Uggla stays in lineup; Bethancourt fractures hand
NEW YORK — Reed Johnson’s previous success against Johan Santana – 16-for-31 with two homers — assured he’d have a spot in Saturday’s lineup against the Mets left-hander. But this time, Fredi Gonzalez wasn’t going to bench suddenly hot-hitting Dan Uggla to make it happen.
Uggla got a rest Monday when the Braves faced Phillies lefty Cole Hamels, whom he’d struggled against. In that game, Johnson played left field and Martin Prado moved to second base.
But Saturday, Johnson played left field and Uggla stayed in the lineup, despite entering with a career line of 1-for-21 with one homer and 12 strikeouts against Santana.
Uggla was 11-for-39 (.282) with six extra-base hits and 12 RBIs in his past 11 games before Saturday, including 6-for-10 with two doubles, a homer and five RBIs in his past three. He hit a two-run homer Friday.
“Talking to Walk [hitting coach Greg Walker] about him, he said, ‘Fredi, this is the best I’ve seen him look,’” Gonzalez said. “And he’s a threat, no matter what.”
Bethancourt fractures hand
Top Braves catching prospect Christian Bethancourt broke the fifth metacarpal in his left hand Thursday when struck by a pitch in the 13th inning of a game for Double-A Mississippi.
Braves general manager Frank Wren, who was at the game, said the injury was similar to one that Omar Infante had in 2009 with the Braves. Infante missed three months after being hit by pitch that broke the fifth metacarpal of his left hand.
Braves rookie shortstop Andrelton Simmons is also out with a broken fifth metacarpal, though he was hurt while sliding. Simmons is expected to return in about three weeks, which would be nearly two months after he was hurt.
The injury ended a difficult season for Bethancourt, 20, who missed more than a month with a hamstring injury early and hit .243 with two homers and a .275 on-base percentage in 71 games in his first season above Class A. The cannon-armed catcher is rated the Braves’ top position-player prospect and one of the best catching prospects in baseball.
Aug. 26 game moved for ESPN
The Braves’ Aug. 26 game at San Francisco has been switched to a night game (8:05 p.m. Eastern Time) to accommodate ESPN. It’s the second Braves Sunday game in two weeks that’s been moved to accommodate ESPN, which had already picked up Sunday’s series finale against the Mets.
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21 comments Add your comment
Ken Stallings
August 11th, 2012
7:58 pm
Bummer for Bethancourt. He’s pretty much out for the season now. But it should heal up fine for next season — might even be able to play winter ball if the Braves want him to.
Keeping Uggla in the lineup paid off because Santana only pitched 1.1 innings, surrendering eight earned runs! Uggla went 0-1 with a walk and scored one of those runs.
It’s Skip Caray line, so worth repeating, regarding Freddie Freeman’s bomb …. “That ball was K .. I .. L.. T — KILT!” I am estimating that the distance to cover to go over the big apple past the center field wall is at least 450 feet. Have not heard the “official” tale of the tape, but it should be at least that distance.
Runner-
August 11th, 2012
7:58 pm
Sweet
MyThoughts
August 11th, 2012
8:19 pm
Congrats to Chip Carey for calling out the dumb sob that Tweeted Joe Simpson was arrested for a DUI. The challenge was awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Got alot more respect for you Chip !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wendell
August 11th, 2012
8:31 pm
Bring back the Thrashers!
American Dream
August 11th, 2012
8:47 pm
We love the Carey family. Good job Chip.
BravesWin
August 11th, 2012
9:51 pm
Now, if we can just get Chip to turn down the “chuckle” effect on his sportcasts, he might be ok. He’s got a good voice, just has the chuckle like a nervous tic.
Stanley
August 11th, 2012
10:28 pm
I heard that Joe Simpson was arrested. Was it some other Joe Simpson?
YoungerThan ThatNow
August 11th, 2012
11:07 pm
It for sure wasn’t the one that works in the Braves TV booth. Personally, I have a lot of respect for all the Braves announcing crew… and especially Joe Simpson. He’s a solid individual and very knowledgable about the game.
robby gregg
August 11th, 2012
11:13 pm
yes Stanley it was Jessica Simpsons father that got arrested.
Bud
August 11th, 2012
11:20 pm
As much crap that is done on twitter, it should be shut down. Mores lies on that site than truths. I am happy and proud to say that I don’t have an account on twitter (never have), nor do I read any of the “twits.”
Comeback Kid
August 12th, 2012
3:33 am
Leave Joe alone!!!
bostonbravo
August 12th, 2012
9:44 am
good god alanfalcon you are bitter!!
sign uggla to lifetime contract (now that he’s hitting .218).
did I REALLY see uggla kissing his own bicep in dugout? or was it just some sick nightmare?
Christian Bethancourt (Braves) — BaseballMoves.com
August 12th, 2012
10:30 am
[...] Source: ajc.com [...]
bostonbravo
August 12th, 2012
11:24 am
hooray! “alanfalcon” comment deleted!! Too bad…I think he was blaming Fredi’s lousy managing ability on Obama or something equally as silly,…
Douglas Bracey
August 12th, 2012
11:28 am
Why can’t Chip Carey keep his mouth shut and quit bragging. He said last night when the braves were leading the Mets 9-1, that maybe the braves could put some pressure on the Nats. The Nats have won something like 9 out 10 games, that is not putting much pressure on them. I am a Braves fan, but I put the sound on mute, to keep from listening to him and Joe Simpson.
Posts about The Braves From Other Great Blogs issue #1 | Atlanta Braves Dugout Online | Atlanta Braves Blog
August 12th, 2012
1:45 pm
[...] Atlanta. But these days they just beat the once-great Mets left-hander. And beat hi more… Uggla stays in lineup; Bethancourt fractures hand – blogs.ajc.com 08/11/2012 NEW YORK — Reed Johnson’s previous success against Johan [...]
steve
August 12th, 2012
1:48 pm
First of all I do not blame Joe for calling out the idiot that said he got a DUI, does anyone check out the facts before they send out this garbage, also I love listening to Joe because he understands the game.
Bravo Fan
August 12th, 2012
1:54 pm
I’d like to know from someone with more knowledge and patience than me if someone could tell me how many one run games the Nationals have won this season? It has already got to be a National League record and it’s not even mid-August yet! Has to be frstrating for the Braves’ players. I show the Braves going 14-3 in their past 17 games — and they are STILL losing ground to the Nationals. Unbelievable. Has got to be some kind of record in there somewhere…
prattvillenolzfan
August 12th, 2012
2:59 pm
Bravo Fan…..
now we are beginning to feel how the San Francisco Giants felt back in 92/93 (can’t remember!!!)
San Fran won over 100 games, and still didn’t make the playoffs..
bostonbravo
August 12th, 2012
4:35 pm
don’t criticize Chip Carey…what if you had McCarver to listen to??????????
shadetree
August 12th, 2012
7:06 pm
How bout them Braves
How bout that Hoss
How bout the Jay Hey kid
How bout that Freeman and no Sophmore jinks
How bout that Prado and keep him a Brave always
How bout that Bourne and pay him 5 years and $60 million. Get’er done Wren
How bout that Glavine (I mean Maholm)
How bout that starter Medlen Keep him a starter please
four days ago I stated Uggla was going to get going. This was based upon the long fly out to rightfield. That statement has come true
While the Braves have been playing great baseball and so have the Nats it is important to realize that they are both right now and have been playing poor teams and the stretch coming up will answer all questions.
The standing at September 1st will be a good indicator.
Go Braves