Braves quotes after being swept by ChiSox
CHIPPER JONES
“We played well. With the exception of Tommy’s start, we played a good series. Today, Floyd was tough. He was taking advantage of a huge strike zone. D-Lowe did the same.
“You can’t fault the effort. You can’t fault the play. We just ran into a hot team on the road. Now we get to go back home for a while and try to continue doing what we’ve been doing all year.”
On White Sox: “That team right there if they’re swinging the bats, they’re the best team that we’ve played thus far. The back end of their bullpen is dynamite. We didn’t even see Santos. When you can run Putz, Thornton, Santos and Jenks out there in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings…They’re the first team that I’ve seen that can really shorten the game to six innings. That’s going to greatly aid their cause in the second half.”
on Gavin Floyd: “I think his only two wins are against National League teams [actually, only one was against NL team, Florida]. So that tells me, he’s 0-7 against the American League. With that stuff, it’s just a number I don’t understand. I know he didn’t get the win. But we had just one chance to score off him and it was impressive.”
“Teams are never as good as they are when they’re streaking like this and they’re never as bad as they are when they’re going through a nine-game losing streak, like we were. Like I said, it’s just a situation where we caught a particular team at the wrong time on the road. You’ve got to tip your cap. They played a better series than we did.”
DEREK LOWE
“They played good. They did what they had to do. [Gavin Floyd] pitched great. I don’t even know what that pitch was in the eighth inning. But those things happen, especially in this park. All in all, it wasn’t anything that we were looking for.”
“That was probably the best game that I’ve pitched, not just because of the results, but because of the situations that were present.”
How’d you handle Konerko? “I threw a lot of changeups. To Carlos Quentin, we threw a lot of changeups and tried not to get too predictable. They don’t miss many fastballs.”
“The defense played great, too. They made about four or five fantastic plays and kept the game scoreless. We’ll regroup. We’ve got a long homestand that everybody is looking forward to. We’ve got a tough team coming in with Detroit. Back to our place where we’ve played really well.”
“I think there’s only one way to look at it, you got swept. But I don’t think anyone is leaving here thinking we’re a bad team. You look at how this White Sox team has been playing for the last two weeks and it’s just off the charts. Those things happen. We ran into a team that is playing good and we didn’t play our best. These are the results. But in no way do we think this is the start of something. It’s just a bad three-game series.”
This sweep compared to the end-of-April skid: “This is different. This is just a road trip where we didn’t play so well. What are you going to do.”
BOBBY COX
“When you get into their bullpen, it’s no easy pickins. They all can strike you out and they can overpower you.”
“I think [Konerko] was sitting on that [Saito] pitch and he just hit it.”
“We could have hit better. That’s for sure. But you’ve got to give the pitchers credit on the other side. We made all kinds of great defensive plays today. We just got shut down by a good pitcher.”
On Gavin Floyd’s improvement since he was with Phillies: “We saw him in the [end of spring training] exhibition game and I thought he looked so much better than he did in Philadelphia. They’ve done a great job with him.”
Did you just want to get Saito back in his 8th-inning role (reason for using him twice in first two days back)? “He was the guy. He threw the ball really well.”
On Lowe’s recent starts: “He’s pitched great. He’s in the strike zone. He’s sinking it. He’s changing speeds.”
On Lowe working out bases-loaded jam: “It’s unreal how he got out of that one, but he got out of it.”
TAKASHI SAITO
Was Konerko sitting on that pitch (waiting for fastball)? “I can’t really say, but he was able to hit it really well, so I guess he was sitting on the fastball.”
“I rushed my pitch a little. I shouldn’t have thrown that pitch and my location was a little off.”
Surprised that you were used again after pitching Wednesday night? “I was not surprised at all. I’m always happy when he calls me out to the mound. Today was just not one of those days.”
On his hamstring, does it feel OK? “It’s really fine right now.”
And you felt fresh today, not tired? “I felt fresh.”
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45 comments Add your comment
extremus
June 24th, 2010
8:45 pm
I think it’s safe to say that Jason Heyward is as much a liability at the #2 spot right now as he was a benefit when Cox moved him and Prado up to the top of the order. His batting average has dropped about 50 points in under a month, and his power numbers have dropped off the table. The once-vaunted patience we saw early in the season has been replaced by a player who looks like he’s trying way too hard to compensate for the change in his natural swing brought on by nagging pain. I’m not being overprotective or paranoid here; whatever’s bothering him is serious enough to have neutralized most of the threat he posed to opposing pitchers, and by now it’s affecting the entire lineup’s chemistry and balance.
I know the Braves don’t have any outfield depth behind him whatsoever, but seriously, the kid needs a rest. And not a day off, either; I’m talking at least a week or so to give his ailing thumb time to heal a bit. His mechanics are off, and the times he’s actually making contact he’s beating the ball on the ground to the second baseman time and again. If Jason Heyward continues to play like a shadow of the guy most of us feel he is for the rest of the year, his losing the Rookie of the Year award will be the least of the Braves’ problems; they need to sit him and get him healthy for the stretch run ASAP!!!! It’s not as if we’d be losing that much the way things are right now.
Frank from KS (now living in CO)
June 24th, 2010
8:47 pm
I think with them going back home, their get back io the right track again. Can’t dwell on this. The W. Sox are hot..as the Braves were for that stretch. Just glad the Braves didn/t or don’t play the Rangers. They won their 10th straight game last night. If the Braves make the playoffs, and WS….it wouldn’t surprise me to see a Braves/Rangers WS.
Just sayin’…
Rhino
June 24th, 2010
9:06 pm
Yeah, Frank, they just caught the wrong team at the wrong time.
I agree with extremus too though, Heyward does not look right. I think he’ll be fine in the long run but he needs to rest his thumb.
http://www.rhinorant.com
hAL
June 24th, 2010
9:13 pm
funny how that thumb injury surfaced right about the time he stunk up the joint on the west coast trip no one said a word about it before that lol
asheville dawg
June 24th, 2010
9:20 pm
Can’t get out of Chi-town fast enough.
Kyle
June 24th, 2010
9:30 pm
Well….they are back to normal.
stevie zero
June 24th, 2010
9:45 pm
hope the tigers keep playing like pukes. mets were down 6-1 and theyre about to tie it in the 7th. blimey
TheWad
June 24th, 2010
10:07 pm
Nobody showed the patience at the plate that had this team with the most walks in the MLB. Heyward should sit for a couple of weeks(dl?). ChSox were a buzzsaw for us, but we have the personelle to get over it and start a new win streak this weekend. Pitching keeps teams in the race and we have a lot to go around. Don`t fall all over yourself laughing about that last comment in light of Hanson`s last debacle. He bounces back pretty good. Again, Cox shows his mettle as a manager by being calm and low key without the sky is falling hair on fire tyrade a lesser manager or owner would be doing after this sweep. I couldn`t do what he is doing. I was all for trading Milk-Shake Melky, Glaus, McClouth, Escobar, Lowe, CJ and anybody else you could think of last month.
Mr. Enigma
June 24th, 2010
10:15 pm
I wouldn’t be opposed to putting Heyward on the DL to give his thumb 15 days of rest. I could live with an outfield of Hinske/Blanco/Cabrera.
jesse james
June 25th, 2010
12:00 am
Heyward better get his butt up to the plate. He better keep everything in perspective and I hope he will watch tape and listen to people that are trying to help him.
AZBravoFan
June 25th, 2010
12:33 am
When Diaz comes back he will be able to spell Heyward at times, especially against tough lefties.
mscoast brave
June 25th, 2010
1:03 am
Can TP at least teach these guys to hit a Breaking Ball.
ScottBravesfan
June 25th, 2010
1:05 am
Jason Heyward>Jesse James I think the guy knows what he is doing. Everyone slumps and his thumb is messed up. It’s not like the Braves have anyone that can actually play the position right now besides him. Diaz is hurt, McLouth is terrible and hurt. Schafer is still trying to get his swing back after missing a year with a broke wrist.
Also they already said that Heyward’s arm is not going to get better with 15 days off it’s going to take months after the end of the season for it to get better.
Educated Idiot
June 25th, 2010
2:10 am
Can all of you shut up? Please? The fact is that this is still a first place team. They lost 3 games in a row. It happens. They played good baseball, the White Sox were just better. All of you were ecstatic when they were rolling off the wins. Time for a reality check, teams lose games so deal with it. All of you moronic Atlanta sports fans who do nothing but check the scores on ESPN, please just keep your worthless opinions to yourselves. Learn to be a real fan and support your team through the thick and thin instead of playing armchair GM.
Fan since 1977
June 25th, 2010
6:40 am
Hey hAL – Heyward being banged up has been known for a while, and the kid has been gutting it out. It’s not a convenient excuse for the drop in his numbers. And for those who want to see him hitting 7th again, that won’t change anything. The kid is a gamer and his effect on the team as a whole has been terrific. Prado struck out 3 times, you want to crap on him, too?
You want to worry about a power outage, go talk to Escobar. He used to be great with runners on.
mscoastbrave: TP couldn’t teach an eskimo how to make ice. I look forward to Chipper being the hitting coach on Freddy Gonzales’ staff here next year.
I agree with other posts, get off the panic button, I frankly was encouraged by Lowe’s outing. He pitched a great game — just nobody hit for him, which is unusual, or for Huddy, which is usual.
Has anyone written about JJ’s start in Gwinnett yesterday?
Fan since 1977
June 25th, 2010
7:20 am
Ignore query re: JJ, just read article from late last night, see my post under McLouth blog, we have a dilemma.
Joey
June 25th, 2010
7:41 am
Why is heyward trying to pull outside pitches now? Is this a TP thing?
Sloan
June 25th, 2010
7:44 am
Need to find our bats again with RISP.
nucleophile
June 25th, 2010
7:59 am
Good job Derek, you pitched very intelligently today as one would expect from a PhD in organic chemistry!!
dap01
June 25th, 2010
8:05 am
From JJ’s start at Gwinnett, it is obvious that he needs more time in the minors. Don’t bring him up now.
Bobby Cox: Rest Heyward!
Bill
June 25th, 2010
8:11 am
J-Hey needs your All-Star Votes! He’s 3rd are 4th.
Greg Walker hitting Coach for White Sox would make a VG Mgr.
braves fan
June 25th, 2010
8:13 am
there is no way you pitch to konerko in that situation- dont let there best beat you
Formul8or
June 25th, 2010
8:25 am
This series was just embarrassing. The Sox weren’t that good in it, we were just awful.
Stranding everyone on base, pitcher falling down the mound and caving into pressure, Heyward still being an automatic out when he needs a break, balls going in shirts…ugly series and we looked like the April Braves.
White Sox were not a great team even in this streak.
meh
June 25th, 2010
8:33 am
We’re still in first. Let’s bring it home, re-group, and get back in the win column.
CaptainMudderland
June 25th, 2010
9:02 am
The Chem lives on…boat has not sunk…small setbacks give cause to pull up the “sox” a bit and tighten the belt–let’s have a southern cookout, and, smoke our next opponent good!!!
RED MAN
June 25th, 2010
9:09 am
Heyward will get hot again, just chill everybody, the Braves are still in first place!!!
Melky way
June 25th, 2010
10:32 am
I was able to watch the Mets get beat by the Tigers last night,and I noticed that Jim Leyland does not like to use his middle inning pitchers.they almost lost the game as a result of that,and I see why.Detroit has a weak bull pen with the exception to their closer.So if you can get in their pen early, then you have a good chance to win.GO BRAVES!
Pete
June 25th, 2010
10:55 am
This home stand should be a good barometer as to how good the Braves actually are.
Consistancy. That’s what’s lacking now. If they can string 3 or 4 wins together they will be fine.
AppalachiaBrave
June 25th, 2010
11:09 am
Seems like they always struggle against a good breaking ball pitcher. Credit to him, he pitched a good game, mixed up his pitches. Just a bad series, now lets get back to work and kick some butts! GO BRAVES!
jesse james
June 25th, 2010
12:42 pm
ScottBravesFan – I am not saying you bench Heyward. I do know that just like Joe Simpson said he is too far from the plate. It is hard to believe he has always been that far off. Now some say it is his thumb. Maybe so, he better than anything we have even if he is hurt. Pitchers have made adjustments on him and now it is his turn to adjust. If he is going and stay that far off he better let that ball travel and go opposite way and also when he is down in the count he better be ready to handle inside pitch also. That is where Floyd got him a couple of times. He is a great talent, but at this level talent alone can not get it done always.
Texas Bob
June 25th, 2010
1:07 pm
yea ole booby strikes again with his pitcing decisions…..whats new…Did Lowe say ” hey coach take me out, becuase I’m only pitching my best game of the yr….and deifinitely would not have give K Ko a pithc anywhere in the strike zone in that situation……blah blah blah……bobby geezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
tt
June 25th, 2010
1:11 pm
Hey Heyward, go back to what brought U to the big show……be patient, do yo thang….do yo thang, do yo thang….thatis when you were killing it!!!!!! go bak to what brought U to the big dance!!!!!!
Go Braves!!!
June 25th, 2010
1:13 pm
Braves fans (college age) check out stereomonster band columbus ga! you tube…Blood!!!.
rhettwk
June 25th, 2010
2:07 pm
TP can’t teach them to do anything. Worst hitting coach in the majors.
Melky way
June 25th, 2010
2:21 pm
Worst in the majors come on give me a break. He may not be the best ,but not the worst!!
bubba
June 25th, 2010
2:44 pm
Winning is Fun and Fun is Winning! What can roughly $137 million get you?
Dylan
June 25th, 2010
2:56 pm
Heyward needs to stop trying to pull every pitch. Thats why most every groundout he has is one that bounces right in front of the plate to the first basemen. When he was hitting good he was hitting to all parts of the field.
Fredi
June 25th, 2010
2:58 pm
I would give Jason a few games off before his confidence is totally shot. There is no reason to wait till later in the season because his best will be needed then. He is a young and very talented rookie and this needless pressure is not going to help him.
Rhino
June 25th, 2010
3:05 pm
Heyward will be fine. He’s not going to lose confidence. He’s going to be starting the all-star game, his jersey is selling like crazy, and he’s the #2 hitter on the NL’s best team. I think he knows he’s pretty good. It would be unreasonable to think a 20 year old rookie wouldn’t slump over the course of a year.
http://www.rhinorant.com
jim
June 25th, 2010
3:08 pm
Cox told Heyward to be more aggressive after his FIRST slump when he was automatically takikng strike 1 and getting into a 2-strike hole too often. Heyward responded by going on a tear for most of May.
I’m not sure that Heyward is too far from the plate. He seems to be more susceptible to the inside pitch, particularly the pitch inside that tails back to the corner gets him every time. What is different is that he is not going with the outwside pitch and driving it to left field. Maybe a day off tonight against a lefty would be helpful. He recovered from his previous slump after being more aggressive and after a day off.
Melky way
June 25th, 2010
3:25 pm
Thank you Rhino,deto
Stumpknocker
June 25th, 2010
7:04 pm
Somebody take that sack of sunflower seeds away from TP, direct him over to the batting cage so he can at least pretend to earn that money the Braves are paying him!!!!!
Rhino
June 25th, 2010
7:21 pm
You know it, Melky!
http://www.rhinorant.com
Frank from KS (now living in CO)
June 25th, 2010
11:22 pm
Even tho they got swept, they got swept by a good team in Chicago. I can handle that…..BUT if they had’ve been swept by (let’s say the Oiroles or the Nationals) then there would’ve been reason to be upset.
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