HOFer Niekro: Last season 'difficult,' but sees Braves' vision for future

NASHVILLE -- In 18 seasons in Atlanta, Phil Niekro was one hand for 10 years in which the Braves finished below .500, including 1977, when they lost 101 games and owner Ted Turner decided to manage a night in Pittsburgh. In '79, he led the National League in both wins (21) and losses (20).

The Hall of Famer is all too familiar with leaving the past in the past, which is the way he's approaching the Braves' 2015, in which they lost 95 games, their worst record since 1990.

"I think it was difficult for everybody, all Braves fans," Niekro said Monday at the Gaylord Opryland Resort, where he was on hand for the HOF's pre-integration ballot announcement. "It was, I'm sure, tough for the organization to see, (manager) Fredi Gonzalez and his coaching staff, to see.

"But I've always figured it's not where you've been; it's where you're going. There's not a whole lot you can do about the past, it's only the future that you look at."

For this franchise, that includes an onus on young pitching. A year ago, the Braves had more starts by pitchers 24 and younger than any team in history, led by Shelby Miller and Julio Teheran at 33 each, followed by Williams Perez and current Dodger Alex Wood (20 apiece), Matt Wisler (19) and Mike Foltynewicz (15).

That starting staff was 27th in the majors with a 6.0 WAR and 20th with a 4.27 ERA. Even with the addition of 30-year-old Bud Norris this group figures once again to be exceptionally young. The veteran right-hander is the only player older than Miller and Ryan Weber, who are both 25.

From afar Niekro saw growth, but stresses it's a process and even at the end of his career, he was still dealing with that aspect of pitching.

"When you get up to the big leagues, it's not 'I'm here and I get these guys out,'" he said. "(Pitching coach) Roger McDowell was doing a great job with that pitching staff. They're in the process of learning and they will continue to learn.

Hell, the last I pitched in the big leagues I was still trying to learn about pitching. I was still figuring out my knuckleball. There's a process, and once they get into that 'comfort zone' that I like to declare 'I'm here. I feel right and I know what I'm doing' those guys will be alright. Some of them just haven't gotten there yet."

These winter meetings mark the first for John Coppolella in the general manager role. He's already made his mark on the job, sending Gold Glove-winning shortstop Andrelton Simmons to the Angels and could be moving Miller on the heels of his first All-Star Game appearance.

Coppolella has added to the Braves' litany of young arms, getting top prospects Sean Newcomb and Chris Ellis in the Simmons trade, and currently, eight of the organization's top 10 players in MLB.com's rankings are pitchers.

"I think the people there are realizing that, boy, when the Braves were hot they had extremely good pitching," Niekro said. "I think that's what they're getting back to. I'm sure they'll never have another (Tom) Glavine, (Greg) Maddux, (John) Smoltz trio, but they're working that way, toward that perception."

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