The Braves and the All-Star Game
Two Atlanta Braves made the All-Star Game this year, Brian McCann and Chipper Jones, and four others have made trips in years past: Mark Teixeira, Tim Hudson, and the injured Tom Glavine and John Smoltz. This will be Brian’s second third trip in a row and second third overall (both all three as a backup), and Chipper’s sixth overall (fifth as a starter) but first appearance in seven years . Teixeira is a one-time All-Star (he started in 2005), Hudson’s a two-time All-Star (both as a backup), Glavine’s a ten-time All-Star (two starts in a row, 1991-92), and Smoltz is an eight-time All-Star (he started in 1996).
So how have they done in the Midsummer Classic? Well… some better than others. Chipper’s torn it up when he’s played, with a homer, three singles and a walk in 11 plate appearances, for a nice line of .400/.455/.700. (In case you’d forgotten why he’s an All-Star, so far this season he’s hitting .376/.472/.614, which basically isn’t human.) Much of that was his sparkling 3-3 perfomance in the 2000 All-Star Game at Turner Field, when he hit the only home run of the game and accounted for a third of the NL’s hits. He was held hitless in two at-bats in 2001, his last appearance.
On the other hand, Brian McCann’s batting .000 in two at-bats in his brief All-Star career, but if he stays at the level he’s playing — the best catcher in the National League, and only 24 — he’ll have plenty more chances to hit a few dying quails and get a positive number to the right of the decimal point.
Tom Glavine has had many more chances to screw up, and he has taken full advantage to put up some of the ugliest numbers of any player with his number of selections. His numbers this year wouldn’t let him sniff the game even if he were healthy, but that’s probably best: he’s given up 16 hits and 9 earned runs in 8 innings over six appearances — maybe that’s why he was left on the bench four other times he was selected.
Smoltz has been much better, and might have been headed to the game this year if his shoulder had held up. In his six appearances (he was left on the bench twice), he gave up 7 hits and only 2 runs in 5 2/3 innings, including two scoreless in his 1996 start.
Tim Hudson’s lifetime All-Star ERA is 0.00, but it’s not clear when batters will ever have another chance to damage it. He was left on the bench during his last All-Star selection in 2004, though he pitched a perfect inning in his first All-Star Game in 2000. Mark Teixeira made the most of his one appearance in 2005, going 1-3 with a two-run homer off Dontrelle Willis, but he’ll stay home this time.
It looks unlikely that the Braves will be representing the National League in the World Series this year, but pride is still important, and Brian and Chipper can help make sure the NL team — whoever it is — has home field advantage in the Series. Because the one thing I hate as much as the Braves losing is seeing the AL win. Let’s do it for the Senior Circuit, guys.
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40 Responses to “The Braves and the All-Star Game”
July 15th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
B-Mac’s third trip in a row and third overall.
July 15th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Ugh, oops, sorry. Right you are.
July 15th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
The trade market for Mark Teixeira just got hotter. The Yankees Hideki Matsui is expected to miss even more time and could face possible knee surgery. Although, the Bronx bombers don’t have much in the way of players or prospects.
July 15th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
We’ll see if the Yankees are able to drive up the price. They didn’t in the case of the Johan Santana deal, and it’s not clear that they were seriously in on the Harden or Sabathia deals. I’ll be interested to see if this affects what Wren is able to get.
July 15th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
The Yanks seem to be much more interested in someone like Xavier Nady.
July 15th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
And Chipper gets the National League into the hit column. He was slumping in the regular season — .253/.388/.430 in his last 25 games, since June 10th, the last day he was hitting .420 — so let’s see if his stroke is back.
July 16th, 2008 at 12:08 am
wow! That is all I have to say
July 16th, 2008 at 12:40 am
you know what wud be sick- if Brian McCann could get an at bat here.
July 16th, 2008 at 12:59 am
Why has the NL batted 13 times and Brian McCann not batted?!? I say pull Dan Uggla, move Guzman to 2nd, Martin to 3rd, and Brian behind the plate. Or Brian could play first. Hell, at this point I’d like to see him play some LF.
July 16th, 2008 at 1:02 am
Alright, I’m now convinced that right now Brian could play 2nd better than Uggla.
July 16th, 2008 at 1:15 am
He’s got the best hitting catcher in baseball warming the bench of gosh sakes….for the love of everything…use your Brain…dont be a Bobby, Clint!
July 16th, 2008 at 3:39 am
why did mccann not come in as the 2nd catcher. He’s better than either of the other two offensively, he couldn’t be any worse at throwing out runners, and he was 2nd in voting.
July 16th, 2008 at 4:11 am
In hindsight, I don’t think you can argue with Clint Hurdle’s decision to play Russell Martin. No offense to McCann but were you watching Martin play? The guy saved the game for the NL a couple of times.
July 16th, 2008 at 6:12 am
Of course, if McCann had played virtually the entire game, folks would be screaming about that being to excessive for one catcher. You can’t please everybody all the time !
July 16th, 2008 at 8:11 am
For the first time this year, I regret that I could not at least watch a baseball game on TV.
Oh well this feeling will pass.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:41 am
Hell of a game — wish it hadn’t gone so late, because I just couldn’t turn it off. I thought McCann made a really valiant effort on the last play of the game to turn Corey Hart’s crappy throw into a close play. But the most important thing that happened last night: after a half-season without him, we saw the reappearance of Bad Lidge, Brad Lidge’s self-destructive alter ego. The Phillies are going to have a really tough stretch run — and a tough next three years, with that questionable extension they gave him — with this guy lurking in the bullpen, knowing that he crumples under pressure.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Blame the Braves’ offense for Huddy not making the All Star team this year. With more run support, he would have easily had double digit wins and been picked as a backup.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:40 am
The real problem is that Ryan Dempster — Ryan Dempster — was on the team while guys like Hudson and Cole Hamels were left off.
July 16th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Russell made 1 good play at the plate in mclouth’s throw home and a few routine plays that were more clutch by the pitcher and infielders.I’ll counter that by asking you what russell martin did with the bat?
July 16th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Well, he got a hit off of Mariano Rivera. Not that that is tough to do or anything.
July 16th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
wait, wait, wait. Alex, are you serious? Lidge blowing the save in the All-Star game when he hasn’t blown a save all season and has been utterly dominant is a bad sign for you? I’m sorry but that is just a bit ridiculous.
July 16th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Alex, Brad Lidge admitted that because he had already warmed up six times and sat back down six times, and then came into the game, he had nothing left. If anything, the Phillies and Charlie Manuel have to be screaming foul right about now !
July 16th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Speaking of a MASSIVE FLEECE in the making, the Teixeira trade is shaping up to be one of the biggest bust’s in recent memory. Because, if the Braves hold on to him, fail to make the playoffs and Tex leaves in free agency, Atlanta will have given up five players in return for two draft picks and not much else.
July 16th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Coach, I disagree — read JC Bradbury’s analysis here.
Will, I’m being partially facetious, but only partially. Lidge’s big problem the last few years, everyone was convinced, were due to mental problems resulting from giving up that homer to Albert Pujols, following which he had trouble finding the strike zone. I recognize that he had an incredibly good first half — a first half in which he probably overperformed his true talent. He’s probably due for a correction in the second half, regardless of the psychic effect of blowing the All-Star Game.
And it’s not completely his fault he blew the game — if he was warmed up 6 separate times, then that’s really criminal abuse on the part of Clint Hurdle. But he’s a guy who will take this hard, and it remains to be seen whether he’s fully overcome the pressure of losing a really important game.
July 16th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Allowing the all-star game to count toward home field advantage just gives the American League even more of a leg up in the World Series. It’s not fair and it never will be.
The growing disparity between the two leagues is becoming more and more apparent each and every year. The A.L. has won seven out ten and ten out the last fifteen World Series competitions. The A.L is 11-3-1 in the all-star game since 1994.
Concerning inter-league play.
Collectively in 2008, the AL was 149-102 against the NL for a .594 winning percentage. To put that in perspective, over a 162-game schedule that translates to a 96-66 record. That is equal to the best record in baseball in 2007 (Boston and Cleveland). That means that the average AL team is equal to the World Champs when they play the average NL team.
Consider that the NL has not won the inter-league battle since 2003 and has only won it four out of 12 seasons. The best winning percentage for the NL in inter-league games was .547 back in its first year, 1997. The AL has registered a .540 winning percentage or better in five seasons, including the last four straight.
In 2008 the three NL division leaders are a collective 16-29 against the AL. The three AL leaders are 34-20. Only three NL teams had winning records in inter-league play (New York, Atlanta, and Cincinnati). Only two AL teams, both cellar dwellers (Toronto and Cleveland), had losing records against the NL.
Something has to be done because the senior circuit (N.L.) is clearly inferior.
July 16th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
AL ball isn’t baseball. Make the pitchers bat. Make the massive DH’s play the field. After all, baseball is for athletes. Athletes should be able to do more than just one thing.
By the way, looks like I have a doppleganger. (the previous entries on this post by Andrew aren’t me). I have no problem with you new doppleganger Andrew. Should I change my name for the new guy. I have no problem doing so.
July 16th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Andrew, the American League just plays the game with an emphasis on more power pitchers due to the DH, which leads to more sluggers and better overall teams. Personally, I’m opposed to the DH. But, the players union will have none of it, the designated hitter is here to stay.
I think that should the A.L continue to dominate in inter-league play, the all-star game and the World Series, we will eventually see the National League adopting the DH rule.
And yes, it will be a sad day indeed if and when it happens.
July 16th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
The DH isn’t the only reason but a pretty big one. Good teams built good opponents as well. That is why things go in cycles. The West is better and has been for the past few years then the East in the NBA. The AFC is better and has been for a few years then the NFC in the NFL. Same as the AL vs. the NL. It doesn’t always mean championship dominance, Cardinals, Celtics, and Giants prove that. It does mean in interleague games the disparity will really show.
Try learning to drive a car at 30mph and only going up to 30mph. Then try to go on 285 at 3pm and see how good a driver you are. Only take batting practice vs. subpar pitchers and see if you can hit the better pitchers. The top 3 or 4 teams in the AL are the best teams in baseball and have been for over a decade. That makes the other 10 or so teams that much better because they have to play them everyday.
DH or no DH let there be 2 or 3 great teams in the NL and watch the quality of play go way up. Complaining about the DH isn’t going to change anything. The NL will get a DH before the AL gives theirs up, that’s a fact.
July 16th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Coach, Brett DeVall is already return on the Tex trade and the Braves could end up with two more high draft picks as well. Realistically, we have no idea what the true outcome of this deal is and won’t until a couple of years down the road. The Rangers got some good prospects in return but prospects are not guarantees.
July 16th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Brett Devall is the result of losing Ron Mahay to free agency. I wouldn’t call Devall a return as of yet. Minor league prospect is more accurate.
As far as the Rangers go , they have benefited already. Salty has been on their roster as the back up catcher for 42 games. Matt Harrison has made two starts for the Rangers, one quality and one really bad.
I don’t know who will come out ahead in the future as far as the trade goes. I do know that the Rangers are 50-46 while the Braves are 45-50 right now. Teixeira was supposed to help return the Braves to the playoffs, that has not happened thus far. So, for the moment I view the trade as a big disappointment.
July 16th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
The Braves have been a big disappointment, but Tex performed about as well as he could have last year, and right now his offense isn’t the problem. If the team played as well as we could have reasonably expected, then we would be on the playoff bubble. The trade did exactly what it was supposed to do. Sometimes you roll the dice and lose. That doesn’t mean that we were wrong to do it.
July 16th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Coach, I have no objections to any of your points. I was simply saying I think the DH cheapens the game.
I am not saying that the Braves should definitely sell Tex either. Two first round draft picks could be good, especially if the Braves draft college guys with high ceilings that can supplement the team sooner rather than later. The Braves are so full of low minors talent, but the high minors talent is all really up with the big leagues or traded away.
However, if the Braves can get a young, talented, cheaper major league player and a solid minor league prospect, I think they should take it. I think that is worth as much or more than 2 draft picks.
July 16th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
to say that devall isn’t return on the trade is just inaccurate. We have him entirely because we made the trade. It’s not an opinion. It’s a fact. So far, we’ve gotten more major league production from our guys. Tex is a very good middle of the order hitter, while salty hit .251 with texas last year and has hit .219 this year. He was supposed to be a major league ready, budding star of a catcher, and so far he has not even won the starting job. So far, Harrison has a 6.52 ERA with a 1.55 WHIP in 9.2 innings. True, a small sample size, but also not good work. Feliz is a top prospect now and Andrus is progressing as hyped, so as far as major league production, we’re winning, but only the future can tell. And I don’t think it’s a loss even if feliz and andrus turn into good players because we traded future uncertainties for present production. It’s not like a straight up trade of major leaguers. It’s very much like the trade that netted us smoltz. The tigers got a very good player for a few years while we were willing to wait a few years for smoltz to develop. It’s all just a function of where your organization is.
July 16th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Generally, if you draft a college player over a high school player, you’re taking their proximity to the majors over their ceiling. If they have a high ceiling and can be in the majors in a few years (example: Tim Lincecum), they’re going to go very early in the draft. In any event, the way to get high minors talent is to let your low minors talent age. Right now, the braves’ low minors are loaded, so in a few years, their high minors should be loaded. So if you keep the low minors stocked all the time, it should just keep turning over.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Mike Hampton is just like Britney Spears….OOPS im Injured again!!!…..This time apparently is his QUAD…..will this bum EVER retire…for hiw own sake and the fans…..he has to face the fact that his body cant hold on for him to pitch 5 or 6 innings every five days…Retire Mike, Please…
July 16th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Hampton tweaked his groin in the first inning, went out and pitched the second inning, and left after that as a precaution. Doesn’t look like anything serious though.
July 17th, 2008 at 12:10 am
Will, no offense but….havent you learned anything about Hampton???…for god sakes, he Tweaked his “pec” muscle…ok, me or you would say, its ok, its nothing serious…but we’re talking about Mike Hampton…the glass man…he missed 1 + month with that pec thing….of course this is serious for HIM…if it is Huddy or Jair or somebody else….ITS NOT…He’s TOO FRAGILE , his body CANT take it anymore …i wish he hangs them up…for good….you’ll see in a few days when is his next “rehab”, i see it somewhere August and then he injures again and they shut him down….
July 17th, 2008 at 12:22 am
The organization is being incredibly careful with Hampton so the fact that he was allowed to return and pitch an entire inning after tweaking the muscle. If they were at all concerned that it was serious, Hampton would have been don the second it happened.
July 17th, 2008 at 3:41 am
Mike Hampton = BUST. The good news is, Charlie Morton can stay in the rotation for the time being.
July 17th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Will you’re so funny with your comments about Hampton. It is almost one of the reasons I read this blog.
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