Braves comments after Sunday loss to Mets
BOBBY COX
“Santana, we got a few hits early and we had two chances all day to do a little bit. And we couldn’t get to him. We just couldn’t. D-Lowe pitched a tough game himself, holding them to two runs. They stranded a few, but he pitched a gutty game.
“We went into the eighth inning two down, still had a chance to win. But we just couldn’t get the hitting going.”
On Lowe’s last couple months
“D-Lowe’s pitched well, we’re just not getting him a lot of runs lately. But he’s thrown the ball well. He’s had a good first half.”
On lead at break
“It’s nice to go in at halftime being in first place. I’m pretty proud of the club for doing that.”
On Yunel, TV guy asked if that crisp DP today might give him some momentum at the plate
“No, I don’t think so. I don’t know what a defensive play has to do with offense.”
“He’s a good hitter, he’s always hit .300. He’ll be close to that.”
Cox adds, as we’re leaving office:
“McLouth hit a homer today.”
DEREK LOWE
“I lost both games on the trip, that’s something to be proud of.” (sarcasm)
“We knew it was going to be a tough six days, and you never want to end up poorly to kind of give away what we worked so hard on the first three months. And to go 4-2, I think everyone’s kind of happy with the way things went.
“Clearly disappointed with the way things went [in his starts], but Santana hadn’t given up a run in 16, and Halladay is always tough. You look at the game and they probably could have scored some more runs. We made some good defensive plays, and in the sixth inning it’s 2-0 and you just don’t want to walk the guy, but not necessarily throw it down the middle….
“I think everyone’s disappointed in the short term, but looking forward to the break, and start off [after the break] with a seven-game homestand and get back to the way we normally have.”
On his past couple of months
“It’s definitely been more consistent. Still disappointed any time you lose, and I haven’t won in four straight starts. But I think leaving spring training, if you had told everyone this is the position we’d be in, everyone would have took it, so … everyone can regroup. We’ve got five guys going to the All-Star game. Sit back, watch them and hope they do well, then go get ‘em Thursday.”
MATT DIAZ
On losing to Santana today
“He’s been throwing well. They paid him a lot of money to come have games like that, and he did. He pitched great today. It’s like [Monday's loss to Roy] Halladay. We’ve got to realize we went 4-2 on a very big road trip, and the two losses were to Halladay and Johan. We really like the way we match up with both those teams on any given night. And it’s not like we got our doors blown off in either of those two losses, either. We were right there in the game.”
Preferable to lose first game of series than the last like today?
“Yeah, it would have felt better going home having won two in a row. But about 15 minutes from now, we’ll remember that we went 4-2 on a road trip against the two other top teams in our division.
“We’re going to the break up multiple games.”
More on Santana:
“He’s been throwing well all year. He was in trouble a couple of times, bases loaded here and there. Runners at first and second. We just couldn’t get the two-out hit today. And he’s a master at that. That change-up seems to get nastier when runners get in scoring position, that’s for sure.”
MARTIN PRADO
“It’s frustrating. It was a hard series for me. I was out of my game, just for some reason. I only hit the ball a couple of times….
“My third at-bat today I got a bad pitch he called a strike. He thought it was a strike; I didn’t think so.”
On Santana
“He was pretty good, though. I think [pitching] in the daytime helped him a lot, and he got a couple of support runs and got the win. He was pretty good. Hitting spots.”
Braves went 4-2 on the trip…
“I know. That makes us feel pretty good. To take two out of three in Philly and take two out of three here, I think that’s a real good road trip before the All-Star break. We’re going to come back after the All-Star break and just try to do the same thing we’ve been doing.”
BILLY WAGNER
On turning down late All-Star invitation
“It’s a long season. It’s a great honor any time, but the situation we’re in, I just thought, I’d already made plans, they called me at midnight to tell me that….
“It’s a great honor. But I need to be ready to finish this season and get in the playoffs. I don’t need to worry about pitching in the All-Star game.”
On first half
“Bobby says it best when he says you win two out of three, you win the series, and you’ll be where you want to be. We’ve had unbelievable games. Guys have fought back to get us where we want we’re at. It’s not over.
“You see a light at the end of the tunnel and you’ve just got to stay focused and push through. We’re going to have that down period where things don’t go well, but we’ve just got to keep doing what we did, and think about winning series.”
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43 comments Add your comment
Brava
July 11th, 2010
8:14 pm
Wags- “It’s a great honor. But I need to be ready to finish this season and get in the playoffs. I don’t need to worry about pitching in the All-Star game.”
I love how he’s thinking.
Derek Lowe
July 11th, 2010
8:27 pm
I wish I could pitch in the All Star Game…….
Bobby Cox is Da Man
July 11th, 2010
8:58 pm
Billy Wagner is a class act and his leadership has been a difference maker this season.
Frank from KS (now living in CO)
July 11th, 2010
9:13 pm
If I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again….I hope to hell Wren does NOT stay pat come the trade deadline…for if he does, we’re (we’re meaning the Braves) are S C R E W E D. They need 1 (if not 2 more) major hitters in that lineup…to drive that damn ball out of the ballpark. Glaus has cooled off…and they CAN’T depend on Heyward to do it all by himself.
Horner's Corner
July 11th, 2010
9:28 pm
Hey Frank, this is the post-steroid era and guys that “drive that damn ball out of the ballpark” are no longer a dime a dozen. Who do you think we could get?? Alfonso Soriano? I know the Cubs would give him away for practically nothing, but he’s got another 3 years on a HUGE contract. No way the Braves go that route. Anybody else is going to cost the Braves a ton in prospects.
Gus McAttison
July 11th, 2010
9:37 pm
“for if he does, we’re (we’re meaning the Braves) are S C R E W E D.”
No we’re not.
“Glaus has cooled off…and they CAN’T depend on Heyward to do it all by himself.”
Rrright. So Glaus could get hot again. Or some of the other Braves. And any acquisition gotten could get just as cold as any current Brave hitter. Spending farm hands just to spend them guarantees nothing. Well, except the loss of farm hands.
p.s. Starting pitching will win a lot of games for the Braves. And the pen. And the bench. For reference, see … the Atlanta Braves, April – July 11, 2010.
Bruce Mac
July 11th, 2010
9:39 pm
No trade will be made. Who would you send down, Melky and McOut make a fortune, Diaz is on fire. They are already faced with sending a .320 hitter down when McOut comes off the DL. The players they need to move are not movable and the great three pitching prospects better be untouchable. Braves stay pat for now.
Gus McAttison
July 11th, 2010
9:40 pm
Oy, I said “acquisition gotten,” lol.
Playoffs!!!!
July 11th, 2010
9:51 pm
They will get another hitter, count on it. Probably an outfielder–as for who” be gone-probably McClouth
Playoffs!!!!
July 11th, 2010
9:54 pm
Actually, it would probably be Gregor Blanco
Frank from KS (now living in CO)
July 11th, 2010
10:07 pm
Horner’s Corner, Gus McAttison, Bruce Mac
Hey, would you rather be sitting on your behinds come October or be playing in October baseball?
Me…well, that would be an easy answer. Idk care about mesley prospects. Hell, look at Francoeur and look how THAT panned out. Prospects are a dime a dozen….some pan out…some do not.
Look at what the Rangers did. They risked some prospects and went and got a top of the line starter in Cliff Lee…to get them ovver the hump and into the postseason.
Did they worry about whether this prospect or that prospect would turn out to be great and not do anything? No, they did not. They risked some prospects to try and get themselves into the next level..(meaning the postseason.
One guy I wouldn’t mind seeing in a Braves uni…and that’s Adam Dunn. He hit what…3 HR in a game the other night.
hAL
July 11th, 2010
10:18 pm
eather cory hart or willinghame would be an upgrade in right field and a proven bat instead of a brokewn promise of greatness dont think the nats would need a lot for josh eather they have young outfielders to bring up
ppak
July 11th, 2010
10:19 pm
we need a power hitter to go to deep in to playoffs. I hope we get Corey Hart for left field and Blanco in Center who has improved so much this time around.
Road Dog
July 11th, 2010
10:45 pm
I happen to agree. Just one more big bat. Constructed like we are (almost no speed!) — that’s pretty much our only hope. The Mets have so much speed defensively and offensively — they scare the heck out of me. I believe they will win the division. YOU CANNOT TEACH SPEED ON THE BASEPATHS! Ask anybody who has ever pitched. It’s not only scary, but hugely distracting. The Braves have no speed — hence — no chance. Our aging “big boppers” ain’t a bopping, people! It’s as simple as that. I HATE the Mets!! But they play the kind of ball that will win this division. The game is going back towards what it was in the 60’s. So long, steroids!! Game is back like it should be. Braves have pitching, Braves have hitting. Their Archilles heel is no speed to speak of anywhere in their line up. The tides are turning. The winds are shifting. Mets win this division by being at least three years ahead of the curve. Decent pitching — and speed, speed, speed — all over the place! Years ago, individual players were stealing 80, 90 bases a year. It’s the same game it has always been since the 1890s………….Go Braves!!!!!!!
Gus McAttison
July 11th, 2010
10:47 pm
Frank, players are no more guaranteed than prospects. By that, I mean guaranteed to be improvements over current roster.
Remember the 20 HR Gold Glover we got at the deadline last year?
It is of course an advantage to get a boost at the deadline, but we are in no way “SCREWED” if we don’t, and in no way guaranteed anything if we do.
hop
July 11th, 2010
11:02 pm
braves must get another BIG BAT. THEY HAVE MANY OPTIONS TO GET ONE!
Gus McAttison
July 11th, 2010
11:09 pm
NO THEY DON’T HAVE GET A BAT EVEN IF YOU WRITE IT IN CAPITAL LETTERS STARTING HALF WAY THROUGH YOUR SENTENCE. SCREAM ALL YOU WANT. FRANK WREN CAN’T HEAR YOU AND WOULD NOT CARE IF HE COULD.
YoungerThan ThatNow
July 11th, 2010
11:19 pm
I think the Braves are anything but S C R E W E D ! I guess if the Braves are S C R E W E D, then the Muts and Phillies are D O U B L E S C R E W E D & T R I P L E S C R E W E D respectively. Even the Yankees (the best team money can buy) I would imagine would rather be four games in front of their division’s second place team, than have the best record in baseball… which means nothing at this point of the season.
Another big bat would be nice I guess, but at what cost? The Braves are once again rich in pitching throughout the organization, but it’s rather hard for even the most seasoned scouts and evaluators to say that, this guy is a bust and that guy will be a Cy Young winner… just impossible to do. So what they want for a guy who’s a proven slugger… like Hart, Willingham or even Dunn (who is feast or famine IMO)… what they want is a somewhat proven pitcher… Hanson, Jurrjens, Medlen… and those guys are three of just a handful of guys that I would think the Braves would consider “not available at any cost”. If you could get a slugger… depending on who it is… for an unproven pitcher… again depending on who it is… then maybe pull that string.
But we haven’t even talked about team chemistry… and I wouldn’t do anything to alter this team’s chemistry. Unless the Braves brass and DOB and others are lying… which I seriously doubt… team chemistry is as good as it has been since the early 90’s, and a rare thing these days. So, I wouldn’t touch that.
And that’s my .02… for what it’s worth. (Probably less than the .02 mentioned.)
YoungerThan ThatNow
July 11th, 2010
11:20 pm
And as far as the team speed thing is concerned… well, you can’t steal first and our lead-off guy is leading the league in that category too… or at least near the leaders.
Rhino
July 11th, 2010
11:26 pm
going 4-2 with losses to halladay and santana is pretty good. i agree with d-lowe.
as far as who should be sent down for mclouth…i dont even think its a question it should be gregor blanco. yes, he’s hit well in mclouths absence but i dont think anyone believes he’s a .320 hitter in the pros. .260 with no power and decent speed (and plus defense) is all you can expect and the braves already have one of those in melky. if mclouth comes and has two great weeks his trade value could go up a ton. and i dont think they need a big bat, i think they need speed. they traded a huge package for tex a couple years ago…..why not do something with minor or viscaino and get carl crawford? otherwise, i dont think it’s worth getting a guy like willingham or hart…
http://www.rhinorant.com
rekingball
July 11th, 2010
11:27 pm
The Braves are getting two BIG BATS, Diaz and Heyward. Glaus has cooled off a bit, but will get hot again. Cox might need to give him every 4th or 5th day off, to help him stay a little more healthy, and keep him in good working order.
The Braves don’t need to make any kind of trades, other than trading one or two of their own players, that are untradeable.
If they make the playoffs or not this year, their future looks very good, if management does not trade it away, as it has in the years before Wren.
scottbravesfan
July 11th, 2010
11:54 pm
Frank in KS,
You can’t trade away the farm because it will come back to bite you in the ass. Look at the Red Sox there farm system is depleted and they are incredibly banged up on an older team. Also do you want a repeat of the Texiera deal? Look for Neftali Feliz and Elvis Andrus starting in the all star game on Tuesday for the American League. They should be on the Atlanta Braves right now instead Schuerholtz made a terrible trade and sent them to Texas for a freaking rental player. You do not want to trade Julio Teheran, Mike Minor, Randal Delgado, Arodys Vizciano, or even Freedie Freeman because those four pitchers are not just prospects they are top of the rotation guys and Freeman is the only position player that we have that is even close to doing something at the big league level. And Jeff Francouer is a terrible example. Lots of people thought he would be the exact type of player that he is now because he had a caveman approach in the minor leagues that just does not work at the major league level.
On the other hand I would love to have Josh Willingham or Adam Dunn on this team but just not for one of those five guys I mentioned. That group of pitchers that the Braves have at Myrtle Beach as well as Mike Minor at Gwinnett is truly special. I have never seen an organization that has literally 4 guys who are pitchers that could be number 1’s or number 2’s in the big leagues in two years. If the Braves do trade one of them they better be damn sure that they can resign the player they trade for and hopefully it is not a one year wonder like Bautista with Toronto or Corey Hart in Milwaukee.
Just me
July 11th, 2010
11:58 pm
Agree that a little rest and healing will get Glaus back on track. If the break is not enough give him a little more time and he will be back to May-June status.
Just me
July 12th, 2010
12:01 am
Scott is right. Have you ever seen a team that had too much great pitching? Keep them all and let them sort themselves out. Wainwright looks pretty good right now.
Chip Caray's Eyebrows
July 12th, 2010
12:12 am
I find it funny that some say the Braves are screwed if they do not get a bat. However, I also find it funny that so many act like the Braves don’t need a bat. They have one guy in Heyward who is a legitimate stater, the rest are platoon/fourth bench type guys, which is fine if you have one more starter in the mix. Can they win without adding a bat? Obviously. Would they be better served to aquire a bat? Absolutely. At this point it’s not just about making the postseason, it’s about succeding once you get there. And can we please cut the “we can’t afford another Tex trade” garbage? No one is advocating that. Just a simple rental type player for a couple of mid-players would suffice. Wren and Co have plenty of time to survey their options to find the best fit for chemistry, cost of aquisition etc.
wjones
July 12th, 2010
6:03 am
Hicks could be sent down. Maybe Blanco goes cold, but maybe he continues to be productive. He knows how to bunt, how to hit and run, can be used as a pinch runner, and plays good defense, in late innings as a caddy for Eric or Matt. But I guess Hicks would go down when Heyward comes back, huh? I just hope McLouth is ready to contribute when he gets back.
DawgB
July 12th, 2010
6:51 am
If we can get a big bat for a decent price, I say let’s do it. We might have to trade one of our pitching prospects, but I would not trade Minor, as he is the onlly one who is close to Major League ready. I am not saying he wuill be the best in the long run, although he could be, he is just the only one I wold feel comfortable with calling up if we need an emergency starter. That, odf course would require something happening to 2 of our current starters, as KK is already available from the pen. But, if that were the case, then we would really need someone who has AAA experience and can make the jump.
That being said, I don’t know that we need to make a move. We are 4 games in front of the best divison in the NL, have the best record in the NL and have Diaz back, Heyward coming back and McClouth close to returning. BTW, my pre-season predictions for Heyward were .270 BA, 18-20 HR and 80-90 RBI. Also predicted he would be very streaky, being so young. Mind you, that is one big upgrade over last year’s RF.
LuvtheBraves
July 12th, 2010
8:00 am
I’m really getting tired of seeing Saito come in and nearly blow the game. I’m not impressed with him or KK. I wish Yunel would gets some hitting going, but they DP yesterday was incredible!
Jesse Stone
July 12th, 2010
8:31 am
scottbravesfan- you said to look for Andrus and Feliz to be starting in Tuesday night’s all-star game. Is Jeter not starting? Is Girardi going to do some sort of new defensive alignment that requires two shortstops? Feliz is a closer. Would he start the game for the A.L?
C R Mac
July 12th, 2010
9:04 am
Frank in KS – Where would you play Dunn? No designated hitter in NL! Bench Glaus? Come on!
Melky Way
July 12th, 2010
10:01 am
Sign Dye to minor league contract and see how it goes.If the team goes for a Cory Hart type player,the Brewers will want in return one of those top line pitchers,I say no way.We should make a small move.
cleonjones
July 12th, 2010
10:51 am
Good Series for your Braves. I hate to say it but, I like this Braves team. I am very happy for Billy Wagner- he is a class act. Lets go Mets !!!!!!!!!!
The Mets are the Best
July 12th, 2010
11:38 am
Braves fans, expect what happened on Sunday to be the norm from now on. The first two games were a fluke– the Mighty Mets should have won all three. Up here in New York, we think the Braves are playing over their heads and will fold in the second half. So beware, the Mets Machine is ready to surge and, in the standings, the Braves will be looking up at us soon.
Johnny3Steps
July 12th, 2010
1:26 pm
Cox has lead this team to the best record in the NL at all-star break. Where are his haters now? LOL
Hey Mets are the Best !!!!!
July 12th, 2010
2:38 pm
Remember this is the Mets you are talking about,they usually fold during the last part of the pennant race.The Choking Mets !!!!!!!!!!!!
Gil In Mechanicsville
July 12th, 2010
3:24 pm
The Mets are the Best Yo, homie… That may be true but you still have to play the Nats and we both know they are your krytonite…
vermont 39
July 12th, 2010
4:50 pm
With the available talent, Cox can play everyone and go with the hot hands…Heyward, Diaz, Hinske, Glaus, Melkey, McLouth, and Blanco are interchangeable parts. So far Escobar has been brutal and Larry is iffy…BMac is holding his own…sort of…Prado played in another league this first half…Pitching is solid with JJ back…bullpen is our BEST EVER!!!
This team will be there for the playoffs…in uniform!!!!
GO BRAVES!!!
Jo-Bu
July 12th, 2010
5:21 pm
Braves fans, expect what happened on Sunday to be the norm from now on. The first two games were a fluke– the Mighty Mets should have won all three. Up here in New York, we think the Braves are playing over their heads and will fold in the second half. So beware, the Mets Machine is ready to surge and, in the standings, the Braves will be looking up at us soon.
Mighty Mets? You mean that same Mets team that’s been from the bottom, to the top, to the bottom, to near the top this half-season in the NL East?
Huh — shoulda, woulda, coulda. The Mets didn’t win and that’s because they just don’t have “it.” The Braves beat the Mets where the Mets have trived this season — in their own house!
These Mets are streaky just like last year’s Braves were. The Mets will 3rd in the NL East by the end of the season.
Jo-Bu
July 12th, 2010
5:22 pm
I take that back, the Mets will finish out 4th just behind the Marlins in the NL East this season.
Melky Way
July 12th, 2010
5:53 pm
The Mets are a mess! HA HA
Melky Way
July 12th, 2010
5:59 pm
Its amazing one person can make an idiotic post,(Mets are best) and everyone will respond it crzy
Chip Caray's Eyebrows
July 12th, 2010
9:08 pm
The Mets are the Best , Expect Santana to pitch every game? Ha. Sorry but the Mets should be more concerned with the Phillies at the moment than the Braves. The Braves are by far the most complete club in the division, sure they could use a tweak with an outfield bat, but no glaring holes. As far as what NY fans are saying…who really gives a sh*t? No one in NY worth their salt cares about the Mets anyway big guy. Its the Yankees’ town and you have a second rate team, a second rate, poorly designed stadium. Don’t come talking smack on the best team in the NL’s blog, after you lost 2 out of 3 no less. Top shelf stuff.
slugger
July 13th, 2010
1:50 pm
Can we trade for Hermida and Micah Owings?
I’d bet in the 2011 season, you could expect to get 50 HR and 175 RBI out of the two with at least a .270 average…
Get Micah and Herm back in ATL and they can go work on hitting at East Cobb instead of with Terry.
You couldn’t be ‘buying lower’ for either of these two guys…A return to home would mean incredible things for both – just look at what each has done when they’ve played at Turner Field.
Micah’s nothing more than a .900 OPS guy that’s doing mop up work for the Reds – time to let him FINALLY hit.
Good thing Markakis went to YHC where Rick Robinson let him hit BP after pitchers threw a shutout – Nick may be $50M poorer with a hurt arm somewhere.
Micah Owings and Jeremy Hermida for 2011!!!!!!!!!