Hanson not buying into talk of decline, looks to win spot
Tommy Hanson will be activated and start Friday against the Dodgers. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
(Hi folks. I’m ready to live blog off tonight’s Braves game against San Diego. It’s Tim Hudson vs. Clayton Richard. Following is a column I’ve written on Tommy Hanson, who will come off the disabled list after a back injury to start Friday’s game against Los Angeles. Hanson is in the unexpected position of trying to win a spot in the Braves’ five-man rotation down the stretch. The team currently is going with six pitchers.)
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If there is one jolting reality about the blur surrounding the Braves’ pitching rotation these days, it’s this: Tommy Hanson is not a clear-cut No. 1. Or 2. Or 3.
This doesn’t mean Hanson is going to struggle over the next two weeks. It certainly doesn’t mean he’s not going to reaffirm his value to the Braves over time, nor that he isn’t destined to have a great career, presumably in Atlanta.
But there are doubts. There was the shoulder injury last year. The back pain this year. There’s the fastball of declining velocity. There’s the fact that he has gone 5 1/3, 4, 5 and 5 innings in his past four starts, and despite a 12-5 record, is carrying the highest ERA (4.29) and opponents’ batting average (.267) of his career.
It doesn’t take long for people to start wondering whether a guy will be, you know, what he is supposed to be. About as long as it takes to type a Tweet?
“I try not to worry about it,” Hanson said Tuesday, three days before he will be activated from the disabled list for Friday’s start against the Los Angeles Dodgers. “I just worry about myself, keep trying to get better, keep trying to keep my body healthy to perform. Anything after that, there’s no need for me to worry about it because people will say what they’re going to say, and they’re going to have doubts and think that there’s something wrong with me, and they don’t know.”
That said, if the Braves head into the home stretch of a division race without Hanson as a starter, it’s not a good sign for either the team or the player. Hanson is the Braves’ only perceived power pitcher (although not as much now). It wasn’t long ago he was considered the next great thing. Baseball America named him the organization’s No. 1 prospect and baseball’s fourth-best prospect in 2009.
Hanson was called up midway through that season. The Braves drop-kicked franchise legend Tom Glavine into retirement to make room for him on the roster. Talk about symbolism.
Hanson made 21 starts the reason of the season and went 11-4 with a 2.89 ERA. He struck out 116 in 127 2/3 innings. We bowed.
But the blast off has been limited. In 2010, Hanson pitched with a voodoo doll on his shoulder, going only 10-11, largely because of poor run support (at one point he allowed one or zero runs in five consecutive starts, going 0-2 with three decisions). Last season he was great before the All-Star break (10-4, 2.44), a train wreck after (1-3, 8.10). He eventually was shut down because of shoulder tendinitis.
He recovered before spring training. But his car went on the disabled listed when he crashed it on the way to Disney. Hanson suffered a minor concussion. The Infiniti suffered about $8,000 in damage. Then came the season, which started well but has since tailed off, primarily because of the lost velocity.
The Braves put Hanson on the disabled list, which he was OK with, and then sent him to Gwinnett, which he was not completely OK with. Manager Fredi Gonzalez joked that Hanson was “grumpy” when he delivered the news and the pitcher uttered an obscenity at him and pitching coach Roger McDowell.
Hanson confirmed as much Tuesday (while smiling).
“I wasn’t mad — I just wasn’t expecting that,” he said. “I was expecting to throw in the bullpen the next day. I guess I was more shocked than anything. I was laughing when I said it but I guess I used a curse word. I called him a curse word.”
Hanson said, in retrospect, the Gwinnett start the other night was a good thing. He needed the work before his first Braves start Friday night.
Catcher Brian McCann believes Hanson has been effective this season despite the lost speed, “Obviously he’s not throwing 95 any more. But right now he’s learned how to win with a fastball at 90, a backdoor cutter, a slider down and in.”
Is that enough?
When asked if he’s feeling more pressure to perform and become a member of the rotation, Hanson said, “I just feel like I need to do what I’ve always done and try to help my team win. What happens after that, you know, I’ll do my best and if it doesn’t work out, we’ll go from there.”
By Jeff Schultz
Some of my earlier typings (no charge)
– Countdown: Mizzou’s paranoia, Mora’s rant and Auburn problems
– Kris Medlen and the benefits of a six-man rotation (video and blog)
– Danny Ferry made a pitch for Dwight Howard but Magic said no
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140 comments Add your comment
DawgNole
August 14th, 2012
8:57 pm
Steve
August 14th, 2012
8:35 pm
Let’s hope so. Plus it’s hard to turn down HDTV, free beer at home, and a live blog!
______________
You need to tell us where you get that FREE beer at home, Steve. Maybe it just “seems” free compared to those obscene stadium prices.
TomahawkChoppin'
August 14th, 2012
8:58 pm
I’ve seen the Clusters play middle infield in little league. He turned 6-4-3 double plays by himself. He dont need no stinkin first basemen
DawgNole
August 14th, 2012
8:59 pm
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
8:38 pm
It’s been a very quiet year for the Chipper Jones critics, don’t you think?
_____________________
Shhhh! You’ll put him in a slump, and they’ll come roaring back–in droves.
Steve
August 14th, 2012
9:00 pm
How about this? Ryan Dempster since his little trade:
17.1 innings, 16 earned runs, 24 hits, 5 home runs. Darn it’s ashame Atlanta didn’t get him. Hope he is enjoying the American League!
TomahawkChoppin'
August 14th, 2012
9:00 pm
I believe all the Chipper critics were secretly Mets fans.
Steve
August 14th, 2012
9:01 pm
DawgNole, $6.00 for a 6 pack seems free for sure when 6 at a game would cost $42.00. However I still suffer though and catch 5-10 games a year.
Yunel Asscobar
August 14th, 2012
9:05 pm
Jeff – glad the Braves are embracing your 6-man rotation plan. It makes great sense, given current circumstances, schedule, and results to date. What would make the cherry on the sundae is if the Braves would offer you the managerial position. The Braves managerial IQ would increase exponentially, we could actually hit and run, hit behind a runner, bunt guys over, and manufacture some runs. The world would be a better place.
Fredi could then take your spot in the blogosphere world. If the AJC is good with articles filled with “helluva” and “tip your cap,” they should make the change immediately and just keep running Fredi out there. That sounds like a plan.
NRBQ
August 14th, 2012
9:05 pm
Taking a dominant pitcher out upon his giving up the second hit is pure Fredi. And he would do it whether he had Venters or some re-tread bum.
Mark (another one)
August 14th, 2012
9:07 pm
The game is about winning and Hanson has shown he still wins. I have trouble benching a winner. Not my problem to solve and glad the Braves have that kind of problem.
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
9:14 pm
Prado. Longball. 3-run shot makes it 6-1. Clobbered that one just to left of 400-foot sign.
jharber
August 14th, 2012
9:14 pm
I do not recall Dissy Deans arm falling off.
Sonny Clusters
August 14th, 2012
9:15 pm
Well, we don’t drink a lot of beer but we would suggest some of the best beers cost about $8.99 and up per six pack. Those cans that just say BEER may be beer and may not. When we was at the Ted last time we asked the beer man if the beer was cold and he told us he had some cold beer he could sell us for $8.50 but the warm stuff was only $7.00. So we just put him in a headlock and took a cold beer anyway. You have to tip your cap to a beer man that can think fast on his feet like that but we ended up tipping him over the railing and then we had to move to another section. The moral to this is never try to give a Clusters a warm beer if you have a cold one close by.
GB's Hamburgers
August 14th, 2012
9:17 pm
What’s the deal with all our young pitchers losing the velocity?
Yunel Asscobar
August 14th, 2012
9:18 pm
Was Dissy Dean, Dizzy’s younger sister?
BRAVESFAN
August 14th, 2012
9:20 pm
Any idea why McCann keeps on changing bats? Today he had a Marucci.
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
9:22 pm
Yunel — Would I get to wear a uniform and everything?
Yunel Asscobar
August 14th, 2012
9:23 pm
Cleats and high socks too! I REALLY want this to happen.
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
9:24 pm
There were six Dean brothers: Dizzy, Daffy, Dissy, Chico, Harpo and Zeppo.
Yunel Asscobar
August 14th, 2012
9:27 pm
You are truly a student of the game….and the Dean family tree.
Nite Owl
August 14th, 2012
9:27 pm
@Jeff Schultz:
They all left their Marx on the game in different ways.
@everyone:
Hi gang, did I miss anything? Looks like a pretty good game for the good guys tonight.
Nite Owl
August 14th, 2012
9:29 pm
I’m trying to make new blog friends. Fewer trolls here than the Falcons blogs, so I’m looking to diversify. Also, I’m watching the Braves game.
Sonny Clusters
August 14th, 2012
9:31 pm
You forgot Howard Dean. Hy-aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
9:32 pm
Nite Owl — You wouldn’t believe it. There’s been TWO triple plays in this game. Also, Sofia Vergara streaked, I think back in the third inning.
Sonny Clusters
August 14th, 2012
9:36 pm
Nite Owl, this is a good place to blog because Jeff suggested the six-man rotation to Fredi and . . . BAM! Fredi goes right to it! As for friends, there are almost no creeps blogging here. A good many of them are Honor Roll like us. You will do fine here. Just remember to always be polite and never use any of the six forbidden words. We are soon going to have our own tee shirt for this blog and Jeff is working out the distribution rights now.
Brownie
August 14th, 2012
9:41 pm
This 6 man rotation test is only gonna go for a couple weeks or so, and then FG and Roger will figure out who will take them home. it’s been stated earlier here – the Braves have a large number of 3/4 starters, no studs. So, there is no clear cut rotation right now. See how it plays out.
Bottom line is to get to the playoffs (and expect perhaps numerous surprises/changes in the starting rotation before the end of September. At that time, they’ll be looking at only a 3, maybe 4, man rotation anyway. Look for Huddy, Medlin, Maholm, and likely Sheets. Hanson: a question mark at best – combine wildness with no ability to hold runners…..that’s disaster in the playoffs. Minor is just not ready for that stage yet.
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
9:41 pm
Kimbrel coming in despite non-save situation. He hasn’t pitched in a few days.
BRAVESFAN
August 14th, 2012
9:45 pm
So McCann was just admiring the Marucci bat before his last strike out. It seems he was using a maple bat then switched to an ash bat (as recommended by Chipper). Problem is is new slump started when he switched to a Louisville Slugger maple. What’s going on, is he under contract to use a specific bat? I remember he even tried some other brand is spring training.
keeps on changing bats? Today he had a
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
9:48 pm
And that’s the ballgame. Braves 6-0 over Padres. Uggla, Prado homer. Hudson now 12-4.
BRAVESFAN
August 14th, 2012
9:50 pm
Just call me Maybin
DawgNole
August 14th, 2012
9:50 pm
Impressive bounce-back win after the two-game mini-slump.
Nite Owl
August 14th, 2012
9:57 pm
Great game. Sorry I missed Sofia Vergara (but I DVR’d it so I’ll go back and look), and thanks for the welcome Mr. Clusters. You guys do seem like a classy bunch.
Gotta love Martin Prado. One hard-working dude.
I’ll have to check in earlier next time.
JC Boscan III
August 14th, 2012
11:13 pm
Random comment: #1 — Dissy Dean was the Dean brother whose career was cut short due to his propensity for disrespecting his manager, teammates, fans, concession workers, agent and the umpires. He played in 145 major league games and was thrown out of 124 of them.
#2 — I never look forward to Hanson’s starts because it seems like the game slows to a molasses speed; it seems like it takes Tommy 5 minutes between pitches. Then, when he bats or bunts, he looks inept. Slow, plodding……..
#3 — Based on the fossil record (so to speak), shouldn’t the AJC start to refer to Uggla as the Braves’ “light-hitting second baseman Dan Uggla”…? That way, we’d be pleasantly surprised when he gets a big hit, as we are when “light-hitting Paul Janish” gets one, instead of everyone wanting to run him out of town……
this guy
August 15th, 2012
12:09 am
hanson’s diminished velocity really concerns me. when he came up he threw 93-95 and could occasionally touch 96. he had several 87 mph fastballs in his last start (though of course he wasn’t 100%), and his velocity is sitting around 89-91 this year. he was a big prospect when he came up i’m sure in part due to his ability to pump that fastball in there in the mid-90s and strike people out and what not. and now that he no longer has that ability it would seem, it makes me wonder what his potential really is. he seemed he would soon be a sure fire #1 or #2 at some point just a couple of years ago. now, who knows?
and I also wonder why braves guys like hanson it seems like often experience that diminished velocity. jurrjens very similar, used to throw in the low to occasionally mid 90s consistently. what is mcdowell doing that is causing these guys to lose that zip on their fastball? topping out at 90 and topping out at 95 is a BIG difference.
SR
August 15th, 2012
12:43 am
Yeah well HE may not be buying into it but the rest of us have been warning of his decline for awhile now. You don’t just go from throwing BB’s to throwing Softballs for no reason; if you need any more evidence, just take a look at the Pillsbury Doughboy Jurjjens.
Hey Schultzie!
August 15th, 2012
1:47 am
Jeffers, you should listen to Leo on the radio. He’s definitely against pitch counts, and he had a fair amount of success with pitchers. Not just Glav, Doggie, etc…guys like Burkett, Hammond, reclamation projects too numerous to mention…Oh, wait. Sorry, Jeff. Leo signs off at 10 am, you are probably still
in bed.
Hey Schultzie!
August 15th, 2012
1:49 am
Also, a record like his with a 4 plus era. Wow, ya think Minor might like some of that offense when he pitches?
marty
August 15th, 2012
4:00 am
The hesitation in Hanson’s motion puts too much strain on his arm. I think injuries will continue and compound. Also, everyone steals on him
Tom Ryan
August 15th, 2012
5:45 am
I know that they have worked on Hanson’s delivery but he still slings the ball instead of pitching it. I can’t recall seeing any pitcher with a worse delivery. Because of this, I never thought he would make it as a pitcher, or at least last very long, and he may indeed be nearing the end with the Braves. I agree with you, Marty, he is just inviting trouble with the hesitation in his arm motion.
MrMatt1113
August 15th, 2012
6:10 am
The reason Tommy’s pitch speed is down is not due to an injury but to prevent an injury. With his pitching motion he puts a lot of strain on his elbow and forearm. He has had good first halfs of seasons but his arm has been getting sore. To reduce this he changed his pitching motion and has stopped overthrowing the ball. He also loses velocity because of the shortening of his stride to home plate to better hold on base runners. He is having to re- learn feel and touch on his secondary pitches. He is coming around. Glad we did not give up on J-Hey when he had a lot of hype, aquardness in his mechanics, second half slums, loss of power and too many injuries… He is only 25, its his 4th season. By comparison glavines 4 th year he was 24yrs with a 10-12 record and a 4.28 era. Let the kis work.
son's who?
August 15th, 2012
6:35 am
I thought the Dean brothers were Arnell, Burnell, Raynell, W.L., Lynell, Odell, Udell, Marcell, Claude, Newgene, and Clusters.
Fredi Gonzalez
August 15th, 2012
6:57 am
I’m looking for an excuse to put Medlen back in the bullpen.
Any suggestions ?
Del
August 15th, 2012
7:20 am
A little off the subject, but when are they going to make Ross the primary catcher and McOut the backup. McCann is pitiful at the plate and it was nuts to bat him 5th last night. He looks absolutely lost up there.
AtlantaDude
August 15th, 2012
7:32 am
Elephant in the room. What is common about all these young pitchers losing velocity and/or getting hurt? ROGER MCDOWELL
I can think of only one pitcher during the Leo era that lost velocity – Steve Avery. Yet, with the current pitching coach, we seem to lose one or two per season. Why is McDowell not under fire?
Joe
August 15th, 2012
7:39 am
Jeff,
Do they have a explanation for the drop in velocity?
Fredi Gonzalez
August 15th, 2012
8:05 am
I gota find an excuse to get Hanson & Jurrjens back into the rotation …
This upstart Medlen and the supposedly washed-up Sheets are making my job tough !
da[01
August 15th, 2012
8:19 am
Next year the following pitchers will be ready for the Braves:
Hudson
Minor
Delgado
Maholm
Tehran
Beachy (later in the season)
Hanson
Gilmartin (at AAA)
Hanson seems to be in decline. He is a 5 inning pitcher and his agent is Scott Boras.
And because of Boras, Hanson should be traded this offseason. Hanson will show NO loyalty to the Braves because of Boras. Hanson chose his own destiny when he chose Boras as his agent. Let’s trade him before he falls completely apart and we get nothing for him.
da[01
August 15th, 2012
8:22 am
Bottom line:
If Hanson pitches great, he will leave the Braves (Scott Boras).
If he continues to decline, he will leave the Braves.
Let’s trade him while we can get anything for him.
Hanson is about the most painful pitcher to watch. His motion and his laboring is difficult to even watch.
hebrews11
August 15th, 2012
8:42 am
Faith is the evidence of things not seen.
Blackberry Cobbler
August 15th, 2012
9:52 am
At the beginning of the season, it was said that Hanson had worked on his mechanics to smooth out that “pause and jerk” and the top of his windup that puts so much stress on the shoulder and elbow.
He then, reverted back to the “pause and jerk”. His mechanics are flawed, he’s terrible at holding runners on base, and his velocity is down. With his mechanics, his useful time is limited… he’ll be worn out soon.
I think Minor is the man on the bubble. I think the results of this 6-man experiment will be: Hudson, Mulholm, Sheets, Medlin, Hanson.
coach13
August 15th, 2012
11:33 am
In this day and age the pitching coach does not teach. Mazzone will tell you this too. If you want to teach and mold pitchers you belong in Low A ball. To teach a guy who is used to being a power pitcher how to locate with a mediocre fastball is going to be difficult. 90 mph pitchers are a dime a dozen in the majors. This will not be easy for him. Mechanics are a HUGE part of pitching and he has terrible mechanics with his arm motion. McDowell is not there to teach and mold and refine.