An open letter to the Atlanta Braves organization

Dear Atlanta Braves staff and management,

I have accepted the fact that the mathematical chances for the Braves to advance into the playoffs are very slim, but regardless of the outcome, I have still purchased tickets to all remaining home games, and I plan on scheduling in the remaining regular season games into my schedule for the next week. Summer is not over until the regular season comes to an end. No matter what the outcome of the regular season is, I will remain a fan. That is something that should not be in question.

I would like to, however, offer some suggestions for next year. I hope that these suggestions are taken with some seriousness, and have some consideration taken towards them.

∙ Retire or burn, prohibit the use of the #49 for any player's jersey number. For some reason, the organization has been fixated on placing the number 49 on the unofficial designated "left-handed specialist" relief pitcher. Macay McBride started the season wearing that number, and upon his departure, each new southpaw reliever was adorned with that number. Allow me to be as blunt as possible with the following statement: Macay McBride stank. He was never really that good of a pitcher. Why Mr. Bobby Cox constantly gave him chances to improve yet fail is completely beyond myself, as well as other Atlanta Braves fans I have interacted with, but the more concerning fact is that every left-handed pitcher who came in to take his place has shown the same tendencies and incompetence that McBride had left impression-ed on the number. Wilfredo Ledezma, who was touted to have potential as both a reliever and a starter was received in the McBride transaction, but then he came to Atlanta and was incapable of doing any better than McBride did. Ultimately, Ledezma was part of a deal that included the more experienced, well-traveled Ron Mahay. He started off well, but seeing #49 on the back of his jersey continued to, for lack of a better term, give me indigestion every time I saw him pitch. And tonight, Mahay walked in the go-ahead run to the Milwaukee Brewers, on four straight pitches. If this is not a red flag for incompetence, I fear the future.

∙ Sever relations with relief pitcher Tyler Yates. He has been given many chances throughout the last two years, but I am afraid to say that his time is ultimately up. He is far too one-dimensional, and only has a fastball that tops out at an impressive 98 mph. Unfortunately, that is the only pitch he has, sans a mediocre slider, and a change-up that he cannot throw for strikes. Two relievers that have been recently around in Manny Acosta and Jose Ascanio have comparable velocity, as well as additional pitches in their repertoires, as well as stronger mental capacities. Yates has become unreliable, and lacks the stamina to continue pitching after July. I would suggest trading him for the popular Player-to-be-Named-Later.

∙ I do not wish for Bobby Cox to change, except for one thing - tune down the loyalty to his starting pitchers from 11 to perhaps 9, and when a starting pitcher is evidently struggling to record an out, to pull him. Tim Hudson perhaps should have 20 wins at this point in the season, if not for decisions that let him remain in the game too long. Pull him after the first single he gives up; especially in a one-run game. John Smoltz should probably have 2-3 additional wins as well, if not for the "one more inning" that Cox apparently milks of his starters. A bullpen was constructed in order for the starters to fall back onto.

I hope that my suggestions are well read and considered, and I am by no stretch of the imagination saying that I can run the Braves better than anyone currently on staff. But sometimes, an outside perspective is necessary to see things that those on the inside can't see so clearly.

Sincerely, a proud fan,
DH