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Atlanta Braves: 5 keys to breaking out of bad stretch

By Michael Collins

Jul 26, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of Atlanta Braves second baseman Tommy La Stella (not pictured) hat and glove in the dugout against the San Diego Padres in the third inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 26, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of Atlanta Braves second baseman Tommy La Stella (not pictured) hat and glove in the dugout against the San Diego Padres in the third inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 7, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder B.J. Upton against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 7, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder B.J. Upton against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Find another outfielder

Right now the Braves have three true outfielders on their active roster. By coincidence, that’s how many outfielders they need in a game.

Justin Upton, streaky as he is, at least gets the job done at times, and has the ability to change a game with one swing of the bat. Jason Heyward is finally becoming the 5-tool player that everyone expected when he broke into the majors. Staying healthy has been a big part of it, but he’s also matured a lot.

Then there’s the other Upton.

B.J. Upton.

Yes, I know there are fans and supporters out there who believe that B.J. is going to just snap out of it any day now and become Super-Upton.

Sorry guys. Ain’t gonna happen. For whatever reason, as good a ballplayer as B.J. Upton is, he’s not meshing in Atlanta. Upton now has 301 strikeouts in less than two full seasons with the Braves. He has 152 strikeouts already this season, so he’s on pace for over 200, which would set a Braves franchise record.

This is not to be unkind to B.J., but he needs a different uniform, a different venue, a different sunrise when he wakes up in the morning. A different spot in the batting order (or on the bench) doesn’t solve anything for him or the Braves.

Braves GM Frank Wren needs to do whatever it takes right now to go find a third and fourth outfielder, and find a buyer for B.J. Upton, or put him out to pasture with Dan Uggla. The Braves have three inactive outfielders on the 40-man roster – Joey Terdoslavich, Jose Constanza and Todd Cunningham – any two of whom would be a viable replacement for the .210 hitting Upton.

Fish or cut bait, Frank.

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