And it’s another goose egg for the punchless Atlanta Braves
It was hailing at the ballyard, but it wasn't raining hits. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
It was business as usual for the Braves’ non-pitchers on a stormy Wednesday that lapped into Thursday, and business isn’t exactly booming. They managed two hits off four Mets pitchers. They hit five balls out of the infield, two of those coming in the ninth inning. They lost 4-0. They were two games behind Philadelphia as of Monday; they’re five in arrears now.
The good news, such as it was, is that the Braves are beginning to get some of their position players back. Jason Heyward returned from the disabled list Wednesday night. (He went 0-for-2 with a walk; his throwing error on Jose Reyes’ leadoff double led to an unearned run, which was all the Mets needed.) Nate McLouth is scheduled to begin his rehab stint at Gwinnett today. Freddie Freeman is set to return to the Braves’ lineup tonight.
The bad news: There’s no assurance Heyward and Freeman and eventually McLouth will galvanize this lineup. As noted, the Braves have the best pitching in the majors. But you can’t, as the saying goes, win a game 0-0.
“Two hits,” said Fredi Gonzalez, the manager. “It’s hard to win a baseball game.”
Then: “We gave up four runs, and that felt like a big mountain to climb the way we’re swinging the bats.”
Dan Uggla, of whom much was expected, had consecutive two-hit games in Houston over the weekend; he has had one hit in the three games since, all losses. Jordan Schafer went 0-for-4 Wednesday and saw his average plunge to .211. Brian McCann went 0-for-4 and saw his fall below .300. Chipper Jones went 0-for-3 and saw his dip below .260.
There’s a good team in here somewhere, but on such a night it was tough to detect. Nobody can explain why Uggla, who has always hit in the majors, hasn’t hit here. Nobody can explain why this team, built to score, cannot. But the Braves have mustered six runs over the past 27 innings, and four of those have come via the homer. This club sustains nothing.
If this gifted team is to reach the postseason, that must change, and soon. The Braves don’t have to lead the league in hitting; they only need to score enough runs to give their splendid pitchers a chance. Tim Hudson threw one bad pitch — Angel Pagan hit a two-run homer off the foul pole — and saw his record sag below .500.
We say again: Surely this team will start to hit. But if we’re still mouthing those words when July arrives, it might be time to give Julio Franco a call.
By Mark Bradley
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117 comments Add your comment
J.J.M.
June 16th, 2011
1:27 am
first?
Mark Bradley
June 16th, 2011
1:32 am
Kudos once more, J.J.M.
J.J.M.
June 16th, 2011
1:35 am
I couldnt even watch the game because of my dish went out but by reading this I didnt miss too much
J-Man
June 16th, 2011
1:56 am
I think that even when Prado and McClouth return the Braves have a fatal flaw on offense. The only 1 true fix IMO is Matt Kemp but we would have to take on a ton of $$$$$ to get him and give up a ton. But if they don’t get him they definately need to trade for a right handed bat off the bench because Mather has not shown enough and especially yesterday showed us our lack of depth when goin against lefties
jwdavis 88
June 16th, 2011
2:10 am
when are the braves going to wisen up and fire larry parrish and try a new hitting coach.the braves bats are even worse than last year when everyone was hollering to fire terry pendleton.the pitching staff is carrying this team but if the bats dont wake up we dont stand a chance to reach the playoffs.there is no reason why the braves should not be scoring more runs.the players we have are to talented to be hitting this bad.
STRETCH
June 16th, 2011
2:22 am
Larry Parrish cant go out there and hit for these guys! People, its just like going to the DMV, getting our license, driving on to have an accident. Do we go back and fire the instructor? NO, cause he cant driver for you.
Players with these gigantic contracts should be the ones held accountable. And when are these owners gonna start making these guys sign performance based contracts when they do perform? Cause right now, i would dock Dan SUCCLA about 2 million for his performance so far.
Heyward, i would dock him too.
oldschool
June 16th, 2011
2:28 am
BLAH,BLAH,BLAH….I’m tired of all the excuses about this team not hitting,Listening to Chipper and Fredi you would think they were the 1927 Yankees in a slump,Bottom line is,,they are not a good team….average at best.
South ga boy in the atl
June 16th, 2011
2:39 am
As I have said many times before this is Wren’s fault. Anyone with a brain could see, 3 yrs ago, that the Braves needed at least 2 right handed power hitters, preferably in the outfield. But what did he do. Knowing he had constraints of 85 mil to spend, he panicked and gave chipper 4 yrs at 13 mil per and he really panicked when he gave Lowe 4 yrs at 15 mil per. Over 30 percent of the payroll given to a guy that can’t hit above 260 and to a pitcher whose record could easily be reproduced by one of the young pitchers at 400k per yr. Any dumb Dora could see that with Heyward and Freeman, 2 lefty’s, coming up that we would be overloaded with left hand hitters with McCann and Nate or Jordan. Chipper should have been given 2 yrs, Prado at 3rd this yr and 2 right handed power hitters in left and right field while moving heyward to center. It’s almost as egregious as Billy knight drafting 47 forwards in a row
STRETCH
June 16th, 2011
2:41 am
Frank Wren said last season, “You can usually tell what kinda team you have by the 50 game or so of the season.” Well Mr Wren?
Ted M
June 16th, 2011
2:53 am
yep the braves have to start hitting… the trouble with that is we are looking for every single hitter on the team, except McCann, to turn around their season. the odds of that are low this late.
Even Hinske is down to .262 and he’s about to go back to the bench.
The Grinch
June 16th, 2011
3:53 am
MAN. Y’all are some negative folks. Yeah, the offense looks like crap now. But going in to tonight we were in the top few teams in the majors in wins, and not that far from Boston at the top. Not sure where we’re at now, but not THAT far out. Relax. The team will come around, we’ll go on a long run and be in it right at the end. Step outside, grab a smoke or the equivalent and try again in a few. It’s a long season.
The Grinch
June 16th, 2011
4:05 am
Hey, Mark. I know we’ve been here before, and it was actually my intention to apologize because I heard you actually did get back to me in a previous blog about my disappearing posts. And now I have no post as usual (said when I tried to post again “Duplicate comment! You’ve already said that!”), I don’t expect this one to go through either…I now know you have nothing against me but you have to admit it’s odd this doesn’t happen to me on any other AJC blog and I post a lot.
The Grinch
June 16th, 2011
4:06 am
And that one went RIGHT through. The other one I tried four times. No language that doesn’t get posted on the other ones.
STRETCH
June 16th, 2011
4:18 am
6 runs in 27 innings and 4 of them homers? what does that tell us? that they rely on the home run and have no idea of how to score runs and put pressure on teams.
And management once again walked into this season stubborn and clueless! Im still trying to figure out, how does managers, coaches and players all go throught spring training and not know what a team needs? Arent they supposed to evaluate the team and what areas they need to improve in???
No speed and NO batting. ANYBODY can swing at a ball, but what about putting the ball in play, putting pressure on the pitcher, speedsters on base, manufacturing runs on nights like these? Can someone tell me how many times have they been shutout this season???
Look at the Phils and Sox, they make you make every pitch and you better not slip up. while the Braves go out there trying to swing for the fences every night!
Its really sad when the pitchers go out there and work their tails off night in and night out and have hothing to show for it.
Until they get a real owner, they will continue to suck. The Bruins won the Stanley Cup last night. And get this, all of Boston’s professional sports teams have won the championship in their leagues within the last 6 years! And we got the 1-14 Braves from 91-2005….ATLANTA IS CLEVELAND SOUTH!
YEP IT WAS BOBBLEHEAD NIGHT AND THEY WERE ON THE FIELD LAST NIGHT!!!!
rpidge
June 16th, 2011
4:52 am
Until the Braves decide to obtain some quality players via trade, and I don’t mean players who are fixing to retire, then we will need to be sellers this time of the year instead of buyers. Also, as a buyer you can’t sit back and take what’s left after serious contenders do what is necessary to be successful in the Fall. If we don’t have any better offensive talent in the minors than what I’m seeing then we stink and management should re-think their scouting personnel or prepare to sell to someone with a desire to be successful.
ted williams head
June 16th, 2011
5:39 am
about to give up on them this year. its not worth my time watching if the other team gets an early lead because I already know the outcome. what a difference from last year.
Sloan
June 16th, 2011
6:10 am
Braves are PREtenders this year and not CONtenders like last year. Disappointing!
J-Bone
June 16th, 2011
6:20 am
Just, very disappointing. Had high hopes for this team…..
bull-gator
June 16th, 2011
6:33 am
Pathetic. Painful to watch.
Daniel
June 16th, 2011
6:42 am
So what is next for this team, another Derrek Lee trade??
J-Bone
June 16th, 2011
6:49 am
and which outfielder do the braves move to bring in Kemp, J-Man? They’re not moving Prado or Heyward, and the dodgers will not want Mclouth…..
TommyP
June 16th, 2011
6:49 am
This team is built to PITCH, not built to score.
The OF is atrocious. Worst CF production around, a 2B in LF, and Heyward has not given us what the hype promised.
Throw in an aging Chipper (who is due for an injury in the next week), a rookie 1B and low OBP middle guys in Uggla/Gonzalez and you have a team that will be streaky. Not enough professional hitters in the lineup.
And when you rely on a catcher to be in the middle of your lineup, you’re in trouble. All those 95 degree days/nights with that gear on is going to sap you. You don’t need that guy to be your most reliable thumper.
Honest Ingine
June 16th, 2011
6:58 am
Man, there is no fire in the dugout. This team is lost without a leader, Freddie is just not the answer. Again, I saw a controversal call, the player is upset, and where’s their manager out to defend his players? Sitting watching the game… Freddie, needs to show some emotion…back his players, Dont mean argue with each call. but at least come out of the dugout….show the players that he cares.. more importantly, SHOW, us the fans that he cares……
longtimefan
June 16th, 2011
6:59 am
The Braves are tied for the sixth best record in all of MLB. They arguably have the best pitching staff. The Braves lose a few games and the whiners come out of the woodwork. Some “fans” wouldn’t be happy unless all position players batted over .300 with power. The management has fielded teams that have made the playoffs 15 of the past 20 years. I think JS and FW know just a little bit more about baseball than the constantly critical bloggers.
Joey
June 16th, 2011
7:02 am
“They managed two hits off four Mets pitchers. They hit five balls out of the infield, two of those coming in the ninth inning”
******************************************
Not to mention the 12 Ks.
Pathetic . . .
braveshoo
June 16th, 2011
7:19 am
I’m sorry. I usually try to make positive posts. But 2 hits against the pitching they faced last night is ridiculous. I dont blame FW. This team should be one of the top hitting teams in baseball. They just are not performing. They all look like they are lost without Bobby Cox. They all need a kick in the butt, and FG needs to go. I dont see him fight for the players; I dont see him raise hell with the players; I dont see him show any fire at all. On top of that, I have been critical of his management of game situations all year. Its time for the Braves to get mad and start playing, or just go home and call it a season.
Jason
June 16th, 2011
7:22 am
There’s always a couple of teams in this division that have our number. And it’s pathetic. The mets? With all their issues. And hey just f**kin walk reyes to start the game. How many back are they now? One thing is sure. The phillies won’t “squander” their lead this year. Funny how we have injuries this year like they did last and they are pulling away. By July 1, it will be a 10 game lead.
Willie Coyote
June 16th, 2011
7:22 am
When they are patient, they hit better. Their problem is all the bad outs early in the count. They started hitting in Houston and they got swing happy again. Once they get back to making pitchers work, they will begin to score again. Someone on this coaching staff surly has to see that.
Case in point. Freddie Freeman was going great, then he hit that ridiculously long homer in Houston. After that, his swing got more violent; there was a noticeably bigger upper cut; and he started striking out and having bad at-bats. He is a rookie though so what’s the excuse for the rest of this bunch?
Greg
June 16th, 2011
7:23 am
No speed, only a couple of guys(Jones and Prado) who can hit for average and no proven power hitters. That was a recipe for disaster from day 1 and it can’t be “fixed” without making some trades.
When McLouth is one of your three best players in the outfield, you know you are in trouble. And nice hair, Nate. With those highlights, are you trying to be a baseball player or a runway model?
Rupe
June 16th, 2011
7:24 am
Knock it off with the best pitching. That is the phillies. They are 5 games ahead. That settles it idiots.
jerry
June 16th, 2011
7:24 am
As Munson used to say “just get us to football season” and I might add “you wussies.”
joe
June 16th, 2011
7:34 am
Geez Mark, I love sports but it’s hard to watch any team from Atlanta. Braves are painful to watch offensively, Hawks have no heart and the Falcons ( great record and all ) were so predictable and had so little explosiveness that you knew they were only going so far in the playoffs…..
Ps don’t even get me started on the Bulldogs !!!
OUCH
1991Braves
June 16th, 2011
7:42 am
This is a .500 baseball team with no speed, no clutch hitting, 2 overpaid, overthehill sinkerball pitchers, and no manager. The Phils are just starting to pitch like they are capable of pithcing, and there everyday lineup makes the braves lineup look like a little league team. Hudson&Lowe both have era’s over 4 and they both lose starts when the team needs a lift. They aren’t clutch, hell they aren’t much of anything, and i guess the braves want try to trade either on them because that is what they would get for them, not anything. So sick of hearing these 2 clowns after another one of their losses say they only threw 2 bad pitches. Problem is everytime they throw a bad pitch it ends up in the bleachers, and with this bad news bears offense, 2 bad pitches get you beat. Braves=no playoffs. Good job WREN!!
JJ
June 16th, 2011
7:42 am
Pitching doesn’t win titles. Pitching and Hitting do. That’s what the phillies have and have had for years. The braves have never had an offense. Philly will take this division by 15 games. JJ and Hanson will come back to earth. Braves will win 85 games. Remember this team will win 5/6 and then lose 4/5. They are bi polar chokers
Brother John
June 16th, 2011
7:52 am
Wish we in another division. We’d be one game out of first place!!
Turtsnap
June 16th, 2011
7:55 am
If this team does not make a trade soon for a legitimate bat (Dan Uggla apparently was NOT the answer), they can forget about the Wild Card too!
JMF
June 16th, 2011
7:56 am
I know Terry P. is thinking “I glad I’m not the hitting coach this year”. lol
Deb Mavrick
June 16th, 2011
7:58 am
Guess it has nothing to do with D. Gee and the Met’s bullpen.
foultip
June 16th, 2011
8:01 am
So we keep one of our better hitters on the bench because he’s a backup catcher. Play Ross at first and see if he can help the team instead of him sitting on the bench except when he catches every fifth game or so.
wins-by-a-link
June 16th, 2011
8:04 am
The Braves have two major problems, The first is Liberty Media, As long as they own the Braves they will never win a championship, The second major problem is Frank Wren, As long as he is GM the Braves will never win a championship. Solution: Local ownership, Fire Frank Wren, Bring back Roy Clark as GM.
Steve
June 16th, 2011
8:07 am
I dont hink our new hitting coach is work out…..TP wasnt great, but better than what we have now…..
Hatfieldgeoff
June 16th, 2011
8:12 am
The Brave have got to put together an attractive group of pitching prospects and trade with Houston for Hunter Pence. They need a legitimate .300 hitter in this lineup for it to consistently produce runs. The Braves do have great pitching but they need to start drafting and developing some hitters as well. Heyward and Freeman may turn out to be great hitters but right now .240 and .260 ain’t getttin it done.
SimpleDawg
June 16th, 2011
8:28 am
Bad swings = poor hitting. Trying to pull outside pitches = ground outs. Swinging at pitches out of the strike zone = wasted at-bats.
These don’t look like Professional Hitters. Time and time again we see Braves batters putting a pull swing on an outside pitch…..hips open, hands rushing through the strike zone and weakly grounding out, instead of sending the hands more towards the backside and hitting the ball deeper in the hitting area and with an inside-out path. Throw the nob of the bat at the ball…..if the ball’s inside, the nob should take a different path to the ball than if the pitch is to the outside. If the pitch is inside the hips should open prior to contact; if the pitch is outside, then the hips remain closed until contact.
The philosophy is pretty simple. The implementation is based on the proper mechanics…..and of course, discipline.
mb
June 16th, 2011
8:30 am
Six wins in a row and we were hitting fine, now we come home, the bats go back to sleep, and we lose 3 in a row. This is one frustrating team.
We (UF) Own UGA
June 16th, 2011
8:31 am
Bark Madley,
By no means does this pathetic excuse of a team have the “best pitching staff” in baseball as you say. I’d much rather have any one of the following:
-Phillies
-Cardinals
-Giants
-Red Sox
-Rays
The Braves may lead MLB in ERA, but that’s an inflated stat due to Venters and O’Flaherty. Look at the starters for the joke Braves:
-Jurjens 2.13 and he has been shelled by the Mets 2 straight starts.
-Hason 2.48 and someone who can’t win outside of Turner field.
-Lowe 4.02 ERA and 2 wins. Wow. Nice #1.
-Hudson 4.06 ERA
-Minor 4.50 ERA
Don’t even try and tell me this Braves team has any chance of competing for anything more than another possible 1st round loss.
Appalachia Brave
June 16th, 2011
8:37 am
Tough game last night. Lets shake that one off and go get’um tonite! This team does have a chance, but they have to hit. I know, duh! I’m trying to remain positive here…..I feel a HOT streak coming up! GO BRAVES!
dap01
June 16th, 2011
8:37 am
The Braves need help.
Bernard
June 16th, 2011
8:38 am
Good pitch, no hit!…miss Omar Infante?…Dan Who?
urban redneck
June 16th, 2011
8:38 am
my bobblehead is still wet.
keep the faith, boys.
MJC
June 16th, 2011
8:39 am
Enter your comments here
TommyJack
June 16th, 2011
8:40 am
Pretty much standard braves. Good pitching, lackluster bats. What’s new?
Mrs. Bobby
June 16th, 2011
8:40 am
All the “punch” that the Braves had retired last October.
MJC
June 16th, 2011
8:41 am
Hey, We (UF) Own UGA, the Braves do have the best staff in the league. I guess it’s good you are not a GM for any team.
ERA – 3.05, 1st in MLB
WHIP- 1.17, 1st in MLB
BAA – .230, 1st in MLB
And how the hell can ERA be an inflated stat? That doesn’t even make sense.
bvillebaron
June 16th, 2011
8:44 am
longtimefan:
Nice post, but did you really want to go and ruin Stretch and the other arm chair critics day by confusing them with facts?
TN Jeff
June 16th, 2011
8:45 am
I agree Mark. I think Franco would be a great hitting coach. I don’t understand why year in and year out this team tries to compete without one.
the truth...
June 16th, 2011
8:50 am
Mark….
…” this team, built to score”…is really not an accurate statement. This team was put together not to score… but to get by with the resources available and hope that the pitching would compensate for the questions about he offense.
When a team is “built to score” and their center fielder is a weak armed and iffy bat Nate McLouth backed up by a bench of Mather, Young, Conrad, Henske, Diory and Hicks…not to mention the aging Chipper…that doesn’t exactly equate.
The result is disaster…Heyward the invincible is anything but…Uggla is great until you put a bat in his hand…Gonzalez is the glove one cannot believe but a streaky hitter most of the time…Chipper is not the Chipper of old…and Freeman is a rookie who cannot carry this team despite the observation that he may down the road.
The few bright spots are of course McCann and Prado …. and the ever dependable Ross on the bench….
Like you said….no matter how good your pitching is….you cannot win 0-0 games….and that is about all we can count on the offense to produce.
Robert
June 16th, 2011
8:54 am
Chipper, this one is for you and I hope that you find time to read it. A closed door team meeting needs to be held. Put a fire in these guys seat. It’s a shame when the peanut salesman has more enthusiasm than a guy making 13 million a year.
roger
June 16th, 2011
9:01 am
come on y’all the braves will be fine when they just won 6 in a row i did not hear all of this but they loose 2 in a row and now fire and trade everybody i believe in the braves they will be fine add a power right handed bat off the bench
Bobby Coccyx
June 16th, 2011
9:01 am
They’re all good kids, but they bore me night after night
the truth...
June 16th, 2011
9:13 am
Reality Check Folks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
….winning 2-1; 3-2; 1-0, 4-3 night afer night when you win is not goint to cut it over 162 games….
Great pitchers even the best average giving up 3 runs a game, just like great hitters average 7 non hits out of every 10…..
bottom line is that we don’t have enought hitters better than 2.5 hits ber 10 to score more than 3 runs per game…..
…it’s just math baby, so quit kidding yourself….not enough bats….and not enough money like in the days of Ted (you know the one with the buffalo and stadium named for him)… to go get replacement bats….
Yes, it is a bummer but it is the fact of the matter…
have the Braves ever hit.
June 16th, 2011
9:25 am
Maybe once for half of a season. The Bravest are where good hotter come to disappear.
I blame some jinx or curse. AOL.
dean
June 16th, 2011
9:31 am
Yeah. At this point the lack of offense is worrisome to say the least. Being 5 games over on the road and only 2 games over at home is particularly distressing. Just don’t look over the shoulder, the Mets are right behind us.
t
June 16th, 2011
9:37 am
Where can we get a hard-hitting outfielder? http://www.wedgeorgia.com
phil
June 16th, 2011
9:38 am
We didn’t hit a lick WITH McOut, FF and Wayward all in the lineup with Uggly, McFat and Chipper. Why should we expect the guys to start hitting when McOut and FF decide to play again? I certainly don’t and not because I’m being negative.
2 hits. I said it in March when the bats fell silent the last 2 weeks of spring training – something isn’t right. The bats are still silent 3 months later. It really is a terrible concern.
PMC
June 16th, 2011
9:47 am
One year, lets lead the league in hitting. Why not put that as a goal over Frank’s desk for the next 5 years?
Too Tough 44
June 16th, 2011
9:49 am
Excuses Excuses Excuses,,,I think the Mets had to play on the same field with the same rain delays etc. Even they scored a few runs….
I dont have an answere it is just so disheartening as a Braves fan to endure…..whats the definition of insanity? Keep doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result? I am insane to sit at the games and watching this team on tv expecting a different result? i.e. Sac fly, ABC baseball manufactor runs….HELP!
Sonny Clusters
June 16th, 2011
9:49 am
Sonny Clusters goes controversial. We was listening to Chipper make excuses about the game and say some people need to start hitting. He’s right. He might look in the, uh, mirror and see if he is doing anything to elevate his game and carry the team through this mess. Yes, he has knee problems but he almost always has something hurting somewhere. If Chipper is the team leader and the spokesman, too, then maybe he should show on the field that he doesn’t intend to get beat in these games with division rivals. Step up your game, Chipper Jones. We was not sure how to say this since Chipper seems to want Mather and Young to step it up and they may not be the ones who should bear that burden. This is where the stars are supposed to step up and make a difference. McCann does that daily. Where are you Chipper Jones? We was thinking he may be off huntin’.
PMC
June 16th, 2011
9:52 am
Wonders if a Clusters played better the next day after a trip to the Dairy Queen?
Maybe that’s the secret?
dtanner
June 16th, 2011
9:56 am
jordan schafer is a bust time to give up on this guy
Sonny Clusters
June 16th, 2011
9:59 am
Clusters definitely benefit from a diet rich in Dairy Queen. We was thinking Chipper might do better if he ate a Dilly Bar before every at-bat. We listen to the same announcers you do so we hear the same talk about how great Chipper is going, but we see a good many players around the league that are doing better and we was wondering if maybe Chipper could step it up a little and help this team win. Go ahead and get the knee fixed. They can lose 4-0 without you. A team that’s good for two hits a game won’t miss you when you are 0-4. It’s not nice to jump on Chipper Jones in Atlanta, Gerogia but we think he opens it up when he opens his mouth and says, uh, what he says. Let Fredi manage and let the trainer do the healing and try and hit the ball and make something happen. This is going to get us in trouble for sure.
RM
June 16th, 2011
9:59 am
It’s absolutely pathetic that they cannot beat inferior teams like the Mets and Nationals. Their batting is as bad as ever. Some changes are needed if they want to finish over .500 this year. Ugh! I’m frustrated…
Terry Pendleton, JR.
June 16th, 2011
10:11 am
FIRE LARRY PARRISH!
bobby
June 16th, 2011
10:14 am
Heyward is terrible on defense and I’m not sure he will ever be the hitter some think he will. Larry Parrish is not the problem nor was Terry Pendleton. These guys just cannot hit.
extremus
June 16th, 2011
10:20 am
So, any trade rumors swirling around we should know about, Mr. Bradley? I’d have to imagine that with their surplus of good-to-great pitching both in the Majors and in their minor league system the Braves could lure a swap for some really good power and/or speed-type hitters (and hey, they could throw in some of their current hitters for a bag of bats and balls or something; let’s think positive!).
Dr. H
June 16th, 2011
10:26 am
So far, the right side hitting wonder boy at second base is a flop. Tons of prospects available for trade. The Braves are too left side hitting loaded. Trade for a right side hitting outfielder. And ….SOON!
Braves73
June 16th, 2011
10:33 am
It’s clear to me that the real problem is the approach that these hitters have at the plate. If this Brave’s team is going to be successful, then they must be more patient and work the count. It’s one thing to be a “power hiting club” with the potential for the “three run homer”, but that will only go so far if they are done 0-2 in almost every at bat. Also, the lack of patience is killing not promoting the more important stat, which is on base %…this renders the “three run homer” useless.
I’m not one to blame a hitting coach, but the overall approach at the plate has to be a sign of some sort of strategy.
NorCalBrave
June 16th, 2011
10:35 am
Mark, the tone in your column speaks for all of us who root for the Braves: it’s definitely time for our hitters to put up or shut up; we’re all tired of hearing of the same old “this offense is too good to keep slumping.” BTW, those who refer to the Mets as an inferior team should think again: not only have they been playing better baseball than the Braves, they actually look excited on the field.
Reality
June 16th, 2011
10:59 am
If the Braves fall behind by 1 or 2 runs after the 4th or 5th, the game is over.
Heyward had a great April and May last year but has done nothing since. He’s hit under .100 or been on the DL for the last 38 games. By comparison Dan Uggla at .180 is almost twice as good.
I’ve seen some bad Braves teams over the last 40 years but I don’t remember anything this pathetic offensively.
bruce
June 16th, 2011
11:08 am
all hail breaks loose tonight!
dawgfan
June 16th, 2011
11:25 am
By the way “we (uf) own uga”, in case you missed it Tommy Hanson had a career day last Sunday in Houston striking out 14 Astros hitters. Gee has been almost unbeatable by the rest of the league all year so for the Braves to muster up 2 hits was not a big shocker. I know most of the Braves fans want to see them night in and night out put up 10+ hits and post 6+ runs but lets face the facts guys, the guy toeing the rubber every night is also a professional. Yes we have been very bad in spots this year(Uugla, Heyward, and whoever replaces any other outfielder) but the braves are in the top 5 in all of baseball in wins right now. There is a long way to go and I truly believe when the Braves have everyone back in the lineup we will see what this club is truly capable of doing.
Braves Buff
June 16th, 2011
11:31 am
I dont understand it…what the heck is Wren doing to fix this offensive slumber?? I hope hes not just waiting for everyone to come back from the DL because we had no offense even when they were in there! Where is he?? Whats he doing??? John Schuerholz pls come back!!!
iTiSi
June 16th, 2011
11:38 am
SORRY! PATHETIC! I’m bailing out on the Braves early this year. DY, SOB’s (Different Year, Same Old BRAVES) This manager is a “Bobby Cox Clone”! Attitude stinks, no spirit, wimpy, and wussified. Just as they were about to overtake the Phils, they “mail it in” and play like high schoolers. The manager needs to borrow some matches and light a fire under some people, then he needs to sit on it.
iTiSi
June 16th, 2011
11:42 am
One more thing while I’m on my highhorse. Ron Gant is just running his mouth to hear his own voice. He said last night the Braves were a “better team with Heyward in the lineup whether he gets a hit or not”. Yeh, right, guess he proved that last night huh? That is one of the “stupidest” statements I have ever heard.
ynot
June 16th, 2011
11:51 am
I guess you guys have no TP to kick around this year.
Billy D
June 16th, 2011
12:05 pm
E|We got fooled last week with that6 game winning streak. They were against a Marlins team that cant beat anybody and the Astros who are one of the worst teams in baseball. I felt that when we got back to playing decent teams we would revert back to our pathetic hitting , I was right. As is, this team is doomed.
rock
June 16th, 2011
12:08 pm
The Braves players are over swinging at pitches and seems as though every player has a home run swing. The Braves got to become more discipline hitters, just make good solid contact with the ball. As a result, many more hits will come.
joemoedee
June 16th, 2011
12:15 pm
Yeah, because as the Phillies have shown, you can’t win with left handed batters that are slumping and good pitching.
The way most of these comments sound, the Braves have 10 wins.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
June 16th, 2011
12:18 pm
pathetic, pathetic, pathetic- that 6 game win streak is going to even itself out. how about the big elephant in the room here- Why, Why are there never any quotes/interviews with the new hitting coach Parrish? shouldn’t some responsibility fall on his shoulders- I feel like i’m taking crazy pills here!!!
Billy D
June 16th, 2011
12:18 pm
Where is my comment entry ? If yiu dont want them dont offer the opportunity
Navigator
June 16th, 2011
12:39 pm
Please let me say again, if Wren wants to save his job, he had better find a way to get two hitters for this club. Without two hitters (no one) this team is destined to maybe finish above .500 but not challenge anyone for anything.
BSB
June 16th, 2011
12:40 pm
What has happened to the scouting reports. The Braves look like they have never seen the pitchers before. Do they not watch film or does that take up too much time from their golf game. Are they even watching film of themselves to see what they are doing wrong. The answer to all this is apparently NO!. It is time for the whole orgaization to re-evalute themselves before we end up being the Braves of the 70’s.
rally
June 16th, 2011
12:42 pm
This team sucks. Eventually what is going to happen is the pitchers are going to quit pitching these lights out games when the offense doesn’t provide support for em. Each member of this pitching staff should have about 8-10 wins if we had a hell of an offense. Unfortunately that isnt the case. I wont be attending a Braves game at all this year. Their salaries are inflated to the point they should have performance contracts. FIRE the GD hitting coach and get Don Baylor back. He was the best won we have had in 20 years. Were falling behind now and unless barring some miraculous event I think our season is done by the All Star Game. This hitting is atrocious. Sure hitting coaches cant hit for these players….but the responsibility lies on him to get them to hit, and he should be held accountable. Hell Hire Me…we would be playing ABC baseball. Pathetic. Bobby would have a heart attack with this team.
Geno
June 16th, 2011
1:12 pm
I’m didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn express last night, but it is very obvious that something is wrong in offense land. I wonder what is being done to break this funk. Is anyone taking extra BP? As someone earlier mentioned, is anyone watching film? I was really excited at the beginning of the year about getting Uggla, but maybe he should be benched for some practice time in the ole batting cage. It is time for FW to go to work and find us a couple of outfield bats. Balance is our only hope. I’m still gonna watch, though I must admit that it is painful!
extremus
June 16th, 2011
1:24 pm
With a 5-game lead in the NL East now, the Phillies have the greatest lead of any division leader. We can all say it isn’t insurmountable (and it isn’t), but I think it’s safe to say by now that the 2011 Braves have shown absolutely no signs of being able to play with the consistency (especially against “lesser” teams like the Nationals, Mets, and others) or the sheer passion that will be necessary to win this division, certainly without some significant changes in personnel on the offensive side of things. Even should they somehow manage to eke out another Wildcard berth, it’ll almost certainly result in a first-round exit at the hands of a quality opposing pitching staff.
I plan to keep rooting for them, but this year’s Braves have to be the least entertaining and most frustrating bunch I’ve had to endure watching since those awful late-1980s seasons. A pitching staff that’s been doing so great for them (maybe the best they’ve had since the Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz days)is being totally wasted, and that’s a crying shame. Is the window going to close once again on a championship run, or were we deceived into believing it was ever open to begin with?
Oregon Brave
June 16th, 2011
1:36 pm
Why do some of you Braves fans chastise us Braves fans that point out how pathetic this collection of batters are doing? We aint Cubs fans. Those fools are happy to go out to the Wrigley Beer Garden and cheer for the beer man. Us complainers are spending big bucks to watch a very bad product, so I believe we are entitled to a few random complaints. Another thing is about you fans that think Schuerholtz was a great GM. Bobby Cox built the team during his time as GM and turned the GM job over to a “dumpster diver.” JS’s crowning jewel was Maddox, who took less money to stay out of Yankee pinstripes. Watching our beloved Braves is supposed to be a fun event, not something so painful. What really hurts is how almost every opposing pitcher gets a spike in his All Star Game votes after tossing a few change-ups in the dirt to this bunch. Just saying.
TruthSeeker
June 16th, 2011
1:42 pm
Although I never imagined our offense would be this bad, I thought it was vastly overrated coming into the season. We were hoping for too many things – hoping Heyward would take the next step, hoping McLouth would revert back to his Pittsburgh form, hoping Freeman would be ready for the major leagues. When you combine Uggla’s nosedive with the fact that only one of those things has happened, it’s easy to see why this offense is scraping the bottom of the barrel.
We only get excellent offensive production at one position in the field (catcher). We’re average or below average at every other position. With so many holes in the lineup, it’s hard to call this team a legitimate playoff contender.
Sonny Clusters
June 16th, 2011
1:43 pm
One time Jeff took a swing when the pitcher threw the resin bag on the ground. That was strike one. Dan Uggla isn’t quite that bad but he’s close. Throw him one low and away and he takes a big swing and starts dancing in the box. Maybe Chipper should call Uggla out instead of Heyward. “Uh, you need to start hitting. Uh, we need Prado to get back. Uh, why aren’t these guys hitting?” Elevate your game, Chipper. Leaders lead. We was thinking this might help.
Alphare
June 16th, 2011
2:26 pm
Braves had good pitching and hitting in the 90’s, now there is only good pitching. That’s not good enough.
OldFan
June 16th, 2011
2:46 pm
Most of us were willing to buy into the, “They’re in a hitting slump, but they’re breaking out soon” daily excuse, because we wanted to believe that our great pitching was too good not to be rewarded by adequate hitting. Unfortunately, the opposite effect is settling in: the great starting pitching is moving toward the poor hitting side of the ledger. Something better change, or the Braves’ chances are going to look pretty dismal, pretty soon.
DE Braves Fan
June 16th, 2011
2:46 pm
We (UF) Own UGA
Venters and O’Flaherty combined= 1 starter in terms of IP so while they are pitching well, their ERA is not completely carrying ATL. Also having 3 guys who when the pitch want you to put the ball in play as starters does not help your ERA.
As far as JJ, every pitch hits rough patches, he is in his hopefully he pulls out of it. You say Hanson can not win on the road? How about this; Hanson at home: 4-2 2.40 ERA, on the road 4-2 2.57 ERA. For Lowe, has he pitched up to his pay? No(except for last September) but did you really try to use W-L for justifying how a pitcher is. That is 1950s info. Lowe has also improved each year with Atlanta. As far as Hudson, he is struggling and again a bit of a rough patch but he also outpitched his FIP last year by an entire run/9IP. Minor is not even the normal #5 starter either.
The Lemmer
June 16th, 2011
3:00 pm
FW, sooner or later you’re gonna be talking to the damn Yankees about an outfielder, either Granderson, Swisher, or Gardner, with Swisher being the best bet since he is a switch hitter. They need pitching, we need hitting, so making a deal after the break is probable, & Granderson is unlikely cause they would want our whole farm system, so keep your eye on Swisher, we HAVE to add an outfield bat!!!
DawgDad
June 16th, 2011
3:18 pm
I thought they were rained out last night; watched the hockey game and went to bed. Poor fans at the Stadium, if anyone was left.
Every team has problems but when your starting outfield is on the DL or in their first game back and your “answer” in the middle of the lineup is chasing Mario Mendoza in late June and you have a rookie at first base and a retirement that should have been at third and all-time historically abysmal team speed and an overload of left handed hitters creating vulnerability to LHP – well, thank goodness for the pitching.
cdog
June 16th, 2011
3:44 pm
the braves are a prideless, gutless stupid team.why do people waste their time going to their games? their players don’t care whether they win or lose.players like jason heyward are losers. he has been around like chipper jones. he has rubbed off on him
give it up
June 16th, 2011
4:14 pm
the braves are toast—a bunch of deadweight on that roster. They will not even get a wild card slot—another failed season.
Kenny
June 16th, 2011
4:38 pm
They are an average team. Great pitching + terrible hitting = average. Phillies will win again. Uggla is a huge waste of money. Bring back Infante. Jones is too old. Who knows if Heyward and Freeman will really become great players. This is the least intimidating lineup of hitters we’ve seen in a while. They don’t have to pitch around anyone. Just through them.
Bob
June 16th, 2011
5:14 pm
If bullfrogs had wings…if I’d bought Google at their IPO…if Richt had started Mett rather than Cox…if the Braves could hit? Who talked the Braves into trading for Ugglay? Rankin Smith? And who died and made Larry Parrish a hitting coach?
benchwarmer
June 16th, 2011
5:16 pm
Maybe Terry P. should have the managers job. He’s a guy I know has fire in his belly. Not sure what Freddie has. Like someone already said these players need a big kick in the butt.
Drummerdad
June 16th, 2011
5:42 pm
they can’t hit. don’t know why. the proven talent is there. Schaffer may struggle, but I like him better than McNate. I can’t believe they’ve let the MUTS slap ‘em around this way.
embarrassing…
Navigator
June 16th, 2011
5:52 pm
Speaking of hitters, most the good young ones the Braves had are playing for other teams and doing quite well. Wren needs to be replaced right now with whoever is running the minors. They would know who needs to play now, kiss Chipper’s last season good by and develop players like the ones they let get away.
dagnabit
June 16th, 2011
7:07 pm
Another goose egg for the punchy bradley. I’ve promised myself to give you up.
Ready for college football !!!
June 16th, 2011
7:24 pm
The Braves couldn’t hit their way out of a wet paper sack. They just don’t have what it takes.
Cliff Lee
June 16th, 2011
7:32 pm
I pitched another gem today. A flat out gem. You guys need World Series tickets?
Ron Hyatt
June 16th, 2011
9:02 pm
bunch of mediocre choke artists.
Sir Hit a lot
June 17th, 2011
7:42 am
This is about a .500 or slightly better team and that the bottom line people. The pitching carries this team on it’s back. If we get a shutout or give up only a run or 2, we have a chance with our pathetic hitting. If someone puts up 4 or more runs usually….forget it and put it in the loss column on most nights. Uggla has been awful. He has done NOTHING for this offense. Heyward is showing signs of being the next FRENCHY and run out of town in the near future. How many inconsistent and 240 hitters do we need?? Prado and mccan are the only guys i have confidence in when it comes to a clutch hit.
It’s ashame our pitching staff feels it must throw a shutout to win but that is reality. This a just not a postseason team. The phils will most likely win this division and there will be some good teams vying for the wildcard with the dodgers,rockies,giants and a very tight race in the central with cards,brewers and cincy. The braves better get the sh*t together. It gets old watching a group who couldn’t bust a grape most nights. It’s pitiful to be honest.
Whiskey Breath
June 17th, 2011
8:11 am
Master of the obvious Mark. You should be questioning management when all winter they promised hitters. When was the last time we had a good hitting team? Hold mgt. accountable sheep man.
Runnin With The Dawgs
June 17th, 2011
8:11 am
It looked SO GOOD to only be 2 games out of first place, but——- here we go again!
Just Me
June 17th, 2011
10:23 am
A Balk Off for the win. I guess any win is a good win, but 6-2 and let the Mets back in the game was terrible.