We’re LIVE from Braves-Tigers (and is this it for Kawakami?)
Former Braves great Dale Murphy played in an oldtimers/celebrity softball game Saturday before the Braves faced Detroit at Turner Field.
Sitting up in the pressbox, watching Steve Avery pitching to Greg McMichael in an old-timers/celebrity softball game before the Braves face the Detroit Tigers. Kenshin Kawakami had been schedule to start the celebrity game but he was pulled from the rotation.
Kidding, kidding. I’m a kidder.
Actually, there was some hilarious banter in the clubhouse between Dale Murphy and Chipper
Kenshin Kawakami lasted two innings in his last start against Kansas City.
Jones.
Murphy to Chipper: “Are you playing a doubleheader today?”
Chipper to Murphy: “Weren’t you retired by now?”
(Murphy retired when he was 37. Jones is 38.)
“He was all over me [Friday],” Jones said later. “I was like, ‘Murp, you were done when you were 38.’ He was like, ‘Yeah, so?’ I said, ‘So how are you giving me a hard time about being old and not being able to do stuff? I’m playing.’”
No kidding. Jones actually should play out his retirement drama more often. He’s on fire. He has a nine-game hitting streak, during which he is 13 for 33 (.394) with seven RBIs, five runs, a homer and three doubles.
The Braves go into today’s game against the Tigers with a half-game lead over New York and 2 1/2 over Philadelphia. Of course, the biggest story, and possibly the subject of a column later today, is Kawakami. He is 0-9 with a 4.78 ERA. He’s the only starting pitcher in Braves history to lose his first nine decisions. (The franchise’s last 0-9 pitcher, Tom Tuckey with the Boston Doves in 1909, lost seven starts and two relief appearances.)
With Jair Jurrjens on the way back (he’s scheduled to throw a bullpen session Sunday and start against Washington Wednesday). Kris Medlen has been strong (4-0 with a 3.40 ERA as a starter). So this very well could be Kawakami’s final turn in the rotation. Somebody has to go and he’s the logical guy out.
Kawakami is coming off his worst start of the season, blowing a 4-0 lead over Kansas City and allowing five runs on six hits in two innings. He also has committed three errors in his last two starts.
Manager Bobby Cox was predictably evasive on the topic before the game. When I asked him what his plans were for the rotation, he said only, “I have not sat down with [general manager] Frank Wren about it once. We probably will.”
That’s it for now. I’ll be blogging live during the game. Until then, enjoy the air conditioning.
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362 comments Add your comment
Pi$$onaDawg
June 26th, 2010
4:55 pm
3 min + injury time USA 1 Gha 2.
Greg Norton Facts
June 26th, 2010
4:56 pm
greg norton is wanted for murder in all 50 states after killing hundreds of rallys.
Pi$$onaDawg
June 26th, 2010
5:00 pm
1 min of added time USA in the GHA end and a miss header just wide
DIT
June 26th, 2010
5:00 pm
“greg norton is wanted for murder in all 50 states after killing hundreds of rallys.”
Now that was funny!
Greg Norton Facts
June 26th, 2010
5:00 pm
there is the mendoza line and then there is the norton line, it is impossible to hit below the norton line.
Pi$$onaDawg
June 26th, 2010
5:01 pm
It is over USA is headed home.
Pi$$onaDawg
June 26th, 2010
5:02 pm
We lasted longer than Italy and France.
Jeff Schultz
June 26th, 2010
5:02 pm
Ghana=U.S. nemesis. Go figure. Maybe we should start a Cold War with them.
DIT
June 26th, 2010
5:03 pm
Jeff, anything interesting going on with the Braves?
jesse james
June 26th, 2010
5:04 pm
One thing about it, Greg Norton made it to the big leagues. Get off his back. All you made it to is the computer.
Partspuller
June 26th, 2010
5:04 pm
I know K K has had his problems but he might need to go to the bullpen for a while and pitch in relief it might be a better change for him then maybe he can come back in the full rotation later in the season and help the braves down the road.
Greg Norton Facts
June 26th, 2010
5:06 pm
in a bizzare twist, greg norton is now the hitting coach for the minor leauge new orleans zephyrs. There were no survivors.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 26th, 2010
5:08 pm
Hi! Jeff, get Greg Norton Facts a certificate!
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 26th, 2010
5:10 pm
Any oil in Ghana? Just sayin…
jesse james
June 26th, 2010
5:12 pm
Maybe Greg Norton Facts will hurt his thumb!
Jeff Schultz
June 26th, 2010
5:16 pm
Greg Norton Facts — Wow. Even Alaska? (Funny line btw)
kindergarten math
June 26th, 2010
5:17 pm
Actually, Greg Norton is the manager of the N.O. Zephyrs, which is a Florida Marlins farm team. Just sayin’, in the interest of accuracy.
Jeff Schultz
June 26th, 2010
5:17 pm
Chef Tim Dix — Actually I’m taking 2 weeks off. “Greg Norton Facts” can take over the blog.
jacket3
June 26th, 2010
5:19 pm
Goodness…lets hope the Tigers continue with no runs and we get some soon.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 26th, 2010
5:19 pm
I have been humbled and am in awe of Greg Norton Facts.
Greg Norton Facts
June 26th, 2010
5:20 pm
greg norton once caught his own pop-up
Jeff Schultz
June 26th, 2010
5:22 pm
Kawakami is pitching well. I know. Sounds like a setup to a punchline. But really!
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 26th, 2010
5:22 pm
Gotta admit, KK is a stand up guy and a humble team mate. That said Medlen’s time is now.
Greg Norton Facts
June 26th, 2010
5:23 pm
thank you jeff.
Pi$$onaDawg
June 26th, 2010
5:23 pm
I thought Greg Norman played Golf and married Kris Everett.
Pi$$onaDawg
June 26th, 2010
5:25 pm
Sorry I am not paying too much attention! It is before the All Star break and nothing in the MLB matters until August anyway.
jacket3
June 26th, 2010
5:25 pm
JS- Why would the Marlins want Bobby Valentine? They got rid of a really good manager….I guess the Marlins want the drama and insanity?
wxwax
June 26th, 2010
5:25 pm
OK Jeffie, you can go back bashing soccer again.
Meanwhile, the nation enjoyed the success of its national team. And while you weren’t looking, your mocking brethren in the media were forced to talk about soccer seriously. And pretend like they knew what they were talking about.
That was the funniest bit.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 26th, 2010
5:26 pm
and divorced her too, PI$$.
Jeff Schultz
June 26th, 2010
5:26 pm
Kawakami has now retired 15 of 17 (2 walks) since opening single.
papadawg
June 26th, 2010
5:27 pm
Yep Karakami is pitching cause we’re not scoring any runs
Pi$$onaDawg
June 26th, 2010
5:27 pm
Any pizza at Pizza Hut is $10! Wow I can make two medium pizzas at home for less than that.
jesse james
June 26th, 2010
5:29 pm
I just found out that the real Greg Norton beat out Greg Norton Facts for the CF position in high school and he still holds that against him. KK may be the best starter ever to go to the bullpen. Alot of teams would love to have him. I know his record is not goot but his overall numbers are not bad. Once again he is pitching in bad luck. No Runs for him. Detroit pitching is just doing a number on us today.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 26th, 2010
5:29 pm
F. Wren is looking at his phone hoping KK’s outing creates interest…
Pi$$onaDawg
June 26th, 2010
5:30 pm
He let Kris go? She must not have rubbed his ball and caressed his putter before matches. You know Arny’s wife used to kiss his ball before a big match. She said that live on Johnny Carson years ago.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 26th, 2010
5:31 pm
Jesse James: One overall number is bad, that being his contract.
O'Brien
June 26th, 2010
5:32 pm
Thanks for the response Jeff. Maybe KK has realized that his spot is in jeopardy now that Jurrjens is coming back, so he has stepped his game up.
If he pitches well this time out, does Cox give him one more start to see if it was a fluke? Decisions decisions.
Jeff Schultz
June 26th, 2010
5:32 pm
Jacket3 — Only one reason: Bobby Valentine and Marlins owner Jeff Loria are close friends.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 26th, 2010
5:32 pm
HiOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
jesse james
June 26th, 2010
5:32 pm
Arnie said it straightened out his putter! I heard Kris was with Tiger one day.
Jeff Schultz
June 26th, 2010
5:33 pm
Wxwax — Without making fun of soccer, I’ll just say this: I’m interested to see TV ratings in US now that US is out.
jesse james
June 26th, 2010
5:34 pm
Darn I apologize for the above comments at 5:32. My wife got on to me for that.
jesse james
June 26th, 2010
5:35 pm
That Santiago is going to be some player!
DIT
June 26th, 2010
5:35 pm
Most of the “Legal” US Citizens could really care less about the World Cup. Sorry, but it’s true. Most of us in the south watch our Braves to pass time before College Football begins. Soccer is just boring!
Jeff Schultz
June 26th, 2010
5:36 pm
Pi$$ — Famous moment in Tonight Show history. Didn’t she walk off stage after Carson cracked a joke about it?
Jeff Schultz
June 26th, 2010
5:37 pm
O’Brien — I don’t know, it’s a thought. But I’d think he’s been feeling pressure for a while.
"Chef" Tim Dix
June 26th, 2010
5:38 pm
Melky is toast.
Pi$$onaDawg
June 26th, 2010
5:44 pm
Roy barns new commercial. Retro fetting ALL public buildings will will save all the money it costs to make them m ore efficent and give people jobs. Roy don’t pay thoses workes a dime until your Adminstration has all those savings. You TAX me now, pay works now, and I an stupid enought to think this will save money? AHHAHAHA What government project has ever saved the Tax payer money? That is a LIE. Saved me money from paying more later maybe, but not saving me a dime.
Jeff Schultz
June 26th, 2010
5:46 pm
That bunt by Santiago was ruled a hit. Questionable. Would’ve been KK’s fourth error in 3 starts.
Pi$$onaDawg
June 26th, 2010
5:46 pm
Yes, Carson’s line was “I bet that really gets his putter up”.