Before Tuesday’s debacle against the Brewers, word got out that Jeff Francoeur had done something to help his game: my interest was piqued-extra batting practice with Chipper Jones or Terry Pendleton, I wondered? No. Watching game film, then? No, not exactly. I did some research and discovered…he inserted a new contact lens into his right eye. O…kay. Well, maybe it will give him a mental boost. Maybe we can rebuild him… Hell, if Jeff Blausers‘ turned backwards cap could start rallies, a brand new contact lens couldn’t hurt, right?
Right?
As the ball rolled beneath Jeff’s glove in the first inning, negating a play at the plate (sound familiar?) an unsettling thought came to me, one that had likely been repressed for some time, but finally had reared its ugly head, demanding to be acknowledged. Yes, despite my lack of patience in wanting to see my team make a run NOW, it has become abundantly clear that it is time to rebuild this team from the bottom up. No more tweaking; no more dealing away prospects. The only thing the quick fixes have done is keep the ship afloat until the second to last week of the season, before it sinks to the bottom. The Braves are exactly at .500 going back to the 2006 season, rarely putting together the impressive winning streaks the way they used to, when entire months would roll by with the pleasant easiness of an autumn breeze.
We Brave fans might have to be willing to endure several years of 80’s like misery before it gets better, but if it means 2010 and beyond mimics the 90’s, it would be worth it. The current philosophy, if there is one, is clearly not working. It’s not that they aren’t rife with talent, it’s that the talent doesn’t gel. Bobby Cox is undeniably at wit’s end. He was on his way out to argue Yunel Escobar’s gripe with the umpire, until his prodigy shortstop threw his helmet like an insolent child throwing his spoon from his high chair, which cost him an ejection–and perhaps the game. Bobby just turned around and went back to the dugout, probably wondering if he still has Edgar Renteria’s cell phone number. There can be no doubt that Bobby does his share of post game reprimanding, but for whatever reason, the behaviors don’t change. The mental mistakes don’t stop.
It is likely time to face the music and become sellers. Or, we could trade a couple more prospects and land a helpful starting pitcher or outfielder, and stay in contention, delusional, until september, before coming up short again.
Let’s not. We don’t need 20/20 vision to see the writing on the wall, and the ball rolling to it in right field again.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Atlanta Braves, Bobby Cox, Chipper Jones, Edgar Renteria, Yunel Escobar
I haven’t watched the Braves play the last 2 nights because I have been watching the Dawgs.
They definitely need to make some changes, because yes, what they have been doing isn’t working. I am sick of Yunel acting like a baby. I have seen fly balls hit to the outfield, especially to RIGHT FIELD, that should have been caught, but were allowed to drop for hits. Jeff continues to suck at the plate. The mental errors, especially on the basepaths, have just been mind boggling.
The things that piss me off about this team the most are the lack of offense, and the lackadaisical way most of the team goes about their business. A few weeks ago, Chipper said the other players “better start stepping it up”. Well, besides him and Brian, there has been NO PICK UP in intensity. No sense of urgency, no fire.
This team is boring to watch.
You’re right. It’s been painful. I still think….
Frenchy CAN play well. We know he can. He just stinks right now. I don’t even think HE knows why but he seems to be mentally just gone.
As bad as things are we’re only four games out. We’ve had consistently good starting pitching lately and Gonzo got another save making me think he could be finding his groove along with Tex.
Now I’m not just all roses about things but I don’t think we’re in a position to call it quits just yet.
JB
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