Braves postgame quotes after Wednesday’s loss to Yankees
BRIAN MCCANN
On the series:
“Every game was real close. It just seemed like we didn’t get that big hit to break open a close game. But (they’re) one of the best teams in the game and we know we can hang with them and we know we can compete and we know we can beat them. We played good. They just came out on top.”
On struggles with RISP last four games:
“I think you can look at it two ways. They made their pitch when they needed to or you could look at we just didn’t get it done. We’ll stay positive around here. We know we can swing the bats. We know we’ve got a good lineup. It seemed like tonight Kuroda, when he got guys on, he really bore down and made his pitches.”
On four-game losing streak vs eight-game:
“We’re not playing bad. We’re just not getting the big hit. We’re pitching great. We’ve been in every ballgame. Low-scoring games. We just didn’t get the big hit when we needed it.”
On feeling better at the plate:
“Over the last two months of last year and the first couple months this year, I’ve really gotten myself into some bad habits. And I kind of went back to the basics of hitting of what got me here. I found some things that I haven’t had for the last four months of baseball that I’ve played. So it’s exciting to get that back and it’s exciting to get out there and know that you’re hitting in the middle of the order for a reason and it feels good that you know you can contribute to this team with the bat.”
TIM HUDSON
On the game:
“We’re just going through a frustrating little period. We felt like we missed some opportunities. We missed some pitches and they made some plays to keep us from scoring. … It’s just very frustrating. That’s about all I can say.”
On if frustrated because of being one pitch away, or one out away, from winning?
“Last night we felt like we were on the verge of breaking it open big the whole night, and it didn’t happen tonight. We got a big homer from B-Mac [Brian McCann] and I let them get back in it in the homer there in the sixth inning. It’s just one of those things where they got some opportunities, bunched a couple of hits together and scored a run in the first. Then I threw a bad pitch right there for them to hit the homer. Other than that, I mean we had baserunners all over the field tonight, but they made some pitches and they made some plays. They made theirs count and we didn’t.”
On his ankle:
“It was alright. Nobody is 100 percent right now. It’s good enough.”
On the home run pitch to Granderson:
“Yep, it was a cutter, but it didn’t cut. Cut the middle of the plate in half. That was about it.”
On how much he wanted to get a hit with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second:
“Bases loaded, one out, I was more hoping not to hit into a double play, but we had opportunities to score, and they made some pitches and they made some plays. That’s what they did.”
On whether he’ll be ready to take the mound again in five days (or whenever his next turn in the rotation takes place):
“Sure.”
CHIPPER JONES
On the series:
“It seemed like every time Kuroda needed to make a pitch to get a strikeout he got it. We just couldn’t break through with the big hit to get the game timed. Then when we get the big hit that put us up and they came right back and hit one of Huddy’s few mistakes tonight. All in all, looking at it objectively, we played good baseball these last three days. Can’t fault the effort. We came out, we swung the bats, I think we had 12 hits tonight. Just couldn’t get that one big one to get us over the hump. They did. They got some big hits in the eighth inning last night and Granderson’s homer tonight was the difference.”
On whether this streak is worrisome compared to 8-gamer:
“The 4-0 lead last night in the eighth bugs me. The 4-0 lead in the fifth inning against Romero and the Blue Jays, that bugs me. Our young kids pitched great the first two nights. Huddy pitched great tonight. You play good baseball and you get beat, you can live with it. But when you’ve got leads middle innings, late innings, and I’m not talking about one-run leads, I’m talking about four-run leads, and you give them up, that’s a little concerning. But I’ll just chalk it up to it being a little bit of a fluke and move on. We’ve got a day off tomorrow, flush this series out of our system and get ready for the Orioles.”
On Simmons bunt:
“We had tons of other opportunities. It seemed like we had guys on first and third or guys on second or third with two outs, less than two outs. That was one situation I think we’d all like to have back, that second inning. Kid thought he was making a good play. Great bunt, just wrong time to do it.”
FREDI GONZALEZ:
On if Hudson gave you everything he had?
“He did. He gave us a great opportunity to win the ball game. We just couldn’t get anybody in from third base. I think we left 13 on. I think we left a guy on base almost every inning. To tell you the truth, you lose three games and you feel like you played three pretty good games, two real good games and 7 1/3 of another one. You feel pretty good about it but you get nothing out of it. That is the way it goes sometimes when you don’t get the key hit. Sometimes we didn’t get the key outs. A day off tomorrow. I feel like this club is ready to make another run. Get the back of the bullpen straightened out a little bit and we’ll get going.”
On getting Jonny Venters back in a game:
“It was perfect. Roger [McDowell] and I talked before the game and we said if we get the right situation we’ll run him right back out there. Get him back in the saddle and he responded. I had no doubt in my mind that he would respond. He’ll go into the off day feeling pretty good to get a big out there. I thought [Chad] Durbin gave us an 1 2/3 innings of some big outs in a one-run ball game facing a primarily left-hand hitting lineup. A lot of good things other than a W, which is the most important thing.”
On Simmons bunting early in game
“Yes. It was a situation where I spoke to him. He’s a young kid and he’s trying to create stuff. In his mind, he thought it was a good idea. We talked about it and said in that situation we would rather you hit a double with the pitcher behind him. It’s a learning thing. He probably hasn’t hit eighth before and he’s playing National League rules every day now. It’s an aggressive mistake really. We talked to him about it and I don’t think we’ll see him do it again.”
On troubles with runners in scoring position:
“I want to say that Kuroda did a pretty good job. One pitch was 94 [miles per hour] and the next was 88. He really mixed his pitches up pretty good with a variety of pitches, sinker, four-seamer, curveball, change-up at any time. I think he kept us off balance a lot in those situations. The last pitch of his ball game was 94 miles per hour to [Martin] Prado. I think he threw him a bunch of 87s to get to that pitch. He did a nice job keeping us off balance with those pitches.”
On right guy in Hudson on mound hurt by that one pitch:
“It seems like that the series was one pitch – one pitch away. Today it got us again. We go out and [Brian McCann] gets us a big two-run homer to put us ahead and we didn’t get the shut-down inning that we wanted with the right guy on the mound. Again, it’s a lot of left of base, lot of guys in scoring position that we didn’t get that broken-bat single to get us some runs.”
- Compiled by Carroll Rogers, Chris Vivlamore and Ryan Black
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171 comments Add your comment
We need Georgie
June 14th, 2012
12:42 am
We havent
We need Georgie
June 14th, 2012
12:43 am
We haven’t been the same since we sent Constanza down.
Joe for 3
June 14th, 2012
12:44 am
They need cotton uniforms.
Hmmmm
June 14th, 2012
12:45 am
“we know we can beat them”
Yankees: whaaa?
Darryl Blackberry
June 14th, 2012
12:59 am
God, I hate the Yankees.
Tootsi
June 14th, 2012
1:02 am
There is an organizational mentality of “we’ll get them next time” that has to change if this team is ever going to be successful in big spots. McCann is exhibit #1. He came up in 2005. Since then, we have had one playoff appearance. As someone who has so much praise heaped upon him, is that really acceptable? “we know we can hang with them and we know we can compete and we know we can beat them.” That is what McCann says every time we lose a game.
It is the mentality of this organization, and it has to change at some point. This team is never going to go anywhere if this continues.
Here is what McCann said after we were swept to open the season: “There’s nobody in here at all thinking about what happened last year,” catcher Brian McCann said. “We won 89 ballgames [in 2011]. We’re a very talented team. Tip your hat – these guys [Mets] put together some really good at-bats over there. It seems like one through eight, they had a good gameplan and they executed it.”
It’s always “we’re a good team, things will change,” until next thing you know, you have blown the wild card lead at the end of the season. It is an organizational issue and we can continue to expect the same results until an infusion of players who will get a bit angrier takes place.
Tootsi
June 14th, 2012
1:04 am
It is a loser approach, plain and simple. Fredi is only making it worse with his ineptitude making in game decisions.
SR
June 14th, 2012
1:11 am
Excellent point tootsi, same ol’ crap, same ol’ excuses, same ol’ bluster.
Let’s see, its June and how many times has this bunch been swept already?? Surely they must be among baseball’s leaders in that category, along with their exceptional cap tipping abilities…..
Doofus(Goober and Gomer's Smart Brother)
June 14th, 2012
1:22 am
Wonder if FG or anybody else on the team even knew that Kuroda, the Yanks pitcher, was 0-8 against the NL East while with the Dodgers? Seemed like they were afraid of him just because he is a Yankee now. This was not even an average pitcher and he beats the Braves. What does that tell us?
ACE
June 14th, 2012
1:25 am
You have to tip you cap to the Yankees. You have to believe the back of the bubble gum card. Two great quotes by Fredi. Only problem is that the Yankees players cards say WS titles and clutch hitting. If nothing else the players tipping and reading skills should improve.
tman
June 14th, 2012
1:30 am
I guess after reading all the quotes from players and FG, I have to wonder WHY we never get the “big hit” when we need it? There’s been a long term problem with the attitude of this team. “We’ll get em tomorrow.” Yeah, right. Why not get em while you have them on the ropes tonight? Why can teams like the Yankees do that time after time, but we have to tip our cap to that “Cy Young” pitching staff they have? WTF? This is the Atlanta Braves we’re talking about! What USED to be the Yankess of the NL. We can beat these guys, but I don’t see the hard core dispostion it takes. No passion, as in John Smoltz like passion. FG seems like a great guy, but he sucks big time in pitcher management! I’m really disappointed they hired him. Can we pry somebody like Kirk Gibson away?? A guy who took no crap from anybody? I would love to see how he managed this team. Very disappointing season in my book.
Craig
June 14th, 2012
1:44 am
Don’t keep Constanza up, he is hitting too high. Also the F boys Fredi and Frank, well, lets just say they are very blessed have a job in baseball. Can you fire the owner also. Wishful thinking.
aaahaahahahahahahahhaah
June 14th, 2012
1:50 am
sadly but after trade deadline the braves will not have anymore the next players:
MICHAEL BOURN, TIM HUDSON AND POSSIBLY MCCANN
hahahah again
June 14th, 2012
1:52 am
SO TEHERAN WILL REPLACE HUDSON, ROSS FOR MCCANN AND BOSCAN IN BACK UP ROLE AND CONSTANZA IN CF OR MAYBE HEYWARD AND HINSKE/DIAZ IN RF lol
NorcalBrave
June 14th, 2012
1:53 am
Braves are real good at strutting around the clubhouse boasting how close they can come to beating the big boys. Fact is the Yankees and the Phillies, not to mention the once-lowly Nats have owned them for years. Would like to know what their recent record is on ESPN. Every time I tune in they stink.
Tip O' the Cap
June 14th, 2012
2:41 am
@Tootsi — I was trying to explain that to another Braves fan today. I put it this way: if you asked Jeter or ARod how “thrilled” they were to win last night, they would have shrugged — in other words, they expected to win. IMO the Braves would have been downright giddy to have beaten the Yanks just 1 of 3, as in , they “hoped” to win as opposed to expected to win. This just seems to be an ongoing issue of the last years.
Maybe the players know how close to the winning/losing edge they really are? I don’t know. But it definitely seems like an uncertain crew.
Tip of the cap to the ARod, even though I hate the Yankees!!!
JNick
June 14th, 2012
2:41 am
Why would the Braves trade McCann and Hudson when they have options on them for next year – and affordable ones at that? As for Bourn, with the money from Lowe and Jones coming off the books, they can make a reasonable offer to him – and if not, they’ll take the draft picks. Watch the caps lock, idiot 13 year old…
Tip-your-hat
June 14th, 2012
2:48 am
Top 8th, 1 out, 4:0 lead, bases loaded ==> NO Kimbrel
When the team is trailing 2:3 ==> YES Kimbrel
How ridiculous. Fredi Gonzalez, you are the manager of the year!!!
IowaBravesFan
June 14th, 2012
2:59 am
I actually got to see this game so I feel like I have a better understanding of all the people on here that are so angry. Watching this team play is so painful. They are capable of more than how they play, but it seems like they just don’t care. No heart. It was nice to see Uggla get mad when he flew out in bottom 9th. They all need to get a little fired up.
Brad
June 14th, 2012
3:03 am
The Braves played well the past few days, but just not well enough to win. This team could use two things: another workload starter to replace Minor or Delgado and for some underperforming bats to awaken. Guys like McCann, Heyward and Freeman have been disappointing for sure this season, although McCann looked locked in for all 3 Yankee games. Bourn and Prado can get on all they want, but if no one’s driving them in, we’ll end up with a lot of games like tonight’s – chances but no runs.
I do think that this Braves team as currently constructed can make the playoffs, but more so because the NL lacks enough playoff caliber teams to keep them out of the new 5-team format. However, the Braves look less and less like a serious title contender with each passing cold streak.
The Braves would do well to inquire around for another starter – Chicago’s Matt Garza comes to mind as a young, power arm with a year and a half of team control. The Braves would definitely be able to put together a suitable package of prospects to entice the Cubs to make a deal, even if it’s headlined by perhaps Minor or Delgado. The Braves do not lack for young talent, and would benefit from using it to strengthen the current major league club.
Jay Dubu
June 14th, 2012
3:13 am
Mac is good ball [layer, but hanging with, an competing with the Yankees was not the objective. Winning the games was the objective, and they did not win one single game.
Saying that you know you can beat the Yankees, when you haven’t done it, is false hope.
Yea any team can be beat, but until you beat them, you don’t KNOW that you can beat them, you only know it’s possible fo you to beat them.
They came into the Ted and took the Braves lunch money!
stizz
June 14th, 2012
3:15 am
Excellent point, Tootsi. Preach that in the gamethread.
Ty Cobb's Soul
June 14th, 2012
3:20 am
Reporter: “You just got swept by the Yankees, now what are you going to do?”
Fredi: “Get a beer. C-Mart, you’re driving!”
tjhook
June 14th, 2012
3:36 am
Thanks to Tootsi for great insight. Fans have accepted for the last two years that the Braves are promising. Fredi was brought in to keep this program on the incline. . . which means the Braves should NEVER experience a sweep against a playoff-caliber opponent. And outhitting the Yankees supports this. Somebody in the organization should apply pressure and kill the Little League attitude in the dugout. INCREASE THE INTENSITY!!
clay
June 14th, 2012
4:24 am
I know of 4 times we have already been swept this season and it’s only the middle of june. This is why I no longer watch the braves.
tristan
June 14th, 2012
5:27 am
How do some of you people keep bringing up starting pitching on nights that it is not the starting pitching? Why do you fail to realize nine runners left on base followed by thirteen runners on base is the reason for losing? What team has a starting ERA under 2? Please show me a Team starters ERA under 2 and I will blame the starting pitching. Until then, realize that getting runners home when they are on base is essential to consistent winning.
OTP
June 14th, 2012
6:53 am
But you have to realize the pitcher did take them out of the game last night by allowing the go ahead home run, regardless of all the guys we left on base. Hudson is a good pitcher, but when you give the opposing teams enough runs to beat you, you have not pitched “great”.
braveshoo
June 14th, 2012
6:55 am
Where was Durbin Tues. night in the 8th when all we needed was 2 outs to win the game?
cornjolio
June 14th, 2012
7:05 am
Frank Wren,
Start taking offers for Michael Bourn & Tim Hudson, who won’t be on the roster next season any way.
Looking at our schedule the next few weeks, we’ll be a dozen games out of first place.
The Nationals are running away with it !
ncbravesfan
June 14th, 2012
7:19 am
The Braves have talent, but lack the heart, attitude and determination of a champion. Until that changes, they will continue to play mediocre ball and give tired excuses for coming up short on a regular basis.
The ship’s been sinking since the start of the season. They’ve managed to scoop out enough water to stay afloat, but there are simply too many holes and they are destined to sink.
Charlie
June 14th, 2012
7:20 am
This whole thing is classic. It’s winners against losers. The Yankees find a way to win. The Braves find a way to lose. The Braves CHOKE in the big moments of the game. They pee down their leg. They have NO clutch ballplayers, who step up. They can’t. Thisi is a collection of chokers and losers. They can’t get the big hit, or make the big pitch, because of who they are. It’s how they are wired.
The Yankees are classic winners..they.make the big pitch, knock in the big run. The Braves can’t, because they are the same choke team, as last September. That is EVERY Braves player. No exceptions. It’s who they are. It’s what they do. It’s why they lose, and continue to spit out opportunities to win.
Fredi is the perfect manager for them. His leadership was evident last September. It’s still there,as the same group of players (thanks to Franki Wren, the most wothless GM in baseball history).
The quotes talk about “one pitch away…one big hit away…” The Yankees MADE the big pitches …got the big hits. It is not hard to understand why…
Winners do the job. Loses wring their hands, and make excuses.
It easy to see the winners from losers, when you watch Braves Yankees.
The Braves are who they are. They have been since last September.
Double Zero Eight
June 14th, 2012
7:24 am
Dam# Yankees.
As much as I hate to admit it, they
were the better team. Fundamentally
sound and managed better.
The Bronx Bomber
June 14th, 2012
7:28 am
Hey, Atlanta:
Who’s your Daddy !
Looking forward to seeing you again real soon in Yankee Stadium.
With the DH rule in effect I imagine Matt Diaz or David Ross will get some extra at bats to “bolster” your offense. (LMAO).
brave braver
June 14th, 2012
7:32 am
Does anyone know why Gonzalez kept Hinske in the game to bat against the lefty with Diaz and Ross on the bench? Or why Bourn didnt run in the eighth inning to stay out of the double play? I mean , the yankee broadcasters were bashing FG for those moves and a few others….rightly so.
Can you picture the Braves, in a playoff game, maybe the one game playoff , and you have this tool
behind the bench pushing strategical buttons to win a big game in the late innings….Frankly, it scares the hell out of me
And where is Wren during all this mess? What is he saying in the papers? I live in the northeast and I dont have access….Is he looking to make moves? player moves, manager moves? Is Cox avail to come back??
Inquiring minds want to know!!
brave braver
June 14th, 2012
7:35 am
Memo to BRONX BOMBER:
You can do A LOT with a 200 million dollar payroll, dude
Its not rocket science…..I live in NY and I hate the Yankees more than my boss
And Alex Rodriguez is the most pretentious player in the sport …..No other ballplayers even like him and his teammates pretend they do…..You remember? Alex “Me and my cousin were buying steroids and my cousin was the one who got me into it” Rodriguez
What a loser
Sending Chip out in style 2012
June 14th, 2012
7:36 am
I agree completely with tootsi about the mentality of this team when they lose. Just like last year when chip said he knows they can beat the phillies and the Phillthies turn right around and blow em out. It starts with the manager. You would NEVER hear a Jim Leyland accept some of these losses that Fredi just brushes off, a real manager would get pissed and say they sucked tonight and need to fix it or something is going to change, but not FG he just says well run em back out there tomorrow with no plan to fix it and no competiteviness to light a fire under the players’ arse. Time for FG to go ASAP bc at this point that’s the only move that will make a difference for this team, I’d rather see Pendelton get a chance for the rest of the year rather that whatch FG waste a talented team for another day….
alex
June 14th, 2012
7:39 am
was at game, fun game. The yankees have an aura of inevitability while the braves display futility.Lots of meaningless hits,frustrating team that is being surpased by the nationals. ? for all: bottom of the 9th ,good ols larry get’s a hit and 2 out, where is the pinch runner?….
Fats
June 14th, 2012
7:58 am
14-15 W L record at home tells alot………………No sense of home field pride. 99 games left
Larry
June 14th, 2012
8:01 am
On Simmons bunting early in game
“Yes. It was a situation where I spoke to him. He’s a young kid and he’s trying to create stuff. In his mind, he thought it was a good idea. We talked about it and said in that situation we would rather you hit a double with the pitcher behind him. It’s a learning thing. He probably hasn’t hit eighth before and he’s playing National League rules every day now. It’s an aggressive mistake really. We talked to him about it and I don’t think we’ll see him do it again.”
I know those whom think FG has more than a double digit IQ didn’t come close to picking up on this; I hope those with triple digits did.
Think about the above decision by a rookie not accustomed to batting 8th and the subsequent discussion about it with FG AFTER the fact. One would think these types of scenarios would be discussed by good coaching for a rookie batting 8th, wouldn’t one?
This team is poorly prepared, always discussing poor decisions and failed strategy, frequently commenting with regret and remorse, and downright lethargic and uninspired. This team and the fans that finance it deserve more.
This team needs a championship caliber manager and there’s one sitting out there that won twice as many WS championships than the booger picker (Cox) who hand picked his ear mining predecessor (Gonzalez).
His name is Terry Francona.
The Bronx Bomber
June 14th, 2012
8:08 am
Brave Braver,
Teams like St. Louis, Texas, San Francisco, Tampa, Colorado & the Marlins have reached the World Series in recent years with payrolls comparable to the Braves, if not lower.
What’s Atlanta’s excuse ?
Your idiot GM tied up $30 million last season in Kawakami, Lowe & McLouth, 2 of 3 do not have jobs in the majors this season. Wait til Chiopper retires and frees up some money for Frank Wren to squander on some more hasbeens.
Fans in Atlanta need to stop being so complacent with mediocrity. Braves, Hawks, Falcons are all about the same.
Uncle Tom
June 14th, 2012
8:13 am
I agree—-their attitudes aren’t right. It’s like it was under Bobby Cox. Whenever we get way behind or lose, they say, “We’re not worried!” or “Give credit to the other guys.” Is that the attitude that made the Babe Ruth Yankees great? The Green Bay Packers of the 1960s?
1995 was 17 years ago
June 14th, 2012
8:16 am
The Braves lack the mental toughness to be seen as contenders. Usually I don’t give much weight to intangibles, but with the Braves it’s so obvious that they don’t have it between the ears. There are some personnel issues, but every team has those. The Yankees’ bullpen is being held together by chicken wire, and they still shut us down.
No, at some point it stops being a question of talent and becomes a question of emotional fortitude. Given last year’s historical meltdown, six straight postseason series losses, and a 23-46 record versus the Phillies, Red Sox and Yankees at Turner Field since 2006, there is a very substantial body of work that says the Braves just can’t get it done when the spotlight is on them. I don’t know what it will take to change that. A new manager who isn’t from the Bobby Cox and Fredi Gonzalez mode would be a start.
Uncle Tom
June 14th, 2012
8:19 am
To the Braves’ players and organization—-here’s what we WANT to hear: “We’re sorry. We under-performed. We choked in situations when the game was on the line. We didn’t do our jobs. We’re angry. We didn’t do what winners do. We will do whatever it takes to correct the mistakes and see that they don’t happen again. “
1995 was 17 years ago
June 14th, 2012
8:22 am
Bronx Bomber, I agree, but there’s no question that having a large payroll makes things a lot easier. The Yankees missed big time on guys like Kei Igawa and Kevin Brown, but they have so much money that it hardly even mattered.
Wren does need to make wiser decisions, but he’s in a position where he has to be nearly perfect.
Bob M
June 14th, 2012
8:25 am
Looks like there are more Yankee fans in Atlanta, than Braves fans.
Really does not surprise me. Same way in most cities
.
PS, stop whining about the payroll. Means nothing. Did not hear a word out of Braves fans when the Mets were outspending them 2 to 1, and the Braves were winning 10 straight titles with a small market club. Can’t use it as a crutch now
Larry
June 14th, 2012
8:27 am
The Bronx Bomber,
Congratulations of having better players than most, but there’s not an ounce of honor in what you do. It’s about money, period; more money than others because your team resides in the nation’s largest city.
You see, teams like Tampa, Colorado, Marlins, San Fran, and soon, Texas can, on occasion, through good talent recruitment and coaching become competitive for a few years. The problem is they cannot sustain it. Why? Because you buy their best players. You never rebuild; you just reload every season.
Indeed we have our issue here in Atlanta with two formerly fired leaders, Wren and Gonzalez–it is truly a Laurel and Hardy act. But this has to happen until both are pushed out of here as we simply cannot pay 30 mil to a 3rd baseman or 25 mil to a 1st baseman. This is supposed to be a league of franchises and franchises within a league should be competitive–they’re not!
This is why baseball has stagnated while the NFL flourishes. In the NFL places like Pittsburgh and Green Bay can compete for championships. In MLB…little chance.
Your New York Giants title was well earned and deserved–your New York Yankee titles never have nor ever will be until there’s competitive balance and you stop buying them, plan & simple.
1995 was 17 years ago
June 14th, 2012
8:28 am
“Did not hear a word out of Braves fans when the Mets were outspending them 2 to 1, and the Braves were winning 10 straight titles with a small market club. Can’t use it as a crutch now.”
The Braves never won 10 straight division titles as a “small market club.” As I recall, the Braves’ payroll was slashed from about $100 million to $80 million before the 2004 season. We won two division titles after that.
But you’re right, it’s not an excuse for failure. The Braves have the talent to be better than they are.
Why?
June 14th, 2012
8:37 am
@braveshoo
Fredi said he didn’t want to use Durbin if he didn’t have to. I’m still trying to figure that one out!
Why?
June 14th, 2012
8:38 am
This team has not been the same since Fredi became manager.
bravesgrl4life
June 14th, 2012
8:43 am
Solution: go to Yankeee Stadium next week and return the favor of the sweep. Hitters park so lets go in there and send every third hit over the wall or something like that.
Preston Hannitized
June 14th, 2012
8:46 am
This is a trend, not a fluke, Mr. Jones. This is the same lifeless bunch that cannot come up with a pitch or a hit when they worst need one. If this continues, Bourn will be shopped for a trade deadline move because he is gone in 2013. Get some good prospects (I.e. cheap) and change the entire coaching staff. Try the Tampa route. Small crowds are fun, easy parking, move down to the good seats. Like the good old days in the 70’s and 80’s. No expectations.
cornjolio
June 14th, 2012
8:50 am
Braves will be intimidated at Yankee Stadium, trotting out Matt Diaz as the DH and Dan Uggla hitting long outs.
Fredi won’t be able to handle the NY media that will surely ask tough questions, unlike what he gets in Atlanta.
Brooklyn Braves Brawler
June 14th, 2012
9:02 am
Trying to figure out how, last night’s loss is Fredi’s fault. Huddy pitched well, Granderson hit a good pitch. Durbin and Venters were solid out of the bully, last night. Chipper sucked with runners in scoring position and that killed us, pure and simple. Most of Chipper’s hits in the series came with no one on base. Not his fault, just the way it was. Needed him in a big situation last night and he did not deliver. Same for Heyward, at least he got on base and was challenging the defense.
Homer the Brave
June 14th, 2012
9:02 am
Winners make commitments. Losers make excuses. And Fredi could write a book with all the excuses he has made.
Scout
June 14th, 2012
9:03 am
All this great young pitching that Frank Wren has been “collecting” over the past five years isn’t bearing fruit as planned. Looks like the Nationals young pitching is working out.
If this were NY, Boston or Philly, where fans are demanding, Wren & Fredi would have been dispatched long ago.
I predict Fredi will be allowed to finish his contract and some former Brave like Eddie Perez will be the next manager.
Whiskey River
June 14th, 2012
9:05 am
i told you. And the streak continues. It will go on and on until they get the team back like it was, but management to dumb to realize that. Good luck losers
brave braver
June 14th, 2012
9:10 am
The only positive we have is that guys like Heyward, Simmons, Freeman, Kimbrel, Delgado, Minor etc are all young and bright futures…..But sometimes you ask yourself, does that mean another ten years of THIS?
Every time we are in a close game I look in the dugout and see Fredi Gonzalez and Roger McDowell and I know we are doomed…
brave braver
June 14th, 2012
9:11 am
Bronx Bombers
How did your mighty Yankees fare in the playoffs these past few years? with that kind of payroll that is the biggest joke in baseball
PS Your Radio and TV announcers are the WORST! Suzyn Waldman?? Michael Kay??? OMG
Ranger Randy
June 14th, 2012
9:17 am
Enter your comments here
Ranger Randy
June 14th, 2012
9:17 am
Those damn Yankees.
Brooklyn Braves Brawler
June 14th, 2012
9:17 am
Susan Waldman is horrible, but we have Chip Caray so its a wash!
klmbbfan
June 14th, 2012
9:21 am
If i hear one more Brave say it is a long season than remember last year 1-game makes a damn difference you blithering idiots. Win one game you are in the play-offs instead you went home with heads up your _____.
bill
June 14th, 2012
9:21 am
I hate the Yankees but I give them credit for having an air of dominance against their oponents they swagger and are confident even when they lose. The Braves kicked two games away and Fredi is a dumbass. Does he not sit in the dugout with a rookie Simmons. How about you give the guy a word before he bats in a crucial situation. How about a single to the outfield gets us the lead? Your best hitter Martin Prado is up and wastes astrike trying to bunt. He then swings at a ball Ted Williams could not handle. Low and inside cutting even lower and inside. The result was a weak double play ball. Games in the major leagues are won by good players put in the right place either at bat or in the field. You saw the Yankees beat us with strategy and a 70 year old Don Zimmer positioning the outfield perfectly. You saw the pitcher know the shift was on and place pitches to force the batter to hit into the shift.You saw players help each other. Chipper show some leadership. You are potentially our hope for a future manager. Fredi has already lost us as many games as Bobby in the same span of time. Fire Fredi and send hom yo Toronto. It made Bobby the HOF underachiever we grew to love and hate.
bill
June 14th, 2012
9:23 am
Why with the home game in Atlanta did we have to put up with the Yankee play by play guys?
bill
June 14th, 2012
9:32 am
Bob M we did not win 10 straight titles we won one title we the best team in baseball for about 5 yeras and a good enough team the rest of the time. Except for the Giants when we were in the WEst division we played in divisions without good teams. The last time this team showed some life was when Bream slid home. We won a world series and dominated because we were really that much better than evryone else for at least 3 years. Management did not have sufficient time to screw that world series run but they came through the other years and killed the team with Bobby Ball.
Brooklyn Braves Brawler
June 14th, 2012
9:34 am
The Yankees are good, they mash like nobody’s buisness and ckome with big hits in big moments in the game. Product of having “clutch” players and playing in a huge, demanding market that makes you have to perform or you get blasted.
ARod wasn’t clutch until he got there, and he had to learn how to be “clutch”. It took him at least 3 years and a title. Look for the Bravos to make a run at Swisher next year. Since there is no way the Bravos are resigning Bourn next year, look for them to move Heyward to CF, and open up RF for Swisher! He’s switchy, brings a lot fire to a ball club, and is a team leader. Prado has to be the everyday 3B next year, I look for Gattis to get a shot in LF in a platoon situation.
reckingball
June 14th, 2012
9:39 am
There, there, people, go ahead and wipe away your tears, it’s not 12/21/12 yet, the world isn’t going to end today.
The Braves lost 3 against the Yankees, when they should have won at least 2 out of the 3.
I know, it’s tough.
But, the Braves will be back, they aren’t quitters, and they have plenty of heart.
go braves!
Mister Frisky
June 14th, 2012
9:39 am
Time to blow this thing up ASAP.Braves are 6 back in the loss column to Nats,ain’t catching them.This team lacks guts, heart,has zero testicular fortitude has a terrible manager,and a payroll approaching the bottom feeders.Simmons at SS,Heyward in RF,Prado at 2B.Freeman at 1B.Trade McCann,Hudson,Venters.Uggla.Tell Boras 5 at 65 for Bourn take it now or trade him too.Gotta spend for a stud in LF and David Wright at all costs.We didn’t make the playoffs last because Wren wouldn’t part with Tehran or any other young arm.Time to stack the offense and roll the dice with the kids in the rotation.Chipper your done dude,shut it down.
Whiskey River
June 14th, 2012
9:45 am
@reckingball What team are you watching? The one with Chipper or without. Dream on my friend.
Highlands
June 14th, 2012
9:46 am
Any Braves player: “OH YEAH GOTTA GIVE ALL THE CREDIT TO KURODA HE’S BASICALLY THE BEST PITCHER EVER, I MEAN SURE WE HAD A TON OF BASE RUNNERS BUT HE REALLY BORE DOWN WHEN HE NEEDED TO AND FOUND A WAY TO SHOW THAT WE ALL WEAR PANTIES. I HOPE FREDI STILL TAKES US TO PIZZA HUT AFTER THE GAME, EVEN THOUGH SOME OF US ARE ON OUR PERIOD AND ARE FEELING BLOATED. WE KNOW THE FANS DON’T LIKE IT, BUT GOING AN ENTIRE WEEK WITHOUT A WIN DOESN’T GET US DOWN BECAUSE WE’RE A POSITIVE BUNCH AND WE LISTEN TO “WE ARE FAMILY” BY SISTER SLEDGE OHHH I LOVE THE STICKERS ON YOUR LOCKER!!!”
Whiskey River
June 14th, 2012
9:48 am
Hi MF You are absolute right. Change Management too. FW and FG got to go.
Highlands
June 14th, 2012
9:49 am
Next up for Atlanta: vs. the Tri-Delts at 7 p.m. Pledge mixer with Sigma Chi to follow.
George T
June 14th, 2012
9:53 am
Complete Culture Change required. Close counts in horse shoes and hand grenades. This team makes too many excuses, does not hate losing and is led by a very nice guy who is not a major league caliber manager.
Scout
June 14th, 2012
9:54 am
Nick Swisher would be just another .240 hitter in a Braves uniform and surrounded by other mediocre hitters.
I say PASS on Nick Swisher !
Frank Wren is still trying to get Josh Willingham (LOL)
Moeman
June 14th, 2012
9:55 am
Something I haven’t heard anyone mention that really bothers me is how conservative Snitzker is. One of many reasons we can’t get guys in is he most always throws up the stop sign with less than 2 outs. I know the book says don’t make the 1st out at home but this guy is ridulous. Think we sometimes need to be more agressive and force the bang bang play at home.
Good grief Charlie Brown
June 14th, 2012
9:58 am
in this 3 game sweep, the Braves were 3-24 with RISP, and left 26 men on base. never mind the pitching, THAT is the real problem imo.
Larry
June 14th, 2012
10:03 am
reckingball is simply lacking severely the last syllable of his name.
Probably a nice guy just vanilla like FG.
And has anyone heard from perennial Fredi lovers, Lewd and LoboDumbDumb? Are they for the 3rd time this year vacationing on Hedonism Island?
Kim
June 14th, 2012
10:03 am
@Larry Thats pretty weak. The Championships From 96 thru 2000. The Yankees were built through trades, and farm. Oneill, Knoblauch, Brosius, Raines, Lloyd, Stanton, Nelson, Tino Martinez, Jeter, Rivera, Pettite, Posada, Williams…all Trades or farm system. Thats just being Fair and accurate. the Spending began after they got beat by Diamondbacks in WS. Arod was added, Mussina, Kevin Brown gave brown an extension to get him in a trade, Tom Gordon, Texeira, Povano, Burnett, Sabathia, they gave a washed up Randy Johnson an extention to get him in a trade, And They never won, till 2009.. Money didnt help the Yankees win, accept for the one year. when they did it the right way, Trades and Farm, they won ALOT more.
Kim
June 14th, 2012
10:08 am
@Larry i just remembered, that they had ONE big freeagenccy get in the 96-00 era, Kenny Rogers, the Pitcher from the Rangers. But he bombed in NY
Larry
June 14th, 2012
10:14 am
1996 Yankees purchased: David Cone, Dwight Gooden, Steve Howe, Jimmy Key, Scott Kamieniecki, Kenny Rogers, Bob Wickmen, Wade Boggs, Louis Sojo, Tim Raines, Ruben Revera,
bostonbravo
June 14th, 2012
10:18 am
Losing 4 in a row is twice as good as losing 8 in a row. (Braves logic?)
Mister Frisky
June 14th, 2012
10:26 am
@Whiskey River,Your right send them packing too.
Larry
June 14th, 2012
10:30 am
Also purchased in the 1996 season by the Yankees: Darryl Strawberry, Cecil Fielder, Gerald Williams, Ruben Sierra.
1997 Purchased by Yankees: Hideki Irabu, Mike Stanton, David Wells, Mark Whiten, Ray Sanchez, Pete Incavaglia, Mike Stanley, Scot Pose, Chad Curtis, David Weathers.
1998 additioanl purchases by the Yankees: Joe Borowski, Orlando Hernandez, Daren Holmes, Ramiro Mendoza, Greame Llpyd, Chuck Knowblauch, Mike Lowell, Chili Davis
1999 purchases: Roger Clemmons, Tony Fossas, Jason Grimesly, Jeff Juden, Ricky Ledee, Tony Torasco.
2000 purchases: David Justice, Jose Canseco, Glenallen Hill, Roberto Kelly, Jose Visciano, Denny Neagle.
You can call them trades, acquisitions, whatever…at the end of the day wether you trade some inexpensive youth for desperate team’s stars or outbid everyone for the top tier FA’s, you are buying your championships.
Mister Frisky
June 14th, 2012
10:39 am
Yankees got 27,Atlana Braves got 1,End of the day it’s how many not how you got them.Oh Yeah,Marlins 2,Braves 1.One is the loneliest number that you ever knew.
Larry
June 14th, 2012
10:46 am
Mister Frisky,
Agreed…but we had the worst post season manager in the history of MLB guiding us…one Bobby Cox whom, werr it not for a one hit wonder by Tom Glavine in game 6, 1995, would sport a 0-17 alltime record in his last managed game and series in postseason. Some here think 1-16 is impressive.
We would have a few more EARNED championships has we either of the last two Yankee coaches.
jim
June 14th, 2012
10:49 am
I was cursing at the TV in the 8th inning lsat night when after the safety squeeze attempt the Braves did not try a hit and run with Bourn and Prado. How many times do we see Bourn on 1st and Prado at bat and Bourn never moves off first, and how many times do we see a double play in that situation. All the chatter about “lack of energy” on the blog really boils down to plays like this. The Braves spent the night waiting for something to happen instead of aggressively trying to make something happen. This is what the fans see as lack of emotion. Bourn and Prado seem like an ideal hit and run pair, but in almost a year that they have played together I have seen it tried once (and with success). I have seen far more double plays in that situation. I also didn’t see why Diaz was not used to pinch hit for one of the lefties in the 7th inning. Was Fredi thinking about a possible 10th inning situation at a time when the team was trailing and had a chance to tie or take the lead in the 7th?
Larry
June 14th, 2012
10:49 am
Kim?
Crickets…
jim
June 14th, 2012
10:50 am
Larry,
Daryl Strawberry was on that 1996 team, but I don’t remember Gooden. I think he became a Yankee later. Did you mean Strawberry instead of Gooden in your list?
Whiskey River
June 14th, 2012
10:51 am
@jim Hi You forgot to ask Chipper. HE’S THE BOSS.
Peter R.
June 14th, 2012
10:59 am
I really like Gonzalez as our manager. I think our bullpen has a nice foundation and all, but I think our general management is to blame for why the Braves were not as competitive as they could have been this season and the last. Dan Uggla has had a nice rebound, but Chipper Jones has been nothing but a drag on our payroll. Further, the Lowe signing was nothing but a screwed up decision. You have to hate how baseball works in the modern day with just how depends on how much money a team is willing to spend or not spend. But the Braves aren’t struggling with a 60 million payroll, they have somewhere around 85 million. They should be a more competitive team. They have about 30 million on the books this year that is not being used to its fullest capacity (Jones, Lowe, JJ), and that’s why they have not been as good of a team as they could be. The Braves’ General management should really reconsider their approach going into this coming off season. They’ll have some money to play with, and I think only 15 million of it or so is actually committed to players next year. So, they could just scrap it and start all over again, which after seeing how things have gone, I would be ok with. Just keep Prado, Bourn, Heyward, McCann, Uggla, Simmons, and Freeman and start by finding a 3-hole hitter who can get it done. Josh Hamilton anyone? The Braves have lost a ton of games in my opinion because they can never find a dependable 30 hr – 100 rbi man. When was the last time we had one? The Braves should have the pitching to get it done, but then again, the team would be depending on a bunch of young men who don’t have much experience. Might have to start by trying to get a fill in free agent starter. How much longer will Hudson last? Might want to take that 8 million next year and put it elsewhere. As illustrated my Jones and Lowe, old men can’t play baseball!
jim
June 14th, 2012
11:01 am
The 1996 Yankee core consisted of bought players — Fielder, Strawberry, Wetland, Key, Cone, Girardi, Hayes, Boggs, Raines
and home grown younger ones — Jeter, Pettit, B. Williams, Rivera, Posada, Leyritz
alex
June 14th, 2012
11:03 am
@reckingball,we should have , but we did NOT, that’s the point……
renegade1416
June 14th, 2012
11:04 am
Don’t remember if it was the 7th or 8th inning, but the Braves had 2 on with one out, trailing by one and facing a lefthander. It was the most critical time of the game and the Braves had Heyward and Hinske as the next batters. Why did Gonzalez allow them to bat in that situtuation when he had Diaz and Ross available to pinch hit, both righthanded hitters? Naturally Heyward and Hinske both made outs and that was our last threat in the game. It’s those types of situations where the manager has to make the proper dicisions and he’s not making them! Very hard to take as a Braves fan.
Plate Appearance
June 14th, 2012
11:10 am
A NEEDED CHANGE
Washington continues to pull away as Fredi continues to mismanage.
Come on John SCHUERHOLZ and Frank WREN, make this needed change — one that’s inevitable in coming: Hire A COMPETENT MANAGER!
Stop the insanity, this Fredi “managing” insanity!
Bring Ryne Sanberg in. Or even bring back Bobby.
But give us a manager who truly knows what he’s doing!
It’s painful to watch Fredi, needlessly painful! Endlessly painful!
Ben
June 14th, 2012
11:11 am
Most of these comments are a shame to read…
If I didn’t know the standings, I’d take a guess based on the attitude in the thread that the Braves are around 22-40
This is a very good ball team, folks.
Maybe you should read some other quotes from losing teams on certain nights, very often they will give credit to the winning squad.
There was no heart, desire, or passion when the Braves ran off 8 of 9 not long ago, or were the hottest team in April?
This was an unfortunate series, Game 2 was lost because Venters blew up, and last night guys didn’t deliver with RISP.
They didn’t deliver because they have no ‘heart’, that’s absurd. Kuroda is a good pitcher (contrary to what some foolish commenter said earlier) and did have great command.
The Braves could’ve taken 2 of 3 against the Yanks, should’ve definitely had 1… but sometimes that’s how baseball goes.
Instead of complete anger over a team that’s 34-29, I say let them regroup and get after it at Baltimore where I’m very confident they get a rebound series win.
jim
June 14th, 2012
11:14 am
Whiskey,
I am not a Chipper hater, but his attitude during this series was a huge turn off. He was acting like this was some big reunion, especially with his kidding around with Jeter, and Jeter (as well as Chipper) seemed to know who was going to win at the end of the day. Maybe the Braves should watch some film of the guy that wore the one number hanging from the grandstand that never played for the Braves. Jackie Robinson was the most intimidating presence on the basepaths of any player I have ever seen, including those who stole far more bases. He would never joke with an opponent. He was more likely to run him over. At the end of his career, he retired rather than hanging on for one more year after he was traded to the hated Giants.
A lot of the perception of lack of intensity comes right back to Chipper.
least of the east
June 14th, 2012
11:17 am
by the time the Braves get swept again next week in NY by the yanks, it’ll be over. time to talk about trading Bourn. salvage part of the 4 prospects you gave up and move on. Bourn left 4 or 5 men on his first 2 AB. can’t hit a good fastball either. got a lucky scratch IF single.
he’s not signing so get what you can.
they played with Jurgens and now got nothing. don’t do same with Bourn.
this manager is really not the answer. after the collapse last year and this erratic play so far, it’s time to look for someone else.
Wren also should be on a short leash. he’s no marvel either.
Mc Dowell is overrated as a pitching coach.
we have a usless owner also
aside from these items, Braves are just fine.
Larry
June 14th, 2012
11:17 am
jim.
Both.
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1996&t=NYA
Peter
June 14th, 2012
11:17 am
What did Barkley call the Hawks. a bunch of Nice Guys ?
Ditto on the Braves…. after losing they are always so kind to the opposition…..
It is a long season, so be aware all this pleasantry will continue, with the loosing !
Peter
June 14th, 2012
11:23 am
What’s Atlanta’s excuse ?
Your idiot GM tied up $30 million last season in Kawakami, Lowe & McLouth, 2 of 3 do not have jobs in the majors this season. Wait til Chipper retires and frees up some money for Frank Wren to squander on some more has beens.
YUP that about sums it up……. Wren got run out of Baltimore, so he was the perfect yes Man fit in Atlanta !