It’s time for Braves to end the Kawakami experiment
Bobby Cox took the ball from Kenshin Kawakami Sunday -- but why give it back?
So I stood by Bobby Cox Sunday when he said he didn’t want to talk about any future decisions regarding Kenshin Kawakami, though he added, “He’ll make his next start.” Why? By default. Jair Jurrjens has at least another week of rehab left.
And then I stood by Kenshin Kawakami as he deflected no criticism (a commendable character trait of his) and said of possibly losing his starting job: “I haven’t thought about that much. But being a starter, I’m not really doing my job right now, so I’m ready for anything that is coming.”
Loading ...Kawakami is baseball’s only $23 million fifth starter. He also has the distinction of being 0-9 for a first-place team. Only three other pitchers in the majors have lost as many games: Houston’s Wandy Rodriguez (3-10), Cleveland’s David Huff (2-9) and former Brave, now of Pittsburgh, Charlie Morton (1-9).
The Indians are in last place. The Pirates are in last place. The Astros are one-half game ahead of the Pirates. See where I’m going with this?
Yes, Kawakami has received little run support in some starts but that hasn’t really been the case of late. He was handed a 4-0 lead Sunday against Kansas City and promptly doused it with gasoline and lit a match to it. He also committed his third error in his last two starts.
Further — and this is where all of those, “Oh, stop picking on him, meanie; don’t you know the Braves don’t score for him?” arguments fall apart — Kawakami’s ERA is 4.78.
Once again, because some of his defenders ignore this number: 4.78. That is the worst ERA on the staff among active pitchers, save reliever Jesse Chavez (7.33), who doesn’t really count. Kawakami also is yielding the most hits per nine innings (10.2), has allowed the most home runs (nine) and, it follows, the highest slugging percentage (.478).
Stop the madness.
If Jurrjens is cleared following his next start at Gwinnett, this should be an easy decision for Cox: Keep Kris Medlen (3-0, 3.67 as a starter) in the rotation and put Kawakami in the bullpen. Granted, middle relief is not what general manager Frank Wren projected when he gave Kawakami a contract for over $7 million per year. But Kawakami has shown an ability to strike people out. So maybe there’s something to salvage from this.
Think of it as salvaging the rear bumper after a front-end collision.
I can pretty much guess which way sentiment is going on this. I’ve got a poll up also. Let me hear ya.
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495 comments Add your comment
Chief pitchanono
June 21st, 2010
4:19 pm
Good one Jeff, its true KK’s gotta go back to the pen, but its not a bad thing. Hopefully Wags can get him straight out there (ha ha!) the biggest thing is he’s good insurance in there if another injury pops up, we still got allot of season left. We can’t trade him because of the money, but what do you think about Resop, you think thay may give him the job for a few weeks to try to improve his trade value?
Techman
June 21st, 2010
4:20 pm
Lack of run support does mean something. It means that when he pitches, the opponents pitching against him are really good. Just b/c you ignore it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
Trey
June 21st, 2010
4:21 pm
Chief pitchanono – Chris Resop is overrated. Now when we first played him, I thought he was supposed to be good, because I listened to the hype. He proved to be nothing. Now if that was his first MLB appearance, that would have been an excuse, but he has been in the MLB for a while.
CanHewitt
June 21st, 2010
4:22 pm
Again, Kawakami “defenders” including myself are not saying he should start over Medlen once Jurjjens comes back. We’re not even saying he’s been good. He just hasn’t been as terrible as many people are making out to be just based on his W-L. He could’ve easily had 4 or 5 wins with some luck.
Pete
June 21st, 2010
4:23 pm
They should seek a trade for another “troubled” pitcher with decent credentials.
Many, many times just a change of scenery can turn a player around…………….and quickly.
Don’t cut him………….trade ‘em.
Trey
June 21st, 2010
4:23 pm
Techman – No, it just means he needs to pitch better. Hudson has pitched against outstanding pitchers, he comes out with a victory, usually. Kawakami NEVER comes out with a victory. You would expect him to come out with one or two against an outstanding pitcher. We even gave him runs yesterday to give him his first victory. He blew the victory. He is worthless, you can think of any excuse to defend him, but you will eventually have to admit he is a failure.
Jimbo
June 21st, 2010
4:23 pm
PLEASE PUT US OUT OF OUR MISERY
Look at this rotation w/o KK:
http://TwitPWR.com/KVl/
Techman
June 21st, 2010
4:27 pm
Worthless? Outstanding baseball commentary. Remind me again – which outstanding pitcher was it that Lowe got his win against?
Taylor Hanson
June 21st, 2010
4:27 pm
What’s Hideki Nomo up to?
We might be able to slide him in without anyone even noticing.
Trey
June 21st, 2010
4:28 pm
Techman – You seem to be comparing him a lot to Derek Lowe.
Jo-Bu
June 21st, 2010
4:28 pm
Time to cut ties. You can’t send KK to the bullpen because he requires time to “ease-in” to a game. You can’t put someone in there in the 7th inning with a three-run lead and expect someone to ease-in to the game at that point.
Look, as I understand it, KK wasn’t even looked at when they recruited him. Scouts went over to watch him pitch and becase it is said that they don’t annouce the starting pitchers in Japan, they never saw him. I don’t know if that is true or not but something obviously went wrong on the scouting front. just because they may or may not annouce the starting pitcher for a given game, you book a hotel for a month and go to the ballpark every night to see him pitch.
Regardless, we’re stuck with him but in the end, you have to do what’s good for the team and the organization regardless of how much he’s being paid. Send him to Gwinnett to work on it but please do not put him in the pen.
And yes, I was one of his biggest supporters when he was truly having some bad luck. But the last two starts have not been good and the last start he had a four-run lead that he blew. Bad luck or not, it’s not working and the organization should do something.
Honestly, I really think all KK needs is a change of scenery. It won’t help him spot his fastball nor will it keep his curveball from hanging but it’ll at least clear his mind. Problem is, I don’t think the Braves will have any takers for a fresh start for KK else where. Send him down to Gwinnett as unfair as it might sound, the Braves really don’t have much of a choice.
Trey
June 21st, 2010
4:31 pm
Techman – I don’t know what baseball you grew up watching, but it could not have been a team with any decent pitchers. If you have seen a team with good or great pitchers you would know that KK is garbage.
Marvin Menoozach
June 21st, 2010
4:31 pm
Yo jeff why dont u put a post after KK pitches a good game? Why blast the poor guy after bad or mediocre outings? As Bobby said, this was his worst outing. Even JJ and Hanson have poor outings, dont mention Lowe, he has many of them.
Skeezix
June 21st, 2010
4:32 pm
Going out and signing an untested KK and paying him $7m per year is probably Wren’s worst move. He looks more like a batting practice pitcher than a MLB quality starter. Please Bobby, show us and KK some mercy, and get him out of the rotation now.
I love the way Medlen is developing and I can’t wait for the return of J.J. Once J.J. gets back into form, this rotation will be really good.
Techman
June 21st, 2010
4:33 pm
actually I played college baseball as a catcher. So I chuckle at you fellas who think you know it all. One of the most telling statements from me is McCann saying KK probably has the best stuff on the team. But he only plays on the field so what does he know?
And what do I know? I never played professionally.
Techman
June 21st, 2010
4:34 pm
Yes, I am comparing KK a lot to Lowe b/c Lowe is somehow escaping criticism when their stats are nearly identical.
LookDeeperAtStats
June 21st, 2010
4:34 pm
Trey – you are kidding right? Hudson has never had to worry about run support. In his wins the Braves have scored 6, 10, 11, 13, 7, 8, 7, and 3 runs.
In Kawakami’s starts the Braves have scored 3, 0, 2, 0, 3, 3, 6, 5, 4, 5, 4, 1, 4, 8 – even though he didn’t get the victories, the ONLY time the Braves won in his starts were when they scored 5 or more runs. Every other time they lost.
Now look at run support in Hudson’s losses (when he started) – 4, 0, 3, 2, 4, 1 runs scored by the Braves.
Conclusion – in ALL GAMES lost by the Braves when Hudson and Kawakami have been the starter, the Braves failed to score 5 or more runs.
Jo-Bu
June 21st, 2010
4:34 pm
Maybe we can help KK if we all bring those stupid horns they are blowing in South Africa every time he pitches. It could drive the other team crazy while they are hitting. Anyone? Anyone?
Didn’t the Marlins try that this weekend???
Techman
June 21st, 2010
4:36 pm
btw, Hudson couldn’t beat Halladay or Liriano. so please don’t act like he would be 10-0 if he pitched against the caliber KK has endured this far.
Techman
June 21st, 2010
4:37 pm
thank you LookDeeperAtStats. These guys on here act like KK sux b/c the players don’t play as hard when he pitches.
Trey
June 21st, 2010
4:38 pm
Techman – You think you are the only one who played in college? In many of KK starts he has given up at least five runs. A good pitcher does not constantly give up five runs. He is not Major League material. I have watched pitchers while growing up, some better than others and Kawakami does fall into one of the worse pitchers.
Trey
June 21st, 2010
4:40 pm
LookDeeperAsStats – You are just as ignorant as Techman. I said Hudson DOES NOT have to worry about the Braves scoring many runs and he can still get the victory. He rarely gives up two to three runs a game.
Trey
June 21st, 2010
4:40 pm
Rarely gives up more than two or three runs a game*
Bill
June 21st, 2010
4:40 pm
Enter your comments here
Techman
June 21st, 2010
4:40 pm
no I don’t think I’m the only one who played in college. you said:
“Techman – I don’t know what baseball you grew up watching, but it could not have been a team with any decent pitchers.”
Most pitchers who are not decent do not play that high of a level of baseball, which is my point.
TonyZ
June 21st, 2010
4:40 pm
Being a Braves fan for over 30 years I can honestly say that if we are giving up on Kawakami, then send Jo-Jo Reyes along with him. That guy drives me way more crazy than Kawakami. That being said, if anyone would have told me that Jurrjens and Kawakami would be a combined 0-12 after 70 games and the Braves would have best record in the NL, I would have told you that Jo-Jo had a better chance of winning the Cy Young. Keep it rollin’ Braves!
FlintRiverFunk
June 21st, 2010
4:41 pm
Who else thinks that Techman is actually KK’s agent?
Trey
June 21st, 2010
4:42 pm
Techman – Please tell me what you feel about Jo-Jo Reyes. Do you think he and KK are both All Star material? The way you talk about KK you act like he is.
Techman
June 21st, 2010
4:42 pm
He’s given up 5 ER in 2 games this year. He’s given up 5 total runs in 5 starts this year.
Trey said “In many of KK starts he has given up at least five runs. “
Trey
June 21st, 2010
4:42 pm
FlintRiverFunk – I just think Techman knows very little about good pitching.
Taylor Hanson
June 21st, 2010
4:43 pm
Techman…you’re discounting his self-inflicted unearned runs.
Trey
June 21st, 2010
4:43 pm
Techman – He gave up five runs against the Phillies this year, he gave up five runs against the Dodgers, he gave up five runs yesterday, four were earned.
Techman
June 21st, 2010
4:43 pm
KK has never given up more than 5. Lowe has given up 7 twice.He’s given up at least 5 ER 4 times.
Trey
June 21st, 2010
4:44 pm
I expect every pitcher to give up runs and earned runs, but not at the rate of KK.
Trey
June 21st, 2010
4:45 pm
Techman – Nobody cares about D. Lowe. He is washed up, I know. However, you can not quit trying to take the attention off of KK. If this article were about Lowe then we would talk about Lowe.
JEB
June 21st, 2010
4:46 pm
Trade KK to Seatle for Cliff Lee. We get Lee for the remainder of this year for our push to the WS. We get rid of KK’s salary for next year. Maybe throw in a couple other minor league players (not of any real importance though!)
GTSteve
June 21st, 2010
4:47 pm
Jo-Bu
June 21st, 2010
4:34 pm
Maybe we can help KK if we all bring those stupid horns they are blowing in South Africa every time he pitches. It could drive the other team crazy while they are hitting. Anyone? Anyone?
Didn’t the Marlins try that this weekend???
Yeah but if you blow horns and no one is there to hear them….did you they really make any noise…lol
Techman
June 21st, 2010
4:47 pm
Very good Trey. That’s 3 games. Like I said, he’s given up 5 total runs in 5 games this year. He’s given up 5 ER in only two games.
I can’t speak for the unearned runs he’s created b/c unlike most on the board, I confirm what I’m talking about before I discuss.
However, I think it’s a valid argument but I would like to see how many runs we’re actually talking about.
Taylor Hanson
June 21st, 2010
4:47 pm
And McCann saying he has the best stuff on the team….that’s just lip service.
He was defending his teammate. Do you think he really has better stuff than Tommy? That’s just asinine.
Trey
June 21st, 2010
4:48 pm
JEB – No one would take KK for Cliff Lee.
Techman
June 21st, 2010
4:48 pm
he said it coming out of spring training, before the season started.
TonyZ
June 21st, 2010
4:49 pm
I think KK would be useful to another lower tier team possibly as a number 3 or 4 starter but for those of you who think we are going to get anything of value in reurn, you are wrong. Bullpen is probably the place AS LONG AS Jurrjens is back to normal. I think I saw some crazy stat that the Braves have won thier last 42 games in which they have scored at least 5 runs. therefore, SOMEBODY is getting the W but obviously not KK.
Trey
June 21st, 2010
4:49 pm
Taylor Hanson – That’s one thing I respect about Braves players and management. They will protect their player, no matter what. Hanson is much better than KK.
I'm Legal
June 21st, 2010
4:49 pm
Now we have Jeff playing GM and Mgr. I agree its not all KK’s fault but the bull-pen might just help him release the pressue and get on track. Wish we could trade him but no one wants someone when they’re down. Just keep it Legal.
Techman
June 21st, 2010
4:50 pm
I understand the article is about KK. However, it is a riduculous article if you are not going to point out that Lowe is equally pitched as poorly.
Schultz said the KK experiment is over. Then why isn’t Lowe? Just because he’s gotten more run support and has not faced the quality opponents that KK has?
GTSteve
June 21st, 2010
4:51 pm
Not that I am sure I would want to do this, but would Seattle take KK and 2 of the A or AA pitching prospects for Lee
Trey
June 21st, 2010
4:52 pm
GTSteve – Well everyone needs a couple of prospects and a water boy.
Einsteindawg
June 21st, 2010
4:53 pm
KK is this years version of a long line of annual bad moves…McChoke (McWhiff, McStealing), Kotchman, Dan Kolb, etc. No problem, it’s just money, but the Braves need to exit him as they’ll need his spot on the roster for their pennant drive. Just be glad the Braves have several options for his place on the team…Go Braves! Incidentally, how many of you are aware of Chippah’s injuries actually helping our team?
mini-me
June 21st, 2010
4:53 pm
KK, you s/be history as a starter…for now. I’m still pullin for you but I’ve never seen anyone get hit like Sunday – it deeply saddened me. If they do drop ya like the proverbial hot ‘tater, you, like many other players, may be able to get ‘em back. Sometimes, its just time to go.
Trey
June 21st, 2010
4:54 pm
Wow, even Oh-No Reyes’ pitching isn’t as bad. He is 5-15 career wise, Kawakami is 7-21.