Well I don't think the season could have started off any worst for the Braves as they were swept by the Mets in New York. The story of each game was the Braves lack of offense which continued a trend from last September's collapse. The Braves totaled just 7 runs and 14 hits in the 3-game series but the underlying numbers were ugly. The Braves were a dismal 0-for-6 with 7 LOB in game 1. In game 2 they were 0-for-4 with 7 LOB and in game 3 they were 1-for-4 with RISP with 3 LOB. Those kinds of numbers aren't going to win very many games.
THURSDAY
---Mets
---Loss 1-0
---WP: Ramon Ramirez (1-0)
---LP: Tommy Hanson (0-1)
---S: Frank Francisco (1)
The Braves opened the season with a tough luck 1-0 loss. It goes down as the first 1-0 loss in a season opener in Atlanta Braves history. Tommy Hanson pitched well as he cruised through 5 innings before running into trouble in the 6th inning. After a leadoff walk Hanson gave up back-to-back singles including a RBI single to David Wright to give the Mets the 1-0 lead that would stand up. Johan Santana went 5 innings getting out of a 2-out bases loaded jam in the 5th inning by striking out Michael Bourn to end the inning. Braves rookie Tyler Pastornicky hit a triple in the 7th inning for his first ML hit. The Braves finished with a lousy 4 hits.
SATURDAY
---Mets
---Loss 4-2
---WP: R.A. Dickey (1-0)
---LP: Jair Jurrjens (0-1)
---S: Frank Francisco (2)
On Saturday it was more of the same for the Braves as the offense struggled to get anything going against the knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. Dickey's only mistake of the game came in the 5th inning when with 2-outs he walked Michael Bourn and then Martin Prado hit a screaming 2-run homerun down the left-field line just inside the foul pole. It briefly tied the game before the Mets reclaimed the lead 3-2 in the bottom of the 5th. The Mets hit 3 solo homeruns, 1 for David Wright and 2 for Lucas Duda. For Duda it was his first career multi-homerun game. Jair Jurrjens struggled with his command in the strike zone and failed to make it out of the 5th inning before running up a pitch count over 100 pitches. Jurrjens final line was 4 1/3 innings, 7 hits, 3 runs (all earned), 3 walks and 2 strikeouts. Jason Heyward looked good as he had 2 walks and a triple in 4 plate appearances. Juan Francisco in his Braves debut was 0-4 but hit 2 liners that were caught. Freddie Freeman had 2 singles.
SUNDAY
---Mets
---Loss 7-5
---WP: Jonathon Niese (1-0)
---LP: Mike Minor (0-1)
---S: Frank Francisco (3)
Sunday was an up and down game for the Braves. The good was the Braves took advantage of a huge error by Mets outfielder Lucas Duda and turned that into a 4-run 7th inning. The bad was that the Braves managed just 3 hits in scoring 5 runs. The good was that Mike Minor for 4 2/3 innings was really, really good. The bad was he gave up a 2-out single to opposing pitcher Jonathon Niese and then the wheels just fell off as the Mets ended up scoring 2 runs in the 5th inning to make it 4-0 at the time. Minor then returned to the hill to start the 6th inning and didn't record an out as the Mets scored 3 more runs to take a 7-0 lead. Minor was eventually charged with giving up 6 runs (all earned) on 6 hits in 5 innings with 4 walks and 6 strikeouts.
The upcoming schedule sees the Braves taking on the Astros and then returning home as the Brewers come into town on Friday.
GAME 1 - MONDAY APRIL 9TH - 8:05 PM - FOX SPORTS SOUTH
Brandon Beachy vs. J.A. Happ
GAME 2 - TUESDAY APRIL 10TH - 8:05 PM - FOX SPORTS SOUTH
Tommy Hanson vs. Kyle Weiland
GAME 3 - WEDNESDAY APRIL 11TH - 8:05 PM - FOX SPORTS SOUTH
Randall Delgado vs. Wandy Rodriguez
GAME 1 - FRIDAY APRIL 13TH - 7:35 PM - PEACHTREE TV, FOX SPORTS SOUTH
Randy Wolf vs. Jair Jurrjens
GAME 2 - SATURDAY APRIL 14TH - 7:10 PM - PEACHTREE TV, FOX SPORTS SOUTH
Shaun Marcum vs. Mike Minor
GAME 3 - SUNDAY APRIL 15TH - 1:35 PM - SPORTSSOUTH
Chris Narveson vs. Brandon Beachy
Showing posts with label Report. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Report. Show all posts
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Atlanta Braves Sunday Report
This week started off bad as the Braves were swept by the Reds. The Mets lost 2 of 3 to the Padres so the Braves were only 2 1/2 games behind the Mets at mid-week. The 2nd half of the week was great. The Braves signed Julio Franco from the Mets and he made an instant impact. The Braves finished the week 1-3.
MONDAY
---Reds
---Loss 10-3
---WP: Bobby Livingston (2-0)
---LP: Kyle Davies (4-8)
Kyle Davies started for the Braves and faced 5 batters without recording an out before being lifted by manager Bobby Cox. Davies gave up 2 runs, 2 hits, 3 walks and left the bases loaded while he was in the game. Ken Griffey Jr. added a 3-run homerun in the 2nd inning off the Braves' Oscar Villarreal to make it 5-0 Reds at that point. For Griffey it was career homerun number 587 breaking a tie he held with Frank Robinson. The only Braves offense came from Andruw Jones who had all 3 RBIs.
TUESDAY
---Reds---Loss 6-5
---WP: Bronson Arroyo (4-10)
---LP: Jo-Jo Reyes (0-1)
Jo-Jo Reyes pitched very well in only his 2nd career start and held the Reds scoreless for 4 2/3 innings. In 6 1/3 innings pitched he gave up only 2 runs on 8 hits. He was later charged with 2 additional runs when Peter Moylan came in in the 7th and allowed 4 runs. The Braves made a comeback in the 8th when Andruw Jones hit a 2-run homerun and Kelly Johnson had a 2-run triple. Chipper Jones added a run scoring single in the 9th but the Braves comeback fell short as they lost 6-5.
WEDNESDAY
---Reds---Loss 5-4
---WP: Mike Gosling (1-0)
---LP: Jose Ascanio (0-1)
This was a wild game. John Smoltz made his return from the DL and was just unhittable. He pitched 7 shutout innings while recording 11 strikeouts. Those 11 strikeouts were his most in over 2 years. This was a back and forth game as the Braves scored in the 7th to take a 1-0 lead and give Smoltz a chance for his 10th win of the season. That went out the window when Rafael Soriano gave up a 2-out 2-run homerun to Adam Dunn. The Braves tied it at 2 in the bottom of the 8th on a sac fly by Jeff Francoeur. The game then went to extras. The Reds took a 3-2 lead in the top of the 10th on a Scott Hatteberg RBI single off Tyler Yates. Chipper Jones, following a leadoff single by Edgar Renteria, hit a game tying double. After a Jones stolen base and a walk to Brian McCann, Jeff Francoeur came up with a chance to win the game. The Reds then called in centerfielder Ryan Freel to play right on top of the 2nd base bag so the infielders could play their normal defensive positions. It worked as Francoeur hit a screaming liner that was caught by a leaping Brandon Phillips who then doubled off Chipper Jones at 3rd to end the inning. Phillips than won the game for the Reds in the 15th with a 2-out, 2-run single to give the Reds a 5-3 lead. The Braves scored a run in the bottom of the inning but fell short losing 5-4 in 15 innings.
THURSDAY
---Cardinals---Win 10-1
---WP: Tim Hudson (10-5)
---LP: Mike Maroth (0-3)
Andruw Jones got the scoring going early with a 1st inning 2-run homerun off Cards' starter Mike Maroth. The Braves added a single run in the 2nd on a homerun by Matt Diaz than with 2 out in the 4 the Braves scored 5 runs to take a 10-0 lead. The highlight of the inning was Julio Franco, who was starting in his 1st game back with the Braves, capping the inning with a 2-run single.
---Cardinals
---Loss 4-1
---WP: Adam Wainwright (9-7)
---LP: Rafael Soriano (2-2)
Monday, July 16, 2007
Atlanta Braves Sunday Report
This was a short week with the All-Star Game being played. The Braves went 3-0 this week while sweeping the Pirates. For the Braves it was their 6th straight win at home. The last time that happened was July 26-31, 2005. Ironically both streaks came against the Nationals and Pirates. I guess it is safe to say the Braves play good against those 2 teams at Turner Field.
FRIDAY
---Pirates
---Win 9-1
---WP: Tim Hudson (9-5)
---LP: Ian Snell (7-6)
The story of this game was Brian McCann. McCann had 2 homeruns while knocking in 4 runs. Andruw Jones also homered and Renteria added a pair of runs driven in. Tim Hudson tossed 7 shutout innings to earn win number 9. Hudson also had an RBI single.
SATURDAY
---Pirates
---Win 5-4
---WP: Bob Wickman (2-2)
---LP: Shawn Chacon (4-2)
This was a wild game. The Braves jumped on the Pirates early for 3 runs in the 1st inning including a 2-run homerun from Andruw Jones. For Jones it was homerun number 17 this season. Chipper Jones also had a good day at the plate going 3 for 4. Chuck James was lifted after pitching 6 shutout innings giving up only 2 hits. Tyler Yates than managed to give up a run and leave 2 others on base in the 7th inning when he was replaced by Rafael Soriano. Soriano than managed to give up a 3-run pinch hit homerun to the Pirates Ryan Doumit that tied the game at 4. The game was then delayed 72 minutes in the bottom of the 7th due to rain. After play resumed Jeff Francoeur won the game with a 2-out walkoff single in bottom of the 9th to give the Braves a 5-4 win. For Francoeur it was his 4th career walkoff hit.
SUNDAY
---Pirates
---Win 5-1
---WP: Buddy Carlyle (4-2)
---LP: Paul Maholm (5-12)
Buddy Carlyle was outstanding again pitching 8 innings of 1 run ball. He gave up just 5 hits over those 8 innings while striking out 4. Edgar Renteria went 4 for 5 while knocking in a run. Yunel Escobar and Jeff Francoeur also had RBIs in the game as the Braves cruised to a 5-1 win.
For the Braves it was their 4th straight win, 7 of 8 and 12 of 16. So to say the least they have been on quite a roll. As a result of their good play that have cut the Mets lead in the division down to just 1 1/2 games. The Phillies are also only 5 1/2 games behind the Mets.
Upcoming the Braves continue their 10 game homestand against the Reds and Cardinals while the Mets are on the road against the Padres and Dodgers. It looks as if this is the prime chance for the Braves to take the lead in the division.
FRIDAY
---Pirates
---Win 9-1
---WP: Tim Hudson (9-5)
---LP: Ian Snell (7-6)
The story of this game was Brian McCann. McCann had 2 homeruns while knocking in 4 runs. Andruw Jones also homered and Renteria added a pair of runs driven in. Tim Hudson tossed 7 shutout innings to earn win number 9. Hudson also had an RBI single.
SATURDAY
---Pirates
---Win 5-4
---WP: Bob Wickman (2-2)
---LP: Shawn Chacon (4-2)
This was a wild game. The Braves jumped on the Pirates early for 3 runs in the 1st inning including a 2-run homerun from Andruw Jones. For Jones it was homerun number 17 this season. Chipper Jones also had a good day at the plate going 3 for 4. Chuck James was lifted after pitching 6 shutout innings giving up only 2 hits. Tyler Yates than managed to give up a run and leave 2 others on base in the 7th inning when he was replaced by Rafael Soriano. Soriano than managed to give up a 3-run pinch hit homerun to the Pirates Ryan Doumit that tied the game at 4. The game was then delayed 72 minutes in the bottom of the 7th due to rain. After play resumed Jeff Francoeur won the game with a 2-out walkoff single in bottom of the 9th to give the Braves a 5-4 win. For Francoeur it was his 4th career walkoff hit.
SUNDAY
---Pirates
---Win 5-1
---WP: Buddy Carlyle (4-2)
---LP: Paul Maholm (5-12)
Buddy Carlyle was outstanding again pitching 8 innings of 1 run ball. He gave up just 5 hits over those 8 innings while striking out 4. Edgar Renteria went 4 for 5 while knocking in a run. Yunel Escobar and Jeff Francoeur also had RBIs in the game as the Braves cruised to a 5-1 win.
For the Braves it was their 4th straight win, 7 of 8 and 12 of 16. So to say the least they have been on quite a roll. As a result of their good play that have cut the Mets lead in the division down to just 1 1/2 games. The Phillies are also only 5 1/2 games behind the Mets.
Upcoming the Braves continue their 10 game homestand against the Reds and Cardinals while the Mets are on the road against the Padres and Dodgers. It looks as if this is the prime chance for the Braves to take the lead in the division.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Atlanta Braves Sunday Report
Okay folks. Every Sunday for the reminder of baseball season I'm gonna give yall my Atlanta Braves report for previous week. I hope yall enjoy.
The week leading up to the All-Star break saw the Braves post a 4-3 record to finish out a 10 game road trip at 6-4.
MONDAY
---at Dodgers
---Loss 8-2
---WP: Joe Beimel (2-1)
---LP: John Smoltz (9-5)
The story of this game was again the lack of run support for John Smoltz. Smoltz lost for the 5th time this season and the Braves in Smoltz's 5 losses have scored a total of 4 runs. For Smoltz it goes down as a loss but it was another quality start by him and with any run support of any kind he could easily be 14-0 this season. But I guess that is the way baseball goes sometimes.
TUESDAY
---at Dodgers
---Loss 7-6
---WP: Rudy Seanez (5-1)
---LP: Wilfredo Ledezma (0-1)
---SV: Takashi Saito (23)
This was a wild game that saw both teams combine for 12 runs in the first 3 innings of the game. Both bullpens then shutdown the opposing team's offenses until the Dodgers scored on a single by OF Matt Kemp in the 7th to give the Dodgers the 7-6 win.
WEDNESDAY
---at Dodgers
---Win 5-2
---WP: Chuck James (8-7)
---LP: Mark Hendrickson (2-4)
---SV: Bob Wickman (15)
This Independance Day win was just what the Braves were looking for to end their 3 game losing streak. Chuck James didn't have his best stuff but managed 5 innings giving up just 1 run on 4 hits on 77 pitches. The Braves offense game courtesy a 2-out 2-rbi single by Chipper Jones in the 5th, Brian McCann's rbi single in the 6th followed by a Yunel Escobar sacrifice fly with an Andruw Jones 7th inning solo shot, his 14th homerun of the season, capping the scoring.
THURSDAY
---at Dodgers
---Win 8-6
---WP: Peter Moylan (3-1)
---LP: Eric Stultz (0-1)
---SV: Bob Wickman (16)
The story of the Braves 8-6 win in this game was Chipper Jones. Chipper Jones hit a solo homerun in the 6th inning to give the Braves a 7-6 lead. For Jones it was career homerun No. 371 tying him with Braves great Dale Murphy for first place on Atlanta's all-time homerun list. But Jones wasn't done. He hit another solo homerun in the 8th inning to cap the scoring. It was homerun No. 372 putting himself above Murphy and all the other Braves greats.
FRIDAY
---at Padres
---Win 7-4
---WP: Buddy Carlyle (3-2)
---LP: Justin Germano (5-3)
Andruw Jones hit a 2-run homerun in the 4th inning and Buddy Carlyle added a go ahead rbi single in the frame and the Braves won 7-4 behind a strong outting from Carlyle. Carlyle pitched a career-high 8 innings and tied a career-high 7 strikeouts to help the Braves win their 3rd straight game.
SATURDAY
---at Padres
---Loss 8-5
---WP: Heath Bell (3-2)
---LP: Tyler Yates (2-1)
---SV: Trevor Hoffman (25)
Padres starter David Wells was ejected in the 4th following a Jeff Francoeur homerun but the Padres rallied late to win 8-5. After Andruw Jones had tied the game at 5 in the top of the 7th with a 2-run 2-out triple the Braves' Tyler Yates battled control issues and the Padres scored 3 runs to take a 8-5 lead and win by the same score.
SUNDAY
---at Padres
---Win 5-4
---WP: Kyle Davies (4-7)
---LP: Greg Maddux (7-6)
Braves starter Kyle Davies outduled future Hall of Famer and former Braves' great Greg Maddux over 6 innings as the Braves won 5-4. Brian McCann hit a 2-run homerun in the 2nd and Kelly Johnson later added a solo homerun in the inning to give the Braves a 3-0 lead. McCann then added a 2-run single in the 6th that chased Maddux from the game. The Padres made it close in the 9th off Braves' closer Bob Wickman but Marcus Giles took a called third strike to end the game.
It was a great week for the Braves considering they were playing the cream of the crop in the National League. They end the week just 2 games behind the Mets in the divison so things are really looking great. The Braves have gotten on a nice roll winning 9 of 13 heading into the break.
John Smoltz will miss the All-Star game Tuesday but is schedule to pitch the 6th game after the break against the Reds on the 18th of July. In his place Jo-Jo Reyes is starting. Reyes showed some good signs Saturday when he made his ML debut. But as the case with any rookie pitcher he had his struggles also. I really like what I saw from the kid and if he keeps learning he could be a staple of the Braves starting rotation for years to come. He will make his 2nd big league start on July 17th against the Reds.
The Braves record at the All-Star break is 47-42. At the break last year they were 40-49.
The week leading up to the All-Star break saw the Braves post a 4-3 record to finish out a 10 game road trip at 6-4.
MONDAY
---at Dodgers
---Loss 8-2
---WP: Joe Beimel (2-1)
---LP: John Smoltz (9-5)
The story of this game was again the lack of run support for John Smoltz. Smoltz lost for the 5th time this season and the Braves in Smoltz's 5 losses have scored a total of 4 runs. For Smoltz it goes down as a loss but it was another quality start by him and with any run support of any kind he could easily be 14-0 this season. But I guess that is the way baseball goes sometimes.
TUESDAY
---at Dodgers
---Loss 7-6
---WP: Rudy Seanez (5-1)
---LP: Wilfredo Ledezma (0-1)
---SV: Takashi Saito (23)
This was a wild game that saw both teams combine for 12 runs in the first 3 innings of the game. Both bullpens then shutdown the opposing team's offenses until the Dodgers scored on a single by OF Matt Kemp in the 7th to give the Dodgers the 7-6 win.
WEDNESDAY
---at Dodgers
---Win 5-2
---WP: Chuck James (8-7)
---LP: Mark Hendrickson (2-4)
---SV: Bob Wickman (15)
This Independance Day win was just what the Braves were looking for to end their 3 game losing streak. Chuck James didn't have his best stuff but managed 5 innings giving up just 1 run on 4 hits on 77 pitches. The Braves offense game courtesy a 2-out 2-rbi single by Chipper Jones in the 5th, Brian McCann's rbi single in the 6th followed by a Yunel Escobar sacrifice fly with an Andruw Jones 7th inning solo shot, his 14th homerun of the season, capping the scoring.
THURSDAY
---at Dodgers
---Win 8-6
---WP: Peter Moylan (3-1)
---LP: Eric Stultz (0-1)
---SV: Bob Wickman (16)
The story of the Braves 8-6 win in this game was Chipper Jones. Chipper Jones hit a solo homerun in the 6th inning to give the Braves a 7-6 lead. For Jones it was career homerun No. 371 tying him with Braves great Dale Murphy for first place on Atlanta's all-time homerun list. But Jones wasn't done. He hit another solo homerun in the 8th inning to cap the scoring. It was homerun No. 372 putting himself above Murphy and all the other Braves greats.
FRIDAY
---at Padres
---Win 7-4
---WP: Buddy Carlyle (3-2)
---LP: Justin Germano (5-3)
Andruw Jones hit a 2-run homerun in the 4th inning and Buddy Carlyle added a go ahead rbi single in the frame and the Braves won 7-4 behind a strong outting from Carlyle. Carlyle pitched a career-high 8 innings and tied a career-high 7 strikeouts to help the Braves win their 3rd straight game.
SATURDAY
---at Padres
---Loss 8-5
---WP: Heath Bell (3-2)
---LP: Tyler Yates (2-1)
---SV: Trevor Hoffman (25)
Padres starter David Wells was ejected in the 4th following a Jeff Francoeur homerun but the Padres rallied late to win 8-5. After Andruw Jones had tied the game at 5 in the top of the 7th with a 2-run 2-out triple the Braves' Tyler Yates battled control issues and the Padres scored 3 runs to take a 8-5 lead and win by the same score.
SUNDAY
---at Padres
---Win 5-4
---WP: Kyle Davies (4-7)
---LP: Greg Maddux (7-6)
Braves starter Kyle Davies outduled future Hall of Famer and former Braves' great Greg Maddux over 6 innings as the Braves won 5-4. Brian McCann hit a 2-run homerun in the 2nd and Kelly Johnson later added a solo homerun in the inning to give the Braves a 3-0 lead. McCann then added a 2-run single in the 6th that chased Maddux from the game. The Padres made it close in the 9th off Braves' closer Bob Wickman but Marcus Giles took a called third strike to end the game.
It was a great week for the Braves considering they were playing the cream of the crop in the National League. They end the week just 2 games behind the Mets in the divison so things are really looking great. The Braves have gotten on a nice roll winning 9 of 13 heading into the break.
John Smoltz will miss the All-Star game Tuesday but is schedule to pitch the 6th game after the break against the Reds on the 18th of July. In his place Jo-Jo Reyes is starting. Reyes showed some good signs Saturday when he made his ML debut. But as the case with any rookie pitcher he had his struggles also. I really like what I saw from the kid and if he keeps learning he could be a staple of the Braves starting rotation for years to come. He will make his 2nd big league start on July 17th against the Reds.
The Braves record at the All-Star break is 47-42. At the break last year they were 40-49.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Atlanta Braves Mid-Season Report
I forgot to tell you guys last time but I am gonna give you guys a look into my life of sports. I will from time to time write up posts about sports. Well here goes the first one.
I am just thinking that the Atlanta Braves should be looking to make a protential trade deadline deal for a pitcher. Maybe a starter, maybe a reliever. But what I know for sure is that the Braves cannot not make a move for a pitcher and expect to keep pace with the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies (in the NL East), Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks (in the NL Wild Card race).
The reason for need of a pitcher is because of the struggles of the 3, 4 and 5 starters behind John Smoltz and Tim Hudson. Smoltz and Hudson are a combined 17-10 with a 3.13 ERA. They also have combined for 26 quality starts. The rest of the starters (Mark Redman, Anthony Lerew, Chuck James, Kyle Davies, Lance Cormier, Buddy Carlyle) are a combined 12-24 with a 5.94 ERA. They also only have 16 quality starts. Getting that kind of production from the 3, 4 and 5 starters is not gonna get it done.
For those that don't know a quality start is a starter pitching 6 innings and not giving up more than 3 runs.
Chuck James proved last year (11-4, 3.78 ERA) that he is more than capable of getting the job done. He got off to a good start this season winning his first 2 starts but than stuggled and has gotten back on track over the last couple of months. Take away 3 starts (Padres, Twins, Tigers) over the months of May and June and Chuck James' numbers look very good. His numbers in those 3 starts are 0-3 with a 8.30 ERA. That's ugly. In his other starts his numbers are 4-2 with a 2.71 ERA. Those are great numbers.
I am honestly surprised to see that Chuck James has pitched that well not counting those 3 starts against the Padres, Twins and Tigers. If Chuck James continues to pitch this well he will be able to hold down that number 3 starter job.
Guys that the Braves could protentially look at to help their starting pitching could be right under their own noses in their minor league system. Top pitching prospects left-handers Matt Harrison and Jo-Jo Reyes. Reyes appears to be ahead of Harrison and closer to being major league ready, but Harrison is rated as the number 1 pitching prospect in the Braves organization. Both appear to be long term solutions in the starting rotation down the road and because of their such high protential Bobby Cox and the Braves may not call on them to keep from rushing them before they are truely major league ready.
So the Braves may have to look outside the organization for starting pitching help or to their very deep bullpen. The Braves recently made a trade with the Detroit Tigers sending lefty reliever Macay McBride to the Tigers for lefty pitcher Wilfredo Ledezma with them eying Ledezma in the starting rotation down the road.
Down the road may not be in the too distant future. They main reason Ledezma wasn't put into their rotation immediately was because he is the lone lefty in the bullpen. That is a problem the Braves have because lefty setup man Mike Gonzalez is out for the remainder of the season do to having Tommy John surgery. The Braves may just have to abandon having a lefty in their bullpen and find a righty that can get the tough left-handed power hitters out late in ball games.
Setup man Rafael Soriano actually has a better batting average against against lefties .167 than he does against righties .194. That is kinda suprising to me. I feel that Soriano should replace Bob Wickman as the Braves closer. Soriano is 5 for 5 in save situations this year. Wickman has been very shaky at times this year and is coming off consective bad outtings.
A couple of guys in the bullpen that I hate seeing in games is Oscar Villarreal and Chad Paronto. Both I feel can be upgraded by bringing up Joey Devine and Blaine Boyer. Boyer proved in 2005 that he is capable of getting the job done at the major league level. Devine was a 1st round pick in 2005 who was than rushed to the majors that year and is known for giving up the game winning grand slam to Houston's Chris Bruke in the 18th inning of game 5 of the 2005 division playoff series that ended the Braves season.
Devine than battled a back injury last year and was sent back down to single A to work on his mechanics and has since regained the form that he had at North Carolina State that made him a 1st round pick.
I think the Braves would be better off if their pitching staff looked like this:
John Smoltz
Tim Hudson
Chuck James
Wilfredo Ledezma
Buddy Carlyle/Kyle Davies
Joey Devine
Blaine Boyer
Peter Moylan
Tyler Yates
Bob Wickman
Rafael Soriano
With all of that being said one thing is certain, the Atlanta Braves are much, much better than they were last year.
I am just thinking that the Atlanta Braves should be looking to make a protential trade deadline deal for a pitcher. Maybe a starter, maybe a reliever. But what I know for sure is that the Braves cannot not make a move for a pitcher and expect to keep pace with the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies (in the NL East), Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks (in the NL Wild Card race).
The reason for need of a pitcher is because of the struggles of the 3, 4 and 5 starters behind John Smoltz and Tim Hudson. Smoltz and Hudson are a combined 17-10 with a 3.13 ERA. They also have combined for 26 quality starts. The rest of the starters (Mark Redman, Anthony Lerew, Chuck James, Kyle Davies, Lance Cormier, Buddy Carlyle) are a combined 12-24 with a 5.94 ERA. They also only have 16 quality starts. Getting that kind of production from the 3, 4 and 5 starters is not gonna get it done.
For those that don't know a quality start is a starter pitching 6 innings and not giving up more than 3 runs.
Chuck James proved last year (11-4, 3.78 ERA) that he is more than capable of getting the job done. He got off to a good start this season winning his first 2 starts but than stuggled and has gotten back on track over the last couple of months. Take away 3 starts (Padres, Twins, Tigers) over the months of May and June and Chuck James' numbers look very good. His numbers in those 3 starts are 0-3 with a 8.30 ERA. That's ugly. In his other starts his numbers are 4-2 with a 2.71 ERA. Those are great numbers.
I am honestly surprised to see that Chuck James has pitched that well not counting those 3 starts against the Padres, Twins and Tigers. If Chuck James continues to pitch this well he will be able to hold down that number 3 starter job.
Guys that the Braves could protentially look at to help their starting pitching could be right under their own noses in their minor league system. Top pitching prospects left-handers Matt Harrison and Jo-Jo Reyes. Reyes appears to be ahead of Harrison and closer to being major league ready, but Harrison is rated as the number 1 pitching prospect in the Braves organization. Both appear to be long term solutions in the starting rotation down the road and because of their such high protential Bobby Cox and the Braves may not call on them to keep from rushing them before they are truely major league ready.
So the Braves may have to look outside the organization for starting pitching help or to their very deep bullpen. The Braves recently made a trade with the Detroit Tigers sending lefty reliever Macay McBride to the Tigers for lefty pitcher Wilfredo Ledezma with them eying Ledezma in the starting rotation down the road.
Down the road may not be in the too distant future. They main reason Ledezma wasn't put into their rotation immediately was because he is the lone lefty in the bullpen. That is a problem the Braves have because lefty setup man Mike Gonzalez is out for the remainder of the season do to having Tommy John surgery. The Braves may just have to abandon having a lefty in their bullpen and find a righty that can get the tough left-handed power hitters out late in ball games.
Setup man Rafael Soriano actually has a better batting average against against lefties .167 than he does against righties .194. That is kinda suprising to me. I feel that Soriano should replace Bob Wickman as the Braves closer. Soriano is 5 for 5 in save situations this year. Wickman has been very shaky at times this year and is coming off consective bad outtings.
A couple of guys in the bullpen that I hate seeing in games is Oscar Villarreal and Chad Paronto. Both I feel can be upgraded by bringing up Joey Devine and Blaine Boyer. Boyer proved in 2005 that he is capable of getting the job done at the major league level. Devine was a 1st round pick in 2005 who was than rushed to the majors that year and is known for giving up the game winning grand slam to Houston's Chris Bruke in the 18th inning of game 5 of the 2005 division playoff series that ended the Braves season.
Devine than battled a back injury last year and was sent back down to single A to work on his mechanics and has since regained the form that he had at North Carolina State that made him a 1st round pick.
I think the Braves would be better off if their pitching staff looked like this:
John Smoltz
Tim Hudson
Chuck James
Wilfredo Ledezma
Buddy Carlyle/Kyle Davies
Joey Devine
Blaine Boyer
Peter Moylan
Tyler Yates
Bob Wickman
Rafael Soriano
With all of that being said one thing is certain, the Atlanta Braves are much, much better than they were last year.
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