Gonzalez wouldn’t change eighth-inning decisions
Vivlamore reporting from Turner Field with your Braves report.
A day after the Braves blew a four-run lead and lost to the Yankees Tuesday, Braves manage Fredi Gonzalez said he would do the same thing again. Well, maybe bring in a different relief pitcher. And no, not his closer.
Jonny Venters gave up a grand slam to Alex Rodriguez in the eighth inning to tie the game at 4-4. Cory Gearrin followed by allowing a two-run shot to Nick Swisher for the winning runs in a 6-4 loss.
“The only thing I would have no different, and again this is 20-20 hindsight, maybe brought in [Christhian] Martinez instead of Gearrin,” Gonzalez said Wednesday. “Other than that no.”
Gonzalez, who was working with a bullpen without the services of Eric O’Flaherty (elbow) and Chad Durbin (rest), said he did not consider bringing in closer Craig Kimbrel in the eighth. He said he didn’t want Kimbrel to pitch more than an inning, a situation he has rarely been in during his young career.
“Not five outs,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t know if he’s even done it in the major leagues. I know he’s done it in the minor leagues. Could he do it? I’m not sure. It’s not about the pitch count. It’s not about the stressful innings. [John Smoltz] could do it all the time, but he was a starter. He knew how to come out, sit down and then go back out there. There is an unknown when you are dealing with a young pitcher.
“We had it set up the way we wanted. We really did. If you look at the left-handers and the switch-hitters you wanted hitting right-handed we had it perfectly set up. It just didn’t happen.”
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114 comments Add your comment
NickB
June 13th, 2012
6:31 pm
Typical……. Got a side arming righty on your bench who destroys righty, but you don’t bring him in to face freakin AROD, no you wait until he has to face a lefty (who his splits CLEARLY SHOW kill him)
tip your cap to yourself Fredi
And that is why Fredi is a awful manager
June 13th, 2012
6:32 pm
Never change Frediot
Doofus(Goober and Gomer's Smart Brother)
June 13th, 2012
6:37 pm
Leave FG “the robot” alone, he is just man enough and stubborn enough to screw it all up right by himself!
Rick
June 13th, 2012
6:39 pm
Venters should have been on a short leash because of previous outings. Once it was obvious he didn’t “have it” and bases were loaded you either intentionally walk ARod (the all time major league grand slam leader…well NOW tied) or you bring in Kimbrel to do what he gets paid to do. Why would you have to send him out there in the 9th… if he got out of 8th? That’s silly thinking. Once out of the 8th inning jam then anybody could pitch the 9th under much easier conditions of a 1 to 4 run lead and need 3 outs. The game was to be won or lost in the 8th. The 9th was irrelivant.
kevkat
June 13th, 2012
6:40 pm
“There is an unknown when you are dealing with a young pitcher”.- Fredi G.
There is an unknown when you are dealing with any of your current relievers outside of Kimbrel…or lately a “known”…which is failure.
Glaciermt70
June 13th, 2012
6:43 pm
Long time Braves fan living all the way up here in the Pacific Northwest, in Seattle. I’ve watched a good share of Braves games these past two years and I have to say, Fredi Gonzalez is a poor manager. This is a very good…and I mean VERY good and talented baseball team that he’s squandering with his ill-sighted management. And what’s even worse, he isn’t learning from from his mistakes. His body language is reflective and the players pick up on this too. What is it going to take to bring in someone else who is brighter, humble, and more passionate?
Fredi, I'm done with you
June 13th, 2012
6:47 pm
Now I see why the Marlins fired you, you’re a knucklehead!
Necromancer
June 13th, 2012
6:49 pm
It sure would be awesome to bring in someone like Terry Francona…
reckingball
June 13th, 2012
6:51 pm
IMHO, why not leave Minor in the game for at least one more batter, to see if he can get a double play, or at least another out?
Oh well.
go braves!
myside
June 13th, 2012
7:03 pm
Making stupid decisions constantly shows that Fredi is not a good major league manager. He does not seem to learn from his mistakes, nor does he appear to want to learn from them. Coaching third base is about the limit to his ability. He has a hellava good team but just does not have the ability to lead or inspire them. Wren has already tolerated him too long.
Old Timer
June 13th, 2012
7:04 pm
As I stated earlier in the season, depending of the Brave’s position at the All-Star break, Fredi’s day might be numbered. As much as I hate to say it, he just does not have what is needed to be a first-rate MLB manager.
Glaciermt70
June 13th, 2012
7:06 pm
I’m looking forward to watching the final game of this three-set, tonight on ESPN, and watch Fredi intently to see the vibe he gives out after two asinine losses, specifically the 3rd Blue Jays game on Sunday and last night. This team’s record has been achieved in spite of Gonzalez, not the result of his management abilities.
BartBuzz
June 13th, 2012
7:11 pm
Leaving Venters in after he loaded the bases was about as boneheaded a move as I have seen. It’s too bad FG isn’t man enough to say he blew it. It’s time he trusted Kimbrel. What a sad game to watch come apart last night.
1995 was 17 years ago
June 13th, 2012
7:16 pm
More proof that Fredi just doesn’t get it. He doesn’t seem to be able to adjust based on the in-game situation. Bases loaded, one out, right-handed power hitter up, game slipping away…that’s the perfect spot for your closer. But because Fredi apparently has an ironclad rule that he’s not going to use Kimbrel in the 8th inning, he allows a struggling Venters and a recent call-up in Gearrin to blow the game.
Gonzalez is just not a big-league calibur manager. He’s actually lucky to even still have a job after last year’s epic fail.
Bob in SF
June 13th, 2012
7:19 pm
IMHO a no win situation; Venters has been money for most of his career in that situation. People would be screaming “Where was Jonny?” if Minor had been left in and got hit. The truth is the Braves need Venters to get back to where he was and that only happens by getting the ball. I don’t have a problem with how it was handled except possibly for not bringing in Kimbrel once A-Rod came up and even that is not a big deal to me. Kimbrel hasn’t been used like that and starting with A-Rod maybe not the best way to ease Kimbrel into a long save situation.
IhateLeyritz
June 13th, 2012
7:19 pm
Hi folks. Can anyone tell me where to find the game? I have Comcast and it’s not anything!
IhateLeyritz
June 13th, 2012
7:20 pm
Oops! Not on anything.
Bucky Badger
June 13th, 2012
7:23 pm
Where I am In AL, ESPN Blacked Out…braves on WPCH…No HD
IhateLeyritz
June 13th, 2012
7:26 pm
Checked that out too. I’ll surf some more. Hell, we’re already down 1-0.
Rick
June 13th, 2012
7:26 pm
Why would it have to be a LONG SAVE situation? If Kimbrel came in and did his job in the 8th then Martinez could have finished off the the game in the 9th. Just because Kimbrel pitched the 8th he didn’t have to pitch the 9th. If Kimbrel came in and didn’t do his job with Arod and then whomever, the 9th didn’t matter anyway. The “CLOSER” doesn’t JUST have to pitch the 9th. The “closing” situation in that game was in the 8th inning….not the 9th.
IhateLeyritz
June 13th, 2012
7:29 pm
Bucky Badger, you’re my new best friend! By the by, would you happen to be from Wisconsin? My wife of 5 years(in two weeks) is from Milwaukee. We’re going up for two weeks on June 28th! I’ll say hello to Summerfest for ya!
IhateLeyritz
June 13th, 2012
7:29 pm
My wife graduated from UW also and says HI!
MD Braves fan
June 13th, 2012
7:35 pm
What an A-hole. Prayin u get fired soon. This team would be well in first place with any other manager.
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
June 13th, 2012
7:39 pm
Just remeber who told U fist that the Braves hiring a loosing managar was a misteak.
SidSlid
June 13th, 2012
7:42 pm
I hate it when Joe Simpson begs for strikes. The pitches he was whining about were not strikes.
Biff Pocoroba
June 13th, 2012
7:45 pm
He didn’t even get someone else up in the bullpen until Venters walked a couple of guys. As bad as Venters has been, someone else should have been up warming up with Venters. Fredi can’t admit his mistakes and needs to go before this team begins their annual meltdown.
Bucky Badger
June 13th, 2012
7:48 pm
Neenah High “78…UW ‘78-’82 “*uck em bucky!”
Bucky Badger
June 13th, 2012
7:50 pm
Summerfest is Awesome!
jt
June 13th, 2012
7:51 pm
What us the definition of an “insanity keep doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different results, that is Fredi Gonzo! !!! Also definition of an idiot/
FG should be a softball coach
June 13th, 2012
7:58 pm
I’ve watched almost all the Braves games for the past 15 years and I can say that Bobby Cox would have brought in Kimbrel in the 8th. If he didn’t then he would’ve had 2 relievers warming up when Venters allowed the first batter on. Venters would have never loaded the bases if Cox was coaching, bc he would have never seen enough batters for that too happen. Anyone watching could tell that Venters didn’t “have it” last night. Also, why bring in Gearrin and not Martinez. I don’t understand Freddie’s management philosophy. He leaves the relievers in too long when you know for a fact they can’t get anyone out (i.e. L. Hernandez vs. Blue Jays). FG worst MANAGER in MLB.
Carroll Rogers
June 13th, 2012
8:18 pm
Braves are 1-for-6 with RISP after Chipper’s K and the one hit was what appeared to be an ill-advised bunt attempt for a single by Simmons
IhateLeyritz
June 13th, 2012
8:19 pm
Ha! Whitnall HS ‘96. Graduated UW Dec. 2000! Summerfest is the bomb! Too bad folks down here don’t’ get the chance to experience it. I’ll have a beer or six for ya!
PaulG
June 13th, 2012
8:20 pm
Ferdiot must have a lesion in his frontal lobes. Bill James has made persuasive data based arguments that managers should be much more flexible in their use of relief pitchers. For goodness sake bring Kimbrel in earlier or else the game will get out of hand. He is young & strong, he is not a wilting flower. Aflower pot would do just as well as ferdiot.
GWD,SC
June 13th, 2012
8:20 pm
IMO Recking ball was right. Minor was cruising, only 100 pitches
Shelfish Chipper need 2 retrie now!
June 13th, 2012
8:32 pm
Wat 2 go Chipper.
BravesfaninWis
June 13th, 2012
8:39 pm
As for the title of this blog, I wish the Braves front office would change their decision in hiring this baffoon.
As for this game, leave it to the Braves to completely screw that inning up. I mean seriously, guys on base with less than 2 outs and Simmons hunts ahead of the pitcher? That has to be considered for idiotic decision of the year.
In all fairness, I think the only way the Braves don’t lose here is if the game gets rained out before the 5th inning. The Nats already won today, so the Braves are slowly cutting their own throats. That is what I am talking about, they always get so close to something, then completely choke. A week ago they were 1 game out of first place, now they are heading to Phillies territory. Way to go losers.
Fredi sux
June 13th, 2012
8:51 pm
This team just cannot hit sh!t. We have no chance until we get rid of fg
Fredi sux
June 13th, 2012
8:53 pm
I thought when cox retired we would be fine. Now we have bobby cox lite and it’s much worse.
no
June 13th, 2012
9:05 pm
I sincerely hope we will not waste our money on Bourn in the off season. Combine the Boras representation with his failure to perform in the clutch and you have a really bad value.
Bill
June 13th, 2012
9:14 pm
Without Bourn Braves would be 10 games out of first….Please sign Bourn and let MaCann go.
The more Fredi opens his mouth the more I hate him..stupid manager.
Conman Maine
June 13th, 2012
9:20 pm
Venters said his mechanics were fine? How many pitches were in the dirt? Uggla going to third from second on a ball hit to the shortstop with one out – and being thrown out? Simmons as the 8 hitter bunting in front of Hudson? Sounds like FG is not the only person living in an alternate world.
jt
June 13th, 2012
9:21 pm
Now Hudson is playing like the rest of these idiots!!!
jt
June 13th, 2012
9:22 pm
Sure glad I did not go to Ticket office and get the tickets for this series, Had to work and was pissed off, but now I think I will go give my boss a real big hug! What a sorry ass team.
BravesfaninWis
June 13th, 2012
9:27 pm
What pathetic losers. Knew that was coming. As soon as McCann hit that homer, I said to my wife, its only the 5th inning, they will blow it. Not 5 minutes later, and the Yankees have the lead again. This team just doesn’t get it, they play with no heart, no passion, and certainly no leadership. How they aren’t lower than the Phillies in the division is about the only thing that is baffling me at this moment. They just suck.
What a bunch of maroons
June 13th, 2012
9:32 pm
…then we need to change managers.
sirluciouscp
June 13th, 2012
9:33 pm
No, idiot, no, Bourn and Prado are the only ones playing consistently moron..get off the blog.
Biff Pocoroba
June 13th, 2012
9:34 pm
Taking out Minor to let Fat Francisco bat. He is as terrible as the Braves bullpen. Wren and Fredi are clueless.
LakeDawg
June 13th, 2012
9:36 pm
Even when the Braves are playing well, they have no swagger. They don’t walk into the stadium with the confidence they are the best team and take charge. That’s something the Phillies have had. Braves come out and wait to see how the game is going to go before they decide to win or fold.
jt
June 13th, 2012
9:36 pm
Hell, put Venters in, Hudson looks tired!! Yankees need to up their batting average. Oh, I see we put Durbin in, same result!
jt
June 13th, 2012
9:38 pm
We got rid of Brooks Conrad and now we have Fat Francisco, WOW, are we smart managers of baseball or what?
chuck
June 13th, 2012
9:40 pm
I have a different theory. The Yankees and their $200 million payroll are like an AAAAAA team playing a AA team in high school. I would urge all of you to not spend a dime on MLB until the playing field is leveled.
LakeDawg
June 13th, 2012
9:48 pm
I agree the Yankees have more talent, but the Braves are in the top 10%. Its all between the ears….and managing.
Larry
June 13th, 2012
10:18 pm
What would you expect from this dolt of a manager, the truth?
Like,”even though Minor was pitching perfectly with a nice 4 run lead, and a chance to do something special like shut out the New York Yankees and possibly launching his career edfining moment, I made up my d BEFORE the 8th inning that no matter what if he so much as allows just one little baseruner I’m going to go get him.”
What a stupid, stupid, man, indeed!
Bill
June 13th, 2012
10:30 pm
NYY payroll start the year $209,792,900.54— The Braves start the year pay-roll was $93,529,667.28…also give Indians 10 million for taking Lowe.
….Larry…I agree
Bill
June 13th, 2012
10:33 pm
As much as I hate Fredi..I love the Players and hope they win. But Lord knows Management is a joke.
Bill
June 13th, 2012
10:34 pm
glad Conrad is gone..
Mik
June 13th, 2012
10:35 pm
Fredie is the worst manager is baseball. Bar none – the worst. When Venters can’t find the strike zone, it’s okay to bring in Kimbrel. You’ll still be up 4 runs going into the 9th inning. What do you do the next day – Bring Kimbrel in the 9th with the team being down one run. Why?!?! Fredie – you suck!
Bill
June 13th, 2012
10:41 pm
mik..because tomorrow is a off day and he’s just getting some work in..thats what he will say…but I do agree fredi is what u said.
Braves in last palce by the all star brake
June 13th, 2012
10:48 pm
Braves R domed 2 loss 2 nite
Bill
June 13th, 2012
10:49 pm
Sweep..enough said . Thanks alot The Almighty Fredi.
William Smith
June 13th, 2012
10:49 pm
Fredi is a disciple of Bobby Cox. What do you expect? Do you think Joe Torre would have won only one World Series during the Braves run of NL east titles. Time for the Braves to clean house. The Braves will be last in there division this year. One thing is good you won’t have to watch a complete meltdown the last month of the season. Management will stand pat and build a powerhouse. At least we have a great batting and pitching coach.
Bill
June 13th, 2012
10:52 pm
The pitching coach sucks..Greg Walker is ok and would make a VG manager.
jason
June 13th, 2012
10:54 pm
That freddie freeman injury was a disaster. He was finally starting to swing the bat well after he got his contacts and then reyes nails him with that throw.
Freeman had pitches to hit yesterday to break the game open but he couldn’t grip the bat and then today hinske killed them with the lefty to lefty matchup and missing hittable pitches.
Without reyes injuring freeman good chance the last two games are different outcomes.
These were tough games as now the braevs are tied with the mets for the last wild card place and have six games on the road with the red sox and yankees. These were games that can come back late in the year and ruin your season.
BravesfaninWis
June 13th, 2012
10:56 pm
The Braves are a f’n joke. No need to say anything else. This team couldn’t play consistent ball to save all their lives. They just don’t have it in them. They are all nothing more than a bunch of over paid, under achieving, weak ass players. See ya in the cellar losers. The only thing good about doing this now is that you are showing what kind of team you are in June instead of choking the last 2 weeks of September. We all know if given the chance, you would repeat last September this year, but luckily for Braves fans, you won’t be given that choice this year, you will be out of contention come August at the very latest.
blackdog
June 13th, 2012
11:04 pm
Must fire the manager before this gets any worse! Can’t get a hit when runners on and no clue how to use bullpen. This is painful to watch
1995 was 17 years ago
June 13th, 2012
11:09 pm
I will say that Fredi can’t make his hitters come through in the clutch. This team had choking in their DNA long before Fredi got here.
There are numerous problems with the Braves. Fredi is just an obvious one.
thegreatsowhat
June 13th, 2012
11:12 pm
Yeah… even more disturbing than making Fredi those mistakes last night is not being able to see that they were indeed mistakes. At the very least, Venters should have been pulled once it was clear he “didn’t have it”. I feel Minor was cruising and the single he gave up wasn’t smashed or anything and he deserved to see one more batter. I hope management is paying attention to these quotes and taking note that their manager doesn’t seem to be able to adapt and learn from mistakes.
wayn-o
June 13th, 2012
11:26 pm
Way to not man-up & take responsibility Fredi, oh I see you were able to bring in Kimbrel tonight in the 9th. Could of broken that retarded rule of only using the closer in the 9th and got a win yesterday, but that would only require problem solving skills.
Fats
June 13th, 2012
11:34 pm
Hudson and Minor did not deserve that last 2 games verdicts…………….Terrible to play this uninspired on your home field………..The Braves have a sorry home field win loss record. Home games mean almost nothing to these Robo Braves…………………….No emotion No swagger on their home turf…………………..Go figure
Yunel asscobar
June 13th, 2012
11:57 pm
Fredi Gonzalez – the picture of managerial malpractice. This guy makes a stump appear to be a Rhodes scholar.
Brava
June 14th, 2012
12:03 am
Of course Fredi wouldn’t change anything he did. He can never admit doing anything wrong. As erratic as Venters has been this season, it was irresponsible of Fredi to not have another reliever warming up with him so he could be on a short leash. But no, Mr. Incompetent just warms up Venters and is forced to leave him out there while he loads the bases and gives up a Grand Slam. Even that should not have happened. Fredi could have minimized the damage by having Venters walk A-Roid when it was clear he couldn’t locate his pitches, then he would have given up one run instead of 4 and maybe Martinez (though Kimbrel would have been a much better choice) could have tried to preserve the lead. That was one of the worst Braves games I’ve ever seen. If it felt so devastating to me, as a fan, I can just imagine what it did to the players.
George Washington
June 14th, 2012
1:17 am
The braves are paying a 40 year old 3rd baseman 14 million dollars this season. He may play in 80 games. His greed and the team’s decision to offer that kind of money are a combination to a long stressful season. The manager is probably all they can afford so that’s called “getting what you pay for”. It’s tough being a Braves fan.
cwb406
June 14th, 2012
6:20 am
IMHO….Freddie ain’t gotta clue…..
Kim
June 14th, 2012
6:55 am
Its funny, Girardi and Torre would use Rivera in 8th innings in games they thought they had to have, and he would do it without pause. Kimbrel is more than 10 years YOUNGER than Mariano Rivera.. and he couldnt get 6 outs.. that just makes no Sense. And Yes i understand the difference between Rivera and Kimbrel.. but If Using Kimbrel for 6 outs would ruin his arm or sumthing, then what good is he anyways?
Rick in Macon
June 14th, 2012
7:35 am
Bring back Leo Mazzone…we need him rocking on that bench again. Also, the only thing that explains Fredi being hired is he’s a product of the diversity program of the Braves…got to have a Hispanic manager…next it will be Pendleton who couldn’t even be a batting coach when he had the chance.
Tamacun el vengador errante
June 14th, 2012
7:49 am
Paren de culpar a una sola persona por todo lo que sale mal, los Bravos de atlanta de bravos no tienen nada es un equipo monotono, aburrido y apatico sin lucides ni carisma y con muy malas inverciones economicas como la del abuelo que juega tercera base paren de culpar a una sola persona y reconoscan la verdad que es obvia.
Mark
June 14th, 2012
7:58 am
I’m late on this, but I keep thinking…when Jonny shows he clearly does not have it, you walk A-rod, you are up 4-1, then bring in Kimbrel in a real save situation to close it out for 4 (5?) outs.
Fats
June 14th, 2012
8:03 am
When all is said and done, our Robo Braves were intimidated by the NY Yankees in our OWN home stadium. 99 games left to get the swagger back
Jborodawg
June 14th, 2012
8:16 am
Buncha Monday Morning Quarterbacks. At the time Venters came to the mound, we’re all thinking he’ll get the outs and end the inning…and the mess that he was given. He’s done it before; that’s why he’s on the team.
jt
June 14th, 2012
8:18 am
Why do we keep FAT people like Francisco, Hinske, who could not get bat around fast enough to hit anybody’s fast ball. Oh wait our manager is who the are patterned after. Man lose some weight fatso’s.
morehouse man
June 14th, 2012
8:21 am
tp was a very good hitting coach. look back over hie record.. the braves only real bad record on base was last year and we all know why.teddy should have been the manager because he is a more a whitey herzog type manager a bobby cox clone which is why fredi is bobby cox hand pick replacement
Why?
June 14th, 2012
8:44 am
Wow. I can’t believe Fredi doesn’t think he did anything wrong Wednesday. Also that he doesn’t want his closed coming in in the 8th. Is upper mgmt. not scared by this? I know I am as a fan.
Ebenezer Snerdberg
June 14th, 2012
9:11 am
Did you notice how the announcers tried to put Simmons bunt screw-up on him, ’stead o’ Havana Fats. That young gentleman ain’t been ’round long nuff to bunt on his own with RISP. Havana Fats called ‘nuther stupid an’ the boys in da booth tried to cover for him. Sheeeeeeesch!
Fire Havana Fats!
Whiskey River
June 14th, 2012
9:14 am
I told you it was going to happen, and it will continue. Games won in a row without Chipper-6. Games with Chipper-minus 4. Fix the team back like it was,but FW and FG aren’t smart to figure that out. So the losing streak will continue. Good luck losers
Jack Lill
June 14th, 2012
9:25 am
Even more proof the Braves need to get rid of Gonzales and Wre n
CRMAC300
June 14th, 2012
9:26 am
Fredi G couldn’t manage a game of Chinese Checkers!
Ebenezer Snerdberg
June 14th, 2012
9:36 am
Whiskey River…take my mind!
Whiskey River
June 14th, 2012
10:08 am
Hi Ebenezer My point is We were winning without Chipper. We can do it again. Bench him and use as pinch hitter. Bring back Constanza. Put the team back like it was when we were winning. Management is not that smart to figure that out. CHIPPER DOES NOT RUN THE TEAM. I have spent the last dime on these losers that i am going to. I burned up my season tickets yesterday and will not be going any more until they fix it right which i doubt. I hope everybody has fun with their losers.
Why?
June 14th, 2012
10:14 am
@Whiskey River
You really burned your season tickets? Can you new tickets resent if you change your mind? Just curious….
CC
June 14th, 2012
10:23 am
….why did they go and get L. Hernandez?? ….he’s a “has been” now….he’s good to give up 3 to 4 runs when he’s in.
….Martinez & Delgado are hot or cold….never consistent…..Only positives I see are: Freeman, Uggla, Chipper, Bourn, & Prado. And of course 3 of the starting pitchers….Heyward, although slightly better than last year, is an under-achiever at this point, McCann continues below average, shortstop is a toss up. Diaz needs more playing time too.
Where are all our great farm pitchers///
Of course…..If managing was that easy…everyone would be doing it….
Whiskey River
June 14th, 2012
10:27 am
@Why Yes i burned my tickets. I could get new ones but why. Management does’t want to win. Players could care less as long as Chipper is boss. Why should I bother? I AM NOT GOING TO CHANGE MY MIND. They need to put team back like it was when we were winning but they won’t so they won’t get any more money out of me!
bill
June 14th, 2012
10:32 am
Fredi is like a wife that kills her husband even if she gets off it is unlikely she will kill again. In Fredi’s case when he finally gets fired here he will never get another manager job in the major leauges so no more fans wanting to kill him or themselves.
I dislike Freddi more daily...
June 14th, 2012
10:34 am
Funny, everyone else would do it different.
I dislike Freddi more daily...
June 14th, 2012
10:35 am
It’s like when we bring in Livan w/ a tie game or down by one. He should be the one we use when we’re down by 10-20.
Whiskey River
June 14th, 2012
10:39 am
That shows you how dumb management. Ask Chipper, hes the boss.
LOL at the Braves
June 14th, 2012
10:56 am
LOL!
David the Shepherd
June 14th, 2012
11:01 am
Dang, Bill. You & the wife getting along okay?
Seriously though, this team needs a leader to show them that losing “close” is not something to be proud of. Oh yeah, the many, many tactical errors made by this “manager” warrants his firing alone.
doug
June 14th, 2012
11:02 am
Good teams do not lose 8 in a row, then win 6 in a row, get swept at home and are now 14-15 at Home. The team is erratic, just like the hitting and most of the Bullpen, Kimbrell is doing just where he left off.. terrific.
Kinda ironic how Mathaney takes over the Cardinals from LaRussa and has done a great job managing, this without any expierence. Then we have Fredi…… go figure?
Why?
June 14th, 2012
11:22 am
@Whiskey River
Why not sell them on ebay? Make a nice profit….
Plate Appearance
June 14th, 2012
11:47 am
THE PETER PRINCIPLE PERSONIFIED
The Peter Principle is most certainly personified in FREDI!
What is the Peter Principle?
The Peter Principle is the belief that an organization will eventually promote certain members BEYOND THEIR LEVEL OF ABILITY.
Need I say more?
Kris
June 14th, 2012
12:15 pm
The worst manager in MLB. Don’t know how to use his personnel.
Whiskey River
June 14th, 2012
12:27 pm
@WHY I did’nt want any one else to go thru the misery.
Fred
June 14th, 2012
1:23 pm
Venters is the one who needs to go to down. The Braves had best get to work on buying a bullpen or this will be yet another wasted summer!
steve
June 14th, 2012
1:31 pm
Lost the last 2 games because of poor managerial decisions, last night with Simmons at 3rd and Bourne at first with only 1 out and Prado up why was Bourne not sent, Prado puts the ball in play and by not sending Bourne we end up hitting into a DP. which killed our chances of winning . F.G. should not be managing this team and with him in charge we will not win enough games period.
Whiskey River
June 14th, 2012
1:39 pm
@steve If we do that and Prado drives in two runs, That would upset Chipper because it would be taking the focus off of him. Thaqts a no no. Why do you think the team is losing? Thats why.
JBB1972
June 14th, 2012
1:40 pm
Fredi Gonzalez’s game management stinks!
How many balls does a pitcher have to throw before you realize he just doesn’t have it that night? Pull the pitcher and replace him with someone else. You don’t wait until he gives up the big one. Fredi cost us several games last year and he’s doing it again this year. Does the team look motivated? Do they look like they have their head in the game and putting out as hard as they can every night?
Since Schuerholz left the management of the team has gone down hill. Anyone can see that.
mjn
June 14th, 2012
2:01 pm
I would love to know what Kimbrel thinks about going more than 3 outs. I bet he’d have no problem with it. As far as I am concerned, not bringing him in that 8th inning to put out the fir was the last straw. I’m not worrying about a team that has a manager that has no clue what to do.
Vesaversa
June 14th, 2012
2:54 pm
Braves pitching is terrible but their Manager Gonzalez is even worst .Once the season is over someone head will have to roll and i’ll bet it will Gonzalez .
nick p.
June 14th, 2012
4:13 pm
good god fredi, this is just a baseball game, nothing more, lets not talk about getting five outs instead of three as something so revolutionary, strange and weird, its just a game you over protecting baffoon, no wonder oitchers keep going down, they are no longer allowed to be pitchers an more, they are these protected species that need their own federal government cabinet position so they can tell these robots what to do, how foolish baseball has become with over specilization!
nick p.
June 14th, 2012
4:15 pm
some times games re saved in the seventh or eighth inning with really not much going on in the ninth, at leasr bedrock and sutter and the rest used to go three innings for a save no a days its a sin to make them get more than three outs, oh boy, how did the old timers do it!?
wreckbuzz
June 14th, 2012
4:57 pm
If having Jonny Venters (a lefty) pitch to Alex Rodriguez (a righty) with the bases loaded (which Venters helped to load by the way) is “set up the way we wanted” then the Braves and Fredi Gonzalez are in trouble.
The problem is not that he made a mistake, it’s that he thinks what he did was the best scenario that just didn’t go his way. I’m sorry. That’s wrong, wrong, wrong. If he had brought in Craig Kimbrel to face the key batter in the game (ARod) in the 8th inning, and they lose the lead….that’s making the best move you have and it just didn’t go your way. I can live with that.
I don’t see Fredi as the Braves manager for very long.
Lee
June 14th, 2012
5:47 pm
Braves now losing 3 in a row to the Yankees brings back memories of the Braves losing 2 world series to the Yankees during the 90’s.Both managers were not flexible in reacting quickly in making effective decisions out of the ordinary to achieve victory by ignoring certain players on the bench in critical situations. The Yankees outplayed and outsmarted them.
Hocice
June 14th, 2012
6:03 pm
It;s a shame that the Braves management did not make a move last year with the general manager, now is the time.
The GM has no connection to the players !
Camagual
June 15th, 2012
11:45 am
Fredi should have brought Kimbrel to pitch to Arod, but definitely after the HR, when the game was still tied. This has been a problem for some time in all of baseball but especially, and worse, with the Braves.
Both Cox and Fredi use the closer only in the 9th, like it was not permitted for a closer to pitch before the 9th. The key moment of a game may be as early as the 6th, or 7th, or 8th. Once the Braves lose the advantage, they don’t need Kimbrel.
The worst part is Fredi only responds that Kimbrel cannot pitch 5 outs. He is not capable of thinking what many others have already said above: how about pitch only 2 outs in the 8th and then bring someone else to pitch the 9th with the bases empty and the team still ahead by 4 runs?