Atlanta Braves = Resilient
by gondeee on Apr 19, 2010 9:26 AM EDT
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PrintResilient. That's the word that comes to mind when I think about the first two weeks of the Braves' season. This team can bounce back from anything. So far the Braves have had a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Padres -- perhaps the worst hitting team in baseball -- to the tune of 17-to-2, but bounced back to win the next two games and win the series. Then the Braves got no-hit by the Rockies ace, Ubaldo Jimenez, but bounced back to win the final game and win the series.
That's two series in a row where the Braves could have crawled into a shell and said, "we give up," but they didn't. They came back fighting, and they took the field the next day with the confidence of a team that had won the night before. This team last year tried to act like they did that, but more often they would crumble and be susceptible to prolonged team slumps -- especially in the first half of the season.
It still might take a couple more weeks for the Braves to fully gel as a team and find their stride, but it looks like they should do that this year much faster than they did last year, and overcoming the crushing defeats they've had recently and still winning the series will go a long way towards helping their confidence on and off the field.
They still need to find someone to get on base in the leadoff spot. I like Matt Diaz there, though his ability to take a walk can be suspect at times. He did tie for the team lead in stolen bases last year, so he's got some wheels. If while hitting leadoff this year he can put up numbers like he did for the season last year, then he'll do just fine.
Another aspect of this team that's changed in the early going is the clutch hitting has spread to more spots in the order. Last year it was mainly Brian McCann and Yunel Escobar, but this year add back Chipper Jones to that list and put a big check mark next to the best number-7 hitter in baseball, Jason Heyward. You can also put Martin Prado on that list. That's five guys who are pretty darn clutch and have shown that they can come through in big situations. When guys like that comprise a majority of your team's lineup good things are bound to happen.
Most of all I'm just impressed at how resilient this team has been. The way they've lost games, and the tough travel schedule they've had these past two weeks, and they're still out there fighting until the last batter. It just can't be said enough, but to come back from the defeats they've had and still compile a winning record is impressive.
(Note: This post should in no way influence your vote in the Fan Confidence Poll later today... right.)
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Three cheers (one for each hit he got) for Matt Diaz in leadoff spot yesterday! Made me excited to see him producing in the one hole!
—Poohjure
McLouth
has pretty good numbers against Kendrick including 2 HR’s…wonder if he’ll lead-off.
Chipper also has 2 HR’s off him and Glaus is batting .750 against him in limited AB’s
by Nova Scotia Steve on Apr 19, 2010 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I just don’t like Matt hitting there. Granted, we don’t have a lot of attractive options right at the moment, but he’s a guy who hasn’t traditionally liked to take a walk, which is an important skill leadoff men need, and he also has struggled against RHP. If he continues to improve patience at the plate and can start drawing some walks, then that will change my opinion.
tUMD Hockey: In search of a title! But probably not this year.
I like Matt Diaz there, though his ability to take a walk can be suspect at times.
Fair enough. But he did show a lot of improvement in that area last year.
Here’s hoping it wasn’t a fluke.
"There's a little sound off the bat," Cox said.
yeaaaaaaah ... you totally qualified your original statement (and I missed that)
My bad.
"There's a little sound off the bat," Cox said.
I’m a little worried with his approach at the plate so far this season (SSS, obviously). I loved the fact that he was able to get his BB% up the 8% last year, and I’m hoping it’s just early season jitters or something so far this year.
Another uninnocent, elegant fall into the unmagnificent lives of adults...
by Smoltz's Beard on Apr 19, 2010 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions
I want Phillie.
"It looks like The Hound of the Baskervilles out there." - Steve Stone
"...I'm reminded of Wuthering Heights." - Harry Caray
by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Apr 19, 2010 9:54 AM EDT reply actions
Everyone is talking about how Bobby should move Heyward up in the batting order. Yet, he leads the team in RBI and is 2nd in the NL. I think he is in the perfect spot for now. It’s like having a second # 3 or #4 hitter in the lineup. I lovwe his patience at the plate and how he waits for his pitch and then does what he needs to do with it, such as the game-winner yesterday, off a lefty. I would stay with Diaz in the leadoff spot for now, as he appears to be our best option.
With a little more seasoning, perhaps Heyward could fill that role. He does get on base a lot, has some speeed to steal a base or go from first to third on a hit to right. He also has some (okay a lot) of pop in his bat. Sort of like a larger version of Rickey Henderson.
+1
I like Heyward #7 too. I think it is perfect for him right now.
This guy wants to suck all the cubs dick can he not have an unbias some what partition reguards
by RWH2 on Apr 5, 2010 10:20 AM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Apr 19, 2010 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions
With Heyward hitting seventh, my mind keeps going back to that first Marlins World Series team that had Moises Alou hitting seventh, and he was perhaps their MVP. I say keep Jay-Hey where he is.
Agreed. That is the best spot for him and the team, for now. With guys like Glaus, Hinske and Escobar getting on base in front of him, lots of RBI opportunities. My food for thought about him batting leadoff was for the future, not necessarily for this season.
7th is perfect for Heyward right now, but if Glaus continues to struggle we can’t leave him as the cleanup hitter.
hasnt mccann been clean up most of the year?
tho that still leaves glaus in the 5th spot
"If I have asthma, they won't let me scuba. And if I can’t scuba, then what’s this all been about?? What am I working toward??"
"You look like you should be married to one of the San Diego Padres."
Heyward for 5-hole
Imagine having him hit after Prado, Chipper and B-Mac…
Our leadoff men haven’t done well, so the #5 spot becomes clean-up, and all those Glaus whiffs and GIDP’s become Heyward AB’s…
by Vance in Sacramento on Apr 19, 2010 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Glaus has grounded into two DPs, let’s not get carried away here.
Having Chipper (once he starts hitting better from the LH side), McCann, and Heyward at the heart of the order against a RH pitcher would be quite nice though. The best part is that if the opposing manager brought in a LOOGY during the later innings of a game it wouldn’t really effect any of them.
Another uninnocent, elegant fall into the unmagnificent lives of adults...
by Smoltz's Beard on Apr 20, 2010 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Gondee
Change the Talking Chop logo back to the Heyward HR!
the jhey celebration
"If I have asthma, they won't let me scuba. And if I can’t scuba, then what’s this all been about?? What am I working toward??"
"You look like you should be married to one of the San Diego Padres."
I was wondering why that came down so quick.
"It looks like The Hound of the Baskervilles out there." - Steve Stone
"...I'm reminded of Wuthering Heights." - Harry Caray
by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Apr 19, 2010 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions
TWSS
"(Jason Heyward) is like the Grim Reaper -- you know he's going to get you, you just don't know where or when."
by Scott Coleman on Apr 19, 2010 11:17 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
He’s doing better and is on a bunch of medicine. He might be able to come home tonight but I’m guessing it’ll be Tuesday morning. Thanks for asking!
"(Jason Heyward) is like the Grim Reaper -- you know he's going to get you, you just don't know where or when."
by Scott Coleman on Apr 19, 2010 1:23 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
That's awesome, glad to hear it!
"Yeah, and I have an enchanted jock strap." -- Karl Karlson
by Jacob Peterson on Apr 19, 2010 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I didn't hear 'til this morning.
I am sooo sorry to hear about Riley! I’m a huge dog-guy and I hated to hear. My yellow lab mix was bit 3 different times by rattlers in FL. He was pretty sick for a while, but made it through each time. He’ll be kicking ass again in no time. The question is…will he learn from this or will he be a dumbass like mine. LOL.
What manager John Russell thought when Morton hit J-Hey with a pitch, "Would you mind not shooting at the thermonuclear weapons!"
by I Saw Buzz Beaned on Apr 19, 2010 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Venters/ Dunn
Proud of the team fighting back to win after the no hitter. As embarrassing as getting no-hit is, a bounch back walk off win pretty much erases that pain.
Can anyone elaborate on why the Braves called up Dunn and sent him back and called up Venters? Did Dunn actually make it to the pen before being sent back?
Venters was originally scheduled to be the call-up but he had recently thrown a start and would have been available to pitch had we called up him, so we called up Dunn for a few days instead just in case we needed him.
by bravesfan91 on Apr 19, 2010 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
What about Prado in the Leadoff spot?
Here’s my preferred lineup
Prado
Diaz
Chip
McCann
Glaus
Esco
J-Hey
McClouth/Cabrera
And I know Esco has a history of poor performance at the top of the lineup but I might want him hitting behind prado and let matty D hit in the 6 spot or move Heyward up to the 6 and let Diaz hit behind him
But…in Bobby I trust.
Yunel has always been good at the top of the lineup, not sure what you’re talking about.
Another uninnocent, elegant fall into the unmagnificent lives of adults...
by Smoltz's Beard on Apr 19, 2010 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, his leadoff #s are right at his career avgs
It’s as a #2 hitter that he has struggled somewhat (though not a lot).
I personally like Prado at #1 (and always have), followed by McLouth or Cabrera. J-Hey at #7 is perfect for now.
"Yeah, and I have an enchanted jock strap." -- Karl Karlson
by Jacob Peterson on Apr 19, 2010 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions
“That’s two series in a row where the Braves could have crawled into a shell and said, “we give up,” but they didn’t."
Come on man, if they woulda gave up after the first 2 weeks of the year i woulda givin up bein a Braves fan. Of course they aren’t gonna give up, hell they coulda had 5 no-hitters thrown against them AND a perfect game against them as well, but i wouldn’t expect them to give up. Sure those are 2 tough losses that we had and they keep fightin which thats what i expect from the Atlanta Braves organization, its a class organization they play the game right and for 9 innings.
braves#1
hell they coulda had 5 no-hitters thrown against them AND a perfect game against them as well,
At this point I wouldn’t rule out anything
by Nova Scotia Steve on Apr 19, 2010 1:06 PM EDT reply actions
I still am thinking positive in the long run...
but this team is on pace to be shoutout 27 times, only one other team has been shutout twice – the Astros, and one player has knocked in 25% of the runs, but they are still on pace to win 95 games. So we do have that going for us…
This is just a bunch of early-season flukes
We just had two great games pitched against us—that could happen to anybody. We’ve scored more than twice as many runs as the Astros. Our offense, as bad as it has struggled at times, is still miles above theirs. Don’t worry, everything will be great.
"Yeah, and I have an enchanted jock strap." -- Karl Karlson
by Jacob Peterson on Apr 19, 2010 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree with you for the most part and I am confident, but I do think there are as many as three major holes at 1, 4, and 8. I trust Glaus’ bat speed will come around over the season. It is silly to get so worked up in April – but I am just not sold on the leadoff and 8 holes being able to pick up slack on off nights and get big hits to pull a game out. That being said, every team has holes and these Braves for the most part can only point to three holes in the batting order b/c the staff and bullpen will be rock solid. If one or two of those three holes gets shored up – this will be a really dangerous team well into the postseason.
by CharlotteChop on Apr 19, 2010 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Pros: Jason Heyward is a titan amongst men.
Starting pitching sans DLowe has been pretty good.
Bullpen has been shutdown good for the most part also.
Martin Prado is off to a phenomenal start.
Eric Hinske has been awesome off the bench.
Cons: Absence of leadoff production
Glaus and Yunel off to slow starts.
Braves not undefeated.
After 12 games, a 7-5 record isn’t jaw-dropping, but I’m happy with it. If the team can maintain a 7-5 pace in each 12 game section, they’ll hit 90+ wins. I’ll take that!
tUMD Hockey: In search of a title! But probably not this year.
Even Lowe has been pretty good. He hasn’t been good by the rest of the staff’s standards, but by MLB standards, he is still doing well.
This guy wants to suck all the cubs dick can he not have an unbias some what partition reguards
by RWH2 on Apr 5, 2010 10:20 AM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Apr 19, 2010 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
You gotta take into account that the 7-5 record came against some real solid teams (minus the padres) and a west coast road trip.
So while it’s not jaw-dropping it’s still cause for celebration. But I’m sure you already understand that.
Another uninnocent, elegant fall into the unmagnificent lives of adults...
by Smoltz's Beard on Apr 19, 2010 2:32 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I don't really think that anything has changed
Except that we have better players this year. That makes a big difference. Props to Frank Wren for all of his moves.
"Yeah, and I have an enchanted jock strap." -- Karl Karlson
not having KJ, FYF, Kotchman, FUGA and an injured Schafer in our lineup makes a hell of a difference. I still get a bad taste in my mouth whenever i think of our Opening Day 2010 lineup.
KJ
Escobar
Chipper
BMac
FUGA
Francoeur
Kotchman
Schafer
That’s gross.
"(Jason Heyward) is like the Grim Reaper -- you know he's going to get you, you just don't know where or when."
by Scott Coleman on Apr 19, 2010 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions
*Opening Day 2009 Lineup
*Corrected
by Vance in Sacramento on Apr 19, 2010 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Also, I know who FUGA is referring to, but what does the acronym mean?
If it were my acronym, it would mean Fuc*$d Up Garret Anderson, as that’s how I felt about him last year, but I’m curious.
That guy was lazier than Jabba the Hut
by Vance in Sacramento on Apr 19, 2010 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Close.
F – U – Garret – Anderson.
This guy wants to suck all the cubs dick can he not have an unbias some what partition reguards
by RWH2 on Apr 5, 2010 10:20 AM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Apr 19, 2010 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree
Its no mystery as to why this team played such incredible baseball during the second half last year, particularly after trading away Francoeur. This year’s lineup is so much stronger, plus although he has missed a few games so far, I think Chipper is going to end up having a much better season than the one he had last year.
If the Braves don’t make the playoffs this year, it won’t be Wren’s fault. He’s assembled a VERY competitive team. And we all know what Bobby can get out of his players.
The only thing stopping this team? Injuries.
tUMD Hockey: In search of a title! But probably not this year.
KNOCK ON WOOD, DAMMIT!
This guy wants to suck all the cubs dick can he not have an unbias some what partition reguards
by RWH2 on Apr 5, 2010 10:20 AM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Apr 19, 2010 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions
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