Gonzalez tries hitting pitcher eighth
Looking to do something to shake things up after an eight-game losing streak, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez batted the pitcher eighth on Wednesday night, something he did three times in 2011.
“You’ve got to try to push the envelope as much as you can sometimes,” Gonzalez said. “Here we are, lost eight in a row. You’ve got the right personnel to do it with (Jose) Constanza. You’ve got (Tyler) Pastornicky who has hit eighth for the most part all his time here, so that’s not going to be a big change for him. Why not?”
The Braves scored 11 runs and went 2-1 with the pitcher batting eighth in 2011…
Backup catcher David Ross began taking batting practice Tuesday but it’ll be the Washington series this weekend before he expects to be available off the bench. His strained right groin still bothers him running, he said.
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13 comments Add your comment
dawg4u
May 29th, 2012
8:51 pm
Any change would be good right now.
zgoldatl
May 29th, 2012
8:52 pm
Is that all ya got Fredi?
Biff Pocoroba
May 29th, 2012
8:53 pm
This team is horrible no matter where the pitcher bats. This team had quit on Fredi for the second year in a row but he can’t see that. Trade Heyward to KC to play with the other Georiga boy who had one good year and disappeared.
Nabob
May 29th, 2012
9:22 pm
Whatever Fredi…….
Joe Adcock
May 29th, 2012
9:40 pm
“Fruiti Fredi” has got to be fired and replaced by a Major League manager. He is the laughing stock of the entire league. It is insane to make the fans watch this ongoing horror when everybody and their dead grandma knows how this is going to eventually end. The sooner the better for the players and whatever fans are left. Get somebody (anybody?) who can show some passion for the game for crying out loud. Curse on tv; kick over a water cooler or two; get on the gosh darn field in an umps’ face ; kick dirt on the plate; do one frigging thing to show the players and the fans that you care! No more hugging for the love of God. Chest bumps and fist pumps allowed. Break a bat over your knee if you strike out. Start chewing Red Man again. File your cleats to a razor’s edge. Use them! Attitude is everything. Believe it. Live it. Play some ball. HARD BALL. Every day. All day long…
Mark (another one)
May 29th, 2012
10:30 pm
Hey Joe. Here’s some emotion. @&*#$(^ you. Is that all that’s needed to make the Braves play better? I don’t think so. If it did, it would be a wonderful competition to witness.
Mark (another one)
May 29th, 2012
10:30 pm
Hey Joe. Here’s some emotion. @&*#$(^ you. Is that all that’s needed to make the Braves play better? I don’t think so. If it did, it would be a wonderful competition to witness.
tjhook
May 30th, 2012
12:32 am
Constanza joins lineup . . . change is good. Braves win, Braves win
Jax Falcon/Dog Fan
May 30th, 2012
7:43 am
Push the envelope? Seriously?
just wondering
May 30th, 2012
12:17 pm
Who is the back-up catcher???
clueless
May 30th, 2012
12:19 pm
@ Joe Adcock,
Are you BravesfaninWis???
Juan Pizarro-Carl Willey
May 30th, 2012
12:52 pm
Who is the backup catcher? Braves are still carrying a 3rd catcher until Ross is available. Then, look for Gearin to be brought up.
ColumbDawg
June 5th, 2012
6:02 pm
I hate this. I always hated when the cardinals did it when LaRussa was the manager. Over the long run, it doesn’t make sense statistically. The math doesn’t back this up unless you have Babe Ruth as your starting pitcher. Otherwise Pitchers should always bat 9th, ALWAYS! I think managers think that they are thinking outside the box but if it were the right thing to do, it would be done a lot more. Don’t over think yourself Freddie!