Chipping & Chopping Choices

The Atlanta Braves were the first team to do considerable chopping and chipping as the baseball trade deadline approaches. The AB’s said C-ya to legendary and future Hall of Fame ace, Tom Glavine this week. The Braves ingloriously dumped the expendable 305 game winner and completed a trade for established All-Star center-fielder, Nate McLouth. Pittsburgh parted with the 27 year old homegrown player in yet another head-scratching organizational move. The Pirates acquired outfielder Gorkys Hernandez and pitchers, Jeff Locke and Charlie Morton, in exchange. Hernandez is a speedy youngster but the Braves were not pleased with his disappointing numbers and plate discipline. Morton’s value is very low for a mid-range prospect, and Locke has a high ERA for his ten minor league starts. The bottom line is the Braves are geared up for battle. The Pirates clearly are trimming payroll again and the fans’ frustrations are well-documented. Fans are fed up with the dire attempts to pass the Pirates off as a real team. The loss of their best player does nothing to lessen the blow of another seemingly lost and forgotten season of Pittsburgh baseball.
The Braves, on the other hand, still believe they can contend in the close NL East race. Atlanta has only hit 10 homeruns in 51 games. They lack offensive production, but have the blueprint to contend and cause the Mets and Phillies to be cautious. McLouth is a huge boost for the offense and will replace a struggling rookie, Jordan Schafer. Schafer proved he was not a major-league ready everyday outfielder with his strikeout frequency. McLouth gives Atlanta a legitimate and intriguing run-producer guaranteed for the next several seasons. The McLouth trade was a terrific decision but perhaps the Braves could have treated Glavine better. I think the Braves will miss the finesse pitcher in the rotation. Tom provided a veteran professional presence and experience in big games. The 43 year old seemed surprise by his release after bringing to Braves to stardom throughout his career.
Atlanta’s starting rotation is not great, but the pitchers are effective enough. They haven’t received much run support outside the amicable Chipper Jones, Garret Anderson and Brian McCann. McLouth is hitting .256 with nine homeruns and 34 RBIs this year. He fills several needs for the Braves and does not command an outrageous contract. McLouth made the All-Star team in 2008, won a Gold Glove and has been tearing up the base paths with stolen bags. The pitchers will sincerely appreciate the addition in Atlanta. As the Braves waved goodbye to their iconic pitcher Glavine, they prepared to introduce another Tommy: phenom sensation, Tommy Hanson. Hanson is the Braves’ top prospect and Atlanta is ready for his era to commence. The rookie has been dominating Triple-A, going 3-3 with a 1.49 ERA. He compiled 90 strikeouts in 66 innings of work for the Gwinnett club. Sunday is promotion day for Hanson. The Braves’ talented Tommy takes the ball for his debut at home against the Milwaukee Brewers. Kris Medlen moves to the bullpen to make room for the new fifth starter.
The Braves won 14 straight NL East titles before missing the playoffs for the first time in 2006. I doubt this is the year they return to the post-season, especially after last night’s shutout loss to the Brew-crew. They thunderously thumped the Tomahawks last night. First place, NL leading Milwaukee benefited from a combined effort by Yovani Gallardo and Carlos Villanueva to best the Braves, 4-0 on Friday. Villanueva was perfect in the ninth inning to complete the shutout start by Gallardo. Gallardo picked up his sixth win and gave only two hits in a scoreless eight frames. He did not allow a base runner past second base while tossing 110 pitches. I am not entirely sure I agree with removing the right-hander after the way he was pitching. There is no reason he could not complete the game but Ken Macha resisted the thought of leaving the 23 year old in the game. Gallardo walked four and struck out six in the series opener at Turner Field.
Braves starter, Jair Jurrjens, suffered the troublesome loss. The Braves dropped to 5 ½ back of first place Philadelphia and endure their sixth shutout defeat of 2009. Atlanta couldn’t hit their way out of a paper bag last night. The offense mustered a season-low two hits. Murky fielding by shortstop Yunel Escobar compounded the home team’s woes. Escobar made two costly fielding mistakes in the same inning. Jurrjens is 5-3 but has now allowed nine earned runs over his past two starts. He did not allow more than two earned in his first eight starts. Jurrjens gave up four runs in seven innings last night. He was still able to strike out eight Brewers while issuing three passes. Jair’s ERA is still under 3 and the pitcher has a great arm. This was his first loss since April 27th in St. Louis. Don’t turn your head on this underrated hurler.
The Braves are losers of seven of their last ten games against the Brewers. Milwaukee made sure they made it seven with a breakout game from rookie , Mat Gamel. Bill Hal was set down because of his .211 batting average but entered the game as a defensive replacement for Macha. The Brewers started the scoring in the fourth with Gamel’s two run double off Jurrjens. The maladies did not end there. Milwaukee added another pair of runs in the fifth. Escobar’s throwing error on a Ryan Braun infield hit allowed the runners to advance. Plump Prince Fielder was intentionally walked and Jurrjens was never able to get him out last night. Fielder went 2 for 2 with two walks. Mike Cameron got on board with a fielder’s choice due to Escobar’s bobbled ground ball potential putout. One run scored on the sloppy play and Gamel’s single drove in the second for the Brewers’ final run.
The Braves did nothing to trim the lead in the ensuing innings. The highly-regarded McLouth made his debut an unmemorable one. He grounded out three times and popped out once. Atlanta left runners in scoring position in three innings and Gallardo squandered the few Tomahawk scoring opportunities. McCann and Anderson drew consecutive walks with two outs in the fourth. McCann also hit a leadoff double in the seventh. Both chances were not capitalized on, and neither was turned into a run. Jeff Francoeur flied out in the fourth and struck out in the seventh against the dominating pitcher. Gallardo shutdown the Braves offense with unbelievable breaking stuff and stifling fastballs. Atlanta second baseman, Kelly Johnson, came into Friday’s game with 10 extra base-hits in 10 games. He had an 0-for-3 night, with one walk. Martin Prado socked the only other Atlanta extra base hit, a double in the third inning. The Braves bullpen produced positive results. Relief pitching is always a link to winning teams. Eric O’Flaherty and Manny Acosta each pitched scoreless innings of relief on Friday. The Braves are set up to finish games if only they could spark the offense to score some runs. McLouth should start driving in runners because he’s already familiar with NL pitching. He had a busy night in the outfield and looked good defensively in his debut. Nate hit third in the order and while he doesn’t hit for a high average, is a steady and improving power bat. His career-high batting average is only .276 but he clubbed 26 homers. McLouth has 100 RBI capabilities but has yet to top triple digits in his short career. He joins the supporting cast in Atlanta coming off last season’s 94 RBI season, his highest to date.
Hanson and McLouth move the Braves closer to a pennant race. Atlanta is at least trying to stay in it with the front office moves. Both players make the Braves better, but not significantly. Hanson’s talent and McLouth’s incalculable intangibles allow Atlanta to remain competitive for the duration of the season. The Atlanta attack comes at just the right time too. Hanson will need time to get acclimated to the major leagues. McLouth will succeed if he can hit his stride and get in a groove. The Braves were players in the off-season when they acquired highly-touted playoff performer, pitcher Derek Lowe. General manager, Frank Wren, also boosted his pitching staff with the trade for Javier Vazquez. They were rumored to be inquiring about Jake Peavy, A.J. Burnett and Ken Griffey, Jr. None are wearing Braves uniforms but the team has been okay without them. Atlanta may not be done dealing yet. The organization observably has a sense of urgency, although the moves have been calculated. The trade deadline is more than one month away and the Braves have interest in Brad Penny and Mark DeRosa. The team is working hard and spending liberally to try their hand in the NL’s toughest division. Atlanta accumulations will affect whether or not they can seep back into playoff hunt. The Braves are simply settling the score and maximizing their chances for success. Their farm system is stocked with blue-chip prospects and they are not afraid to shell out cash, chop or shop. But if the Braves want to be a part of this October’s fun, they will have to do more than play out of bounds. The team has to start tampering in-bounds.

Parting Points: Susurrously listening to The Strokes