VIDEO: Why Braves need to keep Kris Medlen in rotation
When will Kris Medlen be cleared for takeoff with the Braves? (Jason Getz/AJC)
Earlier today I reiterated in a blog why I believe Kris Medlen needs to stay in the Braves’ rotation, and why it makes sense for the team to go to a six-man starting rotation for at least the next couple of weeks.
Now, here’s me with Cinesport’s Noah Coslov on the subject. (I think Noah hurried back from vacation after hearing how much I preferred working with Tara Petrolino last week.)
Blogs on demand:
– Braves can’t sit Medlen, need to go with six-man rotation
– Danny Ferry made pitch for Dwight Howard but was stopped short
– VIDEO: This is what I think about Falcons (with Tara!)
– Lights, camera, action! Petrino wants you to know he’s sorry
– Expect Julio Jones to take over for Falcons
By Jeff Schultz
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20 comments Add your comment
Sonny Clusters
August 13th, 2012
5:43 pm
Video brings out the Pulitzer in you.
Sonny Clusters
August 13th, 2012
5:43 pm
Video brings out the Pulitzer in you.
Sonny Clusters
August 13th, 2012
5:43 pm
Video brings out the Pulitzer in you.
Weaseal
August 13th, 2012
5:44 pm
Darn Hanging Chad Clusters
Sonny Clusters
August 13th, 2012
5:44 pm
Whoa! 3 Clusters posts clustered together. What happened? Clusters in a 3-man rotation?
Birdhair
August 13th, 2012
5:51 pm
medlen>big red right now
Ted M
August 13th, 2012
6:06 pm
Sonny Clusters I’m guessing the you wanted to round out that 3-man rotation w/Lowe but the Yankees out bid you.
Ted M
August 13th, 2012
6:11 pm
So Sonny – Chipper is having a great year (I’m surprised too)… lie back on your couch and tell me how that makes you feel.
Ted M
August 13th, 2012
6:12 pm
I was gonna cut the grass but its raining… whew.
"Chef" Tim Dix
August 13th, 2012
6:13 pm
“Video killed the Sports Section Star…”
"Chef" Tim Dix
August 13th, 2012
6:22 pm
Jeff, do you grant interviews with Russians only?
"Chef" Tim Dix
August 13th, 2012
6:24 pm
The AJC covers Soviet Georgia like the dew.
Hillbilly D
August 13th, 2012
6:59 pm
They could start Medlin and still have a 5 man rotation.
Ken Stallings
August 13th, 2012
7:25 pm
Jeff,
Congratulations! Looks like given the announcement that the Braves are going to a six-man rotation for two weeks, that you now join a select list of lay people who have successfully influenced the strategic direction of a professional sports franchise.
Of course, the first one who comes to mind is Richard Nixon, who lobbied the Washington Redskins to adopt several of his plays he schemed up. Feedback is that the plays did not work as well as they were expected to work, but George Allen put them in the playbook and called at least one in a game!
Here’s hoping your six-man rotation idea you first proposed works better!
Larry
August 13th, 2012
7:37 pm
Just go ahead and trade Hanson and Jurrjens for whatever you can get…they’re gone in a few weeks anyway!
Alaska Braves Fan
August 13th, 2012
7:46 pm
As I posted earlier: A part of the problem with the Braves’ starting pitching is that, although we have six who COULD be first-line starters, none of them consistently pitches at “ace” level. We are making comparisons among men whose pitching quality is not dramatically different – somewhat different from time to time, but not hugely different. If a couple of them stood out in a big way, a part of the problem would be solved, but each has his issues. As of today, Maholm may be our best starter, but he doesn’t have a track record that inspires confidence that he will continue to pitch at a really high level. Medlen has looked very good, but one almost always feels he is a couple of pitches away from a bad inning because he has no one pitch that just puts batters away. Hudson has a great history, but he also has some innings, often the first, that are terrible. And the beat goes on with the rest of the guys.
As a group, over time, these pitchers will win quite a lot of games. They may even get us to the Series. Still, they are anything but over-powering. So, making the best of this crew is more an art than a science, and judgments will all be subjective. Anyone who believes it’s easy to plan for the rest of the season with this staff just doesn’t have a clear vision of what’s going on.
ABF
Ken Stallings
August 13th, 2012
8:54 pm
No pitcher any longer consistently pitches at ace level. Scott Verlander comes the closest. Sorry, but Greg Maddux is retired and even he laid an egg every now and then. C.C. Sabbathia is on the DL right now for the second time this season.
Huddy has had a very consistent season of very good results. He is among the aces and is a bona fide ace, not only of this staff, but also would be the ace of most staffs in baseball, including the Yankees with Sabbathia on the DL.
Sheets just needs to work through the fatigue factor and it was predictable. Still, his worst start against the Mets was not a bad start. In truth, the Mets puts some quality pitches into play and Sheets only got hammered on the solo homer.
Medlen has pitched outstanding each time out. Right now, Medlen would be my number two man in post-season. Sheets would be the number three man unless Minor keeps good results going and unfortunately, Minor is struggling against the lowly hitting Padres tonight.
Hanson is a wild card. If he regains the form of previous seasons, then he can be a very good starter, but his location is consistently horrible, with far too many pitches breaking over the center of the plate without velocity needed to get away with it.
Alaska Braves Fan
August 13th, 2012
9:04 pm
Ken Stallings: I think, to a large degree, you confirmed what I said. Even Hudson is facing some of the aging issues. Each of the others has one problem or another. In the end, they all can crash and burn in a heartbeat. They are mostly pretty good, but just not quite good enough.
ABF
Danny O
August 14th, 2012
10:59 am
Where’s the Count?
Gabriela
August 23rd, 2012
5:09 am
i like jroll and what he means to the franchise, but he has bad hitbas at the plate. and is getting older. but i dont want ruben chasing last year’s world series winner every year we keep losing to the eventual champs either. we need scrappers at the plate. but if nelson cruz makes that catch in game six of the ws , (the one where he needed to sell out and make a play, instead gave up the triple) we are talking about the potent offense of texas. i like furcal,but i dont want it to be chasing the old glory from last year’s win. he is a pest at the plate however. ok from what i say in the playoffs. not sure about over 162 games + playoffs