Show #185: The Braves Losing Streak Reaches 8

1

Walker Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 12:17 am

This show should be titled Show #185: The Week From Hell

2

wonz Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 12:36 am

I have a feeling the steak will go 10-12 games. Unbelievable

3

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 2:16 am

Frank! Great to hear you again.

I think the hitting will rebound. I think the offense could be even (a little) better than they’ve already been. Bourn, Prado, Uggla, Heyward, McCann, and Freeman really ought to make the best offense in the NL even without Chipper. That’s a silly amount of batting talent in those six.

The pitching, both starting and bullpen, I don’t expect to be very good this year. I still expect Venters to go down at some point. And the youth movement, Beachy-Delgado-Minor will put up as many bad starts as good. All year long. Beachy is obviously the best of the bunch, but not as far ahead, IMO, as the results so far would indicate.

I’m with y’all on 2 wins the rest of this week. But I think we’ll hit bottom soon, and something – luck, health, Chipper, a hot streak from Heyward or Freeman, SOMETHING will trigger another good run led by the potent offense.

Fredi Gonzalez is a moron.

BTW, I think it’s a little lucky that we’ve fallen all the way to last place. The team is in a mental funk, and when they rebound, this will give them a step-by-step mental goal as they pass each of the teams in front of them. Somebody’s bound to stumble beneath us almost immediately when we begin to rebound. Etc, etc. It’s just a much better scenario than trying to catch one team that’s way ahead and nothing but a five-game empty space between you and them.

In short, this team is disgusting right now. But I still think the Braves or Nats will win the division and the other is WC bound.

4

Jason Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 5:38 am

FRANK!!!
Good to hear someone who actually LIKES the Braves!
I was expecting such a doom-and-gloom show, I almost didn’t press play. A refreshing change from the normal cast. Good to hear someone who is realistic, but not constantly pessimistic.

5

Anne Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:12 am

Good sign of the week: Ballpark Frank.

6

Nate Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:51 am

“I think for the immediate future I have some pessimism.” -Ballpark Frank

Great way of summing it up and a great way to approach where we are right now.

We really need all these untouchable pitching prospects to blossom into what we projected them to be. We’re relying on them a lot right now, and so far it is backfiring.

The Nats have won a lot of one run games, so I don’t think they are at juggernaut status yet. They are heading that way though. Harper, Morse, Zimmerman, Werth, Gonzalez, Strasburg. They’ve got a solid ‘pen. That’s a team that’s not going away for another 6-7 years.

7

Nate Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:54 am

Careful with the trade Heyward talk, Frank. He is immortal and the best baseball player ever according to a faction of Braves fans. And I agree on Francisco, his behavior has too much in common with one of our former SS for him to remain a Brave, and nowhere near the talent to tolerate the behavior that comes with it.

8

DAP Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 11:11 am

Fransisco could be a good hitter powerwise, if he worked on his swing a little bit. he needs to stay a little more closed in his swing…when he gets his foot down, he just flies open, and there is too much movement.

Nice job Steve and Frank! Ham and Curt are inconsolable right now, I’m sure. Bobby didn’t mess up Heyward in 2010, by the way. If you look at what Heyward did after Bobby suggested he be more aggressive, Heyward had his best stretch of baseball in his MLB career after that, until he hurt his thumb.

I personally think Heyward could use a little bit of that right now. He is watching too many hittable pitches go by. Pitches that he could destroy. Than, he is already in hole and has seen the fattest pitch the guy is going to throw in the AB. It is way past time for Heyward to start carrying his weight.

9

Curt Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 11:53 am

I can feel the love from Florida

10

Shaun Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Heyward’s Baseball Reference Wins Above Replacement: 9.9
Stanton’s Baseball Reference Wins Above Replacement: 8.2

Heyward’s Fangraphs Wins Above Replacement: 8.8
Stanton’s Fangraphs Wins Above Replacement: 9.0

Heyward is about where he *should* be so far in his career. But it seems to me that there are a lot of complex factors as to why certain fans view Heyward as a disappointment.

11

Steve Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 12:22 pm

@10 – Shaun: I get it, but don’t you think there’s more to judging a player than WAR? He’s looked bad for a month now and has started to not be focused as well.

For the record, I don’t think we should trade him, but he’s not adding much to the team right now. In his last 29 games, .192 .304 .384 with 28 SOs in 99 ABs.

12

DAP Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 12:33 pm

i agree with steve. heyward doesnt need to be traded because he is good defensively and making the minimum, but when he starts making arbitration salaries (after this year i believe) and still isnt OPSing in the .800s? i may not feel the same way then.

13

eric Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 12:49 pm

Comparing Stanton and Heyward’s career WAR numbers is misleading. Stanton has been consistently better than Heyward, who has regressed.

Heyward’s WAR: 6.3, 2.4, and 1.2.
Stanton’s WAR: 2.7, 3.9, and 1.6.

Stanton’s OPS and OPS+ have both gotten better every season too. Not so with Heyward.

This is why fans view Heyward as a disappointment. Teasing us with huge potential while delivering very little during his last 160 games. Heyward’s probably the most talented player on the Braves, and he’s really young. I have no reason to think that he won’t become a great player, but at this point, Stanton is ahead of Heyward. And it’s not even really that close.

14

Shaun Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 1:01 pm

Steve @11, I brought up WAR to show that perhaps we need to take a step back and realize Heyward really hasn’t been as awful as we may think at first glance. I don’t see very many people calling for Stanton to be sent down or traded.

Has he helped the Braves the past month? No. But we can’t learn too much from 99 ABs. Look at Uggla through half a season last year. I don’t think he’s destined to be that bad from this point forward through the end of the season.

Also, I’m not sure there is very much evidence of a lack of focus.

I think Heyward is an *okay* major leaguer right now. And I think we should have expected an *okay* major leaguer his first few seasons.

I don’t think that’s a particularly rosy or unrealistic view of Heyward. But it seems that if you hold that view, some think that you view Heyward as the best player ever. How about some realism? Sure, he’s not yet a star-type player but nor is he worthy of being sent down.

15

DAP Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 1:08 pm

Shaun, the fact that Stanton has improved and Heyward hasn’t is a little bit alarming when comparing the two, but I think most people agree we should let the season play out before even considering trading him or whatever. Even sending him down to AAA is probably a little rash for my taste.

16

Steve Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 1:25 pm

@14: I’m not in the camp that we should send him down or trade him or any of that. I am in the camp that he’s not been a very productive member of the team in the past month. And, given some of the other unproductive stretches he’s gone through, since 2010, I’m concerned that he won’t be a face of the franchise/All-Star/Silver Slugger type of player.

And, regarding focus issues, what about his lackadaisacal play this past weekend that allowed Harper to take 2nd? He admitted himself that he didn’t play it hard enough and apologized to his team for it. We’d never be talking about that kind of play with pretty much anyone else on the team. Right?

17

Shaun Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 1:32 pm

I don’t know that it’s all that alarming for a player to be up and down his first three years in the majors at ages 20-22. It’s not always a perfect slope into peak seasons. As long as he’s not completely falling off a cliff. Even last season, his OPS+ was 94; not great by any means but not absolutely dreadful.

The perception of Heyward is so interesting to discuss.

18

Walker Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 1:44 pm

There is definitely disappointment with Heyward. But there is also disappointment with McCann, and Uggla the last couple years. And also people look at the numbers. Freddie Freeman really isn’t as good as you think he is either. This team needs to get it together.

19

Shaun Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 1:57 pm

Steve @16, that was one play and Jim Powell said it was a first and he bets the last time we see Heyward do something like that. I’m not trying to excuse it, really. But I’m not sure it is a huge factor in determining whether he’ll be an All-Star type player.

And I don’t think unproductive “stretches” from a 20-22-year-old are a cause for concern as to what he’ll be going forward.

I think the biggest question mark for Heyward is the same one it’s always been since he was in the minors: Health.

I honestly think his performance so far in his career has been within the range of what we should have expected.

20

DAP Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 2:00 pm

Shaun, alarming might not be the right word, but given the trends, its easy to see why people like Stanton more than Heyward, or are more optimistic that Stanton will be a great player in the majors.

21

Shaun Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 2:25 pm

DAP, sure, I can see why people are thinking that way. I just don’t think that it is a sure thing, at this point, given the tools and skills of each player.

22

Shaun Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 2:26 pm

Good discussion. Would make an interesting topic for a blog post….more to come?

23

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 2:57 pm

Looks like Meds might get sent down and stretched out. I’m all for it.

Jurrjens had a nice outing. 93 MPH a time or two. Good command. Fingers crossed.

24

eric Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 3:59 pm

Heyward has had stretches of offensive productivity, but the norm for him in 2011-2012 has been unproductivity. And not just for expectations of him based on minor league hype and first year success. He’s been flat out bad.

At this time last year, the average NL outfielder had an OPS of .796. Heyward finished the season with an OPS of .708. This year he’s at .754.

Other franchise guys – Stanton, Chipper, Wright, Longoria, Pujols, Hanley Ramirez – have not put up the ugly offensive numbers that Heyward has and is continuing to compile.

He’s looked bad doing it, too. The strikeouts are alarming. Based on the games I’ve watched, he’s not waving at bad pitches. Pitchers are challenging him, and he’s not making contact. He’s not going to opposite field often, and he looks like he’s always swinging for fences.

25

Steve Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 4:08 pm

Medlen to AAA to get stretched out. Constanza recalled. And he’s in left tonight. I guess when the choice is Francisco at 3rd or Jose in left, you go with the new guy.

26

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 4:34 pm

Constanza? Be nice to have Sutton right about now. Wren’s scorecard taking a hit this summer.

27

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 4:36 pm

You Shakespeare types (Anne?) must see the Ralph Fiennes directed Coriolanus that hit DVD/ Blu-ray today. Superb stuff.

28

Anne Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 6:07 pm

Bub – thanks for the reminder. AND thanks for writing “anus” in a way that it’s not filthy at all.

29

Walker Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 7:02 pm

Frediot finally takes Pastornicky out the 2 hole.

30

Walker Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 7:07 pm

I love that tweet about Craig Kimbrel. It would be so nice to see him in a crucial situation from the 6th to 8th innings. Why does our best relief pitcher have to only pitch with a lead in the 9th inning? Dumb rules.

31

Walker Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 8:02 pm

YAY UGGLA!!

32

Walker Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 8:02 pm

4 run lead. Must win

33

Anne Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 8:03 pm

Uggs! Great to see on the big screen at the trivia bar. Go Braves!!

34

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 8:14 pm

Dear Randall, please stop wetting yourself and completely abandoning your plan each time there is the slightest threat by the other team. Yours, Atlanta.

35

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 8:32 pm

Uh oh, base runner. Here comes a four pitch walk to Holliday….

36

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 8:35 pm

Or a double play! Nice job, Delgado!

37

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 8:36 pm

Well, here comes Fredi’s pitcher-bats-eighth wet dream: Constanza leading off. Curious to see how it goes.

38

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 8:37 pm

Single! So far, so good. Please don’t run on Molina…

39

Steve Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 8:44 pm

See, I’ve always loved that Constanza kid!

40

Steve Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 8:46 pm

Of course, this will only embolden Fredi when it comes to Jose in the future.

41

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 8:46 pm

And who wouldn’t??

42

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 8:47 pm

I know, right? Probably see Constanza pitching out of the bullpen in this game.

43

Walker Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 8:53 pm

Please Delgado don’t waqk anybody in the 6th inning. Wait until the 7th so Fredi wont bring in Durbin. Too Late

44

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 8:53 pm

Go get ‘im, Fredi. Game’s too important.

45

Walker Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 8:54 pm

RULE #1,233 of the Baseball Book: You can only bring in your best relievers in the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings.

46

Walker Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 8:56 pm

Rule #1,234: Never ever bring in your best reliever unless you have a lead of 3 runs or less in the 9th and ONLY in the 9th.

47

Walker Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 8:59 pm

Rule #1,235: You can bring in your best reliever (closer) in a blowout to get some work but never in a crucial situation in the 7th or 8th innings.

48

Steve Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:04 pm

Over their last 8 appearances, Durbin has been better than EOF, fwiw.

49

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:06 pm

We sure as hell better win this game because we just signed on for a week solid of the Durbin-Constanza show.

50

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:07 pm

Over his last 38 appearances, Cory Gearrin has been 294 times better than anyone in our bullpen not named Kimbrel.

51

Walker Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:07 pm

@ Steve

I ask you, who is a better pitcher? Forget their last 8 appearances. Who do you trust with the game on the line? What will their stats average out to at the end of the year?

52

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:08 pm

Marte? I smell runs.

53

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:11 pm

I take it back. I forgot Heyward already used his hit for tonight.

54

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:13 pm

Hi, my name is Jason Heyward, and I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever shorten my humongous swing. So stop throwing it inside. I can’t hit it there. This message brought to you by: Stubbornness. Because adjustments, like injuries, are irrelevant.

55

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:15 pm

In my best Tommy Wiseau voice, “Oh HI Venters!”

56

Steve Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:16 pm

@51 – I just don’t think its that cut and dry. It was not that long ago this season EOF was really cringe worthy, too.

57

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:18 pm

Wow, Holliday got Venters’ best sinker of the night; 94 mph at the knees.

58

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:23 pm

We’re gonna need a bigger lead.

59

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:27 pm

Constanza looked awful there. Yeesh.

60

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:29 pm

What was that, five pitches on those three outs? Six maybe? Nice approach.

61

David Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:31 pm

I think that Constanza was taking hitting tips from Hinske on that at-bat

62

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:33 pm

On the happy side, Bryce Harper just struck out swinging at a ball at his eyes with the bases loaded and one out. They failed to score. 2-1 Miami, bottom 8th.

63

Walker Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:36 pm

Durbin being bad, which he always has been his whole career is not the same as O’Flaherty’s slump.

64

Walker Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:38 pm

Players often regress to their mean. Who knows when Durbin’s luck will run out?

65

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:46 pm

Come onnnnnnn, Kimbrel. No whammy, no whammy, no whammy ….

66

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:53 pm

What a last pitch.

Finally!

67

David Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 9:55 pm

A win! Nice!

Never doubt Randall “Stopper” Delgado

68

Steve Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 10:03 pm

What a welcome sight. So good to win.

69

Curt Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 10:16 pm

Good to come home from Sea World and see a nice score on the board. But I don’t like the Braves.

70

Nate Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 10:25 pm

Shaun, I was joking. I thought it was funny that Frank said that in light of our recent discussions. I know you don’t think he’s the best player ever, but a lot of the hype surrounding his arrival was something like Roy Hobbs in the Natural. You could almost here the theme music to The Natural when Jason hit his first HR off Zambrano.

71

Nate Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 10:27 pm

*hear

Me fail English? That’s unpossible.

72

Walker Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 10:30 pm

Great win

73

Steve Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 10:36 pm

@69: that’s true, Curt. Why do you do the show?

74

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 10:56 pm

Braves-haters. The whole lot of ya. Cept for Frank. And Curt.

75

Bubdylan Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 11:00 pm

If I’m looking at the box score right, only 25 of the Spurs 91 (so far) points have come from starters. I used to love watching the Spurs; I didn’t know they were still doing anything.

76

Curt Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 11:03 pm

I think the hype works for and against Heyward. I think expectations for him are very high, probably unreasonably high. I think he also gets a pass because of the hype. That the expectations are unreasonable and that we should cut him some slack because right around the corner is the next Hank Aaron and we just need to hang in there with him.

To me, you win with neither of those scenarios. He should just be Player X. Judge him by what he provides to the team. Not against some other guy or some historic player. And right now, he ain’t providing much.

But as a fan of the Braves, there are few players who’s success is more important to the long term viability of this franchise as Jason Heyward. He is vital to every aspect of their long term plans. And to contemplate having to develop or replace another corner outfielder has to be shaking them to the core. For that alone, we should all be rooting for him to have a long and prosperous career.

77

Steve Says:
May 29th, 2012 at 11:04 pm

Bub, seriously, it’s like a clinic out there. Can’t wait for Spurs/Heat.

78

Curt Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 8:01 am

How can you guys not love the Thunder though. They might be a year or two away, but they’re the team I wish the hawks were.

79

Steve Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 8:03 am

@78. Agreed. And I love Durant. but Duncan and Pop are so easy to root for, too.

80

eric Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 10:01 am

@78 – Go Pacers.

81

Shaun Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 10:42 am

Curt @76, Heyward provides somewhere around above league-average offense (not much more), very good defense and very good baserunning.

I think the discussions about Heyward are more about what’s important in baseball and what stats are important and how to measure player performance than anything else.

I don’t think anyone would argue Heyward has been a great player. I think many would argue he’s been pretty solid, and better than some realize. And the folks on the other side would say he’s been worthless essentially because he has a low batting average and strikes out a lot.

But I think this is about valuing and evaluating players appropriately, more than it’s about Heyward and hype, etc. The areas where Heyward provides some value are generally under-relied upon. And he doesn’t look even like a decent player when looking at stats that are over-relied upon, because tradition and convention have spoon-fed us certain stats that really don’t do a great job measuring the things that lead to run creation and run prevention.

82

Walker Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 11:19 am

Go ahead and trade Heyward and see what kind of player he becomes when he’s 27-28 years old. You will regret it.

83

Steve Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 1:05 pm

Minor’s start on Friday not happening. DOB reporting that Beachy will start that day instead.

84

David Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 1:43 pm

83 – where do you see that? I don’t see it anywhere in DOB’s twitter feed or anywhere on ajc.com. However, I do see that nobody is scheduled to start on Friday (as of 1:43pm on Wednesday May 30), while Saturday’s (Beachy) and Sunday’s (Hanson) starters are scheduled: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/schedule/sortable.jsp?c_id=atl&year=2012

85

David Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 1:46 pm

82 – I agree completely. I know that it’s different with position players than it is with pitchers, but maybe we just have to put up with a few years of Heyward struggling and figuring it out — just like we have to put up with a few years of the Delgados and Minors and Teherans struggling and figuring it out.

86

Shaun Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 3:26 pm

David @85, The thing is many are saying Heyward is “struggling” but I’m not sure that he actually is, at least to the degree some think. That’s the thing, he’s a middle-of-the-pack major league rightfielder while in his early 20′s, when you take into account his entire game (offense, defense and baserunning).

87

Steve Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 4:02 pm

@84 – David – maybe I’m spreading completely erroneous info, but I thought I read it in DOB’s twitter feed somewhere around noon today.

88

David Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 4:16 pm

Just checked the link I provided in #84 — now Minor’s back on the docket to start Friday’s game.

86 — if it’s a matter of word choice, and the measuring stick isn’t the potential that Heyward has but rather a middle-of-the-pack, young outfielder, then I guess you could say that he’s not “struggling.” If we all expected him to be a guy who hits in the .240s every year, hits around 10-15 homers, and strikes out 125+ times, then yeah — he’s doing great, and we shouldn’t say that he’s “struggling,” but rather doing what we’re expecting him to do.

That ain’t the case, though. In my book, he’s struggling.

89

Shaun Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 5:27 pm

David @88, he’s pretty much been a middle-of-the-road rightfielder so far in his major league career, which isn’t really disappointing, considering his age.

That’s a different discussion from how well he’s doing well compared to other major league rightfielders.

Sure, it would have been nice if he’d have come up and been one of the best rightfielders in the game at ages 20-22 but should we really be claiming that he’s a disappointment because he’s just been hanging in there pretty well against major league competition? I don’t think so.

I’m honestly not trying to sugarcoat here. Clearly Heyward is not a top rightfielder and I’m not claiming he is. But let’s take a step back in proclaiming he’s a disappointment at age 22, especially considering he really hasn’t been an awful player, even ignoring age and the fact that it’s his third season, etc.

As far as his batting average and strikeout total, we need to look beyond those numbers. He’s posted a respectable on-base so far in his career, which is extremely important, and he’s one of the better defensive rightfielders.

90

Anne Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 7:38 pm

#27 – Bub, Coriolanus headed to my house via Netflix. Will give you a review next week post-Seagrove Beach time.

91

Walker Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 7:55 pm

Constanza!!!

LOL

92

Steve Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 8:30 pm

How about our two missing pieces (Mac and Freddie) hitting homers tonight? Baseball is so great.

93

Walker Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 8:40 pm

AMAZING Contributions from Jack Wilson today. SMH

94

Walker Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 8:42 pm

OMG Fredi. I’m so proud of you for bringing in Venters. Even though it didn’t work out it was the right thing to do.

95

Adam Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 8:51 pm

I gotta give credit to Constanza. He’s having a really good game.

96

Steve Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 8:52 pm

Walker, I’m curious why you think it was a great idea? All about confidence building? Because with the team clinging to a lead, kind of reeling, I would not have brought him in.

97

Steve Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 8:53 pm

Hell yeah Wilson! (and Constanza – sigh).

98

Adam Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:01 pm

You think that when Chipper is out Constanza plays left and Martin plays third? Defensively I like Martin better than Juan Francisco and offensively I like Constanza better too.

99

Walker Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:02 pm

Jack Wilson is trending on twitter. Weird.

100

Walker Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:06 pm

@Steve

Win with your best and lose with your best. We are going to need Venters in order to go to the playoffs. Durbin is going to break sometime. Gotta go to the more talented player in a crucial situation. There is a “what if” if Durbin is brought in. No “what if” with Venters.

101

Walker Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:07 pm

Constanza>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Francisco

102

Bubdylan Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:48 pm

Anne, watched it again today. Might be my favorite filmed Shakespeare, even above Branagh’s Much Ado. Hope you dig it. Subtitles are very handy, especially to catch all the little pieces of dialogue Ralph (brilliantly) gave to the tv news playing low in the scene.

103

Bubdylan Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:49 pm

Freeze, Freese! Now sit down.

104

Bubdylan Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:52 pm

Kimbrel is a madman tonight. What a pitcher.

105

Bubdylan Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:53 pm

Pastornicky >>>>>>> Wilson.

8)

106

Bubdylan Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:55 pm

Out 27. Ballgame. This division is bunchin’ up like crazy.

107

Bubdylan Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 10:01 pm

If scores hold:

Nats -
Fish .5
Mets 1.5
Atl. 2
Phil 3

108

Bubdylan Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 10:02 pm

Seattle 17, Texas 0, fifth inning.

109

David Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 10:26 pm

98 – definitely agree that Prado/Constanza is far, far better than Francisco/Prado. Even if Constanza does what he did last year and is only good in short spurts, that’ll get us through until Chipper returns from the DL.

Right now, Durbin is much better than Venters, and I never thought I’d say that.

110

Shaun Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 10:34 pm

Wow. Pastornicky optioned to Gwinnett. Simmons likely coming up.

111

Shaun Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 10:34 pm

….according to Mark Bowman

112

Shaun Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 10:38 pm

Atlanta Braves ‏@Braves: “Roster Move: T. Pastornicky has been optioned to Gwinnett. The contract of A. Simmons has been purchased from Mississippi, will wear #19.”

113

Shaun Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 10:46 pm

keithlaw ‏@keithlaw: “Atlanta calling up SS Andrelton Simmons. 80 arm, 80 glove, 60 run, contact hitter without power.”

114

Walker Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 10:47 pm

I was shocked at first but now I understand. Simmons will provide outstanding defense with at least some on base skills. Pastornicky has a .281 OBP right now. He’s sucking offensively and defensively. Might as well get someone in here that can field.

115

Shaun Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 10:53 pm

It seems Pastornicky is the more skilled offensive player and maybe would have turned it around. But if the team hits to its potential, probably best to have the glove, and he’s probably no worse offensively than what Pastornicky has done so far.

116

Bubdylan Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 10:57 pm

Love the aggression by the Braves front office. I fear Simmons will be an offensive bust even worse than Pastornicky, but we gotta get some run prevention up in this piece.

117

Shaun Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 11:04 pm

The Braves are 5th in the NL in OPS+, 3rd in runs scored per game but have allowed the 6th-most runs per game and are tied for 5th-worst in defensive efficiency (percentage of balls in play converted to outs).

118

Walker Says:
May 30th, 2012 at 11:07 pm

Guaranteed automatic improvement

119

Nate Says:
May 31st, 2012 at 2:35 am

I like this move. You can’t have the Rev and Danny Pipes as your middle infielders. All Simmons has to do is hit somewhere between .200 and .220, even Jason Heyward can do that. I kid. But in all seriousness Simmons has sick range and a hose. Turning a dp won’t be iffy anymore.

120

Steve Says:
May 31st, 2012 at 8:48 am

@100 – fair enough. But he’s struggling so bad right now, and wins have been so hard to come by, maybe last night’s situation was not the best to bring him in too. Alls Well That Ends Well (that was for Bub and Anne right there).

121

Steve Says:
May 31st, 2012 at 8:49 am

At first blush, I have no issue with the Pastor/Simmons move. And I’m excited for the Simmons era. Just hope he’s not being rushed.

122

Bubdylan Says:
May 31st, 2012 at 1:23 pm

Do you guys think that the Braves would ever ask Heyward to just take BP against inside fastballs for a week? Or would they tip-toe around it? Just curious. I hate that ego controls so much in this sport. I get the feeling they would not ask him to do that.

123

Curt Says:
May 31st, 2012 at 1:54 pm

No. Maybe they make him watch video

124

Bubdylan Says:
May 31st, 2012 at 2:25 pm

Looking at Baseball Reference, Heyward’s 1-hit-show is just as bad as I thought. It doesn’t just seem like he’s good for about a hit per night, with zeros liberally sprinkled in, it really IS what’s going on.

In 50 games, he has four 2-hit games, and one lonely 3-hit game way back in mid April against Astros pitching.

In 30 of 50 games, Heyward has 1 hit.
In 15 of 50 games, he has 0 hits.

His .739 OPS is at its low point of the season right now. It’s been steadily dropping for a couple of weeks.

Multi-hit games from others (to compare with Heyward’s 5):

Uggla: 12
Freeman: 14
Bourn: 19! (with NINE 3-hit games!)
Prado: 20!
McCann: 10
Pastornicky: 7
Chipper: 10

He does have 22 walks on the season, which adds value, but sheesh, other than Pastornicky, everybody on the team has twice as many multi-hit games. I’ve never seen anybody with his tools become unable to get hot for a game or two for this long.

One Hit Heyward.

125

eric Says:
May 31st, 2012 at 3:22 pm

From DOB earlier:

Heyward’s past 36 games: .189 (23-for-122) w/ 4 HR, 16 BB, 37 K, 4 SB (7 SBA), .293 OBP, .344 slugging (.637 OPS)

126

Curt Says:
May 31st, 2012 at 4:26 pm

McLouthian numbers

127

Steve Says:
May 31st, 2012 at 5:06 pm

Speaking of, have we mentioned on here that the Pirate DFA’d McLouth recently.

128

Bubdylan Says:
May 31st, 2012 at 5:12 pm

Bad for McLouth, but good for my feelings frankly. As is Yunel’s crapper start along with complaints of his attitude. I guess I’m just that petty.

129

Nate Says:
May 31st, 2012 at 6:27 pm

#128, maybe one day Yunel will grow up and stop wasting all that talent. I get the impression that he just doesn’t care.

130

Walker Says:
May 31st, 2012 at 9:19 pm

I just searched the internet and I dont see anything about Yunel’s attitude.

131

Bubdylan Says:
May 31st, 2012 at 11:36 pm

In the words of Rafiki, “look hhhaaaarrrderrr…”

132

David Says:
June 1st, 2012 at 10:05 am

123 — Wait…the Braves have VIDEO now?!?!?!?!

I am excited for Simmons’ debut tonight. I know Minor’s not much of a groundball pitcher, so maybe they should just position him by having him stand on top of the left-field wall.

133

Mark in Memphis Says:
June 1st, 2012 at 10:55 am

Now, the Jays have had time for the “new” to wear off Yunel and him to start “wearing” on them… Guess it wasn’t “just Bobby”…

According to something I heard on a podcast (paraphrasing here):

“Normally, even when he isn’t hitting, he provides value from his defense; however, that seems to be suffering along with his OPS right now…”

____________AVG___OBP___OPS
April________.216___.257___.532
May________.284___.342___.715
last 7 days___.182___.217___.444
overall______.250___.300___.624

6 Errors/48 games played/48 games started
5 years experience/$5M

In comparison:
Pastornicky
____________AVG___OBP___OPS
April________.262___.318___.711
May________.238___.253___.527
last 7 days___.063___.118___.181
overall______.248___.281___.605

7 errors/42 games played/40 games started
Rookie/probably MLB min.

Yunel is just barely outplaying our rookie…

But I suppose there are still some people out there who are unhappy we traded him…

134

Walker Says:
June 1st, 2012 at 12:30 pm

Im still unhappy we traded him. Yeah I said it. His stats last year were pretty good. You may want to look at those in 162 games than ones in 50 games. Always kick a man when he’s down. Smh

135

Bubdylan Says:
June 1st, 2012 at 6:20 pm

Oh, I kicked him when he was up, too. So I figure I get a pass.

136

Walker Says:
June 1st, 2012 at 6:32 pm

You get a pass. At least you are consistent.

137

Nate Says:
June 1st, 2012 at 7:13 pm

#133, yes, it was a terrible trade regardless of player personalities. Alex Gonzalez and Pastornicky are really contributing to the Atlanta Braves right now.

138

Bubdylan Says:
June 1st, 2012 at 7:15 pm

It was an awful trade, production-wise. There’s no way around that.

139

Bubdylan Says:
June 1st, 2012 at 7:17 pm

Mike Minor rained out: Christmas in June.

140

Curt Says:
June 1st, 2012 at 8:12 pm

At least Medlen might be closer to being stretched out next time he comes around in the rotation

141

Walker Says:
June 1st, 2012 at 9:31 pm

After ALL these years, the Mets might finally have a no – hitter. This is the one and only time I’m rooting for the Mets.

142

Bubdylan Says:
June 1st, 2012 at 9:52 pm

Good for the Mets! And Johan. Against the Cards, too. Wow.

143

Walker Says:
June 1st, 2012 at 9:55 pm

It has an asterisk though. Beltran clearly hit a double that hit the chalk earlier in the game. The blind umpire didn’t see it.

144

Bubdylan Says:
June 1st, 2012 at 11:36 pm

Nice to see JJ gave up another ten runs down in Gwinnett. What’s his ERA now? A thousand?

145

Nate Says:
June 1st, 2012 at 11:37 pm

#140, this is the move that will put us in first. Now call up Gerrain, wait for Moylan, hope Jair Jurrjens shows up again, trade for a middle reliever, and win it all. Go Braves!

146

David Says:
June 2nd, 2012 at 12:01 am

144 – well, at least only 6 of those runs were earned…right guys?

Not sure if it’s funny or sad that Pastornicky had a throwing error in that game too.

Also, agree with 143 – Beltran’s liner was, on replay, clearly fair. maybe a tough call to make in a split second – which just makes a stronger case for instant replay on fair/foul calls

147

Bubdylan Says:
June 2nd, 2012 at 1:06 am

They’ve hurt Jurrjens’ feelings. They could at least keep dialogue open with the guy. That’s THREE pitchers who have complained of Wren not simply keeping them in the loop via discussion. Glavine, KK, and now JJ. I like Wren, and I seldom favor players in player-GM/Manager disputes, but the evidence is piling up. TALK to these people, Frank. What’s it hurt to pick up the phone and make these people feel like they count for something in the process??

“You hear stuff. When the Medlen stuff happened, people around here, my teammates, were like, ‘Wow, they didn’t even think to call you back up?’ People were asking me, ‘Did they say anything to you?’ It just shows me what I mean to them. It doesn’t feel good, but that’s OK. It’s business.”

148

Steve Says:
June 2nd, 2012 at 11:33 am

@147 – the flip side to me about his feelings being hurt is what has he done in the minors to really be considered to come back up?

149

Bubdylan Says:
June 2nd, 2012 at 3:33 pm

#148, he’s done nothing. And I wouldn’t think twice about any of it except him being the third pitcher to mention not being talked to about what’s going on. It just seems to me that if he’s got the balls to cut ties with Glavine and Smoltz, and to make these moves with icewater in his veins (which I like), he ought to give these guys a call. It seems like Schurholz’s (sp?) intervention in the Glavine fiasco, along with comments from the players, backs up the idea that Wren is tactless.

But you know me, Stevie, I’m not crying much over these millionaires feeling left out. Just seems like enough to raise an eyebrow and wonder if we might not get the best out of our players – and the best considerations from free agents – if Wren would tighten up this part of his game.

150

Bubdylan Says:
June 2nd, 2012 at 6:45 pm

Gosh, that was $%&# awful. This game will wear your nerves to a raw nub.

151

Steve Says:
June 2nd, 2012 at 7:00 pm

That did totally suck. And I think the whole “tip your cap to him” thing is overused, but Strasburg was amazing today.

On the other side of the coin… Johnny.

152

Bubdylan Says:
June 2nd, 2012 at 7:13 pm

Jonny’s BABIP is .473, don’t know how to interpret that, but sheesh, that’s gotta be the highest in the majors, right? So, at least some of it’s bad luck.

153

Walker Says:
June 2nd, 2012 at 7:22 pm

I forgot the game was at 4 and I’m glad I did.

154

Shaun Says:
June 2nd, 2012 at 10:09 pm

Venters, third-highest BABIP among pitchers with at least 10 IP this season.

But he’s also allowed 1.4 HR/9 and 30 percent of his fly balls allowed have been homeruns. So he’s getting hit hard. You have to wonder if there is an injury or some sorts of affects from all the innings last season and in 2010.

155

Bubdylan Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 1:14 am

Well, now I’ve seen Ike Davis’s weiner. Cuz this day in baseball wasn’t bad enough.

156

Nate Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 8:54 am

Bud Selig is a moron. Hey Bud, fix the replay situation and your old, crotchety, terrible umpire situation before you crack down on local broadcasters being homers for the teams they have to watch for 162 games. Just stupid. Good job with the All Star game, btw, that whole thing makes a ton of sense, too.

157

Shaun Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 12:41 pm

Also, good job Bud creating a playoff system that favors teams in weak divisions.

If the Braves are good enough to win the two other divisions but not their own, they get to play in a one-game playoff, quite possibly against an inferior team.

Geography is a fairly big factor in playoff seeding. Makes sense to me.

158

Bubdylan Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 1:08 pm

The second wild card is truly bad. Don’t want to beat a dead horse, but you will likely have the second or third best team in the league playing a barely-over-.500 squad in a one game play-off as often as not.

159

Walker Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 1:26 pm

Might as well go to NBA playoff system. Top 4 teams in each league.

160

Bubdylan Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 2:03 pm

this sucks

161

Curt Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 2:08 pm

Perfect start.

162

Adam Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 2:30 pm

It pains me to see Harper succeed while Heyward struggles.

163

Bubdylan Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 3:00 pm

Bases loaded, 2 outs, Heyward. Think I’ll go check the mail.

164

Bubdylan Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 3:01 pm

Hey! Mailbox was full of HAPPY! Way to go, Jhey.

165

Bubdylan Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 3:12 pm

Simmons nails Harper at third. Turning point of the seaon?

166

Bubdylan Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 3:18 pm

A’ight, it’s lonely here. Toodles.

167

Walker Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 4:24 pm

Nice win

168

Curt Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 5:03 pm

Nice start from Hanson. Nice to hang I there after the start.

169

Bubdylan Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 6:59 pm

They hanged you? Also… your grammar, yikes.

170

Bubdylan Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 7:51 pm

Some decent schedule news: after June 24 when we end that Death Tour against the AL East, our non-Division schedule, which makes up a much larger portion of the second half than I thought, is against a lot of teams that suck out loud. Other than the two Giants series and the last Dodgers series, it’s a crapload of Cubbies, Brewers, Astros, D-backs, Padres, Rockies, and we end against the Pirates (I know they’re a game over .500 now, but they’ll be dust by the end. They’ve scored 26 fewer runs than they’ve allowed). Our last three series: Fish, Mets, Pirates. Not easy, but way better than facing Phils’ starters or in-out-heads Nationals.

The Nats have it a little tougher on the non-East front, mainly due to 6 Cardinals games and equal Western toughness. They close out the year like this: Phils, Cards, Phils.

Just gotta beat the East, which we haven’t done. However, the softer non-East should keep us close enough to enjoy (i.e. pull our hair out) multiple chances to do so.

171

Curt Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 8:29 pm

Is it really auto-correct when it fails so often?

172

Bubdylan Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 8:47 pm

Just to be clear, I wasn’t really correcting your grammar. You knew that, right?

173

Curt Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 8:49 pm

Of course. (you of the in-out-heads fame)

174

Bubdylan Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 9:30 pm

I saw that, but figured nobody read that far into anything I post anyway…

175

Bubdylan Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 9:45 pm

Brooks Conrad is hitting .034; I didn’t know they even let you come to the plate enough times to hit .034, hate it for him. His OBP is .094, so at least he’s getting his walks in.

176

Bubdylan Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 9:51 pm

Brooks BABIP is .000

177

Steve Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 11:16 pm

@175 is brilliant.

178

Leah Says:
June 3rd, 2012 at 11:28 pm

Hey! Turns out moving is overwhelmingly time consuming. Go Braves!

179

Bubdylan Says:
June 4th, 2012 at 12:06 am

You moved? D’you leave NC?

180

Nate Says:
June 4th, 2012 at 2:15 am

Sorry for the late night session. People rained hate on Yunel. He is a Cuban defector with no formal education. That puts him at the maturity level of a 12 year old. Go talk to a street kid in a poverty stricken neighborhood in America. They’re behind to say the least. Multiply that by 500 and you get the environmental opportunity Yunel Escobar experienced when he was a youth. Guys struggle in baseball whether you come from a middle class family in Georgia or a poverty stricken ghetto is a communist country.

181

Nate Says:
June 4th, 2012 at 2:21 am

You guys question the Braves front office on how they handle personnel decisions but not their development of Yunel. Let’s let Edgar teach him in 6 months on how to be a major leaguer. That’ll work. You accept what Atlanta media told you about Yunel, but you question a JJ story? Hmmm.

182

Bubdylan Says:
June 4th, 2012 at 3:25 am

Nate, speaking only for myself, I have a big heart when it comes to ultimately judging somebody like Yunel, but I’m pretty closed when it comes to what behavior I enjoy watching on my favorite baseball team. In other words, all sympathy for what’s made Yunel a petulant, entitled, stunted, whiny and profane human being, but no desire whatsoever to watch it played out on the field over and over via his role as a ballplayer. I think that’s pretty reasonable, since after all we’re talking about what we choose for our entertainment, not some moral responsibility we have toward our fellow man, etc. Only what I see when I turn on my tv.

I’m sure if I was placed in similar circumstances and then became a millionaire I would be an insufferable ass. The kind of guy that reasonable fans would like to see traded off their favorite team.

183

Bubdylan Says:
June 4th, 2012 at 3:30 am

*I’ll give you this, though: I shouldn’t gloat over his continued petulance. That’s a failing. It’s just hard not to when we’ve been hurting at the SS position since his departure. It would be hard to take seeing him “get off scott free,” and ride off into the Toronto sunset, but that’s what I should root for, or at least not root against.

grumble grumble broke Glaus’s arm grumble.

184

Nate Says:
June 4th, 2012 at 11:21 am

Bub, I agree with most of what you say about Yunel. I just wanted to get that off my chest. I don’t think he’s the villain everyone makes him out to be. I think he was mistreated by Atlanta media and the Braves 100% failed Yunel. They need to stop getting guys like Yunel and Salcedo because they can’t develop them.

Show #185: The Braves Losing Streak Reaches 8

184 Responses to “Show #185: The Braves Losing Streak Reaches 8”

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