Hudson eager to take mound for Wednesday’s finale
Four losses in a row have the Braves down to their final game of the season for a shot at making the playoffs, this after leading the wild card by 8 ½ games three weeks ago.
But their ace Tim Hudson will take the mound at Turner Field on Wednesday night against the Phillies confident.
“I’m ready,” Hudson said after Tuesday’s loss. “I feel good about it. I feel like we’re going to go out there and win the ball game tomorrow. Hopefully with the win it’s a clinch. If not, we’ll go to St. Louis and take care of business there.”
Hudson is pitching against the Phillies’ Joe Blanton, though Blanton is expected to go only a couple of innings in a “bullpen game” for the Phillies, who’d like to get Cole Hamels and Vance Worley some action as well.
The Braves and Cardinals are now tied for the wild card lead, meaning if they both win or both lose on Wednesday, they’ll go to a tiebreaker on Thursday.
The Braves and Cardinals would play a one-game playoff in St. Louis, by virtue of the Braves’ losing five of six games head-to-head with the Cardinals this season. Brandon Beachy is slated to pitch that game for the Braves, if necessary, starting at 8:07 EDT on TBS.
To force that game, or win the wild card outright and get the Braves into the playoffs for the second straight year, Hudson knows he has to pitch well. That’s no easy task against the NL East division champion Phillies, who have scored 11 runs in the past two nights to win games No. 100 and 101 on the season.
But Hudson has been there. He beat the Phillies on the final day of the 2010 season to help the Braves clinch the wild card in Bobby Cox’s last season as Braves’ manager. Hudson limited the Phillies to four runs in seven innings in an 8-7 win.
“It’s exactly the same essentially,” said Hudson, who is 1-1 with a 3.48 ERA in three starts against the Phillies this season. “I enjoy it. It’s going to be fun. I’m going to be having the most fun out of anybody in the stadium tomorrow.”
Hudson has won his last two starts in fairly dominant fashion, with eight shutout innings in a 1-0 win over the Mets, and then allowing three runs in 5 2/3 innings against the Nationals in a game he had to leave early with cramps.
Hudson spent much of Friday night after that game in the hospital receiving five bags of IV fluids, but it shouldn’t be a factor on Wednesday. Hudson said it was his fault for not hydrating properly for the humidity in Washington.
Hudson’s recent success came after he made an adjustment with the positioning of his heel on the rubber, and with the angle of his wrist behind the ball. The result has been better action on his pitches, especially his patented sinker.
“My last two starts I considered playoff type games; essentially they were that important,” Hudson said. “(Wednesday) is no different.”
The Braves have won only four of their past 11 games, and Hudson has won two of those. This is the pitcher the Braves would handpick to start with the season on the line.
“If we’ve got to win a game, I’d want Huddy on the mound,” Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said.
The same goes for Hudson.
“There’s not another place I’d be rather be than out there on the mound when the game means something,” Hudson said.
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292 comments Add your comment
Feeach
September 28th, 2011
12:11 am
Sadly first.
blailock
September 28th, 2011
12:18 am
Second?
Buckhead Eddie
September 28th, 2011
12:22 am
Hudson is the man. Go lead
PMC
September 28th, 2011
12:26 am
How did they ever win 9 this month? All Huddy?
shiiit
September 28th, 2011
12:27 am
Again, Why did we start Lowe? Does Freddie not get that he sucks by now?
rally
September 28th, 2011
12:29 am
Forget the mound, Tim. How about at the plate. You are going to have to produce your own offense since these slumber lumber wonders cannot hit.
dedmammal
September 28th, 2011
12:35 am
personally,i think fredi is out of his league!
Reality Check
September 28th, 2011
12:43 am
The death march begins!
reckingball
September 28th, 2011
12:43 am
Dance Band on the Titanic.
jdog
September 28th, 2011
12:44 am
This is what the Braves do. We will win tomorrow and we will be in the playoffs. Oh yea of little faith.
Ken Stallings
September 28th, 2011
12:47 am
The only part of this I think the Braves can hang their hat on is that Hudson will pitch a good game, maybe even a great game. But, the Phillies are going for the sweep to have momentum in the playoffs and the Braves lineup has to produce runs.
But, I don’t think Saint Louis is going to lose tomorrow night either!
And then I don’t give the Braves any chance of winning a one-game playoff.
uggghhhla
September 28th, 2011
12:47 am
At least it seems like Huddy’s the only one with a pulse and passion on this team.
bravesfaninNashville
September 28th, 2011
12:54 am
dedmammal… personally, i think fredi is out of his league!
Exactly…. He needs to go when this is over because he does not belong in a major league dugout. And don’t say it’s because we lost Hanson and JJ… Either. Tony LaRussa lost Adam Wainwright the first week of the season and Matt Holiday and Pujols each missed significant playing time and he found a way to get it done. Wainwright out all year = JJ and Hanson missing 1/2 year… same # of starts. LaRussa knows how to win a close game and Fredi is like you said out of his league.. Please end this terrible feel good story experiment and get a qualified manager for next year. The Marlins and Nationals are going to spend money and be better next year so we’ll have more than the Phillies on our hands. The Brave could conceivably finish 4th if they don’t have a good offseason. You can be the Phillies, Nats and Marlins will.
Clueless..
September 28th, 2011
1:12 am
It just smells real bad. And you thought it only happens in the NBA Grasshopper?
Clueless..
September 28th, 2011
1:13 am
Fredi=Jim moron
Clueless..
September 28th, 2011
1:14 am
Hey Chipper go fishing will ya?
Billy
September 28th, 2011
1:31 am
Fredi is Wren’s April Fools joke to fans…but its no joke Fredi is one stupid mgr. Fire Wren, Fredi, Parrish & the nasty talking pitchers coach.
Good luck Hudson!
lowdownjj
September 28th, 2011
1:38 am
Hudson is a stud. Chipper, when in the game, is still clutch. Freddie needs a cherry on top of his rookie of the year honors. Bravos get er done tomorrow. GO HOUSTON !!
jdog
September 28th, 2011
1:55 am
What people seem to forget is the Braves penchant for the dramatic. I guess all the doubters forgot about last year. The Braves are the perpetual underdogs and that’s the way I like them.
Nobody ever doubted the Phil’s ability to clench the division. Any team with an inflated budget can win.
This is baseball, though. Actually, this is Braves baseball. There is magic here. The same magic I remember seeing when I was a kid. This is the stuff movies are made of. Memories. Saying I was watching game 3 against the Phillies.
TRue fans understand this moment; this game.
It’s David against Goliath. It’s history.
I refuse to lose hope in my team.
blackdog
September 28th, 2011
2:01 am
gotta score a few runs-so no chance
Strikeoutlookin
September 28th, 2011
2:14 am
Well said Jdog….. Im with ya man….. Above all else we have Huddy on the mound with a win and your in scenerio… Screw the blown lead… Win and we are in…. period. Playoffs start in St. Louie or Wherever. Lets go Huddy!
Nevada Roy
September 28th, 2011
2:16 am
The way the Braves bats are going Huddy may need to pitch a complete game shutout and hit his second career home run to win.
darrell starks
September 28th, 2011
2:27 am
This Fredi guy is real smart for and manager.
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
September 28th, 2011
2:30 am
Since CONSTANZA have been on bench the BRAVES ARE NOW 8 WIN AND 19 LOST and still counting, like i said the braves will get sweept by phillies if CONSTANZA ride the pine 2 down and 1 to go, dam im good.
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!
Mitchell
September 28th, 2011
2:30 am
Third career home run.
First? Kyle Lohse of the Cardinals, 2009.
darrell starks
September 28th, 2011
2:36 am
GAME THREE FREDI LINE UP
1. BOURN CF
2. PRADO LF
3. CHIPPER 3B
4. UGGLA 2B
5. FREEMAN 1B
6. MCCANN CATCHER
7. WILSON SS
8. HEYWARD RF
BRAVES 2 PHILLIES 8 IS MY PREDICTION
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
September 28th, 2011
2:41 am
ME COACHING MY LINE UP
1. BOURN CF
2. CONSTANZA LF
3. CHIPPER 3B
4. UGGLA 2B
5. FREEMAN 1B
6. PRADO SS
7. MCCANN CATCHER
8. HEYWARD LF
BRAVES 7 PHILLIES 4 IS MY PREDICTION WITH ME COACHING
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!
darrell starks
September 28th, 2011
2:42 am
MY BAD I MEAN CONSTANZA IN RF.
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!
clay
September 28th, 2011
2:44 am
Sure will be intense tomorrow. I hope the stadium is packed out. We still could clinch tomorrow, but we need to take care of business and and little help from Houston. It’s possible.
darrell starks
September 28th, 2011
2:45 am
CONSTANZA LF
HEYWARD RF
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
September 28th, 2011
2:51 am
Clay- this Fredi guy continue to put player in bad position, when Constanza played the braves where the most exciting team in baseball, now since been on bench everything is in slow motion and now the most boring team in baseball with stationary baseball. This why Fredi should be fire because a blind man can see how good the braves can be with Constanza playing.
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!
A-Ville Ranger
September 28th, 2011
3:12 am
I wonder if Hudson will have fun if he’s losing the game tonight…which I fully expect he will be. I was afraid Gonzalez would have Bobby Cox/soccer mom syndrome..(.they’re all winners if they never win a race). I yearn for somebody in the organization to demand performance.
Reality Check
September 28th, 2011
3:36 am
I hope it’s as empty as a Marlins game and the lone fans are screaming obscenities at the dugout, loudly enough to pick up on TV/radio.
TheAntiMe
September 28th, 2011
3:47 am
The Braves are in surrender mode these days before they ever even take the field. They got no nads. If, just one more time, I hear one of them say, “We just have to go out and take care of business and win tomorrow” I’m literally going to hurl.
jo1vila
September 28th, 2011
3:49 am
can we trade fredi….and.throw in lowe and his pay for a bag of balls and a bat with some hits in it!
Let's Be Rational
September 28th, 2011
4:14 am
Fredi is Bobby Cox. Bobby Cox used to sit players on the bench, who were tearing up the league, with the rationale of putting a seasoned pro in the position. You can go back to Mark Derosa’s first year in the league. He was hitting .400 and they traded for a shortstop that I do not remember his name, and Cox sat Derosa on the bench for most of the rest of the year, and the shortstop did nothing offensively. Cox did this numerous times. Now Fredi does it with Costanza, and we are supposed to be surprised?
Philly Fan
September 28th, 2011
4:46 am
We like Fredi. He is an awful…er…I mean great manager
Coach D
September 28th, 2011
5:07 am
Oh Braves, Where art thou????
Huddy: dominate. Bats: WAKE-UP!!!!
terrell
September 28th, 2011
5:08 am
This is what you get when you hire Larry Drew part 2.
terrell
September 28th, 2011
5:14 am
Hell, Hudson can pitch a 1 hitter and the Braves would still lose.
terrell
September 28th, 2011
5:20 am
At least it’s an exciting September in Braves country..
Larry
September 28th, 2011
5:59 am
jdog,
Most poetic!
Frankly, however, it is the “Chastain Park,” wine and cheese, aren’t we just so lucky to be blessed by their presence fans that support, condone and perpetuate this mediocrity.
What Fruity Gonzalez has done to this team with his early/mid season goofy lineups (Heyward batting first? Gonzalez or Uggla batting second?) and buffoonery with the pitching staff (hundreds of examples) does not need the be poetically dispelled and rationalized. Otherwise, you are not contributing to our growth and development; you are in fact enabling this garbage by pretending this is a predestined conclusion to your movie fantasy.
Here’s a nonpoetic truth…Fruity Gonzalez is a disastrous choice as manager/leader for this team and this will be most evident by the ticket sales for a playoff game should we sneak in this year and next year’s regular season.
Who wants to watch this?
Braves 2011
September 28th, 2011
6:15 am
Today is Wednesday Sept 26 and we are still in the race.
How many teams can say that?
Hudson gets it.
He sounds delighted the season comes down to him.
The rest of the team, as well as the fans, need to get out of the past and step into the present.
Adopt Hudson’s attitude if u can teammates.
Win or go home today.
Win or go home tomorrow.
Join us in the present and you will enjoy today and hopefully tomorrow.
BCC0224
September 28th, 2011
6:16 am
While I won’t say he is to take full credit for the Braves’ downfall, I would like to add I believe Jack Wilson is the “Cousin Oliver” of the Braves. We were up 8.5 games when he came here from Seattle, where he never played in the playoffs. One game to go and here we are, tied with St. Louis.
And just like Cousin Oliver, Wilson is a jinx.
Go Go you Pilots
September 28th, 2011
6:17 am
So what if braves win st.louis wins we play at St.louis there at 4pm i believe for wildcard spot One Game playoff who freddi goin start Lowe again…Knowin him who would he best not tip cap after St.louis blow out thursday before crowd of 46,494 at Busch stadium place be full…Be glad not here at the Ted where TBS will show to a Nationwide folks of 30,000 there!
terrell
September 28th, 2011
6:18 am
Cant wait to hear Fredi tip his cap to the Cards.
poolcue
September 28th, 2011
6:18 am
AFTER WATCHING 161 GAMES EITHER LIVE OR RECORDED TONITE COULD BE MY LAST! PLAYERS BACK UP TO GET YOUR LAST PAYCHECK. FG LEAVE YOUR LAST CHECK AND GET THE HELL OUT OF TOWN. FREDI AND FRANK , WHAT A JOKE! FANS WILL NOT FORGET THIS. WE DONT NEED HUGS AND FANNY PATS. HOW ABOUT A GOOD FIGHT IN THE DUGOUT OH FOR A BILLY MARTIN CLONE!!!!!!
Bill M.
September 28th, 2011
6:20 am
There sure be no untouchables on this team. Chipper needs to retire. Trade Pudge McCann, Prado and JJ. They are stuck with Lowe for one more season. Change the entire coaching staff. FG is not the best manager but he can’t hit for these guys. The whole problem falls on the hitters.
Larry
September 28th, 2011
6:36 am
Braves 2011,
Today is actually September 28…two days later!
Are you, by chance, related to Fruity Gonzalez?
MJ
September 28th, 2011
6:38 am
Good luck Huddy. Good luck Chipper – despite what your critics say, who know nothing about baseball, you are still the best bat in the line-up. Fredi, let Hinske play left and Constanza play right. Remember a few short weeks ago how those guys were playing, and how we were winning? Heyward has potential, but he is just struggling way too much. Sit the kid down, let him play winter ball somewhere to regain his confidence. We need base runners today so put Constanza in. Give Hinske a chance to add some spark to the batting order. What is it going to hurt? He is positive, and will be agressive. The Phillies are going to use today as a scrimmage game – sit the guys struggling at the plate and give the agressive guys a chance – at this point you clearly have nothing to lose. Your current line-up is tanking
Fredi Gonzalez
September 28th, 2011
6:47 am
I’m prepared to start Derek Lowe on Thursday against the Cardinals. As everyone on this blog knows Derek pitches well in the post-season.
Duh.
The Braves
September 28th, 2011
6:52 am
Playoffs? Playoffs? We don’t want no stinking Playoffs!
Larry
September 28th, 2011
6:52 am
MJ,
Great suggestion on Hinske and Constanza, but the dolt will once again pencil in the same lineup that has blown the lead.
Both Constanza and Bourne in the lineup in August gave us our most exciting and versatile brand of baseball since the early 90’s with Nixon and Sanders in the lineup. But, old Fruity just inexplicably just abandoned it!
Like Cox, Fruity digs the long ball!
Al B.
September 28th, 2011
7:08 am
Curse of Matt Diaz? remember 2 years ago with about 3 games to go. Braves still close in the race and he got out trying to score on a short passed ball…game over/season over. What is the team’s record since he was reaquired?
And I like Matt D. Just look at his time with Braves, however: NO playoff appearances..
longtimefan
September 28th, 2011
7:12 am
Braves will win, get hot and go to the series! The last month’s debacle will be forgotten.
P.S. Darrell: Prado can not play major league ss
wins-by-a-link
September 28th, 2011
7:17 am
Poor FG, His positive spin, His promise of a better performance tomorrow and His public support for his team is commendable, Unfortunately reality says differently, This team has been unable to beat the lesser teams, The Nats, The Marlins and the Mets, The wine has turned to vinegar, What looked like a promising season has turned sour, The starting pitching and bull pen which held much promise has faded Due to injuries and over use, The hitting which started good has all but disappeared, If by some miracle the Braves make post season I don’t think they would make it through the first round. This team will be remembered not for its acomplishments but by its failures.
JoeJoe
September 28th, 2011
7:18 am
After tonight, Freddie and his hero Derick Lowe should be available to help the Braves front office return all the money collected for post season games.
JoeJoe
September 28th, 2011
7:20 am
The Braves started downhill when Freddie G. started taking Heyward out of the lineup.
Larry
September 28th, 2011
7:24 am
Al B.,
Diaz perfectly exemplifies the Cox/Gonzalez offensive philosophy…wild, free swinging guess hitter (like McCann, Uggla, Gonzalez, Wayward) that looks utterly foolish when ge guesses wrong. When they guess wrong they miss the ball by a foot or watch strikes go by right down the middle of the plate. Even Chipper Jones is frequently now striking out watching perfectly hittable pitches go by with his bat on his shoulder.
After 20+ years buying season tickets, when the Braves kept the Nose Miner last year and the hired his offspring, Fruity Cox, I have not paid for one ticket or been to one single game this year. I’m proud of not paying one red cent to help fund this gooberish managerial philosophy and this predictable brand of either hot or cold baseball
With Fruity as manager, this is a 4th place team next year behind the Phillies, Marlins and Nationals; a bottom dweller if the Meta, with all their resources, ever get it together.
Welcome to the Braves mid/late 1980’s baseball again!
KMo
September 28th, 2011
7:27 am
Kawakami and Lowe, what a great pair
Larry
September 28th, 2011
7:46 am
JoeJoe,
Wrong! The downhill slide we are looking at right now started when Fruity abandoned Constanza and reinserted Heyward.
Wayward has been an automatic out this entire season and he is looked upon by all pitchers who now face him as their out in the order
No pitcher is concerned about facing Wayward under any circumstance!
tjhook
September 28th, 2011
7:52 am
I wish Miss Rogers or DOB would ask Coach Gonzales why Constanza has gotten no regular at bats when the team clearly has trouble scoring runs. Diaz is getting run and Constanza is a bigger threat to score- good batting average vs LH and RH pitchers. What was so important about putting Diaz in? He was batting low in the order often and not a slugging or base running threat
Bravestoldourwarchant
September 28th, 2011
7:57 am
DOB..My question is, what the heck has happened to constanza? he hasn’t played at all since Diaz came back over it seems..
obee
September 28th, 2011
7:59 am
Does anyone here other than Larry think the name “Fruity” is funny?
ATLtodolavida
September 28th, 2011
8:00 am
We need Hudson to hit a home run and pitch a shutout, like he did earlier. Otherwise, we may be toast.
Larry
September 28th, 2011
8:06 am
Does anyone here other than me think the name “Obee” is funny?
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
8:11 am
I hope they make it in. The stench from blowing the lead would be too great. I’m probably the only person who continues to feel this way, but it’s time for the Braves to do the “unthinkable” and send out feelers for what they might get in a trade for McCann. He is terrible behind the plate. He rarely throws out base stealers and watching another passed ball last night to put another runner in scoring position was a joke. I’ve always figured he paid for the Suntrust seats to be built so he wouldn’t have to run as far to get the passed balls. Anyone who thinks that McCann will still be playing catcher in 5 years is delusional. His future is in the AL and it’s time to look into that future before he has no trade value. Trade him now while he is “the best catcher in baseball,” at least that’s what some people claim.
Larry
September 28th, 2011
8:12 am
“Fruity” has a precise meaning, but is difficult to define. Loosely
speaking, the word refers to something which is cheerfully and perkily
saccharine, naïve, generic, corny, banal, innocuous, un-self-consciously
dippy, sexually neutered (or, conversely, having perverse subtexts), or just
plain dumb – and is amusing because of it. Dorkiness which doesn’t even know
that it’s dorky, but celebrates its own dorkiness anyway: that which is
flamboyantly and happily retarded. Closely synonymous with gay, in the
not-necessarily-homosexual sense.
Thus the name: Fruity Gonzalez
Get it, obee wan kenobi?
dozer
September 28th, 2011
8:14 am
Lifeless, gutless, heartless – they are getting a total pass from the national media because of the BoSox. Lets hope there’s an HONEST post-mortem from the organization when this is over. This is a lineup stacked with a bunch or 7 and 8-spot hitters built around a once-great but now breaking-down 3rd baseman and a catcher that seems to wear out every year. Uggla has the homers but has been terrible in every other offensive category. freeman & bourne are authentic, but the rest of the lineup is a bunch of question marks. their offensive mindset is better served for a softball team – 43% of runs coming via homers. This is Bobby Cox all over again. Where’s the PRIDE?????
Braves Fan in Philly
September 28th, 2011
8:15 am
I’m so disgusted by this team. It’s not just the losing but the way they’ve gone about it. I’ve watched Prado twice over the past 2 days peel off on crucial double plays where any self-respecting baseball player fighting for their life to make the playoffs would be sending Jimmy Rollins flying into left field. You’ve got the Phils own pitcher tagging up to hustle to third and Victorino racing home on a short fly ball in games that don’t even matter for Philadelphia (since when does Heyward have no arm?). D-Lowe can’t even seem to remember to hold Jimmy Rollins on first base. The Phillies have shown more fight in conquering 102 wins than the Braves have. Last night on the local Philadelphia coverage, Gary Matthews blasted Prado and Bourne for simply turning their backs on the monster Pence Home Run. I don’t know if anyone else caught it but while all hell was breaking loose last night for Atlanta, cameras cut to a scene of Fredi G and his bench coach. Fredi sat stoic and emotionless and out of nowhere, the bench coach lashes out as clear as day with “Jesus Fu**ing Christ!!” It was the first sign of fight I’ve seen from anyone on this team in 3 weeks. Too bad he’s just the bench coach and doesn’t either a physical limitation or a mental one that would allow him to take the field tonight.
Tim Caskey
September 28th, 2011
8:16 am
Fredi, come on man! why did you start “chuck and duck” Lowe. Lowe is washed up and should be gone after this season. Let’s get ready for our pitchers to be healthly next season,add some more offense and win it all for Chipper’s last hurrah.
Rafael
September 28th, 2011
8:17 am
Fredi, you pitch Derek “Kawakami” Lowe and you KNOW what’s going to happen… A SURE LOSS!!!!
It’s too late… the Cardinals will beat the HAPLESS Astros tonight so it does NOT matter if Hudson and the Braves win. We ALL KNOW what the outcome will be in a 1 game playoff in ST.LOUIS… a LOSS!!! There is NO WAY the Braves will beat ST. LOUIS IN ST. LOUIS in a 1 game playoff. Fredi will probably start his buddy Derek “DUI” Lowe in that game also.
The “Perfect Storm” is going to occur. The Braves bats will awake from the dead tonight, and Hudson will pitch great and our Braves will win. St. Louis WILL beat Houston forcing a 1 game playoff.
There will be 60,000 SCREAMING Cardinal fans at Busch Stadium and the Cards will SLAUGHTER our Braves 10-0.
It’s BETTER if we LOSE tonight and avoid the tragedy. That’s BETTER than watching 60,000 screaming Cardinal fans “YUK it UP” at the Braves expense.
Thank you Fredi for your leadership and motivation this season.
Thank you Derek Lowe for EARNING your 15 millon dollars.
THANK YOU Frank Wren (firefrankwren.com) for ADDING that 4th year (2012) and 15 million for Derek Lowe… yes folks, we got this washed up bum in our rotation NEXT year.
Thank you Scott “Proctor” Linebrink for that CLUTCH relief pitching this season.
Thank you Matt Diaz (”he rakes lefthanders you know”) for being the All-Star that you are.
THANK YOU Jason “BUST” Heyward for living up to the SUPER prospect hype.
Do the math… Braves win tonight and go to St. Louis for a 1 game playoff. The rest is deja vu history… we as Braves fans will see first hand what General George Custer felt like at the Little Big Horn.
Yadier's Neck Tat
September 28th, 2011
8:21 am
We have reached an All Time Lowe.
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
8:22 am
I saw more passion from the contestant who had 20 seconds last night to run from the right field corner to an area behind second base and grab a base and run back to the finish line. The clock was ticking down and he tucked the base against his stomach and dove for the tape, almost sliding into the wall………all for a $50 gift card to a local restaurant. I stood up and yelled out to get him a uniform. What was the deal on the sacrifice that scored Victorino? Heyward looked like he really didn’t even give a serious effort on that play. These guys look lifeless. I hope Gonzalez has the guts to leave Lowe out of the rotation if the braves sneak into the playoffs.
VABravesFan
September 28th, 2011
8:22 am
Even as poorly as the Braves have played this month, I still had all the faith in the world that they’d hang onto their wild card lead. But now it is gone – and their season could be over tonight as well. Hudson will go out there tonight and give it everything he’s got – let’s hope the offense does the same (i.e. not taking anything close with 2 strikes!). Similar to last season, the Braves have a great team that has fallen apart at the end of the season. The difference this year is that it happened so fast. They have collapsed in the month of September and the Cardinals have proven themselves to be more worthy of a playoff position over the past month. But, the Braves still have a chance – sure wish Hudson could pitch the game in St. Louis as well (if necessary). But hey, they’re not out ’til there out, right?
Larry
September 28th, 2011
8:24 am
Larry30,
I made thus suggestion on McCann in April or May and was royally pistol-whipped here!
And not that I don’t like McCann; in fact I love the guy’s intensity and professionalism. My reasons for trading him were a little different and have proven to be valid
I want a whole new personality, identity and offensive philosophy fit this team; a team filled with speedy, contact, situational hitters complimented with only one or two “big bats” in the middle if the lineup. The braves have this ratio backwards with just 1-2 speedy contact hitters and 6-7 free swinging, guess hitting, swing for the fences types
Just look at the Phillies lineup, for example, with really only Howard as the sole free swinging guess hitter who swings for the fence every time.
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
8:30 am
I made the suggestion on the braves website blog starting last year and was blasted by the “he’s the best catcher in baseball” crowd. The guy is a below average defensive catcher. Right now in the minds of the baseball world, he has immense value and we should see what could be had for him. Sometimes a GM has to make a courageous move to really improve a team. I don’t expect it to happen. I fully expect them to hold onto McCann until he has no trade value and we lose him to an AL team through free agency and get nothing. He looks like he has gained 15 pounds during the season. Perhaps he should be told to lay off the pre and post game buffets.
BravesFan
September 28th, 2011
8:33 am
Four possible outcomes tonight. Only one in fatal for the Braves. Braves loose, Cards win, End of Season. 1 out of 4 ain’t bad for the Braves. See you next year, except for Lowe, F Gonzales, and Chipper.
Phatty
September 28th, 2011
8:36 am
Hey Larry, do you think you could manage a posting without “Fruity” in it? You sound like a real moron!
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
8:36 am
Don’t get me started on the “we need another big bat” choir. We got that guy this year. Uggla hit 35 homers, probably 30 of them were solo shots, but he hits .230. Now those kind of numbers got Andruw Jones and Francouer run out of town. But for some reason everyone is going to give Uggla a pass. We need great defense, great pitching, and some guys who know when to choke up on the bat a little and put the ball in play when there are people in scoring position. Can DOB tell us, how many homers have the braves had this year and how many were solos. It seems like there is never anyone on base when they hit one. I’ve never seen anything like it before.
Jobu
September 28th, 2011
8:38 am
If you no help me now Jobu…..
old head bravo fan
September 28th, 2011
8:40 am
I was at the game last night ,dead crowd no real juice in the stands,the Phila fans were about 1/3 of the crowd and were louder at times than our fans.Give me a break.About the game with so much on the line how can you just show up and not be ready to play.The Bravos look like dead men walking the blank stares in thier faces and the stunned motions are so sad.I do not think they have one more game in them,our only real chance is that Philly rolls over like last year as to put us in a playoff game to burn up either teams pitchers for the playoffs.
VABravesFan
September 28th, 2011
8:42 am
Not sure how much Frank Wren and Co. plan to do at season’s end to make this team better next year, but I have a few thoughts on the situation:
-Trade Lowe as long as you don’t have to eat more than half his remaining salary.
-Try to sign C.J. Wilson from the Rangers.
-Drop Sherrill and Linebrink and sign a top-level bullpen arm.
-Consider a trade of Minor and Jurjenns for a well-established innings eater.
-Or consider a trade including trading either of the pitchers above (or Vizcaino instead), or maybe even 2 pitchers, along with Prado to get a power hitting allstar left fielder. (I love Prado as much as anyone, but I said the same thing about Infante.)
The expendables (in the right deal): Minor, Jurrjens, Vizcaino, Lowe, Sherrill, Linebrink, Gonzalez, Prado, Martinez, McLouth, Hinske, Wilson, Constanza, Diaz
If the Braves could sign Wilson, here’s what their rotation would look like:
1. Hudson
2. Wilson
3. Hanson
4. Beachy
5. Delgado
Their batting order wouldn’t look much different, but hopefully will be better with more power infused and another year under the belts of Freeman and Heyward.
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
8:42 am
And how did that Ryan Church trade come out. We traded a guy who always produced runs, played great defense and got nothing; Church is out of the game. This year Francouer has hit 20 homers, 87 RBI’s, 22 stolen bases, 47 doubles, 4 triples, and 171 hits. And I don’t want to hear “he did it for KC and in the AL.” He did it and he did it against major league pitching. It was another boneheaded move by Wren.
Larry
September 28th, 2011
8:42 am
Agree on the weight gain, but we’ve seen the same from Jurrjens and Hinske, and Chipper does nothing to keep his body in shape.
But then look at their leadersip role models, Cox and Fruity? Now go look at the physiques of playoff managers like Francona, Girardi, Gibson, Leyland, Roenicke or Maddon and tell me as a professional athlete whom do you most respect?
We won’t even get into an aptitude comparison!
Philly Billy
September 28th, 2011
8:45 am
Wow what a collapse , I hate the Cards because of 1964 and I’m 65 years old and can’t forget the heartbreak of that collapse of our team.I hope you make it to the playoffs so that Tony Larussa doesn’t. He is such a smug bast…at least your team is classy and not a bunch of jackasses like the Cards.For 1 night I say…GO BRAVES..ouch ,that hurt but I mean it.
BravesFan
September 28th, 2011
8:46 am
Leadership and conditioning are lacking for the Braves. I said it before. They need an on field leader. Chipper has never stepped up to take that role. They needed to send him for leadership training in the off season 10 years ago. Too Late now. Pitchers never broke down when Leo was the pitching coach. Bring him back NOW.
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
8:46 am
McLouth’s contract is over. They do have a team option, thank God, for something like $10 million. Instead they will have to pay him $1.25 million just to let him go. Another great contract by Wren. And who did we get for Javier Vasquez, speaking of inning eaters. I know we got Mike Dunn who we sent to Florida as part of the Uggla deal. We also got one of the young pitchers we’ve seen lately, Vizcaino?
Larry
September 28th, 2011
8:46 am
Phatty,
Gosh, with a name like this…nevermind!
BravesFan
September 28th, 2011
8:49 am
Chipper Jones HOF????? Biggest AB of the year and he grounds back to the pitcher for an inning ending DP. R U Kidding me.
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
8:49 am
Don’t talk about Chipper’s lack of training. Brian Jordan did that last year and is still having to bring Chipper his slippers after the game. With not injury to rehab from this off season, look for Chipper’s season next year to look a lot more like 2010 than 2011. The only training he’ll get this off season is climbing into and out of a deer stand. Oh….he’ll hit some in the cage.
BravesFan
September 28th, 2011
8:51 am
Biggest game of the year tonight and you can still get good seats on Stubhub for $2.00. Got to love the Atlanta fan base.
Larry
September 28th, 2011
8:52 am
BravesFan,
Good point in the lack of clubhouse leadership
In 1991 we had Pendleton and Bream for this. Justice and Smoltz was there too in the 90’s. We had Galaraga in the late 90’s
But, now we have no real clubhouse leaders. Chipper had the leadership skill of a door knob and Fruity the motivational skill of an earth worm.
old scout
September 28th, 2011
8:52 am
This Braves team has zero chance to win the wild card. After being in baseball more years than i care to admit, I can honestly say I have never seen a team more lacking in character. This month is the biggest choke in history and it is not due to injuries (all teams have injuries). The problem begins with the Manager who has no clue when it comes to improving the dynamic of this team, and confuses everybody with some of the astoundingly dumb moves he makes in game situations. They must be laughing in the other dugout. This starts with his keeping players in the line-up day in and day out who are simply not doing the job. Some names come to mind, such as McCann, Prado, Heyward, Lowe, Gonzalez. This conveys the message that results don’t really matter and it permeates the entire team. People point to JJ and Hanson being “hurt” as part of the reason for the choke. Please remember that both of these guys were getting hit really hard before the “injuries” were discovered. Actually, doctors have found nothing more than normal wear and tear on either of these guys. They just decided to get out of the pressure cooker and take the rest of the year off. Unfortunately, there will be a lot of carry-over from the big collapse. Don’t look for the Braves to contend for the play-offs for a number of years following this one. Just my opinion.
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
8:54 am
I was at the game last night, too, old head fan. What did we have to cheer about? We’ve got Lowe on the mound and he gives up a homer to the second batter of the game. You’re right, the crowd and the team were dead. There weren’t that many philly fans there last night, nowhere near 1/3 of the crowd. And the attendance was within about 4000 of selling out the oversized high school stadium up in philadelphia.
reckingball
September 28th, 2011
8:56 am
I was going to do some complaining, but that seems to be covered pretty well on this rag.
Heck, got some folks that think Constanza could have saved the season, some that want to trade McCann, even got some that put a number behind their name, so they can carry on a conversation and agree with themselves.
But I have to agree, the Braves are looking very pathetic.
BravesFan
September 28th, 2011
8:57 am
Old Scout, Remember the 86 Mets? They had the wild free spirts ( Strawberry, Gooden, Dykstra) and the leaders to keep them in line (Carter, Knight, Hernandez). That team had character and BTW the won the series.
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
8:58 am
I have never considered Chipper Jones to be a leader in any circle. But to anyone who did think he was the “clubhouse leader” of the Braves, I hope your eyes were opened when he threw the rookie pitchers under the bus earlier this week in an interview with mlb’s Mark Bowman. He is a prima donna, always has been, always will be.
Philly Billy
September 28th, 2011
8:59 am
Where is that rowsdauer guy? Boy did he disappear this week. Fair weather fans, now you want to trade half of your team and you still have a good shot at the playoffs..man up !………………….. GO BRAVES ,boy that just hurts.
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
9:00 am
I’m larry30, not larry. I didnt’ want to be confused with him. By the way, you left out the “w” in wrecking.
Larry
September 28th, 2011
9:00 am
Ok, even I am sick of typing the name and reading my own comments about Fruity. I’m done…promise!
I’ll just leave everyone with some questions to ponder: When you read any quotes from him are you intellectually stimulated? When you hear his interviews are you emotionally stimulated? Lastly, when you observe him during the game is this a manager that gets the very most out of those he manages?
You know my answers…what are your answers?
PeteInPhilly
September 28th, 2011
9:01 am
I’m with Philly Billy: Go Braves! (Ouch…. that DOES sting!)
I respect the Braves a LOT more than the Cards as a team. And though I’m a solid Phillies fan, I also grew up in Wisconsin in the 60s and still cheer for the Brew Crew as my “backup” baseball team. I’d love to see you guys force a tiebreaker in St. Louis tomorrow and then have Beachy undress them, followed by your lineup chasing them around the field with a 12 run barrage.
henry from TN
September 28th, 2011
9:02 am
I predict the phillies will win 5–2 and the cards will win it’s all over but the crying folks….
Choker Jones
September 28th, 2011
9:04 am
We already know the end to this story. We’ve seen it too many times. Most of us saw it coming weeks ago but were afraid to admit it.
Bottom line: the Braves are known more for what they haven’t done than what they have. When was the last time we won a playoff series? At Turner Field? When was the last time we won any must win game? The Braves have turned into pumpkins in the playoffs for years and have now switched to folding in the regular season. They had their chances to create a true legacy in the 1990’s and early 2000’s and totally blew it. They found every way to lose possibly imaginable. Now they have a manager hand picked by B Cox who will continue the at-a-boys of mediocrity into the future.
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
9:05 am
I don’t want to trade half the team. I personally think this is a much better team than last years. This team has played much better defense, now has more speed, and had a solid bullpen for most of the season. But I am tired of hearing how great players are that only have half a game. And I do agree with oldscout. This team looks like a bunch of quitters. I’ve been astonished to read that the “injuries” to JJ and Hanson are wear and tear according to doctors, and they’re just sitting it out. Maybe that’s the new strategy for these young guys. Protect yourself at all costs to make it to the first free agent contract. To heck with winning. Show me the money.
McCovey
September 28th, 2011
9:08 am
The Fred bashers were probably crowing for Bobby’s head during most of his Hall of Fame career.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
September 28th, 2011
9:09 am
Larry My reasons for trading [McCann] were a little different and have proven to be valid…I want a whole new personality, identity and offensive philosophy fit this team; a team filled with speedy, contact, situational hitters complimented with only one or two “big bats” in the middle if the lineup.
Yeah…lot’s of speedy catchers out there…
Larry
September 28th, 2011
9:09 am
His real name is recking.no.balls and no one on here with more than a double-digit IQ takes him seriously. He is miserable, has no life outside of this blog, and his only odd, perverse pleasure is attacking those on here he feels inferior to. The more he types the more he reveals his feelings of inadequacy.
It’s kind of a sad case, actually, but he has a choice and brings it on himself.
old head bravo fan
September 28th, 2011
9:10 am
Maybe I was seeing double but there were a lot of Philly red last night and they sounded like it was th eir home field ,,just sayin… The Bravos need this one more that the Phillies, let’s see who shows up. Just one more game come on Chipper,just one more time, for the love of the game.
alex
September 28th, 2011
9:11 am
@pete, cheering for the brewers;field and fans are fantastic and the brauts to die for(literally)
joe
September 28th, 2011
9:11 am
Only way the Braves win tonight is if Hudson and the bullpen keeps the Phils off the scoreboard. If the score is 1-0, the Braves have a chance. Any more then 1 run allowed, the Braves will lose because they cannot score runs these days.
Larry
September 28th, 2011
9:13 am
McFann,
Don’t be dumb!
Centerfield Gate – A Washington Nationals blog » Blog Archive » Bottom Feeders Win In Miami
September 28th, 2011
9:14 am
[...] they’re tied with the Cardinals for the Wild Card, with one game to go. They will throw Tim Hudson today against the Phillies, while the Cardinals will throw Chris Carpenter at the Astros. The Cardinals should have the edge, [...]
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
9:16 am
There were a lot of philly fans there last night, always are. But nowhere near 1/3 of the attendance. And I thought it was a big crowd. I came juiced up but after watching Utley blast one into the right field seats and the braves had what, 5 hits through 8 innings…………just not a whole lot to get excited about. Oswalt is 9-10 this year. He’s not exactly fooling teams this year, but our hitters made him look like Halladay.
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
9:17 am
Make that 3 hits through 8 innings……..geez.
Clueless..
September 28th, 2011
9:19 am
Braves get shutout tonight book it Dano!
Choke, 10.5 game lead 4 weeks ago??
Are u kidding? Choke!
Obee
September 28th, 2011
9:21 am
“Does anyone here other than me think the name “Obee” is funny?”
It may or may not be funny, but it is my name, for better or worse.
Clueless..
September 28th, 2011
9:21 am
Cox-Chipper-Freddi= know as the Chokers…
cant win the big ones……..
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
9:22 am
I think it’s a fine name.
COOPER
September 28th, 2011
9:27 am
It’s not going to matter how good Hudson pitches if we can’t hit the ball. The Braves just look tired . Constanza definitely should start over Heyward. Heyward has been a complete bust this year and should have been sent back to the minors to get it figured out. He has way too much potential to be playing this bad. I don’t think the new hitting coach will be back.
Choker Jones
September 28th, 2011
9:28 am
Braves have NEVER celebrated a postseason series win at Turner Field but many others have. Here’s the sorry details:
2010- Giants win LDS [Turner Field]
2005- Astros win LDS [Minute Maid Park]
2004- Astros win LDS [Turner Field]
2003- Cubs win LDS [Turner Field]
2002- Giants win LDS [Turner Field]
2001- Diamondbacks win NLCS [Turner Field] (Braves won LDS in Houston)
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
September 28th, 2011
9:30 am
I wasn’t being dumb…you trade BMac, you still gotta have a catcher, and they’re not usually fast, nor do most of them hit as well as BMac does.
You’d in a sense be cutting off your nose to spite your face…
Heathcliff Slocum
September 28th, 2011
9:31 am
No one we would rather have than Huddy on the hill. Let’s hope it’s not a game like Game 6 back in ‘95 where Glavine would still be out there except for one swing by D. Justice.
sebo1084
September 28th, 2011
9:32 am
ok… i’m gonna say it…we have totally proctored up this season
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
9:34 am
We already have a very good catcher to take his place and we would probably do pretty well in a trade since everyone thinks so highly of him. It’s only going to get worse McFann. You’ve seeing the best of McCann’s days as an everyday catcher and when it starts going downhill, you’re not going to believe how average he looks and how fast it will happen.
alex
September 28th, 2011
9:35 am
@sebo, proctored up that IS cruel.
reckingball
September 28th, 2011
9:36 am
Larry@ 9:09am……., very good, your quote from McFann in his post @9:09am sums up your level of brain power.
Trade McCann? That is truly a most stupid suggestion.
At least you are no longer threatening to take the women of those that do not agree with you, or making homophobic slurs against them, or proclaming your superior knowledge of baseball, because you have 11 years of experience of playing in little league, and pony league ball.
Or maybe you still do, because I usually just skip through you moronic posts.
But enough of you, I will not respond to anymore of your inane remarks at this time. Be gone, turd.
P.S. Why do some many of you insults always include references to male homosexuality and male body part?
Larvell Blanks
September 28th, 2011
9:39 am
Better shut ‘em out and hit one out, Huddy. Just sayin’.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
September 28th, 2011
9:39 am
Larry30 We already have a very good catcher to take his place…
…Who has said time and again that he gets exposed playing every day…
You’ve seeing the best of McCann’s days as an everyday catcher and when it starts going downhill, you’re not going to believe how average he looks and how fast it will happen.
I’m willing to take the “risk” of him bouncing back next year. And if (when) the other guys (Uggla, Heyward, Freeman) do what they’re supposed to do, we won’t have to rely so heavily on BMac.
reckingball
September 28th, 2011
9:40 am
Trading McCann? How stupid can you get?
Adam
September 28th, 2011
9:42 am
Try being a Braves fan in Philly—most difficult last few weeks of my life. At least you guys have solidarity!
Adam
September 28th, 2011
9:43 am
Enter your comments here
sebo1084
September 28th, 2011
9:43 am
I’m sorry McFann. When are we supposed to rely on McCann. Was it the last few months or is after tonights game?
sebo1084
September 28th, 2011
9:44 am
I know if I don’t do what I’m paid to do at my job, I will get fired.
Heather B.
September 28th, 2011
9:45 am
He’ll need to hit a home run or two in addition to throwing a shut out. How else are they gonna score? Good luck. I’ll be weeping quietly in my seat.
Circa1955..
September 28th, 2011
9:47 am
Dont forget the 1996 and 1999 World series Sweeps?
Epic failures in the big dance…Chipper was the featured leader
Larry Larry Larry Larry…
Hows that ole boys club doing now?
Circa1955..
September 28th, 2011
9:51 am
The girls have not been to an NLCS in 10 years?????
reckingball
September 28th, 2011
9:53 am
I don’t really understand how anyone can think that Ross is capable of replacing McCann as the everyday catcher.
reckingball30
September 28th, 2011
9:54 am
I have to agree with you reckingball.
Bulldawg
September 28th, 2011
9:54 am
Anybody notice the reaction of Heyward every time he strikes out? It’s like oh, well I still get my paycheck. No harm done. I really don’t know why all of us fans care so much because it’s apparent that most of the players don’t.
And like so many others have suggested, why can’t we put Constanza back in the lineup? We went on a roll when he was called up. It was some of the most exciting baseball I’ve seen in Atlanta in years. I can guarantee you that he has a better chance of reaching base with a ground ball than Heyward does with striking out or grounding out to second. Not to mention the pressure he puts on the defense with his base stealing threat.
reckingball30
September 28th, 2011
9:57 am
Catchers wear out quick, just look at Pudge R.
He has only made it for, 19 years or so? Right?
reckingball
September 28th, 2011
10:01 am
Agree reckingball30, I think that it is around 19years.
Heck, he still hasn’t got 3000 hits yet, needs about a couple hundred more, but he will wear out before he gets them.
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
10:03 am
Ivan Rodriguez is in much better physical condition than McCann. It’s obvious that McCann has put on about 15 pounds during the season. It was widely reported that he came to spring training slimmed down and focused on improving his defense. But it didn’t last. The guy can hit, no doubt. He is not even an average catcher. I don’t believe they’ll trade him. No one down there at the offices on Hank Aaron Drive has the guts to do it. The money that is freed up when Chipper finally retires will be given to McCann on his next contract and mark my words, before that contract is finished there will be a chorus of complainers about how much we are paying McCann for average play. He will eventually be traded to an AL team so he can DH. Whether that’s $48 million from now with nothing in return or in the near future for a “blockbuster” trade is up to the front office. I know what they’ll do because they think just like you do.
reckingball30
September 28th, 2011
10:03 am
reckingball…..Once again, I will have to say that you are right.
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
10:06 am
Having fun playing with yourself (w)reckingball?
reckingball
September 28th, 2011
10:09 am
Probably not as much as you and “Larry” do.
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
10:12 am
But we’re two different people. I was new to this blog about a month ago and after my first post noticed there was already a poster with my name, so just like you have to do with email addresses, I had to amend my username to differentiate myself from him. Is that too hard for you to understand?
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
10:13 am
Perhaps I’ll change my username to nucklehead.
reckingball
September 28th, 2011
10:15 am
How did he get the nickname Pudge, if he in such great physical shape.
McCann does not look like he has added a lot of weight to me.
Do you take the scales to the park and give McCann a weight in every home game?
phil
September 28th, 2011
10:16 am
None of this is anything new….We’ve just collapsed a little earlier this year.
After tonight, we can all breathe easier as it will be over with.
Tim Hudson is meaningless tonight. He means nothing to the effort. It’s the lack of hitting that killed this team from spring training all the way through. It’s that same lack of hitting that will doom us tonight, odds are.
We all know it. Tim can be Cy Young himself tonight but can’t do a thing to help us when we don’t do a thing at the plate.
The Phillies are basically going to throw three starters at us tonight, and they’re going to eat our collective lunches. Why would a rational person think otherwise in the face of overwhelming evidence ot the contrary?
This whole thing just makes me sad.
Larvell Blanks
September 28th, 2011
10:16 am
Trade Lowe as long as you don’t have to eat more than half his remaining salary.
Ooh, while we’re doing that, can we trade him for Lincecum? (As long as we don’t have to pay more than half Lincecum’s salary, of course).
Cardiac Kids
September 28th, 2011
10:16 am
Flat pitches that result in Liners to the outfield…or Flat Bats that result in one-Liner jokes….or the Flat Liner that is coming on the Braves ECG after tonight or tomorrow…the suspense is making me go into cardiac arrest.
reckingball30
September 28th, 2011
10:17 am
I have to say that you are right again reckingball.
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
10:19 am
Maybe because Rodriguez is short and stocky. His career is an aberration. Most catchers don’t play that long especially at the level he has maintained. I don’t need to weigh McCann. Anyone who looks at the guy could see at the beginning of the season he had lost weight. And anyone who is looking now can see that he is a good bit heavier than he was in April. It’s not a personal criticism. I don’t know these guys personally and I’m sure he is a great guy. I was convinced long ago, by the players, that baseball is a business. I am a paying customer and pay close attention to the product.
reckingball
September 28th, 2011
10:22 am
Larry30, I don’t think that you are really Larry, just kidding you.
You seem to be much more sane than he does.
reckingball30
September 28th, 2011
10:24 am
I don’t think that you are Larry, either.
reckingball30
September 28th, 2011
10:25 am
Enter your comments here
phil
September 28th, 2011
10:26 am
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
10:19 am
Maybe because Rodriguez is short and stocky. His career is an aberration. Most catchers don’t play that long especially at the level he has maintained. I don’t need to weigh McCann. Anyone who looks at the guy could see at the beginning of the season he had lost weight. And anyone who is looking now can see that he is a good bit heavier than he was in April. It’s not a personal criticism. I don’t know these guys personally and I’m sure he is a great guy. I was convinced long ago, by the players, that baseball is a business. I am a paying customer and pay close attention to the product.
******************
Amen. McCann has clearly gained weight and worsened both offensively and defensively as the year went on. And no, I don’t want to hear excuses about the pulled muscle.
I am certainly not ready to give up on Brian. I love the guy, but if he doesn’t get himself in tip top shape, and that soon, his career is going to end well before it should, not to mention the long term adverse effects on his health. His lack of conditioning is patently obvious at this point and has correspondingly played a large role in our total collapse. He’s supposed to be THE team leader now, and he has lead us down the path of destruction this September.
MisterDeltoid
September 28th, 2011
10:26 am
Larry30, As a Phillie fan, I’m getting pretty tired of people ripping CBP. It’s a wonderful place to watch a game. Just because you can’t fill your ballpark, and one of your best all time pitchers (Smoltz) was too much of a wuss to pitch there doesn’t mean it’s an “oversized high school stadium”. I fail to see to see your issue. When the ballpark first opened, wussy boy Smoltz said that no pitchers would want to pitch there. I guess the pitching staff that the Phils have assembled shoots down that theory. However, I feel he was partially right. No pitcher without stones (like Smoltz) wants to pitch there.
sportsmandh
September 28th, 2011
10:26 am
At least we have one guy that’s willing to say he’s up for the challenge.
Thanks Hudson for being vocal and being willing to take the bull by the horns.
I hope it goes great for you tonight and the rest of the team will follow your lead and act like they have a pair.
BLK09GT
September 28th, 2011
10:28 am
Fire Fredi! Fire Frank! Fire Larry P! Chipper retire to the woods! Trade BLowe! BMac go on a diet! Braves lose 15-0! CHOKERS! Early vacations all around! Does that pretty much sum up this blog? You guys of little faith. Our best pitcher and hitter is going tomorrow. He’ll pull out the 1-0 victory and the solo shot.
Tucson AZ
September 28th, 2011
10:28 am
Hudson going tonight but it doesn’t matter if the offense doesn’t get him any runs.I think a better game to watch will be the Astros and the Cards.The Astros are playing like the Braves should be.
Upper Decker
September 28th, 2011
10:30 am
Hudson eager to take mound…..I am eager to take a mound to Turner Field tonight and throw it at any number of worthy candidates.
BLK09GT
September 28th, 2011
10:31 am
***tomorrow is today Play with some heart boys. This may be Chipper’s last shot to go out on top.
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
10:31 am
Smoltz has no stones? You obviously didn’t pay any attention to his career when he went out to pitch at about 50% and still managed to close out games. Sounds like I’ve hit a sore spot with a philly fan. Sorry about that Mr. Del. And frankly I don’t give any credence to the people who criticize our town for attendance numbers. It’s a free country and people can spend their time and money any way they want. I’m sure you’re ballpark is a fine place to watch a game.
reckingbal.
September 28th, 2011
10:32 am
Edited for content.
This has been fun, but got to run. Has been good for a laugh.
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!Pull one out of your behinds!!!!! Please!!!!!
OVER and OUT.
phil
September 28th, 2011
10:32 am
Larry
September 28th, 2011
9:00 am
Ok, even I am sick of typing the name and reading my own comments about Fruity. I’m done…promise!
I’ll just leave everyone with some questions to ponder: When you read any quotes from him are you intellectually stimulated? When you hear his interviews are you emotionally stimulated? Lastly, when you observe him during the game is this a manager that gets the very most out of those he manages?
You know my answers…what are your answers?
********************
I gave FG every benefit of the doubt until this collapse began to take shape and as it has continued to play itself out and as it drags us all down literally to the last out tonight before it will be complete.
The guy has to go. He was captain of this awful ship, and as captain, it’s his head that must roll.
If we bring him back next year, I will not darken the gates of that stadium. Not once. I invite others to stay away in droves as well. I cannot and will not reward this pathetic display over these last weeks. It’s embarassing and unacceptable.
ray
September 28th, 2011
10:34 am
the reality is the Braves need ; a new owner, a new manager, a new GM, and a new batting coach.
when you totally waste about $28-29 mill on Lowe, KK and Mc Louth with a mid tier budget, you have to cut corners elsewhere.
who recommended they sign KK ? have they been fired yet ?
if you are serious about winning, do you start Lowe last night ? this guy takes us out of it within 3 innings almost every time out. do you have to have one guy sabotage the team because he is way overpaid ? how many chances do you give him to implode when you need every win ?
when they leave the field after another loss tonight, everyone there should boo. or, everyone should stage a mass exit in the 7th inning- a permanent 7th inning stretch.
we missed Halladay, and we won’t face Hamels for more than a few innings – and we still can’t score ?
this is a disgraceful performance.
Upper Decker
September 28th, 2011
10:35 am
@BLK09GT …. Go out on Top?? ….you got the “out” part right.
reckingball30
September 28th, 2011
10:35 am
The Braves are giving the crybabies a lot to cry about.
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
10:36 am
Ray……not to mention giving away a productive hitter and fielder for a guy who was out of the game the next year all over something that was obviously personal.
reckingball31
September 28th, 2011
10:40 am
Hope Phillies don’t play all subs tonight..If Braves win ..make them earn it.
Larry30
September 28th, 2011
10:40 am
And they’re going to have to pay McLouth $1.25 million in severance pay.
Tumbledown
September 28th, 2011
10:46 am
Ever since Wohlers through that fatal slider to Leyritz in the 1996 World Series, this team has done little but choke, choke, underperform,and choke in crucial moments. I am done as a fan as this team has played pathetically and with no passion over the past month. It seems like all Atlanta teams do is fold and disappoint. I have better things to do than to continue to support this garbage franchise and its loser mentality. Adios!
1957 Braves Fan
September 28th, 2011
10:52 am
At least Hudson has the will to win tonight.
reckingball30
September 28th, 2011
10:55 am
I predict that the Braves will bring out the lumber tonight.
It would have been too easy to just play .500 ball in SEP, and take the WC with a couple of weeks left in the season.
No drama in that.
Meanwhile, they have discovered that the homeplate umpire, is a very distant relative of the deceased Eric Gregg, and the front office has dispatched a courier, with a large cash payment, for him to throw the game to the Astros.
The Braves will blow the Phillies out of the water tonight, and go on to win the 2011 WS.
Mark my words, you heard it here first.
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!
reckingball30
September 28th, 2011
10:57 am
If that does’t happen, then there is always next year.
After all, it’s only baseball.
Sonny Jackson
September 28th, 2011
10:58 am
Start Diaz!!
reckingball
September 28th, 2011
10:59 am
reckingball30……..That is about the stupidest thing that I have read all morning on this blog, and I have read some very stupid comments here this morning.
morehouse man
September 28th, 2011
10:59 am
the manager should had been tp instead of fruti. Terry is a whitey herzog instead a bobby cox clone.
murphy47
September 28th, 2011
11:01 am
Do you think the Braves watch the Cards, Rays, and Red Sox score 6 7 9 runs a game and say wow…look at those guys competing. The Cards scored like 4 runs or whatever AFTER 2 outs and NOBODY on!! I think we have scored 4 runs in the last 36 innings…..INNINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Only saw it once but it looked like Mac was squinting again like when he was having eye problems, and J Hey should try standing 10 feet from home instead of just 8. —Hudson is a monster, the day we traded for him was a top 10 drinking day for me, that night took a year off my life on the back end…but he was my favorite non-Brave, he was an ANIMAL for Oak….for all you Aaron Sorkin fans…Game On.
reckingball31
September 28th, 2011
11:01 am
McLouth’s ba 228 for 2011
J-Hey ba 226 for 2011
Constanza ba 313 for 2011
just saying all the hate for nate & GC but all Fredi’s love for J-H = his playing time=loser
Upper Decker
September 28th, 2011
11:02 am
Fredo…my preferred name b/c I hope, metaphorically, he gets whacked at the end of this unacceptable collapse…and there is the whole Cuba thing where Fredo Corleone dooms himself…but I digress. Too much was made of what he did to get what he got out of one of the lowest payroll teams in baseball …which had to be real attractive to a Braves org that does not spend jack…and his being a Cox disciple. I bought the former when I talked myself into this being a good move,, but it never set right completely ,, and now I know why. He manages by a philosophy that is conservative and weak….play not to lose versus play to win. He fails miserably in situational baseball ,, where you seldom see him make double switches at the right time in a game, etc. etc. He brings nothing to the table, absolutely nothing, when it comes to being any type of motivator. Never seems to go with any hunch during a game ,,like leave a starter out there for another inning (like Delgado the other night),, so basically makes all of his main decisions before the game and sticks
with them no matter what. One has to wonder how much of Booby Cox’s influence is in place here from the standpoint of that “inflexible” game plan or lack of hunches ,,, because here would be Fredi doing something that flies in the face of his puppet master and he would catch holy hell if it backfired ,, which was probably the way all of this was agreed to in blood (and bourbon) when he arrived. At the same time, I think that Fredi is plenty incompetent on his own,, so it probably 50/50.
reckingball31
September 28th, 2011
11:06 am
Is it true President Obama will throw out the first ball tonight?
reckingball30
September 28th, 2011
11:07 am
please, no politics
reckingball
September 28th, 2011
11:08 am
ok
Go_Bravos
September 28th, 2011
11:08 am
Made for TV moment: Huddy goes 8 innings 2 runs 7ks and gets the go ahead rbi in btm 7, since the offense is MIA, and kimbrel shuts em down in the 9th
reckingball31
September 28th, 2011
11:11 am
is it politics to ask a question about the game and Pres? Is this not America? I served in Army for 5 yrs to defend your right to speak.
Go_Bravos
September 28th, 2011
11:14 am
This collapse is on the players. People are always going to second guess the manager. Does Fredi make questionable decisions at times? Absolutely, but the players are the ones out there on the field playing the game. When the supposed best player on the team GIDP to the pitcher in the most important game of the year, theres no coaching/managing that can make the player get a hit.
If this team chokes this away and misses the postseason then it falls first and foremost on the players.
The Abs Man
September 28th, 2011
11:14 am
Must say Larry, wins-by-a-link, Dozer, Tim Caskey, old scout accurate. Precise.
Fat Fool Fredi must be canned.
reckingball
September 28th, 2011
11:15 am
reckingball31………I may be wrong, but I think that reckingball30 was kidding you.
Tumbledown
September 28th, 2011
11:16 am
The Braves are toast. the Cardinals will be the wildcard team. There is nothing to suggest that the Braves can show any grit and pull this off. All the Braves do is choke.
The Abs Man
September 28th, 2011
11:17 am
“Fredo Corleone” more descrptive than “Fruity.”
Fat Fredi more a weak boob than Fredo!
reckingball31
September 28th, 2011
11:17 am
Bravos…is that why Coaches everywhere get fired when there teams lose..HS, University,Pro’s etc you win are be gone!
reckingball31
September 28th, 2011
11:20 am
Its cool reckingball.. I’m gone..go braves!
reckingball30
September 28th, 2011
11:20 am
reckingball31 @11:11am……reckingball was correct, I was joking.
But, I serve in the US Navy for four years during the Cold War, so that your parents could have the right to make you.
HaHa, in the words of the famous Foghorn Leghorn, “I say, that’s a joke son, do you get it”?
Larry
September 28th, 2011
11:22 am
Enter your comments here
reckingball
September 28th, 2011
11:23 am
Right arm reckingball30! Um…..I meant to say, Right On!
reckingball
September 28th, 2011
11:25 am
Gone for good, bye bye.
Larry
September 28th, 2011
11:25 am
phil @ 10:32 am,
Agreed!
And whomever is/are all the recking.no.balls personalities, that’s some funny stuff right there! I wish I could take credit for it…LOL!!!
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,