Gonzalez: Braves not considering sending Uggla to minors
Dan Uggla managed to dodge this pitch in Houston but he needs several more to start hitting the bat. (AP photo)
Dan Uggla is less than three months into a five-years, $62 million contract — and he’s not going anywhere.
I normally wouldn’t be passing along something that should seem obvious. But with the backdrop of Uggla’s struggles, I’ve had so many readers ask me, “Why not just send him down to the minors?” So it seemed time to address it with someone on the Braves.
I posed this question to manager Fredi Gonzalez following Thursday’s win over the New York Mets: Is it too early to even consider something like sending him to Gwinnett?
“We haven’t reached that point,” he said. “We haven’t even had a conversation about that. This is the first time anybody’s even mentioned it.”
And then this: “We’re trying. He’s trying. He’s battling. The season’s not over with.”
For what it’s worth, even if the Braves believed that sending Uggla to Triple-A Gwinnett could help him get his confidence back, that’s a move the veteran second baseman would have to sign off on.
Here’s your ugly numbers blitz: Uggla went 0-for-5 Thursday night. He stranded five base runners. His season average is down to .174. In the last four weeks, he is hitting .139 (11-for-79). He is hitting .127 with runners in scoring position and .184 with runners on base.
Gonzalez has tried him in six different spots in the batting order (Nos. 2 through 7), as well as sat him out altogether.
Uggla’s nine homers and 19 RBIs in 70 games project to 21 homers and 44 RBIs over a full season. He averaged 31 homers, 93 RBIs and a .263 average in Florida.
But for now, he’s staying here. How long the Braves choose to stick this out depends in part on how well the team does and whether the situation ever becomes desperate (in their view). But they’re not there yet.
By Jeff Schultz
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184 comments Add your comment
shawn
June 17th, 2011
11:37 am
It does not matter if has a $62 mil contract or not the fact is Uggla is not even close to get out of his funk anytime soon. He needs to be sent to GB to work out on his mechanics or his head..He is hurting the team and keeping him in the major league level is not right
Mike Jay
June 17th, 2011
11:39 am
PMC, ok I gotcha now, we are o nthe same page
. I am simply baffled at him struggling this bad. In fact the whole offense is baffling so far. Injuries aside I expected way more then they have shown. If Schaefer keeps it up and they can stay relatively healthy from here on it….well Offense shouldn’t be a problem. Need to grab one more dependable arm for the bullpen before Venter’s falls off. Anyone know Moylan’s timetable for return? I suppose Medlin could help the bullpen out as well.
DJ
June 17th, 2011
11:40 am
If Freddi sits Schafer when McClouth comes back I will not watch another game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
June 17th, 2011
11:53 am
well shoot!! thanks JS for following up with FG last night after all of our comments about sending “Struggla” down to the minors. Way to follow up!!
dobearsbare
June 17th, 2011
11:54 am
I think a fair comparison can be made to Ron Gant in 1991. Gant was hitting .188 entering play on May 30 that year. Granted, we’re now 2 1/2 weeks past that with Uggla, but Gant, who at that point had a much shorter track record than Uggla has now, was never sent down and rebounded to hit a respectable .251 (his career average was .256) with 32 homers and 105 RBIs. The Braves’ decision makers have changed, but the organizational philosophy really hasn’t. Given that, I’d be way more than mildly surprised if the club even broaches the subject with him. And there’s no way he’ll agree to it.
enrique palazzo
June 17th, 2011
11:58 am
If Schaffer continues to perform, Uggla is basically not needed. I would like to see Prado in the #2 spot, as opposed to lead-off, anyways. Hinske’s bat should keep him in left field, and move Prado back to 2nd. Here’s my favorite line-up:
Schaffer – CF
Prado – 2B
Chipper – 3B
McCann – C
J-Hey – RF
Freeman – 1B
Hinske – LF
Gonzo – SS
Bob Rathbun
June 17th, 2011
11:59 am
Ugglas been in the hole more times than Dirk Diggler
Brave Fan
June 17th, 2011
12:03 pm
Any team that McClouth plays for as an everyday player, will never win anything significant(Championships)t. He just can’t get it done. Average defensively, below average arm and terrible pull everything approach at the plate. Just let Schafer play. At least he has and is trying to make adjustments and develop into a leadoff hitter. But when you throw McClouth in with Uggla, at least for right now, then a pitcher we are giving away 3 innings a night at least with little or no chance of any production. Almost as bad as when we had Kelly Johnson, Francouer, Schafer his first time up and the pitcher giving away 4 innings a couple of years ago.
Why can’t we at least get fast guys that can’t hit!
Spud Webb
June 17th, 2011
12:04 pm
Archie is correct, put him in the 8th hole and leave him (uggla) there, stop talking about it and let him play w no pressure of producing.
enrique palazzo, I agree w what you’ve got there, except leave Hinske on the bench, put Nate out in left and play small ball. Hinske is a weapon off the bench.
Henry D.
June 17th, 2011
12:05 pm
The problem with Uggla is he doesn’t have Braves pitching to feast on anymore!
JoeFan
June 17th, 2011
12:08 pm
Just sit him on the bench. His presence in the lineup is like having two pitchers hitting each game. Let him work on things and occasionally give him a start to see if there is any progess.The offense is terrible enough without playing someone who has trouble even fouling off consecutive pitches. Also, while on the subject of hitting problems, the Braves should release Mather and give a shot to Gartrell or Ramirez. Either one seems like an offensive upgrade.
Jake
June 17th, 2011
12:09 pm
The McLouth trade was brilliant. It was a brilliant move at the time. No one could have expected McLouth to hit some of the slumps and injuries he has in a Braves uniform. But the deal we got was, at the time, universally considered a win.
Charlie Morton has improved this season, but he would not even be close to on the rotation the Braves have. Gorkys Hernandez looks like he may never make it out of the minors. Jeff Locke?
It was a win for the Braves. He has had some trouble since, but he is a good player with great potential and only needs a couple weeks to really turn it on and become that guy again. Not to mention how well-loved he is by his teammates which you can NEVER undervalue.
Bad luck, not a bad move. Frank Wren has done a fantastic job with this team.
Atticus
June 17th, 2011
12:10 pm
Meanwhile, as he works it out by the all-star break the Phillies will be 8 up and the WC will start to be in doubt. It amazes he how the Braves organization treats games during the summer different than in Spetember. They all mean the same! You lose too many now, it’s hard to make it up.
Brave Fan
June 17th, 2011
12:15 pm
McClouth is terrible. So we gave up 3 other terrible players to get him. He has done nothing consistent other than be bad!
He made the all-star team for the pirates and they have to send somebody.
So he tries hard and is a well liked player. Who cares!! Get some guys that get it done.
THE EXPERT
June 17th, 2011
12:20 pm
Jeff Schultz.
I KNOW THE REASON WHY DAN UGGLA IS STRUGGLING.WHILE DAN WAS IN FLA.,HE WAS BATTING 4TH.HE COMES TO ATLANTA,WHILE BATTING 4TH,DAN WAS HITTING.359 IN 45AB.WHY DID FG MOVE HIM OUT OF 4TH?THIS IS BS.TO SOME GUYS IT IS A MENTAL THING,THEY JUST CANT HIT IN ANY OTHER POSITIONS.THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME,I HAVE STATS TO PROVE IT.I HAVE ASKED THIS SEVERAL TIMES TO YOU WRITERS BUT ALL OF YOU JUST IGNORE ME.UNTIL THIS QUESTION GETS ANSWERED LEAVE DAN UGGL ALONE.HE WAS DOING WELL IN 4TH,AND FG MOVED HIM DOWN,AND ALL OVER THE PLACE.MAYBE YOU WILL HAVE THE@#$ TO ANSWER THIS.WHEN IM IN ATL.,TODAY I WILL ASK FG MYSELF,AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT HE SAYS.I WRITE IN CAPS SO ALL U UGGLA HATERS CHECK THE FACTS ON UGGL HITTING 4TH WITH ATLANTA BRAVES 2011.
THE EXPERT
June 17th, 2011
12:25 pm
Just so you know i am good friends with josh hamilton,he went to same high school i did,and i said on here a few years ago,atlanta should trade for josh hamilton.Most of responses i got were take your meds.Guess im the one laughing now huh?Im in rf catching hamilton’s hrs tonite,i could sit anywhere,but i told him i want to catch your hrs against a aa pitcher.
THE EXPERT
June 17th, 2011
12:27 pm
Brave Fan
June 17th, 2011
12:15 pm
If you think baseball is so easy you go do it.
bias
June 17th, 2011
12:30 pm
once again the blog is full of internet idiots who think they have all the answers on why this person cant hit,cant win,etc.if u people put in as much effort somewhere other than a blog,maybe you have a job now,and be well off in this economy.Im sorry this is rants and rave section on craigs list i forgot my bad
Brave Fan
June 17th, 2011
12:31 pm
I’m disappointed in Ugglas production but he is still new to us and I really believe he’ll come around and be what he has always been over the next 5 years which is a .250 hitter with 30 or so homers.
McCouth on the other hand has been terrible since he got here and he isn’t trying to change his approach. An approach of a little guy pulling everything! At least Uggla trying to pull everything will launch a homer every now and then even during his struggles.
bias
June 17th, 2011
12:34 pm
Brave Fan
June 17th, 2011
12:15 pm
a true fan would support this team and stfu.must be a fair weather fan.im sure u r terrible at your job if u even have one as well,what a sad life to complain about someone u don’t even know.mclouth has donated more to this community,along with several other players as well.what have u done beside whine and complain.i hope u do not need any services,but u know what they say about karma.
Ted M
June 17th, 2011
12:37 pm
Based on 75 AB’s Uggla has to hit .293 from now until the All-Star break to push his ave to .200.
Phil
June 17th, 2011
12:38 pm
All the non-hitters that Atlanta got rid of are all doing just fine now!
Brave Fan
June 17th, 2011
12:38 pm
Expert, I played as long as I could and then someone hurt my feelings and told me I couldn’t play any longer because I wasn’t good enough. Thats what needed to happen to me and that is what needs to happen with Nate! Regardless of how much $ we have to eat for his contract.
bias
June 17th, 2011
12:39 pm
if this team is so bad,and players are so terrible why are you even here on this blog,moaning,whining about it.?take it somewhere else.talk like that in person watching a game and see where that leads you.
Ted M
June 17th, 2011
12:39 pm
from 2008 thru 2010 Uggla’s highest average for a month is .279 (which is the month of August.)
So he’ll be below .200 at the break pretty much no matter what.
Ted M
June 17th, 2011
12:42 pm
this blog is about Uggla…are we supposed to he’s having a great year. Really
bias
June 17th, 2011
12:42 pm
Phil
June 17th, 2011
12:38 pm
hmmm lets see frenchy hitting.275 with kc avg.dropping every month
infante..254 with fla,on the way out
kelly johnson,ariz. .224
yeah they are tearing it up with other teams
Hoosby
June 17th, 2011
12:43 pm
How has someone not suggested a Slump Buster yet???
bias
June 17th, 2011
12:44 pm
Ted M
June 17th, 2011
12:39 pm
uggla batting.359 in 2011 with braves batting 4th
THOSE ARE THE FACTS FOR THIS YEAR
Ted M
June 17th, 2011
12:45 pm
anyway we are so deep into the season Uggla is gonna have to get super hot just to get to .200.
I hope it happens, but my guess is August would be the earliest he could get his average over .200
Ted M
June 17th, 2011
12:46 pm
for how many AB’s? the sample is way to small to be meaningful and you know it.
bias
June 17th, 2011
12:46 pm
yet uggla is tied for the team in hrs so i guess the other braves hitts are terrible to.lol
bias
June 17th, 2011
12:48 pm
Ted M
June 17th, 2011
12:46 pm
10 games 45 ab
want more proof 3HRS,5 RBI’S
Brave Fan
June 17th, 2011
12:50 pm
Whats wrong with expecting more from professional ball players than just “trying hard” and “being good in the community.” Both are great things but how about results.
We could learn a few things from the Phillies, Yankees, Rangers…about having expectations. These players are paid well and they should not get a free pass just for being good guys!
I love the Braves. The Atlanta Braves. I want players that will win for the Braves and I don’t think its the Braves or their fans responsibility to ignore poor play!
bias
June 17th, 2011
12:50 pm
Ted M
read the expert post to jeff schultz,scroll back up
Ted M
June 17th, 2011
12:54 pm
I don’t dislike Uggla and not suggesting he is all bad. So he is only 33% off his career HR pace which isn’t nearly as bad as his ave and RBI pace. Good for that and he is playing great defense and he is running the bases well when he does get on.
But what’s the point of sugarcoating his season?
bias
June 17th, 2011
12:54 pm
nothing wrong with that most of u complain even when the braves were on a 6 game winning streak.you people are never happy.ask jeff if im wrong about this.this team is still over 500,its not like we are fla.,then i could agree,relax,braves will get it together,just like economy it aint gonna get better overnight.
Ted M
June 17th, 2011
12:57 pm
I’d be for moving him to 4th …he’s gonna be in the lineup so put him where he’s most effective.
bias
June 17th, 2011
12:58 pm
did u even read the post about obs?its not dan its the whole team,seem to recall schafer had uggla had back to back hits other nite,and chipper,bmac,ff all failed to produce.anf ff failed last nite nite by swinging at a ball,2 feet off the plate,yes dan failed also but chipper,bmac,ff have failed if not more with risp.
Kentavo
June 17th, 2011
12:59 pm
Jeff, stay with me here…much is made of ATL’s supposedly laidback, but businesslike, culture – could it be that there’s more pressure in this environment than we’re led to believe? Could it be McClouth and Uggla were never under such pressure while toiling for the Bucs and Fish? Could being expected to win (despite what some fans think) with a Tomahawk on your chest totally get to these guys? Would be interesting to see what Frenchy, Melky, the original Mike Stanton, and other Braves flameouts who have successful elsewhere, say about this.
bias
June 17th, 2011
1:00 pm
all im saying is since obv he hit better in 4th move him to 4th.honestly what more could it hurt?
Brave Fan
June 17th, 2011
1:01 pm
Most of those wins were against Houston and they can’t beat a good AAA team!
We just see holes the braves aren’t addressing.
We all want the Braves to win or we wouldn’t be on here.
Some speed and a couple of real hitters would get it done. Maybe thats why its so frustrating for me having watched them for 40 plus years. We are really close right now and if the right moves are made we could win big. I’m just afraid its going to be the same old same old and thats accepting mediocrity.
Ted M
June 17th, 2011
1:02 pm
Uggla’s OBP batting 4th is .479 thats pretty darn good its only for 39 AB’s & 9 walks but still worth putting him at 4th for a while
bias
June 17th, 2011
1:02 pm
ask french and kj
they are really tearing it up.
bias
June 17th, 2011
1:06 pm
i understand but u need to understand this.lets say the braves acquire kemp,or pence,or bourn.if the guys are not getting on base who u going to blame then?i said before start diory let gonzo sit at least he can bunt
Newbomb Turk
June 17th, 2011
1:06 pm
Why is nobody talking about Parrish?? For the past 5 years, everyone has wanted TP’s job!
Brave Fan
June 17th, 2011
1:08 pm
Why can’t we at least get some fast guys that can’t hit?
bias
June 17th, 2011
1:11 pm
the pitching is not getting it done.its time for the offense to take over.we have to go down to aa to find a pitcher.its sad when we have no one but tehran in aaa that can start a ballgame.going a week without a pitcher lasting through 7 is not going to get it done.lee last nite for phillies 117 pitches,complete game.when was the last time atl.had a complete game?
bias
June 17th, 2011
1:14 pm
look at last nite braves ahead 6-2 pitcher blows it.
bias
June 17th, 2011
1:15 pm
hey jeff?who is being sent down hicks?