Medlen’s moment, McCann’s September blues and more

bruce

September 29th, 2011
5:51 pm

Thanks for a great season of keeping us posted and up to date. Sad end, but great job — thanks!

southern hope

September 29th, 2011
5:55 pm

Here’s the difference between us and Boston…in a press conference today, the manager/coach were asked about people being let go, changes, etc…and they said (wisely), “it’s only been 24 hours…we need to wait until the emotion and shock has ebbed and then we can look at it clearly.”

But here in Atlanta, we’ve already announced that 100% of the staff is coming back….no need to even think about it. IN a season of ups & downs, NOTHING has made me madder than this. Its a slap to the fans….

Christine

September 29th, 2011
6:07 pm

@southern hope

Exactly.

Graham

September 29th, 2011
6:11 pm

Thanks DOB.

Frank Wren needs to make a change either at manager or Larry Parrish. I think the Braves will lose a lot of fans if they don’t do something. I have followed the Braves for the last 20 years and this is by far the most disappointing day in Braves history.

rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

September 29th, 2011
6:15 pm

I have always believed that for the professional athlete, if you get inside their heads, you can derail them far worse than a physical injury.
For the Braves, it was an upset to the delicate psychological balance they had going by mid season with outstanding starting pitching, a great bullpen, better than expected fielding, and just enough offense.
We then lost two of our starting four pitchers, and the club began to press.
The rookies brought in to start did OK, but didn’t get far enough into the game to keep pressure from building up on the bullpen and the offense.
The bullpen lost their edge, and couldn’t throw as many strikes, and they too, pressed.
The hitting just seemed to disappear and everyone tried to hit a 5 run homer. Competition picked up on this and didn’t throw strikes. The hitters picked up on this, and stated swinging at the first few pitches that were close.
The new manager this year could not get his guys to just calm down and play the game.
Injuries were there again this year too. Guys seemed to wear out at the end of the year. Guys lost confidence in each other to deliver, and pressed to pick each other up.

The balance was gone, and they flamed out.

I will go out however and pick up a Detroit cap this weekend,—my other team won their division and will play the Yankees first.
Go Tigers!!

Bobby Bobby

September 29th, 2011
6:21 pm

Graham. I have been a Braves fan since 1974. Trust me in this, this season is not even close to the worst. I think it was 1988 when Chip Carey said “The Braves are as exciting as watching paint dry”. Braves history started long before 1991.

steve

September 29th, 2011
6:21 pm

Its not Freddies fault..Someone need to blame the players. He cant go out there and hit with runners in scoring postion..

Thanks for all the hard work you do D O B!

garynpOH

September 29th, 2011
6:23 pm

what are the expectations for next year, this is what i want to hear from FW and FG. as fans we should have expectations, overall there was not enough performance to warrant Freddi to say all the coaches will be back.

should we expect mediocrity and become like pirate fans or KC fans.

expectation of winning, i just don’t see it as much as i would like to, it seems it is just not there.

J-Man

September 29th, 2011
6:26 pm

Well I’ll admit that the season was not a complete failure and we have good things to hope for. Kimbrel, Freeman, Venters, Beechy ect. But Gonzalaz showed no fire and no urgency and needs to go because this collapse made all the good things we have done turn to turn sour.

J-Man

September 29th, 2011
6:27 pm

@ Steve, Carroll posted this article

Baker

September 29th, 2011
6:28 pm

@southern hope- i dont have any problem with all the coaches coming back, but the difference is in Boston, they’re pissed. Atlanta fans and the team and the coaches should be pissed. Fredi Gonzo just sounds like, oh well, ho-hum. I want less Eeyore, more anger. Get mad.

tinman

September 29th, 2011
6:30 pm

I’ve watched the Braves play since !966 and this is the weakest team they have ever put on the field. When you don’t have enough desire to win for the fans you need to get out of the game. They need to put Chipper out to pasture and send Lowe, Fredi G. and entire staff packing.

alex

September 29th, 2011
6:33 pm

they are all coming back!?, Not on my dime,see ya…..

DC Brave

September 29th, 2011
6:34 pm

Thanks DOB and Thanks Carroll. Seriously, we have the beat writes in the nation. Just wish we didn’t have to start off season mode already.

J-Man

September 29th, 2011
6:37 pm

why are my comments being deleted?

J-Man

September 29th, 2011
6:39 pm

@ Baker Let me tell you bro Atlanta Fans are PISSSED THE FRICK OFF!!! And to tell you the truth if the AJC ran a poll asking if Fredi Gonzalaz should be fired I’m willing to bet that 80% of the fans would fire him…………Note to AJC put that poll up and I wanna see if I’m right.

Poorbrave

September 29th, 2011
6:39 pm

Agree with Southern Hope. Braves Management don’t care what fans think are want. Fredi and his Staff got a failing grade period. I’m not a loser so I wouldn’t put up with that but Braves Management don’t seem to care. Losers breed losers and 2nd is losing. All the little signs in OF don’t mean shi* till you win the big ones WS. I’d bet my life Fredi will never win the big one. Fredi is a loser now and later.

J-Man

September 29th, 2011
6:41 pm

Too bad we have such terific beat writers for such a sh*tty team. We should let you cover a real team because how many times can you write “Tip you cap” without not trying to choke out Gonzalaz

Poorbrave

September 29th, 2011
6:41 pm

Oh, they’ll never get another penny out of me..no tickets, no caps,shirts, jackets etc as long as Fredi runs the show.

Poorbrave

September 29th, 2011
6:44 pm

tip your cap is Cuban, are what?
I don’t tip my hat but I’ll take it off for something worth while..

cowdogit

September 29th, 2011
6:44 pm

Worse performance in national league history. Fredi said no changes. HEY FREDI !! NO FANS.

garynpOH

September 29th, 2011
6:46 pm

well put J-man

01HAWK

September 29th, 2011
6:46 pm

How many people out there said that HANSON would have arm and shoulder problem when they saw his delivery ?

Almost everyone did,

When the trade deadline was approaching at the end of JULY………………………………..PHILLIES FANS stated that the BRAVES seem to value their prospects so much more than anyone else…………………..and of course we should……………………………………….But, some of them are not what we thought they would be.

PHILLY.COM……………………………….PHILLIES FORUM…………………………..They are cracking their sides laughing at the BRAVES………………………With good reason. I am more embarassed than they are and it should not be that way.

VinceVanGo

September 29th, 2011
6:52 pm

If the Braves fans want a little revenge and justice on the Phillies just wait until the Phils get beat by the hot Cards in the first round, then we can all have a good laugh at the over priced- over confident Phillies. They do have holes in their team and any of the other 3 N.L. playoff teams is capable of putting the Phils out. Mark it down.

J-Man

September 29th, 2011
6:56 pm

We need to get rid of this Cuban (Gonzalaz) and get another Cuban (Mark) to buy the team

Brave-less

September 29th, 2011
6:57 pm

Sooo about that NLDS rotation that was talked about a few weeks ago

is Fredi still going to try and use JJ in that series or just go with the rookies and possibly use him in the NLCS?

braveshoo

September 29th, 2011
7:02 pm

If the Braves want to win in 2012, I suggest 3 bold moves. First, get a tough, firey manager like Arizona did. Second, hire Don Baylor as hitting coach no matter what it costs. Third, trade Tommy Hanson to Texas for Michael Young and put him at SS. Young is just what the Braves need: firey, hard nose, consistent and a winner. He can play SS, 2B, or 3rd, and he hits: .335 average, 110 rbis, 88 runs scored, and a .380 OBP. Only 11 HRs-sowhat; he knocks in those runners in scoring position. He does cost 16 million a year in 2012 and 2013, but thats why the Braves may be able to get him for a good young pitcher like Hanson who is just becoming arbitration elegible. The problem with Hanson is he is injury prone, and he is represented by Boras. Then your lineup looks like this: Bourn-CF, Young-SS, Chipper-3rd, Uggla-2nd, McCann-catcher, Freeman-1b, Heyward-RF, and Prado-LF. If Pastornicky comes up to play SS in 2013 arter Chipper retires, then you move Young to 3rd. Your starting pitchers are Hudson, JJ, Minor, Beachy and Delgado or Tehran. If both Tehran and Delgado are ready, you can move Beachy to the BP where he has closer stuff, and would take some pressure off Kimbrel. Your BP is Medlin, Viscaino, Martinez, Lowe, Oflaherty, Venters and Kimbrel. If you can trde Lowe and save some salary, then you keep Varvaroin the pen and hope that Tehran or Moylan is ready in July/ August. In 2013, Tehran takes Hudson’s or JJ’s place, whichever way the team wants to go. The whole key is Young who helps our hitting immensely.

PhilsFanFromNJ

September 29th, 2011
7:05 pm

Hey VinceVanGo, god bless you if having the Phils lose to the Cards in the NLDS (which is a possibility)would make you feel any better after the Phils schooled your Braves and contributed to their September collapse. The Phils may lose, but better chance they will beat the Cards (at least that’s what Vegas is saying). In any event, the Phils have a chance to make it to the World Series, and the Braves can wait for next year. By the way, the Phils will be even better next year with Phils GM Amaro stating that we will be actively pursuing Reyes and Kemp in the off season. Cheers.

iusedtocritizecox2

September 29th, 2011
7:14 pm

VinceVanGo – what are the Holes in the philly team? I’m a loyal Braves fan. But if all teams in the playoffs play up to their ability the phillies will win. I won’t be happy about it but they have the fewest holes of any of the eight.

deron

September 29th, 2011
7:16 pm

The worst thing about this collapse was that the Cards didn’t play that great down the stretch, just good enough to pass the Braves.

http://theresastatforthat.blogspot.com/2011/09/beantown-breakdown-short-history-of.html

fire fredi

September 29th, 2011
7:31 pm

Cards didn;t have to play hard they knew Braves under Fredi would fold..

Lil' Barry Bailout

September 29th, 2011
7:34 pm

Who cares. Braves over.

iTiSi

September 29th, 2011
7:38 pm

The questions was asked by someone last night why the stands were not filled, as there were many seats open. Even the night before when they announced 42,000 as the attendance, there were lots of empty seats. Why can’t the announcers give an estimate of the attendance rather than just flat out lying about it? Anyway, I guess the person who asked that question last night now has their answer. The people who are smart do not want to spend money on a bad, very bad, pathetic product!

Braves Fan for 55 yrs

September 29th, 2011
7:41 pm

Re: McCann He looks FAT, LUMPY, Overweight. I love the effort he puts in but he has to learn he can not eat but 3 reasonable meals a day or his career will be shortened and he will not perform to his max ability. And those plays at the plate, try keeping your eyes open, it is much easier to catch the ball.

BRAVESFAN

September 29th, 2011
7:49 pm

McCann and others came back from sitting on the bench to going back at it 100% way too fast. Brian didn’t get nominated to the All-Star game as a starter for nothing. Just do what you did last off season because it was working. Didn’t he even get the first stolen base of the year for the Braves?

JJ

September 29th, 2011
7:49 pm

Braveshoo,you make too much sense to be on this blog.The only thing people on here want to do is get rid of young talent like JJ,Heyward,and Prado.I believe we can get by with Wilson at ss next year or sign Alex for 1.5mil and wait for Chipper and Lowe to leave and either sign a LF or 3b with that money.I also am sceptible of Hanson because it is his shoulder and it keeps coming up.I really hope we don’t get rid of our young pitchers or Heyward.I believe he,Freddie,Uggla,Prado,Bourn,and Mac along with who plays ss,3rd,or lf with our pitching should make us a Team to be delt with for a while.I also hope we keep our back-up catcher along with Hinske and Matty Diaz.GO BRAVES.l

bravesgirl

September 29th, 2011
7:55 pm

@ braveshoo…
I agree. The braves need a coach who can show emotion. A hitting coach who recognizes what is wrong with a hitter. And a middle infielder or corner outfielder with .300 or above BA and 350-400 OBP or higher. If they go after an outfielder, Prado can be the utility guy off the bench or play 3rd when Chipper needs off. Hanson is ok trade material, but his shoulder means the won’t get much for him. To get Young, they would have to include an above average prospect.
I pray that Wren, Fredi, and the rest figure out the missing link. Too much talent is being wasted and not coached (pushed) to their full potential.

tman

September 29th, 2011
7:57 pm

It was really sickening to listen to the FG interview in the lockeroom after the choke. How about standing up and calling it like it is, instead of all the political double speak? We get enough of that in politics. First off why was Lowe even pitching in Tuesday’s game? Why not one of the young guns? Next question, why wasn’t Lowe taken out as soon as it was obvious he didn’t have anything? This isn’t April, FG! Same applies to Kimbrel last night. He was horrible and nobody warming soon enough to even replace him. How lame to not “relieve” a reliever, closer notwithstanding. Closer is the biggest over rated term in baseball. I don’t care if a dude throws 80mph, if he get’s people out, use him. It sure appears O’Flaherty may have the better make up and stuff for the closer’s job. Why isn’t that obvious to this team? I’m so sick of mis managing, esepecially with pitchers. Another thing…why was Hayward back as a starter when the team was on fire with Constanza and Bourne in there? I predict Hayward will be a way bigger bust than Francour. He has not learned any upercut technique. Looks like he’s swinging off a tee and he needs to be a big gun, not line drive/grounder/strike out machine. All these extra inning games were ridiculous. It’s about time we worried more about offense than drafting pitchers. As bad as I dislike the Phillies, then should be the model for signee’s and trade/free agent work. Man, they blow Wren out of the water! We sure could use some outfielders with pop, like Pence. How did WE NOT get him?? Hanson and Jurgens need to go, along with Lowe. Tough, but the truth. I sure wish the great management would have looked further than FG for this job. I LOVE Kirk Gibson and was hoping so bad, the Braves might have considered him. I’m sure he manages like he played. Takes no BS, communicates and isn’t afraid to pull a pitcher that sucks. Watching Captain Hook (Sparky) helped him, non doubt. Prado is no #2 hitter and not an outfielder. I know we don’t have the money of Philly, but we could still do so much better if our clown crew management, could see what us fans see. Use some creativity! Don’t catagorize so damn much! Truly a sickening end of what could have been. Who is the conditioning guru of these guys? Most of them look like the night of the living dead out there this time of year. Why do other teams still have energy? Signed, one long term PISSED OFF FAN!

bobby

September 29th, 2011
8:01 pm

Aside from other problems, I wonder if Brian is having trouble with his eyes?

Worm

September 29th, 2011
8:02 pm

Could Medlin not have started 161?

RHR

September 29th, 2011
8:07 pm

Was today clean out locker day? Bet it was somber.

Big Wally

September 29th, 2011
8:07 pm

It says a lot that the only player in the game last night (besides Hudson) who gave a good account of himself was on the DL for 98% of the season, where’s the rest of the team – already mentally checked out.

wonder

September 29th, 2011
8:14 pm

If I became tired at the end of a 6 month period having only worked 162 days for about 6 hours, would people notice or care? I go to work 5 days a week, 12 months a year with 2 weeks off and care of others for 8- 10 hours. I make decent money, not millions and I do not make excuses if I am tired or hurt. I give 100%, because that is what I am paid to do

J-Man

September 29th, 2011
8:14 pm

Is there any reason to even be a Braves fan now? Please Carroll or D.O.B. give us something to hold our heads on because Fredi gave us nothing……..Tip your cap

JoeFan

September 29th, 2011
8:19 pm

The only good lot in the starting rotation next year. Otherwise get some fire in the tasnkthing to come out of last night was seeing Medlin pitch. Hope he can fill a starting slot next year. In the meantime get players and coaches in here with fire in their belly.

bernard

September 29th, 2011
8:20 pm

Brave fans…aren’t you weary of the sucky way the braves have been strining you along with this Dollar store mentality…Braves will win when they spend…they traded David Justice & have not won since because of bargain basement talent like Derek lowe instead of Cliff Lee..Cox & Freddi are way over rated(minnie me & Dr Evil)…Wren is WRONG…DEMAND CHAnGE or we’ll be back here again next season Beechy is a choker like Heyward & Conrad, Gonzo’s outa here…need new owners PLS!..NEED FANS THAT ARE NOT COLLUDERS! GIVE’EM HELL..Leo is an example of a colluder like cox. A sucker is born every second and brave fans are suckers!!!! WE DESERVE BETTER AND the BRAVES BRAINTRUST KNOW IM RRRIGHT!!! GET BACK U DONT KNOW ME LIKE THAT!!!

Big Wally

September 29th, 2011
8:22 pm

Can’t wait to hear the slogans for next year “Better hurry up and see us, before we choke in September”, “Watch Fredi G. try to make out a lineup card”, “See how any double plays Chipper can hit into”, “If Derek Lowe gives up 6 or more runs, you’ll get $6 off of your next oil change at Jiffy Lube”,

Liberty Media

September 29th, 2011
8:26 pm

Don’t worry Braves fans, we are with you all the way. You know we are behind your team 100%.

tman

September 29th, 2011
8:31 pm

LOL…gotta love that Jiffy Lube deal! Forgot in my earlier rant to make notice of the Phils using a lot of scrub players the 2nd half or so last night and they still just toyed with us! Our front line against their fill ins and we still lose! WTF??

Felix

September 29th, 2011
8:37 pm

Once, just once, I’d like to see Fredi chew out an umpire. What does it take to get his blood boiling? I mean here he was, in the most critical game of the season, the third base umpire completely blows a call (calling Bourne out at third) that may cost the his team a run and the game-(and it did both) , and what does he do? He just soft shoes out to the ump, meekly mumbles a few words, and then passively strolls back to the dugout. Now that’s really supporting your team! That’s really going to get your team fired up!

J-Man

September 29th, 2011
8:48 pm

Can we expect anything?

Jordan

September 29th, 2011
8:59 pm

http://isportsweb.com/2011/09/29/braves-blow-wild-card-lead/

Big Wally

September 29th, 2011
9:04 pm

The Atlanta Braves…..a commitment to mediocrity. From the President of the organization all the way down the ball boys, we promise to give the fans our best half @ss effort.

SusieQ

September 29th, 2011
9:11 pm

Are you people really Braves fans?

Rafael

September 29th, 2011
9:18 pm

I’m glad Matt Diaz “managed to maintain his sense of humor.”

The REAL JOKE is Matt Diaz (”he rakes lefthanders you know”). This mediocre, bargain-basement, pig-in-a-poke BUM should be laughing because the Braves are the ONLY MLB team where he can find a job. I’m sure other MLB teams are laughing histerically also because the Braves actually start this no-talent bum in the OF.

It will be NO JOKE when Matt “Lugo” Diaz is our STARTING RF next year. It’s true, Michael Bourn will be traded (Liberty CHEAPIA is NOT going to spend the money to sign him to an extension). I ENJOYED Michael’s short stint here; however, the Braves and Scott Boras DON’T play well together.

Frank Wren (firefrankwren.com), you SHOULD BE ASHAMED of yourself. This HISTORICAL COLLAPSE happened on your watch:

* Frank, you HIRED Fredi Gonzalez (childhood actor who portrayed Ricky Ricardo JR. on the I Love Lucy Show). Just as in Florida, Gonzalez PROVED he LACKS motivational and leadership skills. It looked like the team QUIT on him. Our dugout demeanor many times looked like a WAKE at a funeral home (other teams dugouts looked happy and focused).

* Frank, you brought in bargain-basement, washed-up, pig-in-a-poke BUMS like Matt Diaz, Julio Lugo, Scott Proctor, Scott Linebrink (WHY is Scott Linebrink pitching in the Majors???!!!), Brooks Conrad (his glove cost us TWO games in the playoffs last year and now he CAN’T hit anymore), Nate McClouth, Jack Wilson……….etc…..

* Frank, you gave Derek “KAWAKAMI” Lowe that 4th year at 15 million (2012) with NO team option or buyout clause (knowledge you should have gained in “General Managing 101″). Lowe is a CERTAIN LOSS EVERY time he pitched now. His velocity and command are LONG GONE. Knowing Lowe will be a fixture in the starting rotation next year Frankie boy will sell alot of season tickets.

* Frank, you kept Jason “BUST” Heyward up with the big club ALL year instead of sending him the minors to learn how to hit. Now it’s TOO LATE, Heyward has gone from SUPER Prospect status to the toilet bowl. I saw Tim Hudson’s expression when Heyward “clanked” that flyball in the OF. Obviously, Larry Parrish needs to be sent packing as well as Fredi!!!!!!!!

* Frank, once again you working with your bosses Liberty CHEAPIA, we Braves fans won’t have any HOPE in offseason acquistions for REAL MLB Talent Ballplayers. No stars, just bargain-basement, pig-in-a-poke “2nd tier” BUMS. Frankie, you can skirt around the issue all you want, but we KNOW you’re going to trade Michael Bourn this offseason because of monetary reasons… can’t wait to see who get in return (Rene Tosoni, Ham’ n Egger).

Braves fans would NOT be upset if we knew POSITIVE changes (see above) were going to be made. However, we all know how Liberty CHEAPIA and Frank “Burns” Wren work. Cheap, cheap, cheap, pig-in-a-poke, bargain basement philosophy. Nothing will change for the good over the offseason, it will be “business as usual” when Spring Training starts. Another NON-playoff season in 2012.

THANKS again Fredi for your leadership and motivational skills. Thank you too Frankie for giving us Derek Lowe next year. Thanks Derek “DUI” Lowe for EARNING the 15 million a year you are being paid.

Big Wally

September 29th, 2011
9:19 pm

Yes.

John Sterling is a joke

September 29th, 2011
9:22 pm

PhilsFanFromNJ

September 29th, 2011
7:05 pm
By the way, the Phils will be even better next year with Phils GM Amaro stating that we will be actively pursuing Reyes and Kemp in the off season.
__________________________________________________________________________________

Gotta link for this? Wouldn’t this constitute tampering…IF true?

Fan from Afar

September 29th, 2011
9:32 pm

Some of the fans (so called) should spend a few years in Cubs, Pirates, etc. country. The Braves have done well for a middle priced payroll – sure they fell apart in September – remember when Pirates were in the lead? Did anyone want this to happen – no – but I have been a fan since 1983 when I moved to Atlanta – I have since lived in LA and Michigan – I get the satellite package so I can follow them. I will be back next year thankful for the great times in 2011 and hoping for better results in 2012.

Jason Heyward's Gynecologist

September 29th, 2011
9:33 pm

In the off-season, my patient is going to audition for the role of TIN MAN in the remake of “The Wizard of Oz.”

TIN MAN doesn’t have (or play baseball with) any heart, either.

phil

September 29th, 2011
9:41 pm

wonder
September 29th, 2011
8:14 pm

If I became tired at the end of a 6 month period having only worked 162 days for about 6 hours, would people notice or care? I go to work 5 days a week, 12 months a year with 2 weeks off and care of others for 8- 10 hours. I make decent money, not millions and I do not make excuses if I am tired or hurt. I give 100%, because that is what I am paid to do

AMEN!!!

Fire FG!

Bobby's Cox

September 29th, 2011
9:44 pm

You can put the blame on the players for 1 game yesterday. Wilson couldn’t field a grounder, Uggla looking at RF rounding 3rd when there was gonna be a play at the plate, Kimbrel not finding the strike zone, Freeman playing the line with Pence up, not walking Pence, not sending Uggla on the 3-2 pitch in the 13th…

Those things happen within a game, and it’s fine. It’s baseball. But, you manage a team for 162. You manage the staff, the rotation, the lineup, keeping the bench guys fresh, give the team strategy at the plate on how you want to roll with things. All of that was a let down. This isn’t about losing game 162. It was about creating problems and not finding solutions to problems well before it.

Not sending the pitching coach out to the mound often enough, telling guys in ST they want them to me more aggressive this year when that was already the problem for the past 15 seasons and after they ranked 4th in OBP last season, using Kimbrel & Venters in god knows how many blowout games, never using Kimbrel in a 4-out situation to get him accustomed to pressure, never trying a hit and run to spark the offense, taking Chipper out of the 2 hole after he’d been so successful, then not returning to it when we scored 4 runs in 4 games leading up to the finale, those are all management issues.

I understand Fredi when he said you let guys finish the jobs they’re there to do. But, I won’t agree with his decisions. He didn’t do a terrible job this year. Just not the job a good manager would’ve been capable of. Last year, we suffered more damaging injuries. We lost Jurrjens and Medlen who was pitching better than Hanson was this year. We lost Prado and Chipper. This year we had Uggla. We had Bourn. We actually had a 1B that could stand on two feet. And yet, we didn’t win as many games this year and let a HUGE lead slip away. Why? Because last year we had motivation to send Bobby Cox out on top. This year, the manager failed to motivate his club. Plain and simple

Jason Heyward's Gynecologist

September 29th, 2011
9:45 pm

I really hate my job.

darrell starks

September 29th, 2011
9:48 pm

Im always giving teams the blue print on how win championships, if only they listen call me you no whom im talking about so we can bring home a championship.
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!

Duffy

September 29th, 2011
9:52 pm

I have been a Braves’ fan since the 1950’s. I have suffered through 13 post-season collapses in the past two decades.

My misery continues with this year’s epic meltdown. Compounding my feelings is the fundamental lack of will I saw last night. I do not understand the home plate play when our player did not try to take the catcher’s head off to dislodge the ball instead of trying to avoid the catcher and finesse his way to the plate. Nor do it understand the last play of the game when our player slid straight into second base enabling the second baseman to make a standard double-play throw to first instead of reaching for the base with his left hand and for the second baseman’s legs with his spikes.

These guys are girly men. They deserved to lose playing baseball like it was a church league. They need tougher players with a win at any cost (within the rules) attitude and a manager with a take no prisoners expectation.

darrell starks

September 29th, 2011
9:56 pm

I no chipper is coming back but it’s time 2 let other players play and just become the braves hitting coach, and be a situational player to platoon at third, and go sign free agent Aramis Ramirez in the off season, offer him a 5 years 60 mill and he would take it to have a chance to win a championship.
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!

darrell starks

September 29th, 2011
10:00 pm

Prado need loose at least 20 pounds in winter ball so he can become the braves future SS in year to come, since Gonzalez is gone.
GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!

darrell starks

September 29th, 2011
10:05 pm

2012 ATLANATA BRAVES

1. BOURN CF
2. CONSTANZA LF
3. RAMIREZ 3B
4. UGGLA 2B
5. FREEMAN 1B
6. PRADO SS
7. MCCANN CATCHER
8. HEYWARD RF

GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tim

September 29th, 2011
10:07 pm

gotta love the spoiled fan. in the 70’s and most of the 80’s save a couple years when Torre was the skipper the Braves were out of the race by the end of the first week of the season. Freddi did as good a job as anyone we don’t need a Larry Bowa,Billy Martin type. Injuries are part of the game we just had more than our share. I hated the last month of the season like everyone else but thats baseball it was not for lack of effort on the players part. I feel certain no one guy said “think I’ll go out and stink it up today”, they’re pro’s with a lot of pride. The players will learn from this and next year will be a great year. If your going to be a fan then get behind your team. Thank you Atlanta Braves for a fun season and thank your DOB for your daily updates.

kc

September 29th, 2011
10:21 pm

the braves,starting from the owner all the way down to the sorry ass bench players, are all pathetic losers. This organization is doing a great injustice to loyal fans such as myself, who’s only wish is for the players to give 100% and play abc baseball. I’ve been a braves fan since the dale murphy days. But as of last night, will no longer watch the braves. And trust me that’s some serious statement from a diehard braves fan like me. If the braves don’t fire freddy gonzalez and the rest of the scrubs they call coaches, trust im not the only one who will stop watching the braves. For once, get a manager with balls and fire, and is not afraid to yell at a player when he plays like a girl. Prado,Lowe,the ss, and all the sorry bench players needs to go.

LuisG

September 29th, 2011
10:28 pm

Thanks CR! So, what are the plans for Medlen this winter? Will he play Winter Ball?

NRBQ

September 29th, 2011
10:28 pm

KC -

The team did suck this year, but I’m willing to bet they don’t mind losing a “fan” such as yourself.

But you’re right, they should fire the “beach” players.

steve nj

September 29th, 2011
10:38 pm

Brave fan from NJ for over 40 year and i will stick with the braves till the day i die… true fans never jump ship. I like the braves future great arms good farm system and yes the bench needs some help. GO BRAVES will be wathing you next year again on direct tv.

bravo bravos

September 29th, 2011
10:41 pm

Just a reminder to tman that the Phillies payroll is second only to the Yankees at $173 million. That’s why the Phillies are loaded and are able to wheel and deal. The Braves payroll is one half that of the Phillies at $87 million. There was a time in the mid 90’s when the Braves were where the Phillies are. Remember Maddox, Glavine, Smoltz, Avery and later Neagle or even Millwood? Surrounded by Gant, Justice, Grissom, McGriff and Hoss and strong “D” up the middle they were as loaded as today’s Phillies. Wren’s done a very good job considering the financial limitations.

The Abs Man

September 29th, 2011
10:45 pm

Fredo Corleone: It ain’t the way I wanted it! I can handle things! I’m smart! Not like everybody says… like dumb… I’m smart and I want respect!

Now tell me Braves’ fans—-doesn’t Fredi Gonzalez remind us of Fredo more and more every game?

I Hate Scrubs

September 29th, 2011
11:28 pm

Hey Tim, let me guess, you’re a loser. I just witnessed one of the worst collapses in baseball history and I’m a “spoiled Braves Fan”. Hope you and Matt Diaz can spend the offseason laughing and cutting up about being part of baseball history. It enablers like you that keep the Braves complacent. Sprout a pair.

We can beat those Cheese Steaks!

September 30th, 2011
12:04 am

What is the opposite of Brave?

ENOUGH SAID!

gone

September 30th, 2011
12:09 am

No wonder Florida fired Freddie the eight inning was as about excited as I have see them in a while in a long time jump up off thr dugout and act all im to it

Truenobleman

September 30th, 2011
12:11 am

Hard to believe no
one is losing their job after this bust. Attendence down, lowest since 2004, so team lost money, and no one get’s fired? The Rays lowest payroll in baseball, or near the lowest and they make the playoffs, something is very wrong with this picture. Braves fan since 1965.

bravesfaninNashville

September 30th, 2011
12:28 am

I hope the Braves front office takes the weekend to get away and then comes back on Monday ready to makes good baseball/business decisions.. I hope they see that Fredi G is not the right man to lead this team forward and make a difficult emotional but easy baseball decision. If you only take into account future free agents wanting to play in Atlanta it’s hard to imagine that Fredi would be thought of as a manager great players want to play for. We need a man with a baseball pedigree either as a former player like Kirk Gibson (I know he’s not leaving Arizona he’s just an example) or as a previous manager that will instill that desire in great players to want to come to Atlanta.

I believe the front office has the duty to “Always and Only do what’s in the best interest of the Atlanta Braves”.. In this case I personally believe that includes finding the right leadership on the field to lead us forward.

Julius Hunter

September 30th, 2011
12:28 am

Atlanta’s offense let them down. They had a very good shortstop who could field & hit. But, alas, they saw fit to trade him to Toronto. Very frustrating.

Charleston EX brave fan

September 30th, 2011
12:34 am

Since 91 the only guy in Atl to have fire in his belly was David Justice and they had to get rid of him because it might be contagious. Watch and listen to Gibson and Arizona and you will see what it is like to have a manager who wants to win. Even in April it was, well, we’ll get them tomorrow. I like the players for the most part but management/coaches have no accountability for winning.

bravesfaninNashville

September 30th, 2011
12:38 am

EX Braves Fan … I agree there is no accountability….. If the front office doesn’t make a change how are they going to expect anyone in the organization to feel accountable? The culture needs to change and it needs to change now or they are going to have to rebuild a fan base and that’s not easy to do.

reckingball

September 30th, 2011
12:53 am

And the crying continues.

Truenobleman

September 30th, 2011
1:04 am

Good reasoning Nashville, we true blue blood Braves fans,must keep the heat on for change.

tman

September 30th, 2011
1:08 am

bravo bravos and all you people who say we are not true fans and should be happy we’re not Cubs or Pirates fans…first off, teams with a lot less payroll than Philly can be good with the right man as GM. With that being said, Philly can pay for top shelf players (if so desired) because they sell out every night. The Braves will never do that, but they might actually have bigger crowds with better product/hustle on the field and that might lead to more revenue to spend. I’m a huge Braves fan and have been a huge BASEBALL fan since my ‘68 Tigers won the WS. I don’t accept mediocrity from any team, so I don’t intend to ever be happy with that just because they aren’t the Cubs. We’re talking about the Atlanta Braves! They used to be the Yankees of the NL and NEVER had the payroll of the Yankees either. They are mismanaged, big time and I don’t care who disagrees. I’ll say it again, they should have looked at other options after Bobby. Kirk Gibson, who had not yet been retained by AZ after 1/2 season last year, to me should have been considered, as one of many candidates. I’m beginning to think Shuerholz needs to go. Doesn’t he screen any of FW’s trades or FA signings??

JAFO

September 30th, 2011
1:16 am

GET FRANCONA NOW! Where is that idiot lobosobotomy now?

james jones

September 30th, 2011
1:28 am

please please please hire another hitting coach. consistent hitting is the problem.

james jones

September 30th, 2011
1:29 am

Enter your comments here

bravesfaninNashville

September 30th, 2011
1:54 am

Looks like Terry Francona is going to be available. I think he got caught in a locker room full of mega priced prima donnas. Too bad because he’s a great strategist and the best manager the Sox have had in the last 100 years.

I’ll bet there will be several teams competing for him. White Sox, Cubs, Nationals, maybe Cardinals if La Russa leaves. I’d love to see the Braves go get him because he’d bring an instant new culture to the clubhouse and he has 2 world series wins on his resume in a town that couldn’t win in a century.

We can beat those Cheese Steaks!

September 30th, 2011
1:58 am

“Since 91 the only guy in Atl to have fire in his belly was David Justice”
David was Mr. Clutch!!

Tobacco chewing Deer Hunter is not.. Was not…Choke!

Hey Fredi Delta is bout ready too send ya back home!

We can beat those Cheese Steaks!

September 30th, 2011
2:04 am

“Gant, Justice, Grissom, McGriff ”

The Four Horseman!

Now we Four Hamburgers……

Biglefty

September 30th, 2011
3:16 am

“I’m proud of this club” Fredi says. They lost the last 5 str8 games. Sounds like something Cox would say after one of his meltdowns.

Biglefty

September 30th, 2011
3:18 am

Enter your comments here

LOB Braves

September 30th, 2011
6:32 am

Just heard Francona is out. WHy can’t this POS Braves team make some changes when necessary. FG needs to go, but the very least that should be done is let Parrish go. Atlanta Fans are Pissed Off and something needs to be done.

Jjordan

September 30th, 2011
7:18 am

How can the Braves expect different results next year without changing a soul on the coaching staff??? Two moves could make a Huge difference, Parrish Has to go, the Phillies made the Brave hitters look like little leaguers, Bring back Rockin Leo to get this pitching staff where they can last all year, they have been drained by early August every year since he left!!!

wjones

September 30th, 2011
7:21 am

“tinman

September 29th, 2011
6:30 pm
I’ve watched the Braves play since !966 and this is the weakest team they have ever put on the field. When you don’t have enough desire to win for the fans you need to get out of the game. They need to put Chipper out to pasture and send Lowe, Fredi G. and entire staff packing.”

You’ve been watching since 1966 and THIS is the weakest team? REALLY? You, sir, are either speaking in hyperbole to get some point across, or you seriously need to see a doctor for symptoms of dimentia. I know this month was VERY disappointing, and I too am angry that we spit out a big lead, but…….

Go back and look at teams from 1967, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977 (REALLY BAD!), 1978, 1979, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 (THIS WAS THE WORST BRAVES TEAM EVER!), 1989, 1990, 2006, and 2008. That’s 17 teams, and I’m not even talking about semi-overacheiving teams like 1968, 1971, 1980, 1981, or even the 1984 team that tanked after the SD brawl. So yeah, be upset, and yeah, expect better results, but don’t just say things that are patently and totally inaccurate. You just make yourself sound dumb.

And for all the folks pining away for Justice, yes, he had some great clutch hits for us, there can be no doubt. He wasn’t close to being as good defensively as Heyward, despite a strong arm–he developed this running slide thing in the OF that more times than not resulted in balls going by him, or him trapping them when they should have been caught. But here is his games played log, from when he was called up to stay:

1990————127 games (called up around late April/early May)
1991————109 games (yes, he missed two months that year)
1992————144 games
1993————157 games (his big year, and the only year he played in over 150 games)
1994————104 games (strike year, but he still missed more than 10 games)
1995————120 games (yes, a post season hero, but missed over 20 games)
1996————-40 games (early season injury, never came back, opening door for Jermaine and Andruw)

That was a major factor in him leaving town—he just could not stay on the field, and this was as a YOUNG man. You folks talk about Chipper being brittle? Chipper was on the field all the time until he started getting older and more injury prone. Justice missed games from day one, and things like his back, etc., that told me he just didn’t take care of himself the way he should. I remember there was a famous talk that Pendleton had with Justice and another young player at the time during our run, where Terry basically read the riot act to them about taking care of themselves off the field so they could be better team players and get the team to the World Series. Bobby would do that from time to time, knowing that a respected team leader could do many times what a manager might not be able to do.

General Patton

September 30th, 2011
7:37 am

“Worst choke in baseball history, even worse than the Braves this year, the Braves who used to play in Boston, which as someone said yesterday proves that you can take the Braves out of Boston, but you can’t take the Boston out of the Braves.” Howie Carr Boston Herald

BOOYAH

September 30th, 2011
7:51 am

They aren’t going to fire the manager, hit Mac seventh, or play Prado at short. Chipper hit .276, why should he retire? You all are a bunch of over-reactionary retards.

Tomahawk Squawk

September 30th, 2011
7:52 am

I live in NY. When the Mets melted down blowing a seven game lead with 17 to play to the Phillies…they cleaned the house out, manager, general mgr, coaches
What do the Braves do? Reward them by rehiring them back for another dismal year.
What a joke
This organization is the King of Apathy.
No wonder the fans dont show up…and the ones that DO show up are sitting on their hands
the whole game. You can hear a fart go off in that place

ccrider

September 30th, 2011
7:53 am

my braves days are over. i suffered thru the early 80s but admired the hustle of those overmatched teams. i’m tippin’ my cap good-bye.

dap01

September 30th, 2011
8:01 am

I believe that we simply ran out of gas. We ran out of healthy pitchers. Our bullpen was overused early in the season and wala they were gone at the end. Blame, point fingers, whatever.

We do need another hitting coach.

Sweet Old Buck

September 30th, 2011
8:13 am

Frank has a lot do this off season. Standing pat with this roster is not an option. I’d start with bringing Frenchy back. He had a great year with the Royals. It appears he has learned what he could not grasp here. Next – let Fredi bring in a staff of his choosing and not recycle Parrish and Pendelton.

dmr

September 30th, 2011
8:14 am

Boston fans are screaming “BLOW UP THE ORGANIZATION.” Braves fans seem to be taking a more tempered approach. Boston will spend money. The Braves seem a bit hamstrung in the spending department.

The Braves have a true lead off hitter, a solid first baseman, and when healthy, what would appear to be a formidable pitching staff. Uggla cannot get off to the horrible start he did this year, when starting next. The Braves must address their inability to get runners in scoring position across.

I won’t watch any more baseball until the Braves crank it up next year.

Lobosolo

September 30th, 2011
8:16 am

Can any of you armchairs tell me why you’re still around? Especially you, alexis… you’ve been threatening to jump ship all year, along with the rest of your bozo brethren… QUIT TALKING ABOUT IT AND DO IT!!!! Thanks, Tim, for a good post.. I was watching the Braves then, too (and still cheering them on), and you’re right, they were always out of it by mid-season.. You idiots just witnessed an exciting season in which the Bravos came within one game of making it, finishing in the top ten in the majors, and you still just gripe like petulant children…. Sure, it’s disappointing, but good grief, does ANYTHING about your miserable lives measure up? It’s a game for crying out loud (which you weinies do so well)… You show your concern by childish, classless name calling? Grow stinking up!!!

I’ll ask it again, but won’t expect any answers from you bunch of know-it-all sissies… WHICH ONE OF YOU IS AT THE TOP OF YOUR PROFESSION??? WHICH ONE OF YOU ARE IN THE TOP TEN OF YOUR PROFESSION??? Didn’t think so… Which one of you can transfer your self-appointed expertise and become a major league player or manager…. Didn’t think so, either..

Please, for the sake of yourselves… go on with your whiney lives and find yourself the perfect team and just get up on outta here… You’re making yourselves look stupider and pussier every time you post…

Edo River

September 30th, 2011
8:22 am

DOB, Good job on your part. I hop e you get paid enough for it.. as for the rest of us, there are alot of things we can now get done or start doing with the season over, My sports fix will last until Dec.

bravesfanforever

September 30th, 2011
8:24 am

The coaching staff really needs to change. This is ridiculous. It seems like it is just like the teachers–there is no accountability. If you fail, just keep running them out there!

The first person who needs to go is Larry Parrish. He is the batting coach and ultimately responsible for instilling this swing first mentality. I personally believe it contributed to Jason Heyward’s terrible season and for the Braves terrible OBP. This is NOT fundamental baseball. The key to winning is getting on base and THEN swinging away to get those runners in.

Parrish needs to go: PERIOD.

alex

September 30th, 2011
8:39 am

@lobo,yawn?mediocrity defending mediocrity….yawn,same old mediocre lobo,yawn

DogTheMan

September 30th, 2011
8:43 am

Well sense the manager, hitting coach and GM are coming back, I huess we have to expect nothing less but total apathy. WE NEED NEW OWNERSHIP AND NEW MANAGEMENT!!! PLEASE SOMEONE WHO CARES QABOUT ATLANTA BUY THE BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!

edward

September 30th, 2011
8:45 am

@Braveshoo….Lowe in the pen???? Yea, a guy who makes 10-16mil/yr in the pen. The guy can’t do anything in 6innings and you want him in in the most important situations??? EVERYONE knows Lowe will be traded cause he only has 2 yrs and it’s easier to trade a big contract at 2 yrs than 3+. trade Lowe and get a SS. Then dump some of the lower end BP guys and find some who aren’t reclamation projects. We have enough prospects in the system to fill out the rotation and the BP without needing to pay someone who can’t pitch 1million

ccrider

September 30th, 2011
8:46 am

“They took their baseball gifts for granted, and when those gifts abandoned them, as they almost always do during a long baseball season, they were either too lazy or too cocksure to recognize what was required of them to maintain the consistency that is so vital in baseball.” Jackie MacMullan re Red Sox

could this apply to the braves as well?

Tommy

September 30th, 2011
8:51 am

If Teheran, Delgado, and Vizcaino were all too good to be included in a trade for Pence, then they are good enough to have pitched game 161 instead of Lowe. That is the game that killed the season.

I get tired of people on this blog saying “FIRE X” after every loss, but this collapse falls totally on the coaching staff. Waiting until you are in a tie after blowing a 10 game lead is much too late. Gonzalez should have had a closed door meeting after the sweep in St. Louis and shook some things up.

All that the top people in this organization want are 2 million tickets sold and their TV contracts to get renewed. After 20 years of never sacrificing a year of profits to make an all-out run for a title, I think we all now understand what the Braves really mean by ‘business-like approach”.

Lobosolo

September 30th, 2011
9:03 am

alexis… same old whiney, won’t-put-your-money-where-your-mouth-is, binkmeister… C’mon, girl, MAN UP! You’ve said you’re gonna leave… JUST DO IT…. your word is as good as, I guess, your knowledge of baseball… what a man your young’uns must think you are… “Hey kids, gather ’round! Gonna teach y’all how to deal with life’s adversities today!!! When it doesn’t go your way, just stomp your feet and CRY TO HIGH HEAVEN!” … Miserable, man…. you ought to be ashamed…

nick p

September 30th, 2011
9:13 am

here is how i see our starters for next year, Hudson, Beachy, Minor, Delgado and Medlin, i would let both Hanson and Jurrjens go due to demand for much money pretty soon and constant injuries, jurrjens is always hurt and not a strong second half pitcher to begin with and having Boras as an agent means too much money, so i would trade him and address the line up instead, Hnason will alwys be injury prone due to motion of pitches, and will also ask for too much money as well, we can take care of our needs by trading the two as soon as they get healthy and get a couple of starts in!

nick p

September 30th, 2011
9:17 am

@bravesfan: what is it with you picking on teachers? i bet you are a pretty big loser in your own profession as well, either talk about sports and keep your sorry opinion about teachers to your self, or at least be honest about your own lack of accountability and poor performance at your own job!

Larry

September 30th, 2011
9:21 am

Get Francona!

Braves Fans,

Do not buy another ticket until this team commits to excellence from their manager

alex

September 30th, 2011
9:30 am

@lobo,yawn- mediocre rant,yawn-ashamed?,yawn;got to be FW,who else would defend such slovenly play,yawn…Good for a smile,yawn….

Nittany Lion

September 30th, 2011
9:38 am

I think the Braves had a good year. They had the second best record in the national league coming down the stretch and blew it. This “tip your cap” and making the opponets 5th pitcher have his best game of his career is terrible baseball. How is that possible that the nationals, mets worst pitcher has his best game against us? We have terrible plate disipline and that needs to change. They need to learn to go to the plate with a plan like” goingup the middle and opposite field” not trying to yank everything out of the park and swinging for the fences. We get too pull happy and can’t get on base because of this swing hard in case you hit it mentallity. Cut down on our swings and maybe we can get on base. We need to be held accountable for these hitting mistakes.

PMC

September 30th, 2011
9:47 am

No changes to management + no changes to the starting 8 = the EXACT same result next year.

They can’t sell this team. It’s not marketable. Everyone has seen what they can and can’t do.

The Braves can always find pitching. They can’t score runs consistantly at all and they won’t with this starting 8.

It’s slightly better with Bourn all year instead of absolutely nothing in center, but the corner outfielders are attrocious.

An Angry Fan

September 30th, 2011
9:47 am

Fredi is an inept manager. Really and resolutely inept. I make this vow: as long as he remains the manager, I will not pay to watch another Brave game.

Larry

September 30th, 2011
9:50 am

Lobosucko,

I have 141 IQ, I scored 43 on the Wonderlic test as a College QB, and after football and 9 years of baseball I have an advanced degree in Biomedical Engineering.

With this platform I have developed and launched multiple new revolutionary devices, implants and instruments in Cardiothoracic, Orthopaedic Spine, and Neuro surgery. I have lectured on and taught new surgical approaches and techniques to the smartest surgeons on the planet.

Lastly, I have been the CEO and majority stock holder of three different companies, selling all three for an impressive return.

Therefore, I hope I meet your minimal standards when I state that I think Fruity Gonzalez is an absolute air head and I think you are an an utter, unabashed idiot too for defending this buffoon. Worse, now your cowardly azz is talking trash to women on here!

So, Lobosucks, what are YOUR qualifications to dispute me?

PMC

September 30th, 2011
9:50 am

Why won’t Atlanta come support this team? Um, they did, when the games were important. They cheered their behinds off, it didn’t matter.

These guys don’t draw because they are remarkably boring. Hitting and scoring are interesting, 2 things this team rarely does.

PMC

September 30th, 2011
9:53 am

I don’t really think it’s about Larry Parrish, I just don’t think he does much at all.

I think they could eliminate the hitting coach position and it wouldn’t change a thing.

Tumbledown

September 30th, 2011
9:57 am

The Braves need a different leadership culture in the clubhouse. I was a big fan of Bobby Cox until after the 2004 season. The culture of just getting to the playoffs, accepting defeat, and saying that we will get the breaks next year just does not cut it. I’m sure Fredi is a great person, but he is continuing this culture of mediocrity when excellence is needed. The team the last couple of years has decided to start choking in September and not October. This is only going to get worse. The organization needs to overhaul the team leadership so that some positive vibes can return. If not, another September will come by next year, and the Braves will no doubt feel the noose tighten again.

The window of opportunity is short our limited payroll. We have great young pitchers in place, Hudson is pitching well, the lead-off batter is in place, and there is talent in the lineup. We won’t be able to hold on to these guys for long. Change is needed now. We need to take our best shot now and get some leaders with fire.

Mike

September 30th, 2011
9:59 am

The Braves’ need to be like Boston and start pointing fingers at the manager. The difference would be that here, it would actually be a valid argument to scapegoat him.

alex

September 30th, 2011
9:59 am

@larry, alex is short for a male name, (laughter here) no need to defend ;for me i have 3 degrees and 2 board certifications, written grants, published, yadda, yadda.. More importantly for these purposes I love to watch good baseball and tremendously enjoy the intellectual stimulation of a well manageded played game(see ” men at work” by george will). My son plays for a local high school and we have seen games in several major league parks. The braves are a huge disappointment…

Freddi

September 30th, 2011
10:03 am

I think, uhhh… that some of you all is bein to hard on me and the boyz. You just gotta tip your cap to all of the rest of the teams an then go fishin. See all yall suckers next seazon! Keep spendin yo mony to suport the team! All us millionaires apreciate it!

Truthful Brave

September 30th, 2011
10:05 am

Seriously people, why do you keep supporting this dysfunctional organization?

PMC

September 30th, 2011
10:09 am

The Sox just fired a guy with 2 WS titles under his belt.

We, bring everyone back less than a day after one of the most epic collapses in history and they’ve done….. nothing.

PMC

September 30th, 2011
10:10 am

I always have faith in the spring, but it is what it is, this team is not good enough to win. It’s not youth, it’s not injuries blah blah.

This team is just not good enough right now. They can’t win without some changes.

We can beat those Cheese Steaks!

September 30th, 2011
10:14 am

Fredi will be back..

Expect more of the same….. INSANITY!

Suckers born everyday.. Keep drinking the Cool-aid you Fanatic BONE HEADS!

We can beat those Cheese Steaks!

September 30th, 2011
10:18 am

Great, bringing back a 40 year old to play one of the toughest infield positions on the field..

Brilliant! lol

PMC

September 30th, 2011
10:19 am

[“I thought about not doing it,” Gonzalez said. “But all of a sudden you’ve got the 1-2 or 2-2 count, whatever it was. And Scotty made a great pitch. ... Can you guarantee me Martinez wasn’t going to get a hit, or draw a base on balls?” ] –

Good on you DOB for following up on this.

I hate this answer though, just admit you blew the call. I made a mistake is a perfectly legitimate thing to say here. Holding Utley – mistake. Pitching to Pence – mistake.

They lost because they can’t hit and they made mistakes. It’s perfectly acceptable to admit you screwed up.

Obviously no one can guarantee Martinez won’t get a hit, but it’s FAR more likely that Martinez would fail than Pence.

The Braves let themselves get beat by the best hitter left in the game. That’s a huge gaffe.

moboman

September 30th, 2011
10:20 am

Well said Nick P. Unless Hanson learns to put his body into his pitches to take the stress off his shoulder, he will never last. If we can get value — trade him. Same for Jair — never finishes a season, and who wants to deal with Boras. Trade Jair to the cellar just for having Boras as his agent. Gotta get another big stick in the lineup.

Fredi can manage, but hes gotta go out and argue for his players and get thrown out once in a while. No more Mr Niceguy with the umps.

I like the Bourn trade, but I saw 4 situation where his baserunning decisions were suspect in Sept. He needs to work on that. Didnt score on the past ball, didnt double steal, got thrown out at third, etc.

Been reading this blog all year and this was the funniest it has been. Great sarcasm. See yall next season. And I bet we will make a coupla BIG moves cause we cant keep 8 potential starting pitchers. Watch and see,…

PMC

September 30th, 2011
10:22 am

This team played tight when they were stressed all year. They didn’t hit early and they didn’t hit late, they only played well in the middle of the year with no pressure and nerves.

Kimbrel did the same things early as he did late. He was Unbelievable in the middle. Early in the year, way to many hooks, walks and blown saves. That last game was similar to the first part of the year. I don’t think anyone blames him for being nervous though. His emotions are what will make him a great closer.

phil

September 30th, 2011
10:23 am

PMC

September 30th, 2011
10:09 am
The Sox just fired a guy with 2 WS titles under his belt.

We, bring everyone back less than a day after one of the most epic collapses in history and they’ve done….. nothing.
**********************
Exactly. Francona deserves another year. He isn’t getting it.

FG is a total flop and just led the greatest collapse in NL history. What do we do? Keep the guy, no questions asked.

As I’ve been saying for 36 hours now, no more games for me at the Ted until FG is fired.

Join me in staying away. This was inexcusable.

Frank Wren

September 30th, 2011
10:26 am

Why are Atlanta fans complaining? We had a chance to make the playoffs and the game wasnt even sold out. You cant expect ownership to spend money if you dont come.

ctrim

September 30th, 2011
10:28 am

Upset but the future is bright. One game from being in the playoffs isn’t a bad year, just dissapointing how it went down. Funny how fans talk about how hard those Braves played in the 80’s – Bob Horner’s weight clause/Terry Forrester “Big Tub of Goo”/Pasqual Perez getting lost on way to Stadium/Raphael Ramirez errors at short/those teams found a lot more ways to lose. I’ll take tallent any day and these kids now have a bright future ahead of them.

alex

September 30th, 2011
10:36 am

Frank, frank, very few non-nose bleed seats left on a school nite, game is on tv and a home cooked meal is a lot cheaper than a 5 dollar chick fil a and a 6 dollar sports drink and 12 dollar parking……Team was well supported,I’m sure you and the gang aren’t working pro bono and lowe got his 15 mill anyway.Sheesh, at mobo last point gives us hope, but Frank will bring us a 232 2nd baseman (yea lots of hr and lots of strikouts) or lee or glaus or back to diaz or mclouths or….

PMC

September 30th, 2011
10:39 am

Why are we so focused on the youth? Other than Heyward who was worse than Francouer ever was by a long shot (though he’s got a lot better attitude about it) the young guys played well.

Mac gave you nothing the last month. Chipper didn’t get it done over the last month, Lowe was awful. Uggla swinging out of his shoes and missing like Ryan Klesko. Martin Prado was what 45 or 50 pts below when he was good last year. McClouth was so bad they basically put him on IR.

It’s the established veterans that let the team down for the most part. The guys that shouldn’t have folded, and they’re going to the post with almost the exact same group next year.

Larry

September 30th, 2011
10:40 am

We blew the chance to get Girardi when he became available. Don’t blow it again…get Francona!

PMC

September 30th, 2011
10:43 am

I don’t buy into the staying away thing. I don’t buy season tickets because to me it’s a frivolous expense. But I go to a lot of games because I like baseball. Staying away in protest won’t help the team either.

wjones

September 30th, 2011
10:46 am

“ctrim

September 30th, 2011
10:28 am

Upset but the future is bright. One game from being in the playoffs isn’t a bad year, just dissapointing how it went down. Funny how fans talk about how hard those Braves played in the 80’s – Bob Horner’s weight clause/Terry Forrester “Big Tub of Goo”/Pasqual Perez getting lost on way to Stadium/Raphael Ramirez errors at short/those teams found a lot more ways to lose. I’ll take tallent any day and these kids now have a bright future ahead of them.”

Amen. It’s funny how memories get washed away. Outside of Murphy, Hubbard, and for a regrettable short time, Brett Butler, where were these hustling players? This was our best collection of talent prior to the 90’s, and all we got was one playoff appearance, and 3 and out. The only thing I would like to change about the past is to be able to talk Ted out of merging with Time Warner. Bet he wishes to go back in time with that one, too.

PMC

September 30th, 2011
10:50 am

I do wish we would phase out the tomahawk chop or at least find something new to cheer.

It’s tired. I mean 20 years worth and more when you count FSU. They need to do something to make it more fun to come to games there. 162 was a lot of fun for about 8 innings.

Peter

September 30th, 2011
10:54 am

Fredi can’t hit with runners in scoring position…But his hitting coach can get them prepared for the situation…..and they were NOT prepared apparently !

Peter

September 30th, 2011
10:56 am

Hey Frank Wren.. Diaz was not the answer, and get a SS……. please Gonzales, and Jack Wilson ?

Tumbledown

September 30th, 2011
10:57 am

I’m with you phil. Going along with more of the same will get you more of the same, namely choking when it matters most and, worse yet, acceptance of choking. Look at the Braves history under Cox and his protege. Look at all of the post season failures. We need new leadership, new energy, and new drive. The fans need something different to convince them they should sacrifice their time and hard-earned money on the team. All I feel now is that the Braves, based on their recent history, will continue to lose in the most humiliating way possible.

timboy6

September 30th, 2011
10:57 am

Everybody wants Fredi fired, last year everybody wanted Bobby fired, doesn’t matter who the manager is, there will be people that want the manager fired if the team doesn’t win the World Series. Been a long season, I’m tired of it and I agree that no decision should have been made now, just step back, take a long look before making any hasty decisions.

O'flarity's water bottle

September 30th, 2011
11:02 am

How far could the braves have gone in the playoffs? Not too far…

O'flarity's water bottle

September 30th, 2011
11:04 am

Oh and another year of Lowe. How wouderful…

PMC

September 30th, 2011
11:06 am

I’m not saying fire Fredi at all, he’s only been here one year. Overusing the bullpen due to lack of hitting has been going on long before he got here.

I’m not really saying anyone should be fired, but this team is not marketable as is for next year because we’ve seen the ending twice. This is not a WS/deep in the playoffs team. They’ve folded late 2 years running, this is bigger than Fredi, and Uggla was a big offseason acquisition (the bat we thought we needed) hit 30 something HR’s and still didn’t change anything.

This team needs to spend the entire offseason learning how to move runners over and in and just practice fundamentals.

The fundamentals on this team are unbelievably horrific at the plate.

O'flarity's water bottle

September 30th, 2011
11:11 am

So with that said, who underachieved?

O'flarity's water bottle

September 30th, 2011
11:12 am

KK should be off the books

DawgDad

September 30th, 2011
11:13 am

Compare the Phillies starting eight to the Braves. There’s not a single position where the Phillies would swap players, and that includes third base and catcher. Then look at the starting rotation. Their bullpen may not measure up in all areas, but it’s sufficiently effective and deeper in right-handers.

The problem for the Braves was almost all of their core veterans either tanked on the field or battled physical problems, or both, and the kids were too green yet to take the reins down the stretch. It figures to be more of a struggle next year with JJ and Hanson questionable at best, Moylan lost for good, Lowe still under contract, and the left side of the infield a year older and slower. McCann is a huge question mark, and Uggla, despite the home runs, proved he is not the right-handed balance in the lineup the team needed, horrible against lefties and not near consistent enough at the plate to justify hitting third, fourth, or fifth (if you asked objective baseball experts to project the top five second basemen in the National League would he even make the list?). They have no #2 hitter, no balance in the lineup, and no real hope for adding the left fielder they’ve lacked seemingly forever. When Chipper is out of the lineup there’s no hitter in the middle of the lineup who can be counted on to put the ball in play in an RBI situation; they’re all free-swingers.

It was SO fitting this team got knocked out of the playoffs by Omar Infante, Javier Vasquez, and Hunter Pence. If they undid the first two trades and grabbed Pence instead of Bourn they might still be playing.

bird poop

September 30th, 2011
11:20 am

Can we get rid of Jim Powell from the braves booth as well? He is horrible.

Fred

September 30th, 2011
11:24 am

Hopefully Hanson will be able to come back and show a taste of his previous performance which will allow management to trade him at top value! The guys motion is going to give him trouble for his entire career and the Braves should dump him as soon as they can. As well they need D Lowe to do the same so they can also dump him – his time has come and gone and the Braves need to unload the salary and make room for the young guys.

Greyfox

September 30th, 2011
11:24 am

As long as Atlanta fans will continue to spend money on a mediocore team,the owners will sit back and collect it.I’ve been a fan of Chipper for a long time,but it’s time to retire so we can use that salary to get a better player.We also need to get rid of Lowe,Gonzales s/s and trade Heywood and get some players with desire ,and able to hit.

alex

September 30th, 2011
11:29 am

@wjones, saw a rcent interview with ted, he apparently lost somewhere around 90% of his value when aol was tanking and had to think about selling one of his ranches(largest private land owner in the USA).agree fully with dawdog and pmc, we have a lot of holes and standing pat will not fill them, do you think chippers arthritic knee will improve over 1 year of aging ?, do you think uggla a creer 240-250 hitter will magically hit 280-290?,do you think mac is going to get faster?do you think seabass will get a clue?

bucket

September 30th, 2011
11:37 am

I wonder where the smart a** is who tried to slap me down by saying, “For the 1,000 time – Kris Medlen has been shut down for the year?”

Freddie t

September 30th, 2011
11:38 am

This season was decided at the trade deadline. The Braves took Bourn rather than trade some good prospects for Hunter Pense. Bourne is a good player but Pense has quickly become the best player on the Phillies and turned around their offense. I don’t think the Phillies would now trade Pense for any 3 Brave players.

O'flarity's water bottle

September 30th, 2011
11:42 am

freddie t, why hunter? Is he a lead off hitter?

PMC

September 30th, 2011
11:42 am

Guys they took Bourne over Pence because Bourne is a CF. CF was absolutely worse at the time (which is sad to say considering how bad Heyward sucked this year)

O'flarity's water bottle

September 30th, 2011
11:43 am

The phillies allready have a lead off hitter..

O'flarity's water bottle

September 30th, 2011
11:44 am

freddie, do have a man crush for hunter?

SR

September 30th, 2011
11:50 am

Interesting how two different franchises approach the same situation in completely dissimilar ways. I suppose it is analagous to whether you believe (had he survived) Captain Edward Smith of the Titanic should have been fired. After all, both Francona and Gonzalez steered their respective teams right into the iceberg too.

dmack2027

September 30th, 2011
11:52 am

How is nobody discussing the Olney article about the Braves supposedly losing confidence in Heyward? DOB, I would love to hear your take on this situation. Clearly he struggled, but I wonder how healthy his shoulder was? Someone ought to tell Jason to stop sliding headfirst into every base.

Last time we had this kind of news, the Braves sold low on Yunel. We cannot afford the same mistake with Jason, although I seriously doubt anyone can be as much of a clubhouse problem as Yunel.

My guess is that Wren trades Jair to the Royals for some position prospects, preferably left side of the infield prospects.

dap01

September 30th, 2011
11:55 am

So the burning question is: Who can the Braves get from Boston (since they need change like we do)?

Ellersby for Left Field?

monarch

September 30th, 2011
11:56 am

Dave-
what is the status of Lowe’s contract.

This young Braves team has more pitching talent than anyone in the NL – we just need to get healthy. We’ll be back next year better and stringer – the Phloping Phils are getting old.

Ted

September 30th, 2011
12:00 pm

Been a Braves fan for 35 years but giving it up until Fredi is gone. Will watch and follow the Rays. Can’t pull for another national league team.

MR

September 30th, 2011
12:05 pm

Having a catcher as your main run producer is flawed strategy. Great hitting catchers are made to be traded for greating hitting everyday players. Your all-glove-no-hit guy should ALWAYS be your catcher not your everyday playing shortstop. Catchers fade at the plate in September, they all do, so now you have two slots in the line who don’t hit come Sept. Here is my list of Frank Wren;s recent bad moves…trading Escobar for Gonzalez (trading a bat for a glove? No, it was trading a bat and a glove for a glove only)…signing Lowe and Kawakami to huge contracts (innings don’t matter if your “horse” is a loser), not doing whatever it took to trade for Bourn AND Pence (they were ours for the taking)…filling out the bullpen with washed up vets to go along with green rookies and then doing nothing substantial about it after the all-star break…not doing whatever it took to win the division, playing for the wildcard is loser strategy.

BOB SOSEBEE

September 30th, 2011
12:33 pm

Based on the performance of the Brave’s hitters the entire season how
could Gonzales say the entire coaching staff would be retained…Our
hitters did not improve as the season went along,perhaps a new hitting
coach and a sports pshchologist to help our hitters to be more patient
and not help opposing pitchers would be a better way to go

Lobosolo

September 30th, 2011
12:40 pm

Larry, I think you’re exaggerating your credentials a little… folks with sense don’t resort to schoolyard blather to get their points across, and ceo’s don’t cry with your regularity… in fact, I’d bet you are outright lying… crybabies tend to lie a lot, too…. alexis, you still can’t answer it, can you… You pussters are a hoot… still don’t know your behind from third base and still can’t learn to deal with sports like a semi-adult… btw, alexandia, do you deride your son when he doesn’t measure up to you?

You two are a laugh… anyone who claims such credentials while spending an entire baseball season whimpering like a little kindergartener is definitely full of something, but baseball knowledge and just plain old class it is not… pathetic… alexis, give your sister-in-pussery one of your boxes of binkies… head on off into the sunset in search of your perfect team… better yet, you two should go start your own, baseball experts as you claim to be… don’t forget your hankies, Crybabies..

JAFO

September 30th, 2011
12:48 pm

Your fascination with pacifiers is disturbing. Were you not breastfed?

alex

September 30th, 2011
12:49 pm

Lobo, your lithium level is 0.3, double your dose and recheck in 4 days….Yawn….NOW, back in line,you left off the onion on that last burger….Stay away from the boxcutter,yawn and say goodbye to Ms. Wrenn

Truth

September 30th, 2011
12:56 pm

And two more gems from Lobosolo where he says absolutely nothing substantial about baseball, but unmercifully bashes the other commenters here. I can’t understand why the folks who run this blog have not banned this clearly psychotic person after all this time. He contributes absolutely nothing and is a pitiful abusive little man who constantly attacks others from behind the safety of his computer.

Narc Daddy

September 30th, 2011
12:59 pm

The Braves will never let Chipper go; however ; we would be better off if he just retired.
His offensive numbers were OK, but not for $14M. We could go sign a free agent corner outfielder for that money and move Prado back to 3B. It might be time to trade one of our young arms for a young SS also.

reckingball

September 30th, 2011
1:03 pm

If all of these whiners are so disgusted with the Braves, why do they keep complaining and crying.
Why not just forget about the Braves.
They must just like crying.
Most of them didn’t even show up on these blogs, when the Braves were having some success during the middle of the season, unless the Braves lost a couple of games.
They should be, and probably are happy that the Braves lost the WC spot, so they would now have some really good complaining material.

reckingball

September 30th, 2011
1:05 pm

How do people that do nothing but whine think that they are contributing anything to a blog?

Bama Mike

September 30th, 2011
1:16 pm

Notice the Red Sox did not hesitate in making a difficult decision and declaring the season a failure. Fredi says it was a good season and Frank Wren says just think 4 months ago we had one of the best records in baseball. HEY FRANK a reminder 15 years ago we won the world series while you are reminising. The acceptable expectations of our GM and maneger and while we are at it Terry McKirk ( Why is he even being paid ) is unacceptable. All need to go. Total different attitude is needed.

alex

September 30th, 2011
1:27 pm

If people do nothing but compliment the braves, do they contribute to this blog?

fire fredi

September 30th, 2011
1:28 pm

The ajc web page has not said one word about Red Sox firing their Manager and all coaches.

fire fredi

September 30th, 2011
1:30 pm

reckingball.you are full of it. We’ve heard your love for Fredi and his clowns all year.Give it a rest SA!

jb

September 30th, 2011
1:33 pm

what do you contribute Reckingball ?

reckingball

September 30th, 2011
1:34 pm

HaHa, I never said that I even think highly of Fredi, but I do not call him juvenile names like some do, including you ‘fire fredi’(a person that has asked me to not make comments to him, but now attacks me using a different moniker).
You are funny, use your usual handle.

reckingball

September 30th, 2011
1:37 pm

I don’t contribute anything, but I don’t come on here crying like a baby that lost his lollypop, like most of the clowns on this rag.

alex

September 30th, 2011
1:38 pm

We have deteriorated into a group of sniveling lobos,at least I have,Best of luck and good fortune to all(even you lobo, just up that dose). Ihe Ides of March will soon be upon the survivors……….

Dawgdad (The Original)

September 30th, 2011
1:38 pm

Here is a question for everyone?

All we heard about pitching for years was wait til Tommy Hanson gets here. Medlin turned out to be the better of the two. A true scout should have had doubts about Tommy’s delivery.

Same was true with Heyward, rarely ever heard about Freeman.

Same was true with Francouer, never heard McCann mentioned.

I know scouting and development is an inexact science, but come on guys something is wrong.

jb

September 30th, 2011
1:46 pm

if u don’t like the blog etc don’t read it.
“I don’t come on here crying like…” But you come on bitching are cutting someone else’s opinion.
You doing it now.

AB*Nation

September 30th, 2011
1:49 pm

@Truth….Lobosolo never has anything of substance to say. Just comes on here all bowed up, defending mediocrity and failure and resorts to playground name calling. Now wants to see copies of our W2’s because this will help him feel all better. Talk about needing a binky. I said it before,,, his feelings get really hurt. Most people on here know what we witnessed with the Braves this year … and just like when something is broken, you want to see it fixed ..not just live with it broken and not working right… and yes being pissed off and venting over an epic collapse (imagine that) is also ok. Doesn’t mean we hate the Braves. Meanwhile, this loser is ok with all of it,, because he’s well ..a ..loser.

Braves 2011

September 30th, 2011
1:56 pm

Wouldn’t it be funny if the Cards win their series with the Phillies?
The Braves weren’t going to.
The Cards have the momentum and Pujols which gives them a better chance of pulling it off.

Let's Go

September 30th, 2011
2:33 pm

I think too many people expect a hitting coach to be a teacher where as once a player get’s to the majors he already knows how to hit and the main job of the hitting coach is to make a player aware of little things he may be doing and needs to correct. 90% of fixing the said problem is with the hitter, the coach just makes them aware of it. Most veteran major league hitters have their on guru they call on when they are in a slump and never even talk to the hitting coach.

The pitching coach is different because he works with the pitchers setting up routines for them, making them throw on off days, helping with pitches. Since Leo left and McDowell came onboard the Braves starting pitching staff has struggled eating innings and forced the bullpen to be over used by the all star break. This was not something that was new this year because the same thing happened last year and the 2 years prior to that. I’m not saying bring back Leo but If any coach needs to be replaced then its Roger McDowell because this staff needs some leadership and guidance.

Dap01

September 30th, 2011
2:43 pm

Dawdad: Your logic argues on both sides of the issue. Good scouting could be attributed to unheralded guys doing so well.

jim

September 30th, 2011
2:47 pm

STOP SMOKING THE WEED! THE FUTURE OF THIS TEAM IS NOT BRIGHT!
The Nats are on the rise, and they have a lot more talent wairing in the wings. They are also willing to spend more than the Braves. They won 2 out of 3 games last week because they were the better team!
The Marlins get back Hanley and Josh Johnson next year and move into a new stadium. They also appear ready to spend more and Stanton and LoMo look like future all-stars.
Even the Mets lineup with Davis and Murphy out put together more solid ABs and strung some hits together.

The Braves have gone cheap in the draft for the past 3 years, and now that the pitching prospects are almost here, there is not a lot of talent anybody outside of his organization is particularly excited about.

The Braves need to treat next year as a rebuilding year. Say goodbye to Chipper. Get the best young players they can for Mac and Prado (and later Hudson), and retool for 2013 and beyond. Putting a band aid on this current team is a recipe for falling into the status that KC and Pitt have occupied for so long.

Ishmail

September 30th, 2011
2:55 pm

I suspect “lobo” got beaten up alot when he was in grade school…

jim

September 30th, 2011
3:00 pm

Leo’s pitchers ate a lot of innings because they were the likes of Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, Avery, Neagle, and Millwood. Then people like Ortiz, Wright, Burkett, and Hampton for 1 year — were older established pitchers. Mazzone may have been a great coach, or benefitted from having a lot of good to great pitchers. He did not work so well with younger pitchers, and he did not fare well once he left Atlanta. Once he left the O’s there have not been a lot of teams calling to get him to join their staff.
McDowell has had youngsters like Beachy, Minor, and Delgado, nibblers like Lowe and James, and some just plain awful like Campillo, and Bennett — Hudson, and Hanson and JJ before their injuries would usually go 6+.

Lobosolo

September 30th, 2011
3:05 pm

Maybe there’s no substance to what I say because of the lack of substance to the crybabies I complain about, AB*Nation… please tell me how YOUR whining, moaning, and name-calling adds to the topic… I am a fan… I live with winning and losing because I am not out on the field nor am in the dugout… There is nothing I can do to actually help win a game… Sensible people don’t get upset over things they cannot control… when I go to a game, I cheer for “MY” team, win or lose… Maybe there is more to my life than yours to actually get upset about, you know, real, tangible things like the well-being of my loved ones… IT”S FRIGGIN’ BASEBALL, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! You guys live only to criticize, blubber, and deride “YOUR” team, as if you p-heads could manage a t-ball team yourselves… There is a big, big difference… Sophmoric names you genii invent for the players, claiming to understand what is in a person’s heart and head by watching from a lazyboy, and the hilarious advice on pitching and hitting from clowns that couldn’t do it in a million years is not adding to the conversation in anyway… if you think it is, you’re as stupid as you post… All of you seem to think you know exactly how to be a batting coach, a pitching coach, a trainer, a manager, a player, and a gm all rolled into one, but I’d bet you’re not qualified for anything in MLB but maybe selling peanuts or taking up tickets… Do you guys ever really THINK about and LOOK at what you post, and if you do, do you REALLY believe you’re possessed of such omnipotence about baseball? Seriously, armchairs… what you don’t know about baseball and being a fan is a lot… again, please… if you’re gonna threaten to not be a fan (not like you ever were) and leave, THEN DO IT!!!

You dips think the world owes you a living or WHAT? Sheesh, how do you wake up and look in the mirror… You need to be crying over yourselves (something you could actually do something about) and your own shortcomings… What a bunch of maroons….

PMC

September 30th, 2011
3:14 pm

Lobosolo, relax man, not that serious. Just a blog.

phil

September 30th, 2011
3:14 pm

Frank Wren

September 30th, 2011
10:26 am
Why are Atlanta fans complaining? We had a chance to make the playoffs and the game wasnt even sold out. You cant expect ownership to spend money if you dont come.
***************
Well, Frank, unlike you and your merry band of idiots calling the shots in the dugout, we have some sense. Winning wasn’t at all likely, based on our lengthy track record of failure in big games in that ball park – ALL OF THEM, by the way – so plenty of us did what thinking people consider to be smart and stayed home where it wouldn’t cost us $400.00 to get there, park, buy tics and pay your grossly inflated prices for cheap food and drinks.

Fire FG or we’ll continue to stay away in droves….

phil

September 30th, 2011
3:16 pm

PMC

September 30th, 2011
10:43 am
I don’t buy into the staying away thing. I don’t buy season tickets because to me it’s a frivolous expense. But I go to a lot of games because I like baseball. Staying away in protest won’t help the team either.
****************
Until FG is canned, I’m not going back. That will make 4 of us right there. Stay away til he’s gone.

BaseballBuff

September 30th, 2011
3:19 pm

Start by making the spoiled young slobs keep the dugout clean!

We can beat those Cheese Steaks!

September 30th, 2011
3:21 pm

Fire Fredi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Da Bum………………

phil

September 30th, 2011
3:22 pm

reckingball

September 30th, 2011
1:05 pm
How do people that do nothing but whine think that they are contributing anything to a blog?
******************
How is it that the unobservant braindead among us – that would be you, for one – can keep acting as if no one should say anything about the crap to which were just subjected. WE PAY THE SALARIES by going to the dadgum games and have as much right as anyone to say what we feel.

You keep on acting like everything is great if you want to. I want to win championships, not be fed a line of crap from management after it suffers the worst collapse in the history of the national league. That’s hard to do, we just did it and we should be happy?

I don’t think so.

phil

September 30th, 2011
3:27 pm

God bless those of you begging Reckingball and Lobosolo to shut the heck up…..

I’ve repeatedly asked them to go cheer for the kiddie soccer league where everything is wonderful….they just won’t do it, instead choosing to want us to applaud total incompetence….

Fire FG!

Fire Larry Parrish

September 30th, 2011
3:45 pm

LARRY PARRISH JUST GOT FIRED.

I FEEL LIKE WE JUST WON THE WORLD SERIES

Rich

September 30th, 2011
3:56 pm

If a few more of you disgruntled fans would show up st the ball park to support the team instead of belly aching on here about firing a manager or coach. Why is it that we always need to fire the coach instead of lookingn at the players. Fredi had them winning for all but the last three weeks of the season with the injuries but we don’t look at that, we need to look at the highly paid athletes that didn’t perform up to standard. Take out Uggla’s heroics in the second half and we would have even been in the wildcard race. There is plenty of blame to go around but not for FW or FG on this one this lies squarely on the players.

Darnell

September 30th, 2011
3:56 pm

AND THE HOT DOGS ARE TO HIGH!

PMC

September 30th, 2011
4:01 pm

They should probably just eliminate the hitting coach position, it would give us less of a middleman to scapegoat when the offense isn’t any good.

Won't Happen

September 30th, 2011
4:02 pm

There is no way I will watch another Braves game, pay a dime for anything connected with them or offer any support until FG is far far away from Atlanta. If he is too brain dead to be a man, and tell it like it is, then to hell with him. The fans have been through enough.

alex

September 30th, 2011
4:03 pm

@lobo(could not resist this one)I would like to answer your inquiries: while decidedly not omnipotent, I am quite accomplished and a handsome rake in my wife’s eyes(which is all what is important. As for”maroons” ,I like them with coconut and with that I bid the season of discontent adieu..

Larry

September 30th, 2011
4:26 pm

phil,

Add me to the list…and I started the boycut when the dufus was hired! After 21 years as an STH in the Hank Aaron Section right behind home plate I not only didn’t renew…I didn’t buy a single ticket this past season. And you know what? After watching Fruity blow game after game I am feeling like the smartest guy in world by not wasting any more money on a team that chooses to hire–and now, retain–managerial incompetence!

And as for Lobosucks and recking-no-balls, no one on here with more than a double digit takes these two goobers seriously anyway. I actually am beginning to feel guilty for picking on these two bed wetters.

braveshoo

September 30th, 2011
4:30 pm

The fans are upset, and justifiably so. We definitely need a new hitting coach and a new manager. We are stuck with Lowe, so put him in the bullpen, or in AA. Trade for someone who can hit with runners in scoring position- Michael Young from Texas would be my choice. The fans are not going to support the same players and the same coaches. Change is necessary.

phil

September 30th, 2011
4:38 pm

Larry – Yeah, it was pretty low of you to be so derisive towards those mental midgets….lol!

I appreciated the kind words yesterday and look forward to another year of what can’t possibly be much next season. I won’t be at any games apparently, but I will keep up.

Fire FG so we can go to some games!

bob

September 30th, 2011
4:38 pm

In a look back situation: The manager did good when considering all position players were on the DL except 2b and 1b, I know the 1b was out a few games but not DL. When the Constanza player was in the line-up, the braves played a different level of ball. When he was replaced by Mr. Heyward the team went into a demise that never recovered: as MR. Stengel used to say, check it out.

We can beat those Cheese Steaks!

September 30th, 2011
4:47 pm

Do you have comments? Don’t bother. Go eat your Cheese steak!

Delta is waiting to send Fredi back to his home country!

We can beat those Cheese Steaks!

September 30th, 2011
4:49 pm

Excuses are for losers..

Da Brave are full of excuses for 20 twenty years minus the 1995 Championship! Thanks Glavin and Justice!

We can beat those Cheese Steaks!

September 30th, 2011
4:55 pm

Epic Meltdown!
Up next Mr Blanks Fail-cons….

Bill in VA

September 30th, 2011
4:59 pm

Baseball Buff @ 3:19….I agree with you!! Why should a dugout look like that? They play like they live and they live like slobs!!

reckingball

September 30th, 2011
5:15 pm

phill……. Not long ago, you begged me to stop commenting on your idiotic childish ramblings, so I ignored them.
The Braves are my team and I will stick with them, through the good and the bad, and I will do so without resorting to calling the players, management, and organization trash, as you and your good buddies do.
While you are boycotting the games, why not boycot the organization all together, if they cause you so much pain.
While I might not have that high of an opinion of Fredi G. as a manager,
I know for certain that he has more knowledge and ability to be a MLB manager, than anyone on any of these AJC blogs.

NickB

September 30th, 2011
5:40 pm

I was just gonna pop in and tell the blog Parrish got canned (but someone beat me to it! Kudos sir!!)

The interesting thing is this, Fredi said they were all returning, and it looks like Frank Wren thought differently. I wonder if there’s any chance Fredi resigns because he’s mad about having a coach fired from out from under him after his prior statement? I doubt we are that lucky. I would love to have Tito as our manager, bringing some modern approach to the offensive game into play for a very old fashioned team.

NickB

September 30th, 2011
5:42 pm

All you ranting about Constanze and Heyward. LOOK THIS UP! The 2 weeks prior to Constanzas return to the bench he was hitting under .200 with an OPS (slg+ obp) of under .400. Since Heyward returned to the starting lineup he was hitting .28- with an OPS of .830…. so , IMO , it looks like the proper move.

We can beat those Cheese Steaks!

September 30th, 2011
6:01 pm

FIRE THE WHOLE COACHING STAFF!!! KEEP IT COMING MR GM!!!!

reckingball

September 30th, 2011
6:02 pm

Larry @9:50am……….Do you really believe all of the that stuff, that you wrote about yourself?
HAHA, that is really funny.

We can beat those Cheese Steaks!

September 30th, 2011
6:02 pm

Boston manager fired!

We can beat those Cheese Steaks!

September 30th, 2011
6:07 pm

Compare the Braves players to the Hawks and Falcons..

They look couch potatoes drinking fat guys…lol

Randall

September 30th, 2011
6:15 pm

Baseball I love, everyone can pick until next season, but is that going to benefit. These young guys that keep coming up does it for me, from the time I coached my own son the most enjoyment came from watch young people develop. Winning is great don’t get me wrong, but if you let winning and losing determine the satisfaction you get out of this or UGA football then you will always be disappointed. 2 teams play 1 loses and 1 wins, that’s the way it is. By the way if the NFL is going to penalize players for grinding their shoulders into a runner to stop him then it’s time to put flags on their hips and dresses for unis, God save the queen.

Zenman

September 30th, 2011
6:25 pm

Having been a Braves fan since 1953, I’ll continue to do so. I’m stupid that way. But what a joy it is to follow a team with heart and a manager with a brain. Joe Madden starts a pitcher with 10 innings of major league experience. Would either of the last two jokers the Braves had do such a thing? Hell no!! Well I heard Parrish is gone, one step in the right direction. More are needed. Go Rays!!

Zenman

September 30th, 2011
6:31 pm

Good stuff, Randall.
Rays 6 Rangers 0

Zenman

September 30th, 2011
6:44 pm

Rays 8 Rangers 0 Braves 0

Bravesfan54

September 30th, 2011
7:40 pm

Bernard – “dollar store mentality”? Really? Braves payroll is very much in line with where they stand in the market, for the most part. More importantly, every business has to make business decisions, and a corporation can’t gamble another $30M in additional salary for what would amount statistically to about 6 more wins. This year six more wins makes the playoffs – but even a WS victory would not result in a break-even year, even if you add next year’s expected attendance increases. The ugly reality for small market teams is that the only model for success is to build with youth, knowing that with success, your assets will go to higher bidders. (Look at the Orioles’ payroll in the years immediately following the Cal Ripken’s era – $100M+, and that was back in the day. They lost a ton of money. The year that the Marlins won their first WS (1997) their ownner W.Huzienga lost $30M – that was his money, and it was real money.) Your comment is both emotional and irrational. Sorry.

Bravesfan54

September 30th, 2011
7:44 pm

Correction: I understand the Braves are not a “small market” team, they are mid-market, but the analysis is still sound. I know there are exceptions – St.Louis comes to mind, and, look at Milwaukee this year, but the Brewers last playoff game was in 1982.

Hy Ronatt

September 30th, 2011
9:02 pm

We are stuck with Lowe, so put him in the bullpen, or in AA.

Had he been in AA, he wouldn’t have gotten arrested.

b

October 1st, 2011
11:13 am

nidkb, you’re wrong on Constanza.
He never started two games in a row again after going hitless two games in a row.
People that don’t understand him being out of the lineup and it killing the Braves
have not been watching EVERY game.

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Medlen’s moment, McCann’s September blues and more

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