Braves hoping to recreate chemistry from 2010 season
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez knows what the Braves had last season was rare. (AP photo)
(Updated: 4:45 p.m.)
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – If there is one thing we’ve learned in sports, it’s that tangibles don’t always equate to success.
San Francisco didn’t win the World Series last season because it had the best talent, just as the Braves didn’t make it to the postseason because the secret formula of having a nine-game losing streak, losing two No. 3 hitters (Chipper Jones and Martin Prado) and utilizing 109 different lineups came with a 91-win guarantee.
Success is defined by that fragile thing called chemistry. It’s what prevents a nine-game losing streak, losing two No. 3 hitters and 109 lineups from making the lab blow up.
General manager Frank Wren and new manager Fredi Gonzalez have a significant challenge this season. It’s not merely finding a replacement for Billy Wagner, or helping Jordan Schafer relocate his career, or hoping the wander through the desert for a franchise first baseman ends with Freddie Freeman. It’s about re-creating the mojo that enables a team to endure when something goes wrong — because something always does.
“It is hard to create and to have something like that,” said Gonzalez, whose Braves’ spring debut as manager Saturday against the New York Mets ended in a 5-5 tie. “But I think the core that created that is still here. It makes it fun to come to the ballpark when you’ve got good chemistry. When they take care of their own problems, it makes it easy.”
Catcher Brian McCann referred to last season as “by far the closest team I’ve ever been on.”
Chipper Jones said, “It was fun to come out to the park early and just hang out. That doesn’t happen all the time.”
Wren said last season’s Braves were one of the more unique groups he ever has been associated with, saying: “I thought one thing that was interesting about our team, as well as defining, was that a lot of our leaders were our bench guys — [Eric] Hinske, [David] Ross, [Matt] Diaz, [Brooks] Conrad, [Omar] Infante. Those were guys we really depended on a lot on the field, but they also had a big voice in the clubhouse. We knew right off the bat that Infante [traded to Florida in the Dan Uggla deal] and Diaz [not re-signed] would not be back, so it was important to find out: How do we replace them?”
There are a lot of reasons to feel good about the Braves’ this season, but the biggest is that the core group hasn’t changed (and Uggla seems to be a Braves’ clone in every aspect).
The well-traveled Hinske, who also played on tight-knit teams in Boston, New York and Tampa, was a free agent after last season, but knew immediately he wanted to return to Atlanta. “Until you’re in the fire,” he said, “you don’t know how people will perform in those situations. But we have a good group. We have fun. We keep it loose. As we showed last year during the losing steak, nobody panicked.”
The knock on the Braves of years past is that they were overly robotic and relatively unemotional. Not an issue with this bunch.
“Some years here, we’ve had one class clown in the clubhouse to keep things loose,” Jones said. “Now we’ve got four or five.”
Last season was special and unique, so much so that when it was over, at least 15 players hung around until 1 a.m. after the final playoff loss to the Giants.
“That’s something you don’t see very often in this day and age,” Jones said. “Our season was over. We had a bucket full of beer just sitting there. We were reminiscing on the what-ifs and the year in general. Then Bobby [Cox] came in and sat with us. That meant a lot to the guys. I think we all just wanted to soak up the last few moments of the season.”
If they can re-create that, they’ll be fine.
By Jeff Schultz
♦
Other posts from Braves’ camp
– So what does Freddie Freeman (3 doubles) do for an encore?
– Digi-Blog goes to Braves’ spring training at Disney (they charge, I don’t)
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384 comments Add your comment
Swede
February 26th, 2011
2:44 pm
Yeah, it got back in time for the error…
Swede
February 26th, 2011
2:45 pm
Conrad will be OK, though…
Jeff Schultz
February 26th, 2011
2:46 pm
Sorry folks. Had to head down to Braves’ clubhouse for a bit. Mets tied it 2-2 on Fernando Martinez’ 2-run homer off Kimbrel (who also allowed a double by Scott Hairston).
Nate McLouth came out of the game after being hit on the foot by a pitch but it’s nothing significant.
Jordan Schafer doubled in his third at-bat.
Mets are still batting in the fifth with two runs in, two on and one out
OK, now you’re caught up.
count_schemula
February 26th, 2011
2:46 pm
Kontrol Kimbrel
Sonny Clusters
February 26th, 2011
2:46 pm
When we was playing ball back in school, we’d bat just ahead of Jeff so he would see some pitches. Of course, we was always on base when he’d hit. Do you think McLouth will be on base when Chipper comes up?
Richie_Rich1986
February 26th, 2011
2:47 pm
@ Longwayhomebrave,
I have been too quite a few of their practices and let me tell you Julio Teheran is going to be a deal to be reckon’d with. He threw a session against Heyward and Freeman and they couldn’t even touch the ball. I heard he was good but wow!!!
LongWayHomeBrave
February 26th, 2011
2:47 pm
Jeff,
I know its early but who has been a suprise in camp ?
bud selig
February 26th, 2011
2:48 pm
Jeff do you think it was a good idea to bring back Brooks? Seems like after his collapse last year it might have been better for him to find a new team.
count_schemula
February 26th, 2011
2:48 pm
Kimbrel’s speed is not there. He’s nibbling. I’m sure he’s “working on the some things” but this is sloppy. 2BBs and he’s pulled.
LongWayHomeBrave
February 26th, 2011
2:49 pm
Thanks Richie, i heard good stuff about him
Swede
February 26th, 2011
2:49 pm
Chrsitian Martinez to relieve Kimbrel
Sonny Clusters
February 26th, 2011
2:49 pm
Fredi has the hook out for Kimbrel. He’ll be rubbing up the ball for somebody. This is the first big difference having Bobby gone.
Jeff Schultz
February 26th, 2011
2:49 pm
RichieRich1986 — Don’t have Mets travel list with me but their pitchers Sunday will be Chris Young-Oliver Perez-Pat Misch-Boof Bonser-Ryota Igarishi-Mike O’Connor.
count_schemula
February 26th, 2011
2:50 pm
I own Venters in my Roto league. I think Kimbrel is the closer of the future. I expect it to be a split duty until Kimbrel solves his Kontrol.
LongWayHomeBrave
February 26th, 2011
2:50 pm
Richie, any future prospects other than pitchers doing good things ?
Jeff Schultz
February 26th, 2011
2:50 pm
Kimbrel walks the bases loaded. That’s it for him, Martinez coming in.
Sonny Clusters
February 26th, 2011
2:50 pm
Enter your comments here
Peter
February 26th, 2011
2:50 pm
Whats Kimbrel throwing on the radar gun? I can’t tell with this MLB.tv signal.
Richie_Rich1986
February 26th, 2011
2:50 pm
@ bud selig,
I really don’t think we have room for brooks to even make the ball club. I think with Diory Hernadez, Prado, Eric Hinske being able to play multiple positions and with all the arms we have our 25 man roster can’t hold everybody. I think its going to be down to christian martinez and brooks conrad on who makes the team.
Sonny Clusters
February 26th, 2011
2:50 pm
Whoa! We was robbed.
Swede
February 26th, 2011
2:51 pm
Peter, the gun said 68 – 86 mph. Got to be something seriously wrong with it
jason
February 26th, 2011
2:51 pm
double play ohh yea :]
Jeff Schultz
February 26th, 2011
2:51 pm
Martinez gets Mets to bounce into a double-play. Nice job.
bud selig
February 26th, 2011
2:52 pm
5-4-3 double play. Not bad by c-nez
count_schemula
February 26th, 2011
2:52 pm
Conrad turns the double! Kimbrel was often in the high 80’s.
Jeff Schultz
February 26th, 2011
2:52 pm
LongWayHomeBrave — Actually what’s stood out to me is this is first time I’ve seen Jurrjens. He’s in such better shape than in past. First guy I noticed in clubhouse yesterday.
shmoe
February 26th, 2011
2:53 pm
i don’t know what’s up with kimbrel’s fastball. it’s early, but was surprised to see top out at mid 80s. unless he was throwing all changeups
Richie_Rich1986
February 26th, 2011
2:54 pm
Longwayhomebrave,
I like Mycal Jones and Tyler Pastornicky they are both pretty young but I like their style. Hardnosed players. We really need to work to deal Lowe to some infield prospects. I like those guys but I don’t know really how good they will be at the major league level. They are hard workers though!
Jeff Schultz
February 26th, 2011
2:55 pm
Bud Selig — We can’t just assume Conrad can’t bounce back from last season’s playoffs. Remember, he was a key for this team for much of last season.
bud selig
February 26th, 2011
2:56 pm
Freddy on fire!
shmoe
February 26th, 2011
2:56 pm
ill take that alllllllllllllllllllll season long from freemie!!
Peter
February 26th, 2011
2:56 pm
FREDDIE!
Jeff Schultz
February 26th, 2011
2:56 pm
Yikes — Freeman just had his third double in three at-bats . . . 1 to each field.
Swede
February 26th, 2011
2:56 pm
3rd double for Freeman – deep left center!!!
Richie_Rich1986
February 26th, 2011
2:57 pm
@ Jeff,
I think you can agree with me but with having Fredi Gonzalez using all the fields in the back has helped the pitchers a lot getting more reps in. Even though it was a lot of running around the past two weeks it was nice to see a lot of the guys get the reps in that they needed. I think we will see a lot more from the pitchers this year will all the reps they have been taking. As we all know baseball is about reps!!! The more you do it the more it comes natural to you.
LongWayHomeBrave
February 26th, 2011
2:57 pm
Jeff, thats great to hear about JJ
Richie, i heard we had some real young infield guys. i think from the islands that could be moved around . i dont think pushing lowe out the door just yet is a good idea
Swede
February 26th, 2011
2:57 pm
Richie, I expect Lowe to continue where he left of last year. I really don’t want him traded. He’s a workhorse, abd gets you 14 – 16 W every season
Sonny Clusters
February 26th, 2011
2:58 pm
We are planning to come down for spring training and was wondering if anybody would like to go in on a cookout? We was told the concessions are very expensive and we thought maybe we could cook some burgers in the parking lot. If Disney has a problem with that we can wear some mouse ears.
count_schemula
February 26th, 2011
2:58 pm
Our IF is set for a while. Freeman, Uggla and Prado. Catcher is set with McCann. I think we need Lowe more than we need an SS prospect. And at worst, we can get a good field no hit SS at any time. I will always blame Yunel for this. Had we known he was gonna turn punk, we could have kept Andrus.
bud selig
February 26th, 2011
2:58 pm
Jeff his contributions were one of the biggest reasons the braves made the playoffs. I totally agree with that, but do you think he’s shaken off last post season.
extremus
February 26th, 2011
2:58 pm
Nice start for Freeman. I still think he won’t be hitting eighth in the lineup for long if at all this season. He and Heyward could well end up having a very special year between them, and anchor what should be a much improved Braves offense.
count_schemula
February 26th, 2011
3:00 pm
Schafer talked about ONLY wanting to hit line drives. Hopefully Freeman is thinking that way too, and with 3 doubles it looks like he is. I’ve heard a few power hitters say that the key is trying to hit it through the outfield fence, not over it. The HRs will come.
Peter
February 26th, 2011
3:01 pm
I don’t think Brooks is gonna make the team. I really hate to say this because of the amazing year he had last year, but he does not look comfortable at all in the field, so he needs to have a stellar spring at the plate to make the team. We can’t just assume hes gonna produce at the plate like he did last year.
count_schemula
February 26th, 2011
3:02 pm
I rank Cox pulling Kimbrel over Conrad wilting under pressure. Kimbrel was dealing in that game, no need to play the L/R splits, which cost us.
Matt
February 26th, 2011
3:03 pm
@Richie_Rich1986
I know what you are saying but batting 7th won’t put pressure on Freeman.I just don’t feel McLouth will bounce back.I mean sure he has a chance but we need a CF who can do more then a 190 batting average no offence to you if you are a McLouth fan.I would give a guy like Schafer another chance and make McLouth earn his playing time again.That is why i put him after freeman.
But as Fredi Gonzalez said you could see the lineup change depending upon what happens.But if Schafer does make the team here is what i want to see:
Schafer, Prado, Heyward when chipper is off, Uggla, McCann and flip flop them depending upon the order,Heyward when chipper plays and then gonzalez and Freeman.
I mean we want our best guys batting higher in the lineup and i just feel that McLouth needs to prove himself since this is his contract year.The better he plays the higher his chances of getting a contract with another team if the Braves opt to not re sign him in favor of say Schafer or some one else.
Richie_Rich1986
February 26th, 2011
3:03 pm
About trading Lowe,
I think he had a okay year last year. He was 16-12 but with a 4.00 ERA if yal remember he gave up a lot of runs however the bats helped him out a lot which they didn’t for Tommy Hanson. We just have wayyy too many young arms to not “try” to move him. I think both Minor and Beachy proved they deserve a spot in the rotation. With Teheran having a strong season in AAA with a call up and with Medlen moving up that’s 3 guys total we need to have a spot in the rotation for next season.
Tim Hudson
Jair Jurrjens
Tommy Hanson
Kris Medlen
Mike Minor
Brandon Beachy
Julio Teheran
Derek Lowe
That’s 8!!! Starters on our roster for next season. We only have 5 rotation spots. Someone HAS to go and I don’t want to trade any of our young arms. And I will be extremely PISSED if we trade Jurrjens!! That’s my boy!
Jeff Schultz
February 26th, 2011
3:03 pm
Bud Selig — (On Conrad) Like I said, no way of knowing. Never know how guys will react to something like that. It helps that he’s extremely popular among teammates. Today’s debut not great though: 0 for 3, 2 strikeouts, one fielding error.
count_schemula
February 26th, 2011
3:04 pm
Conrad was not supposed to be starting games in the playoffs. We lost Prado. Conrad is good at his role – pinch hitter who can play a few positions. He is a AAAA player and as such, would only be starting in dire circumstances, which is where we were.
shmoe
February 26th, 2011
3:05 pm
how did JJ do?
Jeff Schultz
February 26th, 2011
3:05 pm
Great outing for C.Martinez. He inherited bases loaded with one out, got inning-ending double play, then Mets went 1-2-3 in 6th. 5 outs in 4 batters.