The Braves lose a series but buy some much-needed pitching
Tim Hudson's start Sunday: Six innings, five earned runs. Ouch. (AP photo by David Tulis)
The Braves lost a series to the team they’re chasing – although, having gone 27-29 over the past nine weeks, this constitutes the slowest chase since O.J. Simpson took off in the white Bronco — but might have found a way to hurry things along. A half-hour before they played the Nationals on Sunday, the Braves announced they’d signed Ben Sheets to a minor-league contract.
Don’t be misled by the language. “We didn’t sign him to be a minor-league player,” said Frank Wren, the general manager. “We want him to be one of our [big-league] pitchers, probably even a guy in the rotation.”
For “probably,” read “definitely.” The Braves signed Sheets, who since 2008 has won four big-league games and undergone two surgical procedures, because they’re desperate. They’ve hit better than they did a year ago, but they’ve pitched much worse.
Said Wren, speaking of his rotation: “We haven’t been as consistent as we’d like … We need more of [these starting pitchers] being a sure thing on a daily basis.”
Said Fredi Gonzalez, the manager: “We have matched up well [against the opponent's starting pitchers] at times, and at times we haven’t.”
Having witnessed a run of 14 division titles built on the innings eaten by stellar starting pitchers, we in Atlanta should know the drill. If we’d forgotten, these Nationals can serve as a case study. Washington’s everyday lineup isn’t as good as the Braves’, but it holds the National League’s best record because it has outpitched everybody.
Said Chipper Jones: “That team’s in first place for a reason. They’ve got lockdown starting pitching.”
The Nationals have 50 quality starts (six or more innings with three or fewer earned runs), which is third-best in the league. The Braves have 31, which is the second-worst. There’s your 4 1/2-game deficit.
Over the hot weekend the Braves actually hit the Nationals’ starters pretty well, driving All-Star Stephen Strasburg to dehydration after three innings Saturday and forcing Gio Gonzalez, another All-Star, to throw 114 pitches over five-plus innings Sunday. (An epic 14-pitch at-bat by the rookie Andrelton Simmons in the second inning all but ensured Gonzalez would weaken, which he did in the sixth.)
The Nationals didn’t manage a quality start in the series, but they won two of three because the Braves didn’t muster one, either. The home side trailed 4-0 after four innings Friday and 4-nil after one inning Sunday, and you cannot spot a good team — the Nationals’ bullpen is splendid, too — that many runs.
But that’s what the Braves have done too often: Fallen behind early, thereby lessening the effect of their own stout bullpen. (Though the Braves’ relief efforts have been mitigated by the wayward ways of Jonny Venters, who was bad again Sunday.)
Pitching-wise, the year began badly and got worse. Jair Jurrjens, an All-Star last season, lasted four starts before being shipped to Gwinnett, and the youngsters Mike Minor and Randall Delgado never found traction. Then Brandon Beachy, who was leading the National League in ERA, was lost to Tommy John surgery, all but forcing Wren to go shopping.
As encouraging as Jurrjens’ two recent big-league starts have been, as stout as Minor’s winning effort against Strasburg was, the hope that these five pitchers will coalesce into a playoff-caliber rotation has been reduced to a wish. By signing Sheets, the Braves got a guy that cost them nothing but money. If he pans out, Wren wins the Clark Howard Savvy Shopper Award of the month. But don’t think the Braves are done.
Said Fredi Gonzalez, the manager: “Frank and I have been talking for three or four days. If this [Sheets] works, we still have other pieces to go get another guy.”
The Braves have hoarded young pitchers — Minor, Delgado, Julio Teheran (who’s at Gwinnett) and Arodys Vizcaino — the past two seasons. Surely the plan is for Sheets to render either Minor or Delgado expendable, at least in the short term. Unless the rotation catches fire before the trading deadline at month’s end, the temptation will be great to swap a young arm for a proven one.
The Braves aren’t crazy about renting free-agents-to-be, but if an established starting pitcher — Zack Greinke of Milwaukee, say — could turn a middling season into something that extends beyond the 162nd game, it might be worth parting with Minor or Delgado. (For all their promise, it’s fair to say neither seems a Strasburg.)
The belief within this team is that it hasn’t played to capacity; without better starting pitching, it never will. Hiring Ben Sheets can’t hurt, but there’s more than one hole in this rotation.
By Mark Bradley
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138 comments Add your comment
From Worst to
July 1st, 2012
6:47 pm
First.
Toolate
July 1st, 2012
6:49 pm
First
Toolate
July 1st, 2012
6:49 pm
Oh well……
There isn’t any doubt that we need to shore up the starting pitching.
jimmie
July 1st, 2012
6:50 pm
and the braves arent far behind
Tim
July 1st, 2012
6:50 pm
Wow
bro
July 1st, 2012
6:51 pm
there may be some hope with sheets, but now he is just another old used up arm. If they get a win or two out of him it maybe worth the trouble. Still need a bat in leftfield–mainly for next year or when chipper can’t play.
P Rose
July 1st, 2012
6:56 pm
Do not trade a promising young arm for a rental of a mediocre veteran. One season isn’t worth it.
Dawg Haus
July 1st, 2012
6:58 pm
Mark, do you see the Braves going after Hamels?
dawg4u
July 1st, 2012
6:59 pm
Once again (it’s too familiar) I am glad the Nats are leaving town. It’s good to get Sheets because we have to gamble for something better than Delgado/Minor although Minor has been better of late. We’ll still need more than Sheets to overtake the Nats. Looking on the bright side – my brother lives in the Philly area and says that they are talking about just unloading most of their 178 Mil $ payroll after going 36-45 in the first half and still in last place.
Nite Owl
July 1st, 2012
7:00 pm
Getting Sheets seems like a last-gasp attempt to get help without giving up any of the young pitchers. But either way, a young-un is going—because if he doesn’t pan out, we’ll have to give one up, and if he does pan out, we can afford to give one up.
And I’m just going to point out the obvious and say that we’ve got a really good team. We just need guys to stay healthy and play to their ability. You can say that about any team, sure. But that doesn’t make it any less true.
Jack Dennis TN
July 1st, 2012
7:03 pm
Get a RH hitter, for cryin out loud.
Whopper Dawg
July 1st, 2012
7:03 pm
Remember not too long ago when the talk was of trading some of our young pitching for some bats as we were pitching rich. We didn’t and shouldn’t have. This just reinforces the old adage that you cannot have too much pitching.
ihateleyritz
July 1st, 2012
7:04 pm
@ jimmie
This is a blog about the Braves. Leave the President out of it. Go Braves!
GregD
July 1st, 2012
7:05 pm
Why not put Venters in the minors for a little bit, let him work some things out, bring him back up after the all star break or sooner if he gets it together.
ihateleyritz
July 1st, 2012
7:10 pm
I agree, GregD. Seems he has lost his location due to mechanics. I’m not a pitching coach but he’s definitely out of synch. Maybe the All Star break is the much needed adjustment time he needs. I also agree we need to find a RH hitter, and fast. Uggla is swinging hard(at anything) and causing small children to cower in fear!
Nova Scotia Steve
July 1st, 2012
7:10 pm
Our starting pitchIng has been a concern even before Beachy went down. So now we’re scambling, they need Sheets to pitch better than Minor (which shouldn’t be hard) and they need a proven top of the rotation starter.
Holding your breath three out of five days of the week and expect to contend is a pipe dream. We need to pull the trigger on a deal ASAP.
On another note: There isn’t a clutch hitter among the bunch right now – offensively the Braves are still frustrating as hell.
Nite Owl
July 1st, 2012
7:22 pm
Couldn’t agree more, Nova Scotia Steve. We’ve got to do something now if we want to contend. The Nationals are for real, especially their pitching. This could have been a sweep if Strasburg doesn’t wilt in the heat. And it won’t be over 100 degrees in October.
I’m usually an optimist, but the starting pitching has to get right, and right now.
As for offensively, it’s an odd thing—there’s really no one in the lineup I’d like to take out, but I would like them all to be more consistent. And more clutch.
Jack in Macon
July 1st, 2012
7:23 pm
You gys are going to think I’ m crazy, but we need two high quaity starting pitchers (ones we can extend contracts) and a quality left-handed reliver.
How do we do that? Include BMac in the deal(s). Trade Delgado, Minor, Venters and Gilmartin if necessaryl. Don’t let the AL teams know the secret but BMac is never going to be an All-Star again. He now only has for the most part warning track power and the shift will automtically knock 30 or 40 points off his average. He’s done, stick a fork in him.
I love BMac but we need to trade him for a short and long term solution.
ihateleyritz
July 1st, 2012
7:31 pm
Wow, Jack in Macon. I have to say I’ve been thinking the same about BMac for some time now. There was the contract speculation chatter earlier in the year, when he seemed to be on a roll and now, he’s looking a lot like he did last year toward the end of the season. He’s a great dude, and obviously his teammates love him, but at this point, something has to be done with him. Is there an injury we don’t know about?
As for the pitching, I’m at a loss. Who do we move to get some arms in here? Can we get Leo Mazzone back to consult with McDowell and Gonzales(sp?) the arms that we have?
Nite Owl
July 1st, 2012
7:33 pm
Not crazy at all, Jack. If Ross can keep production up for the rest of the year, and Betancourt is ready next year, we might as well do it now. I kind of think that BMac’s on the downside, too.
I’d keep Venters and Gilmartin out of it for now, though. Too much potential there. And as always, you have to make sure the guys you’re getting back are healthy and hope they stay that way.
bulldogbubba
July 1st, 2012
7:37 pm
We also need 2 good bats off the bench if they are out there.Not getting the production off the bench like we did in the glory years. Cut Wilson,Diaz, and Hinske now to get some fresh power” If Posibble”. I know I might in fantasy-land with that request but we need something to wake this team up!!!!!!!! HOW ABOUT CLUSTERS TO THE RESCUE
Mike in Georgia
July 1st, 2012
7:44 pm
Jack, I’m ashamed to be from MACON after reading your comments….did you run the Macon Braves off too? Brian will be fine in time…everyone has a downtime….this is his.
NorCal Brave
July 1st, 2012
7:49 pm
Signing Sheets is fine; trading away young, still promising, arms for a partial year pitcher this season is not. This club has a lot of holes on offense, too: McCann’s hitting .226, Uggla the all star, .232 with no recent homers; I don’t even count Chipper as a starter anymore. Even the Bourn trade doesn’t look so great. The bench has given us no help, and without a consistent Venters in the pen, well I would say the playoffs are well out of reach this year.
Thomas
July 1st, 2012
7:50 pm
Phillies now shopping Cole Hamels. Too much to ask?
shorty
July 1st, 2012
7:54 pm
Fire Fredi the Fail before he has a chance to mess up the rest of our staff…and we get too demoralized to even care if we haven’t reached that point already.
Larry
July 1st, 2012
7:55 pm
The Braves do this every year. All the blogs speculate on the big name pitchers and the big bats, and the then sign one or two has-beens. We get our hope up salivating over the options available, then sign a used-to-be and expect to compete. Even during the 14 years that they won the division. Instead of winning the World Series, JS and FW would settle. The only time in recent history they signed anybody, was JS’s attempt to go out in style by mortgaging the future for Mark “Five Player” Teixeira before handing it over to Frank “Do Nothing” Wren.
People cry for Leo to be brought back, but Leo’s not stupid…he did it with the stellar personnel and not ability.
The Atlanta Braves should, but won’t, spend the money on big bats and big name pitching each year to stay competitive. I’m not talking about doing what the Fish did or Cubbies did…Talent is there, but it’s not free.
P.S., Mark, nice piece!
The Grinch
July 1st, 2012
8:02 pm
We could really use an upgrade of the bench. I love Diaz, but he doesn’t scare anyone. Hinske and Francisco at this point are only good if we get into a brawl, and Wilson’s only good for bunting and pinch running. He’s not even a defensive replacement anymore. Ross is the only good pinch hitter and Fredi’s scared to use him.
Skeezix
July 1st, 2012
8:22 pm
Mark: Unless the Braves go out and get some proven, quality pitching soon, it’ll be another disappointing year. Ben Sheets, I’m afraid, isn’t the answer to our pitching woes. If we haven’t the bucks to afford an ace, then let the young arms keep pitching and gain experience that will pay dividends next season.
JeanE
July 1st, 2012
8:23 pm
Diaz is not a great pinch-hitter, he does better when he gets the occasional start. Hinske is most definitely having an off year. Uggla being an all-star is a joke, he should not be in that game. Hope the Sheets move works out, it can’t hurt to try and could reap mucho benefits. I don’t feel confident enough in Randall or Minor to count on them. I wish I knew what was wrong with Jonny, it is so sad to see him struggle when he was just lights out last year. Got to beat up on these Cubs and make some hay. Go Braves.
Jaded Braves Fan
July 1st, 2012
8:28 pm
The Nats are very similar to what the Braves were in 2010. Very steady starting pitching, dynamite bullpen, and an opportunistic offense that does just enough to back their superb arms. Washington’s staff really outclasses ours, and the discrepancy is so great that I’m not sure one trade, no matter how big, and the return of Ben Sheets will be enough to close the gap.
However, removing Delgado and Minor from the rotation would make the Braves much more dangerous in the second half. Those guys are momentum killers.
BravesBobblehead24
July 1st, 2012
8:29 pm
Jack from Macon ain’t crazy, BMac is batting .230 and has decent on base percentage. He HR production has gone down but as far as a trade, I have to optimistic whatever funk he is in, BMac will get through it.
Sonny Clusters
July 1st, 2012
8:33 pm
Well, we was at a game on Thursday and we was country music-ed to death. We think playing all that country music all during the game may be affecting the players and making them want to ride off in a pickup truck with their hunting dog when they should be concentrating on baseball. That duo that sang God Bless America managed to mess it up with all that twanging and whanging and whining. We say ban all country music from the Ted and replace it with baseball songs. We can be center field.
Caseyatthebat
July 1st, 2012
8:37 pm
As this team is constructed now it is only an average team. Withhold any great expectations. For all the early press this pitching staff received it’s not very good. The bench is poor. At the start of the season we really should have gotten a big hitting left fielder. We still need one. But now we also need two proven pitchers. To watch two young pitchers learn in this rotation is not going to be playoff successful, let alone world series. The lineup is stronger and hitting better than last year but Uggly and McCan’t aren’t helping.For the life of me, I can’t understand why they don’t just sit a guy in a prolonged slump. It hasn’t been proven to me that it isn’t just as effective to let him get his head straightened out. I’ve thought from the beginning of this season that Wren was tap dancing his way through this year waiting for the available increase in money next year and Sheets acquisition just confirms it. At any rate, if they can’t beat Washington they ain’t going’ nowhere.
Sonny Clusters
July 1st, 2012
8:37 pm
Put Davey Johnson in the Braves dugout and Fredi in the Nationals’ and the Braves lead the division. When we see Fredi reaching to tip his cap it makes us sick. Davey Johnson looks so old and feeble he doesn’t need to waste any energy tipping his cap. Still, he is an ex-Brave and we would rather see him propped up in the dugout managing rather than Fredi in his extra-cool Oakleys. We think Fredi may not be watching the game under those sunglasses. When he is interviewed he acts like he wasn’t there.
Sonny Clusters
July 1st, 2012
8:41 pm
And another thing . . . Uggla is going to the All-Star Game and we was wondering who holds the All-Star record for strikeouts? If we was a betting Clusters we would bet Uggla may hold the record after the game. We watched him strike out looking 3 times the other night and if they hadn’t hit him with a pitch it may have been 4 times.
Jfreak13713
July 1st, 2012
8:51 pm
Don’t mind giving Sheets a chance because he can’t do any worse that what is out there now and he might be better. No lose situation for Braves in this deal but lets hope the Braves are counting on Hudson, Hanson, Sheets, JJ, and either Delgado or Minor to beat the Nationals, Giants, Dodgers, or Cardinals. The Greinke deal is appealing and maybe they can BORROW him for a couple months for Minor or Delgado?? A lot of maybes!!
BavadoFever
July 1st, 2012
8:52 pm
ADMIT IT FRANK WREN, THIS TEAM IS AVERAGE AND NOT AS GOOD AS ADVERTISED. QUIT TRYING TO SELL US A BILL OF GOODS ON HOW GOOD THIS TEAM CAN BE IF THE MOON AND STARS ARE ALL LINED UP JUST RIGHT.
Steve
July 1st, 2012
8:53 pm
Sonny, why don’t you ever use proper grammar?
Game Changer
July 1st, 2012
9:05 pm
uggla – not good trade asap
heyward – trade while he is hot
freeman – stop striking out so much or you will need to go
shortstop is for real – 1k every 9 at bats and defense lock down to date
3rd base ?????? chipper ok martinez kills the team
prado needs to be at second on the uggle trade, need a left fielder badly.
and ben sheets is the savior of this current mess and I could continue regarding the terrible bence players.
As Frank Wren why no music is allowed in the locker rooms. Ask F Wren if he is worried about any players from the drug test thursday night after the game. Fricking ask someting of interest to read. Ben Sheets much needed pitching???? Can’t field, very slow to any ball hit except at SS and Centerfield, can’t hit and way to many strikeouts by top of the order batters.
Current top Major Leaguers starting for braves:
CF, SS
Average players:
LF should be at 2nd, RF currently – time will tell,
Below Average.
1st, 3rd, 2nd, catcher, pitching
Gene Garber
July 1st, 2012
9:06 pm
Sheets??? Are you kidding me? Is this another of Wren’s push to get “something for nothing”. Sheets’ days are over….You’re telling me that Wren was impressed with Sheets’ throwing 91-92. Obviously there’s no pitching in AA or AAA. Put together a package of Francisco, Minor and (insert name here) and $…go get a big arm and a left-hand hitting OF. Prado moves to 3rd next year and the new hitter is in LF. Sheets isn’t the answer.
STRETCH
July 1st, 2012
9:06 pm
They got rid of Gonzalez when they should have been trying to get a bat in LF. Prado is going to be the 3rd baseman next year. Also the Nats make pitchers work and they dont miss pitches like the Braves do. The NATS try putting the ball in play not like the Braves who in turn are trying to send everything over the fence.
This pitching staff is overrated and ive been screaming that for a couple of years now. So now they have finally been exposed and Wren is trying to save face.
STRETCH
July 1st, 2012
9:07 pm
Yep, what Gene Garber said…Sheets is NOT the answer!
jobro
July 1st, 2012
9:09 pm
hamels costs wayyyy to much i like the sheets move it can only help us get better the braves havent played their best ball yet but we will find our stride and win the national league east i believe in this team and i think we havent played our best ball yet and weve got the cubbies this week we can beat them if we win 3 or 4 in a row and washington loses 3 or 4 in a row we are right back in it GO BRAVOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alaska Braves Fan
July 1st, 2012
9:10 pm
BavadoFever: What’s wrong with you? Have you made any effort at all to understand the intricacies of the baseball process? How could anyone please you? Think about it; you’re an irritant, but your thoughts aren’t important and mostly are incoherent.
ABF
Truth hurts
July 1st, 2012
9:14 pm
The Yankees shop at Bloomingdales… The Braves go shopping at the Dollar Store
Baby Ruth
July 1st, 2012
9:24 pm
Blah…Blah….Blah….This organization sucks now!
SLBReb
July 1st, 2012
9:27 pm
Since the Marlins are struggling, go get Morrison who is young but having a difficult season. He can be our left fielder and Prado to third. Fire Freddie “I am an incredible strategist” Gonzalez and get another arm that is legit (Sheets is fine but is a gamble). McCann has been incredible for the Braves but his time is done – has not hit in the last year since his injury. See if we can get any value while we can and let Betancourt learn as we are going nowhere this year. What to do with 5 years of Struggla is a big question.
SR
July 1st, 2012
9:32 pm
RIght on Gene Garber, other desperate move by the buffoon Wren. Braves will be running in place all season, not a contender with this roster.
Larry
July 1st, 2012
9:38 pm
Truth Hurts
Maybe a second hand store or the flea market.
brandon
July 1st, 2012
10:15 pm
Sheets would be a great story.
Fats
July 1st, 2012
10:22 pm
Home field advantage still does not mean a wholle lot to FG and his team. Uggla is lookiing really bad lately and needs to go on R and R. He might need a break
Reality
July 1st, 2012
10:33 pm
Book it! The Braves will not make the playoffs again this year. Starting pitching is weak and lacks experience. Hitting is much too streaky. We are, at best, the third best team in our division.
Book it!
Bill
July 1st, 2012
10:55 pm
Get Zack and I’ll be happy.
Larry
July 1st, 2012
11:41 pm
Imagine this team with Terry Francona as their manager. Just he alone would have the Braves atop the division as their current manager, aka, Dirt for Brains, has easily cost this team 6-7 games from horrific managing. No way this team makes the playoffs with FG in the dugout.
duronimo
July 1st, 2012
11:56 pm
I don’t give a sheet anymore. It’s ben too hot anyway. Let’s trade for Ankiel and recycle him back to being a pitcher. Hoarding is a certified sickness even if it involves pitchers. Trade some of these projects. If Joe Johnson could pitch, I’m sure the Hawks would pay half his salary.
The Bravenator
July 2nd, 2012
12:00 am
Went to the Gwinnett Braves game last night. Wish I hadn’t. The Braves have nothing major league ready at AAA. Mostly retreads and career minor leaguers. No help there. FG wouldn’t know what to do with talent anyway. Clean house, write-off this season, don’t make any knee-jerk stupid trades, get rid of FG and FW, beg Liberty Cheapia for a few bucks and start over.
Bradley Curse
July 2nd, 2012
12:07 am
“We didn’t sign him to be a minor-league players,”
I had no idea the guy was studying up on it but I guess Wren has finally mastered “street talk” (though I think Bradley put the comma in the wrong spot, suppose to go like this: We didn’t sign him to be a minor-league, players)
Columbus
July 2nd, 2012
2:07 am
Look. the Braves have went this far with Minor and its about time for him to come around. Trade him now and it will be one of the BIGGEST mistakes in braves history. Not only is he going to be a 1 or 2 starter in a rotation, he is a lefty. It is far too SOON to give up on Delgado.
Do NOT rent a pitcher when for OUR YOUNG PITCHERS. Not when there is MUCH more money available for next year to BUY one.
Secondly, Jair is looking MUCH better. Maybe his knee and confidence are coming back. Also Minor looks to be getting better recently too. Take him out in the 6th inning first sign of trouble and ALL will be FINE. He seems to lose it 9 times out of 10 in the sixth. Get him out before any damage is done. Hudson should be fine. Do we need another starter? Yes. Should we trade Minor or Delgado? NO FREAKIN WAY!
Think Delgado, Minor, Beachy, Hudson, Jair. DONT FORGET MEDLIN for this year neither. LONG WAY TO GO….
DO NOT PANIC! I do not think Wren will.
Columbus
July 2nd, 2012
2:16 am
Think Delgado, Minor, Beachy, Hudson, Jair for next year. Minor WILL be very good next year. Delgado will be good, maybe very good. Jair has been and very well can be again. Beachy will not be back until the last couple months in 2013 but will be back. Hudson will be dependable as always. Nice rotation for next year if Jair is back strong. VERY nice. Minor is going to be very good and hes ALMOST there. Delgado is going to be very good too. hes got some more learning to go but it will happen. Do we give up one of those 2 for this year? Look at the next several years with the other 2 coming up and thing Smoltz, Glavine, Maddox, Avery all over again. Hudson will be stable until they all 4 are ready. Add in Beachy and that is a STRONG 5 man rotation starting in 2014.
Larry
July 2nd, 2012
3:19 am
Mark,
Why don’t you run a poll on Gonzalez:
1.) Retain Fredi through this and next season
2.) Retain Fredi through the end of this season.
3.) Terminate Fredi at the All Star Break and pursue Terry Francona or another manager
Want to bet me #3 gets the majority vote? Name the amount!
patience
July 2nd, 2012
3:30 am
I understand that most of the ppl on this blog have high expectations for the Bravos, as do I, but we still have a lot of season left. We’ve gotta remember that things are never as good or bad as they seem. If we get hot late in the season all of these rant will be null and void.
Leo...call Leo!!!
July 2nd, 2012
5:29 am
In the heyday, we’d bring in a guy like Sheets and he’d have a career year ( John Burkett, Chris Hammond, etc..) then move on to another team for a big contract only to fall back to their pre-Leo
performance.
Can Roger work the same magic? So far, no.
Leo...call Leo!!!
July 2nd, 2012
5:34 am
I wouldn’t give up on Minor or Delgado. Minor is half a season or so from being really good. Google
Tom Glavine’s 1989-1990 stats to see how he compared to Minor now. In ‘91, he wot he Cy.
Smootz was such a mess I the early 90’s the team hired a psychologist to help him work through his
problems.
Young pitchers take time. The Braves are NOT a World Series caliber team, if they’ll use a little patience with their young core of pitchers, they will be soon.
NickGranite
July 2nd, 2012
6:53 am
The Nats will be hard to catch because Zimmerman and now Morse are coming around after being out with injuries and…the braves do not have a good bridge team to the closer. The starters always seem to have a high pitch count by the time the 5th inning rolls around and unfortunately, one of those bridge innings has to be covered by Venters most of the time and he can now be deemed extremely unreliable.
NickGranite
July 2nd, 2012
6:59 am
With all due respect to the Glavine comparisons to Minor and Delgado early career struggles….and I see them often, it only works if you think Minor and Delgado will go on to win 305 games. I guess what I’m saying is a 305 game winner had a lot more going for him than just overcoming inexperience and a bad team early in his career.
Scott Brantley
July 2nd, 2012
7:00 am
Sheets will be to the staff what Troy Glaus was to the lineup–not much.
slydog
July 2nd, 2012
7:08 am
how far have the braves fallen where you have to depend on, much less even look at, the likes of Livan Hernandez and Ben Sheets. I never, ever, thought, the Braves would be in positions like this. Ben Sheets represents what so many unreliable pitchers in the Major Leagues do: Great stuff, but even greater inconsistency, and even more injuries. And the now the Braves are forced to waste their time and efforts on this underachiever. The would do better rotating all those ‘young arms’ they have been collecting like dolls around grandma’s house. What have you got to lose at this point?
GaryinBham
July 2nd, 2012
7:48 am
We’ve scored 53 runs in the last ten games, consistently at least 4 or more. I think the calls for offense upgrades are off base. he offense is fine. With good pitching, scoring 5.3 runs per game will win at a great rate. The bullpen faltering on the lefthand side and the weakness in starters is the whole ball of wax. Good column, I think you’re right. May be interesting that Cubbies are in town. I’ve wanted to bear through this year and let the young guys develop, and most of them have. J-Hey is hitting stride, Freddie’s our FB for a long time, we’ve got pieces in place. So it’s going to cost us to make a run for Chipper’s last hurrah. Interesting to see who it is, but a Dempster or Garza or Greinke would probably change enough Ls to W’s to squeak into the playoffs. Gotta do it. Whichever young arm we let go will probably no-hit us next year, but that’s the way it goes.
This is a pretty good team that can be really good. B-Mac needs the 4 days off to clear his head and rest his body. When he starts stroking a few to left field, he’ll be fine.
Steve
July 2nd, 2012
7:58 am
The Braves refuse to learn how to train pitchers.. At this point nothing can be done until the day after the end of the season.
The effort is there.
yep
July 2nd, 2012
8:42 am
hopefully this Sheets experiment goes well. definitely need to get one more arm though
Speedy Gonzalez
July 2nd, 2012
9:09 am
Our bench stinks, we have Ross end of story. We need a LF & a catcher & HAVE to resign Bourn, Simmons looks like a keeper & McCann is on the downhill slide, dont resign him & end up with a huge contract on a declining player see Chipper, let Ross start & bring up Bethancourt if your smart!
Blackberry Cobbler
July 2nd, 2012
9:16 am
The Braves had an opportunity this weekend to move much closer to 1st place.
Couldn’t do it, even playing at home.
This should tell us a lot.
And the answer is Ben Sheets? Come on man!!!!!!!!!
Kelly
July 2nd, 2012
9:22 am
Parting with Delgando or Minor for Greinke? Heck, deal both of ‘em. That would still be a good deal. However, Greinke is expensive and it’s doubtful they’ll make that move. Sheets is a bad gamble (not from a financial perspective, but from the perspective of hope that he’ll start). Of course, the mgmt. has seen him pitch. I haven’t. But thus far, the Braves are in a mess pitching and it’s gonna be hard to dig out.
WTF
July 2nd, 2012
9:31 am
Mediocre team adding mediocrity still nets mediocre. And Adding Sheets even isn’t ‘mediocre’ – he’s a questionable mediocre, old, twice operated on arm.
Depsparate? You bet. Desperation before the break bodes ill for any team, but the Braves have shown a tendency to run out of gas late so this is real trouble. Instead of renting players, how about moving some mediocre guys for some youngsters.
Trade McCann while you can. Trade Delgado for a prospect or 2 before his worth goes to zero. Johnny Venters? Trade him too. One trick ponies – even lefties – are expendable. Even Freeman isn’t a hold at any cost guy. Uggla, with his contract isn’t going anywhere, but Diaz, Hinske, etal may bring a youngster or 2 come end of July. No one in the present rotation should be ‘franchise’ so if a deal comes along to trade ANY of them, do it – but not for has-beens – youth!
The call ‘wait til next year’ is now!
double
July 2nd, 2012
9:35 am
Errors & Excuses.Most know we need pitching.I doubt one will be enough.I notice the Nats hit more than Braves,this is unusual and shows they have the pitching.This could be our year,if liberty would share just a little of the windfall,to get more quality pitching.
double
July 2nd, 2012
9:42 am
Hope Ben Sheets not has Ben
Don Sutton
July 2nd, 2012
9:45 am
Nice job signing Sheets since there is extremely low risk…nothing to lose. But Greinke sure would look good in a Braves uniform and I, for one, am growing weary of holding out hope for this group of young “studs” in our stable. Time has come to part with one (at least), get Greinke and sign him long-term, make sure the money is there for Bourne after the season to tie him up long-term, and upgrade the bench with someone more reliable.
63 year Braves Fan
July 2nd, 2012
9:47 am
Trade McCann now while he still has “some” value. Ross a better player right now. Find backup catcher.
DawgDad
July 2nd, 2012
9:55 am
Wren needs to set his sights on building a team that will win the Division; go find some more young players. Which of these players are likely to help the Braves win their next Division crown? Jones? [can't trade him]. Uggla? Bourn? McCann? Ross? Hinske? Wilson? [no trade value]. Hudson? Hanson? JJ? Durbin? There’s little chance of winning with this group unless Scott Boras suddenly retires.
It’s almost always a mistake to think your team is one or two players away from winning a championship. The Braves are an above average team that could hang in and compete for a wild card spot but most likely will fall short [again].
TallMarc
July 2nd, 2012
9:59 am
First let me state that I am a Nats fan and I beg to differ that the Nats starting line-up is not as good as the Braves starting line-up. The Braves are getting some decent production from Bourn and Prado but then the rest of the team has been streaky at best and that includes Freeman, Uggla, Jones & Heyward. In the past two weeks, two key cogs of the Nat offense have either returned to the line-up after injuries and rehab assignments (Morse & Zimmerman). The Nats have shown that having great pitching did carry the team for the first 50 or so games but since then the offense’s dynamic is completely different when you have a healthy Zimmerman and Morse batting 3rd and 4th. The Braves have a great lead-off hitter but that’s the only clear advantage I see from a statistical and objective viewpoint.
DawgDad
July 2nd, 2012
10:00 am
“Uggla, with his contract isn’t going anywhere” Well, he’s going to the All-Star game.
I give Uggla a lot of credit for showing up to play every day and playing hard. I just wish he could play well, consistently, and I’m sure he does, too. Personally, there are SEVEN other Braves position players who I’d judge more worthy of an all-star appearance. Seven. Count ‘em.
The Braves have GOT to stop throwing millions of dollars at players who aren’t going to help them win the Division.
DawgDad
July 2nd, 2012
10:04 am
TallMarc: Agreed for the moment, but the Braves COULD be better and I wouldn’t swap lineups at this point and give away the future of Simmons, Heyward, Freeman, and Prado.
PMC
July 2nd, 2012
10:09 am
They just signed Sheets, Ben freaking Sheets, and you included Grienke in the discussion?
We just bought a Geo Metro, and you’re talking about a Ferrari. Mark. Seriously? Zack Grienke is not walking through that door.
PMC
July 2nd, 2012
10:13 am
I don’t think they are desperate Mark. Not in the least. I think they know exactly what they are, and that’s why they bring in Ben Sheets.
At worst, Sheets should be a little more consistent than the rookies. They make a move so they can say they are trying.
They aren’t really. They didn’t in the offseason and they aren’t now. They were hoping they’d get lucky, they haven’t. So they are making average moves to stay in the hunt without doing anything to get above where they are really.
They are playing for the hope of winning a Wild Card, whether they want to say it or not is inconsequential, the moves they have made show it.
Dawgdad (The Original)
July 2nd, 2012
10:19 am
Javy Vasquez is sitting in Miami, I’m sure he could be persuaded to come back. Sheets, is not a bad project, he once owned the Braves and his number one is a curve ball, so he doesn’t have to throw 95 mph.
Sonny is right about Davy Johnson, but when the Braves were looking, I asked you Mark if you thought he was in consideration. Don’t know what problem he has, but your response was something to the effect that the Braves would not consider Johnson and no one in baseball probably would either. I guess the Nats didn’t get the memo, he is certainly head and shoulders about our Fredi.
1953dawg
July 2nd, 2012
10:20 am
Fire Wren and Fred and the braves problems will be solved. It’s Wren and his wonderful deals that have gotten the braves in this situation. Lowe, K.K, Hinske, Diaz,Wilson, Livan, the signing of Larry Jones to a 3 or 4 year extention, the signing of Hudson to a 3 year extention after surgery at 33 or whatever his age was. And last but certainly not least the hiring of Fred Flintstone. who has single handedly lost the braves at least 5 games this season already. Wren has tied up all of the braves budget with players that are either on other teams, out of baseball, or on the team and not contributing at all. That is about $45 million of the braves payroll, or half of the payroll that is dead weight, and a mindless manager. And people think this brilliant G.M. is going to be able to help this sinking ship. He is the reason it is sinking and he should go down with it, but he will make his usual excuses, and boneheaded trades or acquisitions. It’s a good thing he isn’t held accountable by the ownership, because he would be gone. But with no ownership, this clown will be allowed to continue to put a terrible product on the field. There are 2 many holes in this ship, and it is taking on water faster than poor Fred can handle. When you have the 15th worst pitching staff out of 16 teams in the N.L., and when you have the worst bench in the Majors, and when you have a #3 and #4 hitter batting .232 & .229 you aren’t going anywhere but down.
Dawgdad (The Original)
July 2nd, 2012
10:25 am
Mark, I for one don’t think the Nats regular lineup is worse than ours. Bryce Harper, Zimmerman, Desmond, seem pretty consistently productive and Laroche can carry a team when hot. Most of our guys except Bourne and Prado are extremely hit or miss streaky. The have a better bench that ours also.
Sonny Clusters
July 2nd, 2012
10:48 am
To the blogger that criticized our grammar . . . we was Honor Roll in school and we bet you wasn’t. Shaving a Clusters has always been hard work because we have a very heavy beard and our stubble can break a razor so we know something about chin hair and what looks good on a player and what looks like a Pontiac emblem growing on their chin. We think Chipper should never again have any chin hair while he is wearing the Braves uniform because it is just something else to get hurt during a game. Tweaking some chin hair could put him on the DL.
Don
July 2nd, 2012
10:53 am
What happened to all of you – and I do mean ALL OF YOU (almost all of you anyway) who called me an idiot and worse all winter for saying that the Braves would have pitching problems
Bucky Badger
July 2nd, 2012
11:01 am
Sonny is Funny:)!
Sonny Clusters
July 2nd, 2012
11:10 am
If Fredi Gonzalez fell in the woods, would there be a sound? If Fredi Gonzalez’ team needed a run and they were waiting for Fredi to somehow “lead” them, would there be a sound? If the division leaders was in town and you sat Uggla and Prado and Chipper for parts of a 3-game series would there be a sound from the fans that maybe you weren’t fielding the best team you could under the circumstances? Under those Oakleys are some problems and rose colored glasses aren’t going to hide the problems.
jek
July 2nd, 2012
11:11 am
This was all apparant at the end of the season last year.You cannot win wth minor league pitching.We know why nothing was done and the answer, as Mitt Romney would say, is to FIRE SOMEONE– actually everyone– Freddi- Frank and Liberty.
don
July 2nd, 2012
11:25 am
Good to see Matt harrison make the All-Star team. Do you suppose the Braves could use him. How about Scott Diamond of the Twins?
Hopefully the Braves have learned from past bonehead deals and won’t trade a bunch of top prospects to rent Greinke for a couple of months. If so, Greinke will take that “hometown discount” just like Teixeira did.
If Sheets doesn’t work out (highly likely), I’ll bet the Braves could give Larry McWilliams a try.
Brave Hokie
July 2nd, 2012
11:41 am
LOSER players
LOSER team
LOSER manager
LOSERVILLE!
scole
July 2nd, 2012
11:51 am
Sheets came to the majors as a college sensation, but has never been anything other than a 50/50 pitcher. The whole Braves rotation is filled with 50/50 ers, even Hudson is just a 50/50 thrower. No hoss in the rotation just wannabes. Hitters are the same way have a great game followed by several games they can’t buy a hit, swing hard and often, miss more than they hit. Only hope is the expanded playoff system, then they are 3 and done. Stick a fork in the whole team its done.
Caseyatthebat
July 2nd, 2012
11:51 am
Sonny Clusters. Your occasionally interesting comments are becoming somewhat less attractive due to your persistent, somewhat irrational criticism of Jones. Few athletes are able to play at this level and be effective. Yes, he’s injured often but he’s in the last year of a multi- year contract signed several years younger. Look at his stats, Sonny. They compare well with many. He’s still a very effective hitter and defender. More than many on this team, I would rather see him up in the clutch. How ’bout lightening up on one of the best men to ever play this game. We realize that you’ll probably criticize him when he goes into the hall of fame on the first ballot but the accolades he’s receiving from even American league teams in this final year will somewhat offset your opinion. Maybe you’re just a relative of one of his wives. Try to be happy thinking about the settlements they’ll get.
Fats
July 2nd, 2012
11:52 am
Move the home games to Gwinnett?? Would that fire em up? LOL Bones needs to start hitting a dm lot of homeruns. FG should let him go swimming everytime he hits a homerun. But he has to show up every game to start.
nashvillewill
July 2nd, 2012
11:59 am
I do not agree that the Braves hitting is “fine.” Poor situational hitting from everyone except Simmons (!) and Chipper; too many K’s from Uggla and Freeman and Heyward (until recently); poor BA from McCann and Uggla. I think most of this is correctable: Freeman shows promise, Prado and Heyward look ok for the most part. McCann and Uggla are the problems in the starting lineup and could be hidden better by batting them down in the order. (How do you justify batting third or fourth hitters who carry .230 averages and show no ability to move runners along?). The bench is atrocious and I suggest releasing/trading them all and starting over with trades, signings, or call-ups. It is sad when ones preference is to see the pitcher hit for himself – particularly Hudson, Delgado, and Jurrgens – than to PH Hinske, Diaz, Francisco, or Wilson. Plus, none of these guys bring any defensive help either.
The pitching problems are noted as well, particularly the dearth of quality starts and the demise of Venters. I am pretty sure Sheets will not help and no one at AAA looks like help either. Perhaps a trade involving young pitchers and McCann will be the eventual solution. I doubt any interest in Uggla and his outsized contract.
Michael G.
July 2nd, 2012
12:00 pm
“Frank and I have been talking for three or four days. If this [Sheets] works, we still have other pieces to go get another guy.”
There’s that word again…….IF. That simple word explains why this year’s Braves team will not be playing into October. Starting the season with at least 6 roster “ifs” was bad enough, but the organization continues to add questionable “talent” (if we can truly call it that). Livan experiment was a failure, and now adding a guy that hasn’t pitched since 2010? And management hopes this pans out?? I don’t need a crystal ball to see this, too, will not work. Some adage about chicken excrament and chicken salad comes to mind.
Jborodawg
July 2nd, 2012
12:08 pm
Bradley is spot on…it’s the pitching. Even with B Mac and Henske having off years batting; even with Chipper missing games; even with Uggs in a slump…it has been and still is the pitching. As Bradley points out, just compare the Nats and Braves team BA and runs scored; then compare the teams’ pitching records.
I agree with some that Uggs making the All Star game as opposed to Prado doesn’t make sense. All Star voting needs to be taken away from the fans; especially if the game decides home field advantage for the WS. If it’s just gonna be a popularity contest and an exhibition game, then do away with the home field decision part of it.
Jborodawg
July 2nd, 2012
12:10 pm
Yeah, Sheets is a reach. But long as it’s not costing much to try him out…and as long as ‘they’ don’t think it’s an actual solution, then…
Dirty Dawg
July 2nd, 2012
12:29 pm
Where do you start…just when you think ‘it’s the pitching, stupid’…it’s the bats…and vice-versa. I know Danny Ugla is a great teammate and he’s his own worst critic, but – and not to add to the pressure he already feels – if he doesn’t come around at the plate, and if the Braves keep him in he top five of the lineup, we’re doomed. And Mark, what do you know, or can find out, about whether Atlanta was ever in the hunt for Oswalt? There was a guy that would have been available for ‘just money’ (as if that’s not more than the LM-Braves are interested in parting with)…admittedly a lot of it, but still I wonder.
Appalachia Brave
July 2nd, 2012
12:36 pm
Frank – Where are all your great players on the ALL-STAR team? Come on man..wake up!
Charles
July 2nd, 2012
12:55 pm
Sheets is a sound move — no harm and all upside. But there is great risk in trading for a rent-a-player unless the overall pitching rebounds, which is doubtful even if Sheets is a Comeback of the Decade. The Braves are in 4th or 5th place for the NL wild card, which even if they get there could be just one extra game. To stay in the hunt in order to justify a big-time pitcher move they need to take at least 5 out of 7 from the Cubs and Phillies before the All-Star break to consider such a move. Otherwise, finishing near .500 for the first half of the season doesn’t justify gambling away the rest of this season on a Teixera-type pitcher deal. The Braves have never done very well on those types of arrangments.
Pat
July 2nd, 2012
1:09 pm
Typical Braves move… don’t spend anything and hope that someone who nobody else wants will find lightning in a bottle. Blah blah blah….
Stinger 2
July 2nd, 2012
1:10 pm
Caseyatthebat: Well said. Clusters has had his anti-Chipper and generally
negative talk about the Braves going on for quite sometime. Last night on this blog, he resorted to badmouthing the music played at a game last week. Thepoor guy needs to take his meds and rest awhile.
Stinger 2
July 2nd, 2012
1:12 pm
Caseyatthe bat: Well said. Clusters posts are nothing but trash talk about Chipper and the Braves.
Trash talk
July 2nd, 2012
1:34 pm
Sorry, but they’ve earned every bit of it. The wheels are coming off earlier this season, that’s all.
bulldogbubba
July 2nd, 2012
1:38 pm
@ Stinger2 – I believe Clusters comments were about Fredi and his Shades today and He may have commented “chin hairs” but nothing brutal. This team seems to be dying a slow death and some of our players need to go including Chipper , Diaz, Wilson , Hinske…. so on and so on. I understand being supportive to a long time veteran but if He truly cared about the team He would step out of the way and let the organization put somebody at third and give us a better chance to win. It is suppose to be about putting the best players on the field. Have a nice day!!!!
Sons of Rick Matula
July 2nd, 2012
1:41 pm
Mark … really? Ben Sheets, an over-hyped, injury plagued, .500 pitcher who hasn’t pitched in 2 years is Frank Wren’s “plan” to bring back the days of Maddox, Glavine & Smoltz. If the Hawks did something similar, you’d kill them. You seem awe struck of the Braves organization. These guys are clueless.
Sonny Clusters
July 2nd, 2012
1:54 pm
Wow! We was never hurt so deeply as when other bloggers criticize us for talking baseball. Golly, gee, we like Chipper, too, but not so much that we want a Chipper tattoo. We just think he is gassed and maybe not the role model he’s made out to be and maybe, just maybe, he could step up and lead the team rather than just talking like a deer. Sitting out a game with the division leaders at home means he’s putting Chipper ahead of the team and we are happy to point it out. A real leader would strap on the leotard and play ball and will his team to a win. Lastly, fans like the tender little one are a reason the Braves don’t feel compelled to make changes and do better. They are the ones who think they are watching champions because the homeboy upstairs claims a “championship” for taking the division – or a wild card.
Bob the Blogger
July 2nd, 2012
1:58 pm
I wonder what Kris Medlen did to disqualify himself for consideration as a starter, especially in light of the failures of Delgado and Minor? The explanation the Braves give is that he’s too valuable as a reliever, but isn’t it easier to find middle relievers than starters? His lifetime numbers are pretty darn solid.
Caseyatthebat
July 2nd, 2012
2:37 pm
Sonny, maybe you’re looking for too much. I think it’s time for others ( Brian McCan’t & Uggly, for instance) to establish a leadership position. Chipper will be gone in several months. Perhaps your angst would be better served viewing Chipper from the perspective of coming off the bench. A .292 average and .375 on base % ain’t bad. And, I don’t know your age, but sometimes us old guys can’t play……even at home.
DetroitBraves
July 2nd, 2012
2:52 pm
Since we’re apparently appraising Sonny Clusters today, I generally disagree with him on Chipper but the posts are entertaining enough and generally harmless. However, he’s spot on in his criticisms of Fredi and I appreciate his take on the legitimacy of the flags on the outfield wall (I find legitimacy in more of them that does he, but less than do probably many of you). All that said, the criticisms, even when I may disagree, are much less grating than Stingers Prozac laden, rah, rah, everything the Braves brass does is above question posts. Too much sucrose for me.
DetroitBraves
July 2nd, 2012
3:02 pm
@Bob the Blogger, I agree with you 100%. Unless there is a reason to think Medlen can’t hack it as a starter – health maybe (though stress on a starter vs. reliever is debatable) or maybe his stuff doesn’t hold up for multiple looks (though I have not heard this anywhere) – then the more innings you get out of a talented pitcher the more valuable the pitcher will be. The Braves’ rationale, if that really is the rationale, doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Sons of Rick Matula
July 2nd, 2012
3:19 pm
Mark … come to think of it – Terry McGrady was the Ben Sheets of the Hawks. How did that work out?
b
July 2nd, 2012
3:54 pm
Sheets has been injured way too much in his career, Just a matter of time for another one.
And what’s happened to Teheran’s going backwards this year?
SAL
July 2nd, 2012
3:56 pm
tHIS SEASON’S OVER. lET’S TALK SOME FOOTBALL!!!!
Hillbilly D
July 2nd, 2012
4:35 pm
Teams make moves like signing Ben Sheets to a minor league deal, all the time. It’s called trying to catch lightning in a bottle. He used to be a pretty good pitcher. The Braves are hoping he can still do it. It’s a low dollar, low risk gamble. If he can’t cut it, they release him and move on to the next one. And he doesn’t take up a spot on the 40 man, unless they decide to bring him up.
MediocreRtheBraves
July 2nd, 2012
4:58 pm
That’s the issue: a mediocre team and we’re expecting them to beat the best in baseball? Not gonna happen. Hope the limp to the 2nd wildcard and something crazy happens – like the plane carrying the Giants to ATL goes down near El Paso and there are no survivors. THEN and ONLY THEN, the Braves may win a series. Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww SNAP!
TradeFreddi
July 2nd, 2012
5:00 pm
Freddi, Minor and Delgado for a pack of smokes!
Bore-em-at-the-ted
July 2nd, 2012
5:01 pm
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz (Atlanta Brave’s baseball).
Chipster
July 2nd, 2012
5:08 pm
I don’t even like this team
Disarray
July 2nd, 2012
6:32 pm
I really don’t know why everyone thinks our pitching depth has gone out a window. Why would the Braves trade Delgado or Minor instead of demote them for Teheran. They all have bright futures, it would be stupid to trade them away for any interim pitcher. The pitching will even out, get a new trainer or something…
double
July 2nd, 2012
9:58 pm
Huddy needs to come in early,warm up a little extra.pitch to his team mates.Then go out and pitch,break these 1st innings curse.
Around The Horn
July 3rd, 2012
6:08 am
DON’T TRADE YOUNG PITCHERS
Don’t trade away your young pitching talent Frank!
Don’t do it!
And please, whatever you do, don’t fashion another “Tex style” trade!
Just say no!
Don
July 3rd, 2012
11:00 am
It ain’t no MYSTERY.
When your Pitching Staff is made up of formerly great pitchers who have all been injured – they ain’t gonna be great no more.
Packere Ed
July 3rd, 2012
11:38 am
This team can not win the big prize for two reasons:
1. Owners care less about winning, Braves are a Tax Deduction
3. Not enough cash to compete
Why trade young talent for an established veteran when you can not win anyway?
Bernie
July 3rd, 2012
12:56 pm
As long as Frank Wrenn is in charge of the Braves you can forget about having a good team. It has been evident that this team can’t hit and if they can’t hit so what if someone like Bourn gets on no one can move him along . The guys that do get on base just dies out there. The pinch hitters aren’t doing a thing and it just seems that if a player becomes a BRAVE is career goes to pot. The days of Ted Turner is over but boy we sure could use him now. Mr. Wrenn you need to make a trade and not wait till the season is over with. The player that you trade for needs to be able to HIT. McCann is a good catcher but you don’t need to tie up a bunch of money to resign him. When Minor led the Yankees 4-0 the relievers gave the game away. Pitching is needed but the offense should take priority.
frank huff
July 3rd, 2012
1:21 pm
no matter what the braves pick up in trading for pitching, they will never win with their current manager. Freddie got canned down here in Florida for a reason or two–especially his handling of pitching. And just like bobby cox, hitters with low averages seem to be able to swing at will–never working the opposing pitchers. Hear Freddie is heck of a nice guy and that the players love him–because he gives even mediocre players free range. old retired guy now living in south florida but still a braves fan
Michael
July 4th, 2012
12:44 am
Funny now that “much-needed pitching” even appears in the article title. I still remember very freshly that most people thought we Braves have extra pitching and wanted to trade away some. Even at that time it did not look too good on paper, unless you had not noticed what type of pitching staff Ranges had secured. Complacency is the biggest enemy for our Braves to get better…..
Brandon Lee
July 4th, 2012
4:16 pm
Whose Kidding Who here… Sheet s IF He contributes anything at all , this year Will NOT Compensate for the TEN Yrs Minor or Delgado is Projected For Whomever they Play For…. This Mentality of Short-Sighted Economics by Wren and FG, has Absolutely made NO Sense whatsoever to Anyone with any Baseball Savvy.. and Thus Frsutrating Braves Fans to no End…
Brandon Lee
July 4th, 2012
4:26 pm
Bob-the-Blog is right on… NO Explanation Anywhere Including Mark Bradley, Why Medlin is Not inserted into the Starting Rotation, Where He Was Supposedly Sent down to Do… NOw, it’s let’s All Cheer because Wren and FG consort into buying up damaged goods and expect a Positive Force out of a Blimp full of holes… aLas Until CJ unleashes the Braves his Contracted Millions, there is no hope of Gaining much, unless the Braves decide to Promote acouple of 19 yr olds picked from the Draft a few days ago. and Unless FG Leaves there is NO HOPE Whatsoever of having anybody with Intelligence to Guide this Team.
Arthur
July 4th, 2012
4:42 pm
Pitching?????? What about the hitting? Next year the Braves will have Chipper’s 15 million and Lowe’s 10 million to spend. Hopefully they can resign Bourn. Then they need a big bat. It is time to realize the young pitchers are just that, YOUNG. Signing Greinke should be an almost given before trading these youngsters. I like our team but I think they need a good swift kick in the a–. The manager needs to give out some tough love.
Ralph
July 4th, 2012
5:54 pm
Wren said they didn’t get him to be a minor league pitcher, does anyone know what they are paying him, i’m sure they have guaranteed him more than minor league pay to sign.
Ralph
July 4th, 2012
5:58 pm
Mark, why is it that when I post on your blog then go back to read it, it isn’t there then I go back the next day and it is there?????????????????
Steve
July 4th, 2012
8:17 pm
Hitting is bigger problem. Bourn, while hitting for averag, is on pace for 140+ strike outs. Freeman is racing toward a 140 strikeout year. Uggla is on pace for 200 strike outs. I can’t recall Heyward driving in a run when batting with bases loaded and a .270 average isn’t top notch. McCann is a mystery at the plate. Chipper might play in 100 games this year. Bourn leaves next year as FA most likely anyway unless Wren overpays and mortgages the next 5 years.
Braves need a manager that can get fundamentals ingrained into players & can run a game. They don’t need a rental pitcher. This team is very mediocre. Fans just need to face it.
jt
July 5th, 2012
1:15 pm
The only thing scary about Uggla is the bat might slip out of his hands and kill somebody, when he “wiffs” at a low outside pitch. God he is awful.