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
The Devil Wears Prado Jerseys
June 26th, 2010
7:25 pm
Why is Wagner not in the game? Before yesterday he hadn’t pitched since the 20th.
This is inexplicable.
Bob
June 26th, 2010
7:26 pm
He just swung at ball 4
Jeff Schultz
June 26th, 2010
7:26 pm
Walk .. makes it 4-3.
scottbravesfan
June 26th, 2010
7:26 pm
This in unbelievable, still not Wagner? Come on Bobby what the F???!!!!
Jeff Schultz
June 26th, 2010
7:27 pm
And now, it’s Moylan.
Gary H
June 26th, 2010
7:27 pm
Hello? Can anybody throw a strike?
scottbravesfan
June 26th, 2010
7:27 pm
Wagner had not pitched since the 20th and then he threw one inning last night and now Bobby is resting him? Come on
AthensBrave
June 26th, 2010
7:27 pm
Unbelievable.
Virginina Ranger
June 26th, 2010
7:28 pm
Fill us in on why Billy Wagnier has not stopped this thing. Does Cox have money on KK losing another one?
The Devil Wears Prado Jerseys
June 26th, 2010
7:28 pm
If there’s nothing wrong with Wagner, this is a major gaffe by Bobby Cox and could potentially be about to cost us a win.
bravos
June 26th, 2010
7:28 pm
This is what happens when you bring in an old guy whose running out of gas he just ruins the game for us in chicago and here in atlanta. Gosh bobby can’t you do anything right!
JohnSmith
June 26th, 2010
7:28 pm
Wags must have a blister or something, right? Right??
Virginina Ranger
June 26th, 2010
7:29 pm
Or at least not allowing KK to win. Remember we did this one year at the biginning with the Phillies and never recoverd. KK may commit Hari KAri if he does not win
AthensBrave
June 26th, 2010
7:29 pm
Who’s up in the bottom of the ninth?
Bye Bye Bobby
June 26th, 2010
7:29 pm
This is why Bobby Cox needs to get his old man %#%& out of here!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tmac
June 26th, 2010
7:30 pm
For the record, Bobby has had 3 opportunities to bring in Wagner.
Don’t know why, but BC will be on the list of responsible if we take the loss.
Tim
June 26th, 2010
7:30 pm
Regardless of the outcome, there should be some interesting questions in the locker room after this one. Are you up for it, Jeff?
G
June 26th, 2010
7:30 pm
Are you kidding me!!
JohnSmith
June 26th, 2010
7:30 pm
Bobby played Wagner four games in a row at one point. There must really be something up with Wagner for this charade to have happened.
JSS
June 26th, 2010
7:31 pm
It’s not unbelievable, they’ve been this to KK all season… He’s done his share of getting into messes, but this bullpen has flashbacks to last year every time he gives them a lead!
Joel
June 26th, 2010
7:31 pm
Someone throw a strike already!
Jeff Schultz
June 26th, 2010
7:32 pm
Final: 4-3. Called strike 3! Braves win! Kawakami wins! I was here, I was here! OK, I can retire now.
The Devil Wears Prado Jerseys
June 26th, 2010
7:32 pm
That was a horrible call, but I’ll take it.
Bob
June 26th, 2010
7:32 pm
Wow…not sure that was a strike, but I will take it.
G
June 26th, 2010
7:32 pm
Can you say GIFT!
Jeff Schultz
June 26th, 2010
7:32 pm
That looked outside, but, oh well.
Tmac
June 26th, 2010
7:32 pm
Thanks Blue!
Horrible call, but we will take it!
Bye Bye Bobby
June 26th, 2010
7:32 pm
The umpire bailed us out. Bobby is a flipping fool.
JohnSmith
June 26th, 2010
7:32 pm
*expletive deleted*
scottbravesfan
June 26th, 2010
7:33 pm
HAHAHA, I can’t believe that called strike 3 but Ill take it!
USAFADawg
June 26th, 2010
7:33 pm
Wow… that was embarrassing
Cornfuzed
June 26th, 2010
7:33 pm
Wow that was a generous strike 3 call. Reminds me of Eric Gregg.
roja
June 26th, 2010
7:33 pm
Bobby did everything possible to make sure KK did NOTget a decision — but the players did it in spite of Bobby’s best efforts
justafan
June 26th, 2010
7:33 pm
Great Win for KK and Braves thanks to Ump’s last call. KK needed that!
AthensBrave
June 26th, 2010
7:33 pm
What an awful call. But, if anyone deserves it it is KK.
Virginina Ranger
June 26th, 2010
7:33 pm
KK tied for most wins this date this year.
Boobie WTF
scottbravesfan
June 26th, 2010
7:34 pm
Ok Schultz, question 1 to Bobby after the game, Where the hell was Wagner?
Fire Frank Wren
June 26th, 2010
7:34 pm
Worse call of the year.
Reid Adair
June 26th, 2010
7:34 pm
Well, I hope Kenshin Kawakami had someone DVR/TiVO this game for him. It will be nice having the Chipper Jonest moment as part of his final start for the Braves this season recorded for posterity.
He may want to erase the ninth-inning bullpen disaster, though.
Bye Bye Bobby
June 26th, 2010
7:34 pm
Roja. You are so right. Cox continues to be the worst bullpen manager in the game.
JohnSmith
June 26th, 2010
7:34 pm
Wags must’ve been WAY hung over after celebrating #400 last night!
bravos
June 26th, 2010
7:34 pm
braves got lucky i don’t know maybe the home plate ump wanted to go home
The Devil Wears Prado Jerseys
June 26th, 2010
7:34 pm
For the moment, Jim Joyce is no longer the most hated umpire in Detroit.
JSS
June 26th, 2010
7:35 pm
Shalom, see you in 3 weeks, and don’t forget to sneak my pastrami through TSA, they’ll eat anything!
roja
June 26th, 2010
7:35 pm
I can count on the big TOE of my left HAND the number of times this year that KK has GIVEN us a lead!!
CaptainMudderland
June 26th, 2010
7:35 pm
Too close and for no reason…silly use of bullpen…not a time to do rehab when you’re playing a team that can swing it–they are 39-33 for a reason…Bravos get a break on Damon’s strike out, Bobby just about lost her for us!!!
Cornfuzed
June 26th, 2010
7:35 pm
that ball was 6 inches outside. Thanks ump.
Bill
June 26th, 2010
7:35 pm
Thanks to Ump!
JohnSmith
June 26th, 2010
7:36 pm
Best. Umpire. EVER.
The Grinch
June 26th, 2010
7:36 pm
I tried to post this on O’Brien’s blog and not surprisingly he wouldn’t post it; perhaps you will.
If Bobby doesn’t publicly apologize to KK for screwing him out of his first win and also to Saito for pulling his 40 year old injured self off the DL a week too early and making him throw 150 pitches in his first four days back, then his reputation as a player’s manager should take a pretty good hit.