Is it too early to say that our ace, Tommy Hanson, stepped up and got this team out of its 4-game losing streak? Yes, it probably is too early to call him our ace, but Tommy Hanson certainly is getting better at pitching in the major leagues. He led the charge Thursday afternoon as the Braves avoided the sweep and shutout the Reds.
Hanson struggled early, loading the bases in the second inning, but got the Reds leadoff hitter to strikeout to end the scoring threat. That was only one of two strikeouts on the day for Hanson, who is still struggling with his control as he issued 4 walks, while holding the Reds to just 2 hits through 6 innings. The bullpen finishers -- Peter Moylan, Mike Gonzalez, and Rafael Soriano -- pitched the last three innings for the ultra-safety non-save.
The offense got going early with a run on a Casey Kotchman sac fly in the second inning, and homeruns from Matt Diaz and Nate McLouth in the fourth and fifth. Tommy Hanson got the scoring started in the 3-run sixth with a two-out bases-loaded single for his first major league hit and RBI. McLouth followed with a two-run double to put the Braves up by 7 runs.
For as much as the last two games were all about mistakes and missed opportunities, the Braves took advantage of most every opportunity in this game. It helps when the ball leaves the park, as it did twice, and the Braves pitchers pitched around trouble and held the Reds 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
A good win to build some confidence heading into this weekend's series in Boston.
0 recs | 86 comments
Was anybody else
highly confused when the intentionally walked failcoeur to get to kotchman?
Don Draper - June 18, 2009
No, because it was Dusty Baker
royhobbs - June 18, 2009
I don't agree with it, but it's not ridiculous
Francoeur has been hitting well lately, drove a couple of balls off Maloney earlier in the game, and has hit a couple of hard outs over the past couple days along with his hits. I understand bashing Francoeur for his season of work but let’s give credit where it’s due, he’s been looking good at the plate over the last week or so and pitching to him with a soft-tossing lefty isn’t the best matchup, especially with a lefty up next.
was385 - June 18, 2009
Woo-wee...
Gotta love that .039 ISOP this week. Or, in other words, almost exactly what Jair Jurrjens has put up this year in as many at bats.
MichaelProcton - June 18, 2009
What is ISOP
drumzalicious - June 18, 2009
Isolated Power: SLG-BA
Or…how far does he hit it when he does? League leaders are usually around .300. The Braves leader this year is actually Nate McLouth with a .202, with Chipper right behind at .198.
MichaelProcton - June 18, 2009
So because he has not hit the ball far he is terrible? Is that your argument? If so that’s pathetic
You dont always have to hit the ball out of the park or deep to the outfield to score a run a little short liner in a gap works just as good a lot of the times.
It just seems like you guys will find whatever stat you can on FYF to point at something lacking in his game instead of just giving the guy credit for doing better over the last week or two.
drumzalicious - June 18, 2009
..."or two?"
Yes, he’s hit singles (and a single double) at a lovely 8-26 clip this week, but he was 2-18 in the seven days before that.
And a liner in the gap would get the guy a double. He’s hitting bloops and grounders through the infield, and if he was a slap-hitter with speed on the basepaths who had some other offensive ability, that’d be fine. But he’s not. All he’s doing (and all he’s done for the past year and a half plus) is getting few hits with little power, with nothing else to boost his offense.
MichaelProcton - June 18, 2009
we're not talking about the week before that
We’re talking about his hot hitting of late. And again, he’s been hitting line drives, maybe not gap shots all the time, but solid hits into the outfield and you’re reducing it to “He’s hitting bloops and grounders through the infield”. You’re going after me for saying that you hate Francoeur, but then you come out with this blatantly untrue stuff. I understand if you hate the guy, his performance has been painful to watch and he hasn’t exactly been the most humble in interviews, but if you’re going to bash him when he does poorly, at least give some credit when credit is due.
was385 - June 18, 2009
"instead of just giving the guy credit for doing better over the last week OR TWO."
by drumzalicious on Jun 18, 2009 10:47 PM EDT
MichaelProcton - June 19, 2009
ummmm, ok?
The guy gave a rough estimate of how long it has been (that’s what the “or” is for). I’m sorry that not everyone takes the time to go back and do in depth research on the subject for a comment on a blog.
was385 - June 19, 2009
Doubling the time span sure makes that estimate rough...
But you’re right…God knows there aren’t many of us who can spare five seconds in our day.
MichaelProcton - June 19, 2009
I don't care about his ISOP
the guy has been hitting line drives left and right over the past week. Anyone else and you’d be saying wow, theyre really locked in, but just go ahead, don’t let anything sway your hatred of him (btw, he’s just missed a homer recently).
was385 - June 18, 2009
And my uncle just missed being my aunt...
by the span of about 4-8 inches.
MichaelProcton - June 18, 2009
ok, that doesn't really work
If a player puts a charge into a ball in his first two at-bats and just misses homers, on that third at-bat, the pitcher isn’t going to say well he’s 0-2, an easy out, he’s gonna say oh shit I’ve been lucky to avoid giving up a couple homers to this guy, I’d better pitch to him carefully (or in this case, I’d rather take my chances with someone else.)
was385 - June 18, 2009
You seem to like assuming what other people think, huh?
There was my ‘hatred’ of Francoeur, or my supposed commentary about another player hitting as he has over the span of a week, and now you’re projecting your thoughts to Micah Owings.
MichaelProcton - June 18, 2009
It's called logic
Do you hate Francoeur (have you ever used FYF?), would you complain if someone like BMac or Chipper were hitting like he was this past week, and the last is just plain logic. MLB ball is a game where pitchers use in-depth advanced scouting reports and watch tons of film of the hitters they are going to face, do you think it is an unreasonable leap to think that Owings remembered that Francoeur had smoked a ball off him that he was lucky didn’t go out?
was385 - June 18, 2009
1. I can say “Fuck you” to anybody I please…doesn’t mean I “hate” them.
2. If McCann or Jones were hitting like he has in the last week, yeah, I’d be suprised and perhaps a bit disappointed. For them to hit at a .350 clip with no power would be very unlike them. As for Francoeur, his year and a half plus of suck has earned a good bit of trepidation when it comes to any success he has at the plate, particularly over as short a span as just a week.
3. You just killed your own point. If the advanced scouting reports and tons of film show that he’s a shitty hitter on any kind of non-mistake pitch, you’re probably going to pitch to him like he’s a shitty hitter and hope you don’t make any mistakes. Since when does the scoreboard give credit for balls that almost go out of the park? If Owings is lucky it didn’t go out, I guess Francoeur is just lucky every front row homer he’s ever hit did.
MichaelProcton - June 18, 2009
How did I kill my own point? Even bad players can get in hot streaks and when that happens, you obviously have to pay much more attention to them. And I don’t care how little power someone is hitting for, if they’re hitting .350 over a span and even their outs have been hard hit then that’s impressive.
was385 - June 18, 2009
Tell me where I can find the "hard hit outs" column in the box score or the back of the baseball card.
MichaelProcton - June 18, 2009
This is such an ignorant statement
its like Francoeur asking where OBP was on the scoreboard. If a pitcher is getting tons of line drives off him and they’re just getting hit right to guys, I’m not going to be happy with his performance. Luck plays a big part in this game, and you can’t ask for anything more than a batter to hit a ball well, pretty much anything beyond that is just about where it’s hit and where the defense is positioned.
was385 - June 18, 2009
Well if he is "unlucky" in every at bat
then he shouldnt be in the majors. A ML hitter should be able to put the ball through a hole in the defense.
esadb - June 19, 2009
HELLO? THIS!
MichaelProcton - June 19, 2009
I'm not saying he's unlucky in every at bat
Read what I’m saying and then comment. Normally over the past few seasons he hasn’t been unlucky, he’s just been terrible. He’s had stretches where all he has had are strikeouts, weak groundouts, or pop ups. But lately, he’s been hitting the ball hard a number of times for hits and even some of his outs have been hard hit balls.
was385 - June 19, 2009
I swear, do you guys really not understand what is being said here? They’re saying that FYF has been hot OVER THE LAST WEEK, and has been driving the ball hard in this series, which is why Dusty choose to IBB him in THIS GAME.
Lennox - June 19, 2009
Thank you
finally someone who can read a simple statement and actually understand what it means
was385 - June 19, 2009
There's a measured statistic for luck...
It’s called BABIP…and Francoeur is exactly as “unlucky” as he was last year and a whopping 9% less lucky than he is on his career. Unfortunately, luck can only carry you so far if you’re not a fundamentally good baseball player.
MichaelProcton - June 19, 2009
You're arguing with yourself here bud
Because what you’re arguing against most certainly isn’t something I’ve said. I’m not saying he’s been unlucky the whole season, I’m saying that all you can ask for is a hard hit ball and sometimes they’re right at people. Normally Francoeur hits weak balls that are lucky to be hits, but lately, he’s been hitting the ball well and had several hard hit balls that he was unlucky to hit right at people.
was385 - June 19, 2009
I concur
I think that FYF may be making more contact lately, but he certainly isn’t making more runs or production. He has 0 HRs in his past 48 ABs (over 13 games), he has 5 RBI in the same time-span, 12 hits (5 of which came in 2 games), his batting average is still hovering right around his season norm of .250 during this exact time frame.
To his credit, he has only struck out 6 times during this stretch while walking (IBB not included) 3 times.
baseball-reference.com does not allow me to (or at least, I don’t know how to filter it) find a LD% or a BABIP for the past two weeks.
But, his numbers have not increased or really decreased at all over the past two weeks. He is still getting on base at his season clip, he is hitting his season’s average, he has a 2:1 K:B ratio with lots of runners left on base and little production. Still horrible for a C-OF.
justincredubil02 - June 19, 2009
one more thing
his OBP is actually lower over the past 2 weeks than his season norm.
justincredubil02 - June 19, 2009
See thats the problem. Hitting a ball out of the park isnt the only thing that scores runs. hitting it to the corner of the park isnt the only thing that scores runs. in fact i could care less if all he hit for the rest of the year were line drives that fell right in front of the outfielders. He is at least making contact and moving runners over. Bringing them in.
Just give the guy his credit
drumzalicious - June 18, 2009
For Christ's sake...
He’s got 5 RBIs and 3 runs in the last 14 games. Are you actually happy with that from a corner OF who brings average defense aside from a good arm?
MichaelProcton - June 18, 2009
Just give up man, there’s some people on here who are going to blindly have faith in FYF despite what the numbers say.
If they’re happy with his .333/.368/.389 over a 19 PA span, awesome. If they want to ignore the fact that he’s taken 1 walk and hit 1 XBH during that time, awesome. If they choose to completely ignore the entirety of the 2008 season along with the 242 PAs this season that came before the last 5 games where he put up a .244/.278/.338, awesome. Let them live in their fantasy world.
The main reason we’re doing as poorly as we are this season is because we continue to shovel outs into a furnace by the dozens with this guy.
Smoltz's Beard - June 19, 2009
If you're going to bash us, at least read the comments first
I mean seriously man. You’re saying that we have blind faith in the guy but that is just plain not true. We’re just saying that if you’re going to bash a player when he’s not doing well, then you should also give him some credit when he’s hitting the ball well… and he is lately. No one is saying that this nullifies his horrible performance over the last two seasons, no one is saying that we shouldn’t be looking for a replacement, no one is saying any of that but you and MichaelProcton.
was385 - June 19, 2009
I read the whole argument, unfortunately. You’re asking us to give FYF credit for hitting enough singles in the past few games that finally results in a OBP over .300 during that time, when he’s been atrocious for like 250 games prior to it.
I will give him credit when he starts getting on base and hitting for power for a prolonged period of time…things that your typical corner OF does. I’m not going to get excited for him hitting a bunch of singles as a result of a .375 BABIP
He’s not hitting the ball well, and that’s where your logic fails.
Smoltz's Beard - June 19, 2009
Thank you.
was, have you ever heard of this concept called deviation from norms? When Chipper goes into a 10, 20, or even 40 AB slump, people don’t say, “He sucks.” They say, “What’s wrong?” By the same token, when Francoeur goes into a 10, 20, or even 40 AB hot streak, they don’t say, “Put him in the All-Star game,” they say, “Hmm…is he hitting in such a fashion that he can sustain that streak?”
MichaelProcton - June 19, 2009
You’re telling me what I’m saying (and it’s not what I’m saying) and then arguing the point that I haven’t made. I’m not saying put him in the all-star game, I’m saying he’s been a tough out lately, just like when Chipper was in his funk I was saying, he’s in a slump. Do I expect either to continue for a long time? No, not really, but I do hope that Francoeur’s does.
was385 - June 19, 2009
Youre problem is
youre taking things literally.
esadb - June 19, 2009
no, not really
I know he doesn’t literally think I’m advocating Francoeur for the all-star team, but it’s a big leap from oh he’s hitting the ball well to he’s a good player, which is what I’ve been told that I think.
was385 - June 19, 2009
Well sorry
but some of the points you posted made it sound sort of like thats what you were saying.
esadb - June 19, 2009
I didn't tell you what you were saying at all.
I used the generic term “people.” Now, if your overly sensitive little head got to worryin’ about that, I’m sorry.
MichaelProcton - June 19, 2009
This is why I hate stat geeks
because you completely ignore what you actually see and just go off of stats (if you’re even watching the game). He has been hitting the ball well lately. These haven’t been lucky flares that just fell in the right spot or ground balls that find a hole, he’s been hitting solid line drives lately and even a lot of his outs have been hard hit. So yes, his approach lately has been much better at the plate (which is blatantly obvious to anyone who has been watching the past week). I’m giving credit to a guy who has been hitting the ball well lately, just like I’d be doing if any other player was hitting well. Again, I’m not saying this will continue and certainly not saying it forgives his terrible performance over the last year and a half, but I will give him credit for hitting well.
was385 - June 19, 2009
indeed
all i would like for him to change now is his first pitch swinging because although he has been hitting the ball hard he still needs to wait for some better pitches.
drumzalicious - June 19, 2009
I like how you’re getting upset at Procton when you think he’s putting words in your mouth, which I don’t really think he has been, and then turn right around and do the same to me be insinuating that I havn’t been watching the games and I’m simply going by the numbers. Real mature.
I’ve been watching the games, and I’m not seeing these “solid lines drives” and “hard hit” outs (neither of these have anything to do with his overall approach, btw). I’m seeing the same old FYF getting a little lucky when facing 2 IP of Aaron Harang, and a myriad of other back end starters and sub-par relievers. Maybe you’re a little easier to impress than I am, and if that’s the case then that’s the case.
That’s the problem with your subjective analysis, and why it’s pointless to try and argue with someone like you…so I’m going to stop wasting my time.
Smoltz's Beard - June 19, 2009
Just a lefty-lefty matchup thing...
And you had to figure Kotch is a pretty easy guy to double up if he hits it on the ground. And it’s not like you can say it didn’t work. They got Kotchman out without moving the runners.
MichaelProcton - June 18, 2009
I think it didn't work
because FYF more than likely (7 out of 10 times, according to his OBP) would have gotten out, then Kotch pops up, then, Ross doesnt walk, Hanson and McLouth don’t get RBIs and the game is much closer at that point.
justincredubil02 - June 18, 2009
that’s stupid. they got kotchman out, and that’s all their is to it. If you walk chipper to get to the next guy, then he pops out, and then the next guy gets a HR, did they fail then?
nope
RichmondBraves - June 18, 2009
“If you walk chipper to get to the next guy, then he pops out, and then the next guy gets a HR, did they fail then?”
…yeah?
l0stnumber - June 18, 2009
Not really because the point is to not let chipper do the damage. He is more likely to do damage to you than say Kelly Johnson.
drumzalicious - June 18, 2009
this
MichaelProcton - June 18, 2009
So if he gives up a 2 run (or more) homer because he walked a more perceived threat it’s not a failure? Gotcha.
Strategy lasts longer than two batters. It’s not a failure if they walk a batter and the remaining batters do no damage. Walking the batter automatically extends the inning in the absence of a DP. This creates the opportunity for the HR to occur when it did.
l0stnumber - June 18, 2009
Just like Kotchman is more likely to do damage than FYF
justincredubil02 - June 19, 2009
Actually not...
Francoeur hits better against lefties than Kotchman, both for this year and their respective careers.
MichaelProcton - June 19, 2009
you would rather
FYF be batting than Kotch?
Lefty-righty matchups be damned, I would rather pitch to FYF than Kotch.
all you have to do to get FYF out is 3 breaking balls away. That should do the trick.
justincredubil02 - June 19, 2009
Murley's also shown to have pitched much better against lefties.
There are a lot of things there that say Kotchman isn’t the guy to pitch to. Although I will say he’s done better in avoiding DPs than I would have guessed (just 4 in 40 chances.)
MichaelProcton - June 19, 2009
Actually this year FYF has been holding off on those Breaking pitches away. He still gets out on some of them but he has been better
drumzalicious - June 19, 2009
Your argument is flawed
IBB-ing Chipper is not equal to IBB-ing FYF.
justincredubil02 - June 19, 2009
Oh my
Every comment has been a reply. My head hurts
Scott Coleman - June 18, 2009
+1
10-4 - June 19, 2009
WTF?
why do you even have to make this comment? Who cares if people are replying to each other? It is called a conversation.
I apologize if people are trying to have a conversation on this website. In the future we will all just get along and agree with everything without having any sensible dialogue amongst ourselves.
What is the point of this post? To show your disdain for replies?
Don’t be such an ass.
justincredubil02 - June 19, 2009
Overeact much?
I can’t speak for him, but when i click on this thread and saw it had so many comments, i was surprised to see it was, to the time of his post, one very long heated debate. Long heated debates aren’t a rare occurence, i just found it funny that it happened right off the bat in a post.
10-4 - June 19, 2009
I cant tell if youre serious.
esadb - June 19, 2009
i don’t know if he said something to them, but bobby was very specific after last night’s game, saying that people were swinging at bad pitches with guys on base. that’s the first time i’ve heard bobby get specific about the reason we can’t score runs. maybe this is the beginning of something new…
Bravely going forward - June 18, 2009
I think Bobby has been on TC while the games have been going on reading our disapproval of the way the guys have just been hacking
drumzalicious - June 18, 2009
god help him if he reads jeff schultz’s columns…seriously, that guy is a dick.
Bravely going forward - June 18, 2009
Jeff Schultz loves Braves mgmt about as much as John Smoltz.
10-4 - June 19, 2009
And the interesting thing is, we didn't strike out once.
MichaelProcton - June 18, 2009
i think he was referring more to the pop ups and weak ground outs it led to
Bravely going forward - June 19, 2009
I wasn't criticizing...just saying it was interesting.
MichaelProcton - June 19, 2009
sadly i couldnt see this game
lately i’ve been working from 4:45am til 9 at night so there hasnt been much time for me to check up on the Braves, great to see Tommy leading us into a win
bravesfan1047 - June 18, 2009
4:45am to 9pm?
Jesus christ, i would be dead after 3 days if i had that schedule
Scott Coleman - June 18, 2009
Frenchy isn’t hitting all that bad as of late. Don’t get me wrong, the guy is still a total waste of talent (i’ve decided to call him that from now on along with MR. 6-4-3. Calling a guy i’ve never met a fuck head or asshole is dumb. he’s probably a real good guy off the field).
But ya, my new target is officially Kelly Johnson. KJ kills more rally’s than FYF does, has a lower average and cant field for shit. Isn’t it funny the 1st time in 5 games KJ is benched, we win 7-0? Prado should be our 2nd basemen in the Boston series
Scott Coleman - June 18, 2009
Kelly has been a solid 2B this year.
esadb - June 18, 2009
LOL
Scott Coleman - June 19, 2009
if you're serious about him being solid, go look at the stats
http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/sortable_player_stats.jsp?teamPosCode=4&statType=1&timeFrame=1&Submit=Submit&c_id=mlb&subScope=pos&sitSplit=&venueID=&baseballScope=NL&=&=&=&=&=&timeSubFrame=2009&&sortByStat=2B
Not to mention he has the range of a parking meter
Scott Coleman - June 19, 2009
I meant solid defensively.
Which he has been. Not great, but greatly improved from last year.
esadb - June 19, 2009
according to the D Metrics
he has been one of the best in the league
justincredubil02 - June 19, 2009
Nice rebutle, man.
esadb - June 19, 2009
Just like...
the last two times Francoeur hasn’t started, we’ve won and scored an average of 6 runs?
MichaelProcton - June 19, 2009
awesome analysis
Smoltz's Beard - June 19, 2009
Hanson
is just nasty.
apoxonbothyourhouses - June 19, 2009
Him pitching out of jams is much more impressive to me than getting everyone out. Its more important for young pitchers to learn how to pitch in the bigs than to have the pure nasty big league stuff.
Obviously Tommy has nasty big league stuff, so when he combines that with his apparent knack for getting out of jams he will be our ace.
bbxxj - June 19, 2009
+1
The only thing keeping him from being a major league ace is himself at this point. I know boog for one has said it a lot during his starts, but he has stuff that most major league pitchers can only dream of having and as he gets more experience, he’ll realize that. But it is a nice time to see that when the pressure is on and he is in a jam, he trusts himself more than in a normal situation. He just needs to take that mentality and use it all the time.
was385 - June 19, 2009
+2
agreed. and to think he’s getting out of a majority of his jams WITHOUT striking out hitters. Just wait until he becomes a smarter pitcher and knows what pitch he should throw in what count. i cant wait
Scott Coleman - June 19, 2009
it is rather exciting.
justincredubil02 - June 19, 2009
wow i just wasted part of my life reading this
somebody pass the advil
Cap'n Eddie - June 19, 2009
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