The Series Cynic: Braves Bedevil Rays (too easy)
The Braves took two of three from the team with the best record in baseball. But that one loss still weighs heavy on the Cynic’s mind.
Cynicism Lineup:
—Kenshin Kawakami
—Hitting with runners on base
When Kenshin Kawakami steps onto the pitching mound, you can expect two things to happen: the Earth will continue its orbit of the sun and the Braves will lose.
Atlanta has won just three of KK’s 13 starts in 2010 and his role as the team’s fifth starter is quickly becoming an open casting call—especially with the imminent return of Jair Jurrjens, who is currently rehabbing in Triple-A, and the recent dominance of the pre-teen wonder, Kris Medlen.
Kawakami hasn’t pitched horribly that often this season, but with a record of 0-9 and a pitching repertoire consisting of hanging, belt-high breaking balls and batting practice fastballs that are basically on a tee begging to be hit, it’s time for Kenshin to take a bow.
But before he does, there might be a way to salvage the Braves’ Japanese import and get some use out of him after all.