going into the season with little expected of them (go see MB’s blog in April), they are now #1 in the NL and only 1.5 back from having the best record in baseball. I am really looking forward to seeing these Bravos in the playoffs, should they get there. Exciting times!!!
Cornfuzed
June 20th, 2010
4:55 pm
This team is fun to watch. They are never out of a game. In years past if they were trailing in the 7th or later, they would almost always lose. Now it seems that they are constantly finding new ways to claw back and win.
mr charlie
June 20th, 2010
5:00 pm
Kk was aweful today, but his era is still better than lowe.
Joey M
June 20th, 2010
5:02 pm
All is right with the world now. The Braves have a .600 winning percentage. Chipper Jones is hitting as of late. We have a first baseman that can hit anybody. We have a pesky player (Martin Prado) that came out of nowhere to become one of the elite in all of baseball. We have stellar starting pitching. We are undefeated when scoring 5+ runs. We have a closer that doesn’t just close the door, he slams it shut with every outing. We are doing all this without our best pitcher from last year, our best platoon left fielder we have had in years, our All-Star catcher has been sleeping lately, Chipper Jones has not been himself all season long, and our leading hitter with runners on base has been in a slump and hurting. In the second half, we will have a healthy Jurrjens, Diaz, and Escobar. Cabrera has been swinging the stick much much better from the left side so when Diaz is back, we will have a legitimate threat in left. Heyward will adjust and go on another tear. I see only greener pastures for the second half. GO BRAVES!!!!!
Ken Stallings
June 20th, 2010
5:05 pm
Kawakami’s problem is he cannot pitch to the level of his opponent. Lowe will surrender some runs, but he has the ability to shutdown the opponent after being given runs to work with.
KK today coughed up a big lead shockingly fast.
I think his makeup is better suited to the bullpen.
ABravesFan
June 20th, 2010
5:05 pm
KK did some good work out of the bullpen late last year. He probably needs to head there to rebuild some confidence. These last few outings (maybe he has been pressing because of the impending return of JJ?) has been bad.
Glad to see us continue the perfect record when scoring 5 or more runs. I was afraid that I jinxed them (especially after Kimbrel loaded the bases) by thinking that the Braves got the game won when Chipper tied the game (glad that Hinske redeemed his fruitless at bat with runners on 1st and 3rd and only one out).
lin
June 20th, 2010
5:07 pm
well kk did not get the win nor did he due anything good. send him to aaa team for more learning wonder if he needs glasses or has arm trouble not tell. keep team pitchers way they are and jj take kk place on return. go braves
bravos
June 20th, 2010
5:11 pm
KK what’s there to say; he can’t beat any team not even the lowly royals. He lacks confidence, good pitches in key situations and had plenty of run support to earn the win today. KK is overpaid like mcclouth and guess what both of them have in common? THEY SUCK! If the braves are going to keep him pay him a $1 mil salary not a $7 mil where he just buys Maseratis and lives a lavish lifestyle while going 0-9. That’s unacceptable! Once JJ comes back demote KK to Gwinnett! That low life deserves to be there with blow blow if he can’t even beat the royal pains!
Dave In Tampa
June 20th, 2010
5:12 pm
DAWGS GOT WATTS!!!
Dave In Tampa
June 20th, 2010
5:13 pm
Sorry JS, I could not help myself.
bravos
June 20th, 2010
5:17 pm
trade KK and mclouth to ANY TEAM and get some good draft picks or utility players or relief pitchers for them. I’m tired of those losers taking up space in the braves roster. The braves are playing winners baseball why keep 2 losers to set us back! The braves need more relief pitchers in case our grizzled vets get injured in the pen. We got diaz back a hot hitting melky and an improving heyward why do we need mclouth? We can trade kk to the mets so when ever we face those m.e.t.s. we can bash kawakami like the loser he is!!!
Rocky Mountain Brave
June 20th, 2010
5:32 pm
Why would you choose to turn things personal, bravos? If you’re a fan of the team, shouldn’t you support it’s players? Your arguments lose all their impetus when you call players “losers” or “lowlifes”. Keep the talk to the game and professional performance…otherwise you simply sound like an uneducated, irrational lunatic.
gcs
June 20th, 2010
5:50 pm
Wagner = 3 saves, 1 win in 4 days
.
Bob Horner could pull anybodys fast ball
June 20th, 2010
5:59 pm
Will ESPN have the Braves #1 in their Power rankings tomorrow..?? I doubt it…
Mitchell
June 20th, 2010
6:07 pm
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.
Anybody ever listen to Steve West on the Braves post-game show on 680thefan? That guy sounds like he doesn’t even know how to spell his own name. He’s such an idiot. Impossible to listen to that guy.
I’m actually listening right now because I’m an idiot. He’s talking about what an honor it is to be a part of the Braves in such a memorable season.
Yeah, I’m really sold. He sounds like a beer keg steward at some lame ass frat party. Just hangin’ out by the keg on the patio man.
Beer keg steward. I made that up. You know, like wine steward. Yeah, I’m that good.
Unlike Steve West. It’s amazing some of the people you hear on the radio. If nothing else you’re supposed to have a good voice yet so often that’s not the case. Hard to figure that.
Yukamumbo
June 20th, 2010
6:11 pm
Hard to believe that six weeks ago we stunk, having lost 9 in a row.
Braves flying high, and where are Bobby Cox’s critics now? | Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
6:13 pm
[...] ♦ LIVE: Braves go for sweep; Kawakami will take anything [...]
jacket3
June 20th, 2010
6:21 pm
JS- This is baseball like it is supposed to be played. I still do not understand WHY BC keeps sticking Kamikazi on the mound. Unless it is money. The guy is out of gas. Put him in the pen. Even though the Braves are gutting this out, and they look like the exact same spirited group from 1991…you just can’t keep putting this guy in the game. We were lucky today. And if you look at the stats…..(I think) all of the losses are from KK’s mound antics. When you take his -9 out the Braves are perfect…so what exactly is BC doing with this pitcher??? Even the minor league guys have better stuff right now.
SCBravesFan
June 20th, 2010
6:25 pm
You cannot let KK have another start…
I don’t want to hear about his lack of run support. He was given a four run cushion today and he coughed it up in less than three innings.
To the pen as a mop up guy in blowouts or to triple A, but NO MORE STARTS FOR KK…
bravos
June 20th, 2010
6:26 pm
rocky mountain- mind your own business its my opinion of KK and mclouth just because i’m a braves fan doesn’t mean i have to like or idolize all the players on this team. I’m sorry if the truth stings rocky mountain but as a fan i won’t idolize everyone on the team. It’s all about how they perform and i strongly think KK should be traded. I don’t know what’s personal about criticizing a 0-9 pitcher. Its not like im saying he sucks because he’s asian or japanese. That’s personal. Just mind your own business.
Question
June 20th, 2010
6:28 pm
Under KK’s contract, can he be sent to AAA to work things out?
Rocky Mountain Brave
June 20th, 2010
6:36 pm
You do realize that these thoughts you’re cobbling together and typing into your keyboard are being broadcast out over the interwebs, do you not? You put it out there. I’m more than happy to mind my own business. My mistake was trying to help you not to appear to be a ignorant clod.
Carry on, bravos. You’re a shining beacon for all of us.
bravos
June 20th, 2010
6:37 pm
I say things i want about certain players and thats ok with most other people on this blog. Learn to coexist man. I’ll say things if i feel they need to be said. Kawakami sucks 9 out of 10 people would agree. I don’t go around saying racist comments about kk like some people on this blog oh he sucks because he’s a jap or send him back to japan. Coexist rocky and loosen up man i was just kidding about those comments.
Rocky Mountain Brave
June 20th, 2010
6:43 pm
Congratulations, bravos. The fact that you’ve restrained yourself from making racist remarks about Asians really deserves to be commended.
Do you honestly want to compare and contrast yourself with xenophobic rednecks?
bravos
June 20th, 2010
6:48 pm
No malice im not here to diss anyone on this blog. You shouldn’t put your 50 cents in what you think of me. Im sorry to whoever i offended. No malice to anyone ok. Anyways the braves won so yea that’s great we’ve got a 2 1/2 lead over the mets! Let’s go braves! The braves are doing great at least that’s something we can all agree on! Sorry rocky lets be friends ok?
bravos
June 20th, 2010
6:49 pm
When is JJ coming back to the rotation?
bravos
June 20th, 2010
7:08 pm
I think the braves will get 100 wins this season!
bravos
June 20th, 2010
7:10 pm
Vote for Prado (pedro)! He will get 200 hits+ this season i know he will!
Jeff Schultz
June 20th, 2010
7:20 pm
Just an FYI, folks: The game column has been posted. Thanks and I’ll meet you over there later.
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/06/20/braves-flying-high-and-where-are-bobby-coxs-critics-now/