So how come the current Braves can’t hit but ex-Braves can?
I’ve never been one who believed Terry Pendleton was the problem. As the saying goes, he can’t step in and hit for his guys. (It might be better if he could.) But then you look at these batting averages, and even a Pendleton admirer must cringe.
- Chipper Jones, .271.
- Brian McCann, .271.
- Jason Heyward, .246.
- Yunel Escobar, .188.
- Troy Glaus, .186.
- Matt Diaz, .175.
- Melky Cabrera, 153.
- Nate McLouth, .146.
Take away Martin Prado — who is, it must be stipulated, second in the National League in hitting at .406 — and the totality of the Braves’ regular lineup isn’t hitting Prince Fielder’s weight. Which is incredible.
The Braves rank last in the league in hitting at .228. (And remember, that’s with Prado doing a Ted Williams.) They were no-hit by Ubaldo Jimenez. They were shut out by Roy Halladay. They were one out from being blanked on a night Kyle Kendrick started for the Phillies. They were shut out over five innings by Mike Pelfrey on Sunday.
They didn’t score an earned run in three games against a Philadelphia starting pitcher. They scored three runs in 23 innings against the Mets. They’re in last place in the NL East, behind even the Washington Nationals. Yow.
And now we check another set of numbers, these belonging to players who were Braves in 2009 but who aren’t today:
- Jeff Francoeur, Mets: .286 average, three homers, 10 RBIs.
- Kelly Johnson, Diamonbacks:.322, seven homers, 12 RBIs.
- Casey Kotchman, Mariners: .279 average, three homers, 14 RBIs.
- Adam LaRoche, Diamonbacks: .278, one homer, seven RBIs.
Again, I’m not one who usually blames the hitting coach when big-leaguers don’t hit. But it does seem the guys who aren’t Braves are hitting in a way the Braves aren’t. You tell me: What does that say?
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688 comments Add your comment
Ted M
April 26th, 2010
1:25 pm
I agree Casey and go back to page 2 and read the story bravesfan told.
Casey
April 26th, 2010
1:26 pm
@Scott
That is one of the most idiotic statements I have heard in my entire life. Bobby Cox wants likes his team to NOT score runs. I want some of what you’re smoking!
phoenixfalcon
April 26th, 2010
1:26 pm
it’s a bad team, they can’t hit, they can’t play defense, they don’t steal bases, they can’t bunt, it’s a bad team, and the worst part about it is they knew they were this bad and never did anything to get better, all i can say is, look at the pirates, that’s where the bravs are headed.
Shawn
April 26th, 2010
1:27 pm
Kelly Johnson is tied for the NL league in home runs. Wow. That says a lot about this Atlanta team and it’s coaches.
phoenixfalcon
April 26th, 2010
1:27 pm
braves
AFDawg
April 26th, 2010
1:28 pm
The Braves are reaping what they deserve — I predicted this before the season started. The front office is too concerned with saving pennies and nickels. When they let Adam Larouche get away I said that’s it — I’m not going to anymore games.
carlchamblee
April 26th, 2010
1:30 pm
McCann is getting walked about once a game. His OBP is .446. Heyward has 11 walks, his OBP even despite his recent struggles is .370.
But they hit 2-3 spots apart in the order with Glaus and the 8/9 spot behind them respectively.
So pitchers can try to make perfect pitches to those guys and sometimes strike them out with unhittable/borderline strikes, or they can walk them without a worry. Never have to give in or give those two a pitch to hit.
Dawg Pound
April 26th, 2010
1:30 pm
The Braves have always had a “ho hum” attitude about their business. We need some guys with some fire in em. Chipper is a bad example. Never any enthusiasm out of him.
Steve
April 26th, 2010
1:35 pm
Everybody forgets that Brian McCann & Chipper go to there dad for hitting advice instead of TP hopefully next year the braves will go outside and hire a good hitting coach maybe Don Baylor will come back to Atlanta
Tony
April 26th, 2010
1:36 pm
The easiest conclusion to come to is that the hitting coach is the problem with the Braves hitting. When we are on our jobs there is no one there to tell us how to do our jobs everyday. We are expected to come to work and perform. These guys are professionals…professionals. TP is simply there to provide as much input as necessary, things that he sees that may be out of the ordinary with a player struggling…such as simple mechanics, and plate appearance, etc. He may also provide tips on how a batter is being pitched to. These professional Braves are going to have to reach inside of themselves and find that desire to lead and hit. If you blame TP, then everyone else on staff is responsible including the skipper. This is when in basketball, the coach would make a wholesale substitution…LOL
Matt the Brave
April 26th, 2010
1:36 pm
Mark, who is the Braves hitting coach at AAA? It seems like the guys hit the cover off the ball down there, but then they lose something in the majors. Are we just made up of AAAA players? I don’t think so. I like TP, but it just seems that he doesn’t connect with the players like he should. Sort of like Riggleman a few years back.
Frank
April 26th, 2010
1:37 pm
TP has never shown much ability nor interest in his job as batting coach. My guess is that he was told long ago by someone in power that he would be the manager when Bobby leaves and that’s why he is still here. It might be that his aim has been to make Bobby look bad so that he will look better as manager with a real batting coach. The only coaches worth keeping are Lopez and Hubbard.
carlchamblee
April 26th, 2010
1:37 pm
Dawg Pound – I agree, Chipper is a horrible example. But the Braves decided this would be a ceremonial year. Chipper gets to bat 3rd and play 3rd base no matter what as a thank-you. And Cox gets to continue his poor managing as a thank-you. They both get a victory lap without an actual victory and a year of rebuilding and relaoding is wasted because of it
samuel gore
April 26th, 2010
1:39 pm
No pressure means no reason to perform. When players aren’t willing to put pressure on themselves and the management feels the same, then we shouldn’t expect much either. If the star hitter of the team doesn’t feel the need to show up fit to play baseball then someone needs to put the spurs to him, but I don’t think this is happening. The best manager in baseball and the best hitting coach in the league? Something isn’t working as it should if we are not getting the best from the players who we have grown so use to seeing star caliber performances from.
VolGuy
April 26th, 2010
1:39 pm
Random thoughts:
Bobby Cox seems to be a nice guy – a players’ manager – but he never seems to get angry when his million dollar babies are playing like six year old kids. Right now the Braves are listless, punchless defensively sloppy and boring to watch.
Chipper- was great but now looks every year of his 38. Should change his name to “Tweaker”.
Ownwership – They look at the Braves as another entry on their budget. It isn’t necessary to spend like the Yankees, but they should quit trying to save money by signing over the hill players like Glause and Melky. In the case of the Braves, a cut rate budget has yielded a cut rate team. The glory days of Braves Baseball are a faded memory.
Don Sutton and the new guy on the radio do an adequate yet robotic job. I miss the humor of Chip Carey, who wouldn’t hesitate to say when the Braves were bad, and the knowledge of Pete Van Weren
Chad
April 26th, 2010
1:41 pm
It’s George Bush’s fault.
Johnny Kakes
April 26th, 2010
1:43 pm
Man – - I’d take Mark McGuire over Pendleton as a hitting coach! Alright… I admit I had a few drinks at lunchtime… just so damn angry at this team.
hatfieldgeoff
April 26th, 2010
1:45 pm
Even if Terry is not the problem, he obviously is not the solution. Give somebody else a chance and let’s see how they do. You never hear about how Pendleton has helped a hitter get better. Chipper still raves about how Don Baylor showed him how to hit. The batting coach that was with the Rangers had a dozen players singing his praises. As good a manager as Bobby is, his big problem is loyalty to a fault. He stays too long with players and coaches. I’m afraid we are going to see Troy Glaus hit into 6-4-3 double plays until after the All-Star break when we will be 15 games out of first.
GSU Eagle 91
April 26th, 2010
1:50 pm
It’s Bobby’s team..Therefore Bobby is the problem…Why? Because Bobby is too friendly with his players ( Of course they like that…) and I have ALWAYS believed the Braves were one of the worst ML teams as far as conditioning…Or lack of…How can a ML ballplayer be out of breath running from 1st to 3rd…
I hope TP can take over this team next year, and put his right foot in a couple of lazt behinds we have on this team…And send Bobby to the showers..
Chip
April 26th, 2010
1:51 pm
Mark Bradley, I find it atrocious that I can’t follow you on Twitter & Facebook.
Ruthie Vaughn
April 26th, 2010
1:51 pm
I Love to watch the BRAVES, but I have thought for the last 3 or 4 years that they need a batting coach. Hi just does not get the job done. I am like you, thet seem to hit very well when they leave the Braves, so something is wrong. Terry P. mayn have been a good hittter in his day, but he needs to go and we need some one else that can do the job.
truth
April 26th, 2010
1:51 pm
FIRE TERRY BEFORE HE RUINS THIS LINE-UP!!
GSU Eagle 91
April 26th, 2010
1:51 pm
lazt should be lazy
Sorry about that!
BartBuzz
April 26th, 2010
1:51 pm
Mark,
I agree with you. Why have a hitting coach if he’s not the one responsible? I liked Terry Pendleton as a player. But as a hitting coach I haven’t understood how he has managed to stay on with the Braves. I just hope the plan is not to make him Bobby’s replacement.
BTW, it’s not too late to find a real hitting coach.
Ruthie
April 26th, 2010
1:56 pm
I sure hope that the team isnot given to T P. That would be awful, I’ed ruther see John S. or Tom. G. or even Greg M. coach the team. I think they have a better understanding of what is going on.
Huff
April 26th, 2010
1:56 pm
Lets get real. Coach’s don’t play that large of a role in sports especially the higher you go up in level. For instance I think Phil Jackson is a good coach but if he was coaching the clippers for all those years he would not have all those championships. You can only modivate so much. As for TP, he does the exact same thing that every other major league hitting coach does. He looks at film and makes suggestions to struggling hitters. The fact is if TP was in Tampa right now he would be looked at as a genious.
As a matter of fact if I was the coach of the Yankees it would be harder for me to not win the league than to take them to the world series. Just use some common sense guys. How often does a hitting coach call time from the dugout to talk to his batter in the middle of an at bat. Never because it won’t help. See it and hit it.
Chip
April 26th, 2010
1:57 pm
BartBuzz, not only do I think that Hank wants TP as the next Braves manager, but it’s pretty obvious that Bobby does too.
Mark Bradley
April 26th, 2010
1:57 pm
You can, Chip. I’m on both. I’m markbradleyajc on both Twitter and Facebook.
Tony
April 26th, 2010
1:59 pm
Again, the coaches cannot hit the ball for the players. No one is at each practice to evaluate what job the coaches are doing to get these guys going. This is just unfortunately a player thing. I will say that the coaches should become a bit more vocal in the dugout and on the bases. Motivation may be more of the answer than anything else. These guys should require minimal instruction. They have been playing ball since tee league.
Tony
April 26th, 2010
1:59 pm
…what about that Mark?
Barry
April 26th, 2010
2:01 pm
I was wondering the other day “who gets the Braves hitters prepared to hit against a certain pitcher or team that day?” I have been thinking back, even to the Astros playoff series, that the Braves didn’t look very prepared to hit while the opposing team seemed to know exactly how to hit our starting pitcher. I think it’s time for a new hitting coach. I know the Braves management is loyal to Pendelton, but at some point the sake of the team needs to come before loyalty. I can understand a couple of players having slumps but not an ENTIRE TEAM. Just about all the Braves hitters look lost and overmatched at the plate. I mean how can you not tee off on a Jamie Moyer who is throwing batting practice stuff up there. Yea he’s able to locate but it’s not like he is blowing 96mph fastballs up there. The fact is compounded by the inability to get any kind of hit with men on base and this is not just the past year or so but the past several years. The Braves just choke in clutch situations period. A change needs to be made in coaching or how they prepare to hit for a game.
Justin
April 26th, 2010
2:02 pm
Ok, let me take this another direction. There are a LOT of reasons the braves offense is terrible this year; namely the Troy Glaus signing, Chipper’s mind-boggling injury bug and the fact that our best hitter is 20 (my point – blame Frank Wren too), but this falls 90% on Bobby Cox. His managing strategy is one of letting the players do their thing (which is why he’s a player’s manager) and it is one of winning with good pitching and the long ball. This philosophy hasn’t worked since you had arguably the best collection of starting pitchers to ever play on one team (Smoltz, Glavine & Maddox) & a few good power hitters. The Braves offense even back then was the reason we coulnd’t win consistently in the playoffs. Why? B/c we coulnd’t dial up long-balls whenever we wanted them in the playoffs. So, Bobby’s refusal to play “small ball” (ie, to grind out runs) is killing us b/c we don’t have any power hitters. Any games we’ve won have been on well-timed dingers. Don’t blame TP. I guarantee you the hitting problems aren’t “technical” in nature. Bobby refuses to let TP “actively” coach and critique his hitters b/c it isn’t Bobby’s style. Bobby refuses to demand a patient hitting approach or a “do anything to get on base” approach. So, our batters get up there and swing on 1st pitches and let the starters get through an inning on 9 pitches. Little things like “take the 1st strike” which is what you are taught in little league would help this club a ton. Supposedly, they were being patient & disclipined during Spring ball, but that quickly disappeared as soon as they started pressing. Bobby Cox gets way to much credit, when all he did during his “run” was let the best players (pitchers) do their thing. He refuses to adapt or change his philosophy which is why I’m glad he’s going. How about some bunts, steals, hit-and-runs, sacrfices, etc?
lexbrave
April 26th, 2010
2:03 pm
i think the true job of a hitting coach is not teaching players how to hit..they already know how to do that or they would have never made it to a major league roster to begin with. that’s why players have hit at various times in the past while TP has been the hitting coach. However, the true worth of a good hitting coach is being able to recognize what players are doing when they go into slumps and pointing that out to them so they can work on correcting what they are doing wrong. it seems like our team has to figure out for themselves what adjustments they need to make to get back on track..that or go to another pitching coach, like andruw and francoeur did, or chipper has done in the past.
i think maybe that’s why players are hitting better under different coaches..they have someone helping them make correct adjustments so they don’t stay in extended slumps like players seem to do under TP’s watch. guys like prado and heyward who are hitting well don’t need the advice of a hitting coach…but when they start to slump, that’s when you will see the lack of a good hitting coach affect them as well.
Tony
April 26th, 2010
2:03 pm
Huff, I eluded to that point earlier…that is exactly right. Some people just want to place blame on everything but the real issue. In other words, switch out coaches until something works. When ultimately it is the player who has to control his destiny. To say that TP has not provided sufficient help to these guys is absurd
Mark Bradley
April 26th, 2010
2:04 pm
I can’t imagine the Braves aren’t motivated to hit, Tony. Who wants to keep making outs?
Craig
April 26th, 2010
2:06 pm
Is it me? Or does Yunel, look like he could care less this year?
Matt
April 26th, 2010
2:07 pm
Mark:
Wow, think you touched a nerve with this column??
I wish I could place the blame on TP, but the offensive struggles with this franchise seem to predate his becoming hitting coach.
That said, it’s just really painful to watch the team play right now and the shots of the dugout last night were really telling. No one was cutting jokes or keeping it loose, and there was very little chattter. You could see the “elephant in the room” (as Orel stated) was weighing really heavily and the team seems to expect to fail now.
In years past we could always rely on having at least solid pitching and good defense if the hitting was subpar. This year the hitting, as WELL as the defense, have been just shoddy and pitching is hit and miss at best. (D-Lowe is finished and Kawakami is just not a major leaguer.)
Matt Donald
April 26th, 2010
2:08 pm
Firstly, as horrible as the Braves have been and as much as I’ve cringed for this exhausting young season, it is so refreshing to read a published article at least organizing the numbers on the difference in Braves offense and ex-Braves offense. Secondly, message boards and that awful Facebook Braves page is constantly laced with overly blindly optimistic “fans” who are drenched in nostalgia. It’s great to see so many true Braves fans upset and even outraged over this regime. Cheers to everyone here. Good job, Mr. Bradley.
carlchamblee
April 26th, 2010
2:09 pm
“Or does Yunel look like he could care less this year?”
Sometimes. So does Chipper, Melky and McLouth to name a few. And we were sold “they’re gonna go all out for Bobby in his last season”.
Greg Norton
April 26th, 2010
2:10 pm
Hey Wren, sign me!! Even I can out hit these braves.
T'VILLE DAWG
April 26th, 2010
2:11 pm
FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jazzyk
April 26th, 2010
2:12 pm
I don’t blame Pendleton. Under his coaching the Braves have finished no worse the 6th in the league in hitting in the last 7 seasons. But he doesn’t have much to work with. I blame the front office for not acquiring the best hitters available in the off season. And management still hasn’t fixed the lead off hitter problem even though they’ve had several opportunities to do so.
Tony
April 26th, 2010
2:13 pm
Justin…very interesting point. And to add to that, BC is not aggressive in style either. With some of the Braves talent, there should be more base stealing, hit and runs, bunts, suicides (provided they get someone on third…lol). But yes, he lets the players loose too much. And perhaps he does not push them and force the game situations enough. He needs to do things to force momentum in games and not just sit back and holler at bad calls and yell out “come on Chipper…let’s go kid!”
DonH.
April 26th, 2010
2:13 pm
Mark…with your access to statistics, any idea when was the last time the Braves ever were in LAST place in the division (lets say after at least 10 games minimum from start of season)? I sure can’t recall a time post ‘91 season.
I’m still stumped why LaRoche wasn’t signed here after his great performance last year.
tom
April 26th, 2010
2:13 pm
Mark…..you are absolutely correct. My fear is that he will do the same to Heyword as he did to Francour. He needs to go. The season is early and we need to get someone in here to get these guys turned around.
cdog
April 26th, 2010
2:13 pm
are these professional baseball players or not?.where was pendelton before they came to the braves?,do you think pendelton is stopping them from hitting? use common sense.its the player thats up to the plate hitting not pendelton.he can point out problems when they are not hitting but when they get up to the plate, they are on their own.i played baseball on every level, you either can hit or you can’t.the players as a whole that the braves have are lousy hitters.most are over the hill.pendelton’s fault? this should not even be brought up.i don’t care who the hitting coach is, this bunch are lousy baseball players period.95% of hitting is having something the braves hitters lack, confidence.
Travis
April 26th, 2010
2:15 pm
Maine struggles and loads the bases…pitching coach goes to the mound…”John, what are you dong here? these guys can’t hit throw it down the midlde and we’ll get out of this”. Pitchers have no fear of back to back hitters on this Braves team. No steals, pitchers hitting .050 and the lead of average is about .074. Think about how many sure outs there are in this lineup and it’s obvious why the Braves have scored 3 runs in last 4 games. I’ve said this many times and every time someone on the blog points out the obvious….hitting coaches don’t make professional players excel or slump. Then firing one won’t make a difference one way or the other. Save Pendletons salary and the maintenance guys won’t have to sweep as many sunflower seeds.
BartBuzz
April 26th, 2010
2:16 pm
I read comments saying that TP is not the problem. But no one has explained how everyone except Prado is slumping. If the hitting coach can’t spot what they are doing wrong (or different), who can? I mean Bobby Cox even praised McLouth for almost hitting a 3-run homer right before he struck out…again.
jimmy
April 26th, 2010
2:16 pm
the braves formula is not working.everyone has to share the blame .HOW LONG DO WE WAIT TO REFORMULATE.again no confidence inT.P
Curious George
April 26th, 2010
2:17 pm
Mark -
You quoted Bobby Cox as saying Mr. Pendleton is “the hardest working coach he has ever had.”
Wouldn’t be better for all involved for Mr. Pendleton to work SMARTER rather than “HARDER?”