If you were Frank Wren...

[cajunrevenge]

If the 7 starts he has made and done well in didn't convince you what could 3 more now do? I don't think Hale is going to be the greatest pitcher but I do think he can be a good #5 starter for league minimum. That has value.

 

[NinersSBChamps]

If I am Frank Wren can I look for a new job this off season?

 

[gilesfan]

K/9 is one of the weaker measuring sticks for whether or not a guy can cut it as a MLB starter.

How many decent starting pitchers can you name with a K rate under 5 is per 9?

 

[bravesfanforlife88]

This is going to be one of those offseasons that there will have to be questions answered big time.....this is not simply a bad team due to injuries.

The rotation has been just fine all season long, while our offense has been non existent 90% of the season

 

[nsacpi]

As a starter Hale is averaging 7.3 K's per nine innings over his career.

 

[gilesfan]

As a starter Hale is averaging 7.3 K's per nine innings over his career.

How many starts? That would far surpass his number in AAA this year

 

[nsacpi]

7 career starts. I'd expect him to settle in the 5-6 K per nine inning range as a starting pitcher. Tim Hudson territory. His career ground ball rate is 58%, the same as Hudson's.

 

[gilesfan]

7 career starts. I'd expect him to settle in the 5-6 K per nine inning range as a starting pitcher. Tim Hudson territory. His career ground ball rate is 58%, the same as Hudson's.

His career k/bb ratio is 2:1. If you aren't going to get strike outs, shouldn't walk anyone. Maybe a cheap fifth alternative, but I'm skeptical.

 

[50PoundHead]

Don't know if anyone has posted this, but if I were Frank Wren, I'd work on my resume. I might be needing it soon.

 

[zitothebrave]

Wren should be fine unless he refuses to fire Fredi. Fredi needs to go.

 

[NinersSBChamps]

Don't know if anyone has posted this, but if I were Frank Wren, I'd work on my resume. I might be needing it soon.

Yes, I have been.

 

[bravesnumberone]

If I were Frank Wren, I'd ask myself this. Is it acceptable to pinch hit for a hitter with a worse hitter, when you have at least 3-4 better options on the bench in a tight game? Is it acceptable to pinch hit for a fast runner capable of putting a drag bunt down with the tying and go-ahead runs — both very fast runners — on base with a terrible hitter? If the answer is no, fire the moron that did it. If the answer is yes, fire yourself for the good of humans. After watching this **** tonight, I am fine with keeping the core and blowing the rest up. All new coaching staff, minus McDowell and Eddie. All new front office.

 

[jcc03004]

I don't know what this team needs but it needs something it's inexcusable. We would be right up with the Nats right now if our offense didn't suck so badly. I have never seen so many horrible at bats against sucky pitchers. (Not that Fister is but the point is still valid) our pitching staff has done all it can do but the offense refuses to support them. Even if we had Medlen and Beachy we would still be losing because we can not score. It must be a pitchers wet dream to face this team. Get no hit by Hamels? How about topping it off by getting shutout by Kyle freaking Kendrick, Cy Young reincarnate. Maybe that's part of Julio's bad outings lately he knows that he can not even give up 1 run so he's pitching scared.

 

[jcc03004]

The last dodger series clearly sums up this season going into a 4 game series missing both Kershaw and Grienke and we lose 3 of 4 because apparently the Corroias and the Roberto Hernandez's of the world are all aces now, at least against us any #5 starter looks like Kershaw. The offense needs to be dismantled and rebuilt. If that means next season is a 80 win season so be it this same offense can not be the Braves offense next season.

 

[50PoundHead]

I don't know what this team needs but it needs something it's inexcusable. We would be right up with the Nats right now if our offense didn't suck so badly. I have never seen so many horrible at bats against sucky pitchers. (Not that Fister is but the point is still valid) our pitching staff has done all it can do but the offense refuses to support them. Even if we had Medlen and Beachy we would still be losing because we can not score. It must be a pitchers wet dream to face this team. Get no hit by Hamels? How about topping it off by getting shutout by Kyle freaking Kendrick, Cy Young reincarnate. Maybe that's part of Julio's bad outings lately he knows that he can not even give up 1 run so he's pitching scared.

I don't know if it's true or not, but I was thinking the same thing during Sunday's game when the Braves screwed up a second and third and no outs and failed to score. He then proceeded to have a bad inning. It has to be somewhat of a letdown for the pitcher to head back to the mound after something like that. I know they are pros, but it has to be disheartening to feel you have to be darn near perfect to give your team a chance to win.