Braves postgame quotes following Monday’s loss to Phillies
CHIPPER JONES
On losing despite good start:
“They sent a pretty good pitcher out there and a pretty good team. They came back and got us but we had a couple opportunities and didn’t cash in, but I’ll take that kind of effort from the guys every day. Sometimes you just get beat.”
On his right knee:
“It’s bugging me but you’ve got to go to the post.”
On the Braves 2-0 lead to start:
“We got off to the just the start that we wanted to and I thought the kid pitched good. Randall pitched awesome. I can’t really say he made a mistake per se. He made a good pitch to Polanco that was inside-outed up the middle, just good hitting and J-Roll went down and got a low ball and hit it out of the ballpark. Other than that, I thought he was nails.”
On lack of clutch hitting:
“When we did get opportunities after the second, just didn’t cash them in. I attributed it more to really good pitching, than lack of hitting.”
On liking the Braves effort:
“I’ll take that effort. I’ll take that showing right there. We competed 27 outs, all nine innings and guys gave it everything they had. If we get beat on a nightly basis playing like that, I can live with it. Some previous games, not so much.”
On if Braves still have what it takes to make it:
“Yes. no doubt. We can play tooth and nail with the best teams in the game. We’ve proven that. We proved it tonight with a guy who started the year in Double-A. He pitched great, we played good defense behind him. We swung the bats good in certain sections of the game, not so good in others. Again, when you’re running up against a Cy Young winner, he doesn’t make too many mistakes. I think we probably took advantage of the few that he did make.”
On sense that guys are a little tight at plate, especially when behind:
“Tonight I didn’t get that sense. Tonight I thought we were free and easy, I thought we were ready to play. I thought to be honest with you, after the first two innings, I gave up a 99.9 percent chance of winning. I really felt like we were going to win, but that’s what good ball clubs do, they kind of chip their way back into it and they did it, they scored one in the fourth, fifth and sixth and one in the eighth and they got the clutch hit. Ibanez got a couple of clutch hits for them, Polanco. That lineup is chock full of not just power hitters but hitters that grind out at-bats and can hit for average.”
On if will watch the game in Houston:
“No. I don’t really care about that. I’ll find out what they did later on tonight or tomorrow, right now I’m just going to flush this one and concentrate on Oswalt tomorrow.”
On how knee will feel tomorrow:
“It’s going to hurt.”
On if he can play:
“Probably.”
On if it bit him as he got to third as he hit the bag trying to advance in the sixth:
“It bit me all night.”
FREDDIE FREEMAN (said David Ross was imitating the manager from the movie “Major League” to keep guys loose in the clubhouse before the game)
On if the team was loose before the game:
“We had a pretty good laugh before the game started tonight. Everything was loose. We went out there and played loose the first couple innings and Cliff Lee just came in and settled down, shut us down the rest of the way.”
On if Chipper’s homer relaxed team:
“He tomahawked that thing out of there against one of the best pitchers in the game. That got us going, got us excited real early. Came back the next inning with another run. But that’s why he’s Cliff Lee. He settled down; Randall Delgado pitched great. I just wish we could have got us some more runs.”
On recent struggles with runners in scoring position:
“You don’t think about that stuff in the middle of the game. As you look back, as you bring it up, we really haven’t come through a lot lately, but like I’ve said before you can take the positive out of it that we’ve actually gotten guys into scoring position. Hopefully in the last couple games we’ll come through.”
RANDALL DELGADO
On his outing:
“Those five innings, the game was close. I was a little mad about the bad pitch, Rollins hit the home run. It was a close game, the team played really well. We couldn’t get the victory but still I think we’ve got a good chance the next two to get to the postseason.”
On going against Phillies and Lee with so much on line:
“I will tell you there was a little pressure but that’s a good team. I just tried to be focused and concentrate, try to do a good job and keep the game as close as possible.”
On the pitch to Rollins:
“I was trying to get that corner but I left it right in the middle.”
FREDI GONZALEZ
On the good start:
“Yeah we got two runs off Cliff there, I thought we were going to be able to get some more. They did a hell of a job shutting us down. We had some opportunities but they did a nice job not letting us capitalize on those opportunities.”
On decision to go back with Martinez a second day:
“With the left-handers, we felt good that he was going to get the left-handers. We really wanted him to get a couple hitters there, the left-handers, and (then) bring O’Flaherty in. We were only trying to get one out there in the sixth (with O’Flaherty) and then go out there in the seventh. (Martinez) got Howard and (Victorino) got the triple.”
On watching the Astros:
“Yeah we’ll sit back here and turn the TV on and see what’s happening in Houston.”
On Lee settling down:
“He’s pretty good. He’s better than pretty good. He’s darn good. He made some nice pitches there.”
On Chipper bouncing back from road trip:
“He’s swinging the bat pretty good, felt pretty good at the plate there with him facing Lidge that he would make something happen, that wouldn’t happen.”
On Chipper’s knee:
“He tweaked it a little bit, in the (sixth) inning but he doesn’t want to come out of games and he ran down to first base on that double play pretty good, so that’s encouraging to see. We’ll evaluate and see how he comes in tomorrow afternoon.”
On only complaint with rookie pitcher was not being able to get six, seven innings:
“The kid did a hell of a job today. Everything considering, he was fantastic. Putting him in this kind of situation, this kind of atmosphere, you can’t ask for anything more. At the very least I think the young man will gain from this experience and he’s going to be better off for it.”
On mood of clubhouse now:
“I just walked through the clubhouse and I think everybody is upset that we lost the game but we’ve still got another game tomorrow. I’m sure we’ll sit out here and watch the Cardinals play Houston and hopefully we can come out of here tonight, still one game up.”
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238 comments Add your comment
Bravesin11
September 26th, 2011
11:28 pm
First
kevkat
September 26th, 2011
11:29 pm
Thank God for the Astros..hopefully they can win at least one more..have more faith in them right now.
Brave New World
September 26th, 2011
11:30 pm
ASTROS WIN……..
tony austin
September 26th, 2011
11:30 pm
What a load of garbage.
BravesfaninAugusta
September 26th, 2011
11:30 pm
First
Peter
September 26th, 2011
11:31 pm
The Cardinals lose to the Astros, they blow a 4 run lead to the Mets, and we STILL haven’t closed this thing out!! My god
BravesfaninAugusta
September 26th, 2011
11:31 pm
Or not
BravesfaninAugusta
September 26th, 2011
11:32 pm
Hey it could be worse…. We could be Red Sox fans
Brave New World
September 26th, 2011
11:32 pm
actually two more wins by astros will settle it for braves
Freefalling
September 26th, 2011
11:33 pm
LOL
astros suicide squeeze to win it…
at least they’re showing a gritty effort to win… their 55th game of the season.. not much could be said about this team
Andres
September 26th, 2011
11:33 pm
i think im more upset at the loss than the whole team
AB*Nation
September 26th, 2011
11:33 pm
“They came back and got us but we had a couple of opportunities and didn’t cash in, but I’ll take that kind of effort from the guys every day” …WTF! 1-10 with RISP and you will take that kind of effort every day. You are a bigger dolt than any of us could have ever imagined.
Darryl Blackberry
September 26th, 2011
11:33 pm
Not a bad game. Braves just got beat by a better, healthier team. There weren’t an inordinate number of walks or guys trying to pull the ball to the moon. If Chipper’s knee hadn’t been barking, his double play groundout and lack of range at third might not have happened. Fredi probably should’ve pulled him, in retrospect…
Oh well. Get ‘em tomorrow.
BravesfaninAugusta
September 26th, 2011
11:33 pm
We’re getting Oswalt tomorrow
Jipper Chones
September 26th, 2011
11:36 pm
fredi tipping the cap as usual.
the bald head need no cap fredi
Tom G
September 26th, 2011
11:38 pm
Honestly, I think the Braves are just ready for the season to end, only the FANS would like to see them in the playoffs!Why, I really do not know? We need more hitters bad!
JJ
September 26th, 2011
11:39 pm
D’Lowe,we need you BIG TIME tomorrow,so let’s show Freddi that he is not wrong for giving you the ball/.GO BRAVES
Tippin
September 26th, 2011
11:39 pm
Gotta tip your cap!
JAFO
September 26th, 2011
11:39 pm
If you actually listen to FG, it’s much, much worse than the the written quote. It defies even rudimentary education. And yet we live another day with a one game lead. 1-10 risp. I know I wasnt the only one that knew the 2 was all we would get. Ineptitude beyond description.
Brave4life-1995 all over again???
September 26th, 2011
11:39 pm
Wow after the Astros winning….I might just be able to sleep
Brave New World
September 26th, 2011
11:41 pm
I think Braves are working real hard and thats causing them choke in clutch situations…
They gotta go with a positive spirit tomorrow night and cream oswalt in the first inning and put 3 or 4 runs and hope for Lowe to perform like he is expected to when he was given that 64 mil deal
Bushinyou
September 26th, 2011
11:41 pm
Where’s the real quote of the night from Fredi Gonzalez?
Tom
September 26th, 2011
11:42 pm
I have more faith in the astro’s winning versus the cards than the braves showing any signs of life vs the phils.
Turtsnap
September 26th, 2011
11:42 pm
Gotta tip your cap to the Phillies……… Watch us get swept but then the Cards get swept, so we limp in….. God this is so much like last year! Maybe we should put Brooks Conrad in to play some DEE-fense
ijudgenot
September 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
As I watch Fredi not pinch hit for Diaz with Hinske, Heyward or Conradon bench and trailing by a run. As I watch Fredi bring in Martinez to face two consecutive lefthanders after having pitched 2 days in a row and O’Flarity available and then say post game he wanted Martinez to pitch to lefthanders instead of O’flarity, I now know what many on this board have been saying for a long time. He is not ready for the prime time. When he allowed Chipper Jones to gimp out to 3rd base after tweeking his knee, deminishing his infield defense, you knew this guy is only a Bobby Cox clone. He probably asks every inning, What would Bobby do?
Brave New World
September 26th, 2011
11:43 pm
JAFO, I do agree with you…., Fredi is one of the main reasons for this melt down… he is trying the loyalty game that Bobby played all these years but he is horrible at that…
Rowsdower
September 26th, 2011
11:45 pm
On mood of clubhouse now:
“I just walked through the clubhouse and I think everybody is upset that we lost the game but we’ve still got another game tomorrow. I’m sure we’ll sit out here and watch the Cardinals play Houston and hopefully we can come out of here tonight, still one game up.”
My god, how many tomorrows do you think there are, Fruiti? Someone needs to walking through the clubhouse and blowing shyte up. If you think the Astros (again, thank you Astros) are going to sweep the Cardinals, you’re nuts.
PLEASE DON’T THROW BLOWE TOMORROW!!!
Tom
September 26th, 2011
11:46 pm
Lowe will be pitching tomorrow, will be rooting again for astro’s as lowe will no doubt get shelled.
Kimbrel rocks
September 26th, 2011
11:46 pm
delgado is a super star in the making. totally calm out there. he’s the most poised of all the rookies. i wouldn’t mind him pitching a home game in playoffs if we make it.
smyrnabob
September 26th, 2011
11:46 pm
Fredi must go, maybe Frank as well.
Brave New World
September 26th, 2011
11:47 pm
Wande Rodriguez pitched pretty well tonight but there is some Henry Sosa guy pitching for stros tomorrow and hoping him to contain the big 3 Pujols, Holliday and Berkman is too much to expect from him…,
so braves better win tomorrow and the day after
ab initio
September 26th, 2011
11:47 pm
I don’t know who I feel more sorry for: the Braves’ fans, or the Cardinals’ fans.
bravesfaninNashville
September 26th, 2011
11:48 pm
Fredi is inept. This team has won IN-SPITE of him…He shouldn’t get the credit they’re in this race. That belongs to Frank Wren and the players.. If he doesn’t lose it for them it’ll be a miracle.
Largo
September 26th, 2011
11:49 pm
What the hell? Listening to Chipper, it sounds like we just won a game tonight and will have no problems winning the wild card. We have lost like 8 of the last 11 games and he thinks we’re playing fine. Fredi and Chipper sure have screwed up ideas about winning and losing.
Rowsdower
September 26th, 2011
11:50 pm
Another former Braves bails us out. It seems the only way the Cardinals can lose in September is if a former Braves is directly responsible.
Maybe we have some force trying to protect us since we can’t win a damn series…
Mitchell
September 26th, 2011
11:50 pm
Peter
September 26th, 2011
11:31 pm
The Cardinals lose to the Astros, they blow a 4 run lead to the Mets, and we STILL haven’t closed this thing out!! My god
Ditto.
PUREFAN
September 26th, 2011
11:51 pm
Braves had some good AB’s. Game of inches. Hopefully the inches go our way tomorrow. Time for Lowe to be his old self.
Brave New World
September 26th, 2011
11:53 pm
WSOX released Ozzie Guillen today…, How about we hire him for two days as an advisor and let him chew the Braves players up and get their act together….,
Thats what this team needs now.., Someone who can look into the players eyes and tell them that they are playing horrible baseball right now and need to step up
Yes,, thats what we need now
JAFO
September 26th, 2011
11:54 pm
Lowe has to pitch a shutout for us to have a remote chance of winning. Venters is now good for a run on every appearance. A two run deficit might as well be 9.
Mike S
September 26th, 2011
11:55 pm
Eff all the haters, I still love this team. Go Braves!
nashvillewill
September 26th, 2011
11:55 pm
Let us all tip our caps to the Astros – TIP TIP TIP TIP TIP TIP TIP, ETC
On another note, why was Martinez pitching to left-handers in a tie game? Fredi’s moves and his justifications for his moves defy logic and reason. And he insists on starting Lowe when his rookies are giving the best starts. Is Teheran the long man tomorrow? If so, will he come in early if Lowe gives up his usual 3-4 runs? Every game is playoff, now. Someone please tell Fredi this and let him relay the message to the hitters.
Who Me?
September 26th, 2011
11:55 pm
Backing into the playoffs…..what year was it we all watched the SF Giants game the last day of the season to see if the Braves would backdoor the playoffs and they did???
What a chicken-s**t way to win a wild-card. C’mon FG, roll the dice a bit and be bold. PH Hinske, do something daring like bunt for once….
One question before I leave your happy little kingdom tonight:
How many runs are you going to let DLowe spot them tomorrow before you make a move??
Phils fan
September 26th, 2011
11:55 pm
..the phillies lost 8 in a row just to mess with the braves psyche. hilarious! thank god for the phils AAA affiliate braves fans.
NorcalBrave
September 26th, 2011
11:55 pm
No shame in getting shut down by Cliff Lee. Problem is we knuckle under to practically all the other pitchers we face too. I never thought I’d see a more anemic offense than the one we fielded last September with C. Jones and Prado injured. I’ve learned differently.
Kimbrel rocks
September 26th, 2011
11:56 pm
@largo—-he’s staying positive. they really did play better tonight though. they seem to play better when forced. lol
Kentavo
September 26th, 2011
11:56 pm
OK, Fredi bashers; who do you want managing the club? I mean, for real, not guys already under contract, but availalbe MLB capable managers?
Joe Torre?
Ozzie Guillen?
DaveinNEPA
September 26th, 2011
11:57 pm
We limped into the playoffs last year and lost 6 in a row to end the season in 09.
It’s 2011 and the only thing that changed is the manager.
Nanny
September 26th, 2011
11:57 pm
On decision to go back with Martinez a second day:
“With the left-handers, we felt good that he was going to get the left-handers. We really wanted him to get a couple hitters there, the left-handers, and (then) bring O’Flaherty in. We were only trying to get one out there in the sixth (with O’Flaherty) and then go out there in the seventh. (Martinez) got Howard and (Victorino) got the triple.”
What the hell is his rationale here? Makes no sense. If you’re going to bring in O’Flaherty anyways, why wouldn’t you do so when Howard, Victorino and Ibanez are coming in? That decision may have cost us the game as Martinez promptly gave up the triple to Victorino. I am even more annoyed after reading that idiotic and nonsensical explanation from idiot Fredi.
Oh, and no comment from Chipper about his rally killing DP?
Phils fan
September 26th, 2011
11:59 pm
the difference is that the giants team was on fire and roids. and they had starters with complete game stuff. not to mention that bp. that was a great team. can’t say the same about the braves. esp with holes in their rotation due to injuries.
flbravesfan
September 27th, 2011
12:00 am
Actually I think we have all been fooled. FG does not stand for Fredi Gonzalez, IT STANDS FOR FORREST GUMP.
JackDennis
September 27th, 2011
12:00 am
Fredi is in WAAAAAAAAAYYYY over his head.
Mitchell
September 27th, 2011
12:01 am
The really sh!tty thing about all this is if the Braves do clinch it will have to wait until an hour or more until the conclusion of the Cardinals Astros game and so for the second year in a row fans will have to wait it out for who knows how long to celebrate winning the wild card.
It’s easily the worst way to finish the season.
Not only are you not able to celebrate as a team immediately following the final out of the game, that’s if they win of course, you force fans to sit, wait and scoreboard watch.
Also, for the second year in a row (should it actually happen), there will be no official radio or TV call documenting the winning of the wild card.
And when you lose again in the first round, it’s almost like nothing ever happened.
I mean, as much as I can’t stand Jim Powell and Chip Caray it would be nice to just have a sound byte of one or both of them saying “The Braves win the wild card!”
Let’s just win this damn thing.
Good Lord.
nashvillewill
September 27th, 2011
12:03 am
Hey Mike S, I’ve been a Braves fan since 1957. It is heartbreaking to follow a team with as much talent as the Braves have had through the years and to have won 2 World Series in 54 years. I hold Cox responsible for only 1 WS win with the best pitching staff in baseball for a decade. And now, we are watching a Cox-clone repeat similar mistakes (wearing out a bullpen, killing good arms, loyalty to inept veterans, refusal to light fires under their seats, etc). I did not have an Internet blog to complain about Cox all those years. You can bet I and others who don’t drink Braves Kool-Aid will blog and blog about Fredi’s ineptitude. The one thing I hold onto is the hope that if the Cards win the WC, which they should do, that Fredi will be one and done. And if he’s not, I hope the fans act and react.
Nanny
September 27th, 2011
12:05 am
On a positive note, Randall Delgado was stellar yet again. Without these young starters, we would have been eliminated long ago. The one good thing Wren did was holding on to all of them , including Minor who has impressed me as well. Uggla is going to kill our ability to spend for the next 4 years.
ABravesFan
September 27th, 2011
12:07 am
Braves still control their own destiny. Just got to win.
AB*Nation
September 27th, 2011
12:07 am
St. Louis will not lose again…. Do you think the Braves will? This thing ends up tied AT BEST! No more Astros bail bondsmen ,, so I guess it is Beachy in St.Louis on Thu? So, if the Braves do make the postseason despite all of their efforts to blow it ,,, I guess that means Fredo would be stupid enough to start Lowe in a Game 1 on 3 days rest,,, because mark my words,, these imbeciles would never start a rookie like Delgado – who should start. If JJ is back I guess that could come into play where they would be dumb enough to pitch him on Thu. or in Game 1 on Sat… But never the inexperienced rookie…. Don’t want to do that to the kid.
Rafael
September 27th, 2011
12:07 am
WHY is Matt Diaz STARTING in the Majors???!!! If I hear one more time how “he rakes lefthanders” I’ll vomit.
WHY is Jason “BUST” Heyward still getting crucial pinch-hitting at bats in a Wildcard race???!!! Heyward couldn’t hit a beach ball with a telephone pole.
WHY is Derek “DUI” Lowe getting the START tommorrow night in a “fight-for-your-life” game???!!! “Kawakami” Lowe pitching is a CERTAIN loss!!! You might as well automatically be tied with St. Louis with the washed-up BUM Lowe pitching!
WHY does Fredi CONTINUE to bring in Cristain Martinez???!!! Martinez CONSISTENTLY gives up runs EVERY time he pitches.
I wouldn’t be upset if I KNEW heads were going to roll after this monumental COLLASPE!!! The way the Braves work is Matt Diaz will be starting in the OF NEXT year and Fredi will STILL be the manager.
WHY do I bother to care???!!! As long as Liberty CHEAPIA owns the team, this &993%^&*^(ELKG/!!!! is going to happen.
Brave New World
September 27th, 2011
12:08 am
Bourn’s text message to astros this morning …. “Houston, we have a problem”
Ben Be Brave
September 27th, 2011
12:08 am
This Braves’ collapse is damn annoying, but come on Braves fans, we have to keep the faith…I live in Houston and was peeking in at the Lastros’ game all night…have to thank ‘em though.
Harpie
September 27th, 2011
12:13 am
Fredi Gonzales looks like a frightened rabbit during his interviews, most likely because he doesn’t know what he’s doing. Get us a decent manager!!!
steve
September 27th, 2011
12:13 am
I cannot believe we have a supposedly manager that is never ready to make any kind of counter move when the opposing manager changes pitchers , Diaz was brought back to face lefthanded pitchers because of his numbers, what the hell is going on that would allow F.G. to not pinch hit for him when they bring in a right hander? Our bullpen is tired because our manager brings in the same relief pitchers back to back, Martinez had no business being in the game tonight as he threw too many pitches yesterday plus he gave up the big homerun, is anyone in our dugout paying attention?Why did we not bring up a few more right handed bats like a Gomez to pinch hit as we have too many lefthanded ones ? I have never been so more embarassed as a Braves fan to watch this mess during September, we look like a last place team and it is not because of our young players or rookie pitchers. One last thing, Could somebody please tell our pitching staff that you get guys out by pitching high inside and low outside and never throw a pitch low and inside or it ends up in the seats for a homerun or down the line for extra base hit, low and inside is the very worse location for any pitch to be made.
JAFO
September 27th, 2011
12:14 am
Why in the hell did he trot martinez out there against the lefties? So fg, in game 160 finally decides to oppose the bobby cox righty lefty matchup edict. Buffoonery. Can fw really listen to his mgr speak and have confidence? I would rather hear no comment. The entire team repeats the same tired bs cliches every damn night. It’s pathetic. We need a ‘im as mad as hell and im not going to take it anymore.’
Rowsdower
September 27th, 2011
12:17 am
How are we supposed to have faith in a team that is playing .375 baseball in September?
This team doesn’t deserve to make the playoffs. Obviously, as a fan, if they make it I will be ecstatic. I’ll take an early exit in October over a flameout in September any day, but this is ridiculous.
I can’t believe we still control our own fate…
Bier Breth
September 27th, 2011
12:24 am
I’m tired of the lame excuses. When Braves pitchers throw “great pitches” to Phillies hitters, they–like Victorino TWICE!– hit it when they have to. Our guys continue to wave feebly at pitches out of the zone after watching 1st pitch strike after 1st pitch strike sizzle down the pipe. Irritating to watch. Great pitching my smelly tail! The Braves lack of clutch hitting is a tradition with this team, not the incidence of great pitching. Delgado looked better than Lee all night, but the Phils hitters hit him. Making the playoffs would just be prolonging the inevitable. This team is phoning it in.
@___ISH___
September 27th, 2011
12:24 am
If I were just a pure baseball fan and had no love for the Braves there is no way I’d be rooting for a 9-16 (Sept) ball club to make the playoffs.. that’s insanity.
Mister Frisky
September 27th, 2011
12:26 am
You competed for 27 outs and produced 2 runs,I’ll take that every night.Don’t know was is more pathetic.This team and their post game quotes.Or everyone who is so geeked up that that Houston won.This offense is like Rip Van Winkle.It’s been asleep for 20 years and it ain’t wakin up anytime soon.Cards still win the card.
AB*Nation
September 27th, 2011
12:27 am
McCann is starting to resemble a player who is past his prime and at such a young age. How do you let yourself get fat as sh!t when you make your living as an athlete…unbelievable. Does all of the diet and working out in the offseason and comes into spring training more fit than ever and decides it’s a good idea to eat hotel food – or the worst stuff on a hotel menu, and turns into an out of shape tub ,,, and guess what gets injured,, has obviously never fully recovered from injury and has hurt this team in a huge way (pun intended). What a joke.
JAFO
September 27th, 2011
12:27 am
frightened rabbit. Perfect analogy. Fg inspires fright and weakness. Charlie manuel sounds like a buffoon but knows how to manage. We have only the buffoon part.
ijudgenot
September 27th, 2011
12:29 am
Kentavo
September 26th,
OK, Fredi bashers; who do you want managing the club?
To be honest Kentavo, until Chipper retires there will be no real change of heart or no heart for this team. Fredi is just not the head of the team.. Chipper has set the tone for this team for years. He has been a great talent, but never a leader that carried the team by himself. he has always needed his Robin to perform his Batman act. We have seen that with Justice, Sheffield, Jordon, Andruw, McGriff, and Texiera. Uggla was supposed to do it this year but could only do it for a month and a half. The team is choking and he can’t do anything about it because he has no Robbin to be clutch.with him. After Chipper retires a manager like Ozzie Guillian would be good for the team. Cox and now Fredi nurtured the idea that they did not seek the limelight because they wanted the players to get the credit. I contend they always put the spotlight on the players because it took the spotlight of failure off of them. If the team lost then it was the players fault not theirs.
JAFO
September 27th, 2011
12:36 am
And we are left with lowe. At two runs, the hook, no matter the sit.
Atlanta Underground
September 27th, 2011
12:41 am
Look, you guyz understimate Cliff Lee. He is a totally elite pitcher. We at least got a HR against him and another run too (even if Pence misplayed that ball). We’re done with facing his caliber … now the real battle for the wild card begins in earnest with Oswalt pitching against the Braves tomorrow night and the Phillies bullpen picking up Wednesday’s game.
Mister Frisky
September 27th, 2011
12:45 am
Ozzie is going to the Marlins.New stadium,new manager,you better believe they will have a new attitude.A boost in Marlins payroll means Braves will be lucky to be 3rd next season.
JAFO
September 27th, 2011
12:50 am
AU- 1-10 risp. forget about lee. Hit the damn ball.
jebrett
September 27th, 2011
12:50 am
I agree, Fredi has to go!
Bravesfan4life
September 27th, 2011
12:52 am
This is f****** pathetic, even if we some how make the playoffs, we’ll be out in 4, maybe even 3. This will go down as one of the biggest collapses in history. The following should either be fired, released or benched. F.Gonzalez, A. Gonzalez (contract is up) J. Heyward, M. Prado, and of course D. Lowe. In the past 20 years, there have been some bitter pills to swallow, and this will certainly rank right up there will all of the losses in the first rds. of the playoffs over the years. Very sad to see a team fall like this.
Rowsdower
September 27th, 2011
12:54 am
@ijudgenot – You remember what happened to Justice when he called out the city of Atlanta for not showing up to support this team? He was ostracized until he hit the game winning HR in the World Series. Maybe that’s why noone wants to be a leader.
I can understand Bobby and Fredi not wanting to throw their players under the bus in the media, but behind closed doors you gotta light these guys up. They’re laughing and whooping it up while their lead fades from 10.5 to 1. You’re playing .375 in the month of September and everything’s ok? We’ll go get them tomorrow? There are only 2 tomorrows left. It’s time to put your money where your mouth is.
STOP TIPPING YOUR FUQN CAP!
Rowsdower
September 27th, 2011
12:56 am
@Atlanta Underground – You sound awfully confident considering we’re running Derek Lowe out there…again. Do you know something the rest of us don’t?
John881
September 27th, 2011
12:57 am
This Braves team is painful to watch. They don’t deserve to be in the playoffs. I know the Cardinals have stumbled a few times lately, but they are 16-8 in September and play with a lot more enthusiasm and passion for success than is apparent with the Braves. You get the feeling that the Cardinals could make some noise in the playoffs while the Braves would be eliminated quickly. Where is the sense of urgency with the Braves? I’m tired of this “aw shucks we’ll get’em tomorrow” attitude. I’ve never seen a team hit so poorly in clutch situations. Wren’s priority this off-season needs to be adding at least one proven hitter that comes from a winning situation. The Braves lack leadership. Please don’t tell me that Chipper is a leader because he is not. He is too tolerant of losing and does not challenge his teammates to produce. The Braves also need to face the fact that Chipper is no longer an adequate middle of the order hitter. His bat speed has diminished and his persistent nagging injuries make a full season of high level performance an unrealistic expectation. For 2012 Chipper should be penciled in as a no. 7 hitter with any production above that level considered as a bonus.
JAFO
September 27th, 2011
1:01 am
Rows- no heart no passion. As pathetic as the sox have been down the stretch, you know they are never out of the game. The last game they won required 12 runs. They are getting bbqd in beantown. Do you get to the braves post game press conf? The candy ass questions make it sound like a beer league softball game. fg is is unbearable.
Heyward gets on base now
September 27th, 2011
1:02 am
GAH, I really thought we had a good shot there. Got up 2-0, Delgado pitched well enough to win.
Got beat by Lee, we played well. I understand what Chip means by we put out great effort. However, Freddie as much as I love him swung on the first pitch twice with runners in scoring position and grounded out and flew out. That is BS. Someone needs to tell these guys to be selective.
Chipper was selective and got a homer and a double. It’s just incredible to me how the Braves for the most part are a bunch of free swinging fools up there.
Venters looked sick against Howard, but that was it. Then it was back to him giving up hits. Although Chipper should have been pulled, he became a defensive liability after he pulled a muscle.
We are just falling apart, I mean, it was a good effort, but when it came down to it, we couldn’t get it done. We’re just not a clutch team anymore.
Remember in August, when we won 7 of 8 against SF and AZ? That was some Braves baseball. Once September hit, timely hitting vanished. Pitching got worse, bullpen starting to show holes.
Although, kudos to O’Flaherty for not breaking down at all during this stretch. He gave up the hit that scored the run, but that wasn’t his fault. He’s still be solid.
Just gotta come back tomorrow, we keep getting tons of lives to play with.
Lowe needs to have a good outing and shut them down. However, I have a feeling that won’t happen. This offense will probably eat him alive. Even in that start against FL, he still choked during key situations.
Our offense has to start capitalizing. And Chipper, man I hope he’s not hurt.
Well, here’s the somewhat good news after all this crap. Let’s say we lose tomorrow, which we probably will given one our track record and two, it’s D Lowe. That means that the Cards will probably, more than likely not lose again to the Astros.
That means, final day of the season we have the one pitcher we know we can rely on. Tim Hudson to pitch in the final game.
I said, unfortunately at the start of the last two week or so we were going to win one game a series.
One against the Mets, Marlins, Nats, and the one we’re gonna win is when Hudson takes the mound.
Hopefully the Astros take two of three or else we’re going to St. Louis where they will probably beat us.
Go Braves! This team is capable of playing better. Tonight once again sucked. But we’ve still got a shot, sometimes that’s all you need. Gotta start driving in runs. And more importantly go Astros. Sweep the Cardinals and send them home in shambles. You and Tim Hudson are our only hope.
Rowsdower
September 27th, 2011
1:06 am
“I don’t know if there’s ever been a playoff team that’s had three rookies pitching every five days,” Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said. “With that, there comes inconsistency.”
You mean the offense, right Chipper? The pitching, with the exception of bLowe, has been pretty consistent.
“Jair was an All-Star and Tommy should have been. Starting pitcher is where it is at, and you just don’t replace those guys. I dare say things would have been different if Tommy and Jair were healthy.”
Didn’t realize Tommy and JJ were accomplished hitters. They didn’t do much with the bat when they were healthy..wait, you’re throwing the pitchers under the bus again…got it.
“We’ve got to fight through it. What are you going to do? That’s baseball. You have to come to the ballpark every day, thinking, ‘This is the day that the momentum is going to shift.’ That’s all you can do.”
The only momentum the Braves have is rolling down a mountain towards a cliff. Will they find a branch to grab on to in the last 2 games? Tune in tomorrow…
littlebl
September 27th, 2011
1:06 am
heartless tinman team.lol
AB*Nation
September 27th, 2011
1:07 am
The unfortunate thing is that Fredi proved he is the wrong guy and worse than that this org will never own up to that, so he is around to stay. If you recall at the point this was announced, a lot of people saw this coming or had mixed feelings about a Booby-clone coming in as the puppet manager while Booby likely is pulling levers behind the scenes. Is everything his fault? hell no,,, as he wasn’t responsible for the injuries that occurred or the team not hitting. But he is responsible for leadership, filling out a line-up card, burning out his bullpen, making in-game tactical and strategic blunders throughout the season,,, and sounding overall like he has no clue w/ the media,, which all told means he is less respected -however much he is liked- by his players.
@___ISH___
September 27th, 2011
1:09 am
Well said Rowsdower..
littlebl
September 27th, 2011
1:12 am
michael bourn forgot how to hit since he’s been with this team,batting please.
Rowsdower
September 27th, 2011
1:13 am
@JAFO – I watch them, and you’re right, they’re painful. Again, I don’t care what you tell the media, but once they’re gone, you got a light a fire under these guys. The defeatism on this team is unbearable. And Chipper actually has the sack to throw the pitchers under the bus when they have the 3rd best ERA in baseball with 4 rookie starters and a rookie closer. Unreal.
Nevermind that you’re scoring less than 4 runs a game for the season and an anemic 3.4 runs a game in September. Whose to blame again, Chipper?
JAFO
September 27th, 2011
1:13 am
30th in mlb w risp has nothing to do with momentum chipper. it means a roster overhaul.
Rowsdower
September 27th, 2011
1:21 am
There isn’t one player on this team that is excited about hitting with runners in scoring position. Every one of them goes up there with their sphincter so tight you could mine diamonds. I still play baseball. I love those situations and I’M A PITCHER! If i’m playing the OF and there’s a runner in scoring position I want the ball hit to me. I want to hose that clown at the plate. I just don’t see that with this team.
You look at our anemic RBI totals (80 leads the team) and it is clear that noone is clutch. This team has failed so many times with runners at 3rd and less than 2 outs you would think it was a full time job.
Where’s the pride?
JAFO
September 27th, 2011
1:22 am
Rows- a very good point but i do expect a leader to display leadership that the fans can appreciate and associate with caring about winning. DM, KG, RG. RW. Hell OG for that matter. Especially during a freefall of this magnitude. It makes all the difference to know they actually give a damn.
John881
September 27th, 2011
1:24 am
Rowsdower & JAFO – you both are both 100% correct.
Brave-less
September 27th, 2011
1:47 am
Braves lose game 1, as expected. Cards lose Game 1, unexpected but that just means they’ll win the next two and still force a playoff.
Or the Braves could choke during a choke and just get swept again by Philly. They’ll miss the playoffs in this series or in a 1 game playoff, either way they’re missing the playoffs.
Dub366
September 27th, 2011
2:06 am
If the Braves get in the playoff it not going to matter any way. the way they are playing. where are they going nowhere.
Rowsdower
September 27th, 2011
2:12 am
@Dub366 – That’s not true. If we somehow get into the playoffs we get another home game, which means a few extra bucks to help pay someone that can actually hit in the clutch.
Clifton
September 27th, 2011
2:12 am
Nice to see a fellow braves fan from augusta on this blog, C’mon D Lowe we need you now more then ever go Braves.
How LOWE can you go
September 27th, 2011
2:18 am
Let’s all give one big tip of the cap to the Phillies and the Nats and the Mets and the Cards and all the other teams our fearless Bravos have played … and lost to in the last month. They must all just be HOF pitchers to shutdown our power lineup, led by all-star Brian McCan’t, night after night. At least we have Tuesday to look forward to. We have our ace, D-Lowe, on the mound, and since he is paid 15 million/year, we all know he is one of the top pitchers in the game and we are assured a win. I just can’t wait for the playoffs, errr, I mean World Series. How bout them Braves!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fredi's an idiot
September 27th, 2011
2:25 am
Here we go with the idiots acting like wee can’t find a better manager than the guy we’ve got. Sound like UGA fans “who is better than Richt?!”
Well guess what? Like the saying goes, keep doing what you’re doing and you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. And last I checked, UGA is a joke and the Braves are sinking fast.
bobbybrave
September 27th, 2011
2:31 am
ryan sandberg……clean house from the top…..get someone with some fire ….ryan should be available…even being in the phils org….i have been behind fg all year until 3 weeks ago…tonight leaving diaz in against a right handed pitcher and martinez in the game..not good….be creative on offense..hit and run….bunt….move runners what is wrong with the little league approach or even high school…choke up on the bat make something happen,,,fg throw a chair…..kick the cooler…show some emotion on the bench…..if we loose this wildcard fredi must go and the entire staff….lets go get ryan sandberg….i think the spelling is right..i am just ticked off at this team and nervous….
Rowsdower
September 27th, 2011
2:39 am
It’s actually Ryne, and you’re right, he would make a great manager. I think the Cubs screwed themselves royal (where have I heard that before) when they passed him over.
Bobby's Cox
September 27th, 2011
3:34 am
How about a hit and run? I haven’t seen that at all from Freddie. Too many double plays.
The quotes from Chipper on Sportscenter were actually pretty nice quotes. It’s different hearing them than reading them. The non-verbal says a lot. With that said, reading Freddi’s quotes seem like he was kinda blowing off the questions. Haven’t been a fan of the managing lately.
Bobby's Cox
September 27th, 2011
3:38 am
Would like to see Ross play tomorrow. Something’s not right with McCann. He’s not staying back on the ball. He’s not exploding out of his swing like normal. He’s bringing his hands ahead early because he’s compensating for something, which is obviously the oblique.
This Phillies team has made a lot of errors lately. They’ve played sloppy. You have to force the issue on them. Hit and run, bunt, put the ball in play. Make them play defense. Something that’s always been wrong about the Braves offense is over-swinging. Even since the 90’s. You watch the friggin Orioles right now & they’re just putting the head of the bat on the ball. Play pepper out there guys.