Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Slim's Braves Report
from Fillmore Slim...
OK its time for Slim's Braves report
First Off
This team is giving me fucking Ulcers. I am going to have a condition or something by mid july if we don't hit stride here soon. and from the looks of things we are a few issues and a much better NLEast away from hitting a stride so buckle down.
One thing i will say is that NO Team in the NLEast is showing any kinda real balls or kicking any serious ass. Injuries and slumps have plagued the best division in the NL. It won't last all season though, too much talent.
The Good
We are currently 25-19 and after a completely horrible road trip
We are only 1.5 games out of First Place
Chipper Jones has returned to his MVP form, he has been injuered a bit but when he is on the field and in the line up he can't be stopped and makes this team a real force. Asside from one very foolish error he has been excellent at 3rd base too
Chipper's Numbers so far
.339 7HR 24Rbi
Mike Hampton has been in what we in Atlanta refer to as his
"second half form" throwing major heat this season. he has been incredibly dominant and leading this pitching staff. He has also been hitting the ball very well too.
Hampton's numbers
4-1 1.96era ----------- .333 ba
John Smoltz, Smoltzie returned to the starting rotation this year and I will be the first to stand up and say that I was semi skeptical of the move because I wasn't sure is he would be durable enough to be effective all season, and or late in the game. Asside from a horendous opening day performance Smoltz has been lights out. If it wasn't for a combination of Dan Kolb and some pretty shitty run support he would be 6-1 right now. his ERA after opening day was 32.00, he has trimmed it down to a modest 2.69
Smoltz's Numbers
3-3 2.96era 62IP
Adam Laroache has come alive and has been hitting the ball VERY well in the last 20 or so games. He is an exciting player, if he can get his average up a little higher you will quickly see him become the Braves everyday firstbasemen
Laroache's numbers
.264 6hr's 27Rbi
Andruw Jones has had a rollercoaster of a season already and its only late may. after having a VERY possitive spring training in wich he changed his stance and his aproach hoping to bring some more consistancy to his bat he had an absoluetley horrible start, at one point going 0-30 and batting well under .200. It got so bad that Bobby sat Andruw out a few games. Well on his birthday Andruw LIT up the Philies and he hasn't looked back, at one point he brought his average all the way up to the .300 mark, he has been hitting for power and he has also been improving his average and strike outs.
Not to mention continuing to play some of the best center field baseball has ever seen.
A Jones's numbers
.281 11Hr 28Rbi
The Rookies................
the Braves have the best farm system in baseball, no comparison
an organization that turned out the likes of Marcus Giles, Chipper and Andrew Jones, Dave Justice, Steve Avery, Jermain Dye, Javy Lopez, Ryan Klesko, Michael Tucker, Damien Moss, Charles Thomas, Jason Marquie, Odalis Perez, Bruce Chen, Horacio Ramirez, Kevin Millwood.. the list goes on and on and on and is showing NO signs of slowing down.
This years crop of rookie talent that made the major league roster has been having a big impact so far.
Pete Orr was brought up to fill in for Marcus Giles after an opening day injury and he has captured the eyes of Braves fans. He plays with heart and he hustles his ass off. Not to mention he can play any position on the field. he is a real ballplayer. Orr is batting .327
Wilson Betemit was a HEAVILY touted minor league prospect for years and he never seamed to be able to put it all together. a smooth fielder with good range and an incredible arm he never could live up to the hype that surounded him. At the begining of the season Bobby and Shurholtz were faced with the option of releasing him, or putting him on the Major league roster. With Chipper having a few nagging injuries Bettemit has been getting some at bats and is showing well.
He is currently batting .306 If the braves are in a pinch down the stretch look for Wilson to be used as Trade bait. We have Andy Marte ready to take chippers place and we have a few young shortstops ready to replace Andrew. WIlson is better then a utility player and will be a starter on someones team.
Kyle Davies. After being a pretty heavily touted prospect comming into teh 2005 season Kyle got to show everyone what we have been hearing about. he was called up to take the spot of John Thompson in the Atlanta rotation. His major league debut was 5 scorless innings against Boston @ Fenway Park.. does it get much better then that?
Thompson will be out for a long time so look for Davies to be in the rotation at least until August. I am sure he will have his ups and downs but the furture is pretty bright with this kid
Tim Hudson has picthed well, if it wasn't for a few bullpen issues he would have a much better record. and John Thompson was also throwing heat when he went down
The Bad
Injuries have been hitting us hard.
Eddie Perez catcher early June shoulder
Chipper Jones 3rd day to day Ribs
Mike Hampton SP early june Forearm
John Thompson SP July/Aug Finger
Kevin Gyrboski RP day to day Stomach Infection
Johnny Estrada, Rafeal Furcal, has been having some offensive woes
The Ugly
First off I am going to talk about Dan Kolb
his 2 years prior to comming to Atlanta Dan Kolb
had 60 saves and an ERA around the 2.5 mark
I don't know what the hell happened on his trip to ATL
but he has completely fallen apart.
Kolb's 2005 numbers so far
1-4 18.2inn 6.27 ERA 11Saves 3BlownSaves 17BB 22hits
he is jeckyl and hyde, he either looks brilliant or he goes Mark Wholers on us. its sooo nerve racking. Now Bobby Cox demoted him last week to a middle relief role, so I am thinking he has had enough of this crap-- but the first opertunity that he gets Kolb is back in there with the game on the line and damn near looses a VERY important game to the Mets.
The Raul Mondesi/Brian Jordan experiment has failed miserably. The lack of production that these 2 bring to the plate has put a MAJOR hole in the bottom half of our order. We have 3 picthers with better batting averages then Raul. We have been tinkering with chaning the name of the mendoza line to the Mondozasi line. Brian Jordan even though a shadow of the player he once was, he is at least a possitive presence in the dugout and a good team leader. IMO these 2 have got to go. I would be much happier with a struggling rookie learning the ropes then an aging veteran whose not going to be with the team next year anyway.
Outlook
Look for Hudson and Smoltz to heat up, Giles to pick it up
Chipper to come back swinging and Hampton to return and pick up where he left off ¶ 5/24/2005 05:56:00 PM
OK its time for Slim's Braves report
First Off
This team is giving me fucking Ulcers. I am going to have a condition or something by mid july if we don't hit stride here soon. and from the looks of things we are a few issues and a much better NLEast away from hitting a stride so buckle down.
One thing i will say is that NO Team in the NLEast is showing any kinda real balls or kicking any serious ass. Injuries and slumps have plagued the best division in the NL. It won't last all season though, too much talent.
The Good
We are currently 25-19 and after a completely horrible road trip
We are only 1.5 games out of First Place
Chipper Jones has returned to his MVP form, he has been injuered a bit but when he is on the field and in the line up he can't be stopped and makes this team a real force. Asside from one very foolish error he has been excellent at 3rd base too
Chipper's Numbers so far
.339 7HR 24Rbi
Mike Hampton has been in what we in Atlanta refer to as his
"second half form" throwing major heat this season. he has been incredibly dominant and leading this pitching staff. He has also been hitting the ball very well too.
Hampton's numbers
4-1 1.96era ----------- .333 ba
John Smoltz, Smoltzie returned to the starting rotation this year and I will be the first to stand up and say that I was semi skeptical of the move because I wasn't sure is he would be durable enough to be effective all season, and or late in the game. Asside from a horendous opening day performance Smoltz has been lights out. If it wasn't for a combination of Dan Kolb and some pretty shitty run support he would be 6-1 right now. his ERA after opening day was 32.00, he has trimmed it down to a modest 2.69
Smoltz's Numbers
3-3 2.96era 62IP
Adam Laroache has come alive and has been hitting the ball VERY well in the last 20 or so games. He is an exciting player, if he can get his average up a little higher you will quickly see him become the Braves everyday firstbasemen
Laroache's numbers
.264 6hr's 27Rbi
Andruw Jones has had a rollercoaster of a season already and its only late may. after having a VERY possitive spring training in wich he changed his stance and his aproach hoping to bring some more consistancy to his bat he had an absoluetley horrible start, at one point going 0-30 and batting well under .200. It got so bad that Bobby sat Andruw out a few games. Well on his birthday Andruw LIT up the Philies and he hasn't looked back, at one point he brought his average all the way up to the .300 mark, he has been hitting for power and he has also been improving his average and strike outs.
Not to mention continuing to play some of the best center field baseball has ever seen.
A Jones's numbers
.281 11Hr 28Rbi
The Rookies................
the Braves have the best farm system in baseball, no comparison
an organization that turned out the likes of Marcus Giles, Chipper and Andrew Jones, Dave Justice, Steve Avery, Jermain Dye, Javy Lopez, Ryan Klesko, Michael Tucker, Damien Moss, Charles Thomas, Jason Marquie, Odalis Perez, Bruce Chen, Horacio Ramirez, Kevin Millwood.. the list goes on and on and on and is showing NO signs of slowing down.
This years crop of rookie talent that made the major league roster has been having a big impact so far.
Pete Orr was brought up to fill in for Marcus Giles after an opening day injury and he has captured the eyes of Braves fans. He plays with heart and he hustles his ass off. Not to mention he can play any position on the field. he is a real ballplayer. Orr is batting .327
Wilson Betemit was a HEAVILY touted minor league prospect for years and he never seamed to be able to put it all together. a smooth fielder with good range and an incredible arm he never could live up to the hype that surounded him. At the begining of the season Bobby and Shurholtz were faced with the option of releasing him, or putting him on the Major league roster. With Chipper having a few nagging injuries Bettemit has been getting some at bats and is showing well.
He is currently batting .306 If the braves are in a pinch down the stretch look for Wilson to be used as Trade bait. We have Andy Marte ready to take chippers place and we have a few young shortstops ready to replace Andrew. WIlson is better then a utility player and will be a starter on someones team.
Kyle Davies. After being a pretty heavily touted prospect comming into teh 2005 season Kyle got to show everyone what we have been hearing about. he was called up to take the spot of John Thompson in the Atlanta rotation. His major league debut was 5 scorless innings against Boston @ Fenway Park.. does it get much better then that?
Thompson will be out for a long time so look for Davies to be in the rotation at least until August. I am sure he will have his ups and downs but the furture is pretty bright with this kid
Tim Hudson has picthed well, if it wasn't for a few bullpen issues he would have a much better record. and John Thompson was also throwing heat when he went down
The Bad
Injuries have been hitting us hard.
Eddie Perez catcher early June shoulder
Chipper Jones 3rd day to day Ribs
Mike Hampton SP early june Forearm
John Thompson SP July/Aug Finger
Kevin Gyrboski RP day to day Stomach Infection
Johnny Estrada, Rafeal Furcal, has been having some offensive woes
The Ugly
First off I am going to talk about Dan Kolb
his 2 years prior to comming to Atlanta Dan Kolb
had 60 saves and an ERA around the 2.5 mark
I don't know what the hell happened on his trip to ATL
but he has completely fallen apart.
Kolb's 2005 numbers so far
1-4 18.2inn 6.27 ERA 11Saves 3BlownSaves 17BB 22hits
he is jeckyl and hyde, he either looks brilliant or he goes Mark Wholers on us. its sooo nerve racking. Now Bobby Cox demoted him last week to a middle relief role, so I am thinking he has had enough of this crap-- but the first opertunity that he gets Kolb is back in there with the game on the line and damn near looses a VERY important game to the Mets.
The Raul Mondesi/Brian Jordan experiment has failed miserably. The lack of production that these 2 bring to the plate has put a MAJOR hole in the bottom half of our order. We have 3 picthers with better batting averages then Raul. We have been tinkering with chaning the name of the mendoza line to the Mondozasi line. Brian Jordan even though a shadow of the player he once was, he is at least a possitive presence in the dugout and a good team leader. IMO these 2 have got to go. I would be much happier with a struggling rookie learning the ropes then an aging veteran whose not going to be with the team next year anyway.
Outlook
Look for Hudson and Smoltz to heat up, Giles to pick it up
Chipper to come back swinging and Hampton to return and pick up where he left off ¶ 5/24/2005 05:56:00 PM
