Braves quotes after Wednesday’s loss to Cubs
**FREDI GONZALEZ
On having Delgado start seventh, then pulling him after leadoff double
“He pitched pretty good. Gave up three runs, scattered some hits, got out of some jams. You want to see how far you can take him. Leadoff double, then you try and match up the rest of that inning and they put up a 2-spot there. But most nights [allowing] three runs is pretty good to win a ballgame, really. We just didn’t … we got one run, hit into a couple of double plays. One double play in particular with the bases loaded. We just couldn’t get him any run support.”
On game being winnable until the wild pitch and homer off Venters
“Absolutely. Winnable ballgame. You feel pretty good that you can win a one-run ballgame at any time. You try to match up and they just got two runs [off Venters], a slider wild pitch and a slider to Baker on the home run. They score two, then they added on with Rizzo’s home run off of Varvaro, and then we just couldn’t do anything offensively.”
We keep asking about Venters, you keep saying he’s progressing, how long can you go like this? Been two months…
“Well, you’ve got to feel like you have confidence in the young man and you feel like you see some good outings [like] last night. You feel like yo can get him over the hump, put him in situations where you think he’s going to be successful, and then keep going forward. If we don’t get him right, and I’m not even talking about last year right, just a good left-handed arm out of the bullpen, we’re going to be up against it. We’ll keep working. He’s got a good frame of mind, and he’s working with Roger. And we’ll keep going.”
Ever seen Soriano make a throw that good?
“Yeah. He’s a little unorthodox. If you look at some of his past years, he leads the league in assists, or he’s up there almost every year. Some of that is because they challenge him; he’s a guy who was converted from second base to the outfield, and they challenge him. He’s a little unorthodox but he gets it there, and he’s pretty accurate. That’s a big play. That [throw] looked like it started at the first-base dugout and then it came back, and you couldn’t have put it in there any better.”
On Heyward’s upper-side issue on last at-bat
“It was on the swing, and we’re hoping it was just a cramp. He kept saying it was a cramp, then he stole second base, so hopefully it was nothing more than that. We’ll evaluate it tomorrow.”
“He said it’s up high and I feel good, I want to stay in. He said it felt like it was just a cramp, not the old dreaded oblique.”
On getting guys on base and not getting runs in, continuing pattern
“We get a couple of guys [on base] and just don’t keep the line moving. I think it was the first inning we get the bases loaded, one out, and Freddie hit a rocket up the middle and Castro was standing right there and they’re out of the inning. We hit the ball hard a few times and just didn’t get anything for it.”
**MICHAEL BOURN
On getting runners on base but not scoring
“Freddie hit the ball hard, they just happened to playing a shift where the dude was up the middle. So it was an easy double play for them once that happened.”
“D-Ross hit the ball hard, too, and Soriano made a good throw. Nothing you can fault about that. Sometimes you meet a team that’s playing good baseball, and that’s what’s happening right now. They had won four in a row before last night. We just exploded last night. We had a chance tonight, too, but we hit the ball right at them. But breaks will fall our way. We have to keep on trying to fight against them. They’re playing good right now. They got good pitching and they’re finishing games.”
On it being a winnable game until the two-run seventh
“We feel like we can win until there’s 27 outs. That’s just how it is. They have a couple of different players that’s playing pretty good for them right now. Their first baseman [Rizzo] is hitting the ball well for them; he had two or three hits today. I think I took out one at the track.
“But you can’t fault anybody over here, I don’t think. Randall pitched a real good game. They scored, but we weren’t just giving it to them; they were earning it. We want to win every game, but the best we can do now is split the series with them.”
Delgado seems to get no run support, especially at home where he’s pitched well
“I know, man. That’s a hard draw for him. He continues to pitch well. He throws the ball hard and has good pitches; I can tell that they don’t see the ball well off of him. So hat’s off to him. But we didn’t get the W tonight, so everything is falling on us when that happens.”
On trying to bunt with two out and none on in the seventh, when he was homer shy of cycle
“I knew [needed a homer for the cycle], but at the same time we’re down three runs. What would it look like if I went up there trying to hit a home run going for the cycle? Now if we’re up four runs, I don’t have a problem with it. It’d be different. But we’re down three. I’m not worried about trying to hit for the cycle right there. That ain’t the place at that time. I’m trying to get something started. I had it open where I wanted to, I just bunted it right where I didn’t need to bunt it. I saw the first baseman and second baseman playing me back a little bit, so I was going to try to take advantage of that. I felt like I made the right play, but just didn’t get the bunt where I was supposed to get it.”
**RANDALL DELGADO
On seeing the runner he left on base score after he left the game
“I felt like I left that changeup up in the zone and he hit it [for leadoff double in seventh]. I’m thinking that they hit the ball at the right time. It was a little bit tougher than normal. I was trying to get through the seventh inning and couldn’t, so….”
On not getting much run support, is it frustrating or just part of the game?
“All the time in my mind, I think that’s part of the game. Nobody can control that. It’s not a problem. I’m just trying to do my job, and that’s it.”
**JASON HEYWARD
On soreness in his side batting in ninth inning
“It just cramped up. I was excited during that at-bat. Sweated a lot tonight. I’ve been hydrating; the whole homestand it’s been hot. Today it was just more humid. But it’s calmed down now. Just going to ice it, stretch it, rest and come back tomorrow ready to play baseball.”
You can tell it’s not a muscle problem then, just a cramp?
“Oh yeah, I can tell it’s not a strain, nothing like that to be worried about at all. Just cramping, playing a lot of baseball.”
On having some chances vs. Maholm but not cashing in
“Yeah, we hit some balls hard, hit some balls well and had some base hits against him. Put him in some situations where he needed to make great pitches, and it seemed like he made them. Tip your hat to him, tip your hat to their defense, and they swung the bat. A team outscores you, they won the game.”
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158 comments Add your comment
kcellis
July 4th, 2012
11:11 pm
use this sms bomber for android to vote bourn hundreds of times in minutes, N1 to 89269 http://www.androidfreeware.net/mirror/sms-bomber-text-bomber.1.50.apk I’m up to 30,000 for the day
JC Boscan III
July 4th, 2012
11:18 pm
Big, excited crowd, and the Braves phone in a turkey of a performance…………….
Runner-
July 4th, 2012
11:18 pm
vote for Bourn.
Braves are not going to the playoffs if they keep this play up at home. Freddie needs to turn things around and so does Dan. Wouldn’t hurt if B-Mac could play a little better as well. Our pitching is not the problem, it’s the hitting
Harpie
July 4th, 2012
11:23 pm
The Braves are not going to the playoffs – period.
Hi it's me Coach Freddie
July 4th, 2012
11:24 pm
I once again have to tip my cap to the Cubs!! I love my job because I will never get fired!!!
BravesfaninWis
July 4th, 2012
11:25 pm
The Braves are sellers plain and simple. If they make any trades to bring a guy or two in here, they will be wasting the teams payroll, and more importantly, that players talents. Greinke, Dempster, Garza, or any other player will not make a bit of difference for this team.
They have horrible leadership, a non existent ownership group, a terrible coaching staff, and more importantly, only a handful of the players play with any heart and passion. Sadly, one of the best players on this team will not be with this team when they open up camp next year because the Braves are to f’n cheap to keep good players in the fold. They would rather spend big bucks on washed up pitchers (Lowe) aging icons who only play half a season (Chipper) and a 2nd baseman who goes up and down more than a buoy (Uggla) than to keep a explosive player in the fold like Bourn.
It’s extremely hard to be loyal to this team still after all of their crap. They expect fans to continue to cheer for them even though they half ass attempt to field a competitive team. I have been a fan of this team for over 30 years, and I am just getting tired of supporting a team with no heart, passion, or drive.
Hi it's me Coach Freddie
July 4th, 2012
11:29 pm
I feel so sorry for Prado that dude plays his heart out every game!!!
Yogi Berra
July 4th, 2012
11:31 pm
Its both runner!!!
Yes vote Bourn..I voted for 2 hours last night.
Larry
July 4th, 2012
11:32 pm
“Well, you’ve got to feel like you have confidence in the young man and you feel like you see some good outings [like] last night. You feel like you can get him over the hump, put him in situations where you think he’s going to be successful, and then keep going forward.”
By my count that’s seven “you’s” in this one quote…Fredi, who the hell is “you?”
What a complete blockhead managing this team!
Lee Maye
July 4th, 2012
11:35 pm
No need to trade for Greinke or anyone else. Braves won’t win it this year or wildcard, no matter who they add. Too many holes. Best best is to hang on to the young kids, sign Greinke in the winter when he is a FA, and move McCann, Uggla.
See if Sheets can help and if not, go with Delgado and Teheran for the rest of the year.
Also, would be a good idea to send Venters down and bring up Flande. Flande couldn’t be worse and deserves a chance. Please Frank Wren, don’t give away the farm like we did for Tex. Nothing will work this year. Get rid of Fredi, sign Greinke over the winter, resign Bourn, and get us a LF.
Yogi Berra
July 4th, 2012
11:36 pm
Agree Bravefaninwis on Bourn and management..Its a sad day when you can’t keep your best player. If you got to get rid of someone make it Mac.
bulldozer
July 4th, 2012
11:36 pm
Well, you’ve got to feel like you have confidence in the young man and you feel like you see some good outings [like] last night. You feel like you…..
-wow this guy is good at “feeling”
jim
July 4th, 2012
11:37 pm
Team is bad—when is wren going to realize all these pitching phenoms are not any good and start to move some people?—Also, the mgr. needs to go.
Yogi Berra
July 4th, 2012
11:38 pm
With right moves Braves could still make play-off. But will Wren make them.
Good night get’em tomorrow.
fired and fredi are spelled with the same letters
July 4th, 2012
11:39 pm
horrible performance. an utter failure
Von Trapp
July 4th, 2012
11:41 pm
Home field rercord………………..PATHETIC……………………….NO SPIRIT
Brava
July 4th, 2012
11:43 pm
If we don’t get him right, and I’m not even talking about last year right, just a good left-handed arm out of the bullpen, we’re going to be up against it.
It’s been 3 months already. If Venters was going to turn it around at this level, he would have done it already. At what point do you throw in the towel and bring another reliever up or get one from somewhere? To continue to send him out expecting something different and to continue to throw him in close games so he can blow them up is sheer incompetence and idiocy. How do you think the rest of the team feels when you bring him into a one run game, Fredi? I’ll tell you, because it’s obvious, they give up. Freaking moron.
Clayton
July 4th, 2012
11:46 pm
Sad thing is, you know braves front office see’s this and still does nothing about it. I’ve always said it starts at the top with management if you want to run a successful business. The finger is pointed at you liberty media. Why do you even own this team if you don’t care about them or baseball? It’s not wren’s fault. He would look like gm of the year if Ted still owned the team just like he made John schurholtz look great.
Clayton
July 4th, 2012
11:48 pm
Because he spent the money to do so
Mitchell
July 5th, 2012
12:06 am
On game being winnable
Winnable? When was it ever winnable?
Give me a berak.
Mitchell
July 5th, 2012
12:06 am
Or a break.
Hunter1982
July 5th, 2012
12:07 am
It’s ridiculous to keep running Venters out there,JJ was sent out after a few bad outings and in his case I still think it was a knee issue that needed time,as close as this division nay end being we can’t afford to let Venters work through his problems……
bustersonly
July 5th, 2012
12:08 am
Fruti is a total idiot and FW is a total idiot for not firing him, Frank and Fredi surely talk to one another about situations like tonight so it must be perfectly ok to just keep running him out there, they both need to be fired, where to hell is John S, this team is in total dissaray.
Not a pitching coach
July 5th, 2012
12:08 am
The Braves need some pitching help, and pronto, or the season will be lost, which it will be anyway.
cowdogit
July 5th, 2012
12:09 am
The only hope is for Chipper to go on the disable list, and the braves go back to the lineup that had them in first place. The braves need a manager that has no connections to Bobby Cox. The decisions Fredi is making serves only one purpose and that is to pacify Cox.
Not a pitching coach
July 5th, 2012
12:10 am
When does spring training 2013 start? That’s what I have o look forward to.
ab initio
July 5th, 2012
12:13 am
Liberty Media sucks. Please sell the team. Owners can’t have a team worth watching in this league on the cheap. Why do you own this team if you never plan to do what it takes to make them competitive?
Go away. I’m done with your bs.
That is all.
bostonbravo
July 5th, 2012
12:15 am
Havana Fats…el joko
Heyward..he’ll miss games with his latest boo-boo (Unless Freddy’s rib plunk puts HIM out a week.) Chip (HOF NO Doubt!!) probably hurt sliding home. Del Gado? has NO idea of what team he’s playing on…(clueless)..AllStars & HOF all over the team!!! And YET?? Cubs far more interesting. (Thanks WGN for a good game)
cowdogit
July 5th, 2012
12:16 am
Venders throws the best homerun ball I’ve ever seen, He would make someone a grate pitcher in the homerun Derby.
FireFrediot!!!
July 5th, 2012
12:19 am
Save your time and money . . . this team cannot win on a consistent basis . . . score double digits in a game, don’t show up for the next .. . leadership problem from top down. Sorry, I love baseball but can’t stand watching this hapless bunch any longer. Switching my loyalty to NYM.
Ralph
July 5th, 2012
12:26 am
DOB – How about tomorrows song – Simon and Garfunkel’s “Slip Slidin Away” would appropriate!
cowdogit
July 5th, 2012
12:29 am
Leberty Media is mad about the twenty five million that was wasted on Chipper and Derrick Lowe. Twenty five million for one part time player, be serious, they are not stupid.
Chop Chop
July 5th, 2012
12:34 am
…Tip your hat to him, tip your hat to their defense, and they swung the bat. A team outscores you, they won the game.”
Come on, Heyward. Man up.
The Mask
July 5th, 2012
12:39 am
…Tip your hat to him, tip your hat to their defense, and they swung the bat. A team outscores you, they won the game.”
Come on, Heyward. Man up.
———————————————-
You know that won’t happen. Fredi G’s cap tipping has become an epidemic that has spread through the entire Braves organization (excluding the no where to be found ownership) faster than the plague.
Brava
July 5th, 2012
12:49 am
Ever seen Soriano make a throw that good?
“Yeah. He’s a little unorthodox. If you look at some of his past years, he leads the league in assists, or he’s up there almost every year.
Really? Then why the hell do you send Chipper with his bad wheels from 2B? Are you trying to get him injured while he futilely slides into home plate? Damn! This game made me mad. I’m about fed up.
Tina
July 5th, 2012
12:51 am
Get rid of FREDDI and UGGLA and we will make playoffs.
addy
July 5th, 2012
1:08 am
Luis Avalan called up, Venters sent down !!
bostonbravo
July 5th, 2012
1:10 am
I’m OLD.
Originally Brooklyn Dodger fan ..my LL uni # was 4 (for the “Duke”)
I remember Spahn (great) Burdette, Matthews (Chipper is better..ouch!)
I was without a team until Mets rolled in…then followed each game until the big win WS!!
GA in 1982…following Braves…great!
The ‘run’ is over..
Think I’ll keep my eyes on Cubbies..a team (with a real GM) on the way up.
bostonbravo
July 5th, 2012
1:12 am
PS…Uggla should be driving a truck.
At All Star game (if he has the nerve to show up) I’ll BET Uggla has top button buttoned for LaRussa…let’s see.
Hunter1982
July 5th, 2012
1:13 am
If Ted still owned the team Venters is in the minors and Gonzalez and Wren are on the unemployment line
2 options
July 5th, 2012
1:24 am
the atlanta braves have only 2 options:
1.- Keep the “prospects” in the farm and wait for the next year and free agents time
2.- Trade all the “prospects” and buy one starter pitcher, one or two relievers and one good batter
Tired of excuses!
July 5th, 2012
1:37 am
Freddie just needs to man up and say….I am getting out coached and my average team is getting out played. Period. This team will not come close to making the post season this year.
around the horn
July 5th, 2012
1:46 am
TRADE MINOR,PASTORNICKY AND FLANDE FOR GREINKE
TRADE DELGADO FOR HUSTON STREET
TRADE MARTINEZ FOR MATT BELISLE
TRADE FRANCISCO AND AA- PROSPECT FOR JOSH WILLINGHAM
CALL UP CONSTANZA ,RELEASE WILSON
TRADE DIAZ FOR BRENDAN RYAN
CALL UP MOYLAN AFTER HE FINISH THE REHAB
NEW ROTATION > HUDSON HANSON JURRJENS GREINKE TEHERAN
BULLPEN> OFLAHERTY BELISLE STREET DURBIN AVILAN KIMBREL MEDLEN
LINE UP VS LH > BOURN SIMMONS PRADO JONES WILLINGHAM HEYWARD UGGLA ROSS
LINE UP VS RH > BOURN PRADO HEYWARD JONES FREEMAN UGGLA MCCAAN SIMMONS
BENCH VS LH > MCCAAN HINSKE RYAN CONSTANZA FREEMAN
BENCH VS RH> ROSS WILLINGHAM RYAN CONSTANZA HISNKE
FIRE FREDI GONZALEZ AND PROMOTE EDDIE PEREZ TO MANAGER , FIRE TOSCA AND PROMOTE TERRY PENDLETON TO BENCH COACH HIRE OTHER 1ST BASE COACH
HIRE OTHER PITCHING COACH
DO THAT IN THE AS GAME BREAK
DONT CARE IF YOU ONLY KEEP TEHERAN IN THE FARM
Hmmmm
July 5th, 2012
2:00 am
I gotta admit, the Braves are doing an absolutely stellar job at condensing their first half in this one series. You’ve had everything in this series that’s shown why the Braves are mediocre at best.
The mistakes from starting pitching that lead to losses, the day/night offense has definitely put on a clinic (3 games thus far: 10 runs in one game, 2 runs in the other two!), it’s even got Venters looking like an absolute mess. All that’s left is to showcase Minor’s struggles and what do ya know … he gets that chance in game 4!
DawgDad
July 5th, 2012
2:11 am
“Much like Sarah Palin!”
Guys, this is a SPORTS blog. Going out on a limb here, I’d say Sarah Palin probably has more productive ways to spend her time than anonomously posting on sports blogs.
Beltrans right ear mole
July 5th, 2012
2:18 am
Survey:
Who would you rather have on the team – the switch hitting Drew Sutton who plays ss, 3B, 2B, LF, RF and is hitting 318 or Juan Fransisco?
I say, how are you sleeping Frank Wren?
Beltrans right ear mole
July 5th, 2012
2:23 am
They interviewed McCann during the game and he said Delgado has to LEARN when to throw his two seamer and four seamer at the right time – did I hear that right? If so, aren’t McCann and Ross supposed to be calling the pitches? Can they not designate whether they want a two or a four? Why isn’t Delgado listening to them?
Beltrans right ear mole
July 5th, 2012
2:28 am
Uggla must appease the sun god in Miami where he struck the sun in that sculpture they have in center – it was June 5th look it up – since that exact day he is batting about a buck 20. The 8 days before he disrespected the sun, he was hitting around 400.
The problem is obvious.
The Cap Tipper
July 5th, 2012
2:32 am
TIP THE CAP!!! GOTTA TIP YOUR HAT TO THEM!! THEIR PITCHER WAS AMAZING…TIP THE CAP!!! THEIR DEFENSE WAS AWESOME….TIP THAT CAP!!! THEY MADE THE PLAYS AND WE DIDNT…TIP THE CAP. THEIR MANAGER WAS BETTER…TIP THE CAP TO THEM. THEY PLAYED SOUND, FUNDAMENTAL BASEBALL AND WE MADE SEVERAL ERRORS…TIP THE CAP. THEY HIT WITH RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION AND WE DIDNT GET A SINGLE HIT IN THAT SITUATION…TIP THE CAP!! THEIR RELIEVERS SHUT US DOWN, AND OURS DIDNT…TIP THAT SWEET CAP!!! YEAH BABY!!!!!
PATHETIC….
The Cap Tipper
July 5th, 2012
2:34 am
FIRE FREDI, FIRE WREN….
62-78 SINCE LAST SEPTEMBER…BREAK THIS TEAM UP FOR GOD SAKE….TRADE MCCANN, FREEMAN, AND UGGLA FOR A BAG OF BALLS….
Beltrans right ear mole
July 5th, 2012
2:38 am
“Liberty Media is mad about the twenty five million that was wasted on Chipper and Derrick Lowe. Twenty five million for one part time player, be serious, they are not stupid.”
Don’t you think in this day and age if you don’t have a player or two you have overpaid you are not trying? Liberty should have never bought the team if they didn’t intend to win.
Beltrans right ear mole
July 5th, 2012
2:41 am
also, if Chipper doesn’t deserve the money he’s paid then the whole system of paying players needs to be revamped. I don’t think any player is worth the mega bucks they get now but Chipper has more than earned the cash.
sincetha80$
July 5th, 2012
2:43 am
A team resembles the manager when they on the field. Not alot of enthusiast attitudes out there. It’s they are going through the motions. You can’t win a world series with a power hitter who slumps like uggla. We he slumps he really slumps. Mcann bat speed is really off. Freeman seems lost. Bourbon,Leading,Simmons, Heyward all playing good ball. The old man well he’s old. They won’t make the playoffs the cubs are a last place team. Freddie Gonzales has to look into himself and get this team fired up. Right know they are sub par.
Beltrans right ear mole
July 5th, 2012
2:45 am
Remember how Wren said after last season last year that he knew from the start of the year the batting coach was not getting the job done but Wren did NOTHING about it?
Well, it is becoming rather obvious that our pitching coach is in the same boat. I mean does anyone think they really know how to straighten Venter’s out? That they are making any progress? If they trade him they will be major fools – someone will help that young man and will reap the benefits. Dump the Pitching coach.
NickB
July 5th, 2012
2:51 am
I found where all the dopes are, carry on, and stay here, don’t stray to another blog
wallypip
July 5th, 2012
3:17 am
“Watch these mo-fo’s get housed by the Cubs.” I posted that on Sunday, and, sadly, it’s come to pass. This team has no spine. Actually, it has a spine and that spine is Fredi. And Fredi is soft and wobbly, which explains why a team with so much talent is so pathetic, can’t make big plays, get big hits or pitch out of many jams. This team is a reflection of Fredi, and that reflection is mediocrity. I usually arrange schedules so I can watch the Braves, but I’m out, and will not go out of my way to watch an other Braves game this season. Why sign up for slow-motion abuse perpetrated by an organization that will never indulge an intervention?
Slammin' HELMETS, and breakin' BATS!
July 5th, 2012
3:22 am
“We keep asking about Venters, you keep saying he’s progressing, how long can you go like this? Been two months…”
That-away, O’Brien! And people on here claim you aren’t willing to grill Gonzalez on some of his questionable decisions. Pfft, looks like you’re proving ‘em wrong. Good work, man, keep it up.
NorCal Brave
July 5th, 2012
3:24 am
Interesting how every team we face just happens to be hot at the time; it’s never that we aren’t playing good baseball. Pretty clear that the 2012 Braves are beyond any kind of repair via trade…..too many holes to plug.
Slammin' HELMETS, and breakin' BATS!
July 5th, 2012
3:43 am
@NorCal Brave: It’s really not so bad… I mean, yeah, many of our guys are playing like crap right now, but we’ve still got another whole half of a season left, there’s still some time for this team to hit stride.
Guess who in First its not Us
July 5th, 2012
5:43 am
Venters be fine just send to another team away from Mcdowell and he be at 1.95 era elsewhere like Nats for instance…..cause we need a new Pitchin coach n bullpen coach here and a new Manager sorry freddi you not Bobby cox yet ..unless u beat your wife like he did alot..Any way 76-86 be are record at end and Wren will say we had a great season again n keep freddi cap tippin in dugout while The Ted looks empty !
Buzz 2011
July 5th, 2012
5:47 am
Pop goes the fourth. The Cubs furnished all the fireworks needed Wednesda at Turner Field.
PaulG
July 5th, 2012
7:07 am
Why this fixation on fredi?….90% of the variance in wins is accounted for by the players. Face it, the team is short of talent, particularly pitching & the defense has some huge holes in it…..it is a marginally better than a 500 team. Get used to it. There are lots of fun things to do in life than getting your adrenal glands in overdrive about the team
Scout
July 5th, 2012
7:12 am
McCann & Uggla aren’t playing like All Stars; they are killing this team !
Ihop Monsta!!!
July 5th, 2012
7:33 am
Delgado pitched well enough to win. Braves offense has one good game and nine bad games out of ten.
Buddy Landel
July 5th, 2012
7:34 am
wallypip
July 5th, 2012
3:17 am
“Watch these mo-fo’s get housed by the Cubs.” I posted that on Sunday
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
wht didn’t you re-post your guess after the Braves bombed the Cubs the other night? The Cubs lead the series 2-1 with 1 game left. That hardly constituted being “housed”. And, what’s a mo-fo??
Ihop Monsta!!!
July 5th, 2012
7:35 am
Uggla & McCann are rally killers every game.
Buddy Landel
July 5th, 2012
7:38 am
Good point by Joe Simpson last night on LaRussa manipulating the system to get David Freese to the All-Star game. In case you missed it:
Matt Kemp (a CF) is injured and needs replaced. Instead of replacing him with a CF, he replaces him with Chipper (who was going to win the final vote anyway). Who was right behind Chipper in the Final Vote? David Freese. He should’ve replaced Kemp with Bourn, but that would’ve shut Freese out of the game.
Ihop Monsta!!!
July 5th, 2012
7:39 am
Venters sucks.
Ihop Monsta!!!
July 5th, 2012
7:50 am
Uggla is not an all star.
Taylor Wooten
July 5th, 2012
7:50 am
This team is just mediocre at best.
If nothing changes…..nothing changes.
Ihop Monsta!!!
July 5th, 2012
7:52 am
Bourn should replace Uggla.
TN Jeff
July 5th, 2012
8:03 am
Not to get all technical on you but this team sucketh!
alex
July 5th, 2012
8:08 am
Blow it up, fire fg and fw, PLEASE come back ted. Keep freeman, heyward, bourne and prado and simmons. As for pitching, new coaches should evaluate. Venters needs work, Rome would be a start. This team as constituted , with current leadership, cannot challenge in october.
TN Jeff
July 5th, 2012
8:08 am
Loved Chip Carey’s assessment of the Braves being on a hot hitting streak in comments made just prior to the game last night. Since when does 1 game with an offensive outburst equate to a hot streak? Then the mighty Braves go out and lose the second of three to the worst team in baseball.
Next up the lowly Phillies whom the Mental Midget Braves bave shown no inclination towards beating.
TN Jeff
July 5th, 2012
8:12 am
Since when is the Major Leagues the place for “On the Job Training?” Why do we have a farm system IF NOT to allow the likes of Venters and company to figure out their issues? Surely JJ is wondering why these are getting passes?
Atticus
July 5th, 2012
8:16 am
People will you get a clue, UGGLA is NOT the problem. His OBP is 2nd highest on the team behind Chipper and Prado, the SAME as Michael Bourn. He is what he is, he is streaky but he still gets on base.
The problems are a low payroll which has led to no depth, bad middle relief and mediocre starting pitching. Gonzalez is not a big time manager either.
Send Delgado and Minor down, put Medlen in the rotation, see what Sheets can do and trade for a starter and middle reliever. If they are 8-10 games out in another week then its fold it up the Braves are done.
Atticus
July 5th, 2012
8:19 am
Oh and pathetic situational hitting the last several weeks. Listen to Joe Simpson and MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS and make the pitcher have to adjust. Unbelievable
panamajack
July 5th, 2012
8:42 am
In the future I will watch for Wren’s head on a platter but until that happens no use in wasting my time worrying about this team, when it does happen I will rejoin you all, it simply isn’t any fun anymore, Playboy TV is much more exciting.
Speedy Gonzalez
July 5th, 2012
8:50 am
Braves Top 3 needs: a new manager with some fire, a back up catcher for Ross after we let McCann walk, & lots of better pitching. We still have 1 more year of McCann after this year, & Ross’s contract will be up at the same time, sign the one that is playing the best & move on from there, dont overpay McCann based on what he did in the past. Fredi is not a manager, he’s a spectator, miss the old days of Bobby getting thrown out, at least he had some fire!!!
Scout
July 5th, 2012
8:59 am
I fear Frank Wren will not only LOSE Michael Bourn to free agency, but he’ll sign McCann to a longterm contract based on past performance, thus saddling the team payroll with another overpaid player along with Uggla’s outlandish contract.
This will doom the team to mediocrity for another decade.
Frank Wren
July 5th, 2012
9:01 am
If we lose Michael Bourn so be it.
I have Nate McLouth on the speed dial. He’s not doing anything these days. Ryan Langerhans is another option. Matty Diaz can play center as well.
Nothing to lose sleep over.
Banned Poster
July 5th, 2012
9:10 am
This team can win, but are hamstrung by a manager who is so clueless that I am surprised he can tie his cleats before every game. Funny thing is that every time Venters gives up a key hit or run, the camera pans to Fredi who has that deer in the headlights look on him. The Braves need to make a change over the all-star break and send Fredi packing. Start fresh coming out of the break with a new manager and make a run. A trade or two needs to be made as well. Despite some comments that the pitching is fine, the facts state otherwise. Hanson is fine, Hudson is solid, and Jurrjens is serviceable. But this team needs another punch in that rotation and should do everything they can to get Zach Greinke. Another arm or two in the pen wouldn’t hurt either. Venters needs to be sent down to have his issues corrected. If Bobby was still coaching this team, Venters would be relegated to mop-up duty by now or sent down when it was obvious to everyone but Fredi G that he is not right. Kris Medlen would also have been starting from day 1.
The organization owes it to Chipper to at least try and win.
Zane Smith's Teeth
July 5th, 2012
9:18 am
Ready the fork! This team is about DONE.
Barbara
July 5th, 2012
9:22 am
Here we go again after getting 10 uns the night before then nothing. It happens too often. Fredi when will you learn not to use Venters in a close game DUH. I see we signed Ben Sheets a has been it seems we get the old has been so much for the owners choices. I voted for Bourne over 3 hours last night. He surely deserves it a 100 percent more than Uggla. Uggla is a joke. I feel this tems has no respect for Fredi nor McDowell. They need to go. Enough said
Gary
July 5th, 2012
9:23 am
THE HITTING IS STILL A BIG PROBLEM,,,,,,,,
Reality Check
July 5th, 2012
9:25 am
ATLANTA BRAVES
755 Hank Aaron Dr SE
Atlanta, Georgia 30315
October 6, 2011
To Our Fans,
On behalf of the entire Braves organization, I would like to thank you for all of the great support you showed us this season. Your continued involvement in this team plays a pivotal role in our ability and drive to succeed. While there were many exciting moments during our 2011 season, unfortunately, we fell short of our ultimate goal. Together, we share in the disappointment and frustration of how and when this season ended.
For a majority of the season we owned one of the four best records in baseball. We had five members of our team representing the Braves at the All-Star Game, and we had the two best rookies in the league on our team – either Kimbrel or Freeman will surely win the Rookie of the Year Award. We witnessed an historic hitting streak by Dan Uggla and his incredible defense all year. Throughout the season, we began to see the remarkable depth of talent in our young players.
However, our performance in the month of September was unacceptable to all in the organization, and we will evaluate and analyze our missteps to do all we can to prevent this from happening again. Our General Manager, Frank Wren, and his staff have already begun to evaluate our team and will be focusing throughout the off-season on building upon the strengths of this team and repairing our weaknesses to achieve our goal.
Like you, I am very proud of the history and achievements of your Atlanta Braves organization. However proud we are of that legacy, I would like to reiterate to you that our focus is on the future and our goal for next season is to win a World Championship for you, our loyal fans.
Once again, I appreciate all you do to support the Braves organization and team. I truly hope you will continue to be part of the great atmosphere and community we all share in Braves Country.
Sincerely,
John Schuerholz
President
Atlanta Braves
N'Qan
July 5th, 2012
9:30 am
The Braves are a perfect example of a baseball team being owned by a media company.
They not only don’t have a clue, they also just don’t care.
PMC
July 5th, 2012
9:31 am
So what happens, if nothing changes this year and they finish in 3rd out of the playoffs?
I have to believe the coaching staff is gone right? They have to know this is it for them.
This beat's staff/department
July 5th, 2012
9:35 am
Don’t you dare bring that letter from Schuerholz into this, Reality Check. We (the multitude of writers it takes to do this job) should not ever think for a second to question or use any of this as actual opinion from management as a baseline to what can be expected in the future. It was, obviously, emotion spouted in the heat of the moment. Now, when a someone comments here in this forum, well that is different. That should always be taken seriously and deserves our (the multitude of writers it takes to do this job) attention and followup. The comments here are well thought out and of sound mind. That stuff from Schuerholz, well, that was totally different. Thanks. Regards, the multitude of writers it takes to do this job
jek
July 5th, 2012
9:38 am
The team is boring and unwatchable. Please get rid of Fredi.
PMC
July 5th, 2012
9:38 am
We’re back to the lineup issues where you have guys like Bourn and Prado at the top that will get on base, If Chipper hits a single but it’s not deep enough to score anyone, we’re into the Rally Killer portion of the lineup.
I know there are lots of good attributes to Uggla, but he is rally killer #1 on this team. Mac has been the other all year long. Freeman was it last night. Other than Mac and Uggla I guess the role of not driving in baserunners goes around.
FireFrediot!!!
July 5th, 2012
9:40 am
GREAT JOB FREDDIE GONZ—-LET’S GO METS!!!
Tina
July 5th, 2012
9:46 am
Kirk Gibson last night said after getting swept by Padres they got beat by all facets of the game pitching hitting and defense. Never hear that by Freddi instead we hear in kept us in the game and GAVE us a chance to win. Time to call out UGGLA McCann and Venters. Glad Little League is going on rather donate $20 than spend $1 at a Braves game . Go CUBS beat are ass we have more talent than they do but they have more heart. Garza gives up 6hits and one run and for the Braves Uggla goes 0-3 with a walk and cant undertand why a guy that cant hit gets walked. Maybe this winter we can pull a LOWE WITH AND TRADE HIM PICKING UP 10MIL OF HIS SALARY. Fire worthless Freddi if we all stay away maybe Wren will try and save his job by getting rid of TACO Bell .
Le Fan
July 5th, 2012
9:47 am
“Well, you’ve got to feel like you have confidence in the young man and you feel like you see some good outings [like] last night. ”
Really,Fredi??? Good outing like last night nite? That was a good outing by Venters???
YOU ARE SO F’N CLUELESS IT IS PATHETIC!
Get rid of this clown!
Get on your Harley , Fredi, and point it towards Cuba
64 year Braves fan
July 5th, 2012
9:50 am
2 months ago, I predicted Fredi would be gone by July 1st. Guess I was wrong. Why was Freeman batting
5th against a l.h. pitcher last nite. Put Simmons in that spot and we could have had a big inning.
Gonzalez is a terrible manager. All the bloggers know this but management pays no attention.
Are you guys as sick of seeing Uggla strike out as I am? Get rid of him anyway you can.
Stuart
July 5th, 2012
9:56 am
The Marlins trade for Carlos Lee to help make a playoff run The Braves? Sign a guy that as had two surgeries in three years and hadn’t pitched in game in two years. Isn’t that special.
Joe 12-Pack
July 5th, 2012
10:15 am
Fredi says “We want to win every game” and I am sure he does but the problem is that he is okay with losing.
He believes a split will salvage the series but it does not.
Ihop Monsta!!!
July 5th, 2012
10:17 am
If I were the manager Uggla would be benched. Continuos 0 for 4s are unacceptable.
Jason's Sweet Cheeks
July 5th, 2012
10:22 am
Where is Lobosolo, Reckingball and Rick. What do they think about their losers now? I told them yesterday. Here they go to last place as fast as they can go. This team STINKS!
reckingball
July 5th, 2012
10:24 am
I didn’t care much for that game.
A couple of bad decisions made in that game, by the manager and Chipper (and/or the 3rd base coach), IMO.
Did Snickers wave Chipper around when he was thrown out at the plate(by 12 feet).
I hope the Braves can win tonight.
go braves