Braves quotes after Tuesday’s loss to Rockies
**FREDI GONZALEZ
On Hanson
“I thought Tommy was pretty good. He’s going to get the L at the end of the day, but I thought he did a nice job. He just left two pitches out over the plate. I’m not so sure that the Gonzalez pitch was left over the plate. I think he went down and got him a little bit. And the other pitch, he hung a curveball. But it’s just too bad he got the L, because I thought his performance was better than that, really.
On difference between this game and Monday’s 6-1 win
“Yesterday we get three runs in the first inning with no hits, and today we get nine hits and get nothing. I thought we hit the ball hard at people at times and then the seventh and eighth innings got away from us a little bit, a couple errors, a walk, a couple wild pitches. We’re better than that defensively. I think we lead the National League in defense and we didn’t look like it today. But again, we didn’t score any runs but I thought Tommy did a nice job.”
Was Hanson’s biggest improvement his fastball command?
“He had good fastball command and threw both breaking balls over, his curveball and his slider.”
Braves couldn’t get the big hit again, lot of wasted chances
“We had two on in the first inning, I think two on in the first three innings. Six runners on. We hit the ball hard. We hit two line drives to the left fielder. We hit a line drive to center. We couldn’t get that ball to split the gap.”
On some aggressive baserunning backfiring
“With first and third with Rossy? Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. You’ve got a guy at the plate who if he hits the ball on the ground it’s a double play, so you try to stay out of the double play. You’ve got a guy at first base that could steal you the bag. They executed it pretty good — the prevent of the double steal, they did a nice job executing. But at that time the score is 2-0 you try to scratch one out there and make it a one-run game.”
Hanson’s best start since All-Star break?
“I think it’s a positive with him. I really do. He did a nice job.”
One of those nights for the offense, with balls hit to the wall and caught
“Our line, if you would have flip-flopped them from yesterday and today, you could believe it. I think we got four hits yesterday and scored six runs and today we get nine hits and score nothing. That’s just the way it goes. You’ve got to tip your hat to those guys. They just couldn’t get people out when we had some people on base.”
**TOMMY HANSON
On his outing
“I felt good. I felt like my command is getting back to where it needs to be. Just a couple of solo homers, and then that last inning was a tough spot. But overall it was good.”
On his breaking ball
“Lately my breaking balls have been good. It’s been my fastball command that’s been the issue, and it was a lot better tonight.”
What’s behind the increased strikeouts tonight?
“Fastball command.”
On Carlos Gonzalez homer to break scoreless tie
“We know that he hits those backdoor breaking balls pretty well, but at the same time that is one of my strengths. Looking back now, it’s easy to say we shouldn’t have thrown it, but that is one of my strengths so we went with that. Myself and Rossy thought he hit a pretty good pitch.”
Both homers came with two strikes, anything you’d do differently?
“Yeah, the 0-2 pitch [Jordan Pacheco homer] needed to be buried. The one to Gonzalez, not so much. I mean, he got me. He’s a good hitter, and that’s not one of those situations where I’m going to beat myself up over it.
“To Pacheco, the 0-2 curveball, I wish it was in the dirt.”
Only two walks tonight with eight strikeouts, command progressed since All-Star break?
“Yeah. I walked two, but the last one was kind of intentional. Yeah, I felt pretty good about that. I think the biggest thing for me now is my fastball command and getting better with that.”
Progress at the right time?
“Yeah, I felt like I threw well tonight. I had a good side in between these last two starts, and hopefully I can keep progressing and getting better.”
**DAVID ROSS
On Hanson’s progress
“Tommy threw really well. He was making his pitches. Fastball command was really good today. He was kind of rolling. Had Gonzalez set up, and it’s one of those things were Tommy was nailing the backdoor slider, but the scouting report in the back of my head says don’t throw backdoor sliders to Gonzalez. I’ll take that one, because he nutted the pitch and it’s just a bad call by me, really.”
On the Pacheco homer
“We had the other guy with two strikes and that breaking ball just … it was a pretty good breaking ball, I don’t know. The guy put a pretty good swing on it, you’ve got to tip your cap.”
On the 6-0 loss
“I think the game got a little sloppy at the end for us, but we hit the ball hard early on against their guy. I struck out with runners at first and third and we’re running, that caused that double play. Just the big hit and me letting that ball get by me, not blocking that ball was a big run, took it from three runs to four. Our bullpen did a pretty good job. Just some things that went a little bad. My stats may say I had a good game, but I didn’t feel like I had a great game.”
On not getting a key hit when had so many chances early
“Yeah, and especially early on we hit the ball hard right at guys. We were having good at-bats, guys were hitting the ball hard, we were getting guys on base. We left a lot of guys on base. One of those things, we weren’t finding grass. Three or four line drives hit to their outfielders, that they ran down. You’ve got to be pleased when you’re looking at that. The game got a little out of hand, sloppy later. But sometimes that’s baseball at this time of year.
“I thought it was one of those games where you feel like you’re winning or you’re going to win, then you look at the scoreboard and you’re down two…”
“The great thing for me, catching-wise, is that Tommy just threw the heck out of the ball. I thought that was one of the his best outings that I’ve caught all year. He really commanded his fastball in and out, and his breaking ball – he’s getting the big breaking ball over to lefties and his slider wasn’t his best one that he’s had, but the other pitches were really good.”
— Quotes compiled by David O’Brien and Carroll Rogers
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71 comments Add your comment
chipontheroad
September 5th, 2012
12:27 am
bummer
NorCal Brave
September 5th, 2012
12:30 am
Well we know McCann will be back tomorrow, and wouldn’t be surprised to see Overbay spell Freeman. Fredi’s got lots of pieces to play with. It’s frustrating as can be that nothing is working offensively down the stretch, for the 2nd straight September.
Mike Cantrell
September 5th, 2012
12:36 am
The Braves are headed for dismal years. If you think this team is playoff caliber team , I will sell you some Real estate on New Orleans Waterfront. The Braves fell apart in the 1996 Series . Since that year they never recovered. I remember the Braves in the mid 80’s. Were headed back to those long summer days, we don’t have anybody who really cares about winning Championships . Chipper Jones won’t be here next year. Atlanta is in trouble !
tristan
September 5th, 2012
1:59 am
To Mike Cantrell’
YOu suggest that the Braves fell apart in the 96 Series? Up 2-0 and lose it? Pathetic take on things. Only one person here since then and he is as good as anyone on the team. The team fell apart the day Ted Turner sold it. The team also could use some bum Atlanta residents to start showing up. Believe me, when the Nats can outsell the Braves with their demographics and time being in each city, that tells you something. You idiots in Atlanta could show up to some more games each. Quit saying I will go some other day. GO NOW. Chipper called you bums out and you still won’t show up. Medlen called you out tonight. You guys stink when it comes to shelling out a whopping twenty bucks, taking your girlfriend to the park, and cheering on the good guys. Hang your heads in shame you bums.
yup
September 5th, 2012
2:47 am
Tristan, I was busy taking your Mom out. Didn’t cost me twenty bucks, either.
Onions vs Hotdogs
September 5th, 2012
3:00 am
Oooh lookin good 16,994 in a 49.351 seat Ted nice SRO crowd of seats too…this be see when Play a One game playoff here vs stlouis and they win game 16-0 ..And freddie krueger said Hanson Pitched well ….Wrong he stinks needs be release are sent away…we trade Medlan cause Frank Wren is clueless and he did get Baltimore finally winnin after he was fired and we Traded are farm hands n best players there…which means he should be fired n freddi canned for better manager…hey chipper jones will retire anyway after Game 162…..n watch as other team jumps on field mockin the chop and freddie cow tippin cap….And nats win east cause Uggla be back in Line-up n McCann to so another lost to Colorado Rockies a bad team money can buy….92-70 season back end to wildcard and we will back out again! And Frank Wren will pu his finger in air and say we Number1….as only chokein team to Make the Yankees team of 90’s….we had chance be team of 90’s But under dear Bobby Cox and friends he lost 91 92 series 93…they felt sorry for phillies n choked it n 94 they stroke it..and 95 was fluke win they were playin there clones the cleveland Indians..then 96 woke up them Ny Yankees came here we had 2-0 lead what cox do play with line up choke all last three games in atlanta…n lost game six at Yankee staduim…1997 another chokin movement best record we lose to Marlins have excuse blame Umpire real blame he was in dugout beatin his wife again……1998 the best blow job SD padres win here Manager change lineups as stupid do after that if was owner i would had fired his ass…But we kept the louse so could choke in 1999 vs Yankees n 2000 we lost 3-0 gone ……so in Retro why crowds are low at playoffs we choke !
brave braverson
September 5th, 2012
3:14 am
Uggla is tied with prado for 4th in runs scored, tied with bourn for 4th in doubles, and tied with prado for 3rd in Rbis. batting average and ops arent always an accurate representation of a player. he hits when it matters. i feel much better with him batting than janish or reed johnson when runners are on. he needs to be in the line up. and no this isnt him posting.
peachstealth
September 5th, 2012
3:16 am
Hey, I’m 130 miles from the Ted, I can only get there once in a while. You guys who live in the metro need to get out there and support the team
If You don’t have twitter, this is what Chipper said
Chipper Jones @RealCJ10
Come on Atlanta! The Ted was a morgue tonite. We need you in full force. We feed off you guys. No excuse for the loss! Just sayin…
Jim
September 5th, 2012
5:03 am
Fat Fred plz tip your cap.
Preston Thompson
September 5th, 2012
5:44 am
Some of you pious folks don’t understand not all of us live in shouting distance of the stadium. It a planning thing. When you have a farm to look after, well you bitchers don’t have a clue what makes the world go round.
A with the Braves, don’t feel so bad. You all knew when the season started what we had. Same team that blew it last year. When Beckett refused to be traded the Atlanta, that in itself should have raised a flag in your heads. I agree, when Ted sold the team the excitement was done and gone.
RBI
September 5th, 2012
6:51 am
Plain and simple. This team needs new coaches and management. They just do not see the writing on the wall.
jasons shrinking waist
September 5th, 2012
7:28 am
the braves are the tigers of the national leage
Winchester
September 5th, 2012
7:47 am
These guys are something else. FG thought Hanson was great. Yeah, loved those 2 home runs that started the losing infection! Hanson thought he was great, also. Only 2 home runs. No big deal, huh?
And Ross thought that Hanson was a delight to catch.
This is in large part what is the matter with the Braves. No heart. No passion. No professionalism. No talent.
Turn out the lights. The party’s over.
Ebenezer Snerdberg
September 5th, 2012
7:54 am
MUST AGREE WITH WINCHESTER…CUE THE FAT LADY!
cornjolio
September 5th, 2012
8:19 am
If Frank Wren gives Brian McCann a contract extension, the Braves will be doomed to mediocrity for years to come when you figure Uggla’s albatross of a contract.
Who will replace Chipper as team leader? His bat? Josh Willingham?
Who will replace Michael Bourn?
More questions than answers.
Fredi Gonzalez
September 5th, 2012
8:21 am
Hanson pitched so well he’ll start the wildcard game.
Got ya a little nervous?
Mark Twain
September 5th, 2012
8:21 am
No runs. Three errors. Sounds like a morgue? Do something exiciting like catch the ball, throw the ball and score runs. Won’t sound like a morgue then!!
Dawgdad (The Original)
September 5th, 2012
8:21 am
Well they collapsed last year and Wren did nothing in the off season, using the excuse that the liked our team. He said the collapse was just “one of those things”. The fans said from the outset, that attendance would suffer, because they failed to improve the team and there was no reason to believe the team would be any better than the season before. Seems the fans were right and Wren as usual, “misunderestimated” things.
Finished
September 5th, 2012
8:31 am
Tristan,
Do you really expect people to pay these high ticket prices to watch games like last night’s game. Most of the fans at these games are there for socializing anyway. Have you ever watched when the t.v. camera pans the crowd, people playing games on phones and mildly interested in the game. The majority of the fans are so frustrated that they have given up.
The Fact Is....
September 5th, 2012
8:33 am
The simple fact is that if the Braves want butts in the seats then they NEED to move that stadium out of the hood in into the burbs. I wouldn’t put a “Ron Jon’s Surf Shop” in the desert and you shouldn’t put a baseball stadium in a crime-ridden cesspool with nothing around except a dirty overpass, an old Olympic-torch-podium, and used hypodermic needles filled with crack-residue and despair… You put that stadium in Marietta, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Duluth, Kennesaw, or Gwinnette (and reduce the number of seats in the stadium from a ridiculous 50,000 down to a reasonable 37,000) and you’ll start seeing a lot more folks in the stands who are happier that they aren’t having to play “Urban Survivor” just to take the family to the ball park…. I’m sure this is just my “opinion” though…. So long as the Atlanta Braves are content to be used as a pawn by the corrupt Atlanta government I guess we’ll never really know, will we?…
Finished
September 5th, 2012
8:36 am
Braves Braverson,
Uggla hits when it matters?
How long has it been since you saw a Braves game?
The Fact Is....
September 5th, 2012
8:38 am
AND the team needs to play consistent baseball…. I can handle the wins and losses,,, but when this team plays so schizophrenically night to night it wears too much on the soul to want to show up and spend a fortune and not know which team is going to show up… There is a difference in losing a hard-fought game and losing because your team STILL hasn’t figured out what their identity is, what they are REALLY playing for, and how to step up and compete at a high level EVERY night regardless of the competition.
George Washington
September 5th, 2012
8:40 am
Hey folks, you have to admit you aren’t surprised by the way this season is ending. It’s deja vu all over again. We need some of the leadership qualities the Cardinals have. They are determined to win instead of afraid they’ll lose. I’m sure we’ll miss c. jones bat next season but I’m guessing the Braves will be much better without his attitude. What if you were a Yankees fan, how bad would you feel with that payroll?
Obee
September 5th, 2012
8:42 am
If you’re a real fan why would you give up when your team is in the lead for a wild card spot?
Rick C
September 5th, 2012
8:56 am
Finished, Uggla has hit 298/467/614 with RISP and 2 out. I’d call that hitting when it matters, wouldn’t you?
George Washington, the Cards are 5-5 in their last 10 games, same as the Braves.
Buddy Landel
September 5th, 2012
8:56 am
George Washington
September 5th, 2012
8:40 am
Hey folks, you have to admit you aren’t surprised by the way this season is ending. It’s deja vu all over again. We need some of the leadership qualities the Cardinals have. They are determined to win instead of afraid they’ll lose
*********************************************************************************
You know this how? Didn’t they recently go on a losing streak? Go ahead and accept a Hanson start as a loss. Win the next night.
Ralph
September 5th, 2012
8:56 am
Ross only had 2 hits last night and is only batting .271 so lets hurryup and put him back on the pine where he belongs and get Bind/Mac back in there and “keep running him out there”.
Dan Uggla
September 5th, 2012
9:02 am
Can’t wait for the post-season when I’ll be at Chipper’s Texas ranch doing some hunting with Chipper & Mike Hampton. Might catch the wildcard game on TV.
Duh.
jt
September 5th, 2012
9:06 am
Well, we have Overbay, man what a piece of shyt wren got here. This guy looked like a girl at the plate.
Someone please inform me why we got this guy??? While you are at it, what’s with the old pitcher who closed the game last night, what’s his name, oh yeah, Batista, god is there no end to the stupidity of Wren??? What’s worse, the dumb ass manager plays both of these losers.
jt
September 5th, 2012
9:10 am
Sure glad we got Hanson back off the DL, hasn’t done anything but lose since he got back, we had a good rotation going until then.
Nothing like destroying momentum eh? Should have kept him on it til next year, then sold him.
jt
September 5th, 2012
9:21 am
Poor Danny Uggla, got his feelings hurt. Well Danny Boy you have hurt the fans feelings for 2 years now! About time you got yours. Oh wait a minute you still get $500,000 every two weeks. = Should heal those inept feeling you have.
Danny, you have also lost your manhood with your fans, you are now a Janish, Mendoza hitter!
jasons shrinking waist
September 5th, 2012
9:27 am
Alot of Hype; Alot of letdowns
Two steps forward; two steps back
Offense completely inconsistent.
Pitching completely inconsistent.
The Braves are the Tigers of the National League.
reckingball
September 5th, 2012
9:50 am
I predict that they are going to start a winning streak, tonight.
go braves
Ted M
September 5th, 2012
9:50 am
The Braves need to start panicking.
what of it?
September 5th, 2012
9:51 am
how about asking Freddi why he keeps screwing with the 1-5 slots in the lineup. it seems like those should pick themselves.
PMC
September 5th, 2012
9:55 am
I’ve heard a number of times this year that this Braves team doesn’t give up. I’ll buy that, they certainly have and are capable of some amazing comebacks.
What they don’t say on the pregame shows, is that there are a lot of games when the Braves don’t show up. Last night was one of them. Day games after long night games are another general mail in job.
They mailed it in last night, they do that quite a bit. Just sloppy. Sometimes guys pitch well. Ok. But for professional ballplayers to not scratch against THAT team…. There is no need to even yell at them in the locker room. They should be embarassed with the effort they have come with on at least 10 games this season. Last night was one of them.
Barbara
September 5th, 2012
9:56 am
Same ole same o. Can’t hit with men on base. I don’t get excited anymore when we put men on base it rarely turns into runs. Pathetic performance last night again for offence and defense. Will never get to playoffs playing this way. No one seems to have that winning attitude. This team as the old saying goes “Shape Up Or Ship Out”
Nevada Roy
September 5th, 2012
10:18 am
The Rockies’ Pacheco would be a nice addition to the Braves in 2013 if they can pry him away. He doesn’t have a lot of power but doesn’t strike out a lot and is hitting .380 against LH pitchers and can play 3B-1B-Catcher.
robertatl
September 5th, 2012
10:33 am
What separates Fredi from Bobby is Bobby showed enthusiasm and tried to instill confidence in his players. The team played hard for Bobby because he wouldn’t let doubt creep into there minds. When the Braves are down, Fredi quiet demeanor seems to never change and the team senses it. He needs to motivate his players more and then you will see a new attitude.
robertatl
September 5th, 2012
10:33 am
What separates Fredi from Bobby is Bobby showed enthusiasm and tried to instill confidence in his players. The team played hard for Bobby because he wouldn’t let doubt creep into there minds. When the Braves are down, Fredi quiet demeanor seems to never change and the team senses it. He needs to motivate his players more and then you will see a new attitude.
robertatl
September 5th, 2012
10:33 am
What separates Fredi from Bobby is Bobby showed enthusiasm and tried to instill confidence in his players. The team played hard for Bobby because he wouldn’t let doubt creep into there minds. When the Braves are down, Fredi quiet demeanor seems to never change and the team senses it. He needs to motivate his players more and then you will see a new attitude.
robertatl
September 5th, 2012
10:37 am
Sorry it looked like my response was being lost too quick on the enter key.
bobby
September 5th, 2012
10:38 am
The pitching wasn’t good but it wasn’t as bad as the hitting and fielding. Stick a fork in them. They are well done.
JNick
September 5th, 2012
10:43 am
Yeah, and Chase Headley would be nice to get from SD too – but tell me, WHY would either team trade a quality player like that?
Ralph
September 5th, 2012
10:54 am
JNick – Maybe they would take JJ for one and Hanson for the other, if necessary throw in Uggla and Blind/Mac.
Navarius
September 5th, 2012
11:13 am
“But overall it was good.”
What a relief, in the record book there’ll be an * after the L(oss) with a footnote that says “but overall it was good”.
JAFO
September 5th, 2012
11:13 am
Getting your ass handed to you by a 1-8 pitcher is a good reason to lift the cap tipping moratorium? That’s a clown manager bro.
coach k
September 5th, 2012
11:14 am
it wont’t matter, cause we won’t win the division ,and in a one game playoff, if I am the opposing manager, I throw a lefty at us and we are done. RISP has been a problem ALL SEASON.
Let's Go
September 5th, 2012
11:48 am
The Fact Is…. @8:33
100% right. The Time Warner bunch thought they were getting a dream of a deal when they let Billy Payne and the Olympic Boys talk them in to taking the Olympic stadium instead of building a new one somewhere else. In real estate it’s location, location, location and Turner field is a perfect example of where not to build a stadium and that’s not taking into account logistics in trying to drive to the stadium. Fulton County Stadium had the same problems so what do you do, build one right next to it. If you are not going to put one right downtown like Minn or San Diego you got to build them outside of town in a area that has train/subway service. If the Braves could get MARTA to build a decent station and run train service, not buses, to the stadium I think crowds would improve but as long as it’s the way it is the Braves will never draw mid week, especially during the school year.
Ken Stallings
September 5th, 2012
11:53 am
As disappointing as the liners for outs with runners in scoring position was, the single most disappointing fact about this game was that in a metropolitan area with a population of around 2 million people, that only a shade over 16,000 would bother to attend a game on a Tuesday night for a team very much in the playoff hunt (in fact holding the first Wild Card by three games).
It is difficult to listen to people on this blog constantly complain about the players, the manager, and the GM when the truth is that the attendance this year is woeful. Watching the Rockies home broadcast (since Colorado is in my home network area) it was insightful to see them focus on the bad attendance at both games in this series.
With the attendance so paltry, the most damning statement came from the Rockies play-by-play man, when he said, “Are we watching a team three up in the Wild Card, or a team 40-games out?”
Population wise, the Atlanta area and southeast have the Denver area beat in every regard. Atlanta should be enjoying excellent attendance, but is trailing a cellar team by nearly one million fans already.
I’ve criticized Liberty Media, but perhaps that criticism is misplaced. Perhaps the reason for the payroll is primarily that people in the Atlanta area don’t care about their team as much as they should!
JMac
September 5th, 2012
11:54 am
Hanson will never be a good dependable pitcher until someone works with him and actually TEACHES him how to pitch. He is one of the best “Throwers” in MLB, but a pitcher he is not.
Peachstealth
September 5th, 2012
12:08 pm
The Tigers draw just under 38,000 in Detroit
The Brewers draw 35,000 per game in a metro of 2 million, the smallest in MLB
The Braves draw 29,000 in a metro of near 6 million
Why is that?
Dum-Bass
September 5th, 2012
12:21 pm
Somebody said earlier the Braves would start a “winning streak” tonight. Yep, a one-game winning streak! BTW, for all the “wildcard optimists”, that would be about like coming in third in the Miss USA contest. Ever watch their faces? “I won, yet, wait a minute, I didn’t win, did I ? ” Hilarious!
Dum-Bass
September 5th, 2012
12:24 pm
“Peachstealth”, I think several of the previous posts supplied your answers in advance.
Buddy Landel
September 5th, 2012
12:27 pm
Wrong dum-bass. Third place is final in a pageant (unless there is a scandal). Winning a wildcard means you get to keep playing. See: St. Louis last year.
Snidley Whiplash
September 5th, 2012
12:49 pm
Thank God it’s football season!
Stella
September 5th, 2012
1:05 pm
When it doesn’t take over 150 dollars for me and my husband to go see our team play, I’ll consider going to a few more games. As it stands now, we can only afford to go 2-4 times a season. We went to a Marlins game a month ago in Miami and got great tickets for $30 each. The same seats in turner field are $70. Insane!
Sweet Old Buck
September 5th, 2012
1:09 pm
Freeman needs some time off. He has struck out 12 times in the past 10 games.
Memo for Spring training: Conditioning for Freeman and Hanson. Get Freeman’s weight down about 15 pounds. Fix Hanson’s head.
Bill M.
September 5th, 2012
1:31 pm
If the Braves want butts in the stands, how about putting a team on the field that is exciting. This has to be one of the most boring teams that I have witnessed. The Braves have only one pitcher that knows how to pitch. I agree if the Braves gives McCann a long contact they will be doomed for years. If they blow the wild card, fire the whole bunch and start over.
Posts about The Braves From Other Great Blogs issue #1 | Atlanta Braves Dugout Online | Atlanta Braves Blog
September 5th, 2012
1:33 pm
[...] more… Braves quotes after Tuesday’s loss to Rockies – blogs.ajc.com 09/05/2012 **FREDI GONZALEZ On Hanson “I thought Tommy was pretty good. [...]
jek
September 5th, 2012
2:06 pm
Last year Freddie said “I think Derek Lowe did pretty good”.. and Derek Lowe remained in the rotation and lost the wc race. Hanson has lost whatever he had and things look very familiar. Why is Freddie so clueless?
Rick C
September 5th, 2012
2:14 pm
jek, it really doesn’t matter who is pitching for your team when you score zero runs.
Ken Stallings
September 5th, 2012
2:21 pm
The Braves have run many family-friendly promotionals for 50% off tickets and free food and drinks. I thought the metro Atlanta area had 2 million people. But, if it’s closer to 6 million, then the shame of the woeful attendance is far worse then even I thought.
Going to a couple of games a year is frankly all it would take to sell the place out if only a small fraction of those 2-6 million chose to go to a game.
And to call the team on the field “boring” and assert that as the reason? Well, that’s just patently foolish! You’ve got a first-ballot Hall of Famer playing his final season, and putting up outstanding numbers. You’ve got a young pitcher who’s looking more and more like an All-Star. And, you have a team with one of the best records in baseball. That’s the opposite of boring.
You know, maybe Atlanta doesn’t deserve the Braves, and while some bloggers here might have a slant on that, perhaps the truth is the Braves deserve better fans! I have watched a lot of broadcasts of baseball games from non-Atlanta sources, and the last two broadcasts showed a level of derision of Atlanta fans that I have not heard before. Sadly, the derision was entirely deserved!
16,000 odd in the seats is what the Braves drew back in the woeful days of the seventies and eighties, when the team was more likely to lose 90 than win 90. No one is baseball is going to have a lot of patience listening to Atlanta fans blame the team’s asserted lack of winning (or excitement) as “justification” to stop supporting the team by attending the games. Last night during those critical early innings where the Braves were repeatedly one hit away from breaking a scoreless game wide open, you could hear echoes in the stadium due to too many empty seats.
If you don’t support your team, folks, you don’t deserve to have your team! Even when I lived in Florida I always managed to attend at least one series a year. When I lived in the Atlanta area I had season tickets one year and attended multiple series every year.
Tristan's right
September 5th, 2012
2:27 pm
Weather was iffy last night. I realize that. I also realize that no one of any means wants to own the Braves when the team draws the way it does. Nice facility, one of the top five or so records in baseball
and we can’t hit two and a half million fans? Can’t sell out a playoff game? No wonder we don’t have a new owner.
Stallings is, too
September 5th, 2012
2:34 pm
I go to all the games I can, and I live in Athens. Six million in the metro area and the team averages
29,000 a night? Ken is right, Atlanta doesn’t deserve the Braves! Granted, tickets are higher than other teams in the league, the Marlins come to mind, and they have a new stadium with prices 20%-50% lower than the Braves. The Braves do constantly have 50% off nights, coupon nights, etc..
Atlanta should support them better, if not we can expect, as we have read here, no one to want to buy them.
JAFO
September 5th, 2012
3:16 pm
You guys must have been in a self induced coma last Sept.
TPic
September 5th, 2012
4:06 pm
A few reasons people do not go see the Braves…ticket prices (and the new policy of fluctuating those prices based on opponent, day of week, etc.), inconvenience of the stadium and access to it (how does a city of 6 million people with a major league franchise not have adequate transportation to that venue?), other options for baseball – sometimes better played baseball, such as Gwinnett, Chattanooga and Birmingham, very few players who always play hard, a bad manager, no playpff appearanes in several years, little confidence in the team’s ability to play through adversity (see 2011, Sept,), and players (leader? yeah, right) crying about the stadium being a morgue. How about not noticing or caring who is watching you play and start paying more attention to your deense…I’m sure there are more…
Ken Stallings
September 5th, 2012
5:46 pm
Doesn’t MARTA still have the bus shuttle to the stadium? When I lived in Douglasville, I drove to the park and ride MARTA station on the west side of town (just off I-20), and then rode MARTA to the Five Points station to hop on one of the many buses lined up ready to shuttle fans to the game. It was great because I always got to the game half an hour early and never had to fight traffic to get home. Half hour tops I was leaving the stadium and back in my car to drive home.
If that bus shuttle is still being done, then I don’t understand the statements about access to the stadium.
TPic
September 5th, 2012
6:06 pm
Ken, yes, the shuttle is still there and it is a decent option for those like me that when I go, I get there real early. It is a zoo on the way back though after a game. But, unlike the GA Dome, you have to take a shuttle and that is an inconvenience.
Let's Go
September 5th, 2012
7:23 pm
If you live 60 to 75 miles from Atlanta and you want to go to a game then you have to leave your house around 4:30, 5 at the latest, to go to a game and then you got to hope there are no wreaks on I85, I75 or any or the other interstates in and around Atlanta. If you work until 5 or 5:30 or have kids to pick up, forget about it. If there was reliable train/subway service to and from the stadium then people could catch a train around 6 and even with a change get to the stadium and in their seat by first pitch. The Braves draw pretty good on weekends but during the week it’s not worth it to get into downtown rush hour traffic.
brave braverson
September 5th, 2012
11:34 pm
finished, how long has it been since you looked at what i posted? and the numbers? apparently you cant read