Braves postgame comments after Conrad’s heroics, 10-5 win
BROOKS CONRAD
On his approach in his grand slam AB
“Just going up there and one out, trying to get a ball off the ground. Luckily I got into a hitter’s count right away and just got a great pitch to hit 3-1 and put a good swing on it and it ended up going over the plate. That was definitely a plus.”
On what the pitch was:
“Sinker down the middle. Brought him in to get groundball. Luckily I got ahead in the count so he had to throw something over the plate.”
On knowing, this time, it was out, unless the Reds walk-off:
“This time was completely opposite than last time. I knew I had it off the bat, didn’t have to think he might caught it. It was a pretty good feeling knowing that you had it off the bat, rather than thinking he caught it and making a fool of yourself.”
On his confidence in pinch-hitting situations:
“Those situations you have to be confident even when you’re not going good. … Even when you’re not feeling good, you’ve got to fake like you are. Any type of indecision won’t go too well at the plate.”
On the comeback win to avoid assuring series loss:
“It was huge. It’s just the perseverance of our team we have this year. No matter what situation, no matter how we’re playing, we were going to play hard until the end. I think it showed again tonight.”
BRIAN McCANN
On the comeback:
“We’ve been doing that all year long. We’ve been fighting until the end all year long. Tonight was no different. We never quit. We’re leading the league in on-base percentage and we take what the pitcher gives us.”
On trying to prevent the series loss:
“It was big, big, big win,” McCann said. “When you come in here, it’s tough to win here. This place is not an easy place to come to play. We try to win series and we have a chance to do that tomorrow.”
On Brooks Conrad:
“He’s the best. Every time he gets in there he makes something happen and tonight was no different. You could say he’s been our most valuable player. He comes in and works hard. He rubs off on a lot of people.”
On Cantu’s second error:
“That bunt right there he has to charge and read it. That’s not an easy play. He was just a little bit in front of the bag and he couldn’t find it with his other foot.”
On whether he saw Gonzalez stumble:
“I wish we did,” McCann said. “We were all looking at the action going on at third base.”
ALEX GONZALEZ
On stumbling up the first base line on his bunt:
“I was looking back at the play… It was funny. Nobody saw it. I went back to the dugout. I said, ‘Hey did you see that?’ Nobody saw it. (just then Matt Diaz chimed in with “I saw it.” So that’s one.) It’s kind of funny. I was laying in the grass, saw the third base play, I got up and I made it to first base.”
On capitalizing:
“You can’t make a mistake with this team. Somebody is going to pay. That happened tonight.”
BOBBY COX
On another wild game:
“It’s like pulling teeth for both teams, trying to get a win. It’s hard. The ball goes pretty good here, No. 1 and it’s a pretty fast infield and it’s a pretty good hitters’ ballpark. Both teams have pretty dang good hitting and they can come back.”
On Medlen:
“I thought Medlen had some of his best stuff he’s had all year. He had three of the worst pitches he could ever imagine, but he hung tough and held us close.”
On Conrad:
“Conrad again, that’s about the third time he’s done that. He’s really been something.”
On recalling the eighth inning:
“I can’t even tell you. I can’t even remember who started it off. I can’t explain this ball game. It’s hard enough to explain last night. As they say it’s baseball.”
On Cantu’s second error:
“I was debating whether or not to let Gonzalez swing, we needed to get somebody to third but he’s been hitting the heck out of the ball and he’s got 17 homers. But it worked.”
KRIS MEDLEN
On the pitches he regrets:
“The mistakes that I made today they definitely hit them. Nothing I could do about that fastball to Stanton. Chipper is already saying that’s the hardest ball he’s ever seen hit, so you can go talk to him about that. He’s hit a lot of balls hard, so he would know.”
On the pitch to Dan Uggla:
“The changeup to Uggla, he’s been sitting soft on us the whole series so far. He was looking for it and he got it. The ball was down; I thought I made a good pitch but he’s a low ball hitter. Overall first start in however many days I felt good through three or four, kind of started tailing off towards the end. I threw six, just like any other time. I felt fine throwing strikes mechanics wise but just the multiple inning part. After three I was definitely taxed a little bit but I threw 60-70 pitches in the first three innings.”
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56 comments Add your comment
nick
July 24th, 2010
11:40 pm
WHAT A WIN!!!! THIS IS TEAM IS AMAZING!!!!!
Hobo
July 24th, 2010
11:40 pm
great game
nick
July 24th, 2010
11:41 pm
oh and first
william
July 24th, 2010
11:44 pm
Excellent game!!!
Ashamed of myself
July 24th, 2010
11:50 pm
I changed the channel to Zombieland after the fish got their 5th run. I NEVER do that. Checked back after the movie was over and could have killed myself. Only consolation was seeing Bill Murray get shot. LOL
Way to go Braves! I learned my lesson… NEVER give up on a team that doesn’t give up on themselves.
happybravesfan
July 25th, 2010
12:01 am
The Braves rule and so does Brooks Conrad!
Tmac
July 25th, 2010
12:17 am
This is the best bench in baseball! The only soft spot spot on the roster is Mclouth. That situation will be resolved by the trade deadline. Barring a hitting streak of Ruthian proportions Nate will be relegated to pinch running and late inning defensive replacement. That’s if he’s not traded or released outright. We have to many options ( Melky, Infante, Blanco ) and to much at stake to let this go on much longer. This is a special team having an incredibly inspired year, I’m confident both Wren and Cox will make sure all the right pieces will be in place for this TEAM to succeed.
Michael C
July 25th, 2010
12:19 am
That’s a great line, “Ashamed.” Never give up on a team that doesn’t give up on themselves.
Nevada Roy
July 25th, 2010
12:21 am
Bobbie Cox on recalling the eighth inning: “I can’t even tell you. I can’t even remember who started it off.”
Makes you wonder if he remembers McLouth’s at bat with the bases loaded, no one out, and the feeble grounder he hit to the pitcher to force out the runner from third.
Largo
July 25th, 2010
12:25 am
Just like a first place team would do it. After getting beat a night before in a game they should have won, they come back throwing bombs. Great game!
Rhino
July 25th, 2010
12:26 am
McCann is right, they have been doing that all year. It’s been unreal to watch. Hopefully they keep it up! And by ‘they’, I mean Brooks haha.
http://www.rhinorant.com
HolyMoly
July 25th, 2010
12:28 am
Time to sit the old folks down and let the youngsters play. Rest Chipper, Glaus, McLouth, Hinske and put in Infante, Conrad, Diaz etc. They will match Florida in speed and hustle.
Sweet Daddy
July 25th, 2010
12:30 am
Nevada Roy, McLouth’s weak dribbler went to the first baseman, not the pitcher. Either way, when is Bobby going to end this nonsense with McLouth? Blanco earned a spot on this team with his play filling in for McLouth. Good Lord, please send McLouth to pasture, baseball speaking, of course.
Sweet Daddy
July 25th, 2010
12:31 am
HolyMoly, you ding-dong, the “old folks” have this team in first place.
HolyMoly
July 25th, 2010
12:35 am
Sweet Daddy, you ignoramus, you are wrong. It’s the youngsters who got them there. Chipper has barely contributed, Glaus limps around like a wounded cow, while Prado, Heyward and others have done what it takes to win.
Trey
July 25th, 2010
12:36 am
It was a beautiful game, but what are we going to do about McLouth?
Mitchell
July 25th, 2010
12:36 am
On recalling the eighth inning:
“I can’t even tell you. I can’t even remember who started it off.
How does he not know? How can he be sitting there with a front row seat, watching from the dugout and not ever remember how many hits certain guys get in the game or who made what play?
You’re right there! It was Jason Heyward with a bloop single to center. He’s your right fielder.
Nevermind.
Mark
July 25th, 2010
12:38 am
All signs lead to a rematch of the 1996 world series. Are the Yanks gonna win it for George or the Braves gonna win it for for Bobby? In 96 my heart said the Braves…..this year its the Braves that have the heart……..Make no mistake fans, it will take a perfect performance for ANY team to knock off the Braves because no team in baseball has better chemistry.
Trey
July 25th, 2010
12:38 am
HolyMoly – Technically the older players still help to get the job done, look where we are with the contributions of Billy Wager from most of this season.
Tmac
July 25th, 2010
12:38 am
I Love This Game!!!!
Trey
July 25th, 2010
12:38 am
Mark why 96? Why not 99?
Trey
July 25th, 2010
12:40 am
Remember, we played the Yankees in ‘99.
Mark
July 25th, 2010
12:40 am
Ok Trey….that too!
aburtch
July 25th, 2010
12:50 am
Yahooooooooo!!!!!!! Braves finally have what’s been lacking: clutch offense.
Younger Than That Now
July 25th, 2010
12:52 am
This team reminds me so much of the ‘91 team… veteran leadership, veteran pitching and young pitchers, young new guys out of the system and a couple of veteran situational players with a lot of stickers on their suitcases. But the main thing is that somebody different steps up each night and takes the bull by the horns and makes things happen. I remember so many games in ‘91 that were so like tonight and other nights… like the night Conrad hit the other slam to win it.
This team has chemistry, leadership, youth and… DESTINY! This is the year we’ll remember for a long time… like ‘91!
GO BRAVES!!!
ABravesFan
July 25th, 2010
12:56 am
Trey, the 99 series ended so fast, that it is relatively forgettable. I still have occasional nightmare about the 96 series.
This was a great team win. The W overshadowed Alex Gonzalez’s continuing inability to move the runner (the horrible bunt attempt) since he’s been with the Braves (to his credit, he is getting hits in bases empty situations) and McLouth’s inability to hit.
Time to win the series on Sunday and then bring on Strasburg.
Moylan O'Flaherty
July 25th, 2010
1:23 am
McLouth has a wee McHitch in his McSwing. (Just my O’Pinion.)
K Conley
July 25th, 2010
1:26 am
Alex Gonzalez is the best defensive shortstop in baseball, period. I have a friend from Boston who has been telling me this for the past 5 years and I questioned him for quite a while. But, I ‘ve got to tell you that I think he’s right. He doesn’t have Escobar’s cannon, but his release is so quick and his mind is so far ahead of the play that he makes tough plays look really easy. Yunel undoubtedly rubbed too many teammates the wrong way and I can tell you that he is the only Brave that had a me-first attitude. Really proud to be a Braves’ fan and it’s really fun to pull for guys like Prado, Hinske, and Conrad. Also it’s nice to have our All-Star Catcher and future perennial All-Star be homegrown boys.
Trey
July 25th, 2010
1:28 am
McLouth needs to be taken off the team. He is like an old injured farm dog that is useless to the farmer and just needs to be let go.
Jonathan Simeone
July 25th, 2010
1:33 am
I am really concerned with the way Cox is using Venters. Venters is going to be critical in September and October. Cox has never been able to manage a bullpen. I really think he is going to burn Venters out.
JohnSmith
July 25th, 2010
1:35 am
Funny how Venters gets two innings of work with a five-run lead…and yet we see neither hide nor hair of Kawakami, no matter WHAT the score.
Still, glad to see Chavez pitch well and get the win. Hope Wags won’t be fatigued for tomorrow’s game, seeing as he got warmed up in the bullpen when Venters struggled in the ninth.
LuisG
July 25th, 2010
1:50 am
Poor Bobby…
@BravesHaiku
July 25th, 2010
2:09 am
When Conrad pinch hits / I feel more optimistic / than when Norton did || #BravesHaiku
Dirty Jacket
July 25th, 2010
2:12 am
Troy Glaus led the surge after the Braves lost 9 games in a row. This has been a complete team effort, but the old horses — Glaus, Hudson, Wagner — have been instrumental parts of this ball club. This is just a great, well-balanced team, that does NOT rely on the homerun ball to win. That is a HUGE plus. We can score 6 runs and not hit a homerun. This is a good team, with a good rotation, exceptional bullpen, and good hitting. McClouth is the sore spot and I hope that Cox, sooner rather than later, relegates him to the bench in favor of Diaz/Infante/Melky. As bad as Melky was, he got hot. McClouth looks absolutely lost at the plate.
Evan Walker
July 25th, 2010
2:28 am
Okay Holy Moly, Glaus leads our team in RBIs buddy.
Beef Pocoroba
July 25th, 2010
2:51 am
love the braves haiku. here are some more
It is good to see/Heyward’s thumb feeling better./Now, about McLouth….
Sad that Yunel left/Addition by subtraction/Like Matty’s splinter
Beef Pocoroba
July 25th, 2010
3:11 am
Glaus, McCann, Hinske/could be offensive linemen/Hudson, quarterback
Wagner the Cowboy/Prado the line-drive cyborg/McCann the mack truck
Keith
July 25th, 2010
5:29 am
Very resillient team!!!!!
Did I say this team was resillient? After 2 demoralizaing losses in the same week, they bounce back with HUGE wins!!!!!
JJ going today to win the series. WE’ll see if the Marlins are as resillient after their terrible loss.
Oh and Mclouth sucks. Bring back Blanco while Wren works another deal for a more capable OF, please. That is all.
Renegade 41
July 25th, 2010
6:03 am
This Braves team continues to amaze me. Hopefully today we’ll see Diaz and Melky in the outfield. Hinske can get a start at first to give Glaus a break and maybe Infanti at third to spell Chipper. Go Braves!
Savannah Seer
July 25th, 2010
6:50 am
Checked the obits today. Stunned that McLousy isn’t on the list. He’s been smelling up the place all year. It is long past time to cut the deadwood. Just release him. What the hell was wrong with the play of Blanco to begin with? All the guy has done is perform well Somebody please explain why hitting over 300, hustling, using speed and getting all of the balls in the OF is a problem named Blanco. Let the guy in, please.
NickGranite
July 25th, 2010
8:34 am
I agree with Chipper, that Stanton home run was the laser shot of laser shots. A 400′ foot line drive that seemed like it was out in about 2 seconds. The kid is built like a brick building. Marlins have some nice young talent along with Gaby and Josh Johnson.Their bullpen is just horrendous. You really have to love the new talent that has come into the NL East this year with those guys along with Heyward and Strasburg. Now if we can keep Boston and NYs dirty mitts off them when the time comes.
Rhino
July 25th, 2010
8:36 am
McLouth’s time has to be running out. The only reason I think they were playing him now was to hope for a hot streak to give him trade value but it doesn’t look like that is going to happen. With the trade deadline less than a week away, I think his time in Atlanta is limited. I bet we see Blanco soon.
http://www.rhinorant.com
Glavine95
July 25th, 2010
8:50 am
I have to agree with who ever said the old guys need to rest. I think we should call up Freeman and let him hit againt right handers & Glaus hit against left handers(our trade for Laroche). Brooks play some 3rd. We still need a CF for the stretch run tho!
Lake Delhi dam
July 25th, 2010
8:53 am
time to sit Chigger down and start Conrad.
Duh
July 25th, 2010
8:59 am
I say we trade Mclouth and KK for Pujols and Wainwright.
vermont 39
July 25th, 2010
9:02 am
McLouth cannot start if we are going to really fly…nice guy, team player…NO PRODUCTION…this is baseball…not LL
Ted
July 25th, 2010
9:04 am
When is booby going to bench mcclouth. man he is just pathetic. if i performed that bad at my job, i would have been fired weeks ago. same old crap with him. stop playing him!!
Alan 10
July 25th, 2010
9:18 am
I hate to say it but McClouth and Kawakami are not contributing, they are instead taking up what could be valuable roster space this time of the season. Question is no one will trade for them unless we pick up there contract or a good portion of it and what team is going to send players with those contracts to a minor league roster.
I guess its a good problem if you look at it for what it is and condsider where we are without a complete roster (McClouth & Kawakami).
Love the Braves in NC
July 25th, 2010
9:20 am
I love to come here to read the post-game comments after a win (or loss). Great new feature.
C R McCleary
July 25th, 2010
9:26 am
Huge rally, almost killed by McOut! Bobby just can’t keep that guy in the lineup!! He needs the same change of scenery that Yunel needed. Get him out of Atlanta! I don’t care if he has a hall of fame career somewhere else! He is an automatic out!
Michael D
July 25th, 2010
9:42 am
Medlin has pitched well enough to be in the starting rotation. Bobby needs to leave him in there. Right now Hanson should be the fifth starter. He looks tired.
GO BRAVOS
July 25th, 2010
9:45 am
THE NATIVES ARE RESTLESS!!!
“GET RID OF NATE MCLOUTH”
1957Native ATL Braves Fan
July 25th, 2010
10:34 am
Don’t trade too fast! Worst ATL Braves trade ever made = Justice and Grissom for Kenny Lofton. Wow we lost two of the best post season clutch hitters that the ATL ever had for an ageing and complaining Lofton!
Hey now – Bobby has a 6 game lead and he is a CLASS GUY so he will give a veteran player “a chance” and not throw Mclouth under the bus right away. But “a chance” may be over quick if we do not keep winning.
Win one more for Bobby GO BRAVES!
mike
July 25th, 2010
10:50 am
There it is, at 8:53. The return of “start Conrad”. I love Brooks, but he is a career .224 hitter in his 30’s. He K’s 1/3 of his at-bats. His strength on this team is the versatility and attitude off the bench.
NY Frenchy
July 25th, 2010
10:54 am
With the real trade deadline being August 30, we can wait to pull the trigger on a deal being that we have a nice lead, but McOut is definately looking sad, Infante should be playing everyday somewhere in the outfield, Bobby puts too much thought in the lefty/righty matchups, put Omar in so the Venezuelan trio can kick some butt! Prado, Gonzo, & Omar! Chop Chop Go Bravos
Tom
July 25th, 2010
11:39 am
StLouis just called and said they would be happy to trade Pujols and Wainwright for McLouth and KK, and then I woke up from my nap!!! DUH, you the man!!!