Minor unravels in 5th, punchless Braves lose 6-2 to Yanks
NEW YORK — Mike Minor took a four-hit shutout to the eighth inning against the Yankees a week ago, but a bullpen implosion reduced his performance to a footnote.
On Monday night in the Bronx, Minor didn’t need any reliever to turn his good early work to ashes and a loss. He did it himself.
After being staked to an early lead and recording 12 outs in the first 12 batters, the left-hander gave up three runs in the fifth inning to blow the lead and send the surging Yankees past the Braves 6-2. The win gave the Yankees their first 10-game winning streak since 2005 and the Braves their seventh loss in eight games.
“We’ve got to get past that,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said, referring to Minor’s tendency to run into a wall in a middle inning.
The loss also plunged the Braves’ record on Mondays to an inexplicable 0-10. They have totaled 16 runs in those games. The Braves have a 35-22 record the rest of the week, though lately it hasn’t much mattered what day it’s been — they’ve scored 16 runs in their past eight games.
“We haven’t battled at-bats like we were doing early on,” said Gonzalez, whose team has hit .163 and scored two runs in its last three games combined. “Stick your nose in there and battle. You see it in spurts. You see it from a couple of guys, then somebody will make a good play or we’ll hit into a double play and don’t keep the line moving.
“And that’s what we need. We need some tough outs, tough at-bats, aggressive in the strike zone. And we’ll do it. We’ve got the guys to do it.”
CC Sabathia (9-3) threw a seven-hit complete game with 10 strikeouts for the Yankees, just the latest pitcher to hold the punchless Braves under his thumb for all or most of a night.
Derek Jeter’s two-run, two-out, full-count single put the Yankees ahead 3-2 in the fifth, after Russell Martin’s RBI double earlier in the inning. Minor (3-5) labored through an eight-batter, three-hit, two-walk inning, then was brought back out for the sixth and gave up a Mark Teixeira leadoff homer.
“I felt good every batter, but I did have that one inning that was kind of shaky,” Minor said. “I couldn’t get the ball down and I started spiking my breaking stuff, so a couple of guys got walked and it was a big hit for Jeter.”
Teixeira’s homer was the 14th allowed by Minor in 48 2/3 innings over his past nine starts, one more homer than he gave up in 123 1/3 major league innings before this season. Jeter added a two-out RBI single off Kris Medlen in the seventh and has a .351 career average in 26 interleague games against the Braves.
Robinson Cano also homered for the Yankees, a solo shot off Anthony Varvaro in the eighth.
The Braves ended a 20-inning scoreless streak when Michael Bourn led off the game with a triple and Martin Prado grounded out to drive him in. Sabathia had thrown four pitches and trailed 1-0.
Six days earlier, Matt Diaz’s three-run double in the first inning gave the Braves the early lead against Sabathia. On Monday the Braves pushed their lead to 2-0 in in the fifth when Heyward and rookie Andrelton Simmons hit back-to-back singles to start the inning and Bourn singled in a run with one out.
Bourn had only hit for the Braves in seven at-bats with runners in scoring position, continuing a trend for their recently unproductive offense. Their hitters are 9-for-54 (.167) with runners in scoring position during the eight-game slump.
‘We had some opportunities earlier in the game to get CC,” Gonzalez said, “and like he always does he just kept getting stronger and tougher as the game goes on. We got first and second a couple of times and didn’t get but one run, and he got better and stronger. Then we gave up a couple of runs late for them to add on, and we just couldn’t get anything going.”
The Braves failed to score after getting a walk and hit to start the fourth inning, then got only one hit in the fifth when three of their first four batters had singles. Sabathia used 116 pitches (84 strikes) to churn out his 34th complete game and first of 2012.
Minor was charged with four hits, four runs and three walks in 4 2/3 innings, with seven strikeouts. Until the fifth he had allowed only one baserunner, an Alex Rodriguez leadoff walk in the second. Rodriguez was erased when Minor induced a double-player grounder by Cano.
In the fifth inning, Rodriguez had a leadoff single to give the Yankees their first hit of the night. It was Rodriguez who hit the grand slam off Jonny Venters last Tuesday, when Venters relieved Minor and gave up a single and walk to the first two batters he faced to load the bases.
Last week’s start was the second strong one in a row for Minor. He was 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA and .200 opponents’ average in his past two starts before Monday, after going 0-3 with a 9.95 ERA and .326 OA in the six previous.
He kept the good run going for four innings Monday, but then hit a wall. The same has happened to him several other times this season, when his pitch command suddenly abandoned him after a couple of walks or hits began an inning.
Asked how Minor could improve and start avoiding those rocky innings, Gonzalez said, “Keep running him out there. We ran him back out there in the sixth just to get him through that stuff. We see it a lot with pitchers. He’s plenty good enough to get through that lineup. We’ve seen it in spurts, now we’ve got to get him to rattle off four or five starts in a row to get him through that stuff.”
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189 comments Add your comment
eskippy
June 18th, 2012
9:57 pm
1
Chris Snow
June 18th, 2012
9:59 pm
We suck.
PMC
June 18th, 2012
10:01 pm
Tough draw against Sabatthia anyway. Got to tread water until they start hitting again.
Who Me?
June 18th, 2012
10:03 pm
watching this slow motion train wreck is so painful. Doesn’t anybody in the clubhouse get angry? Where’s the fire??
Wise Old Men
June 18th, 2012
10:04 pm
I suppose the time it takes to post the gamer after the final out is indicative of the scribe’s sense that things will turn positive for the Braves in this game.
Larry
June 18th, 2012
10:07 pm
I told you…
I’ve been telling you…
I’ll continue telling you until like more and more my indifference grows…
This is a team in dire need of a philosophical overhaul (the streaky, free swinging hacks with zero situational or circumstantial hitting ability born of Cox and bred unto Gonzalez) and an authentic major league caliber manager and leader of men.
What say you, David O’Brien?
BravesfaninAugusta
June 18th, 2012
10:08 pm
Minor is a very minor pitcher….. he’ll never be a 1-3 starter so they need to dump him and bring up Teheran. Look how good Delgado is now doing after being given a chance.
Jo
June 18th, 2012
10:09 pm
At least with cox we would win some games…..
The Bravenator
June 18th, 2012
10:09 pm
Another nonchalantly played game with a predictably “comfortable” loss. Expect Frediot to tip his hat to the Yanks for a game well played. Pathetic manager virtually assures a pathetic performance.
Batter up
June 18th, 2012
10:13 pm
If the Braves are down even by ONE RUN, you can put it in the LOSS column. The team has NO HEART and cannot overcome any adversity. They pad their hitting stats against lowly bottom dwellars. They either ALL can hit a pitcher or NOBODY can hit the pitcher.
mpimentel
June 18th, 2012
10:14 pm
C’mon braves we’re not in a playoff run or even in playoffs, isn’t time to choke YET!!!!
Chuck Simon's Barber Shop
June 18th, 2012
10:15 pm
@Larry
O’Brien can’t comment realistically. He wouldn’t get Chipper’s approval and the rest of the team would give him the cold shoulder when he’s begging for an interview
Ranger
June 18th, 2012
10:16 pm
Larry
You said it much more diplomatically than I could have. Another totally embarassing (lack of) effort. Batting for only 5 2/3 innings. ( 10 strike outs equal 3 1/3 innings of wasted at bats) Letting CC get by throwing only 15 pitches in the first two innings. Accidently getting a hit with a runner in scoring positioin–the blind squirrel analogy comes to mind.
Who Me? is also on point that no one (associated with the team) seems to see what is happening. We will hear about how you have to hand it to the Yankees (of course we did) and how well they played,
I think it was Mark Schultz that seems to have coined the motto of theis team “play well enough to lose”
Bill
June 18th, 2012
10:16 pm
Did to write the obituaries on this team..
Fire the ones to blame..Wren, Fredi and McDowell
PMC
June 18th, 2012
10:18 pm
I’m disappointed with all the strikeouts especially from the DH and the RF positions.
.
Ranger
June 18th, 2012
10:19 pm
I am not sure how much of this is McDowells fault. Where is Super Leo these days? I suspect he really pissed someone off if he is not given return considerations.
Fredi is a bit too passive. What do you think Ozzie, Dusty, Bobby V etc would be doing.
My canidate for amanger would be Joe Morgan (seems like a knowledgable hard nose SOB) or Francona both proven winner
mpimentel
June 18th, 2012
10:20 pm
Hey young braves players take a time to learn in this series…in one clubhouse you have an obsolet way of play, desireless, weak and cap’s tiping team…in the other clubhouse you have the yankees!
Larry
June 18th, 2012
10:20 pm
I sure hate that Michael Bourn’s last season with the Braves is going to waste. Same with Chipper. John S. needs to do a clean sweep of management and get someone who’ll light a fire under some butts. I did not mind them losing day after day in the ’70’s because I could only listen to them lose on the radio, but it’s getting old quicker than I am.
gotigers72
June 18th, 2012
10:20 pm
Minor is a AAAA pitcher at best. He could get better with some time at AAA, and maybe a head adjustment. Right now, his inability to get past 5-6 innings in most starts is unacceptable. Puts his team in a hole and wears the bullpen out.
He’s not the only negative on this suddenly ugly team. No hitting with RISP, bullpen comes in and allows add on runs, and the manager IS NOT CAPABLE OF MANAGING A ML TEAM! Dumping Fredi and sending Minor to AAA would be a good start. You can’t be holding your breath every fifth day, hoping that Minor will throw a good game. Look up inconsistent in the dictionary, and there’s a picture of Minor.
DawgNole
June 18th, 2012
10:20 pm
Larry
June 18th, 2012
10:07 pm
This is a team in dire need of a philosophical overhaul (the streaky, free swinging hacks with zero situational or circumstantial hitting ability born of Cox and bred unto Gonzalez) and an authentic major league caliber manager and leader of men.
What say you, David O’Brien?
______________________
You actually expecting a response?
Ranger
June 18th, 2012
10:20 pm
Enter your comments here
Joe Adcock
June 18th, 2012
10:21 pm
Who knows with this outfit? Has to be frustrating to everyone. Feel sorry for Chipper. Since you can’t fire 25 players you can dang sure fire one manager! Shake it up. Try someone else. Anyone else! What have you got to lose — except maybe 70 more games? Show the fans you care. If the new guy sucks as well, fire him after the season. I’ve always thought the players should fear their manager. Not be drinking and golfing buddies with him. It is the time for a change in my opinion. For better or for worse…
rc35
June 18th, 2012
10:21 pm
How many times must a team swing and miss
Before management gets a clue?
How many times must our pitchers get shelled
Before we develop them, too?
How many caps will be tipped till they know
That losing is not what teams do?
The answer, my friend, is not within their ken,
The answer is that we lose again.
Lil' Barry Bailout
June 18th, 2012
10:21 pm
Hard to believe this is the same team that collapsed last fall.
I crack myself up sometimes.
Fredi still the Coach???
June 18th, 2012
10:21 pm
HAHAHAHAHA …Only in Atlanta!..What a joke!!! Fans still put up with it. Stop supporting this coach now!!
Lil' Barry Bailout
June 18th, 2012
10:23 pm
Tip of the cap to Chipper for coming out of retirement to help out while a couple of our guys are banged up.
tvsportscaster
June 18th, 2012
10:23 pm
DOB, the 3-run double in the first inning last week against Sabathia came from Matt Diaz, not Jason Heyward.
Need a Winner
June 18th, 2012
10:24 pm
If i woke up in the morning and Fredi Flintstone was fired it would be a good day. I just can’t believe this team used to be winners.
GwinnettDad
June 18th, 2012
10:24 pm
With Beachy on the DL, I’ll be pleased if the Braves have a winning season. I’m thinking 86-76, not playoffs, at best.
Scored 2 runs. My guess is 18 for the week against the Yanks and Sox. Anybody what to guess along with me?
valyboy32
June 18th, 2012
10:24 pm
Is the ship sinking an is there anyway to get some bats down here!!
Philco
June 18th, 2012
10:25 pm
The “fire” was never started with this team. A Very uninspiring team to watch!! The play is indicative of the leadership of FG, and team captain Chipper Jones!!! If Matt Diaz is more than a pinch hitter on a roster…..your team sucks….oopsss (even taking into consideration of the injurys). Nice dude, good club house guy….but hello FW & FG he could not start for the Pirates!!!! Where are the improvements JS promised??? Name anyone other than FW, FG & JS that is not surprised this is a offensive challanged team?
.
Ranger
June 18th, 2012
10:26 pm
18 I’m going with 8–they will win a game and think they are the 27 Yankees
Bill
June 18th, 2012
10:27 pm
Forget Beachy..he is probably out for rest of year.
JRW7
June 18th, 2012
10:27 pm
Can we get a new manager that knows what he’s doing? FRANCONA!!!!!
Ranger
June 18th, 2012
10:28 pm
If have to wonder if most player do not have incentive clauses to strike out and/ or hit into a DP. I would also guess that striking out into a DP pays off big time in contract negotiations
Tom
June 18th, 2012
10:29 pm
at least they did not get shut out for 3rd game in row?
Bill
June 18th, 2012
10:29 pm
This is not a play-off team.. 3 games and out.
double
June 18th, 2012
10:32 pm
Errors & Excuses seem irrevelant at this time.
CC
June 18th, 2012
10:32 pm
Sure nice to see Venters come in while we’re behind. That way I don’t have to bust a gut while he’s losing the lead for us.
He STILL can’t pitch and appears to have no idea where his next pitch is going — regardless of where the catcher sets up.
bigdawg1
June 18th, 2012
10:33 pm
That 2-2 pitch to Jeter in the 4th was a friggin’ strike! That ump was chickensh#! for not calling that a strike!
ncbravesfan
June 18th, 2012
10:34 pm
DOB – when are we getting the always riveting postgame comments?
Oh, never mind, I’ll just pick any from the past week and a half. They are all the same excuses and pointless cap tipping anyways.
tman
June 18th, 2012
10:34 pm
Where are the 2 super hitting coaches when you need em? Where’s Chipper’s dad when he needs him?
I’d love to see Mazzone brought back. If I’m not mistaken, they have not won a playoff game since he left, or maybe a playoff series.
I’m trying to figure out the reason for all these prolonged injuries nowadays? When I grew up watching teams in the 60’s, you couldn’t get guys to sit out. Now with all the modern, supposed trainers, etc, they stay hurt. WTF?? They tell me at my job, the attitude and work ethic starts at the top and filters through the entire place. Nuff said. BTW, this was a different team with some speed and contact hitting. Is that really hard to figure out Frank/Fredi?? Constanza??
Disaffected
June 18th, 2012
10:35 pm
This team is not particularly strong in any phase of the game. Last year we had a lights-out bullpen and solid starting pitching. One of our All-Stars from that team just finished a stint in the minors and another could be headed there soon if things continue on their current pace. It might be the same roster (more or less) that started last year 79-53, but it’s not even remotely the same team. Seemingly everyone has regressed. I don’t know how to account for that.
Vel Crow
June 18th, 2012
10:35 pm
Is there a rule where the Braves hitters have to swing at a pitch when the count is 2-0. I”VE SEEN IT 3 GAMES in a row.
poppy
June 18th, 2012
10:35 pm
“At least with cox we would win some games…..”
Yeah, Vern Rapp could have won a truckload of games with the staff Bobby had…….
Henry D.
June 18th, 2012
10:36 pm
I can’t believe that Schuerholz is going to let Wren and Fredi destroy his legacy with the Braves, but that is exactly whet is happening. Got to get some new blood in here.
Philco
June 18th, 2012
10:37 pm
@mpimentel 10:20 ….VERY well said!!! And soooo true!!!
Ron Hyatt
June 18th, 2012
10:37 pm
I told you so. Last year, and the year before that. And again this year. No sense of urgency, no killer instinct. It’s the Braves Culture.
Tom
June 18th, 2012
10:38 pm
It will be cap tipping time soon
poppy
June 18th, 2012
10:38 pm
“DOB – when are we getting the always riveting postgame comments?”
Yeh, I get a kick out of those..
About the 5th inning;
About Minor and his conrol problems in the fifth;
About Chipper’
About Freeman….and on and on and on.
BRAVESFAN
June 18th, 2012
10:39 pm
Saving my A game for the end of the season.
Nurse Ratched [aka Randal Patrick McMurphy]
June 18th, 2012
10:40 pm
Hey… Havana Fats didn’t “Tip his cap” to the f’n Yankees?!? As if…
These guys are “All show and No Go”; seriously, there hasn’t been a change in ANYTHING since Fat Freddie arrived in town. It’s a shame, too, because they DO have some very capable professionals on this team. However, there has to accountability in this organization, but there is none. The players are currently saying all the right things, but that’s just what they’re saying – publicly. But you just KNOW there’s an abyss in that clubhouse – and it emanates from the managers office. It’s plain as day as it manifests itself on the field on a daily basis. When is enuff enuff?!?
I’m calling for Havana Fats’ head – he’s GOTTA GO!!! Do it NOW while there’s still something to salvage in 2012… they’re FREE-FALLING to the cellar…
William Smith
June 18th, 2012
10:40 pm
The Braves will finish less than .500, and not come close to making the playoffs. Anybody who believes this team cares beside a few players have Polyanna attitudes. To go to the games and support this team only makes matters worst. If you can sell a bad product for high cost why produce a good product. Does this seem like Rankin Smith and the Falcons. Chipper will lead the league in hitting at least. On I was thinking of T-ball.
poppy
June 18th, 2012
10:40 pm
Yes, and Chipper’s going to get every penny he can…..the club should be developing young talent at third base, but another year behind.
Lil' Barry Bailout
June 18th, 2012
10:41 pm
Hey Freeman…you and your sore finger are making Chipper look like some kind of Iron Man. Get your contacts in and go play.
Lou Penella
June 18th, 2012
10:41 pm
I love the fire in Gonzales especially when the ball hit Heyward in the hand and he has a nice passive chat with the umpire. How sweet. No passion no guts. Same old same old Braves. I won’t go to a game until they fire Gonzales!
Pal Joey
June 18th, 2012
10:41 pm
This team is not representative of major league baseball. This is a group of people so befuddled they can’t get out of their own way. And apparently they have no leadership to inspire them to snap out of it. So once again it is, “wait till next year”, only next year never comes. Pitchers cannot keep from having the one big inning where they throw away the game, an offense that simply can’t hit with men on base. What a dismal prospect for the balance of the year. There appears to be no fire in the belly of this organization. Just pathetic.
Ranger
June 18th, 2012
10:41 pm
Vel Crow
Do note there is no expectation to actually hit the 2-0 pitch
tristan
June 18th, 2012
10:41 pm
One thing you knew you got from Bobby? Support. This Fredi does not have your back when you are getting squeezed at the plate. He doesn’t have your back when you are hitting and the ump calls a strike which was a ball to Cano. This Fredi doesn’t have your back when you are “caught” stealing at second base contradicting what the replay shows. I don’t know what pics this guy has of Schurholtz and two twinks but they must really show everything.
Eric
June 18th, 2012
10:42 pm
The Braves organization is a complete JOKE. They could have been one of the best perennially, but nobody associated ever shows any damn emotion or desire to do anything but play the games as if they’re “business as usual.” They have talent, and yeah I know they have a few injuries, but not enough to make them play as poorly as they are. Ever since that horrific collapse last season, this team has taken on the persona of LOSERS. When one bad thing happens, everyone goes into the tank and they lose 8 straight games or 7 out of 8. Up, Down, Up, Down.
Why should anyone waste their money or time on this joke of a team? They shouldn’t, not until someone in Atlanta starts to show that they give a sh**!
shorty
June 18th, 2012
10:43 pm
Fire Fredi…it looks like the players are trying to force him out.
Vel Crow
June 18th, 2012
10:45 pm
You know the Braves are playing bad baseball when the Mets shutout Baltimore, who shutout the Braves 2 games in a row.
NorCal Brave
June 18th, 2012
10:45 pm
Yep, things just didn’t go our way again tonight; but we’ll go out there tomorrow, hopefully get another quality start and puts some runs on the board, eh Fredi?
Disaffected
June 18th, 2012
10:45 pm
45-52 over the last 97 games.
This team has way too much talent to be below .500 over a 100-game stretch. Heads have got to roll.
Billy
June 18th, 2012
10:46 pm
Braves had 7 hits and NYY had 8 hits..braves just dont know how to score.
tvsportscaster
June 18th, 2012
10:46 pm
Couldn’t agree with Fredi’s comments more the biggest difference in this offense right now, is that they aren’t taking the same approach at the plate, it seems as though they’re just up there swinging at everything. Go back to that patient approach and make the pitchers work and things might turn around.
Ranger
June 18th, 2012
10:47 pm
How about the next time an opponent hits a dinger–and that will be the Yankees sometime tommoroe, the pitcher fires the next fast ball into the gut of the next batter. OOPs these are the Braves that would show passion
Playing to lose
June 18th, 2012
10:48 pm
Hey guys, CC is going to throw the slider. Might wanna look for it. Maybe try to hit it the other way Heyward, McCann? Instead of looking like a 2 year old closing your eyes when you swing. Middle of the lineup is horrendous.
Hosea Williams
June 18th, 2012
10:49 pm
Fredi is the head to roll and Wren with him, this team is less inspired than the Bobby C teams the last 3 years of his tenure. Flat out embarrassing play and they don’t look like they care…..
ncbravesfan
June 18th, 2012
10:50 pm
“45-52 over the last 97 games.”
What’s our record in the last 97?
45-52, Coach.
45-52. How the hell did we ever win 45?
It’s a miracle!
Bunch of no good lollygaggers!
Ranger
June 18th, 2012
10:51 pm
Actually would be easier if they went to bat without their bats in the first two innnings. Then CC would have had to at throw at least 18 pithces—3 more than he did
Playing to lose
June 18th, 2012
10:51 pm
Bourn has the highest slugging percentage of anyone in the lineup tonight. That tells you all you need to know about these scrubs.
Ken Stallings
June 18th, 2012
10:53 pm
I think you’re being overly critical of Minor, David! Unravel is far too strong a verb!
The reality is the Yankees are a loaded lineup of quality hitters and they are all excellent situational hitters. Minor pitched five excellent innings and gave his team a good chance to score more runs, but the Braves hitters couldn’t scratch more than two off Sabathia.
The Braves just are not in the same league as the Yankees nor the Nationals. Yet, the Yankees swept the Nats at their barn before going back home to beat us again.
D.S.
June 18th, 2012
10:53 pm
Don’t worry guys — if Beachy is out for the year, it will be like signing a big money free agent when he returns without our having to spend any more money on payroll! Right?
…right?
Love and kisses, Liberty Media
BierBreth
June 18th, 2012
10:54 pm
This team shows a marked lack of character. If I’m watching a game I’ve recorded because I’m at work, as soon as the Braves go down a run or so, I start to fast-forward. This team phones it in every time they get behind. I don’t know if it’s a management thing or what, but this team is complacent, dull, and unmotivated. I don’t want to hear any anecdotal testimony about how hard every one tries. Bullcorn. When I see guys who are receiving millions of dollars flailing away at pitches out of the strike zone, I know they aren’t focused and locked-in. Now we’re about to lose Beachy for TJ surgery. See you all next year. What a friggin’ let-down this team is.
Ranger
June 18th, 2012
10:54 pm
And everyone else associated with the Braves, including their opponent know how they play and what it takes to beat them.
the Yankees and O’s did not play particularly good ball, but they knew that the opportunity to win would be given to them, so they siezed that oppoprtuinty andease into victory.
We don’t even make the other team play well
cowdogit
June 18th, 2012
10:55 pm
McDowell is the worst pitching coach in braves history – Fredi is either mentally ill or the dumbest manager in braves history . Schuerholz should be fired for allowing McDowell to break down the young pitching talent year after year . Chipper must be an idiot not to know he’s killing the team by not allowing Fredi to put his best players on the field .Liberty Media is not stupid , they are not going to increase spending after Wren wasted twenty five million on Chipper an Derrick Lowe .
Myside
June 18th, 2012
10:55 pm
Minor does okay till he gets a man on base then he falls apart. Hits and runs will follow and he knows it.. His problem has to be mental.
Philco
June 18th, 2012
10:56 pm
@ Hosea Williams 10:49, I could not agree mor!!!!. This lethargic approach and attitude started under Bobby and has just been perpetuated under Freddi. New approach, enthusiasm and direction is needed…..staring with new ownership!!!!!
GwinnettDad
June 18th, 2012
10:58 pm
Well, it’s not over until the fat lady sings, is it?
Except all I can see are enormously fat ladies warming up their voices getting ready to sing.
Elwood Suggins
June 18th, 2012
10:59 pm
Watching ESPN coverage and the analyst Aaron Boone and Rick Sutcliffe were upset that no one went out to talk to Minor in the fifth after the first hit noting that Minor was shook up and needed to be settled down. Minor was going to fast and needed to slow things down. Seems he falls prey to the same thing that afflicts Hudson in some of his games. Sails along and then a walk or a hit and he has to go to the stretch, the plate gets squeezed and boom, 2 or three runs score. May be the Braves need to find that sports psychologist that use to consult with the players
News reports that Beachy is headed to Dr Andrews for a possible tear in the elbow. Snakebit!!!
SLBReb
June 18th, 2012
11:00 pm
We do not score a run in two games and we get the first two men on and go ole brilliant game thinker FG decides to let Ross swing away (strike out) instead of bunting over. Borne (who is the only person on the team that know what the wood stick is for in their hands) gets hit number two and we only score one run instead of two. This is the most pathetically managed team ever fielded and heaven knows if anyone in the next level of management has any idea what is going on. Just a sad product being fielded right now.
Eric
June 18th, 2012
11:03 pm
Think I’ll just stick to watching AA Mississippi Braves. They suck too, but they actually look like they care sometimes.
Philco
June 18th, 2012
11:03 pm
@ BierBreth 10:54….Preaching to the choir! Amen!!!!!
The Mask
June 18th, 2012
11:04 pm
Playing to lose
June 18th, 2012
10:51 pm
Bourn has the highest slugging percentage of anyone in the lineup tonight. That tells you all you need to know about these scrubs.
—————————————————
Bourn is auditioning for a new team next year not named the Braves. He’s going to play out of his mind next year so he can get paid in the offseason.
DaveinNEPA
June 18th, 2012
11:04 pm
Let’s revisit some history here……………
In 2009 this team had a very good chance to win the Wildcard but instead finished that season with a 6 game losing streak.
In 2010 this team needed a win on the last day of the season to sneak into the Wildcard because previous week they had been in a funk that nearly blew that.
In 2011…………well, we all know what hapened in September.
In 2012, I seriously doubt that this team will have the opportunity this time to finish the way they did the previous 3 seasons.
Okay, so what do we take from this? IMO no amount of changing managers (yes, Fredi is bad but it’s not all him), hitting coaches etc aren’t going to fix the problem because this has all been happening with basically THE SAME CORE OF PLAYERS.
This team needs a complete organizational enema…………..flush the whole damn organization from ownership down. New blood, new philosophy. For now I’m done with this BS. Every day it’s like watching a rerun of “Groundhog Day”!!!!!
HailtotheRedskins
June 18th, 2012
11:06 pm
Bad news….DOB just tweeted a partial tear in Beachy’s elbow. Most likely Tommy John surgery coming up. Frick! The injury bug is biting HARD this year. Here’s hoping Medlen and Jurgens can find their groove again and pick up the slack.
JNick
June 18th, 2012
11:06 pm
What’s with all the mistakes in this article? DOB, you been drinking?
MALONE
June 18th, 2012
11:09 pm
Why is Minor the story? He would’ve had to hold the Yankees to ONE RUN to get a win. I blame the offense.
David O'Brien
June 18th, 2012
11:09 pm
Quotage after Monday’s loss (limited quotes because no time to linger in clubhouse after Beachy announcement)
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/06/18/braves-quotes-after-monday-loss-to-yankees/
HailtotheRedskins
June 18th, 2012
11:09 pm
DaveinNEPA….we don’t need to flush the system…we need to have a good run of good luck for once. Our starting pitchers 1-5 all need to improve. We need more CONSISTENT run production out of our lineup top-to-bottom. And let’s face it – Chipper’s time is up and we need to settle in with a permanent 3B replacement and get our lineup settled. Simmons, Uggla, and Freeman complete the infield – with Bourne, Prado, and Heyward in the OF, we have all the right pieces. Just need to get everyone to hit consistently.
The Mask
June 18th, 2012
11:10 pm
This year so he can get paid next year***
HailtotheRedskins
June 18th, 2012
11:12 pm
I think we have a team full of nice guys……and we need a bruiser – an attitude – somebody with a chip on his shoulder – somebody that’s going to go out and fire the team up. Dare I say a Rocker – but someone with his brash, bold, confidence to give our team a little bit of swagger. We don’t have that right now.
Grandpa
June 18th, 2012
11:14 pm
Time to pull the plug………….., start with President John S so we do not have to listen to a whining letter at the end of the year. Roger McDowell should of been bagged after his little incident with the Giants’ fan last year, shows he is a control freak and can’t take any criticism, even from kids……., how is he going to coach somebody up. JJ happened under his watch…. Frank R is toast and time to hit the road…., he does nothing.
This IS last years “boys of September” baseball team. This June will make September 2011 look good. Last one out…, turn off the lights……….. Terrible excuse for a team with talent! You out to be ashamed……, I am! My 2 season tickets seat will remain empty ……., next year…., it won’t be me sitting anywhere close to this team until management / owners change…….
Harpie
June 18th, 2012
11:15 pm
They’ll be under .500 by the end of this week…
Paxton
June 18th, 2012
11:15 pm
Can anyone remember what year we actually last beat the Yankees? Ever since the Wohlers “slider” disaster of ‘96 we have had a complete mental block with them!!
HailtotheRedskins
June 18th, 2012
11:17 pm
Grandpa – if you’re not going to use those season tickets, how about getting a tax writeoff and donating them to a good cause like “Big Brothers” or “Make a Dream” or something like that. You can stay at home and throw bricks at your TV with the rest of us but it’ll make some kid’s day to get to a Braves game in the Ted.
Fredi Will Screw It Up Somehow
June 18th, 2012
11:17 pm
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh BOY!
Let me get my tippin’ cap ready!!!
Bobby Dews
June 18th, 2012
11:20 pm
Where is Wren when the manager needs a firein???
DaveinNEPA
June 18th, 2012
11:21 pm
@Redskins
Donating tickets might be a worthwhile cause but the only way to drive off this current ownership would be to make Turner Field as empty as Fulton County Stadium was in the 80’s. The bottom line is the only thing that will make them pay attention.
Fredi Numbnuts
June 18th, 2012
11:21 pm
I tip my cap to the Yankees and all the other 29 teams with more character and heart than the Braves. We cannot compete with good AL teams so I told the boys to just mail it in and keep their spirits up.
Cannot wait to play some lousy teams so we will have a shot at winning. We can probably beat a Special Olympian squad, unles Livan Hernandez is pitching for the short bus 9. My brain hurts. I think a paper bag full of steaming offal could outcoach me.
Fredi still the Coach???
June 18th, 2012
11:22 pm
please leave freddi get terri francona on the phone
Grandpa
June 18th, 2012
11:24 pm
Already did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Haven;t watched a full game since last weeks blowing of 4 run lead by Johnnie V. Just bad baseball, bad coaching, bad managing….., do not need the aggravation. So I gave my season tickets to my churchs youth fellowship group this past Friday. The Braves need all the prayers they can get!
Harpie
June 18th, 2012
11:25 pm
Worst team ever!!!!!
wins-by-a-link
June 18th, 2012
11:27 pm
Get use to seeing this type of play from this team, As long as Liberty Media owns the Braves this is what you will get, A second class organization that finishes in bottom half of standings, The Braves have fared poorly since being sold to Liberty Media, Who has admitted buying the Braves for a tax break, Liberty Media is a large faceless Corporation (have you ever seen anyone from Liberty Media attend any team function? or any game) that is only interested in a tax break, Not winning championships.
HailtotheRedskins
June 18th, 2012
11:30 pm
Dave in NEPA – I suppose you were on the fire JoePa bandwagon as well when he had a couple of down years? You’re no better than the “Fire Richt” crowd who screams if we don’t win 10 games every stinking season.
HailtotheRedskins
June 18th, 2012
11:30 pm
Grandpa – good for you! Thanks for “paying it forward”.
Casey in Idaho
June 18th, 2012
11:32 pm
Where is it written that Minor HAS to be a starter and Melden HAS to be in the pen? Seems to me that Minor could provide three really solid innings of relief. Isn’t that what they say they need Melden for? But Melden has proved he can provide quality starts. Minor has yet to prove that. Seems like a switch would be logical.
HailtotheRedskins
June 18th, 2012
11:33 pm
Did any of you commenters play any sports beyond high school? Just trying to figure out who’s making some of hte ludacris comments on here. Where you guys saying the same comments a week ago, when we’d won 8 out of 9, after taking the first 2 from Toronto? The short-sightedness here is remarkable!
DaveinNEPA
June 18th, 2012
11:34 pm
@ Redskins
Nope, I thought JoePa should have retired but never fired. In fact I refuse to supports PSU anymore after what the Board of Trustees did to JoePa……but that’s another story. I’m here to talk baseball, OK?
Wayne stuck in AL
June 18th, 2012
11:34 pm
Somebody’s gotta say it: it’s time for Larry Wayne Jones, our magical 3rd baseman, to pull a Mike Schmidt and do an in-season retirement–NOW!! He’s swinging with his just his arms and nothing underneath, just like Chris Chambliss did in his final year as a Brave.
Retired 6 years too late
June 18th, 2012
11:34 pm
The Braves under Cox and Now Bobby Lite, is not to have any players on this team who hates losing and shows it. Chipper determine who is added to this roster i.e Hinske, Diaz and J. Wilson. As a blogger said earlier…………….Diaz could not start for the Pirates…………remember those Pirates of last year that could barely beat Parkview HS. Now he is here and playing. This organization is a JOKE and has been for several years. One freaking WS Flag under The MUCH BELOVE Bobby COX but Joe TORRES would have won 3 or 4 with those 90 teams. David Justice was the last BRAVES who had FIRE. No one since on this team has shown they are tired of LOSING. CHIPPER SETS THE TONE which is likeable guys who don’t make any waves by showing emotion @ losing. FIRE the whole MANAGEMENT TEAM including Scouting Director and all the freaking scouts. Don’t you just love Bobby Lite?
JAFO
June 18th, 2012
11:36 pm
And no idiotic smiley faces. How refreshing.
HailtotheRedskins
June 18th, 2012
11:36 pm
Wayne – I’ll second that motion. Chipper just isn’t recovering from the liner off his ankle and he just isn’t doing much good in the lineup right now. If he’s not 100% or close to it, he doesnt’ seem to lead and inspire the rest of the guys. Let Francisco get in there and take his hacks until Chipper is 100%.
D.S.
June 18th, 2012
11:47 pm
Maybe this team needs a good, old-fashioned bench-clearing brawl to get some fire going. Oh, I forgot – we’re too gentlemanly to throw at opposing batters, even if deserved. Just as well, I guess…with the lack of heart I’m seeing from this team, they’d probably all charge onto the field and go into a collective fetal position once they cross the first-base line. Either that, or they’d just shake hands with the other team and make pleasant conversation.
Don
June 18th, 2012
11:53 pm
Where is the owner when the GM and the manager need firing? Oops, the owner doesn’t care!
Don
June 18th, 2012
11:54 pm
Move to Winnipeg!
The Atom Bomb
June 18th, 2012
11:59 pm
Has there ever been another baseball team who were so consistently bad as the Braves? The only thing they will lead in this yeas is striking out. That winning interlude with Cox has been made up with the last two seasons. Be assured that the Braves will finlsh comfortably last in the division. What a sucky team…
Myside
June 18th, 2012
11:59 pm
It looks like last September was a true picture of the Atlanta Braves. They forgot that for a while this season but now are back on track.
JAFO
June 19th, 2012
12:09 am
haiil to the idiot. wake up. these are the same comments from last summer. have you bothered to watch this team play?
The ab’s by chipper and heyward were comical. Give in and get to the hotel for a cocktail. jh has absolutely no chance against a bb.
Gene
June 19th, 2012
12:09 am
There is nothing inexplicable about it. This is not a good baseball team.
nubdan
June 19th, 2012
12:09 am
Another frustrating game to watch. I feel the turning point came in the 4th and 5th innings. In the 4th, the first 2 guys reach and Matt Diaz comes up. Seems to me a sac bunt was in order. Then you would have guys on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out for Chipper. Instead Diaz hits into double play. That was a momentum buster. Same thing in the 5th. Chipper got a 2 out hit to drive in the 2nd run. If Freddie would have bunted with no one out, it would have produced a bigger inning. The way the Braves are struggling to score runs, any opportunity to manufacture one hear or there seems reasonable.
nubdan
June 19th, 2012
12:21 am
Enter your comments here
Sorry… I meant that Bourne got the 2 out hit..
Gentle_knight
June 19th, 2012
12:22 am
Ouch boss my finger hurts I can’t come into work today, or tomorrow, or the next day, or the next day, or the next day. Just wondering what the folks that read this think would happen if they told their boss that ???? Everybody uses their fingers at work and when their sore folks just suck it up.
Chico Escuela
June 19th, 2012
12:30 am
Is Jack Mckeon available ??
YankeeDawg
June 19th, 2012
12:58 am
Great time off the year for a Georgia grad from the North. If only the Dawgs were, A. In the CWS and, B. Holding on to recruits and gathering more. I still have faith in the Dawgs and fith in the Yanks goes w/o saying…
blackdog
June 19th, 2012
1:01 am
Take pitches right down the middle and swing at ones in the dirt! Harder and harder to watch this. won’t be any suspense at the end of this year. Teams score 2 or 3 and we can forget it, this offense is pathetic!
ACE
June 19th, 2012
1:01 am
The same old thing over and over. The braves are always a day late and a dollar short. They will fire Fredi when the playoffs are out of reach. Don’t want to put too much pressure on the new guy. We need a beat writer who is not Harley buddies with the manager and can call him out. I am sure none of these guys ever rode Harleys with Mike Woodson or Larry Drew so they have called them out constantly. Say what you will but their teams have made the playoffs.
ACE
June 19th, 2012
1:04 am
DOB said I was PROFOUND for saying he didn’t call Fredi out for fear of getting throwed off the charter, Harley in this case, like Joe, Skip, Pete and Don did back in the day.
Man in Black
June 19th, 2012
1:27 am
It’s time to FIRE THE MANAGER – this team plays under their talent level by far – they are UNDER MOTIVATED – just because being a lazy manager ALLEGEDLY worked for Bobby Cox (who sucked as a MGR in my opinion – 1 ring – 14 pennants? – that sucks) it is NOT WORKING for Gonzo who tuesday should gone.
Rowdy Garrett
June 19th, 2012
2:02 am
I heard the Yankees are negotiating with Bud Selig to arrange to play the Braves all 162 regular season games next year so they can become the first team in MLB history to record a perfect season with no losses.
urban redneck
June 19th, 2012
7:42 am
i think i’m about to buy really expensive seats to all of our monday home games. go bravos.
milesarcher33
June 19th, 2012
7:51 am
Regardless of the final score, the Braves played well last night. Minor was sharp. The defense was good. You win some and you lose some. No cause for concern. Go Braves!!!!
NYBRAVESFAN
June 19th, 2012
8:03 am
Dave O’brien,
Why is it that when yout write a blog about a game you never give any analysis as to some of the horrible moves made by the Braves (freddie) during the game. The plays I am talking about might not have impacted the final score but they surely show you how unintelligent Freddie is and why your next blog topic should be ” Braves need to fire Freddie ASAP!!!
Play 1- can remember which inning but it was early, we had runners on first and second and Freddie has diaz (our five hitter) attempting to bunt. After being unsuccesful and digging himself into a 0-1 hole he grounds into a double play. I ask you this, why is our five hitter attempting to bunt? Isn’t Diaz in the game because he hits lefties well? Clearly either freddie has no clue or confidence that being said why is Diaz bunting or batting fifth/
2) This play wouldn’t bother me as much if not for the diaz story. The following inning, we have David Ross up with two guys on a no one out and guess what , Freddie decides not to bunt and then Rossy strikes out. I’ve been watching baseball for over 30 years and for the life of me can not understand why you would allow a five hitter to bunt and not a 9 hitter. Maybe simmons should have batted ninth so we could have our speed in the 9-1 wrap around that Freddie loves so much.
Please respond and tell me what you think about these plays.
ijudgenot
June 19th, 2012
8:29 am
Nothing will change until the attendance in Atlanta starts to dramaticly go down. As long as fans who go to the games are content that they have a major league team in their city and spend money to see them win or lose then JS and Wren will continue with this smoke screen. They say what the fans want to here. “Braves are are good team, no changes needed, so we will stay pat”. So all the handwringing on this board won’t change a ting it’s the season ticket holders refusal to re-up next year that will make JS and Wren know that their snake oil sales job has come to an end. Then and only then will the necessary changes be made.
Poppy
June 19th, 2012
8:30 am
“Why is it that when yout write a blog about a game you never give any analysis as to some of the horrible moves made by the Braves (freddie) during the game.”
I think what you describe is left to Mark Bradley. From what I can tell DOB is just supposed to report on what the Braves say when asked a general question.
NYBRAVESFAN
June 19th, 2012
8:41 am
Poppy,
Thats all well and good however, the subject of this blog is; Minor unravels in 5th, punchless Braves lose 6-2 to Yanks.
That being said, i’d like someone who works for the ajc to talk about all the aspects as to how we lost the game
chc4
June 19th, 2012
8:59 am
This team needs to be a seller in July. This core group is going nowhere. McCann has clearly reached his peak and is now declining. He would bring alot in a deal. Extending him for 5 years would be the worst mistake the organization could make.
coachk
June 19th, 2012
8:59 am
same bs since 92. we lost our attitude and fire when we got rid of Justice and now we just are a bunch of white collar, no fire, punchless excuse for a team. I really like the make up of this team but as usual for 20 yrs no MANAGER. Last night in 2 innings, when we had our first 2 guys get on base to start a inning, did we ever think to bunt the guys over, hell no we hit into 2 double plays. This team is so predictable that any team just needs to hang around til they can score. Last night yankees 8 hits 6 runs Braves 7 hits 2 runs…Please get us a manager before we tank this season didn’t last year open anyones eyes.
hunter55
June 19th, 2012
9:22 am
Told my brother when the Braves lost the lead that it was over, a gutless team that reflects it’s manager. When will Wren realize that FG gets out managed every game, by far the worst in game manager in MLB. Wren has put together the all Tin Man club, no heart.
DogTheMan
June 19th, 2012
9:42 am
You know every year we try the same formula. Let’s get Chipper back, We wil be healthy, Bring in an old guy trying to recapture glory and look what happens. Nothing!!!! Thanks Liberty.. I guess next year we will try to bring back Roger Clemons now that he has been cleared!!!
DogTheMan
June 19th, 2012
9:43 am
@ Coack K!!!!! YOU ARE SO RIGHT!!!! We have no attitude or nastiness!!1
Charlie Rich
June 19th, 2012
9:43 am
Turn out the lightssssss, the party’s overrrrrrrrrrr
Charlie Rich
June 19th, 2012
9:49 am
How can you expect to win with a line-up like this:
McCann – Declining at the plate, average catcher
Freeman – Talented but makes Chipper Jones look like an Iron Man
Uggla – Leads the team in K’s and errors
Simmons – Good young talent
Jones – Overpaid, broken down cheerleader
Prado – Solid ballplayer
Bourn – Solid ballplayer; hamstrung on the bases by Freddi
Hayward – Overrated bust that plays a lazy game
Bench – Weak, washed up players that should thank the Braves for giving them a job
David O'Brien
June 19th, 2012
9:55 am
DOB – when are we getting the always riveting postgame comments?
Oh, never mind, I’ll just pick any from the past week and a half. They are all the same excuses and pointless cap tipping anyways. — ncbravesfan
Cool, thanks. Let me know if others would prefer to go back to no quotes. No problem skipping that process of transcribing and posting them, if ncbravesfan’s view represents the majority of you.
Donald Duck
June 19th, 2012
10:09 am
Can Chipper please swing at the first pitch a few more times? I mean, it hasn’t gotten old watching him do it in every at bat the last 5-6 games or so.
I-285 Perez
June 19th, 2012
10:12 am
The main issue with this team is that their business like approach that has been in place for 20 years only works when you have a good team and are winning on a regular basis. When a team is as inconsistent as the Braves are that business like attitude just seems to reek of complaceny and settling for mediocrity. It is sad to say that this team has to rid itself of the 1990’s formula created by JS and BC because it is no longer effective, times are different and younger players need to be motivated by other methods. Time to clean house top to bottom and build a new mentaility in the organization. Not sure we will win in Atlanta for a long time due to Liberty Media and the ridiculously bad TV package we are locked in to.
NYBRAVESFAN
June 19th, 2012
10:27 am
DOB,
ok so your reading right now. Please, please, please comment on Freddie’s in game managing and or what your thoughts are that maybe the Braves should end this relationship sometime soon. I know your in the media so you have to be nice to these guys but a little honesty critisism is essential to journalism. The ny reporters tell the truth all the time, why can’t our writers.
Mike
June 19th, 2012
10:29 am
I see Roger Clemens is now available. Just sayin’.
Donald Duck
June 19th, 2012
10:32 am
And why do all of these reports always put Mike Minor under the microscope? He gave up 4 runs – which is apparently insurmountable to a team with zero pop that’s full of .240 hitters. How about saying something about all of the rally-killing at bats, or the fact that this pitiful offense goes into the box flailing wildly regardless of the situation?
The fact is, the Braves have too many .240 hitters on this team to support a mediocre pitching staff. When you score less than two runs per game, you need 5 Greg Madduxes on your staff in order to have a chance. No one is consistent enough at the plate or on the mound to contend in this division – which appears to have only one good team anyway.
Chalk up 2012 as yet another putrid effort from an undisciplined, non-competitive team and ‘tip your cap’ to all of the teams in the NL East that continue to get better, because we sure don’t. Freddy is a boob
coachk
June 19th, 2012
11:17 am
hey Braves organization, tip your cap to this…until you fire that idiot of a mangager.. went to the game fri and had andrelton not bailed you out would have lost that game.. you will not see me at a game this yr!!! I just don’t understand how we completely have no idea how small ball is played and dictate a game instead of just freaking watching one!!!!
Homer the Brave
June 19th, 2012
11:26 am
Chipper Jones is holding this team hostage. He now contributes absolutely nothing. Can’t field anymore. Can’t hit anymore. And then he stomps around like a little kid when he is told to go to the minors for a rehab assignment. If Wren and company had any back bone that would cut him lose faster than they cut Livan lose.
Peter
June 19th, 2012
11:33 am
Chipper Jones is holding this team hostage. He now contributes absolutely nothing. Can’t field anymore. Can’t hit anymore. And then he stomps around like a little kid when he is told to go to the minors for a rehab assignment.
And he is getting divorced.so his head is possibly not in the game at times ?
But hey with his career, and this team…..why worry about it really ?
Wren has built a perennial boring team, and Fredi is so conservative, if they do not hit a home run they don’t win.heck they are having a hard time getting a single !
Slow and Fat are the way of the Brave’s ! Or lacking in desire, because it is a long season, and everyone needs to stay on an even keel…… So we stay on an even Keel as we loose…..
So all Brave’s fans……forget the excitement, get on an even keel and watch the loosing !
Homer the Brave
June 19th, 2012
11:47 am
Peter,
I am not denying what Chipper has done for this team over the years. And I know his marital problems are on his mind. But his sour puss attitude is terrible. Now he’s complaining about having to DH. He has shown a complete lack of respect to Wren and Fredi. If Chipper is as unhappy as he appears, then he should just quit now. No use dragging it out any longer.
NickGranite
June 19th, 2012
12:13 pm
“A couple of guys got walked” is a little misleading. He fell behind everybody in the 5th including to me, the most brutal at bat of the game. Minor proceeds to go 3-0 to his 2nd straight batter, the .198 hitting Russell Martin who knocked the 3-0 pitch into the left field corner. It was like an entirely different pitcher who looked like Minor showed up in the 5th.
fg stinx
June 19th, 2012
12:17 pm
You know DOB cannot comment about fg. Not the truth, anyway. He doesn’t want to be in trouble with the Braves, and get banned from the Clubhouse. Anyone in their right minds knows fg does not know what he is doing. But liberty media is happy, and our sports writers and announcers still have their jobs; so all is well, right??
ACE
June 19th, 2012
12:21 pm
NYBRAVESFAN, you can forget about DOB calling Fredi out for his bad moves, not going to happen. Then he couldn’t ride Harleys with him. Now if we were talking about Larry Drew or Mike Woodson it would be a different story.
ACE
June 19th, 2012
12:22 pm
Maybe instead of tipping our caps we should start tipping our helmets before the Harley ride.
Peter
June 19th, 2012
12:23 pm
Now he’s complaining about having to DH. Interesting…. just where are you getting the info he is complaining ?
I do know he is kind of a dick… my nephew played basketball with him years ago at Stetson and actually went to have “Beers” with him at the Hooters where he picked up the waitress, who now has one of his son’s.
He described him as an ego maniac.
ACE
June 19th, 2012
12:24 pm
fg stinx, You are so right.
IHEARTCARROLL
June 19th, 2012
12:24 pm
@DOB 9:55
I appreciate the quotes and anything else you provide.
You are a “sportswriter”. If you were writing fiction, I could understand people blaming you for the outcome.
Roger in Canton
June 19th, 2012
12:26 pm
Ok…so, the last two years we waited till the end to die our slow death, while being fed the same ole slop (health issues, slumps, no pitching, etc., ) at least now, we it is happening so early that the Braves will be out of it by the Allstar break, and well on our way to a fire sale…see ya, Bourne, Uggla, and the cliff hanging saga of Larry retiring…Larry, should have gone out with Bobby instead of hanging on, sapping the strength from the team.
This team is done and we have regressed back to the mediorcre days of the 70’s and 80’s. Best thing that happened to this team: Ted Turner buying it, Glavine, Smoltz, Maddox, and the players who had a heart!!! Worst thing to happen, Turner selling the team, and the current bunch of pathetic losers (Heyward, Freeman, Jones, Fatt Diaz, Mar”teen” PaRdo, Brian McCan’t and ‘Fat Freedi Gonzalez!!”
Glad basketball is almost over, done with baseball (Braves mainly) and waiting on football!
Pathetic!
Moe
June 19th, 2012
12:26 pm
Chipper’s average has dropped around 25 points since his return from the DL, and I can’t remember a ball being hit out of the infield. Is there something else going on?
Hooters!
June 19th, 2012
12:27 pm
The only thing funnier than ajc pimps are the clueless Braves “fans.” Last week they were SO full of how the home team was going to stomp the NYY a/k/a the greatest franchise in sports history.
fg stinx
June 19th, 2012
12:30 pm
Thanks, Ace. Something should have been done about fg after the collapse last year; but instead they bring him back to make us laughing stocks again. Until someone has the kahunas to do something about this, we are going to continue to lose and look like any games we win is because the opposing pitcher has a bad outing. Pathetic.
Roger in Canton
June 19th, 2012
12:30 pm
Chippa….leave the team and take care of your home affairs…pathetic that you portend to be a professional, while ignoring your family to be with da boys…who btw, you are hurting with your pathetic play…Take care of your family, then “play ball!”
Peter
June 19th, 2012
12:33 pm
Chippa….leave the team and take care of your home affairs……..
Well I hate to say it, but it has been taken care of… he made another woman richer then she should be with this divorce.. that is 3 women now that we know about. (2) divorces, and the woman he had the Hooters Affair with.
fg stinx
June 19th, 2012
12:33 pm
IHEARTCARROLL ….until DOB tells it like it really is, he is writing fiction.
shelbydawkins
June 19th, 2012
12:34 pm
This team is bad, bleeding, blue, bummed out, cast-down, crestfallen, crummy, dejected, despondent, destroyed, disconsolate, dispirited, down, down and out, down in the dumps, down in the mouth, downcast, downhearted, dragged, fed up, glum, grim, hurting, in a blue funk, in pain, in the dumps, in the pits, in the toilet, let down , low, low-down, low-spirited, lugubrious, melancholy, moody, morose, on a downer, pessimistic, ripped, sad, sob story, spiritless, taken down, torn up, unhappy, weeping, woebegone … TAKE YOUR PICK
Harvey's
June 19th, 2012
12:40 pm
Sore finger!! Lou Gegrig played with broken bones!!!
IHEARTCARROLL
June 19th, 2012
12:43 pm
The number one person responsible for the Cards winning the WS last year ?
Not Chris Carpenter who got the game 7 win. Not Tony La Russa, although he is a great manager. Not even Allen Craig who hit a go ahead homer and later robbed Texas of a homer, and who also recorded the final out.
Who then ? Bernie Miklas.
Never heard of him. He blogs for the STL Post Dispatch. If he had not stood up to managers and players in post game interviews and straightened that team out, they would have failed.
Does that sound idiotic ? The why do people blame DOB when the Braves suffer ?
fg stinx
June 19th, 2012
12:51 pm
I don’t think anyone is blaming DOB, or any of the other writers, but we are all sick of this dog and pony show. What we want, is someone to ask the tough questions, and get honest answers. But that is not going to happen.
fg stinx
June 19th, 2012
12:51 pm
I don’t think anyone is blaming DOB, or any of the other writers, but we are all sick of this dog and pony show. What we want, is someone to ask the tough questions, and get honest answers. But that is not going to happen.
fg stinx
June 19th, 2012
12:52 pm
sorry about the double post. This computer is a piece of crap. There, thats being honest.
IHEARTCARROLL
June 19th, 2012
12:56 pm
fg stinx,
If the Braves would break off a 10 game winning streak, DOB would have a hard time finding a tough question to ask.
Got to go. Have a good day.
David O'Brien
June 19th, 2012
12:58 pm
fg stinx: Please continue. Funniest stuff I’ve read in some time.
David O'Brien
June 19th, 2012
12:59 pm
ACE and fg stinx: Guys who are smarter and tougher than the rest of us. Have it all figured out.
NYBRAVESFAN
June 19th, 2012
1:12 pm
DOB,
Your here again!!! I’m begging you please, you do not need to rip on Freddie but at least admit and discuss that some of his moves lately are out of control
1) pitching gearin a guy called up from aas who pitches sidearm throwing to a left hitter in swisher.
2) bunting with your 5 hitter
3) not bunting with your 9 hitter
not to mention not being able to get this team ready to play big games. This team is better than it is, come on!!!
NYBRAVESFAN
June 19th, 2012
1:13 pm
DOb,
Please , please , please comment on some of these moves and how you think it is affecting the game. i’m not asking you to bash the guy, i’m asking you to be a sports journalist and comment on what you are seeing. please.
Atlrf44
June 19th, 2012
1:20 pm
look at it this way- at least the bull pen isn’t being overused…although with JJ back they better be ready!!
iTiSi
June 19th, 2012
1:22 pm
Worst year in MLB I can remember in a long long time. 1. The umpires are so bad you can practically smell them, and that’s at home off the TV, not at the game. Never seen such an inconsistent strike zone and as many calls that directly affected the outcome of games. 2. The Braves have the worst manager in all of baseball. He is in so far over his head, and so inept, he reminds me of that guy in Washington. No, not Davy Johnson, the guy in, you know, the BIG HOUSE! 3. The AJC sportswriters, except one(his initials are JS) are pretending everything is just fine with the Braves, and portray FG as the greatest manager to ever come along. Strangely, they always mention his good decisions, which are rare, but don’t like to bring up his really bad ones, which are very numerous. 4. The Braves owners, Liberty Media, only care about making some money, and do not care about putting a really quality product on the field for the fans. Mediocrity is just fine with them as long as they turn a profit and have some tax write-offs. The only thing that will make them see the light, is for fans to stop going to the ballpark. 5. The baseball fans in Atlanta are the most surprising of all to me. You would think they would not be so gullible and naive, and would stop supporting such a bad product that is now being put on the field for them. Wonder how many of them would go to a supermarket and buy “bad fruit” if they knew before hand it was bad? No difference really! Just wonder how really bad it will have to get before THEY see the light?
Doofus(Goober and Gomer's Smart Brother)
June 19th, 2012
1:31 pm
The Fredi Gonzalez Philosophy of Baseball: “The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there’s a 90% probability you’ll get it wrong.”
iTiSi
June 19th, 2012
1:41 pm
I left out one thing in my last post that is really wrong with MLB this year, so let’s make it #6-
I have never seen a year with so many “wimpy” injuries. Yes, some of them, like Beachy’s are legitimate and are going to happen every year. What I am referring to are the “tweaks here, and tweaks there” of muscles that have names I have never even heard of before. A lot of ballplayers, especially regulars, in the first part of the season, know they can get away with it and take themselves out of the lineup for several games over a little “hangnail”, or slight bruise. Guys in the past use to play with lots worse injuries. I would just imagine Cal Ripken is sitting back laughing at some of the injuries that are keeping players out of games today. It seems the Braves have their share of injuries, but so do other teams, like Washington did earlier, but they get through them and just keep on winning. There’s one or two players on the Braves who have been watching a certain player take time off for this, that, and the other, and are starting to emulate him. These things can only serve to hurt a team, especially when two starters are out of the lineup at the same time.
bobby
June 19th, 2012
1:50 pm
Nothing wrong with the Braves that 6-7 new position players and a new manager wouldn’t correct.
kwajbraves
June 19th, 2012
1:59 pm
Jeter had more RBI’s yesterday than the whole Braves team had in 3 days.
Toccoa
June 19th, 2012
2:41 pm
What happened to the great hitting coaches? They seem to have left town. Why don’t we send all the teams packing. One championship in how many combined years? New York teams have over 40 and we have one. These teams are just to painful to follow anymore. They always do something to fall short. The one time we did win a championship it was against a team from a city who has had it just as bad, Cleveland. Somebody had to win.
ACE
June 19th, 2012
4:14 pm
DOB thanks for the shoutout. Now if you would just do the same to the man who is getting paid to make those decisions for the braves.
jay
June 19th, 2012
7:15 pm
“WOW’ does anyone remember Kansas city , how they went from top to bottom, I think Schuerholz was the gm, it all starts at the top, they need a complete make over ,Maybe!!!!!!!
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