It might be hard for some fans to think back to last weekend when the Braves had just swept the Royals, had won five in a row, and controlled a two and a half game lead in the NL East. This led the fan confidence, which had been above 80% for the past month, to jump to its highest ever mark of 86% this week.
But that was last weekend. The Braves will have a tough road ahead of them as they come back home this week to face the Tigers after having been swept by the ChiSox. Their bats will have to exit their state of hibernation, and the weak links in their rotation will have to turn it around.
The Braves may consider another lineup change, and move Omar Infante into the number-2 spot behind Martin Prado, while moving Jason Heyward down to the sixth or seventh spot in the lineup. While Heyward still has a .371 on-base percentage for the season, his June OBP is below. 300, and he is mired in a prolonged slump. Moving him down in the order may take some pressure off of him and allow him to regain the All-Star form he showed in May.
0 recs | 18 comments
Imagining what the headline would be if fanpole vote taken after sweep:
fandave - June 25, 2010
Really....
sddbaker - June 25, 2010
not really …
fandave - June 25, 2010
really…
carebearmafia - June 25, 2010
I think that Heyward should be down at #6 in the order just to maximize his ability to hit with runners on and get better pitches. Right now they are not really challenging him at all because Chipper batting behind him has not been THAT great and yes Prado does get on in front of him occasionally, but normally that doesn’t affect the pitchers the way it should.
He was so good at #6, I don’t know why they don’t move him back.
Dave_D - June 25, 2010
that's a great idea
he was there at the start of his career and thrived on it
southman - June 25, 2010
If Chipper batting behind him
is causing pitchers not to pitch to him, shouldn’t that mean they should move Chipper from the 3 spot instead? Just because Heyward is slumping is no reason to give up on him yet. If he keeps slumping through the break, then you make the move.
Perrinbar - June 25, 2010
I think that Chipper does need to be moved from the 3 spot, but not quite yet. I think that we’re putting a bit too much pressure on Heyward by putting him at the top of the order and playing him everyday even when he needs a day off. If think dropping him back to 6th and putting him in more RBI opportunities would be good.
Dave_D - June 25, 2010
Chipper’s been swinging the bat a little better (the emergence of McCann and Glaus behind him have helped in that regard).
Heyward has become the weak link in the lineup and needs to be moved down in the order, and given a little more rest. It’s not a big deal, he’s only 20 and has a good head on his shoulder.
DCP916 - June 25, 2010
I think it’s less about where he’s hitting and more about what he’s swinging at. He’s swinging at pitches out of the zone and trying to pull everything. I remember reading earlier in the season that TP and bobby were trying to get him to be less patient. When the whole lineup was struggling and he was carrying the team, they tried to change him to boost the offense and instead it has changed his approach negatively.
telemakhos - June 25, 2010
Stay cool
The sweep shouldn’t affect anyone’s vote this week — we simply ran into a team that’s even more on fire than we have been, and they dominated us very effectively in pitching, hitting, and of course scoring. Sure, we played some weak-sister ball (none of it really BAD per se outside of a bunch of weak popups), but I think we were due to lose a series, and even playing our good ball we would have been hard pressed to take 2 of 3.
Granted, getting swept sux but whaddayagonnado; let’s sweep the Kittens….
If you voted 8 last week, you should vote 8 this week.
Leave JHey where he’s at; it’s just a slump that really doesn’t derive from his place in the order — he’d be striking out and popping up in the 6/7 hole as well. Patience…..
skymuse - June 25, 2010
I agree man
I voted 9… and it will stay the same unless we go on another 9 game losing streak! This team is so much different than other teams from past years! It’s like everytime we get down, you still feel like they can come back, and they have! Oh, and in case people have not noticed, we got a really large amount of talent in the minors… Go Bravos!!!
UpstateNyBravesFan - June 25, 2010
I agree man
I voted 9… and it will stay the same unless we go on another 9 game losing streak! This team is so much different than other teams from past years! It’s like everytime we get down, you still feel like they can come back, and they have! Oh, and in case people have not noticed, we got a really large amount of talent in the minors… Go Bravos!!!
UpstateNyBravesFan - June 25, 2010
I would be less concerned about the sweep if the Mets and Phillies weren’t playing so well right now.
We need to get our grove back ASAP against the Tigers. Our final 12 games are all against division opponents and it would be nice to put a cushion between us before the AS break. Also, we need to all become huge Reds fans – 10 of their final 13 games are against the Phillies and Mets.
DCP916 - June 25, 2010
There are still way too many games against divisional opponents to even worry about right now. Look, let’s face it, even if we fall out of first place this week or next week or next month, September is filled with divisional games. Just the last two weeks of September we play Philly 6 times. Let’s not get too excited over holding onto first place at the end of June, and let’s get more worried about having first place at the end of September! GO BRAVESSSSSS!
bashby20sh - June 25, 2010
But the team wouldn't be hurting as much with him at 6 or 7.
MichaelProcton - June 25, 2010
I hadn’t considered moving Heyward down. That’s a good idea until his thumb feels good enough for him to start hitting like he did the first two months. I’m not sure I would put Omar in the 2 hole especially since he doesn’t start every day. Melky has been getting on base at a better rate than him the last couple months, so maybe having Cabrera 2nd would work. Or just move Chipper to 2nd, McCann 3rd, Glaus 4th, etc.
redwards95 - June 25, 2010
We'll be okay....
Just need Big Red to step it up!!!!
http://TwitPWR.com/L6o/
UGAstudent4UF - June 25, 2010
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