Dec 20 2008
Chuckie’s days with Bravos done after team doesn’t offer lefty contract
By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com
ATLANTA — On the night before Mother’s Day 2007, Chuck James mowed down the Pittsburgh Pirates through 6 1/3 no-hit innings, winning his fourth game of the season and moving his career record to 15-7.
The little left-hander with the modest fastball and a decent breaking ball, two pitches that James got by with thanks mostly to a deceptive pitching motion, looked poised to be a big part of the Atlanta Braves’ pitching plans for the foreseeable future.
That future now is finished, at least for now.
The Braves opted not to offer James a contract last week, making the 27-year-old a free agent. Considering what James has been through since that sterling outing by the banks of three rivers 19 months ago, it’s not a surprise nobody is factoring him into Atlanta’s pitching plans.
Simply put, you can’t succeed in the majors on just two pitches, and the league eventually figures out James’ delivers. That, and the fact Chuckie tried to pitch through a sore shoulder as the Braves’ season turned sour in the final two months of 2007, led to a brutal finish to the season.
But 2008 was even worse. As the Braves’ rotation fell apart, James got several shots to earn a spot again among the starters. Instead, he went 2-5 with an ERA of 9.10, and ended up having shoulder surgery, which will sideline him for most of 2009.
James’ problem was his inability to develop a third pitch. Opposing hitters took notice and made him pay: James has surrendered 25 homers in his past 74 innings pitched.
The Braves are open to bringing James back on a minor-league deal at some point in the future. Given all the holes this team has to fill, I wouldn’t expect James to be in a Braves’ uniform anytime soon, if ever again.
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