For a slump like Uggla’s, waiting (and hoping) is the only cure
The most recent of Dan Uggla's 15 RBIs. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
On May 25, 2004, Derek Jeter was hitting .189. He would finish the season at .292. He would hit .300 or better in each of the next five seasons. Today he’s 25 hits from No. 3,000.
On May 23, 2011, Dan Uggla is hitting .185. Braves fans have been in a dither over Uggla, who was imported from Florida and then re-upped for $62 million over five years, since April, but Aprils can deceive. Besides, Uggla never hits in April.
Now, however, we’re a week from Memorial Day, the first checkpoint of the baseball season, and Uggla was actually better in April, when he hit .194, than he has been in May. On Friday, Uggla was bumped up to second in the Braves’ batting order for the first time this season. (Manager Fredi Gonzalez justified by the change by quoting the loose definition of insanity: “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.”)
Uggla went 0-for-3 that night. On Saturday he batted sixth, also for the first time this season, and went 1-for-6. On Sunday he batted fifth and went 0-for-4.
He’s 2-for-28 since his game-winning home run off Roy Halladay on May 15. Esteemed colleague Dave O’Brien reported from Anaheim that Uggla “toss[ed] equipment after a couple of at-bats” Sunday and afterward sat alone at his locker for a half-hour.
A month ago, Uggla was a man off to a slow start. Today he’s 30 percent of his way into a season, and he has 15 RBIs, 11 of which have come from home runs. Of his seven homers, five have come with the bases empty. He’s 6-for-47 (.128) with runners in scoring position.
The Braves knew, or at least thought they knew, what they were getting in Uggla: A second baseman of uncertain glove but consistent power. He’d averaged 30 homers and 93 RBIs over the previous five seasons, and a man who hits that well for that long doesn’t just forget how to hit. (Does he?)
But now a man expected to do much is doing little, and the cruel truth is that there’s little the Braves can do. They could bench Uggla for two or three games, but with Jason Heyward on the disabled list and Nate McLouth hurting this team is running short on bodies. And it’s not clear that benching an established hitter, or even moving him in the batting order, does much good: Phillies manager Charlie Manuel tried both tacks with Jimmy Rollins in 2009, and the former MVP still wound up hitting .250.
Regarding Uggla, the good news is that a good hitter invariably starts to hit. (Rollins has never been quite himself again, but he has been injured.) And it isn’t as if Uggla is the only proven hitter underperforming: Albert Pujols, the best in the business, is batting .269 and has gone 103 at-bats without a homer.
In sum, it happens. Trouble is, it has happened to Uggla at a particularly bad time. With a new team and a new contract, this season was to be his moment of true arrival. (”Nobody had ever seen me play,” he told USA Today last week. “I was in Florida.”) Instead it has been a period of reinvention, and not in a good way. He has fielded better than he has hit, but the Braves aren’t paying him to be Jose Lind.
As Uggla told O’Brien: “You can only take the playing-good-defense thing so far before you’ve got to get some hits and score some runs and drive in some runs. It’s a trying time right now.”
It is, and Uggla is doing what men in slumps invariably do: He’s swinging too hard, trying to compensate for two bad months in one at-bat. Baseball doesn’t work that way. According to ESPN’s Inside Edge, anything off-speed will get him out. He’s hitting .306 on fastballs, .210 on curves, .204 on sliders, .183 on changeups. (He’s also hitting .118 against lefthanders, which makes no sense; he hit .306 against them last season.)
It’s a trying time, but times can and do change. Jeter’s great slump of 2004 was broken by a couple of bloop doubles. That’s the time-honored ticket. After a protracted period of lineouts and frustration, a guy hits a few where they ain’t and the world looks different. Surely it will happen that way for Dan Uggla. Surely, I say.
By Mark Bradley
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180 comments Add your comment
Matt from MN
May 23rd, 2011
10:53 am
UNO!!!
Robert 08
May 23rd, 2011
10:54 am
Maybe he should move more into the batters box … maybe he can reach those breaking balls on the outside of the plate.
Matt from MN
May 23rd, 2011
10:55 am
Atlanta Braves where free agents (or potential free agents) come to die? Haven’t had much luck with pick ups from other teams lately, see Dan Kolb, Nate McLouth, etc.
Paul
May 23rd, 2011
10:55 am
Without Prado and McCann, we would have the worst record in the league. Why haven’t the Braves been able to put it all together on offense since 05?
Mark Bradley
May 23rd, 2011
10:55 am
Kudo!!!
MT
May 23rd, 2011
10:56 am
Would love to seem him go with the pitch a couple of times. Maybe a flare to right will get him going.
Mark Bradley
May 23rd, 2011
10:59 am
I seem to remember one free agent doing OK here. Maddux was the name, if I recall correctly.
Terry Pendleton, JR
May 23rd, 2011
11:03 am
Getting Uggla a new & more competent batting coach would be an even better cure.
( Hint, Hint )
bucket
May 23rd, 2011
11:04 am
I am no expert hitting coach, but it seems to me that Uggla swings at way too many first pitches! It would appear to me that when a guy is stuggling the way Uggla is he would want to take a few pitches.
Mark Bradley
May 23rd, 2011
11:04 am
I’m not going to lie: The on-base percentage is troubling, especially since the Braves led the league in that category in 2010.
Herschel Talker
May 23rd, 2011
11:05 am
MB:
I want your serious thoughts on this team. Their OBP is a disaster, they don’t get any guys on base, they don’t score early, the lineup is insanely inconsistent. As you say, we are 1/3 of the way through the season, and it’s obvious that they are who they are, and that is not a good thing. Do you really think this schizo lineup, as constructed, can really win anything? I sure don’t.
HT
bucket
May 23rd, 2011
11:07 am
Ok, those two sentences were a little redundent, but the greater point stands! When Uggla comes to the plate with runners on base he needs to remember what the announcers are always saying, “The hitter is not the guy in trouble, the pitcher is.” That pitcher should have to make at least 3 good pitches to get him out. Uggla is making it easier for the pitcher by swinging at the first pitch alot.
Ticked with this Team
May 23rd, 2011
11:08 am
Maybe, just maybe it is time to start looking for a new hitting coach and possibly a new manager – neither one seem to be doing worth a crap with this team……..maybe it is time to jack up the players – trade somebody to get their attention and help them understand pay is for performance and we ain’t seen none yet – just a bunch of lazy injury prone prima donnas
Bill
May 23rd, 2011
11:08 am
Agree on Maddux. He was the best. Uggla will be alright, the best like you said go through crap like this. It takes time and everyone hurts waiting for it to happen. Never give up!
Larry
May 23rd, 2011
11:08 am
Uggla epitomizes the standard offensive player for a Bobby and Fredi Cox team…a hard swinging hack that is hot or cold, unpredictable and inconsistent. Will they EVER learn?
Here’s the first clue…when it takes someone three months (February – April) and hundreds of at bats to starting hitting this is exactly the type of player we do not need! Our lineup is and has been dominated by this type of hitter for many, many years and these are the type of hitters that the great pitchers just love to face–especially in the postseason.
Terry Pendleton, JR
May 23rd, 2011
11:09 am
Oh, By the Way:
FIRE FREDI GONZALEZ !
Brandon
May 23rd, 2011
11:13 am
It’s refreshing to hear him say at some point he has to hit and push across runs. I get that the team is struggling and I’m willing to be patient…but I’m tired of the cap tipping, hitting it hard, we just got to keep plugging lines. We are playing lousy right now and it’s nice to hear some accountability from a player. Go Bravos!
Joycee Banicheck
May 23rd, 2011
11:16 am
Guy needs to get the fence out of his eyes when he swings the bat. Reminds me of Andruw Jones his last season or two here in Atl.
JUST HIT THE DAMN BALL
Not Don Waddell
May 23rd, 2011
11:17 am
Never would have thought I would be clamoring for Terry Pendleton to return as hitting coach, but I have never seen a lineup as bad as the one that the Braves keep trotting out. They swing at everything and hit nothing. Very, very difficult team to watch.
Bill
May 23rd, 2011
11:19 am
TPJ your dad, TP, would get mad if they fired his boss. lol
The chosen one would have a time fixing this group…..but it can be done.
Maybe, Uggla muscled up to much in off season..?
Ron E.
May 23rd, 2011
11:20 am
Mostly Uggla has had a combination of bad luck and small sample size (there are a lot more ABs to come in the 70% of the season left to play than the 30% already done). His stats should fix themselves (hopefully sooner rather than later). What he doesn’t need is to turn into Jeff Francoeur and start trying trying all sorts of random changes that completely mess up his head. Just stick with what made him a hitter the Braves wanted to trade for and things will work themselves out.
44ty
May 23rd, 2011
11:21 am
I am soooo tired of the NO HITTING Braves… Been a fan since 66….but I gotta tell ya…the hitting the past several yrs is so bad, I am bored with the Braves! Not watching them..I mean, I know what to pitch ea hitter, I know what the coach is NOT gonna do at the right moment…WHO EVER MAKES MAJOR DECISIONS REGARDING THIS TEAM…DO SOMETING!
Matt from MN
May 23rd, 2011
11:21 am
Geez, Mark… Greg Maddux?? How many years back do we have to go for that one? 18 years, to be exact. What about recent acquisitions that have done as well or better than expected? I’m drawing a blank.
joe
May 23rd, 2011
11:27 am
Who is the braves hitting coach? Even a benchwarmer like me can see every pitcher is hitting the lower outside corner with fast balls, curves and sliders that he cannot touch. His stance is so open, he’s lucky to get wood on those outside balls. The hitting coach needs to teach him to close his stance and move closer to the plate and hit those pitches to right field. It’s not rocket science…and he’s doing nothing to adjust his stance or swing.
Wink
May 23rd, 2011
11:31 am
Mark B
You throw enough against the wall and some will stick! Maddux yes especially during regular season. The only other acquisition that sticks out is Crime Dog, McGriff. But if you check history, they usually die here.
To name a few… Willie Martinez, Gene Garber, Mike Hampston (all MLB injury team, The Big Cat, Galaraga, Ken Griffey Jr.,Troy Glaus, Gary Sheffield….admittedly some of them had their moments!
hank
May 23rd, 2011
11:32 am
Maybe he needs to follow the example of the old timers. Go out get tore down drunk and play with a hangover. At least he could forget that he is swinging like, as we used to say in little league, an old wash woman.
PMC
May 23rd, 2011
11:32 am
So we traded one of our best field position players in Omar Infante and Mike Dunn a pretty good relief pitcher for 62 million dollars of Jeff Francouer…..awesome.
(patience grashopper)
Bill
May 23rd, 2011
11:33 am
Matt from MN..to answer your ?
Good free agent signing…..Ross & Heniske both doing just great!
PMC
May 23rd, 2011
11:34 am
Bring back the blood doping and the roids.
Brett Favre was once a Falcon
May 23rd, 2011
11:35 am
Back when I was a kid growing up in Mississippi, I had a lot of baseball cards. The great players looked like normal human beings. I don’t remember any of them with biceps the size of Uggla’s. The man is too muscular. It doesn’t allow him to hit the ball. I’m serious.
Dawgfan0711
May 23rd, 2011
11:37 am
Mark, can you give the braves front office all of these hitting instructors email addresses? Everyone seems to be an expert. Come on guys, he will start hitting! RELAX braves fans, DU will be fine.
Hankie Aron
May 23rd, 2011
11:39 am
MB- I love the Jose Lind reference! Remember how tiny his glove was? Great fielder
schmeckdawg
May 23rd, 2011
11:39 am
.185 BA, I’d say that is well worth $62M.
Matt from MN
May 23rd, 2011
11:43 am
@Bill-Ross and Hinskie are back-up players at best. I’m talking about every day players. The only ones that I think you can make an argument for are pitchers, at this point, and not position players. For example, Hudson and Lowe (even though the Braves were looking to deal D-Lowe almost immediately after signing him to extension) have done OK.
Dawgfan0711
May 23rd, 2011
11:44 am
Sign Barry bonds, he could out hit most of the current line up! OBP would go up 50 points.
Hankie Aron
May 23rd, 2011
11:45 am
Wink- Willie Martinez and Ken Griffey Jr never played for the Braves. Willie Martinez did get fired as def coodinator at UGA. DAVE Martinez did have a short veteran “on the way out” stint with the Braves. Ken Griffery SR did play for the Braves. Let’s make sure we know who we are talking about before we talk.
TN Jeff
May 23rd, 2011
11:45 am
Question: Why do guys like Uggla and previously Tex get passes for “slow starts”? As much as they are paid should they not perform for a whole season? Perhaps such players should be required to arrive early & play EVERY inning of EVERY spring training game. Pathetic the pampering these guys get from the media.
chem
May 23rd, 2011
11:47 am
Brad is right. — Nothing seems terribly wrong except that he is taking huge rips on every swing. He needs to try flipping some balls into the outfield to get back in the groove.
Hankie Aron
May 23rd, 2011
11:49 am
Matt- They were looking to deal Lowe after 10 months since signing. not immediately.
Hankie Aron
May 23rd, 2011
11:50 am
To your point though Matt, I do agree signing Lowe was a knee jerk reaction
Hankie Aron
May 23rd, 2011
11:50 am
on Frank Wren’s part
What??
May 23rd, 2011
11:50 am
There is no secret to Uggla’s struggles – he cannot hit anything on the outer third of the plate (FYI – that’s also why he is struggling so mightily against lefties). I agree with all of the posters suggesting that he a) close his stance a bit, and/or b) move closer to the plate. If he doesn’t want to alter his approach, b would seem to be a good option. Over the last few weeks, I have called on numerous occasions when he was in 0-2 or 1-2 counts that he would strike out on an offspeed pitch on the outside corner. He absolutely flails at those – no chance. Where is Larry Parrish? Very unimpressed with his hyper aggressive approach. It has absolutely killed the teams OBS which was the one bright spot to last year’s offense. It enabled us to pressure pitchers and get their pitch counts up without getting a lot of hits (which seems to be totally out of reach for this group).
NickGranite
May 23rd, 2011
11:51 am
Mike Hampton won the lottery in Atlanta. He got a lot for nothing.
Cousin Vicker
May 23rd, 2011
11:52 am
Frenchy is doing pretty well this year too. I find that disturbing.
NickGranite
May 23rd, 2011
11:52 am
Frenchy was doing well Vicker. Though his overall stats still look OK, he’s been dropping like a rock lately.
Howard
May 23rd, 2011
11:54 am
Maybe he’s done. Maybe just a slump. Hope if it is a slump that it doesn’t get to him mentally and he can’t get out of it. But the bigger question is why the Braves are struggling so much. My two sense is that they are still playing Earl Weaver baseball….waiting for the 3 run home run. I wish they would get some guys that have high on base percentage and can steal a base. They need to be able to get those cheap runs. At least last year they walked a lot but not this year. Speed is coming back to baseball and the Braves need to get with it. Someone asked why they haven’t hit since the middle of the last decade. Maybe because isn’t that when Furcal left the Braves. When he would get on he would cause havoc and he made the 2, 3, and 4 hitters better. I like Prado a lot but we lack a real lead off hitter and have for a long time.
gadawgs
May 23rd, 2011
11:56 am
Some guys can play lights out on teams with NO expectations(see McClouth in Pittsburgh and now Dan “noone ever saw me play in Florida” Uggla). When the lights are on you and it matters some guys just nut up.
FIRE WREN
May 23rd, 2011
11:58 am
Hey Mark….. Where is Kenshin Kawakami is he doing ok? I am worried sick we will never see him play for the braves again. Man he was a beast about one inning a game!!!
NickGranite
May 23rd, 2011
11:59 am
The Braves finished 3rd in the majors last year with a 3.57 ERA, now they are 3rd with a 3.07. There are currently 11 teams with an ERA under that same 3.57 with a 12th sitting at 3.59. Hitting is generally down all over but this is ridiculous.
John
May 23rd, 2011
12:00 pm
Mark – what’s troubling is that the entire team is below expectations. See capitolavenueclub.com. To me that says its the coaching. You always expect 1-2 players to slump, but every single player stinks right now. Not good. Is it Parish’s fault? I dunno…
Ron Roberts
May 23rd, 2011
12:01 pm
Problem is, I don’t see Dan Uggla being robbed of hits or hitting it sharply “right at” people; he’s striking out and grounding out, softly. I have zero empirical data to back this up; just my perception. I could understand if he were tattooing the ball, but not getting the lucky bounce or hitting it in the right spots… he’s just not hitting well, at all, aside from the seven dingers.
FIRE WREN
May 23rd, 2011
12:01 pm
Ron you are right….. Yesterday with the bases loaded Uggla looked lost…. Like a damn fool. He has got to get it together or no chance for playoffs this year. HE was supposed to be the peice that put us over the top!!!
Auburn University Payroll Dept.
May 23rd, 2011
12:01 pm
Does anyone have Cam’s latest address? We need to send him his last paycheck.
Betty
May 23rd, 2011
12:02 pm
Uggla is pressing, trying to hit the ball to hard. Cut back the swing slightly, go to the opposite field, stop trting to hit a homerun every time at bat.
Cousin Vicker
May 23rd, 2011
12:03 pm
his overall stats are still better than anyone on the Braves roster.
Matt
May 23rd, 2011
12:03 pm
One way to look at it: This team was a playoff team last year for one reason, last at bat wins. That is not really an indication of how good a team actually is. That gave alot of false hope as to how good this team really is. Couple that with the fact they don’t have a legit base stealing threat and this is not a playoff team.
Another way to look at it: With the hitters they have in that lineup there is no excuse (other than mass injury) to not score runs. This is not a team full of bums by any means. Cox wasn’t able to get much out of this lineup (you don’t coach last ab wins)and you hired Gonzalez to keep it as close to Cox as possible. Maybe they need to change it up a bit and get someone outside of the Braves bubble in there.
Mark Bradley
May 23rd, 2011
12:09 pm
Kenshin Kawakami is 1-1 with the Double-A Mississippi Braves. He has an ERA of 7.59.
TennBravesFan
May 23rd, 2011
12:10 pm
I don’t understand why Braves hitters (i.e. Uggla and Heyward) refuse to adjust. They each need to move about 6 inches toward the plate and take a step up in the box. This makes the outside pitch more reachable and dares oppossing pitchers to throw them fastballs. I have heard Joe Simpson say this several times and he is completely right.
Mark Bradley
May 23rd, 2011
12:11 pm
And this lineup is much better, at least on paper, than last season’s. No reason this club shouldn’t hit.
Skeezix
May 23rd, 2011
12:13 pm
Uggla is a major concern and I hope he gets it going soon. You have to think that he has put added pressure on himself to perform (with that fat contract of his). Heyward also has been a real disappointment. But with the exception of a couple of guys, the offense to date has stunk.
The Braves have very good to excellent pitching and a solid defense. I hope the offense gets in gear, because with some run support, this pitching staff can take us a long way. Without run support, it will be a very, very disappointing season.
Sweet Old Buck
May 23rd, 2011
12:14 pm
Gadawgs has “drilled” it.
Skeezix
May 23rd, 2011
12:14 pm
To Dan Uggla: Where is the Dan Uggla who used to feast on Braves pitchers? We want that Dan Uggla.
Ted M
May 23rd, 2011
12:20 pm
Uggla needs to hit .385 over 10 games before anyone can even begin to talk about him busting out of his slump.
His base running has been great.
Herbie HamHocks
May 23rd, 2011
12:23 pm
I know Infante is off to a slow start as well, but I think, in time, replacing him at 2nd base with Uggla will turn out to be one of the worst decisions in Brave’s history. Infante, Prado, and Gregor Blanco, added a lot of speed and athleticism to the lineup. It’s too bad. The other thing is that Uggla and Chipper’s salaries are killing us. You have a potential all-star 3rd baseman in Prado, and if Jones will JUST RETIRE, it will free up money to bring in a big time left fielder. You see the effects of Uggla’s salary at other positions as well. Especially some of the setup guys in the bullpen.
Warren Spahn
May 23rd, 2011
12:28 pm
It is always interesting to read all the smart mouths as they continue to take shots at Jeff Francoeur. Francoeur apears to be doing quite well in Kansas City. When you look at some of the others who are now doing well (Harrison, Feliz, Saltalamacchia, Morton, Cabrera, et als.), one must conclude that all they needed was to have a time to adjust and cleanse themselves. None of this success would have occurred if they had not escaped Atlanta.
Hike!!!
May 23rd, 2011
12:36 pm
I have been saying for weeks that he cannot hit the off speed pitches. Where is the pitching coach. Can’t he recommend a more patient approach at the plate. Most of the off speed stuff are balls. He should be patient and he will get more fast balls, which he can hit. Either that or he needs to develop a “golf club” swing.
O'Brien
May 23rd, 2011
12:40 pm
Braves are very aggressive at the plate, and have nothing to show for it. A few days ago, DOB reported they had a .309 OBP. That’s crazy.
Terry Pendleton received a lot of heat when he was the hitting coach. Should our new hitting coach be receiving some heat as well? Or is he still in the honeymoon stage because its his first season?
GStateBen
May 23rd, 2011
12:41 pm
Enough with the “he always starts slow” nonsense. The last few years thru May 23rd:
2011: .189 BA, .261 OBP, 7 HRs, 15 RBI
2010: .276 BA, .355 OBP, 12 HRs, 31 RBI
2009: .208 BA, .324 OBP, 8 HRs, 30 RBI
2008: .320 BA, .396 OBP, 15 HRs, 34 RBI
This is an awful stretch and he has been embarassingly bad through this point. Defensively, a rock star. Offensively, awful.
Warren Spahn
May 23rd, 2011
12:41 pm
I forgot to mention Marquis who is 5-1 in 9 starts for Washington and Betemit who is hitting .315 and doing a fine job at 3B for KC.
Wainwright is another prime example. I know he is on the DL and won’t play this year but he is still one of the best pitchers in the NL. Of course, the DL seems to attract present Braves at an amazing rate. If they cut off their paychecks I’ll bet they would suck it up and play with a little pain as Bulh, Burdette, Mathews, and the rest of us did back in the 1950s.
Reggie
May 23rd, 2011
12:45 pm
Skeezix
May 23rd, 2011
12:14 pm
To Dan Uggla: Where is the Dan Uggla who used to feast on Braves pitchers? We want that Dan Uggla.
Link
Report this commet ……………Umm we do have that Dan Uggla, the problem is he isn’t batting against Braves pitching anymore
Vote for me
May 23rd, 2011
12:48 pm
Wonder how many all star votes he will get? Maybe he should be selected for the HR Derby.
Blackberry Cobbler
May 23rd, 2011
12:51 pm
Dan Uggla is NOT Derek Jeter.
Gonzalez .254
Freeman .248
McOUT .238
Heyward .214
Uggla .185
Hell, even Chipper .262 and McCann .275 and Prado .287
Not a single starter even averaging 290 or better and most are below 250. Combine this with a much overrated pitching staff and you have what you have– a very mediocre ball club. But hey, we’re real good at tipping our hat to the other team and making opposing pitchers look real good.
The players and coaches have so answers, just excuses.
Mark (another one)
May 23rd, 2011
12:57 pm
Next time I have brain surgery, I will be sure to have a few bloggers talking to the surgeon. These guys know how to fix everything.
Uggla is in the first year of his first major contract, and he’s stuggling. It happens. The larger factor is that the Braves as a team are doing poorly. This puts a magnifying glass on Uggla but look at the hitters and pick out those performing up to expectations. From the regulars, its Chipper and McCann. Even giving Freeman a pass as he adjusts to the bigs, that’s five regulars under performing.
So no, what to do? This is the team Wren built and Fredi has to manage. Do you trust players to move towards their career averages, which would mean great improvement? Or do we have a fire sale and end up with nothing? I have to believe Uggla and some of the others will come around. WIth the current injuries, we are seeing Mathers and Hinske show what they can do, and it might help some of the guys struggling to take a day or two off and watch from the bench.
The other point is that McLouth is doing better than most of us expected, and Gonzales is a vacumn at short. Improvement over the rest of this season needs to come from first, second, left and right. We also need to appreciate the jobs being performed by Chipper and McCann and the pitching staff.
Chris Matthews
May 23rd, 2011
1:05 pm
The guy can’t hit more than 220 at most!
Braves Fan
May 23rd, 2011
1:06 pm
Keep your head up Dan. It will all come soon. Stay positive
Mitchell
May 23rd, 2011
1:07 pm
The first thing you do is fire Larry Parrish.
Then… well, then I don’t know what.
But at least you can say you’ve done something about it. This is too important not to make some kind of move, however Philadelphia-ish it may be.
We can’t go another year with such horrible underperformance by the offense and just sit there and do nothing.
This isn’t the case of guys who just can’t hit. These are proven, All Star caliber players who aren’t pulling their weight.
Do something Frank.
AK
May 23rd, 2011
1:14 pm
I sincerely hope Uggla can get it going, otherwise I think our season will be lost. Heyward is having major issues and Jones is one, bad move away from and extended stay on the disable list. Gonzalez/Wren hired an Hitting Coach, whose never even done the job in the Majors. They failed to land another legitimate leadoff man/outfielder. It’s time for them to make some changes, or else!
JTH
May 23rd, 2011
1:16 pm
Liberty Media has (holds pinky up to corner of mouth) one billion dollars to buy a outdated dinosaur like Barnes & Noble but they can’t pony up another 20-30 million to build a team with depth for a real championship run. Well to the Braves of 2011.
Monk Nash
May 23rd, 2011
1:18 pm
Maybe he should start a little Jobu shrine in his locker! At least if he has a crappy game he can drink the run and smoke a cigar!
JTH
May 23rd, 2011
1:19 pm
That should of been “Welcome to the Braves of 2011″.
At least we’re not the Mets or Dodgers anyways.
Dumbo
May 23rd, 2011
1:25 pm
UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
truthpaste
May 23rd, 2011
1:26 pm
Heyward hurt again? 21 year old getting lots of injuries is not encouraging for a long term deal.
truthpaste
May 23rd, 2011
1:31 pm
Blackberry Cobbler
The players and coaches have so answers, just excuses…
And yet 3.5 games out of first place. ROTFLMAO at you and your squirrel sized brain.
Greg Mendel
May 23rd, 2011
1:32 pm
It’s disappointing and puzzling. I was very happy we got Uggla. I don’t think he’s lazy or not trying. At the plate, it’s as if he’s been possessed by both Melky Cabrera and Troy Glaus. He doesn’t need a hitting coach — he needs and exorcist.
Bill
May 23rd, 2011
1:35 pm
Need to get McCann’s brother and Chipper’s daddy to talk to Uggla and tell him what to do…hitting coach can make suggestions but they can’t hit for’em.. Never blame TP & LP for someone else faults…Braves will return..have faith, lol
Jack G.
May 23rd, 2011
1:37 pm
The good ole boy approach to managing the Braves (Bobbie and Fredi) just dont seem to get the job done. Fredi needs to start kicking butt, and he needs to start NOW.
nc braves fan
May 23rd, 2011
1:41 pm
I can’t help but think if we got everybody hot and/or healthy at one time we could run away with this thing. The Phillies and Marlins aren’t exactly setting the world on fire either…
blue
May 23rd, 2011
1:42 pm
I think he said “free agents LATELY” Dave. I don’t think Maddox falls into that category.
BRAVESFAN
May 23rd, 2011
1:43 pm
MGT I have the solution. Get him to hang out with the pitchers and perhaps they can teach him “what not to do”. As well I’m sure him taking BP with a pitcher with real stuff might help rather than practice with a softy. Grow a beard, change what your eating, sit next to the hitting coach or someone who will actually tell you what you need to hear. What ever you have been thinking just don’t!
Largo
May 23rd, 2011
1:52 pm
To Dan Uggla – I’m sorry you’re going through such a bad time with the bat. You’ve taken a lot of abuse and I have been guilty of a lot of it. Have been trying to put myself in your place, and in doing so, kinda feel,in some small way, what you’re going through.
So, just keep trying and hopefully you will see a big improvement soon.
Mikey
May 23rd, 2011
1:53 pm
Baseball is a game of making adjustments based on what the game dictates. If it is a fact that Uggla is NOT hitting the off speed and the outside strike, would it not be common sense that he begin going to the opposite field and make that adjustment. No adjustment = same outcome…how many more RISP wasted from our #5 slot??
Najeh Davenpoop
May 23rd, 2011
1:55 pm
In three of Uggla’s five seasons with the Marlins he hit .260 or below. He still managed a good OPS, but it’s not like struggles at the plate should have been unexpected with him. Maybe not to this extent, but the way he was being hyped at the time of the trade you would think the Braves were getting some sort of All Star rather than the streaky free swinging power bat that Uggla is.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 23rd, 2011
1:59 pm
And yeah I realize he made the All Star team twice; the point is we were sold on him doing that every year, when the inconsistency year to year that he had with the Marlins suggested otherwise.
Fish Bisch
May 23rd, 2011
2:00 pm
Uggla is owned
jonwan1353
May 23rd, 2011
2:00 pm
Uggla is an outstanding athlete. His slump is no different than what Jeter
went through. Careers are not made in 2 or 3 months. I would say that
every hall of famer went through slumps. Lets don’t panic, it will all work out.
Go Ugga !!!
larry
May 23rd, 2011
2:08 pm
It’s the Brave curse… Some who we get that are bad suddenly become good. and some we get that are good become bad
Bag-o Bats
May 23rd, 2011
2:09 pm
The announcers will still be saying, “Maybe this will bring Dan’s bat out of the closet” in September after hitting a two hopper past the short stop.
HereComesBream
May 23rd, 2011
2:09 pm
Where did Uggla bat in the FL line up? 4th? He was hitting in the clean up spot at 5/15 game against the Phillies. He did pretty good there! I was at the game and it was awesome to see him crack that HR! Maybe have him hit clean up for a week or 2, see how that goes.
HereComesBream
May 23rd, 2011
2:12 pm
BTW his defense has been pretty solid. All the Braves this year have played good defense.
chief pitchanono
May 23rd, 2011
2:15 pm
Who knows what is causing his struggles but he is way too good of a proven hitter to struggle like this for much longer. I believe he will come out of it and if we are still talking about this in August I will be shocked. Untill then we need other guys to step up and as of yet that has not happened allot. Nobody has got off to a great start offensively, but baseball is like that, the hitting will come and when it does this team is gonna be hard to stop. Looks like with Heyward on the DL and McClouth possibly next were gonna get to see the bench guys for a while, maybe they can be the spark plug that gets some guys going. Go Braves!!!
Braint
May 23rd, 2011
2:18 pm
Wink – Sheff’s numbers in 2003 with Atl – .330/.419/.604, 1.023 OPS. 39 HR, 139 RBI, 37 2B,
126 R, 18 SB….yep, it’s sucks to have a free agent signing that doesn’t pan out like Sheff.
jayvee
May 23rd, 2011
2:20 pm
This layman and most everyone else watching a game in person or on TV can see that Uggla is simply overswinging. No sane pitcher is going to throw him a fastball middle-in. Why would they when they can put it on the outer half, or in the opposite batter’s box, and he will try to hit it over the left-field wall? The result is usually a weak grounder or a pop-up. Heyward has the same condition. In fact, he’s swinging so hard he hurts himself.
Gonzales has caught the virus, too.
Crazy.
Four words of advice for the lineup: Go. The. Other. Way.
Quit trying to pull the ball. Quit dropping your front shoulder (and quit injuring it). McCann has come out of a mild funk by going to the opposite field for a week now, with excellent results. Sit on the pitch away and hit it the other way. Once they do this for a while, pitchers will have to start coming in to them, and then they can turn on them. You can’t turn on a slider away.
But you can turn around and go back to the dugout,
skeptomania
May 23rd, 2011
2:21 pm
How about some batting practice for Uggla hitting low outside corner pitches to right field. Maybe moving a little closer to the plate until they start throwing inside. This is baseball 101. Fire the hitting coach. Notice the comments from Santana. The Braves swing at everything. No discipline on this team.
Omnipotent One
May 23rd, 2011
2:27 pm
Troy Glaus was probably the best pickup the Braves have had in a while…..and maybe that Wagner guy from last year!
chief pitchanono
May 23rd, 2011
2:29 pm
Mark you are right, this team on paper should do some damage, a I believe they still will its just takeing some time to click. At least its now and not September. Honestly I am more concerned with Heyward than I am Uglla. I believe Uggla will go on a tear sooner or later that will help carry the team back to the playoffs (as long as they can continue to survive his cold streak). Without Heyward though, and I mean the 1st half 2010 Heyward, I don’t think we will have enough offense to get very far in the playoffs. We might be able to slide in with the wildcard again if Uglla and everyone else plays up to their Avg’s. But if Heyward doesn’t rebound I don’t see us haveing enough offense to catch the Phillies. Hopefully its the injury and not the Frenchy sydrome. Time will tell Go Braves!!
Roger
May 23rd, 2011
2:33 pm
It might be a blow to his ego but I’d send Uggy down to triple A (like Bobby did Francoeur). Let him know that those big arms need to be producing base hits instead of growing so much. Maybe that would put him on notice that If you don’t produce, You’re gonna warm the bench. As for Heyward – - his repeated injuries lead me to believe that he’ll be a bust. You can’t stay on the DL a third of the season and contribute to the team. Potential doesn’t win games. Base hits wins games.
extremus
May 23rd, 2011
2:34 pm
I sure hope the Braves are able to turn things around and make this a playoff or even championship year. But the longer the offense is underperforming as it is, the less I believe we can realistically expect it (and even if they did manage to pull getting back to the playoffs off, it’s almost certainly be a swift elimination at the hands of the caliber of pitching they’d face on that stage).
I know everybody is beginning to cast their votes for the All-Star Game, but outside of some our pitchers (Venters should be a definite choice to represent the Braves there), the only Braves hitters I feel are remotely worthy or going are McCann and Prado. I know folks often just vote for their favorite team’s players, but I’m just not THAT much of a homer; most of the lineup frankly just doesn’t deserve that honor this year. Hopefully next season more of them will be worthy of voting for.
JCH
May 23rd, 2011
2:39 pm
A few of you have mentioned this but it’s always bothered me when a player is “given” the first month or so to “get going” – isn’t that why they have Spring Training? Don’t they do this to get accustomed to hitting against live, opposing, major-league pitching again?
I had this concern when I first read about Uggla’s “slow start” We “borrowed” Tex for the end of one season when he was “hitting” and we got rid of Laroche because of it (only to bring him back to be very productive at the “end” of another season). I thought we’d learned our lesson….
Let some other team watch these guys “get going” the first part of the season and only consider them as back-end offensive help at the trade deadline.
JCH
May 23rd, 2011
2:42 pm
To add insult to injury, we’re only 3 1/2 games out of first. Just think where we’d be even if we had last year’s much maligned offense????
I bet our pitchers would be much more comfortable as well knowing we aren’t in any serious danger of losing when they give up a run or two… As is, they, as a collective group, are the Braves MVP.
Joseph
May 23rd, 2011
2:52 pm
on behalf of marlins fans everywhere (ok, all 7 of us), thanks for the trade. At least Omar is batting over 200!
TOMY FOURNIER
May 23rd, 2011
2:54 pm
THE OWL NEED SOME “JUICY”…YES!!!1
cornjolio
May 23rd, 2011
2:58 pm
Braves’ fans are too accepting of mediocrity and are told they are getting a winning product on the field every season.
The non-existant sports media in this town is too afraid to be critical of Braves’ management & the dumb moves they make year in and year out
Max Sizemore
May 23rd, 2011
3:00 pm
Mark, Uggla’s low percentage against lefties is no aberration: His lifetime numbers, prior to this season are ..267/.349/.498 against RHP and .253/.350/.454 against LBP. I would guess that his open stance makes it difficult to hit the outside breaking ball from lefties. Pitchers aren’t going to throw a fastball on the inner half until he proves he can hit the breaking ball.
hard to figure out
May 23rd, 2011
3:01 pm
So now everybody has advice for Uggla, but seem to be giving the hitting coach a pass. If TP was still the hitting coach, everybody on here would be simply dogging the man. What gives with the new guy? Shouldn’t all our hitters be hitting above .280 now that TP isn’t the hitting coach? Why no outcry or ridiculing on here? Why no articles written about how bad the team as a whole is not hitting?
beebee
May 23rd, 2011
3:02 pm
Mark, how on EARTH can you even THINK of even MENTIONING Derek Jeter in a story about Uggla? How? How? How?
Derek’s a Hall of Famer.
Uggla’s nowhere NEAR the hall of Fame, except being in line for a ticketed tour!
I’ve watched Derek Jeter play.
Trust me. Dan Uggla is NO Derek Jeter.
Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh the AUDACITY!
southern hope
May 23rd, 2011
3:08 pm
I’m sure he’ll break out of this slump.
But he’s really going to need to write us a check for April and May.
Ed Ulnsky
May 23rd, 2011
3:11 pm
Where is Troy Glaus when you need him?
Appalachia Brave
May 23rd, 2011
3:16 pm
Come on guys, we say this stuff every year…..year after year!
Bluto
May 23rd, 2011
3:23 pm
Incredibly, as we sit here this very minute, ATL is 5th in the league in team BA which I find hard to believe. And the Phillies are ranked 12th in team BA! OK, i’m shocked at these numbers considering that my first impulse is to run Larry Parrish out of town on the next slow boat… BUT –
the numbers- they don’t lie. And we’re 2nd in the league in team pitching ERA, behind Philly.
Tell you what, it doesn’t make these games any easier to watch. But it also must suck to watch games in the other markets too because we aren’t the only team getting spanked right now….
RM
May 23rd, 2011
3:24 pm
At least move him to 7th in the lineup. He is killing the Braves by constantly stranding base runners! Bases loaded yesterday and he pops up in foul territory. Seriously!!??
Hank
May 23rd, 2011
3:28 pm
Uggla’s struggles are certainly unbearable to watch. ATL staff should treat this the way they would any other player and send him down to the minors for a few days to figure out what he’s doing wrong….regain that confidence. Trying to do so everyday in games that actually mean something does nothing but add more pressure to the guy. Embrace a demotion like a man, work on your mechanics, and get back up to ATL and light the scoreboard up.
Hank
May 23rd, 2011
3:31 pm
An interesting note though, in this year of the pitcher, several stars out there are struggling pretty bad to get their averages to at least respectable levels.
Fish Bisch
May 23rd, 2011
3:32 pm
Francuoer isn’t struggling hank.
RM
May 23rd, 2011
3:37 pm
@ hard to figure out – I’m with you. Do the Braves even have a batting coach now? TP caught a ton of the blame in the past, me included.
JCH
May 23rd, 2011
3:39 pm
Anybody else notice Charlie Morton’s numbers this year? 5-1 with a 2.62 for the Pirates!!!
His poor performance was the only bright spot of the McClouth trade!!!
Concerned...
May 23rd, 2011
3:41 pm
What bothers me is that turtles are not able to turn back over once they are on their backs. What’s up with that? Anyone here like banana pudding? I’m going to make some, so if you’d like some, shoot me your address & I’ll overnight it.
JCH
May 23rd, 2011
3:41 pm
Larry Parrish – he of the .263 lifetime BA
Those who can, do. Those who can’t teach…
Ralph
May 23rd, 2011
3:41 pm
MB, from the numbers you reported he must only seen 1 fast ball, 2 curves, 3 sliders and all the rest must have been change ups.
Harvey Korman's combover
May 23rd, 2011
3:42 pm
TN Jeff – harumph!!
Jay Dubu
May 23rd, 2011
3:43 pm
MB,
You mentioned Pujols, but there are a lot of hitters that are not on par with their averages of years past:
A-Rod, Teixeira, Swisher, Jeter, Carlos Gonzalez (batting title in 2010), & Hanley Ramirez, just to name a few.
None of the Braves’ regulars are hitting for a good average (.300+) this season, and Heyward has been out all of May (theoretically) and is still tied for the team lead in homeruns.
Braves hitters seem to do this same hot/cold act every years (at least for the past 3 – 4), and place undue pressure on the pitching. When the hitting warms up, the pitching goes awry.
Very rarely, are they in sync and clicking on all cylinders simultaneously.
biff pocaroba
May 23rd, 2011
3:47 pm
Hello!!!
I am looking for all the Chipper haters out there. Guy is 39 years old has had a few minor injuries but is battling through it. My question is why or how does a 21 year old specimen like Heyward not get the ridicule that the man who has carried this team and city on his shoulders.
Injuries part of the marathon, speaking of Marathon Uggla continues a marathon of not hitting! Why is he still even in the lineup. Most pitchers have a better batting average. Oh yeah he makes how much money a year, but thats right we only talk about how chipper makes to much on here.
Hinske should be in evry day lineup from here on out until he falters.
We nee to bring up another Catcher so one of the best PH we have in Ross can be used nightly. Sucks when he is hitting so well but we can only use him one day a week, Diroy off the bench as a right handed PH is ridiculous as a first option.
Dave
May 23rd, 2011
3:48 pm
I just think it’s ridiculous to call yourself a professional, get paid that kind of money, and not show up ready to work on day 1. I’m pretty sure the rest of us would get fired pretty quickly if someone was shelling out good money for what we do and we didn’t perform. I would love to be able to tell my manager “Sorry, April is just not my month. Wait until May”. If Uggla isn’t disciplined enough to go to spring training and get himself ready by opening day then he needs to find some training program that starts a lot earlier then spring training.
biff pocaroba
May 23rd, 2011
3:49 pm
Heyward soft
But we only rag on Chipper?
biff pocaroba
May 23rd, 2011
3:49 pm
Uggla needs to sit down, most picthers have a higher BA he makes huge money
But we only rag on Chipper’s salary?
biff pocaroba
May 23rd, 2011
3:51 pm
Ross is best right handed stick on bench but we only use him once evry five days because we only have two catchers, put him in
Jay Dubu
May 23rd, 2011
3:52 pm
MB,
What’s the relevance of the KK comment in the middle of a blog dedicated to the Braves’ putrid hitting?
Is he coming off the 7 day DL, after only 37 days?
He got a late start in ST, (I think the Braves were hoping not to get a visa at all, and have him remain in Japan), pitched for almost a month, and has taken another month off.
Do you?
May 23rd, 2011
3:56 pm
I like baseball
Dan Struggla
May 23rd, 2011
3:56 pm
I love how McClouth faked that injury right before going back to Pittsburgh…..hmmmmmmm ??
JCH
May 23rd, 2011
3:56 pm
Bif
We only have 1+ seasons with Heyward – but I get your point…
Agreed on Uggla, he needs to sit. But we have too many injuries at present
I like Ross too, where would you put him? Take out McCann, the only regular who’s producing??
Frustrating but it is what it is unfortunately…
JCH
May 23rd, 2011
3:59 pm
KK is ours, we’re paying him through the end of his contract whether we like it or not. Get over it.
The only question is whether we give the opposing team batting practice every 5th day or not – no matter the level.
Let him sit on the DL until he gets his last paycheck – unless he wants to come play 2B in the bigs! He sure can’t hit any worse!!!!
Jay Dubu
May 23rd, 2011
4:03 pm
In one of DOB’s blogs a day or so ago, he mentioned that there was a voluntary batting session early in the morning, and only 4 Braves, including Chipper showed up.
Didn’t sound as though one of them was Uggs, if I remember correctly.
Apparently, the other hitters feel that all is ok.
Bravey martiney
May 23rd, 2011
4:07 pm
If he were Francouer he would have been gone by now! Double standard when you are a franchise player.
Bobby Coccyx
May 23rd, 2011
4:07 pm
They’re all good kids
iTiSi
May 23rd, 2011
4:08 pm
The Bravos are doing what they usually do 2 or 3 times a year. They take a vacation, sometimes mentally, sometimes physically, and even sometimes at the same time. Have you ever seen a more lifeless, less emotional, spirited bunch in all your life? Honestly, until about the 8th or 9th innings, when they realize “hey, we’re losing” do they get a little energy in them. I noticed when they first started this road trip in AZ they looked like a “bunch of zombies”. You would think they had been gone for 2 weeks. I call it the “Union Effect” for reasons that I have seen and experienced and some of you will understand. Just wait though, they will get going about 2 weeks before the season is over, and they find themselves in 2nd or 3rd place. Then a few of them will have that “What Happened” look on their faces!!!
Jay Dubu
May 23rd, 2011
4:12 pm
@Bluto,
Check your stats again. Your information is askew.
Wren Got Bamboozled
May 23rd, 2011
4:15 pm
Uggla’s a lifetime .260 hitter that swings for the fences.. strikes out alot….RISP lifetime .230…most homers hit with NOBODY on base,,,Fredi sold Wren a false bill of goods about his buddy Uggs, after Uggs had a career year…Let the buyer beware or in this case , let the buyer BeWren….Fredi said to Uggs “dont sign with Marlins for 4×12m…I can get an x-tra year and another 12m for u up here to be w/me…Don’t be mad at Uggs…Shoot the salesman… Fredi
Bravo
May 23rd, 2011
4:16 pm
Move Uggla to center, put Prado back at second, Mather in left, Hinske in right. Chipper, Heyward and McLouth can soak in the hot tub.
Bobby's chauffeur
May 23rd, 2011
4:20 pm
What we have with Uggla is an athlete that knows he is not performing and doing his part. This only complicates the solution. He is trying too hard. He knows he was brought here to spark the offense and drive in runs. After a while, in the beginning, you have a few bad luck situations. a great play is made on a line drive that should have been a double, etc. etc. these things happen to all players. However, when the pressure is brought on (by yourself) Uggla has to feel I’ve got to do better and help my team mates, he tries too hard and is not focusing on fundementals. He is a head case at this time, only because he wants to perform so well. He will be OK.. A good game or two will turn his season around. And for those that think..send him down to Gwinnett, Yeah right that will boost his confidence. Remember it is only a game and we are not behind Philly by 12 games. Let the games begin.
Murph
May 23rd, 2011
4:21 pm
Uggla needs to stop giving fee whiffs of air conditioning to the stadium faithful and just make contact. He looks like an idiot trying to swing for the fence. The home runs will come. Concentrate on just making contact and getting base hits for now. As of now he is baseball’s version of Joe Johnson.
braves fan forever
May 23rd, 2011
4:27 pm
Uggla needs 2 bats to reach the outside corner.He needs to move up.I wonder about him being so bulky.Steroids?,but he will never get check he is not hitting the ball.We don’t have hitting coaches all we have is benchwarmers who are getting fat.Have you see TP lately.Stick a pin in him and watch him fly.Somebody needs to tell Larry Parrish he has a job to do.Heck the team goes to there dads,brothers,sisters,moms,palm readers,Medicine men to get advice on hitting not there supposedly hitting coaches.The hitting coaches are like the goverment getting payed to do nothing.
curt moore
May 23rd, 2011
4:29 pm
Mark The problem I have is my main man now plays for the Marlins(Infante). With him we would have won at least 6-8 more games. He’s a contact hitter-my favorite kind. Uggla has a problem he can’t keep his eye on the ball. The result is weak ground balls or pop ups. With the money the Braves have invested only solution is to close your eyes when he comes to bat. I do think a couples of games off might help. If I was Fredi I definitely would do something different. You can only stand Uggla stranding baserunners time after time.
Alaska Braves Fan
May 23rd, 2011
4:32 pm
As I have mentioned previously, both Uggla and Heyward are in for bad years. Sometimes in baseball there isn’t a very good answer to why something happens, but almost always it is in the players’ heads. The situation clearly has got into Uggla’s head, and he’ll have a very hard time getting it out. That’s why, as with Jeter, sometimes the solution is almost accidental – a couple of bloop hits. I don’t see this getting better anytime soon.
Heyward is a similar case, though with a different problem. In his head, it seems, one must feel perfect to perform as an athlete. Baseball and football would be finished as sports if that always were true. Many players have nagging pain and soreness. Though some criticize Chipper for often being hurt, I very much admire that way he has crafted a Hall of Fame career while playing through injuries and pain. Jason doesn’t seem to be able to do that, and it’s in his head. Another item that won’t soon be solved.
The Braves cannot write these two guys off for obvious reasons. They just have to keep plugging, and hope people like Mather and Hinske keep pulling the fat out of the fire. Eventually, both players may come around, but I’m thinking 2012, not 2011.
ABF
Jose Cuervo
May 23rd, 2011
4:33 pm
Those antsy feet and that off-balance upper cut. I have no idea how he has ever hit!
Bernard
May 23rd, 2011
4:34 pm
THE WHOLE TEAM IS SLUMPING!!!!!
Johnny-oh!
May 23rd, 2011
4:36 pm
I wonder if he is more antsy in the batter’s box now than he was in Florida. I can’t see how that guy can hit anything.
Chip
May 23rd, 2011
4:38 pm
Since a slump is almost always a mental thing, I wonder why more teams don’t have a sports psychologist on the payroll during the season to help players work out how they feel? Sounds very un-manly I know but ask John Smoltz if it works.
Mark Bradley
May 23rd, 2011
4:38 pm
Omar Infante is hitting .232 for Florida.
Left Coast Brave
May 23rd, 2011
4:50 pm
I got an ear-full of comments about the Braves from people I knew when I lived in So Cal. Most asking whether the Braves team that made the trek out west was actually their triple A team. UGH!
Serbok
May 23rd, 2011
5:00 pm
Cant believe I’m saying this (Either!)
Larry Parrish~ was a “Modecum” HR hitter with a batting AVG~ that was what?
My guess around 260? Just goin on memory~
TP won a batting title~ and MVP award?
Go Figure!
tom varacalli
May 23rd, 2011
5:10 pm
who or what that got “frenchy” going in KC needs to spend a little time with uggla.
dawg4u
May 23rd, 2011
5:10 pm
Where is Jack Llewellyn when you need him? He sure helped out John Smoltz back in the 90’s. It is really a good thing that the Philly hitters have been slumping or we would be much worse than 3 1/2 games out. They will get Chase Utley back shortly though. Agree that Uggla definitely needs to move up in the batters box.
Bob
May 23rd, 2011
5:16 pm
I’m sure Dan Uggla is a good person and Joe Johnson is too. And probably Mike Vick as well before he was corrupted by his posse and his money, but all these athletes are symptoms of today’s society. Once they hit the jackpot, there is no incentive…and there is no self-pride either. It’s all about the money.
big brave
May 23rd, 2011
5:29 pm
Send the joker down to the minors and teach him how to hit.Bring up a kid ,the heck with that joker.
Just saying...
May 23rd, 2011
5:39 pm
Why do all these players hit a ton until they don a shirt with a Tomahawk across the front?
New hitting coach? Psychologist? Something quick!
gcs
May 23rd, 2011
5:40 pm
Patience? How much patience are WE supposed to have? Are we supposed to wait around like we have for McLouth?
The Braves are almost one-third of the way through the season and Uggla has yet to prove his worth. The best cure is a seat on the bench. Move Prado to 2nd and Hinske/Mather in left. If that is too radical for you, at least move him down in the order.
Do you realize that Uggla has played every inning of every game? What is the deal with that?
.
Just saying...
May 23rd, 2011
5:43 pm
I agree that we should play the most productive players, not the highest paid.
Texas Braves Fan
May 23rd, 2011
5:50 pm
I think his biceps need to be larger…
Error Maniacs
May 23rd, 2011
5:55 pm
Dan, since you can’t hit right-handed, how about turning around and swinging left-handed–can’t be any worse. And then if that don’t work, bath in disinfectant, burn all your old uniforms, jockstraps, cleats and ALL your BATS. Maybe then the curse will be gone. Here’s wishing you well!
Ah ha
May 23rd, 2011
6:08 pm
Roger Mcdowell must be laughing. He uses a gay slur to a fan and gets lambasted and suspended for what 20 games and fined. Noah does it and will just get a fine? What a joke.
Ah ha
May 23rd, 2011
6:08 pm
Why is my post comparing roger mcdowell to noah not showing up mark. This blog is a joke
JDW
May 23rd, 2011
6:16 pm
How about putting him in a uniform that doesn’t look like it was made for an eight year old. He looks so stiff and choked in the batter’s box. Get the damn guy a uni that fits him!
Rico Party
May 23rd, 2011
6:29 pm
Hitting Tip for Uggla– As the picher winds and is about to release the ball– relax, close your eyes and swing you might just hit the ball.
Karl
May 23rd, 2011
6:37 pm
Dan Uggla = Meathead
nique
May 23rd, 2011
6:40 pm
Even though it doesn’t make sense on paper, I think they should sit Uggla for a game or two. Let him get refreshed a bit and put him out there after that.
Navigator
May 23rd, 2011
7:14 pm
The Braves are becoming a joke to the real teams, offering over the hill players big contracts. Do they think these players are really that wanted that they have to pay the premium price for these guys. The player agents lick their chops when they negotiate with the Braves. Looks like another period like the the 1970-1989 when the National League looks down their collective nose at the Braves Franchise.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
May 23rd, 2011
7:33 pm
Uggla stinks….strikeout machine…hits mistakes hard, but cannot make it happen with pitcher’s who are careful and don’t make the mistakes….
Jon
May 24th, 2011
8:55 am
I played baseball for 14 years and realize individual slumps will happen. It’s almost impossible to keep your mind off of if when youre up to bat, so it turns more mental and eats you up, making the problem worse.
That said, yes, individual slumps are part of the game and Uggla will eventually be fine. However, when the entire team slumps for 1/3 of the season and you are at the bottom of the league in OBP with a talented lineup, the coaching staff is the majority of the problem – not each individual player.
The front office needs to fire our hitting coach and make an example that they won’t tolerate poor performance. Hopefully this will also serve as an eye opener for Fredi…I’m not calling for his head yet, but so far am very disappointed in the job he has done. He seems to create as much excitement in the dugout as you would find at the local nursing home and doesn’t back hid players up like Bobby. A perfect example is vs the Phillies at home Friday before last when the ump missed the strike three call and McCann started running in the dugout before being called back out to the field after the ump called it a ball. What did Fredi do? Nothing. He just sat motionless in the dugout as usual, not sticking up for his players. I don’t know how many of you watched that game, but we ended up losing the game due to that call after it led to the tying run scoring.
The moral of the story is Uggla will be ok, we need a new hitting coach yesterday, and Fredi needs to light a spark in the dugout. It would do him good to argue a close call and get ejected from a game to fire the players up and let them know he actually cares about the team.
Ted Abernathy
May 24th, 2011
9:02 am
So whatever happened to Matt Young? Maybe Ross could play 1B and we send the rookie back to Gwinnett or Richmond.
ted
May 24th, 2011
12:03 pm
He is basically a .250 hitter with power right.
BravesFAN
May 26th, 2011
2:10 pm
Funny EVERYBODY and their mother based TP as our hitting coach and it seems he played a bigger part in our guys going deep unto counts and having better OBPs than they do now. Our team obp was so good and this year it is SO AWFUL…UGGGLA HAS to get it going for us to make the playoffs..