WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE BAD POINTS FOR BRAVES

Thus far the Braves have been  very inconsistant. They will go a week where they look like an elite team and then lose 4 of 5 to bottom level teams. This cant keep happening if we want to hang with Philly this year. The offense has really underachieved so far- Uggla has  been horrible. Heyward has been a dissappointment. Prado, Mccann and Eric Hinske are the ones who have actually hit like they want to win. Frank Wren needs to address the leadoff position. I love Prado- but he isnt a leadoff hitter. I think he would be a great #2 hitter but not leadoff. This is where the trade for Mcclouth has hurt so much. If Nate actually was good we could put him atop lineup and ride him but hes not done well. We need speed atop the lineup and  start hitting home runs with men on. Too many solo home runs this year. Prado seems to ground into a double play atleast 2 times a week. I wonder how the starting pitchers feel about the pathetic offense the Braves have displayed so far.. Things need to change and soon.

 I like Kimbrel but he needs to get it together. Is it a sin to ask for a 1-2-3 9th inning save? He walks alot of guys and sometimes makes you question is he the guy. I do believe he is. I try to tell myself " hes a rookie give him some time" The Braves are  being very patient with him I think more so from a mental aspect. They want to show Kimbrel they have confidence in  him  and yanking his job away could really hurt his mindset being that hes such a young player. I hope he will start coming through and reward the Braves for there patience and faith in him.

 I do not like Alex Gonzalez. I admire his defense but he is a true slacker. How many times has he hit a long ball and admired it and it not been gone? He acts like a baby throwing tantrums anytime he gets out with men on base. Most importantly HE DOESNT HUSTLE. I wonder has Freddi pulled him aside and talked to him about this. He gets paid millions of dollars to play this game and he plays for a good team- the least he could do is run when he hits the ball. It sickens me to see him slack off so much- I though the Braves gave up on Yunel Escobar too early. I just dont like Agon. I wish his hustle was as good as his defense. But its not- I wonder are the Braves as concerned about his slacking as Iam.. Its time somebody steps to him and tells him to HUSTLE!

 WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT THIS SEASON SO FAR?

BULLPEN BLUES & HINSKE

The last couple weeks Craig Kimbrel has struggled as our closer. Iam not suprised at all by this given the fact he is a rookie. But it has got to stop. The players need to have confidence in the 9th inning when Kimbrel comes in hes going to shut the door. I wonder if any of his teammates are having second thoughts yet.. This makes me miss Billy Wagner from 2010. I like Kimbrel and I think he will be good but he has to getpast this rough patch and get back to closing out games on regular basis. I think he has great stuff just cant waver in his confidence in himself. Closing is hard for a Veteran in this league. Let alone a rookie.. I Pray that he will get it together. Id have nightmares of Kimbrel blowing a lead for us down the stretch in September.

The Braves really miss Peter Moylan. Hes so verstile and well known for the ground ball double play. Not having him as an option is a big loss. Moyal, Venter, Kimbrel in the 7-9 innings really sounded good before Kimbrel ineffictiveness and Moylans injury. I hope Peter can recover and be back in time by September for the stretch run..

How valuable is Eric Hinske? the guy is insane. Hes so clutch.Huge hit after huge hit off the bench, home run after home run. He was vital for the Braves clubhouse and production of the bench in 2010. His home run in game 3 of the playoffs last year was one of the biggest hits in Braves postseason history. It was a great move fot the Braves to bring him back. He is on fire right now. Hes weak defensively so thats why he isnt a starter but theres not a guy Id rather have pinch hitting on my team then Hinske. Hes a great teammate and always prepared and ready for his number is called to pinch hit. It looks like its going to be another clutch, awesome year for Hinske again in 2011.

CURRENT STATE OF THE BRAVES

 The Braves have had a tough week- the negative press about the Roger Mcdowell situation and the DUI that Derek Lowe got were disappointing. But whats more dissappointing to me is the braves are 4-7 at home. They are 6 games behind the Phillies and  right now there bullpen is struggling. Craig Kimbrel is a rookie so I know he will have highs and lows during his first full season. I just hope his lows will be at the start of season rather then end of it- that being sad its not fun to see him struggle right now. When you have your 8th and 9th inning guys with less then 3 years of Mlb experience it does concern you a little but. I still have alot of high hopes for Kimbrel and Venters though. Im confident they will be successful this year. I wouldnt be too suprised to see the braves eventually make a move for some more veteran help in the bullpen

The offense is still struggling- Uggla hasnt hit anything yet. Heyward is hot and cold. Alex Gonzalez seems to blame his struggles more on the umpire then he does himself. This offense needs to step it up. The starting pitching so far has done well. Brandon Beachy doesnt have the wins to show for it but hes  pitched very well. I hope the offense will start scoring more runs for him soon. Its  too early for major concerns but the bullpen has shown it cant fully hold leads and AGAIN this offense is problematic.. I hope as the weather gets warmer the Braves offense will too... by the way  what are your thoughts on Fredi Gonzalez first month as manager???

BRAVES SWEEP THE GIANTS!!

 I dont know about you but Im pumped after this weekends series with the Giants- Beat Lincecum, swept the Giants the team that won world series/ team that ended our season last year. Its not only we swept them but the way we did. The offense hit well- got the big hits when we needed. The pitching rotation pitched well also.I  will say I think the Braves bullpen is being overworked and Peter Moylan being hurt right now is a big loss out there. But Im encouraged by the offense and I will give props to Nate Mcclouth who has hit better in the 8 hole. I was also encouraged by Heywards weekend series because he hadnt hit anything the past 10 days. I hope hes turned the corner. The Braves got to within a game of .500 again which is a step- But now they need to step it up even more because Philly has the best record in baseball and with that pitching staff you wont see them go on many 5-6 game losing streaks. I  dont think the Braves are close to  hitting where they will be but Im more confident in the team now then I was a week ago. I hope the team is more confident to and can go to San Diego and handle business there just like the Phillies did this weekend. Good teams need to capitalize on bad teams. The Braves  have struggled most of April but I hope the sweep this weekend will  get them the fresh of breath air they need to really go hard  and start puting long win streaks together.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE LINEUP- BRAVES OFF TO A ROUGH START

I think its time Fredi  has to do something- the braves  are struggling right now- they cant get the big hit and  the offense isnt producing much period. I think Nate Mcclouth in the #2  spot is a big mistake. Hes not producing enough to be hitting in front of Chipper.  Maybe they need to try him at leadoff and have Prado hitting 2nd or move Mcclouth down in the order and have Heyward hitting 2nd. I think Fredi right now looks alot like Bobby Cox- stuck in his own ways and not agressive enough. Why didnt Fredi  let Matt Young steal tonight to put him in scoring position for the potential winning run? When are the Braves goin to start running and manufactoring runs like the best teams in Baseball do? Yes it is early in the season but how long can you  keep on going with  this lineup thats not producing?? Come on now changes need to be made.

MY THOUGHTS AFTER BRAVES FIRST 10 GAMES

 The Atlanta Braves are  4-6..It  is  still   way  to  early  to  be concerned-baseball  is  a  long   season BUT I can  say that Iam dissappointed in the way the Braves  played vs Philly. The  pitching  has been  great-I  feel bad  for  Derek  Lowe-he has  pitched great in his 3 starts this  year   but  only   has  one win to show for it. The Phillies have suprised me   how well  they have  started the season   offensively scoring  7  runs a  game-the Braves offense has been the opposite-so far they have not had the big hits or the big innings.You have to  tip your hat to Roy Oswalt for his preformance saturday and Cole Hamels  pitched  great sunday.

The  Braves offense  will  come  around Iam confident in that. I think Freddi  Gonzalez  should try shaking  things up  a  little bit- move  Mcclouth down  in  the order-give Eric Hinske a start at  first  base.I think Freddy Freeman will  be good  eventually  but  Im not   suprised  one  bit  by his struggles. I  have been presently suprised with  Chipper Jones- he really  looks  good. I would  love to  see the  Braves be  more   agressive manufactoring  runs. In the home opener Friday  night the Phillies  stole  3  bases in the first inning-thats  more steals   then the Braves  have for the season..The best teams in baseball have speed and know  how  manufacture the runs. The Braves  for  the  last  20  years have never done that-and I believe thats why the only   have one Championship to show for it. Thats a  big reason why Nate Mcclouth  is so  important to  the Braves  this year. He has  great speed but hes not  hitting  to  get on  base  to   steal some. The  Braves offense would  be  so  much  better if we had those guys who  could  get on and steal   bases- but  they sit back and wait for the 3 run  homerun   and it doesnt come often enough. Iam   fully confident that Dan Uggla  will  come  around and produce for us.Its still way to early to  panic but  losing 2 of  3 to  the Phillies in the home opening  weekend  was dissappointing.The Phillies out pitched,out hit,out ran and  did everything the Braves didnt do  to win 2 of 3 games.I hope to see different results starting Tuesday with Florida.

OFF TO A 3-4 START

Iam honestly not really concerned about the Braves 3-4  start to season- I believe the offense is just feeling itself out and will get it together and produce- Freeman doesnt suprise me because he is a rookie and I knew he would have  times where he played like it. I do think he will eventually contribute though. I will say this - Dan Uggla's defense hasnt impressed me at all- there have been some balls I thought he should have gotten to that he missed. It makes me miss Prado being there. Our bullpen has been great and the starters have done well so far. I think the Braves have been weary being away from Atlanta so long. I fully expect them to do well after  sleeping  in there own beds and  being able to come to turner field ready to handle buisness. It is way too early in the season to be worried- I trust the offense will come together and produce and the pitching will continue to carry this team. If Mcclouth doesnt start hitting and Freeman looks more like a star struck rookie then a Rookie with potential then yeh I will begin to scratch my head- but at 3-4 I'm not losing any sleep over it.