The Baseball Life of Tom Haley (OOTP11)

[Big Six]

To: Trish Haley (haleyp@lovett.edu)
From: Tom Haley (thaley120791@jetmail.ca)

April 4, 2021


Dearest,

I'm not sure why, but I have a really good feeling about this season, even though we suffered some bad breaks this spring.

We're really going to miss Kris, who will miss the whole year. When a guy tears his labrum, you start wondering if he'll ever come back. We have to hope Michael Pineda will pitch well for us. He didn't play at all in 2020, and before that he had a couple rough years with the Marlins. When we signed him back in November, I doubt anybody was counting on him to pitch 200 innings. Now, we need him to do exactly that.

Everth Cabrera has hit well all spring. Now we have a lot of infield depth, with Everth, Vizcaino, Noonan, and Agreste who can all play several positions. Mat Gamel is a fixture at third, and Andre Bryant looks like he'll play first every day. Unfortunately, a couple guys will be scrambling for playing time. We signed Cabrera to that big contract this winter, so I doubt he'll be on the bench very often. He's good, and hopefully he'll be worth the money.

The outfield ought to be the same as it was--Jason, Hooper, and Collins. And with Shaw catching, we ought to have no problem at all scoring runs.

I'm almost hoping Patrick doesn't start walking until I get back tomorrow. I would love to see him take his first steps. I've missed both of you so much--even more this year, because I have both of you to miss.

Love,
Tom


Kris Medlen, who won 18 games in 2020, tore his labrum on March 5. He's expected to miss a year or more, which means he might not make it back for Opening Day 2022.

Since Kris is now 35, let's hope he makes it back, period.

[Big Six]

Atlanta Journal-Constitution, April 10, 2021

Braves win game, lose Heyward
Torn ligament in thumb could sideline slugger for a month

...Heyward injured himself diving for a fly ball off the bat of Daric Barton. He made the catch, but immediately flipped the ball with his gloved hand to Joe Hooper, who had come in to back up the play. Then, Heyward dropped his glove and reached for his throwing hand, grimacing in pain.

"I knew I couldn't throw the ball back to the infield," said Heyward. "I didn't want to risk anything, even tossing the ball to Joe with my bare hand. It's a good thing there weren't any runners on base."

Ralph Hughes is likely to get the majority of the playing time Heyward's injury will open up...

[Big Six]

To: The Haley Family (fivehaleys@jetmail.ca)
From: Tom Haley (thaley120791@jetmail.ca)

May 11, 2021

Hi everybody,

This is already looking like it's going to be a very long season.

Jason Heyward came off the DL four days ago. You remember--he tore a ligament in his thumb the first week of the season and hadn't played since. Tonight he got hurt again! It was diagnosed as a strained oblique, and he's back on the DL. Our medical staff says it might be another month or so before he can play again.

Losing Jason hurts us as much psychologically as it does production-wise. Now, the two players who have been on the team the longest--him and Kris Medlen--are both on the DL. The team considers both Jason and Kris to be leaders, guys we can count on to give us some stability. I know our lineup looks a whole lot different without Jason in that three hole.

Do you realize we have two guys in our starting rotation we picked up off waivers, and another one who went a whole year without being signed? Trevor Cahill had a few pretty good seasons with the A's and the Mets, but the Mariners let him go during the spring. Scott Elbert has never been a full-time starting pitcher in the major leagues. Now is when you start to miss a guy like Brett Oberholtzer, a league-average starter who got away because we wouldn't pay him something like $600,000. He didn't sign with the Angels for much more than that. Good thing Pineda is pitching pretty well, or we would really be in trouble!

Don't worry; I don't ever talk like this in the clubhouse. For one thing, it wouldn't really be my style. Then there's the fact that I'm suddenly one of the "senior" members of the team! With Brian McCann retired, Kris is the player who's been on the Braves the longest. Jason is next, and then comes me. Mat Gamel got here in the middle of my first full year in Atlanta. I'm not even 30, and I'm among the "veterans" now! I would never vent like this around the team, so I appreciate being able to do a little venting with you.

We're five games under .500 now, and we're stalled in third place. I feel like I'm pitching pretty well, even though I don't get a lot of save opportunities now. Hopefully Jason will get better sooner rather than later, and we'll pick it up and start winning more regularly. We're traditionally a better team in the second half, anyway.

I hope you're all doing well. We are looking forward to Patrick's first birthday, and Trish is ready for school to end so she can spend all day with him again. Say hi to people for me, and thank them for sticking behind us when we're not winning. We need the support more than ever when things aren't going our way.

Love,
Tom

[Big Six]

USA Today, June 12, 2021

TRANSACTIONS

Atlanta Braves: Placed P Arodys Vizcaino on 15-day DL. Purchased contract of P Tony Moore from Gwinnett (AAA).


June 14, 2021

Atlanta Braves: Activated OF Jason Heyward from 15-day DL. Assigned OF Jeffrey Craig to Gwinnett (AAA).


Vizcaino was diagnosed with a partially torn labrum. He'll be out for five months, meaning he's done for the year.

The Braves lost four of their last five games and dropped into last place. I'm almost positive this is the latest in the season the Braves have been in last place since Tom arrived in the major leagues and I began paying close attention to the standings.

[Big Six]

BravesNation blog, July 17, 2021

H & H: bright spots in a dismal year

OK, I admit it. We're spoiled.

We're used to seeing the Braves in first place, or close to it. We're used to rooting for champions and contenders.

I was born in 1988. When I was two years old, the Braves finished the season sixth in a six-team division. That's the last time the Braves finished in last place.

Up and down the lineup and across the pitching staff, we've watched key players get hurt, slump, or both. You're familiar with the injuries already. Edward Shaw has been healthy all year, but he's hitting .229. Brian Nolan hasn't missed a turn, but he's got an ERA close to five runs a game. Mat Gamel is hitting for power, but his BA is in the .230s and his OBP is .300 on the nose. All three were All-Stars last year, and you can argue Nolan was the best pitcher in baseball the past two seasons.

It's not all gloom and doom. Andre Bryant has been a very pleasant surprise, on pace to hit 30 homers and drive in 90-odd runs. He's slugging almost .550, which is what you pay your first baseman to do. Everth Cabrera has an OBP that's pushing .400, and he's playing terrific shortstop. Nick Noonan, whom everybody in the game had given up on two years ago, is hitting .275 or so, getting on base, getting his uniform dirty, and earning every dollar he's paid and then some.

And then there are the two players who are, once again, delivering championship-level performance, like they've done throughout their time in Atlanta: Jason Heyward and Tom Haley.

Heyward has been banged up a lot this year, but in the 45 games he's played, he's smacked 12 homers, driven in 33 runs, and put up a 1.059 OPS. Although last-place teams don't usually allow their closers many opportunities to shine, Haley has come through when he's given the chance: a 4-1 record, 17 saves, and a 1.80 ERA.

Jason and Tom will represent the Braves in this year's All-Star Game. For Tom, it will be his fifth All-Star selection. For Jason, it will be his eleventh. They will represent their team well, as each of them has done since he first put on his Braves uniform.

Congratulations, and good luck.


Jason entered the All-Star Game in the fifth inning and went 0-2 at the plate. Tom did not pitch. The National League won, 5-3.

[Big Six]

Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 29, 2021

Heyward injures back; out for season
Torn muscle will require long rehab period

If the Atlanta Braves are going to claw their way back into pennant contention, they will have to do it without their biggest star.

Outfielder Jason Heyward tore a muscle in his back while taking a cut at a pitch from Madison Bumgarner in last night's 4-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Heyward will miss the remainder of the 2021 season, and will probably not be cleared for full activity until nearly Christmas.

Heyward, who will turn 32 on August 9, had appeared in only 59 games this season because of other, unrelated injuries. He had been as productive as ever--hitting .346 with 15 home runs and 47 RBI. In fact, his 1.102 OPS was the second-highest of his career, behind only his magical 2014 season...

[Big Six]

To: Tom Haley (thaley120791@jetmail.ca)
From: Ty Williams (knuckler_ty49@speedmail.com)

October 4, 2021

Hey Tom,

This has been some long year, hasn't it? At least you guys started playing better in September and pulled yourselves out of last place. We're still in the basement, and we've got the worst record in the American League. Our owner is making money because our payroll is low, so I guess he's not losing as much sleep as we players are.

I've taken the ball every time they've given it to me and I've done the best I could. I'll end up seventh in the American League in innings pitched, and I'll lead the team in wins.

The Blue Jays haven't said much to me about a contract for next year. At this point, I'm open to the possibility of going just about anywhere. Megan and I have talked, and we'll try to keep the relationship alive no matter where I'm playing next year. At least I'm less concerned about that part of my life than I was a year ago.

I know you're not used to having the season end the first week of October. Think about it this way: now you have more time to spend at home with Trish and Patrick. I know you will all enjoy that.

The lease on my apartment in Toronto doesn't run out until February 1, so for now I'll be staying up here. Let me know when you'll be back home, and we'll all get together. We'll let the ladies do some shopping, and you and I can resume our battle for video game supremacy.

Later,
Ty


Ty Williams' 2021 season was mediocre, pitching for a team that was less than mediocre. He went 11-15 for a Blue Jays team that finished 68-94. Ty's 5.50 ERA was less impressive, as was his 1.52 WHIP. In 224 innings, he allowed 247 hits and 94 walks.

On the brighter side, he did strike out 177 men, so he demonstrated the ability to miss some bats.

Ty's ratings look like this: Stuff 16/16; Movement 12/13; Control 11/11.

[Big Six]

In 2021, Tom Haley was considerably better than the Braves team for which he pitched. Here are his stats for the year:

TEAM        LEVEL  G  GS  W  L  SV   ERA    IP   H   ER  HR  BB   SO  WHIP
Atlanta     MLB   57   0  6  3  31  2.31  62.1  62   16   3  15   71  1.24

You'll undoubtedly notice that Tom allowed more hits than he usually does. He was more unlucky than good, as he allowed a BABIP of .369. He gave up very few home runs, and his control was very good.

His saves total was the lower than any since he became the Braves' closer; he saved 32 games in '16, even though he didn't become the closer until June. Then again, the '16 Braves won 99 games and won the division, and the '21 aggregation went 77-85 and finished in fourth place.

Tom's ratings remain at their peak levels: Stuff 22/22; Movement 16/16; Control 17/17. His 20/20 fastball still gets up to the plate at speeds up to 101 MPH, and he complements it with a 17/17 changeup.

In August, Tom signed another one-year deal with the Braves at a salary of $10,700,000, the same amount he was paid for 2020.

Tom will celebrate his 30th birthday on December 7, 2021. He remains one of the game's most effective closers, a star in his prime.

[Big Six]

This look at the Braves' stats in 2021 isn't the prettiest picture you'll ever see. There are a few bright spots, sure...but not as many as we're used to seeing.

PLAYERS                 AB    AVG  HR RBI  SB
C   Edward Shaw         565  .239  18  81  19
1B  Andre Bryant        490  .284  34  99   0
2B  Angel Vazquez       449  .236  17  67   9
3B  Mat Gamel           567  .233  28  80   1
SS  Everth Cabrera      352  .290   2  34  31
OF  Jeff Collins        504  .224  11  66  15
OF  Ralph Hughes        336  .265   4  31  15
OF  Joe Hooper          482  .274   4  50  63

IF  Nick Noonan         465  .273   8  61   5
OF  Jason Heyward       208  .346  15  47   6
IF  Joe Agreste         436  .261  12  69   1
IF  Myron Webster       156  .186   3  14   3
OF  Jeffrey Craig       129  .279   3  21   3

The only starting players who managed to stay off the DL all year long were Shaw and Gamel, and neither of them were as productive as usual.

Cabrera had a very good year, and having Bryant around for a full year solved the problem the Braves had at 1B.

Heyward, as usual, was Heyward, but the Braves got only 208 AB from him. Multiply those HR and RBI totals by 2.5 and imagine having that kind of production in your lineup.

Noonan, who lost his job at SS to Cabrera, ended up playing more than Cabrera did because he filled in at 2B and SS so often. Agreste got a lot of playing time too, because he can also play first and the OF corners. They contribued about 40 points of VORP between them.

The Braves scored 809 runs, seventh in the National League. Their .748 team OPS placed them tenth.

PITCHERS                W-L    ERA  SV
SP  Brian Nolan         11-12  4.51  0
SP  Michael Pineda      10-15  3.79  0
SP  Trevor Cahill       7-8    5.54  0
SP  Scott Elbert        6-11   6.35  0
SP  Arodys Vizcaino     4-5    5.51  0
SP  Tony Moore          4-5    6.47  0
SP  Curtis Petersen     3-7    7.26  0

RP  Roy Boyd            6-4    4.04  2
RP  Steven Butler       6-2    2.09  2
RP  Tom Haley           6-3    2.31 31
RP  Tyler Clippard      3-1    1.44  1
RP  Arthur Cumberbat    2-2    2.94  2
RP  Denny Patterson     2-0    3.38  0
RP  Kyle Morris         1-2    4.09  0

With the exception of Pineda, the starting pitching was terrible.

Nolan was merely average, and a two-time Best Pitcher winner shouldn't be average.

Vizcaino got hurt, but he wasn't good when he was healthy.

Cahill and Elbert pitched like guys you'd pick up on waivers in April; Moore and Petersen are young guys who weren't ready for the big leagues yet.

The bullpen, on the other hand, was rock-solid. Boyd was worked very hard--he made 91 appearances and worked 120! innings.

Butler could close for a lot of teams. Those teams don't have Haley, however; he's the best in the business, according to the BNN position rankings.

Clippard was fantastic, and Cumberbat was poison to lefties.

Patterson, 21, reminds me of a young Tom Haley, except that he doesn't throw 100 MPH.

The Braves' staff finished 13th in team ERA at 4.45.

Scoring 809 runs and allowing 799, the Braves should have finished 82-80. They actually won five fewer games than that.

[Big Six]

BravesNation blog, March 8, 2022

The Braves weren't major players in this year's free agent market. They failed to resign RP Roy Boyd, who went to the Mets where he'll have a better chance to close out games. To replace Boyd, the Braves signed Alessio Cirilli, who has pitched for six teams despite averaging well over a strikeout an inning over the course of a ten-year career.

The Braves also gave OF Joe Hooper over ten million reasons not to explore free agency. It's possible the team is handling Hooper the way they apparently deal with Tom Haley, signing him each year to a lucrative one-year deal. Tom signed another $10,700,000 extension in early November.

I have to wonder if that's the right approach to take with Haley. I'd like to see the Braves offer Tom some long-term security.

Yes, the lifespan of a closer is on the short side. At 30, Haley will be among the older closers in the game right now, as one team after another is giving the ninth inning job to a younger arm. There's even talk that Chad Smith, recently signed away from the Red Sox by their archrivals in the Bronx, might not close for his new team. Chad's only 32, an age when legendary closers like Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, and Billy Wagner were still going strong...

[Big Six]

To: Tom Haley (thaley120791@jetmail.ca)
From: Megan Haley (megan.haley@jetmail.ca)

March 15, 2022

Dear Tom,

I'm not sure if you know yet, but Ty signed with the Cardinals today. It's a one-year contract, and he's on his way down to spring training now.

He's worried that I won't be willing to keep our relationship because he'll be so far away. I really like him, and I think we might have a really good future together. If he mentions anything about this to you, please try to let him know that he doesn't have anything to worry about. He needs to concentrate on getting hitters out.

Now you and Ty are back in the same league again. He said he's really looking forward to getting to hit again now that he's back in the National League. He thinks he's a LOT better hitter than he is--have you noticed that? You actually have a better lifetime batting average: .185 to .181. I don't think either of you would get a hit off the other one, however.

Tell Trish and Patrick hello for me. When you get back to Atlanta, give them both a big hug for me, too. I doubt you'll have any problem doing that.

Take care, pitch well, and stay healthy.

Love,
Megan


Ty Williams signed a one-year, $2,000,000 deal with the St. Louis Cardinals.

[Big Six]

Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 6, 2022

#2000 for Heyward
Milestone hit makes difference in 3-2 Braves win

...With two out in the bottom of the seventh, [Jason] Heyward attacked a 2-1 pitch from Joshua Thomas and lined it into center field for a clean single. [Joe] Hooper never slowed down, scoring easily from second base to give the Braves a 3-2 lead...

A perfect eighth inning by Alessio Cirilli and a flawless ninth by Tom Haley preserved [Brian] Nolan's victory, his fourth of the season...

Heyward becomes the eleventh active player with at least 2000 hits. The others: David Wright, Pablo Sandoval, Ryan Zimmerman, Hanley Ramirez, Dustin Pedroia, Nick Markakis, Howie Kendrick, Troy Tulowitzki, Prince Fielder, Matt Kemp, and Evan Longoria...


Atlanta's victory over Pittsburgh left the Braves a game behind the Phillies in the NL East standings.

[Big Six]

Tom Haley's Closing Time blog, June 17, 2022

Baseball is a lot more fun right now than it was a year ago, I must say.

Instead of trying to keep ourselves out of the cellar, this year we're in the thick of a division race that involves three teams that have all had the lead at some point in the past two weeks. Right now we're in second, a game behind the Marlins and a game ahead of the Phillies.

We made two trades with the Twins this week, which involved using our strengths to help shore up areas where we needed more depth. First, We traded reliever Steven Butler for outfielder Jaime Cuevas.

Steven has done a great job out of our bullpen, but with guys like Alessio Cirilli, Tyler Clippard, Arthur Cumberbat, and Kyle Morris pitching well, we have more good arms than we have roles for. Jaime gives us a lefthanded hitter who gets on base regularly and who can play all three outfield positions.

Today, we sent Nick Noonan and Jose Hernandez to Minnesota for starting pitcher Wilking Rodriguez.

Nick is a real gamer who plays short and second well and can contribute with the bat. Jose is a good young second baseman who has been at AA most of the year. But, with Everth Cabrera, Angel Vazquez, and now, Myron Webster, we have a surplus of middle infielders, too. Wilking ought to step right in as our #4 starter, after Brian Nolan, Kris Medlen, and Arodys Vizcaino.

I consider both Steven and Nick to be my friends. I've spent a lot of time in the bullpen with Steven the past couple years, and Nick and his family live near me and my family during the offseason. I'll miss having them around, but I hope they both enjoy a lot of success with the Twins. In fact, I hope to cross paths with them with a World Series on the line one day.

[Big Six]

Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 17, 2022

...Tom Haley struck out the side in the ninth to record his major league-leading 26th save. He used three different deliveries to record the final strikes. First, Haley fired a 101 MPH fastball past [Mets shortstop] Daniel Rivera for strike three. Then, he pulled the string on a tantalizing changeup that had David Thompson swinging early and missing. Finally, he punched out Roberto Gallegos with a less-than-max-effort fastball that clearly tricked the hard-hitting catcher.

Haley will be joined by outfielder Joe Hooper and first baseman Andre Bryant at the All-Star Game...


Tom carries a 2-2 record, a 3.05 ERA, and those 26 saves with him into the break. The Braves are now two games ahead of the Marlins and five up on the Mets, who have passed the slumping Phillies and moved into third.

Jason Heyward would probably have made the All-Star team as well, except he's hurt AGAIN. This time, it's a fractured foot that will keep him out another two weeks...

[Big Six]

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 20, 2022

Williams beats former mates; Cards top Braves, 5-3

...Ty Williams' use of the knuckleball allows him to throw more pitches per outing than most starting pitchers, and that special ability allowed Ty to give the overworked Cardinal bullpen a rest. Williams pitched into the ninth inning, allowing the Cardinals to hand the game directly to closer Richard Roberts, who retired the Braves in order to sew up the victory.

"The knuckler was dancing tonight," said Williams after the game. "A humid night like this one sometimes makes the ball move even more than usual."

Williams walked four Braves, but he also struck out nine--lending credence to Ty's claim that the ball was particularly jumpy last night...


Ty's victory gave him a 6-9 record. His ERA has been in the vicinity of 4.50 all season long. Ty's Cardinals are in fifth place in the six-team NL Central.

[Tyke]

Really hoping this is the year that Tom and his guys get their hands on a World Series ring.

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by Tyke

Really hoping this is the year that Tom and his guys get their hands on a World Series ring.

Tom's Braves have been a lot like the "real" Braves of the 1990s. Since 2011, the Braves have won the NL East nine times, but have only one World Series championship to show for it.

The Braves won the Series in 2012, when Tom was still in the minor leagues. They've played in two World Series since then, in 2013 and 2019. Tom made his debut in '14, so he's been a member of one pennant-winning club.

The Dodgers, Braves, and Marlins are clearly the best teams in the National League right now. That's how they stand in the NL Power Rankings. In the American League, the Detroit Tigers are enjoying another great season. The Tigers have won the AL Central five straight times, and they're on pace to win over 100 games this year. The Rays and Yankees are also very good clubs; one will win the AL East and the other looks like a lock for the AL wild card.

[Big Six]

Tom Haley's Closing Time blog, September 25, 2022



We clinched the National League Eastern Division championship last night when we beat the Brewers, 8-2. It's a great feeling to be back on top of the division again, looking forward to the playoffs. I remember how different the mood around the club was last year, when we were struggling to stay out of last place. Everyone kept playing hard last year, and I was impressed by how professional the guys remained, but now there's a noticeable buzz in the clubhouse that simply isn't there when you're losing.

I feel sorry for Jason Heyward, who isn't able to fully participate in the fun. He fractured a finger two weeks ago, and he won't play again this season, no matter how deep a playoff run we make.

The last two or three years, Jason has had terrible luck with injuries. They don't keep him from being a presence in our clubhouse, but we definitely miss his bat in the middle of our lineup.

Fortunately, we've had some guys really step up this year and provide us with great production:

• In the case of Edward Shaw, it's simply been a matter of him getting back to "normal."
  
• Andre Bryant has had a great year for us. He drove in his 100th, 101st, and 102nd runs last night.
  
• Joe Hooper has an OBP over .400, and he's the most dangerous, exciting baserunner in the league.
  
• Everth Cabrera came back from a lingering hamstring problem and is hitting .300.
  
• Jaime Cuevas has given us a huge lift since we traded for him in June. With Jason out, Jaime is playing regularly now, he's hitting .300, and he's knocking in runs.

We're also getting much better starting pitching this year. Brian Nolan and Arodys Vizcaino are back in the groove and feel strong. Having Kris Medlen back gives our rotation even more stability. Ryan Berry, who had never had much of a chance to show what he could do in the big leagues, was pitching well for us until he got hurt.

When the starters come out, guys like Alessio Cirilli, Arthur Cumberbat, Tyler Clippard, and Kyle Morris have the ability to get hitters out.

I went through a stretch in July and August where I was giving up too many home runs. Fortunately, only one of them cost us a ballgame. I haven't allowed a homer in a month now, so hopefully the problem is solved. That, and one rough outing where I gave up three runs in one-third of an inning, have done their damage to my ERA. I've only blown three saves in 44 chances, though, so for the most part I'm pleased with the job I've been doing...

[Big Six]

Atlanta Journal-Constitution, October 12, 2022

Cubs win 3-2, sweep Division Series

...Tom Haley, who saved 47 games during the regular season--best in either league--didn't get the chance to pitch in a save situation during the NLDS. He worked two-thirds of an inning last night, striking out one batter...

The Braves can hopefully look back with satisfaction at the fact they returned to the post-season, demonstrating that 2021 was an aberration rather than the beginning of a trend.

Right now, however, you can't blame them if they feel nothing much but disappointment.

[Big Six]

Tom once again led the major leagues in saves, but otherwise, his stat line isn't terribly memorable, by his high standards.

TEAM        LEVEL  G  GS  W  L  SV   ERA    IP   H   ER  HR  BB   SO  WHIP
Atlanta     MLB   70   0  4  4  47  4.10  68.0  64   31  10  16   70  1.18

Tom's ERA was the highest of his major league career. In fact, he's only finished a season with an ERA this high once: in 2011, when he was a rookie professional, pitching in short season ball with the Yankees.

Tom allowed 10 home runs in a season in 2016, but he pitched 95 1/3 innings that year.

We'll have to see if this is the beginning of the decline phase of Tom's career. He's going to turn 31 on December 7, so he should still be in command of his skills. We'll see if his ratings take a turn downward when they're updated on January 1.

In June, the Braves signed Tom to a one-year, $10,700,000 contract that will bring him back to the Braves for his ninth full season.