Kris Medlen vs Chuck James

[CharlotteBrave]

I keep thinking that Medlen will become the next Chuck James (although I hope not), but from what I've seen, they seem very similar to eachother at THIS POINT in their respective careers. Now, I did NOT follow the Braves farm system closely at ALL when James was called up, so I really have no clue.

However; in my head, when I start to get excited about Medlen I keep reminding myself of James.

Can someone please help me feel better about this, by telling me how they are nothing alike? Thanks :)

[Lauren T.]

Chuck James worked as a window installer for Lowe's in the off-season. :)

[bmitm76]

Medlen has better stuff. James was a one trick pony who had a great change that minor leaguers couldn't hit. He only had and effective FB and change. At the MLB level you need at least an adequate breaking pitch if you don't throw 95+.

[-Dr. Brave-]

Comparing Kris Medlen to Chuck James is like comparing an oak tree to a carburetor. Kris' stuff is hard, while Chuck's is not much gas but a lot of hot air.

Well, it made me feel a little better.

[argentina brave]

i think it's a good comparison...for now. i hope it isn't in the future.

[KB 34]

Medlen is a 23 year old rookie who for some reason is burried on the end of the bullpen bench instead of getting consistent opportunities to shine or falter. I'll worry about him if he gets opportunities and fails. Right now I see him as a potential setup reliever for the future probably starting next season.

[Freddy_Ballgame]

I think it's much too early to compare Medlen to ol' Half Game James. He's in a very tough spot right now. Cox will continue to send out Moylan, Gonzo and Soriano until one or all breaks down. He stifles the rest of the pen. Before long, one of the stalwarts will hit the DL and Cox will be forced to see who can do what. If they stick with Medlen out of the pen, he could be special. Send him out there to air it out for an inning and watch him go! More consistent work, success and a build up of confidence and we may have another shutdown guy in the pen.
BTW, is James back working those windows?

[hoosjon]

I also think that the Tommy Hanson phenomenon is hurting our view of Medlen. We need to remember that no one, not even Hanson, is that good. It takes a while to get used to Major League hitters. I just hope that both Tommy H and Kris M manage to make it through the first rough patch they go through and settle in and pitch for us for YEARS.

Why is Bobby over-pitching those 3 guys so much? I don't feel like he used to just settle into a 7th, 8th , and 9th inning pitchers situation and he seems to do it whether we need it for a save or not. Their arms are gonna fall off!

[-Dr. Brave-]

Why is Bobby over-pitching those 3 guys so much? I don't feel like he used to just settle into a 7th, 8th , and 9th inning pitchers situation and he seems to do it whether we need it for a save or not. Their arms are gonna fall off!

Not only that, but it makes it pretty easy for other teams to scout us. If the opponents know that we will only use those three relief pitchers when we're ahead, they don't need to bother scouting the rest of them.

[Wahoo]

Bobby Cox is the most predictable manager on the planet, and that has hurt us on numerous occasions (it's one of my biggest criticisms of his game-management skills).

[slowride]

I would love to see him blow the other team's mind by going Acosta, Medlen, Soriano with a one run lead.

but alas....it won't happen.

[Andy G.]

Bobby Cox is the most predictable manager on the planet, and that has hurt us on numerous occasions (it's one of my biggest criticisms of his game-management skills).
I still don't know what being predictable has to do with managing a baseball team. It's not like you're going to surprise somebody with a pinch hitter or a reliever. It's baseball. There's always the opportunity to bring in a right handed hitter to face the left handed pitcher.

[The Rap]

I think it was Dream who was the first one who was down on James and pointed out that he was an extreme fly ball pitcher which coupled with his lack of breaking stuff spelled out a death knell. I think Medlen's stuff is very good but not electric like Hanson's.

[Freddy_Ballgame]

I don't think Dream was the first, although it doesn't matter, and I doubt if we could back it up. Several of us noted his deficiencies rather quickly when he tried to go through a lineup the second time.
I think Medlen is a handful of outings away from impressing us (and Cox) or a trip to Gwinnett.

[Wahoo]

Predictability is pretty huge, especially in the postseason. When an opposing manager knows what you are going to do, he can make a move, anticipating your move, and then make a counter move. I harken back to the 2005 playoffs, when Cox had Brian effin' Jordan on the bench. Whenever a lefty came up in the late innings, Phil Garner would bring out a lefty in the bullpen, knowing that Cox would pinch hit Brian Jordan (a righty), thus burnining a bench position, knowing that any pitcher versus Brian Jordan was a win for his team. The bottomline is that Bobby Cox sucks at game management. I don't even know how anyone can dispute. Any manager in the game can predict the moves he makes. He always playst lefty v. right matchups, and thus opposing managers can anticipate this and force him to burn a bench player just to get the "favorable matchup." I'm not trashing Bobby as a whole, but he absolutely sucks as a game manager, without question.

[Andy G.]

I genuinely don't understand man. Are you saying that since managers know Bobby will go with the lefty-righty matchup, they can warm up a lefty and bring him in, then when Bobby brings in the righty, they can pull the lefty before he ever throws a pitch then bring in a righty? 'Cause that doesn't happen. If a manager does that, they've just burned a bullpen arm. I've never seen it.

Or are you saying that the opposing manager can bring in a lefty to face a lefty, knowing that he'll bring in a certain pinch hitting righty, and that because the pinch hitter is generally going to be somebody who sucks, they've outmanaged him and gotten the better matchup?

[Wahoo]

I genuinely don't understand man. Are you saying that since managers know Bobby will go with the lefty-righty matchup, they can warm up a lefty and bring him in, then when Bobby brings in the righty, they can pull the lefty before he ever throws a pitch then bring in a righty? 'Cause that doesn't happen. If a manager does that, they've just burned a bullpen arm. I've never seen it.

Or are you saying that the opposing manager can bring in a lefty to face a lefty, knowing that he'll bring in a certain pinch hitting righty, and that because the pinch hitter is generally going to be somebody who sucks, they've outmanaged him and gotten the better matchup?


I'm saying, they can warm up whomever they want. They know what the hell move Bobby is gonna make before he makes it. If it's late in the game, and there's a lefty in the mound, they know he's going to pinch hit a righty, wait for him to be announced, and then bring in a right-handed pitcher, only for Bobby to bring in a lefty. And even if he doesn't the have the matchup they want. So either a) Bobby burns a bench spot or b) they get the matchup they want. They know that Bobby doesn't have the foresight to just to stick with whomever is in the on-deck circle. Bobby makes moves just to make them, personally, I think he does so to let people believe he knows what the hell he's doing. He does many other stupid things to prove that he has no idea how to manage game, but it's late, and I'd rather not get into that, but if we must...I gladly will.

[Andy G.]

I just don't see Bobby bringing in a righty to pinch hit then taking him out to bring in a lefty because the opposing manager changed pitchers. When has that happened? Also, he doesn't always pinch hit late in a game to get a favorable matchup. I think he's done it a few times this year, pinch hitting Diaz for Anderson or Prado for Kotchman, but that's usually after the opposing manager has brought in a lefty, and if there's already a lefty on the mound, he doesn't burn that player by bringing in another pinch hitter to create a favorable matchup.

Managers don't always get credit for the decisions that work out. If a team is winning, it will be said that the manager is doing a good job. If they're not winning, it will be said he's doing a bad job. It's an endless debate that I would rather not get into as well. I just don't think that predictability has anything to do with managing in baseball.

[Chris_Moderato]

I think Bobby Cox is probably an alright manager. He's been helped by having quality teams over the years, but he didn't generally underachieve, so I don't think he sucks or anything. He's one of those guys whose teams have had a lot of success and that has helped him compile a lot of career wins. That career win total is what the networks focus on. He probably doesn't deserve as much credit as he receives, but I also don't think he deserves as much criticism as he gets around here.

One World Series, though...that will always stick out in a discussion of Bobby Cox.

[Freddy_Ballgame]

I've said for years that Cox is a wonderful personnel manager but weak as a game manager. This wasn't always the case. In my opinion, when the Braves turned it around and began the streak, a lot of their success was due to Cox and his insistence on playing hardball. His teams hustled and played what most of you know as "small ball" and teams had to play good ball to beat them. This was his style until the team had developed so much talent or traded for so much that he went on auto-pilot. The team was usually so good they didn't need to scrap for anything. The problem has been that the team wilted but Cox didn't change his non-approach. It may be coincidence, but has anyone noticed of late the team seems to be playing a lot more "small ball?" They have begun to win a bit more often and even have me beginning to think they could make a run if they added a clutch bat or two. This begs the question why do you call it "small ball" if it produces wins? That's big in my mind.

[Dreamscape]

"Small ball" means to me bunts, steals, hit-and-runs, moving the runner up, etc. I don't see them playing that at all. Looking back to June 28th, Hanson's win against the Red Sox, the Braves are 9-5 since then. Baseball is pretty simple. The team hitting the ball out of the park has a better chance at winning than the team that isn't. Looking back at the last 14 games, my numbers look like this.

Wins (9)
23 2B
3 3B
9 HR

Loses (5)
12 2B
2 3B
3 HR

Obviously, it doesn't show too much, but when I've been watching, I haven't seen much "small ball." I've seen the Braves getting power from Prado and Conrad, though. That's always big.

[wordslayer©]

"Small ball" means to me bunts, steals, hit-and-runs, moving the runner up, etc. I don't see them playing that at all. Looking back to June 28th, Hanson's win against the Red Sox, the Braves are 9-5 since then. Baseball is pretty simple. The team hitting the ball out of the park has a better chance at winning than the team that isn't. Looking back at the last 14 games, my numbers look like this.

Wins (9)
23 2B
3 3B
9 HR

Loses (5)
12 2B
2 3B
3 HR

Obviously, it doesn't show too much, but when I've been watching, I haven't seen much "small ball." I've seen the Braves getting power from Prado and Conrad, though. That's always big.

I'll expand on this......

Like you said, the power, or lack thereof, is really killing us.

Also, it is the bullpen. After five innings, we have been ahead 43 times while the opposing team has been behind 33 times. After six innings, the ratio totally flips the other way, and we finish the sixth inning ahead 36 times and down 41 times.