Sunday, June 12, 2005
Injury-riddled Braves still focused
ATLANTA -- When Mike Hampton was placed back on the disabled list this past weekend, he wanted his family to know he never intended to be spending so much time with Braves head athletic trainer Jeff Porter and his assistant, Jim Lovell.
"I've become too good of friends with those guys," said a sarcastic Hampton, attempting to provide some humor to what has been a mentally exhausting period for himself and the entire Braves organization.
When the Braves left Atlanta to begin a 12-game, 14-day multi-coast road trip on May 8, they owned a 1 1/2-game division lead and were coming off a four-game sweep of the Astros, which began with a John Thomson complete-game masterpiece and ended with a dominant Hampton shutout.
Since then, Thomson and Hampton have totaled 15 1/3 innings and found themselves in the same unenviable position as Chipper Jones, who is on the disabled list for at least the next 4-6 weeks.
With their rash of injuries and inability to add to their payroll, the Braves have been forced to accelerate the rise of many of their top prospects to the Majors.
Consequently, they've lost 17 of their past 28 games. But they're still three games over .500 (31-28) and just two games out of first place in the National League East.
"It was worse last year," said Julio Franco, correctly pointing out that after their game on June 9, 2004, the Braves were at .500 (29-29) and 3 1/2 games out of first place.
While Franco is on target with his optimistic fact, the situation seems so much different this year. Thomson's tendon in his right middle finger won't allow him to return until mid-July, at the very earliest. Hampton has already made the visit no pitcher wants to make, an appointment to see Dr. James Andrews, who told him he needs two more weeks of rest before his left forearm will be reassessed.
As for Jones, he won't need surgery to heal the torn ligament in his left foot. But he won't be back in the lineup for at least 4-6 weeks. By that time, the organization that has won 13 consecutive division titles will be hoping it's still in position to make a sprint toward the finish line.
"We just have to endure and get healthy, and we will," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said.
For many years, the Braves have been known for having the best Minor League system in baseball. This year, they're being put the test by having to put their top Minor Leaguers in the Major League lineup.
When Kyle Davies takes the mound to oppose the A's at Turner Field on Friday night, he won't be the only 21-year-old in the Braves' lineup. Joining him will be his batterymate, Brian McCann, who will be making his Major League debut, and his third baseman, Andy Marte, who will be making his third career start.
While becoming the only professional sports organization that has ever won 13 consecutive division titles, the Braves built their foundation on pitching. With John Smoltz and Horacio Ramirez both providing eight innings in the first two games of the Angels series this week, they showed their teammates they're ready to do a little extra during this time of need.
If Ramirez has turned the corner, as his past two starts suggest, and Davies continues his success, the Braves' rotation, which is headed by Tim Hudson and Smoltz, is still a solid one that should at least be capable of keeping their team close on a regular basis.
"We've got some hurdles to overcome here," Hudson said. "There's always peaks and valleys during the season. We're just in a bit of a rut right now. We've got to have some guys step up, and have some of the young guys come in and produce."
Based on their comments, the Braves' players haven't lost their optimism during this trying time. But that is to be expected of any team managed by Cox, whose has built a winning attitude in his clubhouse throughout his team's long run of success.
"The name of the game is picking each other up," Cox said. "We did it last year; we're going to try it again this year."
Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/
"I've become too good of friends with those guys," said a sarcastic Hampton, attempting to provide some humor to what has been a mentally exhausting period for himself and the entire Braves organization.
When the Braves left Atlanta to begin a 12-game, 14-day multi-coast road trip on May 8, they owned a 1 1/2-game division lead and were coming off a four-game sweep of the Astros, which began with a John Thomson complete-game masterpiece and ended with a dominant Hampton shutout.
Since then, Thomson and Hampton have totaled 15 1/3 innings and found themselves in the same unenviable position as Chipper Jones, who is on the disabled list for at least the next 4-6 weeks.
With their rash of injuries and inability to add to their payroll, the Braves have been forced to accelerate the rise of many of their top prospects to the Majors.
Consequently, they've lost 17 of their past 28 games. But they're still three games over .500 (31-28) and just two games out of first place in the National League East.
"It was worse last year," said Julio Franco, correctly pointing out that after their game on June 9, 2004, the Braves were at .500 (29-29) and 3 1/2 games out of first place.
While Franco is on target with his optimistic fact, the situation seems so much different this year. Thomson's tendon in his right middle finger won't allow him to return until mid-July, at the very earliest. Hampton has already made the visit no pitcher wants to make, an appointment to see Dr. James Andrews, who told him he needs two more weeks of rest before his left forearm will be reassessed.
As for Jones, he won't need surgery to heal the torn ligament in his left foot. But he won't be back in the lineup for at least 4-6 weeks. By that time, the organization that has won 13 consecutive division titles will be hoping it's still in position to make a sprint toward the finish line.
"We just have to endure and get healthy, and we will," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said.
For many years, the Braves have been known for having the best Minor League system in baseball. This year, they're being put the test by having to put their top Minor Leaguers in the Major League lineup.
When Kyle Davies takes the mound to oppose the A's at Turner Field on Friday night, he won't be the only 21-year-old in the Braves' lineup. Joining him will be his batterymate, Brian McCann, who will be making his Major League debut, and his third baseman, Andy Marte, who will be making his third career start.
While becoming the only professional sports organization that has ever won 13 consecutive division titles, the Braves built their foundation on pitching. With John Smoltz and Horacio Ramirez both providing eight innings in the first two games of the Angels series this week, they showed their teammates they're ready to do a little extra during this time of need.
If Ramirez has turned the corner, as his past two starts suggest, and Davies continues his success, the Braves' rotation, which is headed by Tim Hudson and Smoltz, is still a solid one that should at least be capable of keeping their team close on a regular basis.
"We've got some hurdles to overcome here," Hudson said. "There's always peaks and valleys during the season. We're just in a bit of a rut right now. We've got to have some guys step up, and have some of the young guys come in and produce."
Based on their comments, the Braves' players haven't lost their optimism during this trying time. But that is to be expected of any team managed by Cox, whose has built a winning attitude in his clubhouse throughout his team's long run of success.
"The name of the game is picking each other up," Cox said. "We did it last year; we're going to try it again this year."
Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/
