Aug 26 2008
Really, there are reasons to watch the Braves play out the string
By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com
ATLANTA – You look at the standings, and what you see is not pretty.
The Braves reside 17 games under .500, 15 ½ games out of first place, and you allow that little voice inside your head to whisper a fair question:
“Why watch any more of this train wreck?”
And really, who could blame you for donning your Bulldogs’ jersey, grabbing your Thrashers’ hat and biding this disaster of a season a bitter adieu? Nobody wants to watch what the Braves have become, and certainly there is little reason to think this team will do anything other than continue its march toward its worst finish since 1990.
But there remain plenty of reasons to pay attention as Atlanta plays out the string on a 2008 campaign that will go down in the annuals as one where just about everything went wrong. Jobs – and truth be told, more jobs than we realize – are on the line. What happens these final five weeks probably will help shape what management does in the offseason.
So, while it may be tempting to close your eyes and pretend baseball season is finished, it’s not. This season – as unpleasant as it may be – marches on, and here are a few reasons why you should tell that little voice in your head to zip it:
Can Chipper Jones win the batting title?
Two months ago, the question wasn’t whether Hoss would secure his first NL batting crown, it was whether he’s make a serious run at being the first player since Ted Williams in 1941 to hit .400. A strained quad followed by a hamstring injury sapped his leg strength, and Chipper’s average has steadily dipped since mid June. But still, seeing a future Hall of Famer – and I believe Jones will end up in Cooperstown, albeit it not on the first ballot – chase a batting title adds some needed intrigue and drama to what’s left of this season.
Can the Braves win a one-run game on the road?
Mention the words “The Streak” to Braves fans, and you’ll likely enter a discussion about the team’s 14-consecutive division titles won from 1991-2005. Older fans might hear “The Streak” and think of Atlanta’s 13-0 start to the 1982 season. But “The Streak” of 27 consecutive one-run road losses is anything but a point of pride. Atlanta holds the major-league record for this type of road futility, and time is running out to snap the slide in 2008: only 15 road games remain. Win one, by one, away from home, or expect to hear this mentioned ad nausea throughout the offseason.
Can Brian McCann hit .300?
The long toll of catching nearly every day has caught up to Mac. He’s hitting just .222 in his last 10 games, dropping his average from .303 to .295. McCann hit .333 in his first full season in 2006, but dipped to .270 last season. His splits are pretty even (.300 vs. lefties, .293 vs. right-handers; .313 at Turner Field, .281 on the road). Clearly, this is the one Baby Brave from the wave of 2005 call-ups who has cemented his place as a star in the majors.
Can Jair Jurrjens finish out his impressive rookie season?
Jurrjens has been even better than advertised in this season, but now that he’s surpassed his career high in innings pitched (156 1/3 IP this season, 12 2/3 more than his combined minor/majors total last season), the Braves will be watching closely to see if the right-hander loses steam during the final five weeks. And maybe he is. Jurrjens, who toes the slab tonight against the Marlins at Turner Field, has won just once in his past five starts, and his ERA has rose nearly half a run since the start of July.
Can Charlie Morton and/or Jo-Jo Reyes grab a tentative hold on a spot in next year’s rotation?
There is no denying both Morton, 24, and Reyes, 23, possess the ability to excel at the major-league level. Control is key for both, and as is so often the case with young pitchers, when control is lost, confidence suffers. Morton has walked four or more hitters in five of his 13 starts, going 0-4. Reyes has issued four or more walks in three of his past four appearances, and his ERA has rose from 4.42 to 5.84 in his past 10 games in the majors. With three spots in next year’s rotation clearly up for grabs (of those on the current roster, only Jurrjens and Jorge Campillo are locks to be in the starting five next April), these last five weeks are ultra important for both Morton and Reyes.
Can Jeff Francoeur finally find his swing?
It appeared Frenchy was putting it together a couple of weeks ago: a three-hit night against the Cubs, followed two days later with a 4-for-5 against the Giants, moving his average to .233. Since then, we’ve seen nothing but more Francoeur failure at the plate: three hits in 26 at-bats, his average back down to .227. It’s been a miserable year for Atlanta’s chosen one, an epic struggle that has cast some serious – and dare I say, not so crazy – thought as to whether Francoeur is indeed a cornerstone of this franchise. I don’t think you trade somebody with Frenchy’s potential, somebody who’s proven it for 2 ½ years straight, just because of four bad months. But there is no denying things would be a whole lot easier on the Braves, and on Jeffro, if Francoeur could put together a decent September.
Can any of the September call-ups provide hope for the future?
Josh Anderson, impressive in his brief call-up to Atlanta earlier this season, had his 27-game hitting streak snapped at Triple-A Richmond Friday night. Still, the speedster is hitting .315 and has swiped 41 bases in 48 attempts. He deserves to get a long look in center field next month, especially with the likelihood Mark Kotsay won’t return to the Braves in 2009 (look for Kotsay to be traded to a contender before playoff rosters have to be set Sunday). The Braves also will give Brent Lillibridge some playing time, as he is the most sought-after high-level prospect in the organization and very well could be packing his bags in the offseason as part of a trade. Don’t expect to see Jordan Schafer or Tommy Hanson promoted from Double-A Mississippi, however, as neither is on the 40-man roster and promoting them to the majors would start their clock toward arbitration this year.
—30—
JB: No worries, man. I covered Georgia some during the early and mid 2000s, but I also covered Tech some in the late 1990s. Truth be told, I’m one of those rare breeds who likes both programs and likes to see both of them do well.
I’m worried that Chipper is about to get passed by Phat Albert, who is the hottest hitter in baseball right, is chasing a playoff berth, and has a much better lineup protecting him.
Ben: Yeah, I really like Reyes, but I don’t like what I’ve seen lately. I like what I saw from him in his final few starts last season, and I like what I saw from him in mid-May through mid-June.
The difference between those two stretches, and what we’ve endured from him for most of his major-league career, is control. Jo-Jo’s got the stuff to go out there and give you six, seven solid innings time and time again, but he’s got to establish that fastball on the hands and hit the outside corner with his breaking ball. When he does that and pitches with confidence, he’s very effective.
I’m hoping he can work it out the next five weeks. This team is going nowhere; hopefully, Reyes can find a rhythm and pitch effective the rest of the way. Same thing goes for Morton, who I think has better stuff than Jo-Jo and a higher upside, but who needs to establish the confidence needed to go out there and compete on nights when you don’t have your best stuff.
–30–