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450 comments Add your comment
The Sertoma Kid
September 22nd, 2011
10:33 am
Why not let Constanza try to bunt his way on, instead of pinch-hitting for him last night?
Von Trapp
September 22nd, 2011
10:34 am
Mister Frisky
Das Braves act like ve are already at the Nueremburg trials…………..lol
phil
September 22nd, 2011
10:35 am
We’re all still Braves fans….
People who think complaining or being upset about crappy play somehow equals not caring or not being a fan are just doofs.
Good grief Charlie Brown
September 22nd, 2011
10:37 am
@phil, 10:35am: exactly….thank god there were no blogs to comment on back in the 70s/80s.
bravo_fan52
September 22nd, 2011
10:43 am
C’mon Bravos you can do it !!!:mr green:
Summer of George
September 22nd, 2011
10:44 am
Well, the 1/2 game gets taken off today….is St.Louis gonna be 2 behind or 1? Are Giants gonna be 3 or 4? Can’t believe the freakin’ Mets let St. Louis have that game. Teams are handing them wins.
bravo_fan52
September 22nd, 2011
10:45 am
Epic fail
really
September 22nd, 2011
10:46 am
We’ve only got 1 1/2 cap tips left in us!!!
Billy
September 22nd, 2011
10:47 am
At least with a bad dream you wake up…
not saying Diaz is problem (he is not) but when Constanza was playing regular we were winning.
Summer of George
September 22nd, 2011
10:48 am
What did Leo say about Smoltz exactly?
Billy
September 22nd, 2011
10:51 am
so Smoltz stepped in some pine tar in batting cage and had it on his shoe..what the he!!?
Hit A Single
September 22nd, 2011
10:53 am
Bottom line is that this team in too inconsisitent at the plate. Not enough sticks!
Brave New World
September 22nd, 2011
10:54 am
Here’s the deal: The Braves need to win at least 4 out of the next 6, and they will likely make the playoffs. That’s not going to be easy because the Nats are not only tough at home, but have the incentive of finishing at .500 or slightly better. The Phils (who have been mailing it in the past week) may be the easier match up, not because they are not a very good team, but because they are getting ready for the playoffs and will not risk overusing their starters. In any case, if the Braves cannot win 4 more games, than they simply do not deserve to be a playoff team in 2011. On a very positive note, our young starters have gained huge MLB experience this year, and the thought of Delgado, Teheran, Medlen, and Viscaino as starters for 2012 and beyond is a ray of sunshine on an otherwise crappy “playoff run.”
Summer of George
September 22nd, 2011
10:55 am
Ok, so it wasn’t a nail file a la gaylord perry…..bfd, pitchers, including MANY hall of fame pitchers have gotten away with it for years….it truly is part of the game.
Summer of George
September 22nd, 2011
10:56 am
Bring back stickum in football!!
Summer of George
September 22nd, 2011
10:57 am
and tear away jerseys!!
PMC
September 22nd, 2011
10:58 am
So much for this lineup being worth a crap….
another year, another Braves lineup that can’t score.
Christine
September 22nd, 2011
10:58 am
Don’t post often, but Fredi is miserable. I miss the constant fire from the bench. Maybe that would have sparked some passion. On another note, I found even myself, who is normally not taken to talking to a television or bitching about managerial calls, looking for pinch runners and pinch hitters lately and wondering why on earth they weren’t being used. I won’t even pretend to understand what’s going on through that man’s head.
PMC
September 22nd, 2011
11:00 am
Do we blame it on injuries again this year?
Von Trapp
September 22nd, 2011
11:05 am
If das Braves themselves, don’t care, Vhy should ve?? Ve do not care. Dat is all.
alex
September 22nd, 2011
11:05 am
@von trapp and mister frisky:the VICTORS get to write the history…..
1991 braves
September 22nd, 2011
11:06 am
This manager has mastered the art of “tipping his hat”. That’s all this clown ever has to say. Would hope after 156 games he would be able to bring more to the table than that. The only chance the braves have of making the playoffs is if they leave this clown down in Miami with the rest of his old buddies. He can go back to washing cars and he can tip his cap to customers as they drive off. With his waistline now, he might not be very good at washing cars now either. What a joke the braves have become.
AB*Nation
September 22nd, 2011
11:10 am
When you look at the Cox era from a 15 postseason appearances and 1 championship to show for it standpoint, look no further than where the sacrifice was made at the alter of Cox. The focus on pitching, where offense was viewed as something that would take care of itself (which that comes across from the disciple Fredi in his post game comments about hitting “coming around”), has everything to do with our frustration as fans. I am a huge fan of good pitching and subscribe to the ethos that good pitching beats good hitting, but it leaves you with such a razor thin margin for error when you field the types of offenses the Braves had during the run. Yes, I know that there were good lineups during certain years but that was more anomaly than norm and also know that bad luck kept us from winning the 91 WS and likely the 96 WS. Great pitching will keep you coming back to the postseason, but average hitting against great pitching will only take you so far once you get there. Even when we had Turner-backed high payrolls this was the case, and I know our plight with Liberty Media has us in a worse position, but until they make a concerted effort to balance the scales of pitching to offense, we will be looking at the same product for years to come.
b
September 22nd, 2011
11:14 am
jWhy in the heck did they pinch hit for Constanza leading off the inning?
His two at bats were as good as anyone else’s.
This shows me fredi G. has something against Georgie.
JThis is beyond ridiculous.
Sons of Rick Matula
September 22nd, 2011
11:18 am
DOB – why isn’t Diory Hernandez on the expanded roster? Is he hurt, suspended, on paternity leave? We are carrying a useless third catcher but not a back up SS. My suspicion is that is has something to do with Diory’s contract (days of service, time on the roster, whatever) and to carry him would cost money. So to save bucks, they left Fredi stuck with having no options but send the uber-struggling Jack Wilson up in a spot that could have gotten the Braves back in the game. If I am wrong, I will withdraw the question.
Abnerish
September 22nd, 2011
11:19 am
Delgado, Teheran, Medlen, and Vizcaino will not all be starters next year. While we my deal Lowe (or release him – but that seems unlikely given the cash he’s due), we still have 3 very capable starters in Hudson, Hanson, and Jurrjens. Wren should have a very fun off season. He’s got what everybody needs – quality starting pitching. We should be able to strike a deal for somebody to help the club.
murphy
September 22nd, 2011
11:22 am
What a joke… lost in all of this is the Braves lose a series to a terrible Mets team WITHOUT their best player and best pitcher…then lose a series to a Marlins team WITHOUT their best player and best pitcher. Can’t believe I waste big chunks of my time hoping and watching these guys. They just fall on their knees when facing J V?? Two hits??? And ALL the post game quotes they couldnt praise JV enough…like they got ALL THESE HITS and their rally fell just a little short when he left after 7.
Abnerish
September 22nd, 2011
11:22 am
He pinch hit for Constanza so he could keep Chipper and Prado in the game after the inning was over. Not sure it mattered, but I guess he was optimistic that we may tie it up and go into extras. That was his rationale. And Constanza’s ABs were pretty pathetic if you ask me. Going from memory here, but didn’t he have a 1 or 2 pitch tapper back to the mound? Seems like the rest of the league has figured out how to get him out. Sound familiar?
Noone, Looser, Then, Than & Alot
September 22nd, 2011
11:22 am
The irony…
If, by some weird twist that this game can do, the Braves make the playoffs, they will have also failed at the one thing they tried hardest to do – GIVE IT AWAY!
dean
September 22nd, 2011
11:23 am
The Braves get Strasburg tomorrow night. The Cards get the Cubs.
VABravesFan
September 22nd, 2011
11:23 am
Regardless of how close a race the Cardinals have made this, the Braves are still 1.5 games up with six to go. Just like Chipper said, no holding back now – it’s balls to the wall!
Go Braves!
1 really depressed fat fan
September 22nd, 2011
11:25 am
Im gonna cry……how? how is this possible?
rabiddawg
September 22nd, 2011
11:26 am
ok, enough with the blaming of the hitting coach. The last few years, it was pendleton’s fault. Now it’s parrish’s fault. People, these are major league hitters. Place the blame squarely on them. This has been a problem for years. Maybe instead of changing hitting coaches, you should change the HITTERS…….
The Abs Man
September 22nd, 2011
11:28 am
This is Frank Wreck = $30 million down the drain 2012 for Lowe + Chipper, two past-classers washed-up, broke-down.
Plus he will retain Fat Fredi!
pat
September 22nd, 2011
11:30 am
Uh, no Chipper. You have to do it today and tommorow. This is the attitude that’s killing us. “Oh well”, no your fixin’ to blow it and blow it against bad teams.
Here’s how you get straussburg out of the game, everybody takes the first pitch and hit as many foul balls as you can. He’s on a pitch count, get it high and get him out.
It’s called strategy, something this offence is completely unfamiliar with.
CajunStorm
September 22nd, 2011
11:31 am
With prado swinging a “some-what” decent bat lately I’d go back to our traditional line up except putting Uggs in the 5 hole:
Bourn
Prado
Chipper
Freeman
Uggla
McCann
Heyward
Gonzo – (if healthy)
This gives us a lil more “length” in our lineup. From above statements, I do concede that our offense is quite offensive but my point about the lack of pitching is that it is hard to put up 4 runs everyday to keep up with our pitching deficiency. We are missing what we thought we’d get out of Heyward, Prado, AND B-Mac. Unfortunately, with Chipper coming back our lineup will look pretty much the same next year because I doubt we go after a offensive SS with Gonzo’s defense and Pastornicky’s potential and we all hope heyward bounces back.
So ultimately, whatever we think of the Braveauxs, we can only watch and hope they all step up RIGHT NOW!!! Because tomorrow IS TODAY!!
Steve
September 22nd, 2011
11:32 am
Lowe didn’t loose the game last night,the pathetic offense did.The team should apologize to Lowe and I hope Larry Parrish bought Lowe a drink after the game.
Von Trapp
September 22nd, 2011
11:33 am
Alex, good points howvever, I see das Braves as looking vike German POW vefore das end of war. Ve can still win this WC slot,but das Braves are hanging das heads as if das dont cares
#41
September 22nd, 2011
11:37 am
The real losers are on this comment board. Fair-weather “expert” analyists, get back to your Basketball watching and never mind what the winningest team since 1991 is up to! Dont worry boys, your fans from other states are still behind you 100%! By the way, nice attendance Atlanta…….
leftrecursion
September 22nd, 2011
11:37 am
PLEASE STOP SAYING STRASBURG IS GOING TO DOMINATE THE BRAVES! He just came off of surgery and he hasn’t pitched a full season at the MLB level.
bruce mac
September 22nd, 2011
11:39 am
The Braves lost lead and lack of scoring has very little to do with Constanza and Borne. You cannot score runs when the middle of your lineup (Uggla and McCann) are automatic outs. Never have I seen anything so pitiful than this bunch of swing and missers in all my life. Uggla and McCann have no idea what a strike looks like. They are absolutely lost at the plate.
AB*Nation
September 22nd, 2011
11:40 am
The inflection point is today. If The Cards make this a 1 game lead versus 2 game lead ,,, the Braves season will be over and DOB can start the initial draft of “Fahrenheit 2011″ while relaxing on the beach in Lauderdale. Dave, make sure to ask the tiki hut bartender for a Braves Bomb .. It will help take the edge off.
Life Long Braves Fan
September 22nd, 2011
11:41 am
Chipper said “We’re only as good as tomorrow’s pitcher”…
I hate to point this out, but we need runs. Not home runs… just runs. Maybe if we could do more with 2 on and no freaking outs, we might be able to win a game or two. I can barely stand to watch this team play (but I do)
Paul from St. Louis
September 22nd, 2011
11:42 am
TheAntiMe
September 22nd, 2011
10:27 am
If the 2011 Braves were an animal what animal would they be? Based on their choking up a 10.5 game lead in one month’s time; well – meow.
How about a possum?
BullDogMike
September 22nd, 2011
11:43 am
The main job for a manager in MLB in my opinion, is to MANAGE the pitching staff. In this case, what a pitiful job F.G. has done in ATL this season. Especially burning out the bull pen. Face it fellow braves fans, it’s over till next year. Hopefully, a new staff will be hired that knows what to do with it’s pitchers. This was one of the biggest chokes ever by any team in any sport.
pat
September 22nd, 2011
11:43 am
Does it matter how many good hitters you have in the line up if they don’t hit?
Atlanta, where bats go to die.
Why is Chipper playing another year? Maybe he could give us 95 games of geriatric play?
What the ATL needs is a new owner who lives in Atlanta and cares about the team and the game.
If you don’t think owner ship has any effect look at the Bengals and the Raiders… Bad owners = Bad team. Liberty media is a ho-hum owner and we have a ho-hum team. Class is nice, but some passion would be cool.
Philly Phanatic
September 22nd, 2011
11:51 am
The sight of the Phillies on the schedule for the last 3 games probably didn’t look good after they swept you. What they’re doing is beyond cruising, It’s inconceiveable that a team 3 weeks ago looked basically unbeatable and now can’t win and have their longest losing streak of the year. It’s probably 50/50 that they’ll come to life or fizzle out which remember this is the year anything less than WS win is a bad year. I think it will be an interesting series thanks to your recent play. You may sweep, we may sweep. I do know one thing as I read Philly papers everyday, the restlessness hits a new high with each loss and losing badly. I just don’t think you can turn hitting and pitching on and off. You may go further in the playoffs than the Phillies. Wouldn’t that be something?
alex
September 22nd, 2011
12:04 pm
@ Phanatic,go eat a cheesesteak!!
StuffyChunk
September 22nd, 2011
12:11 pm
Harry Doyle : “So the ‘tribe’ drops it’s second game on this trip 4-0 to the Marlins. For the ‘Bravos’ it’s no runs on…let’s see…two hits…that’s all we got… two #*$* damn hits…. “
Chip Carey : “You can’t say $(#* damn on the air”
Harry Doyle : “Don’t worry…we’ve blown the wildcard and wouldn’t have beaten Philly anyway.”
StuffyChunk
September 22nd, 2011
12:15 pm
additional note : I will be pleased as punch if the Braves win it all…and shocked beyond belief. I am a Braves fan but have been thinking all year this team is way too streaky and inconsistent. I’ve noted it on this very blog. I don’t want to come down on these guys, but unless something changes and changes starting tomorrow it won’t happen. Please Braves, make me eat my words.
phil fan forever
September 22nd, 2011
12:17 pm
we just lost 3 of 4 to st louis…oops…we may not win another game…except 2 of the last three..spit up that apple boys this is worse than we suffered in 1964 when st louis caught us…this is painful to watch
Abnerish
September 22nd, 2011
12:22 pm
I like the Braves lineup with Chipper in the 2 hole. This gives more ABs to Chipper, BMac, Uggs, and Freeman. I go with this the rest of the way:
Bourn
Jones
McCann
Uggla
Freeman
Prado
Gonzalez
Heyward
Farmall460
September 22nd, 2011
12:24 pm
I knew it was over when Lowe batted to lead off the 6th inning. I guess we had already given up.
bball fan
September 22nd, 2011
12:27 pm
Bye Bye Fred! Your team can’t score runs so you keep a guy who can run and put pressure on the defense on the bench while you start Heyward. You kept running Lowe out there until you blew a 10 1/2 game lead. Sorry,but you need to go back to coaching 3rd base.
AB*Nation
September 22nd, 2011
12:29 pm
CSI Atlanta..the post mortum autopsy would reveal Fredi had as much do with a collapse like this as the lack of hitting or injuries. His line up tinkering and game mistakes are not subtle, they are overt and inexcusable. If his moves were debatable, based on that thing known as logic, that would be one thing. Leading off the sixth with Lowe and putting McCann in the 3 hole are perfect examples of his incompetence.. and these have been going on all season. They are all in bright lights on the marquis that reads …. Epic Failure.
Abnerish
September 22nd, 2011
12:30 pm
I’m hoping that the Cubs give the Cards everything they’ve got (which ain’t much, I know). That is a pretty good rivalry, so they won’t exactly be willing to give them those games. I just wish we were playing anybody but the gNats. Anyone know who the gNats are pitching on Sunday?
What starts with "Ch" and rhymes with poke?
September 22nd, 2011
12:30 pm
Any bets that Strasburg won’t get double digit strikeouts in his 5 innings of work?
M Ranger
September 22nd, 2011
12:35 pm
I read these comments after watching every game on TV and I never write in but at this point I have to voice my anger. I am so tired of hearing a pitcher every night put all the blame on themselves if we loose the game. When in fact the Braves wouldn’t have the wins they have this year if not for the pitching… The only position player I have ever heard take the blame for a loss is Brian McCann. Instead we tip our caps to the opposing pitcher.. The position player didn’t do his job when he is walking back to the dugout leaving runners in scoring position over and over again…..just once I would like to hear Chipper Jones, Dan Uggla, Freddie Freeman, Michael Bourn, etc.. take the blame for not doing their job!!!!! I am sure we rank worst(if not close) in NL maybe MLB in scoring with RISP…
Adairsville Dawg
September 22nd, 2011
12:37 pm
heres a line up idea………call up the AAA startling line up and let them play the nats and give the big boys a night off to matching mohawks and tatoos….
Hillbillybrave
September 22nd, 2011
12:38 pm
Braves are dead last in RISP average
Adairsville Dawg
September 22nd, 2011
12:38 pm
maybe Freddi can get a tatoo of himself tipping his cap on his back!!!! to match his tramp stamp he already has cause hes a Bi%$#
Chop101
September 22nd, 2011
12:40 pm
By some grace of God, the Cards may lose a game tonight and bring the Braves lead in the WC to a full two games. Then, in some magical stroke of luck, the Braves may actually provide some offense and take the series from the Nats. With the right kind of voodoo, the Cubs may pound the rival Cards and when the weekend dust clears, the Braves may be 3-4 games up in the Wild Card standings.
I’m as disheartened as any Braves fan to see such a large Wild Card lead vanish into almost nothing. All this talk was about the Braves being 9 1/2 games up…but that was against the Giants and the lead was a mighty 10 1/2 against the Cards….which makes it all the more painful. But maybe, just maybe the Braves will pull it together this weekend and make the playoffs after all.
There was some talk on this blog yesterday about sacraficing a couple of chickens and maybe a goat to get the win. I think any further sacrifices need to be made out of bigger and more valuable livestock from this point forward.
steve brown
September 22nd, 2011
12:40 pm
Two weeks ago (we had a very comfortable wild card lead) Chipper got permission to attend his son’s sinus surgery. Now we are fighting for our lives and he doesn’t get back in time to start the game. Today is an off day, are you telling me the surgery could not have been scheduled for today. This is our leader-please give me a break.
rabid dawg
September 22nd, 2011
12:49 pm
Cox would have never even come close to squandering a lead like this. Gonzalez….this is not looking real good for you dude.
Fredi Gonzalez
September 22nd, 2011
12:49 pm
I’ve got Derek Lowe penciled in to start at least two games in post-season. He pitches well in the post-season.
Abnerish
September 22nd, 2011
12:54 pm
On the bright side, can I just say that I am really freaking glad that the Braves never have to play another game in Sun Life Stadium! Thanks to that stupid fence, Heyward’s 2 run HR was reduced to a double high off the wall. It’s one thing to have a high wall when you have a short field, but it’s 385 to the gap in LF. WTF? Likewise, in game 1 of the series, McCann hit a 425 ft out to left center. That’s a HR almost anywhere else. Good riddance.
darrell starks
September 22nd, 2011
12:56 pm
Since Freddi is not fun of Constanza playing then the batting should be this.
1. BOURN CF
2. PRADO LF
3. CHIPPER 3B
4. UGGLA 2B
5. MCCANN CATCHER
6. FREEMAN 1B
7. HEYWARD RF
8. GONZALEZ SS
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!
Tom G
September 22nd, 2011
12:58 pm
Some one earlier mentioned every time someone goes on DL, it seems like they come back and then play like crap! We have had a lot of guys do that this year? Why is that, just dumb luck or coaching? A side note, Frenchy( I hear the screaming) when he was with us, to my knowledge never went on DL and also played in 160-162 games per season! Perhaps it was his football background that made him a little tougher, just sayin!!
NorCal Brave
September 22nd, 2011
1:00 pm
Chipper’s saying we’re only as good as tomorrow’s pitcher is a direct acknowledgement that the offense can’t be counted on. He’s been upfront for a long time about the team’s failure with RISP. It boggles the mind that Wren goes out and gets Bourn, Diaz, and Wilson to bolster the lineup (all positive moves) only to have McCann, Freeman, and Uggla stop producing.
Abnerish
September 22nd, 2011
1:01 pm
Are you seriously going to question Chipper about attending his son’s surgery? You don’t know the whole story. I’m sure if Chipper could have moved it to the offseason they would have done that. Obviously, they were told that this is something that could not wait. Get a grip. I mean, I’m as big a Braves fan as there is, but geez. Do you honestly think that Chipper would miss this game if he didn’t really need to? Give the guy some credit.
Why us?
September 22nd, 2011
1:03 pm
Hello muddah, hello faddah, here iamah at camp Bravada…no more hitting, no more fielding, just another stinkin’ season
steve brown
September 22nd, 2011
1:03 pm
Abnerish-are you telling me a sinus operation scheduled a while back had to be on Wednesday versus Thursday-get real that is just B.S.
Summer of George
September 22nd, 2011
1:05 pm
Georgie will prevail
Abnerish
September 22nd, 2011
1:07 pm
I’m just saying that you don’t know so don’t assume that the guy doesn’t care about winning.
Summer of George
September 22nd, 2011
1:10 pm
Doctors typically schedule surgery given available dates for them and hospital….doubt chipper and his wife were looking at baseball schedule when it came time to get their son taken care of….and who knows if it wasn’t his wife that agreed to schedule and told Chipper later of date….get a life if you have to knock Chipper on this one….critics are such d-bags
Summer of George
September 22nd, 2011
1:12 pm
give em hell Ab
Barry
September 22nd, 2011
1:12 pm
Forgive me guys but….”time to break out the jelly…the Braves are toast.” This team IS NOT making the playoffs. It baffles me the inability to score ANY runs with guys in scoring position and LESS THAN TWO OUTS! Are kidding me? Not only do the Braves suck at this but they suck more than any other team in the league. That’s not going to win you ball games and WILL NOT win you any postseason games…PERIOD! It’s amazing how the playoff contending teams…the real playoff contenders actually are able to get those clutch hits. Phillies get guys in scoring position, it’s almost automatic they are going to score at least one run…probably more. Braves get men on base, you actually hope and pray they score at least one run. Lowe is now washed up and I can’t wait for next season when he’s not on this team anymore. Braves ownership needs to spend more money and get players that know how to pitch and know how to actually hit with runners on base instead of popping out in foul territory or hitting the ball back to the pitcher which Braves batters tend to do ALOT.
Summer of George
September 22nd, 2011
1:14 pm
Freddie Freeman kinda looks like Chipper in the face if you cut off at forehead
sportsmandh
September 22nd, 2011
1:17 pm
Interesting some idiot thinks the doctors would work on Chipper’s schedule. I’m willing to bet whoever posted that comment does not have kids.
Tom G
September 22nd, 2011
1:19 pm
Barry – Sorry, but Lowe will probably be on the Braves next year, we owe him $15 million for final year on his 4 yr contract. Do not think another team will trade for him at this stage of his career? Even if we throw in some money!
Summer of George
September 22nd, 2011
1:19 pm
sportsmandh…whoever posts that doesn’t have a life!
AB*Nation
September 22nd, 2011
1:21 pm
We need to start using pine tar on the baseballs (ala Smoltz)…. and rosin on the bats…. that will get things turned around.
Summer of George
September 22nd, 2011
1:21 pm
Tom G….let’s finish out this year first…depressing thinking about aging starters for next year
Summer of George
September 22nd, 2011
1:26 pm
Speaking of pine tar…..Never did understand how that could have given G. Brett an advantage because it is up too high on a bat. Heck, they can legally put it on practically anywhere a player can hold the bat to swing. Why the cutoff point for batters? They’re not putting tar on to hit homers..
but, Billy Martin sure did get him that day….it was a stupid rule
John881
September 22nd, 2011
1:26 pm
The Braves are done. The Cardinals are playing like a team that really wants a playoff berth while the Braves are just coasting along and hoping something positive will happen. As a Braves fan I’m very disappointed that they let such a large wild card lead evaporate so quickly. In the end the Cardinals deserve a playoff spot more than the Braves do. They have demonstrated this on the field, by playing with passion and winning games when they truly count.
Summer of George
September 22nd, 2011
1:29 pm
Wouldn’t pine tar cut down on speed of a pitchers release? Especially for a power pitcher like Smoltz?
ijudgenot
September 22nd, 2011
1:31 pm
AB*Nation unfortunately you are right about Fredi, he has been more of a Cox clone than any of Cox’s children could be. Maybe that is why he got the job in the first place. Chipper Jones was a great talent when he came to the majors and will make the HOF one day for all his individual accomplishments. The sad thing is that he will not be a first ballot HOF player with many championships on his resume like a Derek Jeter, although I think Chipper had more talent. What Jeter had and Chipper did not was a demanding manager. They both were talented phenoms that came to the majors full of themselves. Jeter was put in check by his manager , but Chipper ws allowed to do what ever he wanted on his team. Cox put Chiper in check . If Chipper wanted a day off he got it. As many a time as w all have seen Chippers lackadaisical play in the fiel and his trots to first, we never have witnessed him being called out for that by Cox. The team eventually follows the leas of its star player. If he plays the game hard everyday and plays hurt like a Jeter, then the rest of the team will do the same. If he sacrifices an at bat to get a runner in scoring position, regardless if he is hitting 3rd or 4th, the rest of the team will do the same. Fredi said he benched H. Ramirez when he dogged running behind a ball that had gotten by him, because Ramirez was the best player on the team(team leader) and the team needed to know that he expected evryone to play the same way even Ramirez. That’s why I thought he would be different than Cox. When Cox benched Andruw, he ws not the best player on the team, Chipper was. And there were plenty of times Chipper had shown the same lackadaisical play, but Cox chose Andruw eventhough Andruw was doing what the rest thought was acceptable given the best player’s example.
For the record I am not saying this team has not achieved all it could because of Chipper, he is a great talent but you can’t help but notice that the personality of the teams managed by Cox and now Fredi have been and is that of Chipper, from how they approach hitting(free swinging) bunting, sacrificing an at bat to time on DL. Its not hippers fault that he has never had a manager that set his tone instead of accepting the tone set by the teams best player.
Summer of George
September 22nd, 2011
1:31 pm
John 881, All games count….How were Cardinals playing when they fell behind by 9 games?
Let’s see where it ends up Wednesday
nashvillewill
September 22nd, 2011
1:33 pm
Whichever way you shuffle your…refuse, it still stinks. This group of everyday players has stunk all year (except one month of Uggla). Chipper and McCann have had their moments, but, by and large, the pitching has been all between this team and the bottom of the division. Now that the pitching is faltering we see how much this team reminds us of the teams of the ’80’s. One difference between now and then is I get to watch every day on tv and see how awful this group is. The only players who have impressed me, day in and day out, are Freeman and Bourn (and Constanza when he was playing). The rest of this bunch are inconsistent and ineffective. In the offseason, I suggest cleaning house, beginning with both Gonzaleses. Start with the management team. Then find a SS who can hit at least .260. Then look for OFers with pop–I am sick and tired of the outfielders that have been out there for the past several years. Say goodbye and good luck to Heyward, Diaz, Prado, and Hinske. Rebuild from within (Gartell or Constanza) or sign someone with .260 hitting and 30 HR power. I was sad to see Infante go and Uggla has not replaced his heart, let alone his clutch hitting, and versatility. This was a bad trade, but I fear we are stuck with Uggla and Fla would not take him back. We need a 3B prospect to play 1/2 the games Chipper will miss next year, then replace him the following year. We also could use a stellar defensive catcher to spell McCann and work late innings next year. I am not impressed with Ross. Finally, the rebuild pitching staff would include mostly this crop of rookies. Let go of Lowe and shop around for a veteran (though Medlen might do). Say goodbye to JJ (injured for two years is long enough) and Hansen (sore-armed and injured for the rest of his career).
Does this sound dramatic? I am dramatically fed up with this bunch.
Summer of George
September 22nd, 2011
1:40 pm
Willie mays Hayes comes up just a biiiiitt short on his slide.
Summer of George
September 22nd, 2011
1:41 pm
Let’s go Braves….still got a lead with 6 games to go….the playoffs are NOW
Coach Hindsight
September 22nd, 2011
1:45 pm
Cant blame em, its huntin season.
Steve
September 22nd, 2011
1:51 pm
Good Luck to The Braves tomorrow.they are going to need it.If they happen to make it to the playoffs and play in Phoenix,I’m going to go watch them kick some snake a@@.
Instant Dawgma
September 22nd, 2011
2:09 pm
I’ll post same thing as did with Schultz……
Meaningful baseball in September!!!!! Allright!!!!
Would you rather it be the ’70’s and ’80s with 2000 paid attendance and mathematically eliminated in July?
It’s the last week and Braves have a lead!!!!!
Let’s Go Braves!!! GET EXCITED and Yell at the TV if you can’t go to game!! WAKE UP and QUIT BITCHIN
Damnit, quit with the glass half full crap…..BE OPTIMISTIC….What’s the worst, they don’t make the playoffs, but it comes down to the homestretch….SUPPORT, BE ENTHUSIASTIC
Instant Dawgma
September 22nd, 2011
2:13 pm
glass half empty crap i meant.
Get it together Atlanta and give this team the SUPPORT they need NOW
Bartles & James
September 22nd, 2011
2:14 pm
We thank you for your support!
Mister Frisky
September 22nd, 2011
2:15 pm
Von Trapp das Braves are looking like das POW’s that das Ruskies marched into Ruskieland that never made it back to das Fatherland.
Mister Frisky
September 22nd, 2011
2:18 pm
Alex your right I do believe history means his story.To the victors go the spoils.
cristianlobo
September 22nd, 2011
2:25 pm
This team does not need to display more emotion, this is not a soap opera. They don’t need to start Constanza and hope he can out run a weak roller to the mound for any kind of average. They don’t need FG to impersonate La Russa and shuffle his players like playing cards every third inning. They do not need to tip caps anymore. What we by God need are hits, clutch hits, and lots of ‘em. Bringing runners home has a tendency to make problems go away. Let’s go, boys, it isn’t too late. Come on, Bravos!
Summer of George
September 22nd, 2011
2:26 pm
Bingo cristianlobo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!