Instructive win: Braves show their strength – and weakness
Mark Bradley is off for a bit. Normal service will resume soon.
Jason Heyward brings home the game-winning run Saturday. (AP photo by John Bazemore)
Because there are so many baseball games, it’s tricky to ascribe any lessons to any single game. But the doings Saturday, I submit, showed us the 2012 Braves for better and worse.
For better: They won by scoring three runs in the eighth inning.
For worse: Their starting pitcher twice couldn’t hold a two-run lead, necessitating the late rally.
Even with their No. 1 shortstop hurt in the final game before the All-Star break and his understudy injured in the first game after, the Braves have one of the better everyday lineups in the National League. On Saturday, they scored five runs in five innings off R.A. Dickey, the knuckleballer who has been baseball’s best pitcher. When you score five runs and you have Craig Kimbrel to close, you should win.
Which the Braves did, but they needed three more runs — and a slew of unyielding at-bats, we should note — off the Mets’ wretched bullpen to do it. “When we get guys firing on all cylinders, that’s a pretty long [meaning deep] lineup,” said manager Fredi Gonzalez, speaking of his own.
It is. It’s the sort of lineup you can envision playing and winning in October. At issue, however, is whether the starting pitching will allow it.
Hanson is 10-5, making him the biggest winner among Braves. But his ERA rose above 4.00 after yielding six earned runs (on nine hits) in 5 1/3 innings Saturday, and it would be a stretch to dub him a No. 1 starter. Nor is Tim Hudson a No. 1, not anymore. The Braves will deploy the retread Ben Sheets against the Mets on Sunday with the hope — general manager Frank Wren’s words here — of adding “consistency to the back end of our rotation.”
Good idea. But the front end needs propping up, too.
Let’s dare to think ahead to October, and let’s say the Braves qualify as one of the wild cards. Those two teams will meet in a one-game playoff — or play-in, if you prefer — and is there a Braves starter you’d take over the Giants’ Matt Cain or the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw? And even if the Braves win the National League East and avoid that one-game crucible, are any three of these starters apt to dominate in postseason?
Maybe Sheets will be the rising tide that lifts all boats. As it is, he’s merely replacing Randall Delgado at the shank of the rotation. Which brings us yet again to the July 31 trade deadline. It will take a lot to land Zack Greinke or Ryan Dempster, both free-agents-to-be, but the more these Braves play, the more a move to land a true No. 1 seems warranted.
“We’ve got a little swag going, got a little winning streak going,” Chipper Jones said after the streak reached six, but the Braves won’t be seeing any bullpens this awful in the postseason. (The Mets’ relievers have compiled the worst ERA in the majors, and closer Frank Francisco is on the disabled list.) The path to victory in October — the other New York team once made this a way of life — is to get ahead early and let a stellar bullpen do its stuff.
The Braves’ bullpen, with or without Jonny Venters, is playoff-caliber. The starting staff isn’t quite. Hudson lasted only four innings Friday night after being spotted a five-run lead, and Hanson couldn’t nurse a two-run lead through the sixth. Said Gonzalez: “You feel pretty good when he goes out in the sixth and gets the first hitter.”
The next three Mets — the bottom of their lineup, plus a pinch hitter — mustered singles, and Hanson left with the lead down to one and two aboard. The sixth inning is the bridge inning, the time for a starter to drop the hammer on a trailing opponent and then hand the lead to relievers. Hanson couldn’t do it. He’s a good pitcher, but he’s not a Halladay or a Sabathia. Or a Greinke.
It wasn’t so long ago that the Braves were chasing the Mets for second in the East, but they’ve surged 2 1/2 games in front. The Mets have begun to flag, while the Braves are gathering speed. For this team to take full flight, however, a big-time starting pitcher will be required. The Braves can make the playoffs with the rotation they have; to win once there, they’ll need more.
Unless, that is, Ben Sheets happens to turn into Sandy Koufax. Should that occur, forget I said anything.
By Mark Bradley
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107 comments Add your comment
We Need a GM
July 14th, 2012
9:03 pm
First?
Darryl Blackberry
July 14th, 2012
9:03 pm
Well said. The Braves have the arms to trade, so why not?
We Need a GM
July 14th, 2012
9:05 pm
Remember Mark…our goal is just to get there…that’s what we keep getting told year after year. They put no priority on winning it all.
RA
July 14th, 2012
9:11 pm
The word is ending…Bradley is making more and more sense…
The Grinch
July 14th, 2012
9:12 pm
I agree we need to improve our rotation, but with our ownership situation we can’t afford to mortgage the farm and overpay for Greinke. They want a ridiculous amount for him and he’s not that great away from Miller Park. If we give up five players for him and then have to pay him 20 mil a year, it’ll hamstring this team for a good while. Look for someone cheaper.
RA
July 14th, 2012
9:13 pm
I meant to say the world is ending…
BC
July 14th, 2012
9:13 pm
I saw DOB earlier mention that he thought it would be Liriano or Dempster. With all due respect, that’s not going to be acceptable. Has to be Greinke – even if it takes Tehran.
Mside B-Fan
July 14th, 2012
9:18 pm
You nailed it, Mark. Only way to take make the Braves a true contender is to add a starter of the caliber of Dempster or Greinke. .
It would be a shame to pass up the opportunity to make Chipper’s last season magical. It’s up to the corporate Bigs at Liberty Media to allow Frank Wren the extra dollars to be bold – let’s hope they seize the day – Go Bravos!
Nathan
July 14th, 2012
9:18 pm
Mark,
I do share your concerns about the starting pitching, but Hanson had come in on the tail end of a run of some great pitching for the last several weeks. Hudson as well has shown inconsistency, but as Dickey demonstrated today, even the best of pitchers have their hiccups.
A starting pitcher will greatly help the team out, but my primary concern lies with the bullpen. It’s not yet known what Venters will bring back to the table. Medlen has been just okay. Durbin has become a very solid option but cannot be the backbone of the middle innings.
It’d be nice (especially with the SS woes) to have some solid bench production, which perhaps Pastoricky can provide. It remains to be seen how this bullpen will function on games that the Braves are trailing but close or in games like today when the starter pitches ineffectively and they have to eat some innings.
While a starting pitcher should be high on the radar, Wren should also pay mind to the much maligned bullpen at the deadline.
Darryl Blackberry
July 14th, 2012
9:20 pm
Greinke would make the most sense because we could get him for next year as well…but the Brewers haven’t exactly been sucking the past two weeks. They might start to get ideas about winning their division. Only if the Crew start a losing streak now can we hope to land Zack by July 31st…
topdawg
July 14th, 2012
9:22 pm
Thank goodness for a game on Fox with professional announcers. Chris Myers and Alex Karros did a wonderful job. What a pleasure not having to listen to Dip Caray and his 12 yr old girl rantings. I do like Joe Simpson but mute any games I watch bcs of Metaphor Man (Caray).
wild'n
July 14th, 2012
9:27 pm
will moylan return at any point this year?
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
July 14th, 2012
9:35 pm
The Brave alowed 2 many runs. THe need beeter pithin the need a new managar.
Rob
July 14th, 2012
9:36 pm
Moylan is pitching in single A right now
Southpaw
July 14th, 2012
9:36 pm
Moylan had a good inning at ROME on Friday night.
Bravesfan
July 14th, 2012
9:39 pm
I don’t like Carey either, but I do like Greinke. I wish Sutton and Simpson were the tv duo.
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
July 14th, 2012
9:39 pm
Keep in mind win U hire a managar with a loosing reord U can expect a loosing efort.
Darryl Blackberry
July 14th, 2012
9:40 pm
@ topdawg:
That’s lunacy. Myers referred to Freddie Freeman as Brian McCann (!) and referred to J-Hey as “Adam” Heyward. And Karros is way out of his depth when commenting on any team other than the Dodgers.
Braves in last palce by Sept fist
July 14th, 2012
9:45 pm
With a loosing managar, it is gauranteed
Beneath Reproach
July 14th, 2012
9:57 pm
It seems that it is time for the AJC to shut down these comment sessions or at least moniter them so that stupid comments and comments that are just wrong will not stay up. When people resort to questioning the character of an individual or stating that someone should get cancer it is time to step in. I understand second guessing of players and managers but to be despicable about it is reprehensible. I have decided that I can no longer read these comments as they tend to fan flames of garbage. Each and every athlete tries to win every game. Each manager/coach tries to do the things needed to win each game while keeping the rest of the season in mind. If you use all of your eggs today you want have eggs for breakfast tomorrow. The straw that broke the camel’s back was the person who decided that several people should get cancer because he/she was not getting their way. I firmly believe in freedom of speech but do not think that we have to provide a platform for such unsupported garbage.
DaveinNEPA
July 14th, 2012
10:02 pm
If anyone thought the balls and strikes were all over the place today…………….beware, beware. Tomorrow we get the wonderful C.B. Bucknor behind the plate, the worst ball and strike upire in baseball. combine that with Sheets not pitching in 2 years and it might not be pretty. Just sayin.
David Puddy
July 14th, 2012
10:05 pm
Refreshing to have someone writing in a fair-minded ‘it iswhat it is’ good and bad manner. Listen to the radio guys and they are nonsensical in any discussion wth elementary-school attempts at humor with no real analysis. This writer is one of the few, very few, in this market who seems to understand the sport enough to offer logical and pragmatic views.
Mark Bradley
July 14th, 2012
10:14 pm
Kudos, We Need a GM.
Dawg'88
July 14th, 2012
10:19 pm
Well said “Beneath Reproach”….This forum or any other on the ajc is monitored very well. I have seen trashy talk from sexual comments to the wishing ill will on players to constantly childish characterizations of Braves/Dawgs/Tech/Falcons/Hawks players. Time for it to end…
Dawg'88
July 14th, 2012
10:20 pm
should have said “not monitored very well” in the above post
Dawg'88
July 14th, 2012
10:21 pm
BTW….great analysis here by MB.
Forgot to mention it after seeing some of the immature comments again.
Prado Wan Kenobi
July 14th, 2012
10:59 pm
My boy Prado the real Domingo Ayala!!! He can do it ALL. ” That Talent is God Given”
Braves MVP
Is it just me or do we need José G. Constanza back with the Big Leauge Braves- what a spark he is when he is up!!
VinceVanGo
July 14th, 2012
11:14 pm
Here’s my suggestion. Give Sheets 2 starts. If he doesn’t pitch like Sandy Koufax, Wren stills has time to go get Dempster or Greinke and move Sheets to the bullpen. You can never get enough veteran arms in the pen, and it’s possible another starter may go down and the Braves would have insurance. And Wren needs to go out and get someone for the bench, preferably someone who’s under contract for next year too. Hinske, Diaz, Fransisco, and Jack Wilson have been the worst bench in MLB. Fortunately, David Ross is the best backup catcher in baseball, but Fredi only carries 2 catchers so he rarely gets to pinch hit. They need a super utility player in the mold of Omar Infante who can play 3-4 positions and hit at least .270. Do it Frank. Get your head in the game!
RPN
July 14th, 2012
11:18 pm
Agree on Braves announcer Chip. He is like a sophomore in college, who is sitting in front of his TV and thinks he is a sports announcer. Next year it would be great to have Sutton, Simpson and a rotation of Smoltz, Glavine, Murphy, Chipper, others. doing the games. Have real baseball people who stay focused on the game do the announcing.
Moy
July 14th, 2012
11:20 pm
A few more games in Rome and I will be there to help. Soon….
urban redneck
July 14th, 2012
11:46 pm
MB, please stop giving people kudos for getting first. that just encourages them.
i hope everyone on this blog was loaded tonight. the spelling is terible………..see, now i’m doing it.
chem
July 14th, 2012
11:57 pm
Baseball playoffs are a crapshoot, and you know it, Brad. Even the Marlins get lucky every decade or so. Teams should angle to get to October and let the cards fall where they may. That said, some reliable pitching might shore up the Braves’ chances of getting there — the odds are hovering ~60% right now.
VinceVanGo
July 14th, 2012
11:58 pm
I feel confident that Frank Wren reads these blogs. Any good GM would. I keep urging him to “get his head in the game”, but if the rumors are true that he’s shopping Martin Prado then I know where his head is. Prado is the Braves MVP and possibly the league MVP. Keep him, pay him, and build your team around him and the other young stars(Freeman, Heyward, Simons, Kimbrel). Put Prado at third next year and go out and get a couple of slugging outfielders in Free Agency or trades and pay for it with Chipper/Lowe/Bourn money. Rebuild the bench, and think carefully about committing long term to Brian McCann. It may be best to trade him to an AL team as a DH before his downhill slide becomes permanent. If you have any questions Frank get my email address from Mark!
NRBQ
July 15th, 2012
12:01 am
Noticing a pleasing reduction in hateful/moronic/unrelated comments, Mark.
Hope this is intentional.
earthlover
July 15th, 2012
12:11 am
Smoltz & Glavine are awful in the booth! Murphy is way better with valid points about the games. Skip is not so bad but I think all the regulars are good. People always put down Ernie Johnson but he was great!
benchwarmer
July 15th, 2012
12:13 am
Prado has me thinking that he may be a MVP.
blairjoyfulsound
July 15th, 2012
12:45 am
One thing to keep in mind with our pitching, especially Tim Hudson, is the impact of the middle-infield defense. That’s where we miss Simmons the most because he could get to grounders that not everyone else could get. Wilson is an OK fielder, but a lot of balls still get through as hits. Same with Prado at short. There were a couple of instances in today’s game where there were groundball hits that would have been outs with Simmons.
When most people think about defense, they look at errors and pretty plays. It takes an extra minute to remember that the pitcher’s (especially sinkerballers) success is dependent on how well the defense performed. If we have lousy defense, then Huddy gets more of his patented groundball-outs turned into hits. If we have good defense, then Huddy gets a quick 1-2-3 inning.
Gritsfed
July 15th, 2012
1:02 am
Excellent article, Mr. Bradley! I couldn’t have said it any better! ( But there again, I don’t get paid to write sports columns.) A couple of points 1) I honestly think the Braves need more than just one new starting pitcher (i.e. Greinke or Dempster) to do anything in the off-season. 2) Let’s see how the Braves are in 2 weeks, just before the trading deadline after playing some more in this humid, southern, heat ( ALL Braves’ teams, I think, wear down in August! Playing in the humid Southeast!) 3) Sorry to be so cynical but I suddenly recall the LAST huge trade for a pitcher; Braves’ gave up Brook Jacoby and Brett Butler for Len Barker. WE ALL KNOW HOW THAT ONE WENT! I can live with a trade just as long as the Braves are legitimately in the hunt AND I don’t hear the names, Prado, Bourne, McCann or Freeman going the other way.Food for thought, from Dalton.
JASon
July 15th, 2012
1:09 am
“Let’s dare to think ahead to October…”
Every september this team lets us down. Why are you even thinking about october?
Otis Nixon's Hellbent Redemption
July 15th, 2012
1:19 am
Chris Meyers screwed up several times during the broadcast and Eric Karros ain’t no must watch announcer either. I do like watching the nationally televised games much better though. I even watch the Braves on WGN when we are playing the Cubs. Chip Caray is a little to rah rah cheerleader, overreacting on a fly ball type for me. By the way Tommy Hanson is a gdmf’n 88 mph fastball throwing, 5 inning pitching, nasty red bearded, 3rd starter in the rotation type….didn’t he used to throw in the mid 90’s??
SR
July 15th, 2012
2:25 am
You’re kidding right, about the bullpen??!!! Leaving aside the wretched starting pitching for a moment, let’s look at the “playoff caliber” bullpen. Venters?? Not this year. O’flaherty? Not this year. Cristian Martinez? Sometimes, sometimes not. Do you really have confidence in him at playoff time??? If so, good for you, I don’t. Chad Durbin??? Come on, dude can sometimes be a gas can. Who else, Mike Minor if they use him in relief?? I think that shoots ample holes in your bullpen theory, now as to the starters, Hudson just had a birthday and is coming off back surgery. He is like Forrest Gump’s box o chocolates…. Hanson? Hardly, dude has no guts and is not clutch. Jurrjjens??? Please. Dude is like the Pillsbury doughboy and now can’t even throw a decent major league heater. Delgado? Whatever. Sheets???? Who the hell knows but smacks of desperation on the part of moron Wren. Get the picture??? Playoffs?? I doubt it but if they have to win a game and they are pitching any of the foregoing, bet on the other team.
Peter Moylan
July 15th, 2012
2:46 am
You forgot to mention the biggest weakness – the manager.
Tony
July 15th, 2012
3:00 am
I was at this game and found one more thing they need is speed…they are a slow base running team one guy thrown out at the plate and several times the 3rd base would not sent the runner. In my view with the pitcher coming up with one out you send the runner. They need to make a splash with a bat and a pitcher…
Steve
July 15th, 2012
3:23 am
I would gladly pitch Huddy, Hanson, or Jurrgens over Greinke in a one game play-off scenario.
Greinke is like a box of cereal. Fresh at great at the beginning, but when you are trying to polish things off he is all crumbles and dust. No thank you. I do not want Mr. Anti-Clutch being my big game starter.
Bradley Curse
July 15th, 2012
3:42 am
as far as bullpens go, looks at the stats … mediocre is running wild this year.
The lowest bullpen ERA in the AL is 3.38 (any guesses who it is?? Oakland A’s). Only two NL teams have pen ERA’s less than 2 (Reds/Pirates). Braves are 5th with 3.51 (and actually have a better pen ERA than the best team in the Majors right now, the Yanks with their 3.74 ERA).
Starter wise, the Braves have laid a huge egg … they’re 4.21 Starter’s ERA is only in front of Cubs/D’Backs/Astros/Rockies (12th out of 16 teams). Thankfully though they’re tied for 3rd in total runs scored this year … so at least in most cases, the bats make up for their starter deficiencies but like Bradley said they’d be running into some really great starters in the playoffs and we’ve had plenty of good examples of the offense being shutdown this year. So when the offense can only muster 1-2-3 runs per game in the playoffs against those starters, they don’t need their starters giving up 4+ runs.
I’m hoping Sheets can come in on Sunday and give us one heck of a surprise with his pitching performance and carry it for a while.
Bradley Curse
July 15th, 2012
3:44 am
*Only two NL teams have pen ERA’s less than 2 (Reds/Pirates)*
Edit: less than 3 … not 2, they’re not going out there and giving Kimbrel type performances every game .. don’t want to give them too much credit
Chip and Chipper
July 15th, 2012
5:08 am
I guess I am in the minority. I like Chip Caray. Also, Hanson is very fortunate to have 10 wins. He could easily be 5-10 with very few quality starts according to the announcers yesterday.
Dr. Warren
July 15th, 2012
5:41 am
20-year anniversary of Francisco Cabrera’s hit and Sid Bream’s slide fast approaching. I sense something special in these Braves, but a pitcher sure would help.
BigGreenTribe
July 15th, 2012
7:04 am
Hanson used to throw 94-96 mph…he’s now down to 88-89. They just wait for his fastball.
Bad arm again?
Dranuc
July 15th, 2012
7:33 am
Not to get of the subject, and yes I hope we pull the trigger on Greinke or Dempster, we really need to shore up our starting rotation (something I never thought I would have to say about the braves) but topdawg has got to be the most clueless baseball fan around to even make a comment like that. So you really want all of your sports announcers to sound like espn, “takin it to the house” and “hes got it goin on” and “like i said like i said” and “you know you know you know.” Seriously give up on the jiba speak and get back to real announcing. If I have to listen to another insightful espn announcer tell me that “If he hadn’t been tackled that would have been a touchdown” or “If he had hit that a little further it would have been a home run.” And PS the fox announcers are even worse than the espn announcers. Sorry for getting off track here but I cringe anytime I have to listen to anyone but simpson and caray with smoltz or murphy or glavine and miss the days of skip caray and wieren. So go back to your football announcers giving baseball commentary, but don’t criticize true baseball announcers who don’t play to your need for jiba speak. Your name should have clued me in but I still had to say my peace.
Furman Bitcher
July 15th, 2012
8:03 am
“Unless, that is, Ben Sheets happens to turn into Sandy Koufax. Should that occur, forget I said anything.”
Hmm Mark, if Sheets pitches left handed I will be amazed. If not he aint going to compared to Sandy. Just sayin.
Furman Bitcher
July 15th, 2012
8:06 am
And to the guy that said Smoltz sucks in the booth is absolutely wrong. he is a natural.
mrb
July 15th, 2012
8:12 am
Enter your comments here
mrb
July 15th, 2012
8:16 am
Two games in a row, after resetting the starting rotation, your two “co-aces” were staked with leads and couldn’t get out of the 5th inning. This keeps up, and the bullpen will be decimated by September. Even if you make the post season, what difference will it make with two “aces” that can’t seem to get guys out and a bullpen that’s beat-up and overused?
Joey
July 15th, 2012
8:35 am
I don’t get the shopping around of Prado at all. He is nearly always right in the middle of our rallies. And who else would get moved around as much as he does without complaining?
Carzo
July 15th, 2012
8:38 am
3 quick comments–All of you Chip Caray haters–you are right. He is awful. So much screaming over nothing. Joe is ok. Chip–no. Second, Craig Kimbrell is unreal. Nearly every team in the majors would kill to have him. Third, Fredi is so below average. If we can make it to playoffs, we are at a severe disadvantage with him running the show.
birdo
July 15th, 2012
8:47 am
Prado is you star, build your team around him at third. Pay him and you have a core for the future. Is it me or is Uggla playing more up the center of the field? There have been several balls to his left that he just cant get to.
juice sourcer
July 15th, 2012
8:59 am
How many cocktails did Loosing Managar = Loosing Record have before he wrote his posts.
Fan of the Game
July 15th, 2012
9:10 am
This team is becoming a team with the best situational hitting of any Atlanta team I have seen in a long time. The 8th inning was a good example with Bourn going up the middle, Prado going opposite field and then Heyward going opposite field. If the teams of the 90’s have had this approach we would have had more than one World Championship. Bourn and Prado have shown the way along with Chipper and believe me Heyward is following. I just wish Uggla would become more of a hitter and not a free swinger.
Jack Straw
July 15th, 2012
9:36 am
Dempster is a career .500 pitcher who is having possibly his best season. Trading young talent for him makes no sense. Greinke is a good pitcher but consistency is not his strong suit. I would like to see us pry Cole Hamels away from the Phillies.
David Puddy
July 15th, 2012
10:20 am
“And to the guy that said Smoltz sucks in the booth is absolutely wrong. he is a natural.”
HOF credentials don’t necessarily translate into outstanding game commentary. Frankly, Neikro offered more interesting player insight than I’ve heard from the others lately. Murphy seems to make an effort to offer unique insight that could only come from players. Glavine is hit and miss;often lazy. The ATL radio and TV professionals are generally horrible. ‘Old guy’ humor that is only funny to someone who might actually like them and certainly not appealing to the younger sect. It’s no wonder baseball is having trouble attracting younger fans with these nitwits throwing out elementary-school humor and questioning pitch calls only when it doesn’t benefit the Braves. Humor example: A hitter who doesn’t bunt much during yesterday’s game. Quote: Looks like he didn’t major in bunting in college. Quote for the other nitwit: Didn’t minor in it, either. Man,this is bad.
David Puddy
July 15th, 2012
10:22 am
I love the way some start throwing out names of potential pitching prospects to go after….as if no other teams know about these guys.
BWC
July 15th, 2012
10:44 am
Mark,
Just like we needed a first baseman (or lineup pop) when we traded three future starting players to the Rangers for Teix (a deal that helped build that franchise into what it is today)? I have to think the long view should be the priority; see if there’s a chance to get a Greinke or Dempster, but a 2 month rental for those guys – neither of whom makes this team a world series lock – is not worth “alot”. This was basically a .500 team a week ago, and basically still is. Don’t let the July heat overcook the strategy…
Keith
July 15th, 2012
10:54 am
I don’t understand why they do not give Medlan a shot at one of those spots up for grabs..He is an excellent starter that is being wasted in the bullpen, a role in which he does not appear comfortable..Most of the starts Medlan has made have been very good showings. He tends to get better as the game goes on and that is exactly what we need in a starter..forgive me for saying this but he kind of reminds me of a Maddux type with his mentality and approach, he’s a bulldog. Not saying he is Maddog, but I think he could help to solidify our staff at the 3-spot. That doesn’t solve the problems with Huddy and Hanson, but I have to believe that Hudson will find it and Tommy will be solid down the stretch. That leaves the 4th and 5th spots to either JJ/Sheets/Minor/Delgado. Hopefully, Sheets can find his old form and be a solid 4 starter, perhaps even a 3 or higher come playoff time. Then I would put Minor in the 5, IF he continues to show promise, because we need that lefty. He’s pitched really well at times against stiff competition so I know he has the stuff to compete. That leaves Delgado/JJ as odd men out, then I say put Delgado in the pen for the rest of this season into Medlans current role and you have a more dynamic arm down there. His stuff is electric so I say take advantage of that and use him in spurts. It would shore up that part of the pen a little more and with O’Flare/Delgado/Kimbrel combo could be nice. Add a healthier Venters and Moylan, to go along with Durbin and the new lefty Avila i think? The strength of our team gets stronger and the weakness of our team gets fixed as well. Then that leaves JJ on the trading block mixed with a prospect for a good utility guy, Infante would be PERFECT. If all of those chips could fall into place the Braves will win it all. And best of all, we get to keep all our young arms.
Felton returning to Knicks as option if Lin goes – Atlanta Journal Constitution | The Time of Press
July 15th, 2012
11:10 am
[...] Instructive win: Braves show their strength – and weakness [...]
robdawg
July 15th, 2012
11:10 am
Everyone is complaining about Frank Wren but for the first time in 6 years the braves are relevent. And he is doing it on a small – medium budget. We surely do not have the Yankees/Red sox/Phillies/Tigers/Dodgers size payroll.
Anyone can go buy a RING but you have to be creative to win it all w a limited payroll.
He surely does not want to give away the farm on one of these marginal pitchers who happens to be having a carreer year. It would make much better sense to just sign one of these guys as a free agent when their current contract is up.Then you get them without losing your young guns. The last thing we should do is be one the opposite side of a Scmoltz/Doyle Alexandrer trade. Those kind of trades haunt your memory for years.Come to think of it, I think of the Teixeira Trade (I’ll give you this slow footed GT nerd for 4 future all stars) way too often. Not really sure if Schurholtz or FW made that one. I think it was JS. Unless we can get Cole Hamels to sign a new contract for 5-6 years, FW should leave our farm system alone. NO MORE giving away the farm.
He has done a relatively good job of not giving away our farm system so far. If FW has flaws, it may be his reluctance to pull the trigger. He may need to be more proactive rather than waiting on the issues to show up. Maybe we need to sign two Omar Infante types in the off season. We do not need to encourage him to make mistakes by overloading talk media/internet with BS that we have to make trades right now.
Give FW credit, he has made the Braves relevent again on a limited payroll!
reality
July 15th, 2012
11:19 am
Yall need to remember “relevant” and “competitive”. I’m sure FW would like to win a World Series, but this is a franchise that relishes small achievements. I think there is room on the turner field wall for another wild card pennant…. this one might be Wild Card 2.
Dan Schlossberg
July 15th, 2012
11:25 am
Had Martin Prado or Matt Diaz been in left field yesterday, several balls that fell for Mets’ hits would have been caught. Playing the slow-moving Eric Hinske out there is risky business.
Burgess
July 15th, 2012
11:33 am
I’m not sure Diaz is any better than Hinske in left field.
Burgess
July 15th, 2012
11:34 am
You’ve got to be kidding….Chipper is in the lineup today ?????? WOW…3 games in a row. Look out Cal Ripken.
VinceVanGo
July 15th, 2012
11:49 am
Yes Frank Wren has done a decent job on a limited budget but the Braves bench is the worst in baseball(not counting David Ross) and that’s all on Frank Wren. And the Friday night fiasco(after 5 days to figure it out) of “is there anybody in the dugout that can play short?” was a very big blunder in the middle of a pennant race. The AAA team is less than an hour away, bring up a warm body and don’t get caught with your pants down. Speaking of Friday night, did anyone else love seeing Martin Prado go into the dugout to get his fielders glove and then reappear while zipping up his pants and adjusting his belt as he headed out to play short. Prado is the true heart & soul of this team. Keep him long term Frank.
jerry
July 15th, 2012
12:00 pm
The failed sac bunt by Tyler P. A vote of confidence in his ability to bunt with 2 strikes or a vote of no confidence in his ability to hit?
why not two?
July 15th, 2012
12:25 pm
Minor is a lefty, his stats are pretty close to Glavines’ after the same amount of experience. Why not Delgado and Tehran, maybe a couple more prospect fielders and go after Greinke AND Dempster?
They are both young enough to be good for several more years, and with Chipper and Lowe coming off of the financial books next year, maybe we have a shot at signing both. With Prado moving to third next year, we will need a LF, but starting pitching is hard to come by, certainly easier to find a left fielder. At the very least, we need one of ‘em.
Comments?
Busch Leaguer
July 15th, 2012
12:28 pm
Just got a look at the Braves line up today ,Prado at 2b and Uggla on the bench.I guess Fredi looked up Uggla’s career stats against Santana.1 for 21 and too many K’S. Maybe this will give ol Dandaroo a wake up call.Of course everybody remembers last years streak ,but forget he was useless for well over 100 games.I know he plays hard and his defense is better than expected ,but he is paid to hit and hit in the middle of the order ,not for his glove.
DoUwanna
July 15th, 2012
12:47 pm
Cincinnati.com is reporting the Reds did make a trade on Saturday, sending shortstop Paul Janish to the Braves for right-hander Todd Redmond in a swap of Triple-A players. Not on AJC yet??
splendid splinter
July 15th, 2012
12:49 pm
@ Dranuc – are you kidding. Chip Carey has to be the worst announcer in all of baseball. How often will he not even bother to tell the audience who is at the plate hitting? How often will he not even comment on a good or bad pittch to the plate. How often will he go without saying anythig for two minutes or more. I sometimes wonder if he is reading War and Peace while doing the game and does not want to be interrupted. Simpson tries to cover for him but often the silence is deafening.
63 year Braves Fan
July 15th, 2012
12:55 pm
I agree with VinceVanGo.
a fan
July 15th, 2012
1:23 pm
I agree chip is not very good but Sutton is horrible, especially as a play by play guy, ok as a color guy
Simson is better. I miss Skip and Pete.
Joseph Allen McWhorter
July 15th, 2012
3:29 pm
I see your point clearly, Mark, and even if the Braves have to trade both Mike Minor and Randall Delgado and top prospects to land a top notch starting pitcher, Frank Wren should do it. That should be on his mind anyway, especially since it has been determined that perhaps their best starter in Brandon Beachy will be out for the rest of the season after having surgery. It will be interesting to see what Frank Wren is able to pull off as July31st draws closer.
Sonny Clusters
July 15th, 2012
3:41 pm
Mark, do you know the words to “Country Boy” and do you sing along in the 7th inning?
BLC
July 15th, 2012
4:47 pm
Ben Sheets just turned into Sandy Koufax. Forget the whole article!
Skeezix
July 15th, 2012
6:16 pm
This was a great come back win! One of the best games of the year. Even my wife (who has a hard time staying focused on a baseball game) got caught up in the drama and was cheering on the Braves as they came back.
Coach D
July 15th, 2012
10:19 pm
Rumor has it Koufax just turned to pitching right-handed in Atlanta and wears # 30! Not as much wear & tear as on his left… Go Braves!!!
Bob from Cobb
July 16th, 2012
2:58 am
GREAT GAME from Ben Sheets! What I’m afraid of and NO ONE is talking about it. I DON’T WANT TO LOSE MICHAEL BOURNE! We have been missing a GREAT Center Fielder for YEARS! I would like to hope he is salting away his position for several years but I’m afraid F.W. will trade him away by July 31’st. Please keep M.B. as part of the Braves core players for the next five or six seasons.
BamaStExDawg
July 16th, 2012
3:14 am
With all this Zach and Dempster talk I’m sniffing a Terrence McGuirk interview stating that “Frank just like John” had the resources they wanted but decided it was in the best interest of the Braves to stand pat for a more”long-term solution”.
bruce
July 16th, 2012
6:19 am
Mark, great story yet you asked me to forget you said anything, you see, if I had watched yesterday in a mirror, Ben Sheets would have looked left-handed. What I saw yesterday was mirror-worthy.
dtanner
July 16th, 2012
7:08 am
something you will soon be hearing,now pitching for the new york yankees craig kimbrel
Atticus
July 16th, 2012
8:02 am
Mark can you please ask someone on the Braves why Hanson can barely crack 90 mph and is consistently around 88-89? He is NEVER going to be an ace starter throwing 90 when his fastball is that straight. His curve is excellent when he is on but that velocity is way down over the last few years. He is not Greg Maddux or Tim Hudson who can move the ball.
David Puddy
July 16th, 2012
11:01 am
Dranuc, the local guys sound stale and old…with analysis only when it’s a instance where ATL might have had a bad call. All the local nitwits ignore questionable calls against the opponents, yet will question a close pitch call and will continue to question it even when the magical box confirms the call was right all along..as if they didn’t even see the magical box confirmation. Idiots. Worse, they ignore and avoid discussion when a blown call is against the opponent,,as if it didn’t happen. I want honest and fair-minded assessments of what is going on out there. I don’t need idiot homers glossing over everything if it might be construed that ATL just might have gotten a break on a bad call. The local guys–radio and TV–are the worst I’ve ever had to suffer with. At least the ESPN guys don’t play these games even if they are inept overall. Here’s what you’d here on a typical broadcast in STL if the cards won on a blown call at the plate: Boy, we just go a break there. The replay shows that he was probably out. We’ll take it anyway. In ATL: The replay shows it was a close one but that’s a winner for our Bravos. What a joke.
steve
July 16th, 2012
1:00 pm
The reason why Sheets is good as he has that mental toughness , as long as his arm holds up he will do very well pitching for this team , we do need a no.1 starter and getting Grienke could very well put us over the top and give us a chance to win it all, my main concern is that our bad manaer will find a way to screw this up by just sitting and watching the game instead of actually managing the game.
David Puddy
July 16th, 2012
3:55 pm
Steve, I agree.Perhaps the next step is to just call Grienke and let him know to head our way. He would be the final piece in the puzzle to win the ATL equivelant of a WS….AKA Division Title!
donte080
July 16th, 2012
5:57 pm
Bradley, still think Sheets is a retread at the shank of the rotation?
the don of the real
July 16th, 2012
6:06 pm
The Giants are in town. Finally some winning baseball will be played in the ATL!
Delbert D.
July 16th, 2012
8:31 pm
Liberty Media is the issue. I’m pretty sure those guys don’t sit around and talk Braves baseball every day for a couple of hours.
RunninWithTheDawgs
July 17th, 2012
7:46 am
Runs ! Runs ! Runs ! We’ve got to score runs, especially NOW with the pitching we have! GO BRAVES !
Von Trapp
July 17th, 2012
9:19 pm
9-0 SF……………..Looks like ve send das pitcher to minor leagues
the mace
July 17th, 2012
9:59 pm
How about packaging Francisco with any trade just to get rid of him?
DHD
July 18th, 2012
7:44 am
Your first line said it best. You should just stick with that.
Bernie
July 18th, 2012
9:15 am
The Braves are mediocre at best. Don’t think a pitcher will put them as a solid team. They need a bat also. They just can’t hit with runners on base. I liked the choice as Freddi as manager but now I am beginning to wonder if he was the right choice. Jurjeins and Hanson will end up letting the team down before it is over with. Get rid of both of them
BTR
July 18th, 2012
11:41 am
Just like the Thrashers, a GM who knows NOTHING about the game he is involved in, HE STINKS !
Do nothing, Knows nothing and is never seen or heard, Hides from EVERYONE !!!
Chicken wren is afraid, period. He has a big paying job with a title and just wants the $ and does NOTHING to earn a dime of it. Hell, we could get ANY fan out there, for the most part, to come in and turn things around.
Why the president of the Braves does not FIRE this Idiot, is a complete mystery, this being all loyal thing is just STUPID, it is time to WIN, and that counts more than being loyal to a LOSER like Chicken frank wren !!!
cdog
July 18th, 2012
1:50 pm
i agree with you mark, 100% i know the braves are going to lose games along the way but last night”s game had to be contributed the home plate umpire”s calling.he failed to give jurrgen”s the corners. he wanted him to lay it right down the middle which is what he had to do to get a strike. that spelled disaster for jurggens. the umpir knew what he was doing. he called so the giants coukld get hits. its hard in the major league to pitch down the middle all of the time and be successful. thats the way he was calling.someone should check this guy behind the plate
Ronald Millsaps
July 18th, 2012
7:57 pm
I’m hearing that the Braves are willing to cut ties with Delgado and Teheran. Keep in mind, front office, that you can’t just reacquire these guys just like that after the fact. I believe in making prayerful decisions, not decisions based on whims.
Granted, Teheran has been a disappointment, but he’s still only 21–21. Do you really want to run this man out and acquire, say, a Ryan Dempster when apathetic and unreliable ownership is unlikely to make him a valid offer, anyway?
I like the Anibal Sanchez-acquisition idea. Let’s acquire him and sign Michael Bourn. Has Frank Wren even offered Bourn a dime yet? At last check, no, he hadn’t. Mr. Wren, okay—you don’t want to offer the man a five-year contract extension? Fine. Negotiate the length of the deal and not so much the monetary aspect, but do something. Besides, Bourn’s the kind who lives properly and more than warrants optimism; I could easily see him doing well at leadoff at 35. Standing pat like this is outright worthless. Otherwise, you’ve done an outstanding job, i.e. the Ben Sheets acquisition.
Bill
July 20th, 2012
9:39 am
Miss you Mark..Hope all is well with you and Family.
Von Trapp
July 20th, 2012
11:53 am
Ve need Von Bradley to tell it like it is!
Go Jackets
July 20th, 2012
4:50 pm
All I know is that Melky showed his rear end this week and wasnt thrown at once. Giants took two of three and and punk’d the Braves out. This team needs to grow a pair kwik….the rest will fall into place.
oldbird
July 21st, 2012
12:21 am
I hope they have not fired Mark. He does not know squat about football, but he has the best writing style of all the AJC writers by far.
Sid
July 21st, 2012
7:44 am
Go Braves……………….love the comeback kids!