Jones, LaRoche injured | Braves | ajc.com
LaRoche has a separated shoulder with x-rays still awaited. No word yet on the callup. Even if the Braves were to sign one of the mentioned ex-Braves in semiretirement (McGriff and Galarraga) either would need time in Florida before coming to the big club, so someone will be called up.
I was going to suggest McGriff earlier, but first I did a google search and found this article:
I don’t know if the AJC article makes a reference to this or not.
AP is reporting that Marrero was activated, Hessman was called up and Betemit was sent down.
By the way, McGriff went 0-for-1 as a pinch-hitter tonight.
Here’s the rest of the injury story …
PHILADELPHIA (AP) ? Atlanta Braves outfielder Chipper Jones and first baseman Adam LaRoche left Friday?s game against the Philadelphia Phillies after being injured during separate plays.
Jones was hit above the left knee by a fastball from Randy Wolf in the first inning and injured his quadriceps. He?s day to day.
LaRoche separated his shoulder and was placed on the 15-day DL. The Braves activated catcher Eli Marrero from the 15-day DL.
Atlanta also optioned shortstop Wilson Betemit to Triple-A Richmond, and recalled infielder Mike Hessman.
Braves trainer Jeff Porter attended to Jones, who slowly made his way to first base. Dewayne Wise then replaced Jones before the bottom of the inning and homered in the third.
?I don?t think (Jones) can play. He can hardly walk,? Braves manager Bobby Cox said after Friday night?s 3-2 loss in 10 innings.
In the top of the second, LaRoche was injured in a collision with Phillies catcher Mike Lieberthal while trying to score on Rafael Furcal?s fielder?s choice. LaRoche was out on the play and walked off the field under his own power, but didn?t return in the bottom of the inning.
LaRoche was later taken to the hospital for X-rays, which revealed the separation.
Backup catcher Eddie Perez replaced LaRoche, who started in place of Julio Franco. Franco was scratched shortly before the game with back problems, and is also listed as day to day.
Lieberthal also was attended to, but stayed in and singled in his next at-bat.
END
Why Hessman? And why rush Marrero? I assume he’s going to be the first baseman from now on, but he really doesn’t have the bat for the position even when he’s not suffering from tuberculosis or whatever it is he has.
I would assume Franco is the “every day” first baseman, with Hessman the back-up. Marrero’s back, I guess, to play left field against lefties, with Wise starting until Chipper is 100 percent (you know Bobby won’t rush him back into the lineup).
How about a SLG over .800? Given, he hasn’t done too much in the majors, but when someone puts an OPS over 1.200, typically he gets a shot.
I figured something was up when I checked Richmond’s box last night and saw that Hessman had left the game early. He had the flu earlier in the week, so I couldn’t be sure.
I’m one of the few left that think Hessman can contribute and hope springs eternal.
My continuing question is “Where is the LH hitter off the bench?” I can understand (but perhaps not fully accept) Wise’s presence on the team, but there certainly needs to be a better offensive option for this team. Marrero simply adds another RH bat.
I don’t love Branyan like many who post(and he is in AAA for a team that has the combined talents of Casey Blake–who is better than DeRosa–and Ben Broussard playing Russ’s positions), but I thought this is where he would a sensible addition to the Braves.
Prediction 1: Hessman starts at first today or tomorrow (as Bobby likes to do with call-ups).
Prediction 2: Hessman goes 0-4 with 3 strikeouts.
I hope I am wrong.
The good news is that Betemit was sent down. If anything, his trip to the big club interrupted any progress he was making.
These are our options?!?!
Signing the Big Cat? Waiting for a healthy Eli Marrero? Hoping that Chipper can finally play two weeks in a row?
This team is broken. The management can let them piddle around at .500 for the season, then sigh and say “Well, it had to end sometime. Let’s look to the future.”
If every move I described at the top happened and worked, this team is still mediocre at best. And nobody will want to watch them. What happens to the finances then?
Tell me there’s been action with names like Mike Sweeney or Daryl Ward and I’ll get excited.
Otherwise we’ll end up pondering the beauty of the game like that fellow who posted last week.
You know, like all the other losers.
I’ve seen the names of both McGriff and Galarraga tossed about, in addition to Julio playing full time. Here are some split stats in terms of forming a platoon:
2003:
Fred vs. righties: 275/365/441
Fred vs. lefties: 194/219/398
Andres vs. righties: 298/342/444
Andres vs. lefties: 309/369/574
Julio last three years:
vs. lefties: 369/447/528
vs. righties: 253/326/360
Finally:
Fred in AAA this season: 238/385/381 in 26 PA
My opinion – especially factoring in his horrific defense, Fred should ot be acquired from TB. Andres might be worth a flier, though that depends on if you believe he’s actually that effective against righthanders. Plus there’s the PR of it, and it’d be a genuinely cool story. Not to mention that having a sorta-platoon (albeit two righties, but they’d both get sufficient rest) of over-40s at 1B would be kinda neat.