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292 comments Add your comment
reckingball
September 28th, 2011
11:28 am
Can’t we all just get along?
GO BRAVES!!!!!!
reckingball
September 28th, 2011
11:29 am
Enter my bottom here
Atlbuck
September 28th, 2011
11:31 am
Enter your comments here
reckingball
September 28th, 2011
11:39 am
Larry shows back up on the blog, and gay comments start showing up as well, even using someone else’s ‘handle’.
Johnny Ola
September 28th, 2011
11:41 am
One has to look no further for evidence than what Fredo did recently with Heyward. Go back and look at what Heyward did for the 5 games from 9/18 to 9/23 both from a runs standpoint and hitting,,he has 1 bad game where he is 0-3 on 9/24 and Fredo benches him. I agree with everyone that Heyward has not lived up to expectations,, but the guy could have been well on his way to getting in a groove and this moron (or puppet master Booby) benches him.
MadduxFan
September 28th, 2011
11:42 am
I like what Ron Gant said after the game last night. Too many of these guys are swinging at the 1st pitch. Just be patient…make them throw you strikes. What’s the freakin hurry Chipper…Uggla…Freddie? I love you guys but good lord….be patient. We need base runners not a team that’s content with just making contact, grounding out and having to rely on the long ball for runs. And don’t get me started on Lowe!! Play to win guys….don’t just play to play. Go Braves-Stros!!
Freddie t
September 28th, 2011
11:43 am
Looking back the biggest mistake the Braves made was not getting Hunter Pense.
Johnny Ola
September 28th, 2011
11:44 am
…and don’t give me back JHeys lack of hitting in a bench role from the time of his benching, because he has never performed well in that manner.
Why-So-Serious
September 28th, 2011
11:44 am
Does Gonzalez get fired if they dont make it?
It's out of here.....
September 28th, 2011
11:57 am
Can’t you hear Dandy Don singing in the background… “turn out the lights…. the parties o v e r”
ERman
September 28th, 2011
12:04 pm
Dear Santa, Here is my wish list for Christmas 2011!!!!!!!
1. That somebody-anybody- with deep pockets would buy the Braves and put a REAL team on the field.
2. That Fredi Gonzales and his entire staff {with the exception of Eddie Perez} be given their pink slip and a good swift kick in the butt as they go out the door.
3. That Chipper Jones would stop embarrassing himself and his team and go ahead and retire.
4. That Martin Prado would return to his roll as a utility player
5. That Brian McCann would go back and find the game he lost while he was on the DL.
6. That Jason Heyward would be sent to the Instructional league to learn where the strike zone is and how to make adjustments at the plate. {even if it takes years}
7. AND LAST BUT SHOULD BE FIRST—trade Dereck Lowe to a Japanese team and hope they send him so far back in the jungle that he will never be seen or heard from again.
Mr Santa, I know I cannot get everything on my list, but one or two would be greatly appreciated.
Also, Mr Santa, you might need to restock the supply of Rolaids or Tums or Alka Seltzers to all the brave fans who suffered through the summer pulling for that bunch of LOSERS known as the Atlanta Braves.
John A.
September 28th, 2011
12:13 pm
Dream on VABravesFan….C.J. Wilson will still be pitching for the Rangers next year. Other than that you are living in a dream world if you think Tommy Hanson will be pitching anywhere next year…..my bet he will go under the knife, and be out for the season. Medlen will be back strong, so why not a staff of Huddy, Medlen, Beachy, Minor, and Delgodo?
As for the hitting…..the Braves poured money down the drain when they brought Larry Parrish in as hitting coach. Hell, he wasn’t that good of a hitter when he was playing. Get a real hitting coach…try Wade Boggs, Hank Aaron, George Brett or at least somebody that was a hitter. As for players such as Bourn aand Constanza….get a coach that can teach them the tricks of stealing bases….such as…Deon Sanders, Ricky Henderson (Ricky would be a good hitting coach too), or Otis Nixon.
Why do we always get coaches that nobody knows or never heard of? Larry Parrish played for Detroit, but didn’t come close to being in the Hall of Fame, and Roger McDowell who knows where he pitched? Speaking of coaches, can anyone tell me what a bench coach does? Are these overpaid boys of summer so insecure that they need somebody to pat them on the back when they make an error or pat their butt when they get a hit? MORE MONEY WASTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ijudgenot
September 28th, 2011
12:16 pm
Constanza is and won’t be the hitting savior for this team. It was not his hitting .350+ that made the team better. It was the attitude, the approach that made the team different and made people see the Braves as a dangerous team come playoff time. With Bourn and Constanza the Braves had transitioned to a pressure offense with single and gap hitters that kept pressure on the pitcher and the opposing teams defense. The happenstance of both McLouth and Shafer going down at the same time forced the call up of Constanza. That teamed with the acquisition of Bourn changed the dynamic of the team. To his credit Fredi made moves with the lineup all year in an effort to jump-start the offense(pitcher batting 8th, etc.) all year. I don’t blame him for that. Now I know they wanted to get Heyward started, but there were plenty of at bats between Heyward/Constanza starting for Prado at times. Having Heyward batting 8th with Bourn leading off and Constanza batting 2nd would only have added more speed to lineup. I can remember only a couple of games where Constanza batted 2nd inspite of being a great bunter and his ability to go the other way toward ss which would have been great for hit and run with ss covering 2nd. Whatever made Fredi revert from the pressure offensive team that triggered the winning streak to back to the station-to-station offense is beyond me.
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
12:18 pm
I really don’t want to hear the baloney about payroll being the problem with the braves. The team with the next to lowest payroll for 2011 in the major leagues? the Tampa Bay Rays with a total payroll of a little over $41 million. The sixth lowest payroll at at little over $53 million? Arizona. It takes a good GM who knows talent and some competent people in the dugout to run the team on the field.
John A.
September 28th, 2011
12:26 pm
Bmac doesn’t need to be traded, but somebody needs to tweak his throwing arm. Has anyone noticed that his throwing has gone in the crapper? Whatever has hampered his throwing has also effected his hitting. I believe he has a shoulder problem, and isn’t saying anything.
John A.
September 28th, 2011
12:34 pm
Larry 30……you have hit the nail on the head, but the duo of Frank & Fredi will not get the job done. Neither one of thee clowns knows talent when they see it. That is why both got fired from their jobs before coming to Atlanta. Frank was in Baltimore, and helped screw up that organization so bad that they are still trying too get things on track. Fredi was fired from Miami before the season was over, and Bobby came to his defense. Do you understand what the Braves are up against now?
danny
September 28th, 2011
12:36 pm
Questioned Fredi’s pitching assignments and leaving pitchers in too long all year. Go get em Tim and Braves!
ijudgenot
September 28th, 2011
12:44 pm
Taking each player individually this team is full of present or recent past ALL Stars Heyward, Bourn and Prado were All Stars last year(although Prado was at 2nd base instead of oufield), Chipper, McCann, Uggla and Freeman are past and future All Stars. It is when you put them together under the management of this team, do they become LESS than what hey are capable of. The Braves probably have more starting ALL STARS than the Phillies. That’s sad and a poor commentary on Fredi Gonzalez. He ,as a Cox clone, is just not the guy that is going to make this collection of All Stars play like an All Star team like the Phillies.
Justafan
September 28th, 2011
12:46 pm
ERMAN..Must agree with you. Hope you have a Merry Christmas and Santa bring you all of your wishes.
Ijudenot..also agree.
Fire Fredi where we win today are not!
jb
September 28th, 2011
12:50 pm
They will never fire Fredi, they will never admit they were wrong. Right John A ?
lexbrave
September 28th, 2011
12:57 pm
So the phillies are pitching Blanton, Hammels and Worley tonight. I love our chances!.. I also love sarcasm!
Zenman
September 28th, 2011
12:57 pm
And I thought Florida had it’s share of idiots, but after reading many of the comments, I think Georgia may have even more.
lexbrave
September 28th, 2011
12:58 pm
Maybe Halladay can come in and strike out the side in the 9th just to rub salt in the wounds.
jb
September 28th, 2011
1:06 pm
Zenman, Fla just hired Ozzie..now thats a idiot.
lexbrave
September 28th, 2011
1:08 pm
off the subject..not the best pr for coach self and kansas from former McDonald’s All American and Boston Celtic, JR Giddens:
“Any thoughts I had about leaving (school early) for the NBA ended when I got stabbed. After that I knew I wasn’t going anywhere. If anything, I was trying to figure out if I was ever going to play basketball again.
I think that’s why they made me leave Kansas. The doctor said I would walk with a limp for the rest of my life. He said I was going to come back 50% and I wasn’t going to be able to play basketball anymore.
I’m not saying Kansas threw me out like a battery. But they get McDonald’s All-Americans every day. They weren’t going to let me stay around campus and be Moulaye Niang.
Micah Downs was coming in. Bill Self used to always tell me, “Micah is coming in and he’s better than you.” He would just say little stuff like that and I was like, “Dang, man, you’re not even for me, are you?” I wanted to stay at Kansas but I felt like they just pushed me out the door, especially after getting stabbed. I was like, “I’m sitting here worrying if I’m ever play basketball again and you guys are over here talking to me in an inappropriate manner? I’m 19 years old. You guys are supposed to my college coaches. Instead, at the first sign of trouble, you guys are turning your back on me?” I felt like it was everyone from the coaching staff to the people up there in the offices. As a 19-year-old who was immature and didn’t understand life, I took that really hard. I left the office in tears when I knew I was leaving.
I remember that day really well. I walked out of there on crutches, crying. I’d been interrogated for about seven hours for three days straight. Then those guys did that to me? A few weeks before that, I had to move out of my dorm at the Towers. I and was staying with Josi Lima, my girlfriend at the time who played volleyball. Bill Self was telling my teammates not to have any contact with me. Darnell Jackson and Jeremy Case were two of my best friends, and they weren’t even allowed to talk to me. Aaron Miles was done playing so he came over. He was the only person who came and saw me. I was like, “Dang, I’m 30 feet from where I used to stay and you guys can’t even come over here and see me?” I’m stabbed and laid up and don’t even know if I’m going to play basketball again. That was very kind of Kansas basketball and Bill Self, to tell people to stay away from me like I was a team cancer.”
SWAT Native
September 28th, 2011
1:09 pm
Let’s wait one more day before we point fingers. We still have a shot.
Let’s go Huddy! WarEagle!
John A.
September 28th, 2011
1:12 pm
A suggestion for hitting coach is a Hall of Famer, .300 hitter (while playing) and switch hitter….Eddie Murray, and a pitching coach (like his brother) Greg Maddox, and manager Rick Dempsey (a guy with fire). Last but not least a group consisting of all former ballplayers (HOF) to jointly by the Braves.
It’s time to quit playing games with all of these wanna be’s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
John A.
September 28th, 2011
1:22 pm
Hey Shiiit….before Fredi can make those kind of decisions he needs a brain.
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
1:27 pm
Frank Wren will never admit he was wrong about anything. You guys think FG is a Cox clone. I disagree with that as I do think Cox was able to push his players across the finish line unlike FG. Last year’s team was much worse than this one. No chipper, no prado, no center fielder, no closer, washed up 1st baseman that should have never been traded for (Freeman should have been brought on up after they banished Glaus), Melky in left field(who had to finish of his chili dog before each at bat), and they still managed to get in, albeit on the last day. These guys look like they have quit.
Brave New World
September 28th, 2011
1:35 pm
Is Hudson pitching today because he’s a very good pitcher, or because we need his bat in the line up? Maybe both!
Swiss Tider
September 28th, 2011
1:40 pm
(1)Trade McCann. He never has been more than adequate defensively and calls a terrible gam\
(2) the team as a whole has no clue as to what the fundamentals are,let alone how to execute the same.
(3) Relative to (2),hire a manager who can teach the basics. I think Bobby Valentine would be an interesting choice. He would also bring some fire to the team.
I think its too early to give up on Hayward,but he needs winter ball for sure.
Braint
September 28th, 2011
1:53 pm
Fire Fredi! He is a moron. I knew it when I was at Dodger Stadium earlier in the year and Fredi pitched to Kemp with 1B open in extra innings and the winning run 3rd. On the postgame show, Vin Scully commented, “Apparently, Fredi Gonzalez has no idea who Matt Kemp is…” (This was after Kemp had 2 walk-off hits the previous week.) This was about a week before the sqeeze debacle with Lowe vs. Philly…..
Adrian Balboa
September 28th, 2011
1:55 pm
Me: Braves, there is one thing you can do for me.
Braves: What’s that?
Me: Win.
(Cue the Rocky music)
Fredi: What are we waiting fer?
Dan Devine
September 28th, 2011
1:58 pm
Nobody, and I mean nobody, comes into our house and pushes us around.
Senator John Blutarski
September 28th, 2011
2:00 pm
Over? Did somebody say, over? Nothing is over until we decide it is!!!
Zenman
September 28th, 2011
2:05 pm
Jb, Joe Madden more than makes up for Ozzie. A great MANager he is.
Philly Phanatic
September 28th, 2011
2:05 pm
A commentary on the most classless anouncer I’ve ever listened to and with a little play on words I’m referring to Homer Simpson. He never gives any players on the opposing team any credit. Even his boob sidekick calls a homerun the same whether it be a Brave or a Philly. Last night Polanco was called out on a pitch that was clearly low and had a few words with the ump. Simpson chimed in with c’mon you’re up 6 runs and just because your strikeout ratio is the best in baseball all of a sudden you’re an efficienado of the strike zone. When Ibanez chased the ball toward the right field seats and stayed around to see if the kid was hurt simpson right away started to interpret it as he was getting into it with the fans. He is such a Braves groupie I can’t stand when he calls them by their first name. In Philly it’s a ground ball to Rollins not Jimmy. In Atlanta it’s a ground ball to Alex. Last night after Prado hit the home run he was saying ok let’s get some momentum started for tomorrow. I think Kendrick disposed of the next 3 in about 5 pitches. I’ve heard him commentate other teams and he’s decent but when his beloved Braves are his game he’s the worst announcer I’ve ever heard. I out of curiosity looked up his career stats and he is in no position to have folks hang on his every word as his career smelled. He’s getting what he deserves with the Braves going into the tank. Face facts that team has no business in the playoffs. It only dilutes the talent level generally reserved for good teams. Right now you’re a second division team. What in the world has happened to the only decent player on the team, McMann? I read alot of references to payroll. When the Phillies were rained out two weeks ago or so I heard a typical sold out game yields 5 million in Philly. Since the product is’t nearly as good of course you can’t charge the same prices but let’s say half or 2.5 million x 81 = 202 million. Then you can do what you have to do in todays realistic world of baseball, buy some talent like Derrick Lowe.
jim
September 28th, 2011
2:12 pm
If Hudson is psyched up about pitching today, I hope he gets to the park for early BP. He’s going to need it!
BravesFan
September 28th, 2011
2:12 pm
Tonight will come down to a blown call at 2nd base with CB Bucknor there.
Coach Yoast
September 28th, 2011
2:19 pm
I don’t want them scoring another run. YOU PITCH ALL NIGHT!!! If they cross home plate again I’m gonna take every one of you out. You make sure that they remember, FOREVER, the night they played the Braves.
jim
September 28th, 2011
2:20 pm
One thing struck me from last night’s post-game quotes from Chipper. He kept referring to the Braves being a young team. Maybe at the age of 39, you look at the other people in the lineup and think they are youn, but Bourn, Prado, Chipper, Uggla, McCann, Gonzalez/Wilson are veteran players and all but Prado have 5+ years in MLB. Last night’s starter also was not a young player. The main reserves Hinske, Ross, Diaz are 5+ year vets. Conrad has only 2.5 years of MLB experience, but he is not young. There are young pitchers that have been asked to take a big responsibility on this team, but they have not been the problem, neither has the young first baseman.
Taka Tanaka
September 28th, 2011
2:20 pm
You have no………..MARBLES!!!!
jim
September 28th, 2011
2:27 pm
With Hudson going tonight you need to maximize your infield defense and gowith Wilson at SS, but if there is a playoff in St. Louis tomorrow, with Beachy pitching, I would like to see them start Pastornicky at SS.
pat
September 28th, 2011
2:37 pm
Hmmm, considering how the phillies are apparently treating this game, we may have a chance. It looks like they are kind of throwing it.
Clueless..
September 28th, 2011
2:38 pm
What then opposite verb for Brave??? And in action tonight?
I’m just saying….
pat
September 28th, 2011
2:39 pm
Of course if you can’t hit at all, it won’t much matter. But I’d rather take the chance of seeing us in the LDS than the Cardinals. Nevermind, that’s just not going to happen.
Clueless..
September 28th, 2011
2:39 pm
How much Fredi did they pay ya to tank this ish?
Mark
September 28th, 2011
2:42 pm
Bobby Cox was one of the best managers ever…..TR is the best in baseball right now …love ‘em or hate ‘em….the man knows how to win… he demands the best from his players everyday…he may not get it everyday but he still demands it….no quit in his vocabulary and NO MERCY….he will tip his cap occasionally when he’s been outcoached…but the Braves are doomed
if they don’t clinch tonight because the Cardinals will win in their house if there is a tomorrow…and another sold out game in front of the best fans in baseball,,,
Pujols or Berkman or Molina will get the game winner,,,lot’s of playoff experience between those three and they do not crumble under pressure
pat
September 28th, 2011
2:42 pm
Okay Braves, play like you got nothing to lose, because you don’t.
pat
September 28th, 2011
2:44 pm
Hell, if Buckner can still hit and Bartman can hit at all, suit’em up.
reckingball
September 28th, 2011
2:45 pm
Philly Phan……..Sipmson did not say that Ibanez was getting into it with a fan. He said that he thought that Ibanez had hit a fan, attempting to make the catch.
What is a home team announcer suppose to be, other than a homer?
Turn the sound down and listen to the game on the radio, with old permhead Sutton calling it.
Nittany Lion
September 28th, 2011
2:56 pm
The Braves still did not bunt any runners over last night. Are they not wanting to get guys on base and move them over. Fredi is looking for the two run homer. We will lose if we do not move runners over and steal some bases.
Good grief Charlie Brown
September 28th, 2011
2:56 pm
@reckingball: amen to that…i listen to Don Sutton and Jim Powell for every game if possible. they are much more entertaining than Chip and Joe. but be warned Philly Phan, they are a bit ‘homerish’ as well.
by the way, if you ever listened to Gary Matthews for more than five minutes, then you have no right to be on this blog complaining about ‘homer’ announcers.
Clueless..
September 28th, 2011
2:58 pm
If Chipper is playing its over, book it Dano!
Clueless..
September 28th, 2011
3:01 pm
Cox was an under achiever.. This guy cost them at least 3 World Series.. could not x and o if his life depended on it.. Just sorry….
C from Marietta
September 28th, 2011
3:05 pm
Hope in Atlanta sports teams = disappointment!
Kito
September 28th, 2011
3:05 pm
Phillies 5 Braves 3
Cardinals 6 Astros 4
JDog You are Stupid!
September 28th, 2011
3:09 pm
JDog you are just plain stupid – You have been drinking too much of your own KoolAid. You are one of the If’ers we have heard since Spring Training – Why Don’t you just sit down and shut up! Maybe if we lose tonight you will go back in your CAVE for another year……and hopefully die before next season starts……..
UKUGA
September 28th, 2011
3:14 pm
Braves win. Cards win.
See you Thursday.
JUST WIN!
September 28th, 2011
3:16 pm
Don’t think you can blam Fredi and Frank on this historic collapse. The injuries to McCann, Heyward, Hanson, Jurjjens, Chipper, etc. did not help. Frank Wren brought in a big right handed bat (Uggla) in the offseason and then made a great trade for Bourn. I know the Braves have not been hitting at all lately and the pitching has not been good at all in Sept. but you have to put the blame on the players…. you can’t blame mgmt. for this one. They have 89 wins heading into tonights game with all these injuries… pretty good season considering everything that has happened.
JUST WIN!
September 28th, 2011
3:20 pm
Oh yeah, don’t forget Prado being out for 3+ weeks
bostonbravo
September 28th, 2011
3:24 pm
I’ve always thought highly of Tim Hudson…the only way he can win is if gets a couple RBI on his own. sorry Huddy, you deserve better.
I also agree with Fredi detractors…he’s not 1/4 the old school baseball head Bobby Cox was/is.
Steve-O
September 28th, 2011
3:25 pm
As much as I would like to see the Braves make the playoffs tonight, I don’t see it happening.This team is terrible and the players have nothing to do but blame themselves. I hope it eats at their guts and they have many many many sleepless nights. I want this to eat at them and the coaching staff. I want Derek Lowe to be sent on a Greyhound bus and never be seen again. I want a hitter that will actually hit. I want a pitching staff that will go deep into games and see a fresh bullpen that is not exhausted by August. But alas none of this will happen. Derek Lowe will be the home opener starter again next season. And he will continue to suck. I see the Braves signing some pitful platoon outfielder to go with Matt Diaz in the OF next year. I see Jack Wilson being the starting SS next year. I see JJ getting hurt again and the team coming unglued in September next year.
Pete
September 28th, 2011
3:28 pm
So the season comes to this.
Too pathetic for words.
Associated Press
September 28th, 2011
3:56 pm
BREAKING NEWS!! HUDSON WILL NOT PITCH TONIGHT. THE ATLANTA BRAVES COACH, FREDI GONZALES, SAYS HE WANTS TO REST HIM TO ENSURE THAT HE IS READY FOR THE POST SEASON.
Hooters!
September 28th, 2011
3:57 pm
A good thing that the one-game playoff would be in St. Louis. Sorry Atlanta fans wouldn’t show up. And, those that did would leave in the 4th inning. I know why alcoholic ajc pimps wants the Braves to make the playoffs,but why do Braves fans want to see their home-boys slaughtered in the first round?
Bobby Cox
September 28th, 2011
3:58 pm
I would offer to come back to coach and help the Braves players recover from this total collapse, but I can’t stand to work for an idiot like Wren.
Henry Aaron's Ghost
September 28th, 2011
4:01 pm
In about 6 or 7 hours the suffering will be over. The Braves should immediately, if not sooner, regardless of the costs, dump: Lowe, Hinsky, Chipper, Gonzo the SS, Gonzo the manager, Parrish the hitting coach, trade: The Brad Komminski in RF, dump Matt again, dump the reliever with the 7 ERA that Gonzo the manager kept sending out there, dump Pendleton, dump the GM, dump the ownership and get a new one, burn down Turner Field, trade the 2B for a real 2B and someone who can hit and not strike out 165 times in a year (do you consider 35 HRs to be better than 165 Ks and .230 BA?), all that for a start. Only the Astros stink worse than the Braves.
NickB
September 28th, 2011
4:09 pm
Constanza stopped being played because he stopped hitting. They figured him out and he was becoming a detriment to the team.
Heyward has actually been hitting like Heyward the last couple of weeks (.286 avg, .839 OPS) so don’t blame the slide on him.
i agree that Fredi is overmatched as a big league mgr and Parrish took a team near the top in OBP and turned them into a team near the bottom. They need to go.
The fact of the matter is that the bats cooled a the same time as the young arms began to tire resulting in a perfect storm of cruddy play. It’s unfortunate, but after Hanson and JJ went down I was concerned that the team was in big big trouble. We don’t have the offensive potential of the Cardinals with their big 3 bats to overcome losing 2 of our top 3 arms….
I hope we pull it out tonite and the stros can give us an early x-mas gift.But I’m skeptical.
NickB
September 28th, 2011
4:13 pm
@HenryAarons ghost
You can’t just dump players. Chipper has full no trade and has been of the top 3 most productive 3rd basemen this year. So , we kinda wanna keep him around.
Hinske , IMO, has been underused this year as a pinch hitter…. it seems like Brooks has been overused…
Lowe, is going to be a hard move, but I think if they can save $6 mill they will move him, somewhere.
I hear ya on ownership, I really wish the Braves could get another crazy billionaire instead of these corporate owners who only see the team as a division of their conglomerate. I’m not asking to be a top 3 in payroll, but at least top 8 or 10 would be nice.
Braves@Altanta.com
September 28th, 2011
4:30 pm
Well, if we (the braves) can’t win tonight or whenever, at least, we (the braves) can talk big. We (the braves) know talk’s cheap, but it’s the only thing we (the braves) can do for now and forever. We (the braves) aren’t fooling anyone, but it doesn’t hurt. Look at us (the braves) now, everyone is laughing at us (the braves) because we (the braves) make good jokes.
Randy
September 28th, 2011
4:31 pm
Does it matter??? They will lose in a sweep in the first round anyway…just like always
Braves@Altanta.com
September 28th, 2011
4:32 pm
BREAKING NEWS!! HUDSON WILL NOT PITCH TONIGHT. THE ATLANTA BRAVES COACH, FREDI GONZALES, SAYS HE WANTS TO REST HIM TO ENSURE THAT HE IS READY FOR NEXT SEASON.
Piedmont Blues
September 28th, 2011
4:48 pm
Nice. FG starts Diaz, whose OPS is .541 vs. right handers (and who’s a below average RF) instead of Heyward, whose OPS is .770 vs right handers. And we wonder why the offense tanked … Gonzalez may not understand stats, but anyone with two eyes can see Diaz is a platoon player at best.
The Day the Earth Stood Still..
September 28th, 2011
4:48 pm
We have come to claim our 2011 initiates, the Atlanta Zombies. Keep their “manager,” as he is even beyond what we need to keep the rotted fleshlings going. BTW, we’ll be back for the manager’s staff when we unload these loads.
captguitarman
September 28th, 2011
4:50 pm
Fredi was looking pretty darned good until September arrived. He has made his share of mistakes, and some really big ones like starting Lowe again (note to file – Lowe now only to be used for mid to long relief, if no one else available), but contrary to some of these blogs, only really smart management decisions in September would not have prevented the the swoon. MLB managers cannot get up there and hit the ball, they cannot stop a player from taking third call strikes twice in a row with men on, and they should be able to count on MLB players being able to hit the ball, except for the occasional odd exception of those in slumps. For those in one year-two year slumps, their judgment and follow up action is required, however. The biggest fault with Fredi is that he managed well when the team was hitting and pitching well, but as problems arose, he did not promote a more aggressive, let’s win, even if it is ugly, style of play. He just kept hoping that the storm clouds would pass. Hopefully a solid lesson learned here for future use. Tonight, the Braves need to scratch out runs by getting on, trying to get a walk or hit by the pitcher, or bunting unexpectedly or on third strikes. They need to hit and run and hit sacrifice flies and steal bases and be aggressive about it, making the opposing pitcher and catcher pay attention to them and throw balls. Yes, they might get thrown out trying to steal, or foul off a bunt attempt on the third strike, or even picked off by a good throw. But you have got to go for it. Getting on and then standing around hoping that someone will get a single or hit for extra bases, or an HR is just not working. I’m sure I’m not the only one who sees that. More than likely the batter will ground into a double play or get immediately behind in the count and swing at an awful third strike pitch, or just stand there and watch a third strike sail past him. Fredi, Bravos . . . Be aggressive, and try something new tonight. It couldn’t hoit.
'Taggart, where's my froggy?'
September 28th, 2011
4:58 pm
Guys, there IS a silver lining to this ghastly Braves swan dive, and it’s this: you guys! You have written — here and on Bradley’s blog — some of the funniest, wisest, most insightful stuff I’ve seen in a long time. You’ve elevated my opinion of baseball fans, and it was already high. Thanks for the entertainment. But what have you done with Sonny Clusters?
Braves Fan Since 1966
September 28th, 2011
5:17 pm
This is horrible to watch. Reminds me of the 1964 Phillies in case anyone casn remember that far back. Can’t hit a lick in the clutch or any other time. I’ve watched 100+ games from beginning to end and thought better of what we had than it turs out that we actually do. Just about anyone would have been a better choice than Lowe last night. Not sure if he’s done for a career but he surely is done for the year. Really disappointed with the complete collapse. Go Hudson!!!
scbravefan
September 28th, 2011
5:18 pm
gee you would think phil want braves to win so they can whip them in final play off
no i am not philly fan. course braves could shock us all and win tonight but they like do things hard way. ya if they get play offs i see them letting lowe pitch. figure he better then chancing with the rookies who are tireing. so o.g. going be fla boss. should be interesting. new team name and play field. braves need lot changes next season to me means let the vets go. start with rookies and build. or those been in less 5 yrs. dare u to do it what you afraid off ? time say bye to family. no former braves allowed to play or work for you. ya i am dreaming as never happen. upstairs afraid to try something new.
suwanee dawg
September 28th, 2011
5:24 pm
It does not matter. No way they can win a series right now.
Richard
September 28th, 2011
5:24 pm
If there is any player on this team that has lived up to expectations (sans O’Ventbrel) its Tim. Love this guy, and I sincerely hope he stays a Brave until he retires.
Cussetta
September 28th, 2011
5:39 pm
Don’t the TV people realize we can hear every cuss word the Braves say when they strike out? Also, do they say, “he’s about to spit, put the camera on him.” ??
Growler
September 28th, 2011
5:52 pm
You know there’s one interesting thing (to me) that I haven’t heard talked about (admittedly didn’t look at this entire blog): the season turned in the 9th inning in the first game in St. Louis, when Kimbrell blew the 2-run lead. Remember at one point, he was a strike away from winning the game. Pujlos eventually singled to tie the game. If he hadn’t blown that save, the Braves would have clinched Monday and all we’d be talking about now would be: who on earth was gonna start for them against Milwaukee or Arizona. Okay, maybe their deficiencies as well… but it’s funny how one pitch can alter the entire tenor of the season, and the accompanying discussion. (and a disclaimer: yes it was just one game and yes they have played lousy despite that — but it doesn’t change the fact that the “uh-oh” factor that could have been totally avoided started right there, and will likely end in disaster)
jmor
September 28th, 2011
6:10 pm
Larry30–I agree with your assessment of McCann…He has been great but his defense is just not good enough to play major league catcher. He needs to go to the American League and be a DH.He probably has a lot of trade value now, and this team needs to be restructured with All the salary drop off over the next 2 years(Lowe,Chipper,McClouth,KK)
Old Jax Braves Fan
September 28th, 2011
6:16 pm
As with any other enterprise, the man (or woman) at the top is the one to produce or hit the road. Fredi G. is an honorable man; he just doesn’t have what it takes to move these thunderheads. Of course, he’s not the one at the plate, he’s not the one who muffs a line drive, drops a ball, walks a batter, ad nauseum. BUT HE IS THE MANAGER!
For the first time siunce Christ was a Lance Corporal I will not be looking forward to “next year.”
Swizzle187
September 28th, 2011
6:24 pm
Two Hundred and Eighty Sixth!? seriously, this is stupid, but so are the Braves final month of baseball. It is a shame that it has got to this point in which we will essentially need to win tonight and then Thursday in St. Louis to get in the Wild Card spot just to lose to the Phillies in the playoffs…
Michael M.
September 28th, 2011
6:37 pm
If the Braves ever needed to Win a game, then they need it tonight !
Chop em Down, Go Braves !
cristianlobo
September 28th, 2011
6:42 pm
This has been the most depressing September in Braves history. What a flight of stairs to go tumbling down. Our offense has had more baggage than Heathrow. We can’t mortgage our souls for a clutch hit. If we’d managed to score half of those runners left in scoring position through out the month, this thing would have been over ten games ago. Let’s try electroshock treatments before each at-bat. Bring in the Voodo doctors, and pipe the Rocky theme in the dugout. For God sake, let’s get motivated and break out of this snake-bit depression. If I see one more no-out, runners on scenario go up in smoke, I am going to puke blood. Come on, boys! This one is for heart.
phil
September 28th, 2011
11:36 pm
We took the greatest collapse ever to the very last out….
At least it’s memorable!
phil
September 28th, 2011
11:39 pm
End it, FF….one way or the other!! Please.
We aren’t Tampa, Chip, you doof.
phil
September 28th, 2011
11:42 pm
Thank you!!!
Mercifully, this awful hell is over.
Those poor fools who went to the game….
How many times do we have to lose deciding games in this park for people to get it?
Oh well…they stunk but they tried.
braveshoo
September 29th, 2011
3:45 am
Hudson has the right attitude for a big game. Wish I could say the same for the rest of the team, or most importantly , the manager. The Braves need to fire Freddi and the batting coach. If you want to see what difference a manager can make, look at Arizona. We need to shake up our lineup to try to manufacture some runs. My lineup and batting order would be: Bourn-with instructions to bunt, Constanza,