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
braves70
June 26th, 2010
7:37 pm
Christmas in June! Thank you for that strike 3 on what was really ball 4 Mr. Ump. We needed that one. Whew!
The Grinch
June 26th, 2010
7:38 pm
Guess not. You guys really not allowed to post negative comments about Bobby’s strategy from fans/bloggers? Really? If that’s the case, there’s not much more reason for me to stick around. That’s just sad.
jesse james
June 26th, 2010
7:38 pm
KK deserves some luck, but what a choke job by Moylan and Oflarety! Worst exhibition of relief pitching I have seen in a long time.
Greg Norton Facts
June 26th, 2010
7:39 pm
thank
god
jesse james
June 26th, 2010
7:41 pm
Dang we won and I don’t know whether to be mad or happy. What a gift that two relief pitchers tried to give away. That was a heck of an at bat by Inge.
CaptainMudderland
June 26th, 2010
7:41 pm
Rehab occurs at Gwinnet and Rome…not in the heat of a pennant race geezzzzzzzzzzzzzzz–I am seated to watch a cool ninth and someone—you know who—has a major brain fart—then as silly as that is, the Ump decides to join Bobby…Poo, Poo, Poo….so nice!!!
Greg Norton Facts
June 26th, 2010
7:43 pm
forget kenshin, bench o flaraghty
JSS
June 26th, 2010
7:43 pm
@ROJA
Put that thing on the internet or AMV and make yourself some money! It was 3 times, tonight made 4…
Braves Fan
June 26th, 2010
7:46 pm
jesse james,
what game were you watching? moylan won the game after saito and oflarety walked everybody they saw.
Navigator
June 26th, 2010
7:46 pm
In the face of today’s success,BCox frustrates me again with his mishandling of pitchers. With a win in hand he leaves Saito in trying to get him a save, when it was obvious the poor guy was struggling. Inability to pull the trigger has and will cost the Braves, a win in June is just as important as one in September, famous words of Billy Martin.
ABravesFan
June 26th, 2010
7:47 pm
I’ll take that. So glad that I’m not a Tigers fan…I would be so mad right now.
Next time if Wagner needs a break, Bobby should keep Venters as the backup.
I have to question the Braves (not just Bobby)’s decision to not have Saito pitch a few more rehab games. He is clearly not 100% back. The bullpen has been quite reliable this year, I’ll chalk this one up as just one of those day, especially we escaped with a win.
The Devil Wears Prado Jerseys
June 26th, 2010
7:48 pm
Braves Fan, Moylan “won” (or saved) the game only in the most technical sense. Any other umpire, and we’re still playing baseball right now.
bravos
June 26th, 2010
7:50 pm
Moylan did not win us this game, the ump won this game for us moylan had no feel for the strike zone like the other 2 relievers in the 9th.
JohnSmith
June 26th, 2010
7:52 pm
Best if the ‘pen gets this sort of thing out of its collective system right now rather than October.
Ryan
June 26th, 2010
7:54 pm
Jeff please question Bobby why wags didn’t throw. He was unhittable yesterday and has hardly thrown the last week. Unbelievable.
Techman
June 26th, 2010
7:55 pm
why isn’t anyone screaming for KK to be sent to the minors this week?
Jmor
June 26th, 2010
7:55 pm
O’Flarety is no longer a reliable pitcher in game situations…He has had about 5 or 6 bad outings in a row. Bobby needs to replace him in game situations with Venters, who is unhittable right now. But he won’t.
Don B
June 26th, 2010
7:56 pm
I just saw an umpire who didn’t want to go to extra innings on a hot day like today. Who can blame him? He was willing the ball over for the pitchers…….
JohnSmith
June 26th, 2010
7:59 pm
Yes, folks, this was a tough win for Braves fans to endure…
Ryan
June 26th, 2010
8:01 pm
Didn’t get to watch game did broadcasters say anything why wags wasn’t throwin?
Remarkable
June 26th, 2010
8:01 pm
One more umpire that ought to have a press conference and appologize for his horrible call. I’m a Braves fan and I can’t believe that call. We didn’t deserve that win the way our so-called pitchers tried to give it away.Should have been 5 walks in the same inning. Can’t any one throw strikes?
jesse james
June 26th, 2010
8:02 pm
Braves Fan – What game were you watching, Moylan walked in the tying run. There wasn’t anyway that was a strike. I am happy for KK and Moylan, but I feel for Johnny Damon. That looked like Eric Gregg’ strike zone on Fred McGriff.
Remarkable
June 26th, 2010
8:02 pm
We now have 3 viable candidates to be sent down to the minors after that 9th inning fiasco.
dawn
June 26th, 2010
8:04 pm
what is it with the refs on important calls for the tigers????? good grief that called strike on Damon was not even close, would have tied the game. After having to swallow the perfect game screw up this is disgusting. I guess he wanted to go home. I cant believe damon wasnt balistic. wait till tigers see that on replay lol……….awww just another blown call for the tigers….. it should have not come to that but gez
Bill
June 26th, 2010
8:05 pm
Where’s Fredi G ?
Boy Chipper has been great since his Daddy was here to help him.
jesse james
June 26th, 2010
8:06 pm
That call was alot worse than the Jim Joyce perfect game call. He needs to be man enough and apologize to Damon tomrrow.
Jmor
June 26th, 2010
8:06 pm
Wagner and Venters can throw strikes. Bobby was willing to lose that game today because he refused to deviate from his plan even when it was failing.As soon as Saito looked shakey he should have given in and brought in Wagner. What is he saving him for, next year?
JohnSmith
June 26th, 2010
8:07 pm
“the refs”?
jesse james
June 26th, 2010
8:07 pm
Someone by the names of Infante and Conrad got Chipper going. Competition solves alot of problems.
jesse james
June 26th, 2010
8:08 pm
What was the deal with Wagner? Dang it looked like we didn’t want KK to succeed.
ramrod
June 26th, 2010
8:10 pm
Agree Jesse. Love to win and happy for KK but lets keep it fair. What if that had been the 7th game of World Series?
dawn
June 26th, 2010
8:10 pm
thanks all for being honest about that call I want to scream and yea i am a tigers fan michigander. But it should have not come to that. Your pitching most of the game was outstanding. Our usual guy from the bullpen stunk tonight lol why coke wasnt called in is beyond me but oh well; nice win u guys
JohnSmith
June 26th, 2010
8:12 pm
The latest from DOB on Twitter: “Wagner’s pitched with a sore ankle for about 10 days, and today it was too sore for him to pitch without changing delivery.”
_____________________________________________________________
JohnSmith
June 26th, 2010
8:13 pm
If Wags was pitching hurt last night, I’d like to see how much better he’d be when healthy!
jesse james
June 26th, 2010
8:15 pm
Yea Wagner is better on one leg than Moylan or OFlarety on two.
The Devil Wears Prado Jerseys
June 26th, 2010
8:15 pm
Sorry about that, dawn. Gracious comments.
dawn
June 26th, 2010
8:17 pm
haha i just realized i said refs lol i like basketball to………i meant umps duh
jesse james
June 26th, 2010
8:18 pm
Hey Dawn, thanks and by the way how is Tony Orlando doing or was that you?
Joe
June 26th, 2010
8:20 pm
KK is staying in the rotation. You can bank on that.
Techman
June 26th, 2010
8:21 pm
Ed O’flaherty has given up one earned run this month (which is almost over) and we want to send him down to the minors? Really??
hawesg
June 26th, 2010
8:22 pm
This was all part of Bobby’s clever plan to get Wagner to come back next year: Do you see what your absence does to our bullpen?
bravos
June 26th, 2010
8:22 pm
tigers fans should be upset. Bobby was all out to give saito this whole inning. This is the bigs bobby not the minor leagues. Braves fans are payin’ their money to see good pitching and hitting and not stupid decisions that could cost us this game. Lucky for us braves fans the umpire badly wanted to go home and called a horrible call i’d be pissed if the braves lost that way. Another reason why the replay system should be used in baseball. MLB never wants to change its as if we still live in the 20th century where instant replay technology isn’t available.
jesse james
June 26th, 2010
8:24 pm
Techman – I don’t want to send him anywhere. He has had a good year, but when you have a teammate that has handled a tough year with more class than most players would you come in and throw strikes. Maybe that was it he was trying too hard.
bravos
June 26th, 2010
8:25 pm
o’flaherty n moylan r struggling but it think they both will get it together. I was never a fan of the saito signing by frank wren and i am now 100% sure he is running of out gas in his tank. That shot by cabrera was crushed and i knew from then saito should have been removed but no, bobby has to complicate things!
jesse james
June 26th, 2010
8:28 pm
Bravos – You don’t need instant replay, the league needs to get on their butts for missing calls. Some of the umpires think they are (especially Tim Mclelland) the game. His call last year in the playoffs where he missed the call at third with the Yankees when they had two runners at third was the worst call I have ever seen. The league did nothing to him.
bravos
June 26th, 2010
8:38 pm
Ok so the league chews these bad umps, is it like they’re going to change. Their the same old same old instant replay results come minutes after the call and it could be reversed like in the nfl. If this happened to the braves im sure you guys would want an instant replay to tell whether it was a bb or a K. How much can the league do? Instead of chewing out umps do something that can OVERRIDE the call. What’s done is done the mlb comish can’t come right to the game to argue with the ump, so use a replay system to tell the truth. The replay could have major impact in the ws. In a similar situation like this 4 example the yankees are pitching vs the braves n the braves are 1 ball away from a game tying walk in the 9th. Instead an ump like this calls a way off ball into a strike. Pop in the replay and viola! The truth in a matter of moments. What’s done is done, the comish could only argue after the yankees won so do you get my point.
DawgDad
June 26th, 2010
8:41 pm
Man, I hate to win that way. Pathetic umpiring. Will be interesting to see what the Braves do with the rotation. JJ may need some help out the bullpen for awhile, but sending Medlen to the pen is a waste of quality pitching and KK is far from the worst starting pitcher in the league despite his record. The Braves need another bat in the outfield; I smell trade coming.
bravos
June 26th, 2010
8:45 pm
dawgdad- i hope the marlins are willing to trade
we could use a cody ross. The braves could also get something from the orioles. They really need pitching and young hitters so we can give both those in return for a power hitter.
Ken Stallings
June 26th, 2010
8:53 pm
Questech called the final called strike a ball outside!
If Moylan had walked in the tying run, Kawakami would have needed to be tied down not to commit seppiku on himself!
Good Lord! No one should have to work that hard to earn a 1-9 record!
KK has pitched better than his record — is that the understatement of the year! But, I still think when Jurrgens returns that KK would be better in the pen. Ultimately, the Braves have a very enviable problem on their hands — they have more pitching talent than they have slots for!
Bry22
June 26th, 2010
8:56 pm
The bottom line is winning enough games to make it to the playoffs! Almost every game KK pitches he gives up just enough for the Braves to lose. Cox would be an absolute idiot if he keeps KK in the starting rotation. If we ha won even half the games KK started we would be running away with the East! I would rather pay KK to sit on the bench and us win than pay him the same amount to lose 80% of the games he starts. Cox, please don’t be a FOOL!!!!!!!!!