Wren's Biggest FAIL of 2014 season

[rico43]

The radio guys late last night finally cut to the chase about one of this year's biggest problems. The Braves bench (non-starters) have driven in a total of EIGHT runs all season. That's everybody. As a team that in past years enjoyed the production of Julio Franco, Brooks Conrad, hell go all the way back to Francisco Cabrera, this would point to Wren's biggest FAIL this year.

That said, time's a wasting to get red-hot Terdoslavich up here. Five homers in his last six games in a year where nobody in the Braves' system is hitting the long ball. Saturday he had four hits. A red-hot switch hitter; think maybe he might be a slight upgrade?

[NinersSBChamps]

Yeah I am really disappointed in the lack of hitting Doumit has shown this season. I absolutely loved the trade, but he is a guy who needs more regular at bats.

A lot of us were talking about Wren not addressing the bench all spring, but apparently he didn't think it was important.

[GovClintonTyree]

I am less inclined to nitpick every single in-game decision that Fredi makes and more inclined to question trends.

And he just hasn't used his bench enough this year. Doumit can hit, but nobody can stay sharp with 10 at bats a month.

[zitothebrave]

I think the only bench mistake going into the season was Schafer over Cunningham.

Doumit has sucked but that happens with bench players. Sometimes you get someone who's good and they have a ****ty year, sometimes you get a turd who is hot.

[GovClintonTyree]

By the way, the bench is pretty good, now. Lots of good pieces and versatility. I'd sit Heyward against tough lefties and BJ against all righties, split about 30% of 3B at bats to other than CJ, Laird every fifth day, straight platoon 2B, and rest Simmons a little more.

I'd also like to bring up The Deuce and drop BJ, but that ain't happening. Have to wait another week.

[zitothebrave]

I would kcik anyone in the nuts who advocates platooning Heyward. In no shape, way or form does benching Heyward make sense. I'm already having to restrain myself because of your straight platoon at 2B.

[Dalyn]

I think the only bench mistake going into the season was Schafer over Cunningham.

Doumit has sucked but that happens with bench players. Sometimes you get someone who's good and they have a ****ty year, sometimes you get a turd who is hot.

Cunningham was an easy choice over Schafer. I'll never understand that.

[rico43]

By the way, the bench is pretty good, now. Lots of good pieces and versatility. I'd sit Heyward against tough lefties and BJ against all righties, split about 30% of 3B at bats to other than CJ, Laird every fifth day, straight platoon 2B, and rest Simmons a little more.

I'd also like to bring up The Deuce and drop BJ, but that ain't happening. Have to wait another week.

Love that nickname for JoeT. Best laugh I've had all weekend. Sorry, I don't LOL.

[Dalyn]

Doumit is a huge disappointment. I thought he would be much better. Our bench has been pretty weak since the end of '10. It sucks. 2010...man, that was a fun bench to watch.

[Dalyn]

Late/Close 2010 -

Hinske: .323 .436 .677 1.113

Conrad: .289 .308 .737 1.045

[rico43]

By the way, the bench is pretty good, now. Lots of good pieces and versatility. I'd sit Heyward against tough lefties and BJ against all righties, split about 30% of 3B at bats to other than CJ, Laird every fifth day, straight platoon 2B, and rest Simmons a little more.

I'd also like to bring up The Deuce and drop BJ, but that ain't happening. Have to wait another week.

Gov., you sure you're watching this year's team. The only thing positive off the bench this year were Schafer's stolen bases. Doumit is 10-55 with 4 RBIs; Gattis is 2-8 with 2 RBIs; BJ 1-1!; Pena is 2-10, 0 RBI; Schafer was just 4-25, 0 RBIs; Laird 0-5; Uggla was 0-10; the other two RBIs were due to hits by non-starting pitchers!

[bravesnumberone]

The problem with Doumit is when he does start, Fredi always puts Heyward on the bench and leaves BJ in.

The ball has really been dropped on the bench.

[GovClintonTyree]

Gov., you sure you're watching this year's team. The only thing positive off the bench this year were Schafer's stolen bases. Doumit is 10-55 with 4 RBIs; Gattis is 2-8 with 2 RBIs; BJ 1-1!; Pena is 2-10, 0 RBI; Schafer was just 4-25, 0 RBIs; Laird 0-5; Uggla was 0-10; the other two RBIs were due to hits by non-starting pitchers!

No, what I'm saying is that the adjustments have been made. Schafer and Uggla are gone. Bonifacio is a terrific bench piece and Gosselin is good. Laird is a pretty good backup and Pena is adequate. If you believe, as I do, that Doumit is a good hitter who has been underutilized and lost his stroke as a result, then it's a pretty good bench, 1-5.

As for my suggested playing time adjustments, I am not necessarily married to the suggestions regarding Heyward and LaStella, I'm just trying to get the bench more involved, and those seemed to be good starting points.

[GovClintonTyree]

Love that nickname for JoeT. Best laugh I've had all weekend. Sorry, I don't LOL.

I don't see how he can have another. :)

[GovClintonTyree]

I would kcik anyone in the nuts who advocates platooning Heyward. In no shape, way or form does benching Heyward make sense. I'm already having to restrain myself because of your straight platoon at 2B.

Sorry. See clarification above. I love Heyward and LaStella. Where do you get Doumit and Gosselin some at bats? That's all I'm driving at.

[CyYoung31]

I am less inclined to nitpick every single in-game decision that Fredi makes and more inclined to question trends.

And he just hasn't used his bench enough this year. Doumit can hit, but nobody can stay sharp with 10 at bats a month.

This. This is something I started noticing more toward the middle of the season. The reserves aren't getting enough reps and by extension I'm sure the regulars are more fatigued than usual. Bobby always managed to have good benches because he made sure to give each of them a start at least once a week. Fredi used to be that way too up until this year. Maybe he just has no confidence in any of those guys?

[Bdawg2309]

I would kcik anyone in the nuts who advocates platooning Heyward. In no shape, way or form does benching Heyward make sense. I'm already having to restrain myself because of your straight platoon at 2B.

well when he's batting .164 and has a .243 OBP vs lefties.........

[50PoundHead]

I think the only bench mistake going into the season was Schafer over Cunningham.

Doumit has sucked but that happens with bench players. Sometimes you get someone who's good and they have a ****ty year, sometimes you get a turd who is hot.

Small sample size and all, but Schafer has an .818 OPS since going to Minnesota, where he's playing almost every day. He may not be made for the bench, where you have to find ways to keep sharp (and Doumit is also an example of how a decent player can look futile with sporadic action), but he's a guy who has to play more than he did. He's still second on the team in SBs even though he's not here and he'll probably have over 30 by the end of the season. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Schafer should have necessarily played more in Atlanta, but I don't see how Cunningham would have made any difference.

[Tapate50]

Said since early in the year our likely best bench pieces were toiling down in AAA.

[Ampere]

well when he's batting .164 and has a .243 OBP vs lefties.........

Last year he hit .264/.347/.455 vs lefties. This year he accumulated a lot of at bats against lefties in April when he was slumping but has done better against them the past couple of months (aside from Chapman, of course). It would be a mistake to sit him against lefties.