Atlanta Braves Decide to Skip Next Blair Start
By Fred Owens
Diminishing returns?
While some of his nine starts were pretty good, overall he threw 49 2/3 innings with a 5.39 ERA, 1.715 WHIP striking out 45 and walking 24. The Braves were however in need of a starting pitcher after a couple of not so good starts and called him back to start against the Giants.
As noted above the Giants treated him rudely and side work since convinced the coaching staff he shouldn’t start again for a while and the manager told O’Brien in the article linked above.’
"“We weren’t going to (skip Blair), then were talking and I think Rog and (bullpen coach) Marty (Reed) and we all (agreed) he needs some mechanical work right now,” Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said. “There’s things … they want to back him off starting and do some work with him mechanically. Rog has seen some things that he thinks will help him down the road . . How we got there, I don’t know, good, bad or ugly. I think we need to back off, I think there’s things the kid could work on to help him.”"
Coaches aren’t quiet sure how Blair got so mechanically out of synch. Blair was matter of fact when he was sent down saying he just wasn’t throwing well enough so perhaps he made changes recognized subconsciously that pushed him farther out synch. After Sunday’s game in San Francisco he told reporters what had happened.
"“I’m a pitcher that needs to be down in the zone and create movement,” he said. “When I’m up it’s just flat, it goes a long way.”"
He also said he knows he has to get better to stay.
"“I had my name on the map early,” he said. “I kind of faltered middle months; I’m trying to get my name back on the map again.”"
The Braves haven’t decided who will start Saturday but John Gant was recently recalled and was a member of the rotation before going down with an oblique strain. Before the injury he made four starts throwing 18 2/3 innings with a 3.38 ERA. 1.179 WHIP striking out 17 and walking six.
Two who won’t be making the start are Jed Bradley and Tyrell Jenkins who started games just a couple of days ago. There was a rumor that Bradley would replace Joel De La Cruz in the rotation but De La Cruz will start Friday,
Other News Bits
In another article O’Brien reported that A.J. Pierzynski and Chris Withrow will likely be the only two call-ups tomorrow. He also noted that Jenkins and Williams Perez will rejoin the team at some point but whether Albies and Ruiz will is an unanswered question.
That’s A Wrap
There’s really nothing to be gained by sending Blair out to be beaten up and with roster expansion Roger McDowell can personally oversee Blair’s work.
Next: Fun in the Valley of The Sun for Some
I think the roster crunch will prevent an Albies and/or Ruiz call-up but we might see Kyle Kubitza. Kubitza is already on the 40 man roster and the Braves could want an up close look to see if they leave him on it after the season ends.
That’s the latest info. Stay turned here at the Take for more updates as we get them