ESPN.com – MLB – Box Score – Brewers at Braves
Chipper’s back from the DL, though he didn’t hit a homer this time. But despite Bobby’s continued use of Tyler Yates to blow games in the seventh inning (Kali definitely has the Pictures) the Braves rallied to win and actually won a series at home. If the Braves played only road games they’d be right in this thing.
Matt Diaz and Brian McCann were the hitting heroes. Diaz got the start against a righty and seems likely to be playing left field more or less regularly for the near future after going 4-4. He got the offense going in the third with a leadoff single. The Braves loaded the bases with two outs on walks, then Andruw drew a bases-loaded walk to take a 1-0 lead. McCann drove in two with a hard grounder past Tony Graffanino, who is being asked to play second base for the Brewers even though he really can’t.
Hudson was giving up lots of hits, nine in all, but they were all singles so there was relatively little damage. He gave up a run in the sixth after two singles to start the inning, but the Braves got it back when the Brewers foolishly threw Francoeur a strike and he hit a line homer. But in the seventh, after two singles and a double play, Hudson allowed a run-scoring single and Bobby came in with Tyler Kali Yates again. Inevitably, he walked the first man he faced (after getting him 0-2) and then allowed a double to Graffanino to tie it. After a walk, Paronto threw one pitch to get out of his jam. Why Bobby would prefer Yates to Paronto is ultimately unsolvable.
Marcus — back in the leadoff slot, which he hates — singled leading off the eighth. Renteria laid down a bunt, which Graffanino misplayed into first and third. Chipper hit a sac fly to take the lead. After Andruw struck out, McCann hit a homer to make it 7-4. Baez, who had been struggling, pitched a 1-2-3 eighth.
Enter Dank Lob (to boos). After two singles, he got Marcus to popup and Renteria to hit into a double play. Really it was kind of disappointing, though there were several pitches of the “What was he trying to do there?” type we got used to. Wickman gave up a double but that was it as he nailed down the save.
Why does Yates still even pitch???
Dan Kolb is like a Braves’ legend now. He’ll be remember and talked about every time the Braves play the Brewers. Every bad pitcher is now a Kolb.
He looked different. The hair including facial and his gut. I actually think he may have lost weight.
Just a comment on all the discussion about Francouer’s lack of plate discipline.
Many times pitches are called from the bench for rookie catchers. This is done in recognition of their inexperience. I would submit that in last nights’ game (bases loaded, facing pitcher with obvious control problems) Bobby should have taken the bat out of Jeff’s hands until he took at least one strike.
In every at bat the batter looks at the 3rd base coach, who gives various signs. With the count 3-0 a batter very often receives a “take” sign. My “take” on this is that Jeff should be getting those signs from the bench in these situations and not be allowed to swing. Otherwise he is unable to control himself and swings at everything he sees. He has to realize that there are other batterws in the lineup after him that are able to contribute if he actually gets himself on base.
BMAC wins the Player of the Game award.
I tell you, he can hit.
“He’ll be remember and talked about every time the Braves play the Brewers. Every bad pitcher is now a Kolb.”
Ugh.
He’ll be remembered and talked about every time the Braves play the Brewers. Every bad Braves’ pitcher is now a Kolb.
The future does look bright for the Braves with McCann. Maybe Schuerholz should do like Omar did with Reyes and Wright and sign him long-term now.
Plus he’ll have a great back-up catcher next year: Pena.
Good Ol’ 4 Seam’s spelling wearing off on you huh?
I suggested that, but someone said that would be a horrible wrong,a nd shouldn’t be done.
Let’s face it. Jeff isn’t going to change until he decides himself he wants to change or until somebody like Chipper takes him aside and points out what he needs to do to take his play to a higher level. Otherwise Bobby, Terry, and John seem more than happy with his homeruns, rbi, and outfield assists.
Ron, I believe you’re right, and I think the earliest this could possibly happen is next spring training. I can’t see anyone tearing up his script for him while he’s on pace to play all 162 games this year.
I was at the game with a visiting uncle, who’d never seen Francoeur play before, and he got to see the whole package. I was calling the pitches from the upper deck, “First they’ll throw a breaking ball outside, then another breaking ball even further outside, then something up around his eyes, then another outside breaking ball and we’ll take the field.” Well, he spoiled my fun by weakly fouling off that fourth pitch before popping out. Then he got to see the cannon arm on the throw to third that had NO CHANCE, and served only to allow the batter to take second. Then, of course, the vicious line drive HR as soon as he saw a strike. Everyone in the stadium could hear him exclaim “All praise to Jobul!” as he rounded the bases — which, considering that this was another Faith Day, made everyone a tad uncomfortable (joking, joking — but I’m going with my Pedro Cerrano comparison until it sticks). Actually, I’ll say this for Faith Day — absolutely no lines at the beer stands…
Speaking of Faith Day, after Jeremy Camp performs after the game, SID BREAM is speaking. SWEET!
What? I like Sid Bream. Plus, Jeremy Camp’s pretty cool too.
I didn’t stay after the game, but they did a brief interview with Sid between innings early on. Always great to see him. Bruce Sutter was also there, and was greeted with cheers and shouts of “Bruuuuuccceee”, which led me to believe that today’s fans either had short memories or were fondly remembering Bruce Benedict.
McCann won’t be a free agent until after the 2011 season. He won’t even be eligible for arbitration until next year, and that is iffy and depends on where the Super Two line is drawn. So it’s a little early to lock him up — though he’s the obvious candidate to do so since it appears that even if he has injuries that move him from behind the plate he has the bat to carry first base.
Yeah I don’t think we have to lock up McCann yet. Although it is an excellent idea when the time comes.
Also, do you think it is possible that the Braves could send Jeff down to Winter ball in the DR. Maybe send him up to the plate every other time without a bat.
Please send Yates down and activate Stockman, PS do we not remember that Sutter is a big reason for the Braves turn for the worse from 85-90. When he was healthy he blew big time saves and he was a huge salary for the budget back then, and turned Mullen ( GM) into hiding regarding FA moves.
Iam very surprised he would be thought of at all here. Thats like the Blue Jays honouring Phil Niekro !
McCann had his worst game of the season yday ( the time i go to see a game, only pete orr hits! sheesh ) and I guess he had some making up to do.
Francouer at this point in time is making me sick. if he doesnt learn soon, things are going to get worse for him. that said, anyone else impressed with LaRoche? numbers apart, he looks very confident at the plate. Makes my crying over Marte and moving Chipper to first base all that more stupid i guess.
Is very bad to steal Jobu’s rum. Is very bad.
Joey Devine pitched in Pearl today after being promoted… he looked good… it was great to see him today and he looked pretty calm out there. Very composed! He did give up a solo HR but otherwise his pitches looked great! …walked one and struck out 3 …1 inning
Well, I guess it’s hard to give up a grand slam when there’s nobody on base.
I don’t think yesterday was McCann’s worst day of the year — not that he’s had many bad ones. But he did have the great PA to draw the bases-loaded walk before Fancoeur [sic] did his thing.
I think we all can face it…Jeff Francouer will never become a patient hitter. I just hope he becomes the next Vlad. That is the player that I kinda compare him to the most. Swings at everything no matter how high or how low, cannon of an arm and doesn’t walk alot. Of couse Vlad doesn’t strikeout alot.
This is interesting, to me, anyway… Diaz doesn’t walk, but his OBP is still .364 because he’s hitting .339. The only Braves regulars with higher OBPs are Chipper, McCann, and Renteria. His OPS is .861, behind only Chipper, McCann, Andruw, and LaRoche, and 100 points or more ahead of the other three corner outfielders. I know the pitching’s been awful, but what if Diaz had gotten some of Langerhans’ and Francoeur’s playing time earlier this year? We might be in a lot better shape.
I’ve floated the idea to others on a baseball message board and I get this message.
“Are you crazy !!!
Yes for a stint like 30-40 games but not 1-2 seasons , even though struggling with strike zone knowledge , he has 25/80 potential , give him a break and like all good superstars have done , he will learn the strike zone .”
My gut tells me this is a really stupid statement.
The idea I put out was Francoeur going to Richmond for 1-2 seasons.
The idea Francoeur going to Richmond is stupid…he may swing at everything but the last time I looked we don’t have anyone that can replace 22 HRs and 81 RBIs.
Again with the counting stats. Sheesh… Per PA, Francoeur’s numbers are a near match for Thorman’s.
Bobby said on the radio Matt Diaz will be getting more starts. And on the television they said it was because Langerhans and Thorman have hit inconsitently. It’s about time I guess.
I wonder how that Rodriguez guy that Schuerholz gave to the Royals for Diaz is doing.
Anyone know when we’ll see Devine in the majors again this year (if at all this year)? I know he’s our closer of the future.
Ya know, besides, Francouer, we’ve got three options for two corner outfield spots, four when Kelly Johnson comes back: Langerhans, Thorman, Diaz, and Johnson. I’m sure there is a GM who would overpay for counting stats. Trade Jeff Francouer? Some dumb team may give us a decent starting pitcher or something of good value for someone so marketable. Eh?
I just don’t understand why someone like Chipper hasn’t sat down with this guy and told him a thing or two about his approach to hitting.
Well, maybe he did but Jeff just doesn’t want to listen…or the team sees 22 Hr’s and 81 rbi and they don’t want to mess with that.
Either way, something needs to be done. And, why can’t Bobby give him signs not to swing certain times?
It seems like Jeffrey always has the green light, and it probably hurts him more than it does him good.
OK, one too many commas in that first sentence. My bad.
And the odds of Francoeur being traded are on par with the odds of Todd Pratt winning NL MVP.
Hey, I’m not saying that JS would do it, but I wonder if it would be a good scenario. Jon Lester for Jeff Francouer?
Ricardo Rodriguez for the single A High Desert Mavericks.
2 G 0-0 5.40 ERA 3.1 IP 4 H 2 R 3 BB 4 SO
That’s all I can find.
Thanks Jay.
I guess you can’t judge him now. For some reason I thought Rodriguez was in triple-A.
Why hasn’t there been any news about the sale of the team?
My brother just asked me an interesting question: which former Brave do I miss the most? I told him I’d have to consider who we got in return, if the players was lost in the trade. My list included Jermaine Dye, Jason Schmidt, and JD Drew. Can anyone add to my list?
I’ll take Sheffield, warts and all.
Tough choice. Jason Schmidt is probably at the top.
When it comes to players I miss the least, it’s impossible to answer anyone other than Kenny Lofton.
Schmidt is certainly the player the Braves as currently constructed could most use, followed by Glavine and then possibly Wainwright (not a former Atlanta Brave).
Adam Wainwright. While he never was a major part of the team, he is EXACTLY what we need right now. A light’s out reliever who can spot start in this time of need, and has the potential to be much more.
I don’t know Cormier’s status, but I hope he is traded or becomes a free agent after this season. I am fed up with whoever keeps deciding to start a guy. A starter, at the least, should give you five innings. If Lance Cormier can’t pitch one quality inning, how can he pitch five?
Just go away Cormier.
I miss Schmidt… J.D. Drew…Wainwright would also be great to have back..
And,this might sound stupid, but I miss Jason Marquis. I liked the kid alot
Of course, that means we’re only talking Braves players. If I could have anyone back it would be Leo, followed by Dayton Moore.
Yates me once shame on you. Yates me at least 10 times well shame on me. I actually quit watching in disgust. Even with TBS games as rare as a dodo bird I quit. Geez Bobby.
I can’t for the llife of me figure out why anyone would throw anything in the same hemisphere much less zip code as Francoeur’s strike zone. Say this much for the kid he can hit a cripple a long way.
Which is harder to type for y’all? Francoeur or Schuerholz?
Matt Diaz getting more starts. About time.
I miss Schmidt, Sheffield, Dye in that order. I have a feeling that I’m going to miss Betemit too.
I miss Nick Green. He was a big help for awhile there. I nearly threw up when I saw him in a Yankees uniform the other day.
Also, as the board’s resident irritating Red Sox sympathizer, I’m going to have to go ahead and say that a Francoeur-for-Lester trade will never happen. Don’t worry about JS doing that trade, because Theo Epstein never would. A .282 OBP guy for their top pitching prospect? Not in a million years. You’d have to send Francoeur to a team with an old-school GM who still thinks RBIs mean something and is willing to overlook the fact that this kid will swing at anything in the same zip code and shows no indication that he knows how or why he should improve.
I’m really down on Francoeur right now. Yeah, 22 HRs and 80 RBIs. Big whoop. He makes outs 71.8% of the time and his approach at the plate is just so horrible that I can’t bear to watch his at-bats. He’s like Vlad Guerrero, but Guerrero can actually make contact anywhere in his zip code and get hits on such pitches. And it’s indicative of a flaw in organizational philosophy, which is very troubling. Our offense always lies down and dies every October. You can’t tell me there’s no connection with all the hack-happy axioms flying around here.
I hope I won’t miss Betemit…but I’m afraid it might happen
Yeah, Nick Green, see ya later bud. Nick Greens grow on trees. He got us one good pitching season; that’s all we could have gotten for him.
Francouer-for-Lester: yeah I know. When I thought about it, I knew Epstein would never do it. I’m just saying Francouer for a young, prospect-type front line starter. I was also thinking Oliver Perez two years ago, before he decided he didn’t like pitching at the major league level. My mind is drawing a blank for the type of pitcher I think some dumb GM would give us for a counting stat machine.
Trading Francouer wold be kind of dumb, he is still young and he will get better. I kind of wish LaRoache would start sucking agian for some variety around here.
I don’t think Frenchy is the reason we are 8 games under .500. Our pitching staff outside of Smoltz, Wickman, and good Baez has been horrible. I can’t really complain about the hitters, they had a slump in June for a week, but the pitching had just let them down so many times.
That’s a good point Smitty. But should we be tolerant of how Francouer has played because the pitching has stunk? Seems kinda off.
I really don’t think Francouer will get better though. I don’t wanna sound like an AA meeting, but he’s gotta realize that his brain-dead slop-hacking mentality just doesn’t work. Until he does that, his “aggressiveness” is going to equal failure to the point where it hurts the team, but the illusion of his productivity will mask it. I suppose a “good right fielder defensively” who is going to hit 30 HRs being a huge problem is a nice luxury for our offense, but I think that’s why I’m suggesting dealing him for pitching. I’m sure Lando’s gonna throw a bomb through my window for saying that, but that’s just how I feel right now.
On the earlier discussion, I see little to gain sending Francouer to AAA. We have no one better to put in his place, so that angle is irrelevent. All that’s left then is whether he can learn the strike zone better there than in the majors, and I know of no significant evidence to think that is true.
Anyway, claims that Francouer can’t get any better are absurd. Whether or not he will, on the other hand, one can only speculate. Patience and the mental approach to hitting is a learned skill, not an innate ability.
Francoeur for Lester is a rediculously good deal… for the BoSox. A guy with Francoeur’s power doesn’t just come along anywhere, and while Lester is good, he doesn’t have anywhere near the projectabiltiy that Francoeur does. Guys with his power don’t come along every day and whiel the current Braves roster could fool you, #3 starters are much easier to find.
Give Francoeur another few years to develope. He’ll be good… eventually. My real fear is that by the time he developes into the dominant hitter he will eventually develope into, AJ will have walked (Yankees?) and Chipper will have retired. Given his power, high K-rate, outstanding arm and good range in the OF, I see him as the Andruw Jones to BMac’s Chipper. Sure, he sucks now, but there’s no reason to think he won’t develope into a very good hitter.
Here’s an AWSOME analysis of Francoeur’s swing. Granted, it makes me less optimistic about his future developement (it seems like there’s no simple fix like “just learn to take a pitch” since he’s apperantly got to start his bat a good bit earlier than most other players), but it’s good to have a better idea of what we’re dealing with. Anyhow, here’s the link:
http://blog.swingtraining.net/2006/07/18/jeff-francoeur-and-the-x-factor.aspx
Jeff Francoeur, who had his eighth assist Saturday night, was voted as having the National League’s best outfield arm in a survey of managers by Baseball America. The right fielder was second in the NL with 13 assists last season despite not being promoted from the minors until July.
In addition to being named the best defensive outfielder, Andruw Jones was voted as having the NL’s third-best arm behind Francoeur and the New York Mets’ Carlos Beltran.
article from ajc.
John Smoltz was recognized for having the best slider in the NL, and Bobby Cox got the nod from his peers as best manager.
Buster Olney’s blog is reporting Fredi Gonzalez as the front runner to take over for Dusty Baker next season…
from AJC…
Wickman said he doesn’t know who started rumors out of Cleveland that he will retire — “That [ticked] me off,” he sneered — and last week said he planned to pitch next season if he feels as good as he does now.
there still hope, here’s to one more season of WICKMANIA!
sorry, also forgot this one
The Braves need to overhaul their beleaguered bullpen this winter, and Wickman said he’d consider re-signing with them if they’re interested.
I was looking at Jermaine Dye’s numbers yesterday and his first few years look a heck of a lot like Francoeur’s although Dye had fewer ABs. For instance, in 1996 Dye was .281/.304/.459/.763. In ’97, his OBP was .284 and .270 in ’98. Now he was only in 75 and 60 games in those years. Not having followed the Royals closely, I don’t know if he was injured or being platooned. Regardless, in ’99 he played in 158 games and hit .294/.354/.526 and for the most part has been a very good player since then.
All of which is a long way of saying Jeff is still a very young hitter, so maybe he just needs a few more years experience to grasp the value of taking pitches 2 feet off the plate and taking walks. Since he isn’t going anywhere, it’s better to hope for him to improve than to wish for him to be traded or sent down to the minors, 2 things that aren’t going to happen.
I’m not sold on Matt Diaz. I believe if he played more he’d hit less. Like Francoeur, he just about never walks. There’s not much in his past to indicate he’s really a .339 hitter. However given the inconsistency of our other options at left field, I’m perfectly willing to see the Braves try him on a full-time basis.
I think Francouer has gotten better over the season. The only problem I have with him is he needs to learn to work the count better. His stratagy of swinging at the first pitch that looks like a strike to him, isn’t really that bad of an idea. He is going up there to hit. The last week or so he a showed some bad discipline up there, but he is learning. He is what 22?
The throw to third yesterday where the runner moved to second was fine with me, because he almost had the runner at third, it was bang bang.
The only flaw with his strategy is that he doesn’t appear to have a clue as to what’s not a strike. His line looks fine on the first pitch but the problem I have is that he hasn’t walked once in 36 3-2 counts.
Smitty, he just went 2-14 if you hand’t noticed. I’d say he is back to the old Huck.
The throw to third was not good because he missed the cutoff man. Coming close doesn’t cut it–he cost the Braves a run. The problem with Francoeur at this point is that every time he does something dramatic, such as the GW double on Friday, it confirms him, the Braves front office, and the idiot announcers (read especially Chip Carey) that he’s a great player. And they hide behind the idea that hitters fail most of the time anyway so that whenever he does pop up with the bases loaded after swinging at the first pitch, they dismiss it, but whenever he does something good, he is a great clutch hitter. Jeff clearly has a flair for the dramatic, but, overall, he has probably hurt the Braves more than he has helped. But he is very young and I don’t think it makes sense to give up on him. He is never going to be a high OBP guy, but if he improves even a little he will be a productive player. The problem is, I don’t know if he can improve and, second, he isn’t likely to get better if he and the Braves don’t see a problem. And Chip Carey will pronounce him as the second coming of Babe Ruth every time he gets a hit. (Chip just proves that nepotism is alive and well in baseball broadcasting.)
Jeff seems to have problems with consistency or concentration. I’ve seen him have some excellent ABs where he laid off the sliders in the dirt, worked the count, and got a good pitch to hit or even walked. Then there is the much more common times when he flails away at everything thrown to him and strikes or pops out. Maybe he needs to borrow some of Laroche’s ADD pills?
It’s funny how everyone on here thinks they know more about baseball than the entire Braves organization. You are right Marc, the braves are morons for thinking Jeff is a good player. I am surprised you haven’t gotten a job in major league baseball, you would go far!
Does anyone else get the feeling that Francoeur could wash out of baseball, go back to Clemson (assuming he can score a 14 on the ACT), play 10 years in the NFL, retire, and become a coach, and Landogamer will still say in response that LaRoche once went 2-14 on a homestand?
Anyhoo, numbers for August:
LaRoche: .250/.290/.643
Francoeur: .229/.275/.458
just saw this and I didn’t know if it had been reported here.
The Braves placed infielder Willy Aybar on the 15-day disabled list with a broken bone in his left hand and a sprained left middle finger.
I think we all knew he was on the DL, but didn’t know the reason for it. This supposedly happened in his 1st game w/ Atl. If so, I like the fact that he played through the pain until Chip was able to return. Also could be the reason why he only has 1 extra base hit.
just saw this and I didn’t know if it had been reported here.
The Braves placed infielder Willy Aybar on the 15-day disabled list with a broken bone in his left hand and a sprained left middle finger.
I think we all knew he was on the DL, but didn’t know the reason for it. This supposedly happened in his 1st game w/ Atl. If so, I like the fact that he played through the pain until Chip was able to return. Also could be the reason why he only has 1 extra base hit.
sorry for the double…
Of course Jeff’s talented, but a .727 OPS is not good for a corner outfielder.
I think we should kill Frenchy. By the time you are 22 years old, if you haven’t mastered knowing the strike zone, you should die. Everytime you try to make a play and it doesn’t happen, shot.
I remember when I was 22. Perfect in everything I did.
Anyone see where Lugo started in RF yesterday. The Dodgers are trying to turn him into Soriano.
I would feel better about Frenchie if the trend was in the right direction. Ineterstingly enough, he had also 11 walks last year in 257 AB’s (as opposed to the 480 he has this year). So, in the face of a terrible walk rate last year (remember in the spring when he promised he would be more selective? he knew it was a problem for him in MLB last year, with only 11 walks in 257 AB’s), he has gone out and basically cut an unacceptably low walk rate in half. To me that means he either is incapable of changing, or doesn’t really believe he needs to.
Which means (a) MLB guys will get smarter and smarter about moving the ball even further out of the strike zone, and (b) it is up to management to change his behavior, because he simply cannot or will not. I would hire a private hitting coach for him, and work on strike zone judgment only in the off-season. he has bat-speed to be a super-star, and the strike zone judgment of a 9 year old. That combo just isn’t going to work.
Schmidt and Maddux had a nice duel yesterday. Ironic, since we have less pitching than the Home Run derby
To start the season it was obvious that he was swingnig at everything, then he bcame more patient, and both times slumped. He needs to go spend sometime with McCann and his dad this winter to become a better hitter. But I am not going to rip him because HE IS ONLY 22 YEARS OLD AND WILL GET BETTER!!!
How about our terrible pitching?
its almost as bad as Frenchy’s hitting. Everyone rips him for not walking and I could care less. I just wich he would learn to hit the ball the other way or to just try to put in play, especially with two outs. You can be an aggressive hitter w/out swinging for the fences everytime up.
Rotation: SMOLTZ, huddy, james, cormier, barry = emough said
At least Chip is better than Joe Buck, who makes Tim McCarver look smart.
Fox has decided to have Buck host its NFL pregame show and continue as the lead PBP man.
Well, Smitty, I think we’ve beaten the crap out of the pitching, so we need to beat the crap out of Francoeur. lol
yes, our pitching is terrible, but I am not sure what internally can be done about that. Someone needs to fix Huddy (I hope he is not washed up; his last 3 starts have been okay), and I guess that means he maybe needs to throw his splitter more, when a batter has 2 strikes (I really don’t know).
Frenchie is an easy topic because it is so apparant what needs to be done, and I think most people believe it is moderately fixable. If you do that, you get a better player (maybe even a star, instead of a replacement level player, which is all he is now), without adding payroll.
Maybe I am wrong, but I just think it is going to be easier to teach frenchie some strike zone judgment that to teach Chuck James to add 5 MPH to his fast-ball. However, if it makes you feel better, someone better teach Kyle Davies how to throw more strikes, because 5+ walks per 9 innings isn’t going to cut it in MLB.
At this rate Buck will wear down and will retire in three years.
It’s easy to throw strikes. You just have to see the ball, be the ball.
Yeah it is easy to throw strikes if you can stand 60.5 feet from a window and throw a ball through it, but not in the middle of it.
I think we should give Villareal a spot start and see what happens? Anyone agree, he couldn’t be any worse than Shiell, Cormier, or Barry can he?
we need a McCann plate-o-meter. Mac, can you come up w/ something like the Francouermeter that you have going?
Top Ten Things I’m Tired Of Hearing About The Braves:
1) They’re only 6 GB of the wild card.
2) Marcus Giles dislikes batting leadoff.
3) Pete Orr is a great utility player and is tied for fourth in the majors in pinch hits. (Yes, and he probably has more attempts than anyone, too)
4) Jeff Francoeur is having a phenomenal year.
5) Edgar Renteria is having a great comeback season. (Yes, he’s had a good year. But comeback? Why is on the ballot for Viagra comeback player of the year? What did he come back from? Boston?)
6) Another pitcher’s been injured. The Braves have been so unlucky. (Well yes, but we traded away our depth – see Adam Wainwright and others – to get one-year-rentals, like, for example, JD Drew)
7) But our schedule’s so easy the rest of the way. (And we’re not winning 90 games this season either. We’re crappy just like everyone else.)
8) Edgar Renteria is a good bunter. (NO, HE’S NOT)
9) Tim Hudson is a good hitter. (NO, HE’S NOT..anymore)
10) Anything else ever uttered by Bob Rathbun (which either means he’s doing a Braves game, I’m watching a Hawks game, or, God forbid, I’m talking to him face-to-face) or Jeff “I was a good manager” Torborg.
Anthony Lerew appears to have turned it around. He pitched well yesterday in his first start since being recalled to Richmond. 7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 SO. He posted a 0.76 ERA at Mississippi in July.
Lerew claims that trying to pitch through a back injury is the thing that screwed up his mechanics and is to blame for his wretched start.
If you decide to watch Fox’s #1 games now…you’ll have hours and hours of Joe Buck. I don’t know how healthy that is for a human being.
And how weird is it that Fox will have to take it’s pregame show on the road EVERY week, just so Buck can do pregame and the actual game??
I’d have to update a McCannometer every day, though. He needs to average 3.7 PA per game the rest of the way to reach 502 PA.
That’s going to be tough, given his off days as a catcher. If he only plays 4 out of every 5 games the rest of the way, how many PA per game played does that average out to?
He needs 170 PA and the Braves have 46 games left. If he plays in 41 games, he would need [SPOCK] approximately 4.1463414634146341463414634146341 [/SPOCK] plate appearances per start. At 40 games, he would need 4.25. Assuming (always difficult) that the Braves always get at least five baserunners per game, he’d need five plate appearances every fourth game.
Who have we brought up, if anyone, to replace Aybar? If it’s another infielder, wouldn’t it pretty much have to be Nepotism Boy?
On Wryn’s top 10 list, I think 5) is actually justified- Renteria has gained 106 OPS points this year, not adjusting for the lower-offense league or the worse hitter’s park. Any praise of Lasngerhans, however, should be used to replace it. Or any excuses for Todd Pratt’s continued presence.
As for Frenchy, I’d have traded him to KC before Dayton Moore arrived. Who would be good now ? Baltimore? Tampa Bay? Pittsburgh?
If he can’t be traded, in 2007, he should go to Richmond. Go directly to Richmond. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200,000 until you learn not to swing at low-lying clouds.
Chipper took Aybar’s spot. Prado would probably be the next man up. He and Hernandez are on the 40-man and L’il Jonny is not.
My take on the Francoeur/LaRoche thing is this:
The main knock early in the season (and for the last couple of years) against LaRoche was his lack of hustle. Sure, he did always seem to strike out or hit into a double play when runners were on base, but the main thing was he always appeared to be half-asleep or just plain lazy. Since his brain-freeze against the Mets (it was the Mets, wasn’t it?) I haven’t seen that complaint because he actually appears to hustle now.
The main knock against Francoeur is his lack of thinking. While strikeouts are apart of the game and happen to even the best of players, swinging at pitches nowhere near the strike zone to strike out can bring a whole fanbase down on your head. That’s what’s happened to Francoeur, and for good reason. If he was striking out on strikes and working the count waiting for his pitch, it would be a whole different story. As it is, he has the uncanny knack of ending rallies and wasting at-bats by jumping on the first pitch and most of the time doing nothing with it (See Matt Diaz for when it’s okay to jump on the first pitch, because that’s not the main problem. The problem is the doing nothing with it part.). He actually acts more ADD than LaRoche does, which is ironic.
Francoeur has had some big hits, but for every big hit he’s gotten there’s been awful at-bats that give outs away. His defense is pretty good and his throwing arm great, but, again, he’s not always thinking out there. Remember, Mondesi had a great arm too, but would always overthrow his cut-off man. One time he got the out at third when he did that, but for everyone out you get, you probably allow 10+ baserunners to advance and get into scoring position. Francoeur has the same problem at times. I just want to yell at the TV, “just play smart baseball. That’s what wins ballgames!”
LaRoche has grown (is growing?) into a decent hitter. Not a Pujols/Howard type hitter but one who gives you decent production and good at-bats. His defense, while not spectacular, is more than adequate and he seems to be a smart first baseman (not reaching out to grab a throw until he sees where he needs to commit to, being able to scoop throws out of the dirt…).
Francoeur might have a higher ceiling than LaRoche (should he ever learn what the strike zone even is), but we won’t be able to judge that for another 3-5 years. The debate is not who might become the better player. It’s, who’s helping the team right now? The answer to that is LaRoche.
His 2-14 homestand can just go right out of the door, as far as I’m concerned, because the guy is hurt right now and there’s no way around that. The Braves MLB website reported his wrist is so sore he’s had trouble sleeping for a week. If my wrist was hurt that bad, I’d more than likely put it in a sling and walk around looking for sympathy, not rest for two days then go out and play baseball through the pain. And he’s made no excuses, just gone out there and given everything he can right now. So, LaRoche is playing smart and giving everything he has. What more can you ask from a ballplayer?
thanks mac.
here’s a list of comparables to jeff i’ve drawn up using the criteria of at least 500 PA, 30 or fewer BB, during an age 22 season.
it’s pretty interesting.
Name Year Team PA BB
Adrian Beltre 2001 LAN 515 28
Lou Bierbauer 1886 PH4 543 21
Jack Brohamer 1972 CLE 567 27
Mike Caruso 1999 CHA 564 20
Joe Cassidy 1905 WS1 626 25
Orlando Cepeda 1958 SFN 644 29
Mike Champion 1977 SDN 546 27
Hal Chase 1905 NYA 501 15
Roberto Clemente 1955 PIT 501 18
Ty Cobb 1907 DET 646 24
Tommy Corcoran 1891 PH4 550 29
Gene DeMontreville 1896 WSN 581 29
Woody English 1928 CHN 522 30
Jeff Francoeur 2006 ATL 501 11
Tito Fuentes 1966 SFN 564 9
Alex Gonzalez 1999 FLO 591 15
Jose Guillen 1998 PIT 605 21
Ozzie Guillen 1986 CHA 577 12
Granny Hamner 1949 PHI 700 25
Cliff Heathcote 1920 SLN 531 25
Travis Jackson 1924 NY1 633 21
Harry Lyons 1888 SL4 522 20
Bill Mazeroski 1957 PIT 568 27
Stuffy McInnis 1911 PHA 518 25
Dave Roberts 1973 SDN 503 17
Benito Santiago 1987 SDN 572 16
Red Schoendienst 1945 SLN 597 21
Al Simmons 1924 PHA 644 30
Garry Templeton 1978 SLN 675 22
Jose Reyes 2005 NYN 733 27
LaRoche’s brain-freeze was against the Nats, if we’re referring to the grounder to first where Nick Johnson beat him to the bag.
I’m in DC for work, so I might try to catch a game. Unfortunately, it looks like I can’t go on Wednesday, when Smoltz pitches. Seems I might get stuck watching/paying for a Cormier suckfest tomorrow night. 🙁
one way to get McCann his AB’s is to bat him 2nd or 3rd…
Smoltz is starting Wednesday? I’m definitely going then. We were going to choose between Tuesday and Wednesday depending on the weather, but I’d rather be a little bit hot (weather around here’s been gorgeous lately, anyway) than sit through a Cormier start.
You don’t actually “sit” through a Cormier start..
You bleed, you struggle, you fight insanity and depression. But that’s the case with most of our starters that aren’t named “Smoltz”.
I dont think McCann will be able to reach those PA numbers. His stint on the DL killed him. Oh well, we all know who the best hitter is anyway.
James has to win this game tonight. Especially if the next three are Cormier, Smoltz, and Barry. James and Smoltz both win and we can steal one of the other two, that would make for a very good series. All starts tonight though…
It is encouraging to me that Hudson’s last 3 starts have been quality starts. I am a little pessimistic about our WC chances anyways but I know that if we make a run we cannot do it without the Old Hudson.
Landogarner,
I never said I know more than Braves management and I certainly don’t. And given the general tenor of comments on this blog, I think it’s sort of silly to single me out; I have consistently defended JS. I agree that Francouer is a very talented player. I wouldn’t trade him and I agree that it makes no sense to trash a 22 year old with a year in the majors. If he was on a team like Pittsburg, no one would be complaining. But the Braves-especially the announcers–are trying to sell him as a great player now, and everytime he gets a hit with runners on base, they rub our faces in it about how good he is. But over the course of the season, he has had far more bad at bats than good ones. It doesn’t take a professional baseball person to see that he swings at virtually anything that doesn’t hit him. And that’s not generally good, at least according to Ted Williams.
That’s cute Mac, now try their numbers for the homestand…..
LaRoche played a grand total of 4 games on the homestand.
So you’re seriously bragging about Hacky outplaying LaRoche over a four game stretch? Talk about cute.
Why not their last at-bats, if you’re going to limit it to absurdity? That puts Francoeur at 1.000/1.000/1.000.
May I suggest a 2-14 tattoo?
Things seem to be getting nasty around here.
Time for a 7-game winning streak…
Well I am holding off still on the eulogy with this weekend’s performence, so I made a college football top 25 on my blog
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/Smitty9215
*gasps* Sporting News ANYTHING and Auburn #1 scares me. Thanks for nothing, UT homer! Hah!
I don’t think there is a team in college football that is really great. Auburn plays some hard, but winable games. I think if they can get out with only one loss, they play for the title.
Smitty, I disagree somewhat. There will be two undefeated teams at the end of the year and Auburn will not be one of them. I’ll say LSU beats them this year. Also, w/ West Virginia’s weak schedule they will be undefeated and will be playing for the title against a non-sec school.
I will say that a one loss Auburn team is better than an undefeated West V. team, but that’s just my opinion.
The only way West Virgina play for the title is if Louisville beats Miami and Kansas State and only loses to WV.
I am not sure about LSU, on paper they look great, but Russell is a head case. I know they have a good back up, but still…
Of course, West Virginia did beat a really good Georgia team in the Sugar Bowl
And Louisville ain’t beating Miami! 😀
They could. Louisville can score a ton of points
Well, the road team last won the Auburn/LSU game in 1999. Auburn hasn’t lost an SEC opener since 1992. (I wonder if any other BCS conference team can say that..)
Anyway, how do you know the difference in an Auburn football highlight film and a Bama one?
The Bama one is in black and white. Hahahahaha.
Quick multiple choice question. Brian McCann should:
a) Give Jeff Francouer an atomic noogie every time he swings and misses on a breaking ball in a hitter’s count
b) Be the next Secretary-General of the UN
c) Bat second or third in the lineup
d) Win the NL MVP award
e) Be more popular than Lindsay Lohan
You guys talk about how well Huck did in just one game vs Frenchy but I can’t compare an entire homestand???? That’s laughable.
Someone pass me a knife to cut the hypocrisy with.
Ofcourse Louisville “could”. But they won’t.
This Miami bias gets me in alot of trouble…
I’m taking option “F”
McCann should move to Curacao and be my only friend.
Miami could be good if their players would stay out of trouble. I think that falls on the coach’s for recruiting these types of guys though. Miami will probably lose their opener and have another season like the last one…