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
phil
June 6th, 2011
2:31 pm
journalist jimmy – stop drinking.
Taco
June 6th, 2011
2:35 pm
Don’t worry Uggla will be fine, he is a great player in an awful slump. these things do change. Heyward will pop as well.
Ted M
June 6th, 2011
2:38 pm
“If Uggla doesn’t turn things around, Braves are sunk”
Thanks for tellin it like it is, Jeff. No sense pussyfootin around with “oh its just a slow start”
Joseph
June 6th, 2011
2:44 pm
On behalf of marlins fans, thanks again for the trade. At least Infnate is in the .250 range!
Don’t worry Braves fans, it seems no one in the NL East wants to hit (Phillies and Marlins that is.. I don’t know who else is in the division)
FSUBravo
June 6th, 2011
2:46 pm
Jeff -
The Braves should have traded a young pitcher and infante to the RAYS for Longoria..I wonder if we could still unload Uggla to a team where he won’t be the star? He seems to be hurt by stage fright….The Braves will finish in 3rd place this year..sorry, but it is what it is…
journalist jimmy smith
June 6th, 2011
2:50 pm
jimmy smith is not saying it’s so but there was talk awhile back about a Braves infielder with only two toes and those were webbed. this journalist’s question for jeff is, have you ever seen chipper with his shoes off? why would chipper take a day off in new york with no game scheduled today? it seems clear that this is a toe matter – not sure how many. toes are not to be trifled with.
DCBravesfan
June 6th, 2011
2:55 pm
I honestly can’t remember exactly what I thought at the time (of the contract signing), but in retrospect I don’t understand why we had to sign him right away. He still had a year left on his contract… why couldn’t we do what the BoSox did with Adrian Gonzalez and wait a couple of weeks before making the extension? Granted Gonzalez’s issues were injury-relation and his ability to bounce back from shoulder problems, but that seems like a sound strategy.
I have confidence Uggla will bounce back and be an above-average player at the very least, but we’ve all been saying that for a month and a half now. At some point, you have to wonder if it’s possible he just completely lost his swing.
But, I am heartened to know that the Braves are still above .500 and within striking distance of the division and the wild card with so many things have gone wrong. Gives me hope for the next 100 games.
whocares
June 6th, 2011
2:56 pm
Frank Flinstone Wren is the culprit here. Moronic moves has become the theme of his tarnished tenure.
phil
June 6th, 2011
2:58 pm
Taco – The fat grams from your diet are clogging your carotid arteries, thereby affecting your thought processes….
He won’t be fine or he already would be on his way….it’s June 6th…
No, Hurtward won’t pop, unless it’s his gut as he begins to gain too much weight from all the sitting around he does while goofing off with his Heat buddies…at least Lebron and DWade actually earn their money….
Stinger2
June 6th, 2011
2:58 pm
Freddi G to Uggla: Danny your batting average is very low.
Uggla: I know that Skipper, but I am trying my best to hit the ball.
Freddi G: Fans are becoming increasingly concerned and impatient.
Uggla: Skipper do you have a solution or you part of the problem?
Freddi G: Danny I do have a solution: I am tipping my cap to you. Now you just go swing the bat and hit the ball.
No bozos
June 6th, 2011
2:59 pm
This is exactly why I stopped attending and watching major leage baseball thirty years ago. It’s nothing but a bunch of grossly overpaid jerkoffs like Uggla.
To hell with these bozos.
ronaldh
June 6th, 2011
3:01 pm
Hey, look on the bright side. Yes, there is a bright side. Remember, this is the last year we have to pay millions to kamakazi to pitch in the minor leagues where he belongs.
Plate Appearance
June 6th, 2011
3:04 pm
UGGLA’S DOMINO EFFECT
The thing that concerns me most is the domino effect that Uggla’s slump is having mentally on the other Braves.
Make no mistake about it, this slump is wearisome to the entire team, clearly adding much more pressure to each and every player.
And the cracks are indeed showing.
This can’t be a time for “face saving” FRANK (for giving Uggla a such an obviously bad and bloated contract). FRANK, you need to go to Dan and get his permission to be sent to the minors for a limited time — to work out his hitting woes there.*
*(Hopefully too Frank, you have enough wisdom to act on Bobby Valentine’s sage hitting comments from the ESPN Sunday night game — and get a hitting instructor who knows how to help Dan correct his swing.)**
**(Moreover FRANK, I certainly wish you would have hired the wise and knowledgable Bobby Valentine as the Braves manager, instead of Fredi, who seems woefully inept on many fronts. Fredi is fast becoming the Braves version of Rodney Dangerfield — he’s getting no respect.)
No other solution than sending Uggla to the minors is tenable at this point.
Uggla’s clearly killing the Braves — and their chances for the playoffs.
Another domino just fell (with the Braves lackluster performance against the Mets last night) — and more will continue to fall — unless this change (of sending Uggla to the minors) is made.
Nonfan
June 6th, 2011
3:04 pm
Observations:
No ball player of any sort is worth $62 Million.
If we average Joes did our jobs as poorly as Dan Uggla is doing his, we would be collecting unemployment checks, not $12 Million.
The only thing more messed up than Uggla’s swing is his haircut.
Perhaps Jayson Heyward has been reading too many of his press clippings from last year.
The Braves are lead-footed and boring to watch. Jose Reyes is more exciting to watch than the entire Braves team.
Freddi Gonzalez is so laid back he can’t even get himself thrown out by an umpire on a disputed call. Where is the fire on this team??
Tim
June 6th, 2011
3:06 pm
My eyebrows raised at the length of the Uggla contract, although he seemed to be a Braves killer the previous couple of seasons. I did feel at the time, though that he was an all or nothing kind of player. Same with Heyward, who has all the potential in the world, and seems to have an advanced mind for the game, but his enormous body and violent swing just seem to be quick to cause problems, as we are seeing with him now..
Bill Stanfill
June 6th, 2011
3:07 pm
Uggla is hitting .111 with runners-in-scoring-position. Hitting mostly in the 5th spot–what a black hole he has been! Who woulda thought it! Braves have put a lot of faith and $ into Uggla to be the right-handed bat to help charge up run production. What can the Braves do but wait him out? You got me.
John, Cumming
June 6th, 2011
3:07 pm
Take a look at Uggla’s batting Avg the last 5 years (his HR’s and RBI’s have been almost identical each year- 27-33 HRs & 88-105 RBI’s).
2006: .282
2007: .245
2008: .260
2009: .243
2010: .287
2011: .172
So I guess his average is down, every other year (odd years)? And since it was the highest in 2010, then it will be the lowest in 2011? I hope not. . . .
Uggla is a career .239 hitter in April & .273 in May. He hits about .250 in all other months except August, where he is a career .272 hitter. What is scary is that his best month is May, and he hit .160 in May.
As a joke: maybe he is focusing too much on his defense, b/c it has been way better than expected?
I don’t think ANYONE could have seen this coming.
BTW: Seems to me TP did a better job with these guys than Parrish has ever done. Nobody except McCann and Hinske is hitting well. . . . although I’m suprised that nobody seems to give Freeman any credt for batting close to .400 the last 20 or so games.
needlerichard
June 6th, 2011
3:08 pm
cmon heff i expected better from you. we already know all this and have read it from a million other writers. where you been? you dont bring anything new to the table.
youre better than this. i guess its still not as bad as that other guy, mark or watever
steve
June 6th, 2011
3:13 pm
It’s all Terry Pendleton’s fault. Somehow he is still messing up our hitters from the first base coaches box.
Fols
June 6th, 2011
3:14 pm
I don’t know what’s into you bloggers……..I kinda like Uggla. He’s got that mean, frown thing going on at the plate. Guys that frown don’t stay down for long.
Stats? Pffft….as if his stats tell the story!
alex
June 6th, 2011
3:15 pm
no one to blame here but, of course, dan himself. let’s just hope this doesn’t deteriorate into another Franceour snowball. and if the braves have good coaching, it won’t. uggla is just too talented a hitter to simply forget how to do it.
that said, this does not speak well of larry parrish.
phil
June 6th, 2011
3:18 pm
I’ve given freeman plenty of credit lately, now that it’s been earned…
This business about average by month is just silly….what Uggly did the last 5 years doesn’t help now….i’m ready to scream because of all the he’s a slow starter talk! The guy couldn’t hit his mirror with his own spit while brushing his teeth…he’s that bad, and it ain’t getting better….it can’t at this point unless the man hits .400 for the next 60 games….give it up already.
bart
June 6th, 2011
3:20 pm
While ultimately it is the players responsibility to perform there has to be some accountability from the coaching staff. There’s no excuse for the offense to be floundering this badly.
bart
June 6th, 2011
3:22 pm
But to Jeff’s original question – yes, the braves are sunk without Uggla & Heyward returning to form.
MSC-OFF
June 6th, 2011
3:22 pm
The Braves problem with lack of hitting is a team problem. Not just and Uggla problem. They need to hire a real, accomplished hitting coach! That’s where the issue is and frankly has been for the last few years!
Greg Mendel
June 6th, 2011
3:24 pm
I was excited about acquiring Uggla. I think he will start hitting at some point, and probably pretty well when he does. But how many others will go into slumps when Uggla gets his mojo back?
The 2011 Braves seem to be playing more like a random collection than a team.
Tucker T
June 6th, 2011
3:29 pm
Ugly to the rescue
First of all, Uggla has not been playing poor defense. His defense has been quite good and the only think he has done well all season. Secondly, you seem to think there are only two answers to this problem, let him continue to play every day or cut him from the team and pay him for the remainder of this season and the remaining four years on his contract. I am all in favor of him going down to the minors for as long as it takes him to straighten things out, even if that means months. I will take four years of productive play if it means he has to take all of the remainder of this one to fix his problems. Not a great solution but better than cutting him from the team now.
nashvillewill
June 6th, 2011
3:32 pm
Your suggestion of sending Uggla away for a limited time to work on his swing is a good one – one I suggested about a month ago when it became apparent Uggla’s swing was messed up. Same for Heyward should he return – his swing was also goofy. They both could watch and learn from Freeman, who tries to go with the pitch and make consistent contact. There are many other problems as well: Hudson and Lowe are very mediocre when they can’t keep the ball low; they have virtually no margin for error and need 4-5 runs in support which isn’t happening with this bunch. Braves need a lefty starter – bring Minor up and keep him there. (Btw, Vandy has another starter named Garvin that Braves should look at in the draft if he’s still available). Other problems: Gonzales lack of clutch hitting, lack of team speed, inability to steal bases or bunt. Reyes showed Braves what a SS should look like. Could they try Diory at SS since he seems to be hitting?
Braves look like 4th best team in division at this point.
Johnny T
June 6th, 2011
3:32 pm
Uggla has hit alot of balls hard lately…and will get hot in the near future. His stats at the end of the year will probably be his worst in years…maybe his worst ever. This wasn’t a bad start to the year…it’s a bad THIRD of a season…and will be hard to recover from. But he should be able to get hot…and with Heyward hopefully finding some way to stay healthy…the Braves can make a run. Anyone who would suggest Uggla has lost anything–or is getting old–is on crack. The guy pulls 93 mph fastballs twenty rows deep down the left field line. How is that getting old or losing his skills? He’s just lost…and will eventually snap out of it. Chill.
Mark (another one)
June 6th, 2011
3:38 pm
I believed the trade was a good trade only if the Braves signed Uggla to a long term contract, which they did.
They gave up a utility all-star and a relief pitcher for a two time all-star second baseman. Uggla holds the record for the most homers in a month by a Marlin and the fastest 2nd baseman to hit 100 homers in a career. The $12 million a year contract sounded high but it is about what people expected him to make in arbitration (he made $8.7 mil last year). I am disappointed by his year (as are all Braves fans) but I believe Uggla will come around this summer and hurt some teams with his power.
For all of you recommending a session with Chipper’s dad, how about McCann’s dad? He’s local and a professional hitting coach. On second thought, everyone seems to know what’s wrong with Uggla’s swing. If they’re right, then the issue is execution, not coaching. I’m certain Parish watches tape and sees the same things.
I am also disappointed in Heyward’s injury, and I wish that Shafer could come through in center. I am happy to see Chipper hanging in there, and McCann and Prado have done well. I am also not surprised to see Freeman get hot and contribute.
I did expect to see one of the Braves starters get a major injury and join Medlin on the DL, and I am happy to be wrong. My real worry here was Lowe. No reason other than a bad feeling.
Buzz ME
June 6th, 2011
3:45 pm
Anytime you have a U G & A in your name it is not a good thing. In fact, its down right UGGA-LY
Mark (another one)
June 6th, 2011
3:46 pm
I keep hearing about sending Uggla to the minors but I don’t understand how. The rules that I read state he would need to be waived and provide consent. That means exposing him to all teams in both leagues, and he would have the option of taking his pay and going home. $62 million gones. Poof.
Other than coming up with a fake injury and going for a rehab assignment (something baseball should be looking for), how can Uggla go to the minors?
Hiesenberg
June 6th, 2011
3:48 pm
Although I am frustrated with Uggla/Heyward and have expressed that frustration on these pages, the article is spot on. Without production from these 2 this offense is going nowhere. It is almost exactly what I posted on another blog last week. Are the blog writers getting their ideas for articles from us common folk?
ijudgenot
June 6th, 2011
3:48 pm
The Braves needed power bats from the left side to balance their abundance of left handed bats on the roster, So they traded for Uggla and commited a lot of money to him. That wasn’t the crime. The crime was not getting any other right handed bat with power. They put all their eggs in one basket. A 5′11″ 2nd baseman. Unlike Glaus’ 6′4″ frame Uggla has to swing for the fences each time to be a power hitter. Glaus could just tryu to hit the ball hard somewhere and hit a homerun. The guy is trying to justify his salary by hitting homeruns. He could care less if he struckout 3 times a game but hit a homerun every other game. The Braves have Gomez,, Ramirez and Cartrell at AAA. All are considered power hitters. Gomez is even hitting over .300. One of these guys needs to be brought up and Young sent back down. with Conrad or Hernandez(both have hit homeruns, but Diory can be another right handed batter off the bench) Gomez seems to be the only one limited to one position 1st base. Maybe you can try Freeman in left field and let Prado play 2nd and sit Uggla for a few games. Try something even if it is wrong. At least you tried.
Tomahawk
June 6th, 2011
3:49 pm
I don’t care how normal it has become, giving any player more than four years is a bad idea. Also, I’m officially never going to see an Atlanta Braves free agent signing as a good thing. Talk about a terrible track record over the last few years.
Mightymohon
June 6th, 2011
3:49 pm
The ESPN announcers had a simple explanation last night– he’s trying to swing with his upper body only. He keeps his front foot too far left, thus negating any part of his lower body getting into the swing. They did side-by-side photos with Chipper, showing how Chipper points his lead foot toward RF, thus allowing his body to get into the swing. I guess if we had a legit hitting coach, instead of somebody’s BFF, the problem could be fixed!
Mitchell
June 6th, 2011
3:51 pm
It may be an abberation for Dan Uggla but it’s certainly not for the Braves.
This is par for the course.
How about we waste endless amounts of talent and potential by continuing to just sit back and do nothing.
The immediate solution is to fire Larry Parrish.
I don’t care if he’s deep down the greatest hitting coach in the history of baseball, a message needs to be sent that the status quo is not good enough.
If you’re Frank Wren you have to at some point show that you’re committed to doing whatever it takes to get the team to perform to the level of expectation if not beyond that. The same old same old is not good enough.
Fredi Gonzalez and Dan Uggla and the rest can say all they want about needing to do better but until Frank Wren takes serious action to show that there are consequenes for not performing, the Braves are just going to keep giving their standard 60% effort.
Or perhaps 54% effort.
Tomahawk
June 6th, 2011
3:51 pm
One more thing: send Uggla to the minors for a week. If he really cares that much about his performance, and I honestly think he does, he’ll be ok with working out the kinks. Sitting around and waiting for something to happen is no longer an option.
John10:10
June 6th, 2011
3:56 pm
As discussed, it’s a minor miracle that we’re as close to Philadelphia as we are. When the bats get going this team can spurt.
chatt matt
June 6th, 2011
3:59 pm
The last 2 games against the mets show that if Braves pitchers dont hold a team to 3 runs or less we are done.The word slugfest and this lineup should never be put together.
tim
June 6th, 2011
4:06 pm
bad signing from jump, wren over paid for this turkey he was not going to get this money anywhere else. as for heyward OVERRATED. Cut your loses ship them both out on the next thing smokin. Liberty is not going to put any money into this team so we are screwed until a new owner comes along. we are the new pirates.
chatt matt
June 6th, 2011
4:11 pm
Hate to bring up things from the past but how much did Tex get from the Yankees.After all we gave up to rent him we should have paid him.It would have been nice to have him in the middle of the lineup the last couple of years,he is a much better hitter than Uggla.
Hiesenberg
June 6th, 2011
4:18 pm
Look at the picture of Uggla swinging and missing. The bat is at least a foot over where the ball is! His eyes seem to be looking in the general direction of where he thinks the ball is. Anyone thought to maybe get his eyes checked? Maybe he is seeing double and swings at the wrong ball.
Marty (my real name)
June 6th, 2011
4:19 pm
Its probably mechanical with Uggla and he will work it out. He didn’t just forget how to hit. But following him the last few seasons, even at his best I felt he strikes out way too much to make the kind of commitment the Braves made. Last season WAS his career year. Like most players he turned that into a massive payday. He will hit better than this… eventually. But not $60 million worth. Let’s hope they can all get it going before its too late. GO BRAVES!
brent
June 6th, 2011
4:21 pm
If you are not going to sit Uggla or send to AAA, then here is the lineup that Freddie G. needs to roll out there…
1.J. Schafer – Has speed and has been getting on base
2.M. Prado – MVP of team
3.C. Jones – Until he can’t do it anymore, he is in the 3 hole
4.B. McCann- One of top catchers in the game if not #1
5.A. Gonzalez – Needs to learn how to hit like Prado, focus on the gaps.
6.E. Hinske – Has shown he can be a hitter everyday
7.F. Freeman- He is our 1B of the future so hope he gets going.
8.D. Uggla – You can bat him no higher than #8 right now, unitl he shows.
9. Pitcher
Just stick him in the 8 hole and see if it changes, can’t have him hitting 6th leaving runners stranded anymore.
Just my 2 pennies.
Joey
June 6th, 2011
4:25 pm
Maybe Uggla needs Smoltzie’s shrink with the red shirt watching from the stands . . .
Jimmy
June 6th, 2011
4:35 pm
No bozos @2:59 pm- “This is exactly why I stopped attending and watching major leage baseball thirty years ago. It’s nothing but a bunch of grossly overpaid jerkoffs like Uggla.
To hell with these bozos.”
Yet, here you are 30 years later on the Braves blog.
Uggla – go on you tube and search “Uggla batting” and you will see super-slow at bats. Check out his left foot placement.
chbeyer
June 6th, 2011
4:39 pm
Frenchy was run out of town and hated by many fans for a long slump that dropped his average to the 230’s. Thats about sixty points better than Uggla. Jeff F. is now hitting .285 and has 9 HRs and 35 RBI’s Interesting.
LostCause
June 6th, 2011
4:40 pm
I have seen Uggla have two good at bats this year, and both were singles he hit to right field. Why not start there and work on making hard contact to right and at least get on base once in a while.
mdbraves fan
June 6th, 2011
4:41 pm
Bobby Valentine saw footwork issues suckla right away last night on ESPN. What the #@#! is Larry Parrish doing with the hitters on this team?? He sucked in Detroit anyway. This team has never hit better than when they had Don Baylor coaching, which tells me coaching plays a big role in this mess.