Show #59: The Offense Continues to Struggle

May 02, 2009

Show #59: The Offense Continues to Struggle

Awaiting the return of Heap and GA. What to do with Kelly? What to do with KK? And will the offense catch up to the pitching?

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40 Responses to “Show #59: The Offense Continues to Struggle”

1
Steve Says:
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Just read this following entry from DOB’s blog. This gives me chills and pause and a bunch of other unpleasant things. Yikes …

Just back from clubhouse. I asked Bobby Cox if G. Anderson would go on a rehab assignment before he’s activated, and he said no, he doesn’t want to. Just going to be activated Tuesday and play. Should point out, Bobby didn’t seem too thrilled when he said it, either.

In other words, I’m guessing he’d prefer that Anderson play a game or two at Gwinnett. But hey, if Bobby thought it was important enough I’m sure they’d ask him to do it, rather than give him the option. At least I hope they would.

But frankly, I can’t imagine why he wouldn’t agree or want to play one game there. The Braves have their top farm just 25 minutes away now, and he doesn’t want to go up there and play at least one game Monday when Gwinnett starts its homestand? Wow.

Anyway, to today’s debacle: Chipper, as usual when he screws something up, took full blame. Also said the frustration level is mounting in the clubhouse. Here’s what I wrote down in my notebook from the 3B:

“I booted a tailor-made double play, and they scored three runs after it. We had an opportunity to keep them at bay, and that play helped take us out of the ballgame.

“There’s no excuse. I don’t know what happened. The ball was there, and then it wasn’t. I can’t live with no making the routine play. The second error was do-or-die – whoever gave that an error is an idiot. But the double-play ball was inexcusable. Just bad, bad, infield play.”

On him making a key error the day after Berkman made one that cost the Astros:

“You give teams four or five outs in an inning, they’re going to kill you. Buddy was cruising. All he needed was a little help from his defense, and he didn’t get it today.”

“The offense — there’s not continuity, no flow. You get a leadoff guy on, and we don’t get a bunt down, we get picked off, a double play — just something happens to thwart a possible big inning. When you do it time and time again, it’s deflating.

“Guys are focused, they’re trying. It’s just not happening for us. Avoiding over-frustration is important right now. Because I’m teetering on breaking something right now myself.”
2
Chris Says:
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:13 am
Anderson appears to be a player who’s lost his desire to compete, as if he’s going through the motions for his contract. He reminds me of Jody Davis. I noticed two instances early this year when he caught the last out of an inning and didn’t realize that there were three outs.

This team seems to have no idea of how to move a runner over. Without any power in the lineup, you have to be able to manufacture runs. This ability isn’t going to suddenly appear in mid season: these guys aren’t going to suddenly wake up one morning with an understanding of baseball fundamentals. And we’re not going to be able to trade for a few 30-hr guys in mid season to compensate for this weakness. This is an underachieving group. A team with as many .750+ OPS starters as this one should be fine.

The Twins know how to school their players. I don’t understand why the Braves can’t do it.
3
Curt Says:
May 3rd, 2009 at 5:16 pm
21 LOB today. When does this end?
4
Anne Says:
May 4th, 2009 at 7:53 am
Amen, Curt — can’t stand to hear the phrase, “missed opportunities,” one more time…
5
Curt Says:
May 4th, 2009 at 8:35 am
And I would like to point out that David Ross has been pretty damn good in there. I know he doesn’t have the power of McCann, but he has been one of the steadier bats over this stretch. So more signs that this goes unabated.
6
Curt Says:
May 4th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Don’t expect this team to stay close to the division lead for long. Playing like this they are going to be buried very soon. They have lost 5 of their last 6 series. And they have to do something with Shafer. If you continue to play him right now you are basically conceding these games. The hole in his swing is so big that the announcers are telegraphing his ABs. Let Prado play CF. 11 men LOB in last 2 games for Schafer.
7
Bubdylan Says:
May 5th, 2009 at 4:18 am
It really seems almost impossible for the team to be playing this flipping bad. You know, I really like summer too much to devote this much of it to poopy baseball. Again and again and again.
8
Hamilton Says:
May 5th, 2009 at 8:06 am
Don’t worry, everyone. Don’t you realize that when Garrett Anderson comes back that everything will be so much better!?! We just need Thumper to come back, and everything will be fine. (BTW, is there a “sarcastic” font? Is it comic sans?)
9
Anne Says:
May 5th, 2009 at 8:08 am
I dare Garrett Anderson to impress anybody — right along with Kawakami — tonight. (also written in invisible sarcastic ink)
10
Leah Says:
May 5th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Have a head ache…can’t watch any more sorry baseball. Thinking of cancelling mlb.tv.
11
Curt Says:
May 5th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
So another stellar offering tonight. 3 DPs including Chipper’s with the bases loaded. We had a double and 2 singles in an inning and didn’t score. That seems almost impossible. And yet, it is. The Braves are just a bad team right now. And so painful to watch. That’s 30 DPs on the year. Rally killer?
12
Bubdylan Says:
May 5th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
The difference between watching this team and shoving my face into a running lawnmower blade is that the games take 3 hours. *cranks lawnmower*
13
Bubdylan Says:
May 6th, 2009 at 4:16 am
The whole team has been thrown into a vortex of unstoppable suck. There is no ending this. Any attempt at improvement for this team will be washed away in a heaving tide of booger-goo. It. Is. Over.

I will not grit one more tooth for this heaving sack of horsecrap. I quit on my team. Whatever that makes me, that is what I am. The Atlanta Frigging Braves have driven me to it. I’ve been here since Claudel Freaking Washington, even though maybe I can’t spell his first name.

Oh, I’ll still watch them. But I shall not hope. No more hoping. Hoping is for squares.

And Bobby Cox…. Bobby Cox whom I have never said in writing one single solitary word against until this moment…. who I have supported against all logic and feeling…. you’re not a very good baseball manager. You’re a part of the suckage. You are even captain of it. Captain Suckage. If you were at the plate, you’d have to say to yourself, “c’mon Sucky, take ball four Sucky, get another motherfridgin’ GIDP Sucky…” Retire. Then quit. Then leave. Then vanish. Then let somebody else pilot this steaming ship of bug guts. It’s only pride that makes you stay. Pride and peanuts.

You are Captain Suckage, filled with Pride and Peanuts.

I quit.

(sigh, I’m sure I’ll be back) *punches own face*
14
Leah Says:
May 6th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Buddylan…hilarious, and ditto.
15
BluesMan6885 Says:
May 7th, 2009 at 1:46 am
It’s nice to start off the road trip w/ a +1 to the win column, against the Marlins; a team who I think will provide more problems for us than the Phillies this year. Lowe fought like hell through this start and owed up for his mistakes, but he made up for it some offensively. I’m glad we have someone like him as our #1 guy. I think JJ will be lights out in Game 2 against the Fish. My only problem w/ Bobby tonight was that I would’ve used Diaz as a pinch hitter instead of Norton because (memory serves) the Marlins had a lefty on the mound. I hope Norton is as good for us as he was last year. I believe he could be…he just needs to join most of our other guys in Terry Pendleton’s (Special Ed) Offense Class.

Why am I hard on them? Because I know these guys can do much better, and they showed it in their offense tonight. They know better than we do that to pull out 8 runs and outslug the other guys every 7-10 games just isn’t enough…consistency matters. I love this team and I think they still very much have a chance to contend. Kudos to the bullpen and the progress that Roger McDowell has made w/ them. Kudos also to Kawakami for having a better outing. He reminds me of Jorge Sosa in how he is in the bad habit of setting himself up for trouble.

I don’t think Kawakami has fully adjusted to the smaller strike zone in American Baseball…If he was, I’d say he’d have less then half the BB’s…more strikeouts…and his era would probably be at least 1.50 less than what it is now. I’ve noticed that when he’s ahead in the count and he throws a breaking pitch down…it’s in a location that is just outside of the corner. It’d be a strike in Japan…but clearly he’s not in Japan anymore. If I was McDowell…I would continue to refine his control and mechanics, however I would emphasize his location w/ a smaller strike zone. If they can teach him that, then he will be worth the money they’ve invested in as a starting pitcher.

I still believe in these guys, and that they can contend…they have a chance to show it. GO SIC ‘EM BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
16
BluesMan6885 Says:
May 7th, 2009 at 1:58 am
As a final note that I forgot to mention. There are two guys that need to be demoted to Gwinnett (yesterday, for the love of all things sacred). Kelly Johnson, & Jordan Schafer…that should be done to serve as a warning to the other guys. Give Blanco a chance…I don’t think he’s even played yet for Atlanta this year. And Omar Infante is probably the most diverse & dependable bench player in our division…let him play some more 2nd base.
17
Steve Says:
May 7th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Two in a row! And some homers today. From the extremely obvious department, it feels so much better to win. I wish David Ross could play left field when Heap comes back.

On a related note, maybe Bub can pull his face out of the mower for the night.
18
Bubdylan Says:
May 7th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
This team wants me to start hoping again. It’s tempting, but I must be brave… err…. strong.

I’m staying on the Dark Side for now. It’s quite the rush.

Let’s see, when I was a homer, I would say we were going to be okay even after a loss. So, now that I’m an Anti-Homer, I guess I should blast the team after two wins. So, here we go…

We still suck. We’re gonna get our butts handed to us by Cole Hamels.

OH, the POWER! UNNNN LIMMMITTED POWWWWERRRRRRR!!!!!!
19
BluesMan6885 Says:
May 7th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.
20
Yoda Says:
May 7th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Careful you must be when watching the mind of the Cox. Sleeping in games it does. Carnival music it hears. The Cox must search the nose, and what is found there must be brought out into the light.
21
BluesMan6885 Says:
May 8th, 2009 at 12:43 am
Hahaha…wow.
22
Curt Says:
May 8th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Good call on the Braves getting their asses handed to them by Hamels. And can we officially end the Jo Jo redemption effort. Again? Let Bennett or Carlyle start. Or Campillo when he comes back.
23
Steve Says:
May 8th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Or let’s bring up Hanson. It feels like it’s time. Even if Glavine is returning (which I still doubt), that is weeks away. Hanson could get a number of regular starts on a regular schedule and not mess up his maturation in that way. And let’s package up some pitchers (Jo Jo, Campillo, Morton) and get a freaking bat.
24
Bubdylan Says:
May 9th, 2009 at 12:16 am
Well, I’m sick of hating the Braves. Screw that. I tried.

I saw some things I liked from the Bravos in tonight’s loss. Just need to start catching some breaks.

Nice to have Mac back.
25
Bubdylan Says:
May 9th, 2009 at 12:19 am
Hamilton, comic sans is more I’ve-lost-my-mind than sarcastic. But with this team, what’s the difference?
26
Leah Says:
May 9th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
How sad is it that I’m almost content with the loss since we scored in the 9th inning due to a HR. I remember why JoJo gives me hives and agree completely with Steve…I want a bat bad! I too feel it’s time to give Hanson a try.
27
BluesMan6885 Says:
May 9th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
I don’t see how we can all be that surprised by the loss yesterday. I didn’t watch the whole game because when you think about Philadelphia’s offense against Jo-Jo Reyes…I just thought to myself. “Oh sh!t, that’s not gonna be pretty.” Curiosity got the best of me and I tuned in just before they started their rally. Jo-Jo the Clown is a fitting nickname for Mr. Reyes. I’ve never thought him to be a viable Major League pitcher. If he can just have another year to develop in AAA w/o being brought up. He’d make good trade bait. I don’t honestly think he can redeem his bad pitching performances.

Dare I say it our offense looks like it’s finally starting to get it’s act together. Now that all our offensive power has returned. I’m fairly optimistic about how things will turn out.
28
Bubdylan Says:
May 9th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Best win in a while because:

1. Vazquez’s bad games seem like they are going to come for sure, but not going to come all that often. I love watching him pitch when he’s on. His mind seemed very focused and comfortable today.

2. Mac is a ROCK STAR!!!!!! Couldn’t ask for a better answer to that question.

3. Offense IS significantly better when all the horses are there.

4. 3-1 so far on in-division road trip.

5. No K’s for shafer, and I think that scorcher he hit in his last AB was that same insider that normally K’s him. Can somebody confirm that?
29
Will Says:
May 9th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Does anyone else think that 1) Anderson was right to refuse AAA as it was based on an “i want to play” attitude not a rebellious attitude and 2) his low average doesn’t really reflect the positive impact he’s had on the offense since being back. I don’t have the stats but it just seems he’s crossing the plate time after time…Anyway, I’m liking this guy…
30
Bubdylan Says:
May 9th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Will, I would have a hard time translating Anderson’s attitued into a good one. If he was in that big a hurry to play, he could have just said so. When he was questioned about it.

But I could be wrong. Some people are just socially awkward. Soriano’s like that, but he’s proven he does have team spirit and drive. And even if Anderson’s attitude is somewhat bad, it’s not a team-cancer type damaging bad attitude. I said on the DOB blog when everyone screamed to cut him that we would be happy enough to have his bat before this season was over, even though I don’t personally care for him.

I’m with you on #2. One of the most valuable things about Anderson in the 4th hole is that it keeps Chipper and McCann both in the spots where they are best. If Garret fails at clean-up, it’s kind of isolated, it’s less devestating than having the line-up completely goofed fidgeting over that spot. In the meantime, Anderson is too much a threat, low average and all, for the pitcher to go to sleep on. It puts everyone in a better position to do what they do best. And yeah, he seems way more impactful than his average indicates. In my opinions…
31
Steve Says:
May 9th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
I agree that GA’s refusal to go to Gwinnett was way more, “screw that, I’m a vet and don’t have to do it,” than “get me on the field, coach, I want to help the team.” That said, this team, abeit over only two games, seems a hell of lot more potent with a 3-4-5 of Chipper/GA/Heap than anything else we’ve seen this year. And yeah, Bub – giving the other guys pitches to hit is a HUGE part of it. Let’s just freaking win on Sunday so that I can feel good about things for a little while. Hopefully Myers will bring even less than KK …
32
Garrett Says:
May 10th, 2009 at 1:02 am
I did it all for the nookie
33
Will Says:
May 10th, 2009 at 9:55 am
I will agree with you Steve but I also think we should respect “screw that, I’m a vet and don’t have to do it,” because he shows some serious sack taking that stance. He’s a quiet leader, too, not much to say with words but fairly straightforward in actions. I think that is a good attitude, although perhaps it is a bit too detached for the sound bite world ..ultimately his #s will speak loudest..
34
Bubdylan Says:
May 10th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
How ’bout the Coxster with the savvy bullpen use, eh? I hope it’s not like that movie “Awakening” where the guy snaps out of his retardedness, but it turns out it’s only temporary.
35
Leah Says:
May 10th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
That was savvy. Hey guys, where is this week’s podcast? Did you think your audience would let you off for Mother’s Day?
36
Bubdylan Says:
May 10th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Give us our fix, guys, or Leah and I are gonna riot.
37
Bubdylan Says:
May 10th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Random fact while we wait for the podcast: Around this time last year, the Braves were 5 – 7 versus lefty starters. So far this year they’re 7 – 4 against LHP. Grasping at straws with Santana coming up….
38
Steve Says:
May 10th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Bub and Leah – thanks for fervor. The last two Saturday nights were exceptions due to some weird scheduling stuff going on for us. We’re back on our Sunday night schedule. The show should be posted in about an hour. Thanks.
39
Bubdylan Says:
May 10th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
An HOUR?!

Awugh. ……. soooooo…….. I guess I could play me some Zoo Tycoon II for an hour.

(wish I was kidding…)
40
Curt Says:
May 10th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Best stat coming out of today: Braves are 4-2 vs. the Phils. Last year they went 4-14 against them. So barring a complete disaster, I like where we are headed.

Casey Kotchman is my hero.

Show #59: The Offense Continues to Struggle

40 Responses to “Show #59: The Offense Continues to Struggle”

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