LIVE BLOG: Braves still waiting for bats to wake up
Brian McCann actually hasn't been a problem for the Braves' offense this season but this strikeout Friday night typified their frustration in a 5-1 loss to Cincinnati. (AP photo)
There’s a baseball adage that you don’t look at the standings until after Memorial Day. If that same philosophy applies to statistics, the Braves hope their bats wake up sometime during this holiday weekend.
After Friday’s 5-1 loss to Cincinnati, the Braves go into tonight’s second game of the series with a .242 batting average and having scored two runs or fewer in 18 games this season (4-14 in those games) and three or fewer in 26 (7-19). It’s actually remarkable that they still have a winning record (28-24), given that they rank in the bottom 10 in the majors in batting average, runs scored and on-base percentage.
Dan Uggla, who was expected to be one of their biggest run producers, is hitting only .183 (just 50 points ahead of tonight’s starting pitcher, Derek Lowe at .133). Chipper Jones, who has battled knee and hamstring injuries, has seen his average drop from. 291. to .259 in 15 games. In the month of May, Jason Heyward has had more MRIs on his shoulder (two) than he has RBIs (zero).
Manager Fredi Gonzalez held court with the media a little while ago. He says he is not worried. He’s convinced that eventually, “The water will rise to its level,” or something like that.
Certainly, the resumes of the players on the roster suggest things will turn at some point. But 52 games into the season, concern is growing.
Let me just add this: If this was a year ago, many fans would be screaming for the firing of former hitting coach Terry Pendleton (who’s now the first base coach). I’m not assigning blame to his replacement, Larry Parrish. Rather, this just reaffirms what players will tell you: Hitting coaches can only do so much.
Tonight’s Reds starter is Bronson Arroyo, who was rocked in his last outing at Philadelphia for nine runs, 10 hits and two home runs in only 2.2 innings. In his previous start, he allowed five runs, seven hits and two homers in seven innings to Pittsburgh. So this would seem like a good chance for the Braves’ offense to get well.
Then again, Arroyo might view this is a chance for him to turn his season around.
I’ll be blogging live from the first pitch on. Until then, do you think the end of the Braves’ slump is near?
By Jeff Schultz
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196 comments Add your comment
the truth...
May 28th, 2011
10:35 pm
….the other Gonzalez saves our but…..thanks to Wren sending Yunel packing….
….not so sure the newest Gonzalez is a plus just yet….
…sorry Freddie but these boys just aren’t playing well under you…..
5150 UOAD
May 28th, 2011
10:36 pm
Crazy Col. Kurtz is in charge in both shows it seems.
Jeff Schultz
May 28th, 2011
10:43 pm
Dan Uggla 0-for-5 but the good news is his average has dropped only 5 pts tonight. (.183 to .178).
Jeff Schultz
May 28th, 2011
10:43 pm
And on to 11 . . . Rolen/Bruce/Gomes for Reds. A lot of fans walking up the aisles, either leaving or going to buy peanuts.
ernisTbass
May 28th, 2011
10:47 pm
Maybe the team should lose the stupid haircuts, they ain’t working, McCann the only one that stayed in the chair long enough to let the barber finish and at least he is hitting—I mean what the hey-they need to try something
rugburn
May 28th, 2011
10:50 pm
i guess the folks leaving don’t like our chances in extra innings. we probably lead the league in meaningless flyballs to the track.
Jeff Schultz
May 28th, 2011
10:54 pm
On to 12th inning …. Outfield wall says Powerball up to $171 million. I think it was only $38 million when game started nearly four hours ago.
rugburn
May 28th, 2011
10:56 pm
we must be getting tired…the flyball outs are getting shorter
Ghost Chaser
May 28th, 2011
10:58 pm
I now know why the Marlins fired FG and why they traded the Uggla dude . . . so they could win against the Braves. They are ahead now and looks like their plan is working great.
Jeff Schultz
May 28th, 2011
11:01 pm
Scott Linebrink doing his best to end the game.
An Adult
May 28th, 2011
11:04 pm
Are these commentators horrible or what???????? Geez… bums
the truth...
May 28th, 2011
11:06 pm
Swamp People is the ticket…
Jeff Schultz
May 28th, 2011
11:07 pm
On another note … some really good defense tonight. Gonzo has been great at shortstop.
the truth...
May 28th, 2011
11:07 pm
I’m thinking Uggla would be good hunting gators…
An Adult
May 28th, 2011
11:08 pm
Whomever said they didn’t quite know about Gonzalez as a SS yet hasn’t been paying attention (tonight and all season long).
the truth...
May 28th, 2011
11:09 pm
…baserunner….yea
Jeff Schultz
May 28th, 2011
11:09 pm
Coming up for Braves: Schafer (1 for 5, bunt single), Prado (1 for 5, single), Jones (0 for 4, walk).
rugburn
May 28th, 2011
11:09 pm
what’s the coffee count now jeff?
Jeff Schultz
May 28th, 2011
11:10 pm
An Adult: I just work here.
rugburn
May 28th, 2011
11:12 pm
maybe we could win this game by flashing the “take” sign the rest of the way
An Adult
May 28th, 2011
11:12 pm
Geez, got the ‘your posting comments to quickly, slow down’ message. What? The level of posting is low and with that comment, I’m NEVER posting here again. What the heck?
Jeff Schultz
May 28th, 2011
11:13 pm
Rugburn: It stopped at 4 cups. Machine is closed down. Very upset.
Jeff Schultz
May 28th, 2011
11:14 pm
It’s over! Braves win it in 12 on RBI single by Chipper. Old man came through.
Jeff Schultz
May 28th, 2011
11:16 pm
Reds meeting at the mound to discuss the triple play.
5150 UOAD
May 28th, 2011
11:16 pm
DO IT! DO IT NOW!!!
Harry CHIPPER Jones all we need is a deep fly ball. Chipper shouldn’t bunt.
rugburn
May 28th, 2011
11:18 pm
that’s why we stay up. just don’t get hurt celebrating
Virginia Ranger
May 28th, 2011
11:18 pm
Chipper 3 for 18 on sac bunts 3 in 18 years. Let go Jordon. Speed kills
5150 UOAD
May 28th, 2011
11:19 pm
Even better well place grounder THRU and no chance for the outfield to even try to throw out the runner. THANK GOD it was not SID BREAM Running. LOL.
5150 UOAD
May 28th, 2011
11:19 pm
Chipper was Swinging to LIFT it and just topped the ball.
rugburn
May 28th, 2011
11:20 pm
what were the odds that we would get a hit with our only speed on second base?
Ross
May 28th, 2011
11:20 pm
dang act like you’ve won before. and did they not see that one guy get hurt celebrating awhile ago.
5150 UOAD
May 28th, 2011
11:22 pm
The Scruffy CHIPPER kinda looks like Martin Sheen in Apocalypse Now.
Chipper Killed Col. Kurtz too tonight.
Ross
May 28th, 2011
11:22 pm
Haha. Fox 5 said forget the news.
5150 UOAD
May 28th, 2011
11:23 pm
ROSS
This IS or Should be Chippers last full year so HELL yes let the payers show him some love.
rugburn
May 28th, 2011
11:27 pm
someone drive dlowe home
rugburn
May 28th, 2011
11:31 pm
that’s one time you can be glad that chipper didn’t hit it hard.
Bill
May 28th, 2011
11:33 pm
Chipper still the man!
5150 UOAD
May 28th, 2011
11:34 pm
RugBurn
Chipper hit it hard as crap. He was just swinging up and hit the top 1/3rd of the ball to give it top spin. he was trying to Drive it Deep. Watch the replay of the swing and contact.
Chop Chop
May 28th, 2011
11:37 pm
If we can just get the opposition to trot out relievers who threw nearly 100 pitches in a game a few days before, we should do a lot of damage.
But seriously, how the hell does a guy called up from Triple-A stay on the roster in the aftermath of that? Walt Jocketty and Dusty Baker should be ashamed of themselves. Just disable the dude and call somebody else up.
TNBravesFan
May 28th, 2011
11:38 pm
Still can’t believe Fredi was asking Prado to sac. bunt with Schaefer on 1st. He definitely lucked out with Prado getting a walk. When will somebody call out the ridiculous managing of Gonzalez?!?!?!?!?
Seriously
May 28th, 2011
11:39 pm
Word on the street is that the Braves had a lot of offers for Lowe a few starts ago. coulda, woulda shouda….I’ll bet those offers have been retacted. Lesson…Sell High. Braves ownership is great at Buying High….
rugburn
May 28th, 2011
11:45 pm
i call it hard hit when you square it up, not when you miss 2/3rds of it
5150 UOAD
May 29th, 2011
12:02 am
rugburn
So you need IT HIT SO HARD that you get rugburns? Go swing your bat at the EAGLE after you get off the computer then.
rugburn
May 29th, 2011
12:15 am
chipper hits a dribbler thru the right side to win the game and you take offense because i said he didn’t hit it hard? tell me that when you first saw it hit that you didn’t think it was a double play ball.
5150 UOAD
May 29th, 2011
12:34 am
Infield at double play depth and it was hit BETWEEN a tight infield and the 1st baseman holding the runner and protecting the foul line. I KNEW it was a HIT. Maybe not a game winner, but a hit to load he bases for damn sure. AGAIN watch the replay of the whole pitch and hit.
5150 UOAD
May 29th, 2011
12:36 am
A dribbler implies a WEAK hit bouncing on the infield grass until it makes to the Dirt. Chippers hit was ANYTHING but a dribbler.