Dr. Tommy's Checkup: What's Wrong With the Atlanta Braves?
Comments (2)
Reason for Visit: Expected to compete with the Philadelphia Phillies for the National League East crown, the Atlanta Braves lost two of three against the Phillies over the weekend and are now in last place in the division with a 4-6 record.
Jayson Heyward should be moved up in the Braves' lineup. (Creative Commons)
Symptoms: .229 batting average (3rd worst in NL), .287 on base percentage (worst in NL), 6 home runs (3rd worst in NL), 32 runs (3rd worst in MLB), lost two series against potential playoff teams (2-5), 1 stolen base (worst in MLB)
Diagnosis: In Atlanta, there hasn't just been a power outage. There's been an any-semblance-of-offense outage. Dan Uggla, Freddie Freeman, Nate McClouth and Alex Gonzalez are all hitting .250 or less. Brian McCann is the only Brave hitting above .300.
The Braves have hit a lot of balls at fielders (only a .261 BABIP), but they also aren't being as patient as last season (6.9 BB% down from 10.1). Atlanta is also the worst team in the majors right now when it comes to pinch hitting, having gone hitless in 14 at bats.
Treatment: McCann will continue to hit. Uggla and Gonzalez will hit. Freeman should hit. But will McClouth ever be able to hit in a non-Pittsburgh Pirates uniform? The Braves don't need McClouth to be the .290 hitter he was in Spring Training, but .260 shouldn't be an unreasonable request for Atlanta.
It wouldn't hurt if manager Fredi Gonzalez moved uber-talented outfielder Jason Heyward higher in the batting order. Heyward has primarily batted sixth rather than second or third. The second and third slots in the lineup have already had four more plate appearances than the sixth position. That averages out to 64 extra trips to the plate Heyward could miss this season if he stays in the six hole.
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Comments
Yeah, Heyward was on MVP trajectory early last season. Doesn't make sense for them to hit him so low in the order.
It is way too early to talk about stats less than two weeks into the season. Truth be told, they probably miss the one and only Bobby Cox. I will say that I like your point about moving up Heyward in the lineup. It would be a shame for a young talent like that to miss 60-70 more potential at-bats.