If Uggla doesn’t turn things around, Braves are sunk
It seems like Dan Uggla has been swinging half of a bat all season. (AP photo)
When the Braves signed Dan Uggla to a five-year, $62 million extension in January, I didn’t have a big problem with it. True, it was a significant commitment from a team that has been struggling to create some payroll flexibility in recent years. But if Uggla’s next five seasons were similar to his previous five, the investment was worthy.
The problem: Uggla has face-planted. If he doesn’t turn it around, this contract will turn into one of the worst albatrosses in pro sports.
He is hitting .172 through 60 games. Perspective: He would have to add 66 points to his average just to be as good as Nate McLouth (.238). It’s even worse over the last 16 games: Uggla is 5-for-60 (.083) with an on-base percentage of .152.
But the Braves have no options here. The contract extension means Uggla can’t really be benched for an extended period, and he certainly can’t be traded. Sending him to Triple-A Gwinnett, which he likely would have to sign off on, also seems implausible, although the Braves have done it with other high-priced fizzles.
In short, they have no choice but to wait and hope that Uggla turns it around.
This is a bad position for a general manager to be in, because no matter what Frank Wren eventually decides to do with the roster, he’s going to have to work around the annual salaries that the team has committed to Uggla though 2015: $10 million (including a $1 million signing bonus) this season, $13 million in each of the four that follow.
Of all that has gone wrong so far this season, the lack of production from Uggla and Jason Heyward stands out. The Braves are sunk unless that changes. Manager Fredi Gonzalez continues to hope that the numbers eventually reflect the back of the players’ bubble gum cards.
So, how confident are you? Is this an aberration for Uggla or do you expect him to struggle all season? Also, what were your thoughts on the $62 million contract back in January (be honest)?
By Jeff Schultz
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320 comments Add your comment
Bill
June 6th, 2011
12:36 pm
Uggla needs to call Chipper dad……….he needs to just make contact and let what happens happen..contact, not kill the ball.
How does this just happen..ask A Jones, Frenchy, Nate, Cabrera now Uggla. who’s next?
Thanks Jeff …..
Not the first or the last
June 6th, 2011
12:40 pm
It happens every year in every sport. High priced contract for the first time, and a lackluster year trying to prove the contract was a good decision by the team.
DU is going through that, I think. He’ll bounce back, but probably not until very late this year or possibly next after he has time to reflect.
The whole ‘I’m always a slow starter’ is an irritant, however. If you’re a professional, and consider yourself to be worthy of such an investment by a team, then figure out why you start slowly and try to fix it, ala Texeira.
RedandBlack
June 6th, 2011
12:42 pm
Why did the Braves trade Infante away in the first place? He was a proven producer and a catalyst to the Braves offense last year no matter where the Braves played him on the field.
The Braves need to send Uggla to Mississippi in the minors and away from Atlanta. Uggla is a professional. He needs to regain his confidence and his swing. He will not do it here in Atlanta and up in Gwinnett with all the scrutiny on him. The sooner, the better, because the season is still salvageable right now.
Make a trade with the Marlins to get back Infante. Trade them Heyward for him and throw back Uggla if possible. Do it now or the Braves die on the vine with 4 more years to rot. Go Dogs!!!
Blaze
June 6th, 2011
12:43 pm
First of all, I was for the Uggla signing. When a powerful right hitting outfielder couldn’t be found or signed, I thought that this (Uggla’s signing) would be second best. I wouldn’t rest the entire Braves season on any one player; however, I do believe that either Heyward or Uggla must find their swing. I think at least one of them will if not both.
I do agree that if Parrish’s philosophy is to be aggressive, then we need to go back being patient and working the count. Baseball is about making adjustments. If we just stand pat and make no adjustments, then …..yes…..the season could be a long one. I still see us as making the wild card; however, I think we need to try and find someone that will take Lowe. We have the access of many solid pitchers. Trade the highest priced one for some bats and speed and defense.
UGA Insider
June 6th, 2011
12:44 pm
The Braves are sunk until someone local buys the team. Is Arthur Blank listening?
stanimal
June 6th, 2011
12:45 pm
Yes Ugli is having an out of body experience as a member of the bad news bears, but the real issue is Fredi G. I have never been this frustrated watching a manager work or in this case watch a game. You have a team starving for run production yet you do nothing in the early innings to create. Hey, don’t move the runners over with a bunt will get that big hit from Gonzo. All you Bobby haters out there answer me this. We have witnessed a number of terrible calls against the braves and not once has Fredi raised his voice. Bobby got thrown out of more games not because of the call, but to get some fire in the team. I see nothing that would want me to run into a wall for this guy. It’s time someone actually strted writing the real story and quit sticking your heads in the sand
John
June 6th, 2011
12:46 pm
The Braves fall from near the top of the league in OBP to nearly the last is alarming. This falls on the hitting coach. Move TP back to the dugout. Gonzalez lack of emotion is frustrating too. He could argue every once in a while. This is the most frustrating team I have ever watched. Maybe they can turn it around but we give other teams too many easy outs. I swear if you change the channel during the middle of the inning when the Braves are coming up to bat and you wait 5 minutes to turn it back, it is likely that you missed the Braves batting. It is amazing that we are not any further back in the standings than we are.
Herschel Talker
June 6th, 2011
12:46 pm
Schultzie:
I blame Mark Richt. I also blame idiot Fredi.
HT
Mizzou
June 6th, 2011
12:47 pm
Change starts from the top. The same group and same mind set have set the pieces for the last two decades. Time to retool and, in exchange for parting with some of the wealth of pitching prospects, add some coaches and players who know or can take small baseball to heart: running, base-stealing, hitting singles (and to the opposite field) and bunting.
HEYWARDS BOBBLEHEADS BREAK TOO
June 6th, 2011
12:48 pm
Let’s see, both CF’s get hurt, RF’s new name is Crystal Chandlier (yes the old falcons QB) Grandad at 3rd is a due for a DL stint, yes lots of positives to look toward.
GTT
June 6th, 2011
12:48 pm
He’s looking like Nick Esasky.
B
June 6th, 2011
12:49 pm
He needs to be moved up in the lineup. Seriously. he has no one behind him and he’s getting crap pitches to hit. Because he is pressing he’s swinging at bad pitches. You see the results….bat him 2nd and see him turn it around.
Steve
June 6th, 2011
12:50 pm
LOL @ these stupid Braves fans who keep saying “Uggla is just a slow starter. He’ll get it going after all star break”. So what you fans who keep defending Uggla are saying is “we are paying this guy $9 million dollars a year, to only perform for half the season”. You fans seem fine with that? I remember Braves fans booing Troy Glaus in the middle of April, and heck he was only making like $1 million with us. I love the Braves, but we do have some dumb fans. We paid Uggla to produce for us the whole year, not only half the season.
jay
June 6th, 2011
12:51 pm
I see a DL visit in Uggla’s future. It’s a way of benching him and saving face. Then he can ‘rehab’ in the minors. Not sure what will be the worse contract, Uggla if continues along this path or KK.
Greg
June 6th, 2011
12:52 pm
Is he seeing a sports-performance shrink? I mean the really smart kind that costs about $500/hr. If not, why not?
GStateBen
June 6th, 2011
12:54 pm
Uggla will go on the DL in the next two months with a phantom injury and then take two weeks to rehab. There is no way he can continue to be in the lineup . We’d be better off with Mather/Hinske in the OF and Prado playing an INF spot.
Luke
June 6th, 2011
12:54 pm
Just an FYI to everyone, right now Atlanta has a +22 run differential and has scored 7 runs less then the Division leading Phillies. So really its not the lack of hits, but the lack of RBIs.
Braves just can’t drive in the runs.
SteveW
June 6th, 2011
12:55 pm
I really thought Uggla would be a .260 20-25 hr. kinda guy. Nothing extraordinary, but solid. I’ve been very wrong to this point.
On a deeper level, why is it that we get a McLouth, and he immediately goes backwards? Now Uggla. Is there something wrong with our system for hitters or something? Even Jeff F. is doing pretty well with KC it looks like.
Just wondering
Oregon Brave
June 6th, 2011
12:56 pm
I will keep rooting for Uggla. I’ve rooted for every Braves player from Felix Mantilla and Nippy Jones to Alex Gonzalez and Chipper Jones so I’ll stay with him. The Mike Hampton years were rough and I can find absolutely nothing about Nate McClouth that I like other than the DL, but I won’t give up on Uggla. Might be critical of him from time to time. Right now I’m trying to figure out if the hitting coach knows what he is doing when Chipper calls his Dad for hitting tips and Freddy Freeman talks with his Dad about adjustments. Hmm. Perhaps Uggla will have a long chat with his Dad on Fathers Day. Go Braves.
Dr. Phil
June 6th, 2011
12:57 pm
The real question is, what is it about Frank Wren that turns seemingly good moves into disasters. Uggla, McLouth, and Kawakami have been expensive flops, to say nothing of the gift of Andrus and Feliz to the Rangers. It has been pointed out that Wren’s castoffs would make a pretty competitive baseball team. Post season seems to be increasingly an event of the past.
Hillbilly D
June 6th, 2011
12:59 pm
Ol’ TP don’t look so bad now, does he?
reason
June 6th, 2011
12:59 pm
The Brave are have Hayward going down hill and Uggla who is already there. No real CF. Will not blame the manager or coaches. The Braves players are not little kids. They don’t need a leader in the club house, all they need to remember is the amount of money they make to play a game. I’an tired of hearing how tired they are and need rest and the stupid excuse the announoucer give for play lazy and bad. The Braves is a poorly run organization. Uggla needs to be bench for about three weeks, and don’t depend on Heyward to be a steady everyday player, his glory days are behind him.
Old Gold
June 6th, 2011
12:59 pm
Popeye without his spinach! The guy will never hit above 240 again! Any nursing home in Atlanta could field a faster running team than this one!!!
Mark's for the Braves
June 6th, 2011
12:59 pm
I just hope Uggla can get it going against his old team. May be the Fish is what he needs to feast on.
If he doesn’t, I’d discuss sending him to Gwinnett as we did McClouth last year and see if he started hitting there. I believe he would accept the assignment. Uggla seems like a sensible guy.
Thing is, Uggla may not be the only one who needs to be sent down for a while….
Hiesenberg
June 6th, 2011
12:59 pm
Loved the trade when it happened and considering the contracts Crawford/Werth signed throught his was a fair deal. That being said we are not getting what we paid for. I doubt any MLB (or any other pro contract) has such a clause in it that states certain performance metrics are required or else a breach of contract would occur. Certainly the players association would not have a problem with that. Right? Haha I kill me sometimes.
Right now it looks like Danny boy is getting advise from Frenchy. No need to change mechanics/approach, just keep swinging harder! Ans so he has become Andru Jones. If you happen to throw a fastball where he swings the bat, Uggla will hit it a long way.
The only guy you could trade him for right now would be Adam Dunn straight-up. Pass on tthat.
chris
June 6th, 2011
1:04 pm
Jeff Schultz,
I have asked this question over and over to dob,carroll,etc.,maybe you will answer it.
Dan Uggla was batting.359 in 4th slot with 3hrs,4 rbi,s in 45 ab.His last hr came off of haliday to win a game,and guess what?he was batting 4th!!! Why was he moved,put him back in 4th ahead of mcann,Stats do not lie ,maybe it is a mental thing,some guys cant hit in other slots,leave him there,and u will see the confidence and hitting the hrs come back.
Russell Bell
June 6th, 2011
1:05 pm
I think Uggla ends up finishing the season solidly, but with significant drop off in his final season numbers.
I could see him finishing around: .220/.300/.410 with 20(ish)) homeruns and 60(ish) RBI.
Back in January, I thought this trade was the best thing to happen since sliced bread was invented. Turns out the bread was stale.
Derrell T Posey
June 6th, 2011
1:05 pm
What is the batting coach doing with Uggla?
Derrell T Posey
June 6th, 2011
1:05 pm
Enter your comments here
journalist jimmy smith
June 6th, 2011
1:06 pm
uggla’s toes pointing in the wrong direction could be the very problem. jimmy smith has been doing toe journalism, off and on in this city, for a considerable period of time. this journalist knows toes. toes are not to be trifled with. maybe dan uggla should get some toe pointers and get his toes pointed in the right direction over the wall in left field. in the meantime, you have to tip your cap to fredi for letting uggla play all the way down to .172 – that is, if you are a cap tipper.
juicesourcer
June 6th, 2011
1:07 pm
RedandBlack….Infante is hitting .250 with zero homers as the Marlins starting 2nd baseman…thats not going to cut it either.
Rob
June 6th, 2011
1:08 pm
Mr. Schultz- do you have any details on what the Braves are doing to actually help him with his swing? to me, he hasn’t made any adjustments at all.
chris
June 6th, 2011
1:09 pm
and as far as everyone else gonzo should always hit 8th,this is the real line up for now
1-SCHAFER
2-PRADO
3-CHIPPER
4-UGGLA
5-MCCANN
6-FREEMAN
7-HEINSKE
8-GONZO
Remarkable
June 6th, 2011
1:11 pm
I’m looking for a hitting coach change too. I’ve been a fan of Terry Pendleton for years but I’m not sure he’s a true hitting coach. Let’s spend a little signing bonus money on a REAL hitting coach from the American League. Got any suggestions? And Chipper’s dad doesn’t count. He only knows Chipper’s swing.
Fols
June 6th, 2011
1:12 pm
The only chance we have scoring runs is between Prado and McCann and you want chipper and uggla in between them? Interesting, I wouldn’t do this.
Summerteeth
June 6th, 2011
1:12 pm
Players are much more likely to accept an assignment to AAA because the team is a short drive away now and is likely close to where they live anyways.
Randle Patrick McMurphy
June 6th, 2011
1:12 pm
This guy’ll hit, whether it’s enuff this season is another story. Complete head-case at this point, he HAS to be squeezing that bat SO tight he’ll begin to shed sawdust in the batters box…
Relax Dan… and just let it happen…
chris
June 6th, 2011
1:13 pm
Say what u want but it all has to do with batting order,frenchy is doing well,look where he is batting?like i said leave him in 4th i made my case AND NO ONE CAN DENY WHAT I SAID STATS DON’T LIE FIRE FG WE ALL NOW KNOW WHY HE WAS FIRED IN FLA.
GaDawgs7
June 6th, 2011
1:13 pm
The problem isn’t just Uggla, although he’s a major contributor to the team wide lack of hitting. I don’t have a problem with an aggressive hitting philosophy; however, we should be aggressive with balls around the plate. Alex Gonzalez has never met a foot outside and in the dirt breaking ball that he didn’t like. Its frustrating to watch the team swing at pitches in the dirt over and over again…Uggla is just struggling more than anyone else, but this is a very anemic offense at best. I would feel better if I heard something about Parrish working with any of these guys, but I’ve heard nothing. It really just requires a simple approach….disciplined at the plate, yet aggressive in the zone. In other words, as we learned in Little League, make him throw you strikes!
PMC
June 6th, 2011
1:17 pm
Right now…. I’d rather have Consistent Omar Infante.
GoBraves
June 6th, 2011
1:17 pm
RedandBlack takes the cake for stupidest comment yet. Trade the Marlins Uggla and Heyward for Prado??? Glad you’re not running the team.
PMC
June 6th, 2011
1:18 pm
We should probably consider hiring Jo Bu.
chris
June 6th, 2011
1:19 pm
Fols
June 6th, 2011
1:12 pm
The only chance we have scoring runs is between Prado and McCann and you want chipper and uggla in between them? Interesting, I wouldn’t do this
GO LOOK AT DAN’S STATS WHEN HITTING 4TH CLOWNS
PMC
June 6th, 2011
1:20 pm
At least last year they were patient. This year, they don’t even have that anymore.
Hiesenberg
June 6th, 2011
1:20 pm
I agree with previous posts about the lack of info on Heyward is troubling. I say keep him out until he is 100% and then get some AAA games to prove he is healthy and productive. Joey bombs & tatoo man are producing better than an inured Heyward. Even if he is lost for season, at least he is not costing 10mil a year.
chris
June 6th, 2011
1:22 pm
John Schultz
Im still waiting for my answer,or are you going to be like all the other journalist in this town and just evade the question?
BRAVESFAN
June 6th, 2011
1:23 pm
Perhaps going against a knukleballer last night will fix their hitting.
phil
June 6th, 2011
1:24 pm
give Dan a chance
June 6th, 2011
11:52 am
“I am not worried about the struggles that Dan Uggla has been having. I know that everyone is going crazy and wanting Dan’s head, but maybe he just had a slow start and all the pressure people were putting on him turned his slow start into the downward spiral that is his .172 average. But to say that Dan is going to hit .172 for 5 years is ridiculous. Before the all star break he will turn it around, and he will still hit 30 home runs, guaranteed.”
And you’re out of your mind if he you think he will magically “turn it around”….he’s had 4 months to “turn it around”….nothing….
Todd
June 6th, 2011
1:24 pm
My interpretation of Bobby Valentine’s analysis of Dan Uggla’s swing: “The Braves hitting coach is the worst hitting coach in the history of baseball. Has he ever watched Dan Uggla take a swing at a baseball?”
bigstack19
June 6th, 2011
1:27 pm
28 out of 59 games they have scored 3 runs or less. Their pitching leads the league in E.R.A. and batting average against. With just a little offense this team would be running away with the division. Uggla and Heyward need to regain their form and it wouldn’t hurt to add some speed so they can manufacture some runs instead of waiting for the three run homer all the time. Also, I have noticed they aren’t working the counts like last year and drawing as many walks.