A cold truth revealed: The Braves’ pitching isn’t good enough
Tommy Hanson after being pulled in the fourth inning Monday. (AP photo by David Goldman)
Even as we celebrated the Braves’ embrace of the Good At-Bat and the Sustained Rally, an ominous note went unheard. They were scoring so many runs and winning so many games that we — well, some of us — didn’t grasp that the only way they were winning so many games was by scoring so many runs. But the offense has begun to wane, as offenses will, and we’re forced to confront a rather stark reality:
The team that believed it had great starting pitching doesn’t have very good starting pitching.
The Braves awoke on Memorial Day, the first checkpoint of the baseball season, with the 13th-best ERA for starting pitchers in the 16-team National League. On cue, Tommy Hanson went out and threw … well, you couldn’t call it a game, him being gone after recording 10 outs (while yielding 12 baserunners). He left with his team down 5-0, and soon it would be 6-nil and another game was gone, the eighth in a row for these suddenly buffaloed Bravos.
Nine days ago the Braves led the NL East by 1 1/2 games. Today they’re tied for last, having been passed by three clubs and caught by Philadelphia. We can cling to the crutch of injury/illness — Chipper Jones on the disabled list for the ninth time since 2006; Freddie Freeman not being able to see straight, Brian McCann getting sick — but the Phillies and Nationals have been missing guys, too. (And the Cardinals won here Monday without benefit of Lance Berkman and David Freese.)
Difference is, the Phillies and Nationals have outpitched the Braves. The Mets, who have the fourth-lowest ERA in the five-team division for starting pitchers, have posted 29 quality starts. (At least six innings worked with three or fewer earned runs.) The Braves have managed 20, which puts them next-to-last among NL teams.
Mike Minor hasn’t won since April 19, Randall Delgado since April 17. Jair Jurrjens was demoted to Gwinnett on April 24, and here’s where his failure shows. At his best, he’s not just a starter but a top-of-the-rotation guy. Today the Braves’ No. 1 starter is Tim Hudson, who’ll turn 37 in July and who has had two major surgeries since 2008, and No. 2 is Brandon Beachy, an undrafted free agent. Put simply, there’s not the across-the-board quality you’ll find in Philadelphia’s rotation or even Washington’s.
“Starting pitching sets the tone,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said Monday, and the tone the Braves have set has been as mellifluous as a kazoo. The Braves played 36 innings over the long holiday weekend; they led after three of the 36.
Hanson needed 19 pitches Sunday to muster an out, and by then the Cardinals had loaded the bases. He would wriggle free then, and again in the second inning. In the third he yielded four runs despite a gift from Carlos Beltran, who broke for home when no squeeze was forthcoming. Hanson was done four batters into the fourth, having been touched for Rafael Furcal’s homer and then walked the next two.
Hanson: “A lot of our loss today was about me not being competitive and giving us a chance to win.”
Someone asked Gonzalez if he felt this rotation, as constituted, has what it takes to sustain a first-rate team. “In the long run, I think it will,” he said.
But what’s he going to say? “Anybody got Roy Oswalt’s cell number”? These non-quality starts didn’t just commence when Chipper got hurt and Freeeman’s vision got fuzzy; they were happening all along. But the Braves were hitting then. They’re not now. And they’re not apt to hit much when they play within the NL East, where everybody else can really pitch. (Chipper himself was sounding that note before Opening Day.)
The Braves have played 14 games against divisional brethren; they’ve won four. They’ve done great work against other good clubs — sweeping the Cardinals in St. Louis, taking a road series from both the Dodgers and the Rays — but they’ve been overmatched by the East. They’ve scored way more runs than any team in the division. They just haven’t pitched well enough. That has to change.
Said Brian McCann: “We need that big outing, that big knock.”
And that’s the way it has to begin, yes. But a rotation works only if it, duh, rotates. Are there enough quality starts in Hudson, Beachy, Hanson, Minor and Delgado — a quintet that, with Jurrjens’ four starts added in, has generated only 20 of those in 50 games — to drive a playoff run? Probably not. Someone else will be needed. That someone could be a rejuvenated Jurrjens, or the rookie Julio Teheran, or even the out-of-work Oswalt.
Hitting’s nice. A good bullpen is a must. But we Atlantans know better than anyone that the 162-game season is a ultimately a test of starting pitching. Through 50 games, the Braves haven’t even achieved a gentleman’s “C.” Said Hanson, trying to accentuate the positive: “We’re still above .500.”
Yes. By two games. After being 26-16 on May 20. If this rotation doesn’t stabilize, look out below.
By Mark Bradley
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262 comments Add your comment
Tammy Z.
May 28th, 2012
8:35 pm
Who’s cuter, Uggla or Pastornicky ?
G
May 28th, 2012
8:35 pm
Mark,
I am still confused at what led you, at the beginning of spring training, to beleive that this was going to be a good staff.
GMR
May 28th, 2012
8:39 pm
Time for McDowell to go. Like our former batting coach he can’t put things right when they start to go wrong. A solid veteran starter is also required to do what Wagner did for the bullpen – advice and encouragement rather than it will all be OK in the end. A few fires need to be lit under several backsides as well. EH was living in a dreamworld today and even BMac seems to be losing interest. A couple of trades to the likes of Milwaukee might get everyone’s attention and generate some on-field enthusiasm. But let’s face it folks it’s not going to improve big time until #10 calls it a day and frees up some dollars.
NickGranite
May 28th, 2012
8:45 pm
I think Tyler is cuter.
kindleguy
May 28th, 2012
8:45 pm
No leadership on this team period except when Chipper plays. Major overhaul needs to be done. Trade McCann and Heyward while you can.McCann this is your team now you have done nothing but come up sick.Get rid of Freddy G. too he doesn’t know have to win in small ball when his team is in a slump. But LEADERSHIP is the bottom line and McCann who’s team is this? Get tough or leave!
Bottom Line, Fredi is the Manager
May 28th, 2012
8:52 pm
Bottom line is that Fredi is the Manager….he has never proved that he can manage…and he sure is proving right now that is the lousiest excuse for a manager this team has ever seen. Fire FREDI Now!
Nobleman
May 28th, 2012
9:01 pm
Fire Fedi ask Bobby if he will come back for the rest of the season, have a real search for a new manager in the coming months, McDowell needs to go to.
NorCal Brave
May 28th, 2012
9:02 pm
No mystery about what’s happening: while the rest of the NL East has improved, Braves have not. The pitching and defense are deplorable; the offense, which had shown signs of life, has reverted to its unproductive norm. As David Letterman would say, “I wouldn’t give the Braves’ problems to a monkey on a rock.”
Brent
May 28th, 2012
9:02 pm
Looooooooooooosers! Looooooooooooosers! Loooooooooooosers!
dawg4u
May 28th, 2012
9:03 pm
When George Steinbrenner owned the Yankees and Ted Turner owned the Braves, I feel sure that the managers pretty much knew where they stood on a regular basis. That probably isn’t the case anymore with the Braves. The only ones that seem upset with Fredi G are the fans. Jeff Schultz did call him out in his column a couple of days ago. People are calling out MB for not being more critical of Fredi G. but really would it really do any good at all? The Bravos are owned by a third party who probably could care less about the day to day operations of the club. Fredi doesn’t make waves and tries to be likable to the players and accomadating to the beat writer and press. That could be an unbeatable combination unless this team really continues to lose and look really bad doing it with no pitching or hitting!
Our New Insect Overlords
May 28th, 2012
9:05 pm
It’s all deck chairs on the Titanic unless Liberty Media sells the team to someone who cares about the product beyond it being a tax write-off. Ask Cubs fans of the last 30 years and Yankees fans from the pre-Steinbrenner days how faceless corporate ownership by a media conglomerate worked out.
bravesfan
May 28th, 2012
9:05 pm
Sellers at the break: Hudson, Bourne, Uggla. Those guys should fetch quite a haul. I wish them well but this is a business.
Sonny Clusters
May 28th, 2012
9:10 pm
Clusters babies are born playing baseball so we know what we are talking about when we say there is something wrong with the Braves that needs to be addressed right now. We was noticing all the hugging and fanny patting and was thinking that if they want to do that they should play well enough that other teams want to be huggers and fanny patters, too. Instead, we think other teams make fun of all the sweetness on this team. Besides, they seem to pass around the flu and something is causing them to have blurred vision and weak groins. We remember when Eddie Mathews was playing for the Braves and he would keep a mayonnaise jar in his locker and sometimes they would see him drinking mayonnaise and cussing and spitting and farting and stuff like the old baseball players used to do. We could not imagine Eddie Mathews fanny patting or hugging and giving somebody else on the team some sugar. Something has to change and Fredi is in the woods facing Bambi without a gun.
DQBrazier
May 28th, 2012
9:23 pm
Mr. Bradley has got it right. A short armin’ Hanson and the rest of the youngster arms ain’t gonna win even if you make the playoff’s. We would rather have one can’t miss arm than what we got…It looks bad out there.
Can not remember last time (never) I have seen a eye contact epidemic this bad. No toughness or grit to this bunch.
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
May 28th, 2012
9:23 pm
Get rid of Haywood 2. Hes the biggest looser on the rooster.
Robert the Yellow Jacket
May 28th, 2012
9:28 pm
I sure am glad I watched the Diamond Jackets win the ACC with all the moaning I see here.
I gave up pro sports some time ago.
Really once Ted was not the owner, it was all over for the Braves.
John
May 28th, 2012
9:28 pm
At least they collapsed earlier this year so I can go ahead and stop watching, saves tons of time and disappointment.
DetroitBraves
May 28th, 2012
9:32 pm
@Hawk01, as bad as Fredi Gonzalez is Jim Leyland is even worse. I realize that’s probably hard to believe from afar but it’s true. Smokey Leyland has totally lost it.
GameChanger
May 28th, 2012
9:33 pm
Do any of you people ACTUALLY think this team can sustain a playoff run? Of course not. They have NO HEART, NO FIGHT in them. It showed last year and it’s appearing again. The slightest little problem and they ALL fold, manager included. Chipper went out and they all got depressed like a bunch of little babies. It make NO SENSE to root for this team because they have NO CHANCE of competing, let alone winning.
They will pad their stats against their fellow cellar dwellars and look like world beaters. But when push comes to shove, this team is DESTINED for LAST PLACE.
archie
May 28th, 2012
9:36 pm
Enter your comments here
DQBrazier
May 28th, 2012
9:38 pm
Did Sports South get rid of that poor girl who sounds like Brick from Anchor Man? I liked her.
archie
May 28th, 2012
9:38 pm
The Dodgers have made an offer to Roy Oswalt. The Braves are interested in signing Rick Mahler. A spokesman for Liberty Media said, “We think Rick still has something left. And financially it just makes sense.”
Pal Joey
May 28th, 2012
9:40 pm
The Braves essentially started the same team that pooped all over the field the last few weeks of 2011. Einstein said it best, the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different outcome. These pitchers obviously are not ready for prime time and we expect them to perform like seasoned veterans. It’s time to go look for some seasoned pitchers and send some of these guys back down for more seasoning. Why would anyone want to spend money at the ballpark these days watching this AAA team try to play with the big boys. I know the offense has been hampered by injuries, but the starting – and bullpen – pitching has been atrocious for the better part of the season. The Braves simply cannot compete in this division with the anemic pitching they have. With one of the worst ERAs in the NL, it doesn’t require rocket science to figure out that this starting staff will return us to the forgettable days of the 1980s without some drastic changes in personnel.
Dawg'88
May 28th, 2012
9:43 pm
The starting pitching was not the problem in Cincinnati. In Tampa, it was very good. It looks to me as if the starters are trying to be too fine because they know that a run or two and its over. This offense is terrible. The starters have teetered the past 4 games because of what is mentioned above. They are living on the edge instead of relaxing. Hitting .180 as a team is the issue. This streak would have never gotten started if the offense had scored some runs lately. The only starter that is NOT good is Minor. Other than the first two starts….Boom! All of the others have pitched some good games when the offense got them a few runs. To blame the starters (other than Minor) is not fair.
dawg4u
May 28th, 2012
9:48 pm
Clusters I just have to give you some well deserved credit here. You have addressed the flu-like symptoms, blurred vision, weak groins, fanny patting, hugging and cap tipping and these are all the Braves problems. It is truly hard to believe that a little over a week ago this team was in first place and now tied for last. I don’t even pretend to know the answers for a return to first place but I believe a little bit less of all these physical problems plus a new manager would be a good start. Good pitching and timely hitting would fit right in and also us seeming to be more like an ornery bunch rather than a bunch of fanny patters as you stated. When Reggie was with the Yankees they were known as a feuding bunch both on and off the field. Not saying we should be exactly like that but leaning a little more in that direction would be good.
Dawg'88
May 28th, 2012
9:48 pm
Where were all of these nimrod posters when the Braves were 26-16. Waited until this streak to bad mouth the team they supposedly support. I am frustrated too but the stuff being said above is ridiculous and vile and disgusting.
Just a bunch of pansies who have no life and seek to spew stupidity on here.
Go back to your batcaves ignoramous maximus crew. Take your craziness with you….we’re all stocked up here.
The real so called losers are on this blog ripping away. With fans like these who needs rivals?
Dawg'88
May 28th, 2012
9:50 pm
The losers are those posting on here that weren’t here a week ago.
Where were you then?
Crawled out from under a rock I see. Take your Crazy someplace else.
We’re all stocked up here!
NickGranite
May 28th, 2012
9:53 pm
Who’s the jerk using my name?
Kentavo
May 28th, 2012
9:54 pm
The pitching is the problem – Hudson, the ace gives up 7; Hanson can’t get thru four innings; The Cards have a good offense, but why does our pitching get shelled by bad offenses such as Cubs, Pirates and Nats? Explain that to me. It seems to happen every year. That and getting blanked by rookie pitchers and pitchers with 5-plus ERAs. How does this happen?
Barney Strickland
May 28th, 2012
9:56 pm
Should have kept Derrick Lowe…….. Shoulda kept Derrick Lowe…….. What were we thinking? We are paying 66% OF HIS SALARY THIS YEAR !!! Idiots!! What kind of trade was that? Even using him in middle inning relief would have justified keeping him! We got screwed…. screwed…. screwed on that deal !!
Darryl Blackberry
May 28th, 2012
9:57 pm
Hate the sin, not the sinner. These guys are slumping collectively, but they’ll pick it back up. The problem here is that even when the offense was going well, the pitching was suspect. I honestly believe Beachy, Hudson, and Hanson are solid pitchers…but they don’t exactly stack up well with other playoff caliber staffs. Would be nice to pick up Oswalt, get JJ straightened out and back up with the big club, and send Minor and Delgado down to AAA. If nothing else, I’d like to see Teheran and/or Redmond get a chance here while Liberty Media and Frank Wren hem and haw over a possible Oswalt signing.
Kentavo
May 28th, 2012
9:59 pm
Lowe must have done something beyond stinking it up last year on the field to warrant such a hasty exit – bc Wren came out right after the season was over and said he didn’t see a spot for him in the rotation. Kinda weird, really. Yeah, paying him $10 mil to pitch well for Cleveland really sucks.
Billy
May 28th, 2012
10:06 pm
Dawg 88..If the team is winning — you don’t need to come on blog and say how great each player is etc…but if you’re a fan and they’re not winning thats something else. Losing makes you mad and then you let them know about it…
Where have you been all this time? I’m on everyday and I never seen your dawg88 name before.
Billy
May 28th, 2012
10:08 pm
How many millions has Wren cost Liberty for stupid moves..like Lowe.
JRW7
May 28th, 2012
10:11 pm
From 1st to worst in a week!!
Billy
May 28th, 2012
10:14 pm
Mark, Put a poll on your post asking 1. To keep Fredi 2. To keep Wren 3. To keep McDowell 4. Fire all three 5. Keep all three.
Thanks you very much.
Dawg Haus
May 28th, 2012
10:26 pm
As per usual, great post, Mark. I had a few quick questions for you, if you have the time. First, have you heard anything new regarding JJ’s potential return to the lineup or is he not doing so well in Gwinnett? Second, do you see the Braves making any moves to address the pitching issues?
SMOLTZ 29
May 28th, 2012
10:33 pm
Ryan Dempster is the short term answer for the rotation right now. The Cubs are history this season, and probably would unload the veteran for a mid level prospect! GET ON THE PHONE WREN, AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Dawg Haus
May 28th, 2012
10:41 pm
Not a bad idea for a short-term answer, SMOLTZ 29. You have to know Dempster would welcome a move.
NoleRick
May 28th, 2012
10:53 pm
Gonna be a long summer boys…
Kentavo
May 28th, 2012
10:57 pm
Dempster would be a start.
Gene
May 28th, 2012
10:58 pm
There are some competitors on this team. Bourn and Prado, Beachy and Medlin, and it’s sad because they are on a sinking ship with Wren at the helm. Fredi has lost control, as if he ever had it. The franchise is in the same state as the Falcons with Vick and Petrino, except that the Falcons had an owner who cared about the team, the city, and the fans. Liberty Media cares only about profits, and the Braves are profitable from the corporate point of view. This situation is not going to get better anytime soon.
Dawg Haus
May 28th, 2012
11:04 pm
Why hasn’t Medlen gotten a shot at returning to the rotation? He was lights-out before he went down in 2010 and has done pretty well this year. He’s looked a heck of a lot better than Minor and Delgado, who both need some more time in AAA.
Frank
May 28th, 2012
11:19 pm
With pitching this bad, all eyes should be on RM. Defense looking tired and unfocused. Agree with J-Man – “Thats on the manager . . . ” Lack of depth at all positions is a concern, as well. Oh, well, Liberty Media gets what they pay for. . .
Tom G (Independent - Viet Vet)
May 28th, 2012
11:35 pm
test
Tom G (Independent - Viet Vet)
May 28th, 2012
11:43 pm
A couple of you posters said it looks like J Heyward is turning into another Frenchy!! You wish, is my reponse!!! Jeff is hitting .284 and consistently has 2,3, and even 4 hit games. Never seen him flub a ball in RF. I was appauding J Heyward earlier this season when he changed some things and was hitting around .280. He is now down to .230’s and probably will go back to the .215’s like last yr, yes he occasionally will hit a HR! His D is terrible in RF. He is certainly no Harper and definitely not a Franceour!! But he is a good kid and role model for the community of ATL. By the way Constanza is hitting about .330 down in AAA ball?
Ed Stone
May 28th, 2012
11:59 pm
How does Derek Lowe’s 40 wins over the last 3 years look now? He got ran out of town because he couldn’t pitch a shutout every game. Look it up, how many times did the Braves get shut out or scored 1 run in his starts last year. I can understand the writers and readers of the AJC being idiots but Frank Wrenn is paid alot of many to be smarter than he is.
Time to watch something else on TV!
May 29th, 2012
12:04 am
At least the Braves didn’t wait until September to collapse this year.
Bedrock
May 29th, 2012
12:10 am
Good idea Archie except for one minor problem. Rick Mahlers arm was dead in ‘88 but unfortunately he’s dead too now. But then again, they’ve got Livan Hernandez out there and he’s been basicly dead for years but still breathing.
DJ
May 29th, 2012
12:32 am
All winter long Braves Mgmt sat out doing anything banking this club just had bad years and would bounce back. I didn’t drink the kool-aid then and over a 162 game schedule…Not drinking with this ballclub.