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.)
•
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
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
140 comments Add your comment
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 14th, 2012
7:08 pm
1st… Tommy isn’t the same guy anymore. He might be gone at season’s end. And I wouldn’t mind it one bit.
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
7:11 pm
First!
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
7:12 pm
Damn. I never win.
JJ
August 14th, 2012
7:15 pm
Hanson’s biggest problem is that he believes he’s a strikeout pitcher in the mold of a Verlander or Halladay. I couldn’t even count the number of times this year that he’s started a hitter pumping the strike zone with fastballs that get him ahead, then he starts throwing that 55 foot curveball and next thing you know its 3-2. The next pitch either gets tatooed or he ends up walking the guy. If he’d just rely on location to get people out on balls in play rather than trying to rack up 300 K’s a year, he might be OK. What I can’t figure out is why neither he or McDowell realize any of this.
TheOnlyBravesFan
August 14th, 2012
7:15 pm
Schultz: Do you think that the Hanson is likely the guy to stay in rotation when we go back to 5-man?
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
7:17 pm
TheOnlyBravesFan — Honestly, I have no feel for it. Only know that if Medlen continues to pitch like he has been, it’s going to be hard to take him out of the rotation.
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
7:22 pm
Bourn starts things with a triple. He came into game ranked 6th in majors with 140 hits. (See. Sometimes I read the press notes.)
The Grinch
August 14th, 2012
7:23 pm
I like Hanson’s attitude, and I hope he proves everyone wrong. That said, I don’t have a great deal of faith in it happening.
"Chef" Tim Dix
August 14th, 2012
7:24 pm
And with that triple Scott Boras told his wife to pick anyone of the Hawaiian islands to own.
"Chef" Tim Dix
August 14th, 2012
7:27 pm
Meds is clearly in the rotation of a short series…for now
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
7:28 pm
The Grinch — Just because you said that, let me add that he is truly one of the great guys in the clubhouse.
Dawg Haus
August 14th, 2012
7:28 pm
I hate seeing Hanson struggle, but there’s something going on with him. I hope it can be fixed, but I’d rather him do the work in Gwinnett. This is no time to play around in the division.
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
7:28 pm
Chef Tim — OMG, how many islands can one agent’s wife own?
beone
August 14th, 2012
7:29 pm
The Braves will make the playoffs after winning the Wild Card sudden death game. Top 3 starters will be Maholm, Meds & Hudson in that order. My 2 cents.
"Chef" Tim Dix
August 14th, 2012
7:30 pm
Jeff, the b**** wanted the Philippines.
Sonny Clusters
August 14th, 2012
7:32 pm
1st Clusters.
Metro Coach
August 14th, 2012
7:33 pm
At this point I’d prefer Medlen be the starter in the wildcard play-in game, as I have resigned myself to believing that’s where the Braves are headed. At least(barring a recurrance of the nightmare that was last September) it will probably be a home game. Perhaps the park will even be 2/3s full that night.
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
7:40 pm
Welcome aboard, Clusters.
Jim Pierce
August 14th, 2012
7:40 pm
All I will say is, Im never comfortable with Hanson on the mound. The man makes me nervous lol He has to earn his way back into the rotation. Personally, I think he will have a short leash on him. I’d love to see him have success, but I still want Medlin as a starter.
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
7:40 pm
It’s a three-Uggla-assist inning. Pretty sure nobody has ever topped that.
Jim Pierce
August 14th, 2012
7:42 pm
Metro coach: The way the Nats are playing, the Braves will never catch them. Braves are just too inconsistent,and usually lose to lesser talented teams. (see last night)
Jim Pierce
August 14th, 2012
7:43 pm
Jeff: Maybe Furcals unassisted triple play would? lol
Sonny Clusters
August 14th, 2012
7:43 pm
Back when we was playing ball we would always try to protect our fingers because all you have to do is look at the Braves and know that a finger injury can be a prolonged injury or it can be a season-ending injury if you stick a palm frond in it. When we was playing ball we almost never handled palm fronds and it we did we’d wear some protection against palm frond penetration. It just made sense.
Sonny Clusters
August 14th, 2012
7:46 pm
Batting .212 we’d try using a palm frond at the plate.
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
7:52 pm
Clusters — I do believe you are the first ever to reference “palm frond penetration.” And I’m not really sure I want to know what that is.
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
7:53 pm
I guess I should tell you something about the game, just in case you stepped out for a Creamsicle. Braves lead 1-0.. … More? … Hudson has retired 10 straight since a first-inning walk. That’s it. I’m exhausted.
Sonny Clusters
August 14th, 2012
8:04 pm
Jeff, you may need a night off like Jason Heyward. Do you thing they could let Reed Johnson write the column between innings? Playing ball never made us tired when we was young and strong and we almost never took a day off because Coach always wanted a Clusters in the lineup. It’s a lot like Fredi wanting Uglla in the lineup because we read he’s been getting some really big walks lately.
jfreak13713
August 14th, 2012
8:08 pm
I still see myself as the 21 year old hunk of man I use to be and get pissed at my wife when she tells me I’m just another 40 year old with a beer belly! Hanson hasn’t look good in a year now and for Mac saying that he has learned to win with 90 mph fastball and location isn’t the truth! Hanson hasn’t won with that crap of an arm! He is losing and losing badly which is why he was disabled and sent to minors! Forget the W-L record as many of those games his OFFENSE won the game. Hanson is now a 4 or 5 starter at best. The problem with the Braves is they have a staff full of 4 and 5 staters. If you are going to throw 88 – 90 then you better have Glavine and Maddux control. Hanson does NOT which is why he can only pitch 5 innings before he pulled due to high pitch count.
See Ya Tommy! Hope you got your education??
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
8:11 pm
Clusters — I will accept only you or Mark Lemke as my guest blogger for Braves games. Or maybe David Ross.
Sonny Clusters
August 14th, 2012
8:13 pm
Well, given those choices we are ready. Don’t forget we was Honor Roll.
son's who?
August 14th, 2012
8:18 pm
Creamsickle? Jeff Schultz, doggone ya! (Quickly heads out the door to Flash Foods)
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
8:19 pm
Uggla goes ding-dong. The way Hudson is pitching 2-0 lead may be enough.
Steve
August 14th, 2012
8:20 pm
Jeff, looks like another huge crowd tonight. They talked about this today on 680 the fan so I thought I would ask, what are your thoughts on the terrible attendance year after year (minus weekend games and games against popular teams)? It seems like the Braves have tried everything (all you can eat seats, flex pricing, packages, etc). It amazes me that terrible teams like Colorado and Milwaukee are drawing better than Atlanta who is in the middle of a pennant chase. I know the excuses of school is in, traffic sucks, we are spoiled, etc. I am pretty sure there is traffic and school in other cities. My personal opinion is simply the location of the stadium and having nothing to do before or after the game.
Sonny Clusters
August 14th, 2012
8:20 pm
Mostly, when we was a baby we played infield. It was not until we was shaving in fifth grade that we moved to center field. Coach wanted us out there in case anybody got hold of one. Speaking of that, Uggla just got hold of one and is now batting .213 with 14 home runs and some big walks. We was thinking if Uglla got a Buck Commander tattoo on his biceps he could make the little deer dance and do things that would be entertaining and at $60 million he needs to be entertaining.
DawgNole
August 14th, 2012
8:23 pm
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
7:52 pm
Clusters — I do believe you are the first ever to reference “palm frond penetration.” And I’m not really sure I want to know what that is.
___________________
Ask ol’ Diaz; he knows what it is.
JWOOD
August 14th, 2012
8:26 pm
I think two half-seasons of good to “ok” pitching are not enough to judge. Lost velocity might be a result of some small injuries. Maybe a workout in the offseason and Hanson could be back to serious form.
DawgNole
August 14th, 2012
8:27 pm
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
8:19 pm
Uggla goes ding-dong. The way Hudson is pitching 2-0 lead may be enough.
_________________
Uggla gets an awful lot of grief on these blogs, and based on his lengthy droughts at the plate, he probably deserves some. But he strikes me as a real hustler in the field and a team guy in the dugout. I just think the team could do a lot worse than putting him out there in the hope that he shakes off this latest batting slump.
Steve
August 14th, 2012
8:29 pm
DawgNole, agreed!
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
8:29 pm
Hanson just flying though lineup: 20 batters faced, 1 walk, 1 hit.
PutMeInCoach
August 14th, 2012
8:32 pm
Looks like the crowd agrees Hanson is the odd man out. I am in full agreement that Hanson has to be moved to the bullpen or out of Atlanta. Besides his lost velocity and cussing at management, he has never been able to hold a runner at first, so Medlen gets another plus for the starting five.
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
8:32 pm
Steve — I don’t think the Braves can do anything more to draw fans except win. People are either excited and they’ll make the trip to the stadium or they’re not (and won’t). It’s not expensive like you said, especially with the specials. I’m sure in last few weeks if there’s a race, people will show up.
PutMeInCoach
August 14th, 2012
8:33 pm
And HUDSON is pitching tonight.
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
8:35 pm
Dawgnole — Yes on all counts with Uggla: He gets grief and deserves it; he hustles; he’s a team guy; yes, Braves could do worse. Criticism comes in part because of the money he makes, relative to expected production.
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!
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
8:37 pm
Chip-ah. … 3 straight hits, 1 run in, 2 on, nobody out.
Steve
August 14th, 2012
8:37 pm
Chipper still amazes me.
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
8:38 pm
It’s been a very quiet year for the Chipper Jones critics, don’t you think?
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
8:48 pm
Hudson being pulled out after single … why?
PutMeInCoach
August 14th, 2012
8:52 pm
Denorfia hit .500 against Huddy last year maybe?
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2012
8:54 pm
Baseball has this obsession with pitch counts. Hudson was at 97. I’ve never understood it. More injuries and DL stints than ever in game, and yet suggestion is that under 100 pitches will preserve guys. Bolshoi.
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.
dick whiskey
August 15th, 2012
12:31 pm
hanson reminds me of steve avery,first couple of years dominant looked like hall of famer,lost velocity started getting hammered was out of the league quick
What?
August 15th, 2012
12:32 pm
da[1 Did you forget Medlen and possibly Sheets?
Nick
August 15th, 2012
12:56 pm
I’m not sure why Hanson gets the bad wrap when Minor is clearly our worst starter. Minor’s stuff would be a much better fit in the bp than Hanson too. Much better. Can you imagine Hanson coming in to hold inherited runners on? Free stolen bases. Laughing out loud now.
SeaAtl
August 15th, 2012
12:59 pm
Hanson has been averaging 5 innings per start in the second half; and this isn’t new – he’s a softy, a California pretty boy with some talent, a weird delivery, and no guts. Medlen will take his spot in the rotation, and they’ll either send Tommy to AAA or find a reason – there are PLENTY to choose from – to stuff him back on the DL.
Ken Stallings
August 15th, 2012
1:10 pm
Jeff,
The DL is used much more now than in the past because teams have the large investments of guaranteed contracts. In the old days, the DL was not used as much because players (especially pitchers) played with injuries. With a few weeks on the DL, said player would recover and be good for a long time. But, without that large guaranteed contract, organizations thought of the players as replacable commodities.
In other words, a ton of players played a few years, “flammed out,” and were released. Some spent a few more years in the minors before being out of the game forever. You just don’t tend to hear about them.
Pitch count for starters and appearances for relief pitchers are the two most tightly predictive stats and warning signs for chronic or acute pitcher injuries. This is where the game has changed, but with the contracts, most GM’s and owners conclude that it is better to preserve your players long term than to eat contracts and dispose of injured players. Think of it this way, the Nationals’ GM just confirmed again he’s shutting down Stausburg after 166 innings and that’s going to happen first week of September.
In the old days, that would never happen. But, it’s going to happen this 2012 season — just one more sign post in the road to the future, how times change in baseball!
Ken Stallings
August 15th, 2012
1:15 pm
Nick,
If you truly think Mike Minor is our worst starter (worse than Hanson when he went on the DL) then you should read the two posts I made yesterday that detailed Minor’s results over his last six starts.
Reader’s Digest version of those two posts is that over those last six starts, Minor’s ERA is under 2.5, average innings pitched per start is a shade over six innings, average walks per game is just under 1, and average K’s per game is a bit over 7. The sole problem Minor has had is woefully inadequate run support. That’s why his record over those six starts is 2-4 with two no decisions.
Ken Stallings
August 15th, 2012
1:15 pm
Darn! Make that 1-3 with two no decisions!
Nick
August 15th, 2012
1:52 pm
Ken,
You don’t make serious decisions about removing Hanson from the rotation in favor of an unproven Minor based on 6 starts. If so Minor would have been out of baseball all together after his first 6 starts of the season.
devon shire
August 15th, 2012
1:53 pm
hanson a pretty boy? looks kinda ugly to me
Dirty Dawg
August 15th, 2012
1:58 pm
I’ve been a critic of Tommy’s delivery from the beginning and was encouraged when they, and he, said that they were overhauling it – the delivery – coming into this season. Well if they did there was little evidence of it from the beginning cause he reverted to form almost immediately. For a big guy he doesn’t use his legs and body much at all to provide the kind of leverage and momentum that would take a little of the stress off his arm and shoulder. Plus with the hesitation he has at the top of his delivery, he loses virtually all the forward thrust that his wind up should provide. Unless the Braves pitching staff, and Tommy himself, commit to making the changes – assuming he’s capable of making them at all, regardless of the level of commitment – then I’m afraid he’ll never get any better than he is now. That, plus the fact that he looks like he’s not in particularly good shape…gotten right fleshy if you know what i mean. I know Beachy hurt his arm already, despite his seeming effortless delivery, but my bet is that if Tommy would dedicate himself to working as hard as Beachy does at getting in shape and staying there, as well as trying to emulate his delivery, he’d become the pitcher he, and we, thought he was gonna be. If not then who knows?
Nick
August 15th, 2012
1:59 pm
SeaAtl,
I’d venture to guess that was the first time in Hanson’s life he’s been called a pretty boy.
Nick
August 15th, 2012
2:02 pm
Dirty Dawg,
Agreed.
Charles
August 15th, 2012
2:08 pm
I agree with the comments that Hanson is at a fish or cut bait point with the Braves — declining velocity, poor mechanics and bad attitude (he works on his mechanics at the Pink Pony more than in the bullpen). So if he’s not stellar in the coming starts, I would agree he is prime trade bait since we aren’t likely to keep him in a Boras bidding war.
PMC
August 15th, 2012
2:09 pm
Hey Red, you’re pretty good for about 3 months a season then you wear out.
Maybe make it through an entire season pitching well before you start popping off K?
SeaAtl
August 15th, 2012
2:13 pm
Haha…OK, maybe I was off-base by calling him a pretty boy. I’ve never been a very good judge of such things!
Bob Davis
August 15th, 2012
2:27 pm
Hanson’s lack of control and decreased velocity will eventually be his demise. No way do I see him included in the five-man rotation at the beginning of September. Additionally, his pathetic pitching mechanics (he looks like he’s attempting to throw his arm out the shoulder socket on every pitch) will land him back on the disabled list again soon, I’m sure.
Halbert
August 15th, 2012
2:47 pm
Aside from those 20 starts or so in his rookie season, I have never been impressed with Hanson and wouldn’t mind it if he were moved in the offseason. His lethargic attitude out on the mound doesn’t exactly fill anyone with confidence and his 100 pitches by the 5th inning tells me he’s not confident either. He is frustrating to watch and has yet to learn how to close out a hitter if he can’t strike him out.
nick manning
August 15th, 2012
3:24 pm
I’m not saying Hanson parties too much but–Hanson might be partying too much.
RunninWithTheDawgs
August 15th, 2012
4:09 pm
I’m happy to see Hanson coming back in the rotation. If he’s only good for 4 or 5 innings, so what, as long as he is GOOD for those innings I think our bull pen can handle it from there.
oldfart
August 15th, 2012
4:24 pm
Now we have it revealed today that the problem in 2010 with Melky wasn’t with the coaching from Bobby Cox. Bobby just neglected to tell him to take his juice.
Instant Dawgma
August 15th, 2012
4:33 pm
Hanson seems a little ticked….Maybe the pressure of competition for starting spot will make him better and more consistent.
He’s up and down like a yo-yo. Even when healthy.
Instant Dawgma
August 15th, 2012
4:37 pm
Jeff, keeping track of Washington updates?…..Enquiring, Braves fan, minds want to know. It would be nice if Sundays game was being played for first place.
Jay
August 15th, 2012
5:23 pm
Wait, wait…he’s lost FIVE mph on his fastball???? Ugh! He hasn’t been the same since the shoulder injury. Cut your losses Braves, or risk dealing with Jurjjens 2.0
Nite Owl
August 15th, 2012
6:21 pm
@SeaAtl:
If anyone’s a pretty boy, it’s that dude the Padres threw out there last night. That guy’s teeth were whiter than white.
Chris Murphy
August 16th, 2012
6:54 am
Hanson has a very unnatural motion, it is not smooth at all- I’m not surprised he has physical strains and injuries because of it. He’s a big guy, and should look at how Koufax- another big guy- teaches the mechanics of power pitching.
Joey
August 16th, 2012
8:32 am
Isn’t it strange that two of our best young pitchers, Hanson and Jurrjens, both lost velocity while still early in their careers?
It makes me wonder if the Braves off-season program is different now than a few years ago.
Just strange.
Tom Thurston
August 16th, 2012
9:29 am
When will some coach fix Hanson’s mechanics. He is going to be plagued with arm and shoulder problems until it is corrected. In short his delivery is not fluid. When throws a pitch he has a short hesitation that stops all the momentum. This virtually eliminates the lower half of his body. In order to regain the torque to throw a ball in upper 80’s and low 90’s he must compensate with added force on elbow or shoulder or both. He will not have a long career with this delivery.
alex
August 16th, 2012
10:02 am
yesterday attendance is 16,000, would be dawgs attendance in Athens (at least 1.5 h. drive or more) with any school including who triple sucks 99,000. please shut out all Atlanta pro sports. this place remind me far north Siberia with only passion for dogs race.
dick whiskey
August 16th, 2012
11:13 am
alex if you want to go spend big bucks of your hard earned money to watch a bunch of millionaire’s play a dumb ballgame,go ahead, but i’m not going to
Braves in last palce by Sept fist
August 16th, 2012
11:37 am
I tell U Hansens has a drinking and or drug problem. Remeber when he wreck his car B 4 sprig training? It was a mystery blown tire and everone just sweept it under the rug but now it is so oblivous that his real problemis drinking and or drugs.
alex
August 16th, 2012
12:21 pm
dick 100% correct capacity crowd in phill., chic., ny, sl, sf, etc. all morons spending hard earned money we in atlanta only wise one.
kc
August 16th, 2012
2:23 pm
The description “power pitcher” need to stop with Hanson. Just look at the radar gun. He is the Braves worst starter at this point. He can’t throw a fastball by anybody-they just sit back and wait on it. Only chance he has are the nights when he has the big sweeping curve ball working. I will take Medlin-let Hanson go to the pen-he had his chance.
Sam Doughty
August 16th, 2012
4:17 pm
Going to 6 starters will just know your #1 pitchers out of several starts. Just enough loses to not make the wildcard.
Sam Doughty
August 16th, 2012
4:17 pm
Going to 6 starters will just know your #1 pitchers out of several starts. Just enough loses to not make the wildcard.
Sam Doughty
August 16th, 2012
4:17 pm
Going to 6 starters will just know your #1 pitchers out of several starts. Just enough loses to not make the wildcard.
Sam Doughty
August 16th, 2012
4:17 pm
Going to 6 starters will just know your #1 pitchers out of several starts. Just enough loses to not make the wildcard.
Get rid of Jurrjens and Hanson in the off season
August 16th, 2012
4:44 pm
Both JJ and Hanson are WHINE’ers – DFA them or get rid of both of them in the off season!
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
August 17th, 2012
8:13 pm
Hansen has a drinking problem he had 2 go 2 rehab after he crashed his car.
Mr. Hankey
August 18th, 2012
9:50 am
Jeffy: Never been a hanson fan. Don’t know why. Maybe that goofy hairdo he sported the first couple of years. Maybe I just inherently don’t like gingers (Except of course of Gilligan fame Ginger), but it’s probably the fact that he just “hunks” the ball from the elbow up. There’s no shoulder action, no body sway. That may be good for skipping rocks back in the Cali, bu I say deal him ASAP for something before he goes Jergens on us. He’s definitely on decline, the arm is slowing dieing a la Steve Avery except Steve Avery was cute and lovable (Nothing gay intended here) and Hanson just seems…well….snarky.
Mr. Hankey
August 18th, 2012
9:53 am
P.S. Did I mention I don’t like Jim Donan any longer? Not that I ever did. That’s for another day, but being the victim of several (literally) burglaries I rate a thief right down there somewhere between anybody in Guantanamo Bay and Sandusky.