Braves Link Roundup: Looking for a Leader; Looking for Hitting; Missing Smoltz
by gondeee on Jun 17, 2009 9:16 AM EDT
64 comments
First off for this mid-week link roundup, we take a swing at an old Braves player and an unfortunate (albeit funny) episode:
Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever Kyle Farnsworth had his left index finger bandaged Tuesday after being bitten by one of his two bulldogs.
Farnsworth received four stitches from the bite after breaking up a fight between the two bulldogs on Tuesday morning.
Ahh, the Farns. I liked him when he was here, but didn't respect him when he left to not be a closer. Of course, maybe he knew that he wasn't the bulldog everyone thought he was (ha!).
Leadership lacking in Braves' clubhouse
Writing for the Macon Telegraph, Bill Shanks actually pens an interesting and insightful article. He contends that the Braves lack of confidence on the field is reflected by their lack of leadership in the clubhouse:
For years, Julio Franco was that enforcer in the Braves’ clubhouse. If a young player, more than half his age usually, did something that was not liked by the veteran, Franco stepped in and fixed it. He would put his arm around the player, or maybe even just raise his head and glare. Franco was an enforcer.
That’s not Chipper Jones. That’s just not him. And that’s fine. But it does not change the fact this team needs that type of clubhouse presence. It needs someone who when Escobar got benched Sunday, he had a veteran player sitting right there next to him telling him what he did wrong. Instead, Escobar was sitting by himself.
Never underestimate the importance of veteran leaders in a clubhouse. That article is definitely worth a read.
Local baseball prospects show off for Braves
Former Braves player, and current Braves scout Kevin Barry, was in Danbury, Connecticut, to watch some 42 prospects try out for a chance at a minor league deal. It's an interesting article about guys that didn't get drafted, but still have a dream to play pro baseball.
Terry Pendleton and the Braves offense
Bigjoe continues his eager blogging at Braves Heart, and sets out to dispel the notion that Terry Pendleton is the cause of the Braves' offensive woes... and he uses Excel to do it.
Most of the numbers have been dropping off over the past 2 or 3 years, due to the sale of the Braves to Liberty Media and the refusal to add any significant payroll. Pendleton doesn’t have a lot to work with in Atlanta anymore. The days of him getting awesome career years out of players like JD Drew and Gary Sheffield are over, and instead of being able to augment great talent like that, Pendleton is instead forced to try to coax miracles out of players who are not very good.
Smoltz won't start against the Braves, and I am ... not sad
One of the last good sports journalists at the AJC, Mark Bradley, is happy that John Smoltz will not be facing the Braves next week.
I’d borne my burden in silence for a dozen years, but two weeks ago I was moved to confess: I don’t much like Smoltz, and he really doesn’t like me.
That's all for now.
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Our only glimmer of hope left…….
It would be funny if we totally cleaned up on the 12-game stand that we are expected to get iced on.
If, in fact, we lose 9 out of 12 of these games (like I expect us to), we will officially be “out.”
"The future is no place to place your better days." - Dave Matthews ~ RIP Roi
(self-appointed President of Yunel's Cartel~~~)
by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Jun 17, 2009 9:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
No, we won’t be “officially” out. Maybe effectively out, but not officially.
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti
by sddbaker on Jun 17, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Unless we can get Jesus to be our power hitting OF'er...
I would say that we are “effectively” out right now.
by Fischerking on Jun 17, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Pujols is baseball’s god, who gets to be baseball’s Jesus? Longoria, Braun (he fits the nationality), or maybe even Bryce Harper???
A man walks into a meat shoppe and goes to the counter. The cashier asks, "Thinking about buying some meat?". The man replied, "No, I'm going to buy meat, I was thinking about punanny."
by bwellnjonesco on Jun 17, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I guess it would be Pujol's son????
We could call him “Little Pujol”
by Fischerking on Jun 17, 2009 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
There's already a Little Pujol (no "s")
…and I heard it was really little…
A man walks into a meat shoppe and goes to the counter. The cashier asks, "Thinking about buying some meat?". The man replied, "No, I'm going to buy meat, I was thinking about punanny."
by bwellnjonesco on Jun 17, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can it be a power threat and be a decent glove in the OF?
by Fischerking on Jun 17, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I doubt that is the case...
A man walks into a meat shoppe and goes to the counter. The cashier asks, "Thinking about buying some meat?". The man replied, "No, I'm going to buy meat, I was thinking about punanny."
by bwellnjonesco on Jun 17, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Shanks is always lumping Kotchman in with Anderson, in terms of being lifeless, and i just don’t buy it. Casey shows emotion, as can be seen when he slams his bat when he fails to drive in a run.
"Ohhhh Shit."-Bobby Cox, 3/28/09
by 10-4 on Jun 17, 2009 10:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Kotchman is one of the better performers on this team IMO. Takes pitches, Works the count, and moves runners over.
by drumzalicious on Jun 18, 2009 3:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hmmm…interesting that he says that Chipper is not a leader nor one to interact (reading into what he said) with the young talent. I think the opposite is true.
And I also think that Yunel is old enough and smart enough to KNOW what he did wrong without an older player having to explain it to him.
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 17, 2009 10:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't think he means he's not a leader...
Just not the right type of leader.
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 17, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
maybe
but let’s be honest here…baseball players don’t need to get into the study of leadership and learn the various leadership styles and characteristics. Being a “clubhouse leader” more or less means that you are not going to let people do stupid things and that you can help other people.
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 17, 2009 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I understand...
But certain locker rooms would respond to a fiery type more than the quiet composure and consistency Chipper shows. To that end, I think he models himself after Bobby, who’s always been the “steady hand” type of leader.
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 17, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was thinking the same thing.
A man walks into a meat shoppe and goes to the counter. The cashier asks, "Thinking about buying some meat?". The man replied, "No, I'm going to buy meat, I was thinking about punanny."
by bwellnjonesco on Jun 17, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Chipper called out Smoltz
and, to the best of my knowledge, has never been shy about voicing his opinion on anything. I think it is a safe bet to assume that Chipper has had a few “words of wisdom” for some of the younger players.
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 17, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
...once he left.
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 17, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
nope…don’t you remember the little media war that Chipper and Smoltz had last season? (maybe the season before last…)
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 17, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
When Smoltz and Chipper were talking about each other to the media.
Here’s a little rundown of it all
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 18, 2009 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Eh...
Now that I read that and remember, Chipper was way more on the defensive than the attack.
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 18, 2009 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he got called out first
but he sure wasn’t timid or quite in his response.
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 18, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
more performance not more leadership
The Braves need 2 new outfielders and a new 2nd baseman who can hit not more “leadership.” It would also help if Bobby didn’t think ’09 Moylan was the same pitcher as ’07 Moylan and keep throwing him out there to blow holds in the 7th inning.
by redwards95 on Jun 17, 2009 10:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Chipper’s not that type of leader and that’s NOT fine. Here’s why…
Other than him who is going to lead this clubhouse?
Let’s start with the outfield: GA doesn’t even like baseball it seems so he is out. McLouth maybe in the future but he’s only been here two weeks. Frenchy…when you ARE the problem it’s hard to lead others to succeed.
Infield: Yunel just got benched for being a slacker. Kelly…see Frenchy. Kotchman doesn’t really have any kind of presence.
McCann could be the exception. He is our best player and others might listen to him. The problem here is that nothing in his personality tells me that he is the type to stand up and take the reigns. Not his fault.. Just isn’t him, at least yet.
It would be hard for our pitchers, who have played well over all, to stand up and lead the offense to do anything. They’ve pitched well and that should be all that the bats need to see to get motivated. Unfortuntely it isn’t.
We are an unispired team and if Chipper isn’t able to get this offense pumped up and playing well then no one will. We are unispired underperformers. And that is why we should be sellers this year before the deadline if anything.
by Fischerking on Jun 17, 2009 11:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
McCann said on an interview that he wishes to take the reigns of the team, but for the time being, they belong to Chipper.
No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.
by royhobbs on Jun 17, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
For any Carolina Panthers fans...
Julius Peppers complained of this problem while veterans Mike Minter and Mike Rucker were here. Unfortunately, however, his leadership skills are still nonexistent now that they’re gone. Frankly, I don’t really buy it. If your veteran leaders are truly good leaders, they’ll know to give you room to lead if you can do it effectively.
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 17, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I could have told you that like 10 years ago while he was at NC...
Wow, it doesn’t seem like that long ago…
I also could have told you that he would continuously complain and think of himself as the most important player on the field (which unfortuntely he is sometimes).
A man walks into a meat shoppe and goes to the counter. The cashier asks, "Thinking about buying some meat?". The man replied, "No, I'm going to buy meat, I was thinking about punanny."
by bwellnjonesco on Jun 17, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Trust me, I've ALWAYS known.
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 17, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We will never win, because we dont have a perfect player. We are just like the Mets.
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 17, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not Pendletons Fault?
I am tired of people making excuses for Pendleton. The bottom line is he isn’t getting the job done. The Guys are obviously not listening to him, or maybe they are and thats the problem. The only guys hitting worth a damn are the one’s who listen to thier dads and not Pendleton. Coincidence> I think not. Bring back Don Baylor!!!!
by Mcannstheman on Jun 17, 2009 11:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Any other club, the hitting coach (or even pitching coach) would have been fired by now…….
Here is the reason that nobody else is picking up on…………TP is the name being dropped when people with the Braves talk about Bobby’s replacement
"The future is no place to place your better days." - Dave Matthews ~ RIP Roi
(self-appointed President of Yunel's Cartel~~~)
by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Jun 17, 2009 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
His name is Pendleton, not Merlin.
Working with a bunch of guys that couldn’t hit their way out of a paper bag is tough. Chipper and Mac have always been hitters but when they are asked to produce every night because no one else is good enough has got to get old. I don’t blame TP. Our players need to be more patient. Wait scratch that. Our players need to be another teams players while our players need to be another teams players. Make sense.
by Fischerking on Jun 17, 2009 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
this
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 17, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you think Merlin is available?
The New Punchout for Nintendo Wii......get it
by bravesguy311 on Jun 17, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s not all the players. Kotchman takes his pitches as well.
Other than that I would love to see TP chewing out KJ, FYF, Esco or someone else swinging at all the first pitches.
by drumzalicious on Jun 18, 2009 3:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Name something specific he's failed to do as hitting coach that someone else would have done better.
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 17, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The fact is that our offense is one of the most anemic in league. Look at what is going on with KJ… what has he done with FYF? None of these huys are adjusting…. and that is what he preaches in every article that comes out about him and his philosophy. That would lead me to belive that the guys are not listening to him and he needs to go. The bottom line is that it is his job to make sure these guys hit, and they are not.
by Mcannstheman on Jun 17, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK...
So 60 games of poor baseball is enough to fire a guy? Francoeur has ALWAYS BEEN THIS HITTER. Pendleton didn’t have anything to do with it. He was just able to hit well because nobody knew they could just strike him out on balls outside of the zone like nobody’s business.
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 17, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The fact that he doesn’t teach patience and pitch selection is a pretty big error on Pendelton’s part. We all see how aggresive hitting has stymied Frenchy.
by soup du jour on Jun 17, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If that's true...
Why has McCann improved his walk rate by almost 100% in the last two years?
Why was Jordan Schaefer’s walk rate—even while hitting terribly—75% higher than his career minor league rate?
How is Matt Diaz doubling his career walk rate this year?
If it’s Pendleton’s fault when players do poorly, why isn’t it his fault when they play well?
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 17, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
McCann is being pitched around. It’s pretty obvious that he is one of the better hitters in the game and once you get past him in the Braves lineup, it’s smooth sailing. Pitchers are simply throwing him garbage.
Schaeffer hit in the 8 hole, often with two outs. Plus he did enough in the first ten games or so to give opposing teams caution that he was dangerous and it was best to just pitch around him and deal with the pitcher. Later, teams realized that he was decidedly not dangerous and that you might as well treat him as another pitcher in the lineup (which he practically was). You saw his walks drop after that and he was promptly demoted.
I hate to defend Francoeur, but look at how the guys behind him have hit (7-8-9). If he doesn’t try to do something miraculous, it’s pretty much automatic that were going to have to wait for the lineup to reset anyway. You almost wonder if Pendelton and Cox are secretly telling him to go out there and swing at everything knowing that it is the only prayer we have of generating offense in the bottom of the order.
Suppose Francoeur slaps a few extra singles and draws a few more walks raising his BA and OBP up to league averages for RFers. Does anyone think that would have any effect whatsoever on our run production?
by DCP916 on Jun 17, 2009 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Schafer isn't practicing any plate patience or pitch selection...
Then shouldn’t he have been swinging away regardless?
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 17, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And on Francoeur...
YES, because we’ve seen him come up time and time again with a chance to drive runners in and it’s ALWAYS an unproductive out early in the count, typically a GIDP if he has the chance.
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 17, 2009 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
McCann goes to his father for hitting advice.
Schafer was hitting in front of the Pitcher, so take that for what you will
Diaz – small sample size. Not enough to make an accurate assumption just yet…
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 17, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
By the same token...
Kelly’s recent decline in patience isn’t exactly a very large sample size either.
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 17, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And it strikes me that a lot of players probably shoot the shit with their dads...
Does McCann just not speak to Pendleton? Strikes me that those would be awkward BP sessions.
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 17, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Shoot the shit, yes. Getting advice on how to get out of a hitting slump? No.
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 17, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I never used KJ’s decline as an example of anything.
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 17, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Some do, however.
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 17, 2009 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Did you even read the fucking artickle?
by bigjoe on Jun 17, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pendelton is not th e problem….Not even Rudy Jaramillo could fix Frenchy, and he might be the best hitting coach in the majors….KJ is skidding, Kotchman is a good player, but not a Teixiera type of hitter (which we need), and Ganderson out in LF is a burden…you can’t make filet mignon out of ground beef!
by jwrocks on Jun 17, 2009 11:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Look, we aren’t trading FYF for a bag of beans. The Braves need some changes, and if they aren’t going to do it through trades, then they need to do it through management. I like TP, but he isn’t getting the job done, which it’s most likely not his fault. Doesn’t matter, the Braves should still fire TP and hire a new batting coach.
Sometimes a coaching change is all that’s needed.
by Sparhawk on Jun 17, 2009 11:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I just saw an empty bottle of Thunderbird. Gondeee, have you been in Birmingham?
"Here comes Bream! Here's the throw to the plate! He is...safe! Braves win! Braves win! Braves win! Braves win!...Braves win!"
by jug on Jun 17, 2009 12:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Are you the one who emptied it? ;-)
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti
by sddbaker on Jun 17, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
YIke...
1. I’ve never bought into the whole “club house” leadership thing. This are major league ballpayer’s who should need someone to tell them to get their ass in gear. And is there anyway you can prove the Leadership = wins?
2. Shanks is a hack – after reading his anti-money ball book, which seems like most he hasn’t read. I just lost all respect.
3. A hitting coach can only do SO much, it’s not like he can go up there and takes swings himself. All he can do is offer suggestions. At this level, most guys are already the way they’re going to be at the plate. And no amount of harping is going to change that.
by RainDelay on Jun 17, 2009 1:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Like he said...
“Some times, a guy just has to step up.”
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 17, 2009 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
About Farnsworth...
Stupid idea of trying to break up fighting dogs with his fingers aside, he’s pitching really well lately. From rotoworld:
Pitching coach Bob McClure credits an overhaul of Kyle Farnsworth’s mechanics and the reintroduction of a two-seam fastball for the reliever’s recent success.
McClure adjusted Farnsworth’s arm angle and landing, which has noticeably improved his command. [Before last Thursday,] Farnsworth [had been on] the longest scoreless streak of his career, with 17 2/3 scoreless innings over 17 appearances since mid April.
Although perhaps it’s worth noting he was only in two or three high-pressure situations that entire time. Then again, it is the Royals, so what are ya gonna do?
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 17, 2009 4:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Can one of the baseball gurus on here explain why Jair was given the loss......
and not Mike Gonzales?
"The future is no place to place your better days." - Dave Matthews ~ RIP Roi
(self-appointed President of Yunel's Cartel~~~)
by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Jun 17, 2009 4:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
uh
Because it was Jair Jurrjens who was the pitcher of record when the Reds took the lead, and never once had to look back, even through the rain delays? There’s a reason why it’s called the tough-luck loss
No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.
by royhobbs on Jun 17, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If they really do a Hitting Coach change i wonder if they pick up the Cub’s old hitting coach
by drumzalicious on Jun 18, 2009 3:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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