Sunday, May 11, 2008
Sports

Heavy rotation

Braves’ pitching staff struggles with injuries

Doug Benc/Getty Images
Jair Jurrjens has been one of the most reliable starters this season.
By Michael Mahan

The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that all things in the universe move consistently toward chaos, entropy and disorder. Stars cool, fan belts break, light bulbs pop. The only advanced physics the Atlanta Braves pitching staff wanted to see this season had more to do with late-breaking sliders and plunging curveballs, but Newton’s Second Law was not meant to be broken.

Sore shoulders, strained pectorals and bum elbows have already sidelined Braves pitchers this season. John Smoltz's recent shoulder injury only added to a growing number of Atlanta hurlers who have seen time on the disabled list. Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Rafael Soriano, Peter Moylan and Chuck James have all been out of action at some point this season. Starter Mike Hampton (remember him?) hasn’t pitched an inning for the Braves since 2005. It’s only May, and already the Braves have come to rely on younger, lesser-known pitchers to win ballgames.

“With John going down, and with Hampton being out now, and Peter and Raffy, we need some guys to step in here and fill some slots, and they've done it,” Glavine tells The Sunday Paper. “For the most part, the guys have pitched well, but it’s the kind of thing now where we’re going to need a lot of guys that maybe we weren’t counting on so much.”
 

New guy looking good

One pitcher who wasn’t expected to carry such a large burden this early is Jair Jurrjens, who along with veteran Tim Hudson has been the most reliable starter this season. One of two prospects acquired from Detroit in the trade that sent Edgar Renteria to the Tigers, Jurrjens saw very limited action in 2007, pitching in seven games with Detroit. In 2008, the Curacao native has been called upon to act as a full-time starter in Atlanta. So far, so good: He went 4-2 with a 2.84 earned run average in his first seven starts.

“He has looked great,” says Glavine. “He’s throwing the ball really well for us, and he’s got great stuff. I’m impressed with his approach out there for a 22 year-old. He’s really been a shot in the arm for us, and been the most consistent pitcher in the starting rotation, and hopefully the rest of us can get it going, and continue to build on what he’s doing.”

Others have been impressed, too. “He’s basically carried the club for the first month,” Smoltz tells SP. “Hopefully he doesn’t have to do that the whole time.”

The bullpen has also been hit hard by the injury bug. Bad elbows have cost closer Soriano some playing time, as well as middle reliever Moylan, who had a splendid 2007 campaign. Moylan was recently placed on the 60-day disabled list, a big blow to the Braves’ young pitching staff. Mike Gonzalez, who’s coming back from reconstructive elbow surgery, could provide bullpen help soon.
 
And in a move that should both help prolong his career and bolster the bullpen, Smoltz has already announced his intention to return to his former role as a closer when he returns from his injury. That may be an abrupt change for a pitching staff in need of stability in the starting rotation, but Smoltz says he feels he can best help the team as a reliever who can pitch more than once every five days. Besides, he has faith in the young guys. “They're the future of this organization,” says Smoltz, “and the pressure for them has been probably a little bit unfair. They weren’t given a chance to learn by fire, but now they are.”
 
Twenty-three-year-old southpaw Jo-Jo Reyes will also be expected to carry some additional weight as the season progresses. Reyes started 10 games for the Braves last year, but only received decisions in four trips to the bump with an even record of 2-2. His ERA last season was a lofty 6.22, and he gave up nine home runs in just over 50 innings pitched. But he has performed well so far in 2008, both in Atlanta and at Triple-A Richmond. The fifth starter position will probably be up for grabs between newcomer Jeff Bennett, the up-and-down Chuck James and perhaps Charlie Morton, who’s been solid in Richmond.

Maddux back in the ATL?

And it wouldn’t be entirely out of the realm of possibility to see the return of Greg “Mad Dog” Maddux to Atlanta. Maddux is pitching for a San Diego team that entered the month of May with the majors’ worst record. It’s been rumored that Atlanta general manager Frank Wren would like to bring in possible reinforcement for the Braves rotation, and Maddux could wave his no-trade clause if it meant returning to Atlanta for one last hurrah with fellow future Hall of Famers Glavine and Smoltz. The Braves could afford his $10 million contract this year, and certainly the chance to see Maddux in a Braves’ uniform again would bring fans to Turner Field in droves.

Regardless, don’t be surprised to see a few guys get their turn in the starting rotation until someone shows he can eat some innings and save arms in the bullpen.

“The guys we did not come out of the gate with, Chuck James, Jo-Jo Reyes, those guys are going to be put in certain situations in the starting rotation where they have to step up,” pitching coach Roger McDowell says. “You start out the season with 12 pitchers, and by the end of the season you'll have 20 to 25 guys who have pitched on the staff.”
At this rate, you may see 30 pitchers play for the Braves this season, many with new, young faces.

After winning with consistent pitching for 15 years, the Braves are now leaning hard on young guns to hold things together and let the big bats in the lineup score enough runs to keep the team in playoff contention. And in the long run, forcing young players to perform well in a pennant chase could pay off.

“This is good for the depth we’ve been working to build since spring training,” Smoltz says. “And we're in a much better position because of it.” SP