Braves’ offensive woes continue in 5-0 loss – updated
Milwaukee – So much for building on what the Braves got going in New York. Turns out their 11-run outburst Saturday was just a hiatus from what’s been ailing them on offense.
The Braves scored only one run in the first two games against the Brewers and are in danger of getting swept in a three-game series at Miller Park after a 5-0 loss on Tuesday night.
The Braves have scored two or fewer runs in nine of their past 15 games.
Tim Hudson had another good outing but wasn’t perfect, which the Braves offense seems to have been demanding of its pitchers of late. He gave up a solo home run to Rickie Weeks in the first inning and nothing else until the seventh. But the way things have been going with the Braves offense, it might have spelled his doom either way.
The bottom fell out in the seventh inning for the second straight night. Monday’s catalyst was a Jonny Venters’ throwing error. On Tuesday it was a couple of close plays at first base that went against the Braves.
Andrelton Simmons couldn’t cleanly field a hard-hit Aramis Ramirez grounder but nearly (and might have) got him at first base but he was called safe. Then after Hudson grazed Carlos Gomez with a pitch to load the bases, Jean Segura beat out a double play to score the first of three runs in the inning.
“We really didn’t have a whole lot of luck go our way that inning,” Hudson said. “A couple hits that probably could have been outs, a couple close calls that probably could have gone our way, but it’s a frustrating game. I felt like I had one of my better sinkers going that I’ve had in a while.”
Hudson, who had only 80 pitches coming into the seventh, gave up four hits in the inning but only Norichka Aoki’s double on his last pitch of the night was hit especially hard.
The Braves, meanwhile, hit four balls hard to the warning track for outs in the sixth and seventh innings. Lyle Overbay hit a rope to right field with a runner on in the seventh inning but watched Aoki leap to rob him.
“They had some bleeders that kind of fell and timely hitting, where it seemed like we hit the ball hard and nothing to show for it,” Overbay said.
One residual effect the Braves might not have considered from their collapse last September was that it would give teams hope in 2012 that they could do what St. Louis did – coming from 8 ½ games back to claim a wild card spot.
Both the Brewers and Phillies are making a charge, with the Brewers winning 17 of their past 22 to move to .500 for the first time since April 24. The Phillies have won six in a row and 10 of 12. Both were within 4 ½ games of the Cardinals before their game in San Diego on Tuesday night. The Braves’ wild card lead over St. Louis was down to five games.
The Braves managed only four hits – all singles – in 6 2/3 innings against Marco Estrada, a pitcher they’d scored 11 runs in 11 1/3 innings against in two starts last season.
Simmons collected singles in each of his first two at-bats for his first two hits in his second game back from the disabled list. But he and the Braves had no more than one baserunner on in any inning.
“Well we swung the bats better than what the scoreboard showed at the end,” said Chipper Jones, who was 1-for-3 with a walk and one of those outs to the warning track. “I thought we put some good at-bats up. We made some solid contact. Their right fielder seems to be standing in front of everything we hit out there….
“But they’re playing well right now. We’ve just got to try to salvage the series and salvage a winning road trip.”
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163 comments Add your comment
Simba
September 11th, 2012
11:03 pm
Enter your comments here
No hope for Braves
September 11th, 2012
11:05 pm
How sad is that? Pitiful.
yes sir
September 11th, 2012
11:05 pm
first
Zero Runs
September 11th, 2012
11:07 pm
Gets you the loss. Every time.
Buffalo Guy
September 11th, 2012
11:08 pm
Braves left their bats in NYC.
Ryan
September 11th, 2012
11:12 pm
At first, the Braves were making all southpaw pitchers look like Randy Johnson. Now they’re making all righties look like Greg Maddux. The problem is: this is almost the exact same lineup they had last year, which has shown it can go into a lengthy collective slump – remember last September? They need someone to step up and lead the offense – just one person. Who’s going to step up and be our Chipper of ‘99 or Brian Jordan of ‘01? It’s time for one of the kids to mature and become a leader AND producer, like Posey has become for the Giants. Heyward and Freeman both have the talent… now they need to show they can lead this team post-Chipper.
September Baseball
September 11th, 2012
11:14 pm
so it looks like it’s happening once again, the team that gets hot in September makes a big push towards the playoffs and most of the times, gets in. So this being the first year of the two wild cards, two teams are getting hot in September and making the push.
“Brewers winning 17 of their past 22. The Phillies have won six in a row and 10 of 12″
I would not at all be surprised if BOTH of these teams knocked the Braves AND Cardinals out. Will be fun to see how it all plays out and if two teams who were left for dead for 90% of the season end up coming out of nowhere and playing for that one last playoff spot
Frank Shab in PA
September 11th, 2012
11:14 pm
The EL-Foldo 2012 is well underway. Sorry just face it all, this team is just not clutch.
The manager is cluless. He doesn’t have the skill set to be creative and get this team going.
He simply trots out the clutchless hitters and hopes for the best.
The load up their stats at the expense of the back end of poor pitching staffs.
If they don’t score in the first or second or first even if its later in the game in September they fold up.
The league knows it. Check it out it always happens, its their modus operendi.
Selling playoff ticket?. Buy them and you’ll have a collectors item. Unused playoff tickets,what a joke.
SLBReb
September 11th, 2012
11:15 pm
Asking our starters to pitch perfectly. FG is still waiting for that homer but the problem is that we hit in about one game a wee.. What an embarassment. Can we sit our starters minus Prado, J’ey and Simmons. Great outting by Hudson but he knew the outcome after the homerun to Weeks.
BillEGoat
September 11th, 2012
11:16 pm
Also remember that the Braves “won” those two 1-0 games on errors against the Rockies. Their offense continues to be questionable, awful with RISP for quite a while. Also can’t blame it on facing LH pitchers, since the Brewers have almost exclusively RH pitchers. The club needs to make some moves over the winter to improve its offense.
robertatl
September 11th, 2012
11:18 pm
Fredi attempt to manufacture run is pitiful. When your offense is struggling you have to try some hit and run to force the batter at the plate to execute. The way the Braves are playing postseason tickets won’t be needed unless the offense wakes up. If this happens it time for upper management to clean house from Fredi’s sidekick Frank, Roger Mcdowell, and the entire coaching staff. Please don’t even think about signing Bournse because he can’t handle a pennant race.
Semper Fi Braves Fan
September 11th, 2012
11:18 pm
Simmons must be thinking to himself, what a bunch of bumbs.
Don’t look now, Uggla is on a 6 game hitting streak!
Bourn just may catch Dan Uggla in K’s before the season is over at this rate.
(Only 14 behind him!) (Last 10 games Dan Uggla 4k’s, Michael Bourn 9k’s)
I bet Uggla finishes with a higher average than McCan’t, any takers!
Largo
September 11th, 2012
11:19 pm
Want a big laugh? Picture the braves going to the world series. These bums will not even be in a wild card playoff so forget them again this year.
No hope for Braves
September 11th, 2012
11:20 pm
Totally agree with Frank Shab in PA. The man who is supposed to run this team is out to lunch. Braves look lifeless and ready to go deer hunting. I will be so glad when this mess has finally crashed and burned. It’s been spiraling towards this crash for awhile. Tip your cap on your way out fredi. You know your done here.
GRAPHITE
September 11th, 2012
11:23 pm
And the annual beatdown goes on.If you can’t beat a sub 500 team,why even go to the playoffs?
Blake
September 11th, 2012
11:25 pm
Doe’s anybody really feel this team Is going to do anything In the playoffs? That Is If they get there…..
robertatl
September 11th, 2012
11:25 pm
I wish ‘10′ would call a meeting without Fredi since Fredi has no clue how to motivate professionals. I remember when the Marlins shortstop said what does Fredi know he has never played the game at the major league level. It’s disappointing Chipper won’t experience the playoffs for the second year. Frank and Fredi deserve one another.
Michael
September 11th, 2012
11:26 pm
Could this be the players’ plan to get rid of Fredi?
Semper Fi Braves Fan
September 11th, 2012
11:28 pm
@Graphite the Brewers are now a .500 team 71/71… so your statement is not 100% accurate LOL.
Bronke
September 11th, 2012
11:29 pm
Agree with all of you. If the Braves don’t play with urgency trouble will be brewing behind them. Teams will and can catch up as was proven last year. Do the Braves have a captain like Jeter? Who steps up and calls for team meetings? Whoever they are, now is the time to be heard!
robertatl
September 11th, 2012
11:30 pm
The Braves will get destroyed this weekend by Washinghton because they have a leader steering that ship. The Braves attitude for the last 2 years we don’t answer to no one and we aren’t held accountable for our play. We need to think accountability NOW or the season will be over.
Blake
September 11th, 2012
11:31 pm
Pathetic….can’t even keep no extended winning streak going…..pathetic….
No hope for Braves
September 11th, 2012
11:33 pm
Michael….Sure hope so. Remeber how Bobby always backed up his players? Was always outside the dugout rooting them on? This numbskull is so out of touch its pitiful. Notice when the players come back to the dugout next time. They do not acknowledge fg and he does not notice them. Hell of a situation to be in. Hopefully something good will come of this demise. Maybe fg will go coach some little league team in Norway or something. Bet they don’t want him either.
robertatl
September 11th, 2012
11:35 pm
No leader no streak that is why the season has been up and down like a roller coaster. Fredi has a tendency to wait until its to late before making changes late in the game. I want to know what is Roger Mcdowell jobs to spit sunflowerseeds and keep them off Fredi shoes. You two are a joke manager and pitching coach.
robertatl
September 11th, 2012
11:38 pm
Frank put the ultimatum out or maybe John S. Make the playoffs and compete or pack your bags.
robertatl
September 11th, 2012
11:42 pm
Fredi its okay to motivate or show support but don’t show that blank stare on your face. Tonight the tension in the dugout was so thick you could see the players trying so hard. When the situation is positive give them applause and when negative be there for support.
harry taylor
September 11th, 2012
11:45 pm
5 hits, 8 strikeouts, and 12 lob. Great stats.
Sweeping the Mets in the last series didn’t mean much. Even the Phillies are eating their lunch
But when is the last time Braves won a series against a team with a .500 record??
older1
September 11th, 2012
11:47 pm
Fredi should have argued the call at first and got thrown out, going through the dugout, ripping, cursing, and throwing everything in sight. Somebody has to wake these hitters UP. Start all backup players tomorrow. send a signal to your players. man be a manager.
No hope for Braves
September 11th, 2012
11:48 pm
robertatl….have you ever seen him try to motivate the players? Like you said, he stands there with that dumb blank stare. I think thats because he is so lost, and over his head. I’m not saying Bobby was the greatest manager ever to be in uniform, but by God he backed his players up. He was out there always waving his arms and giving the umps an earful. This doof just stands there with a ring tatooed on his finger? Who does that??
Train Wreck Bystander
September 11th, 2012
11:50 pm
What will happen is the Braves will coast in and get that first wild spot. But the ensuing dogfight for spot #2 will lead to that team having Big Mo on their bench for that 1-game crap shoot round.
Tip of the cap to Uggs for his hitting streak.
CC
September 11th, 2012
11:55 pm
Pro football goes to all lengths with super slo-mo to get calls right, showing over and over and over a play to tell if the foot was truly touching that out-of-bounds chalk — or a ball broke loose from the carrier’s hands before the knee touched. And they double-check ALL…. ALL…. ALL scoring plays.
Pro tennis has their overhead super slo-mo that can pinpoint if a tennis ball moving at 130mph is in or out by a millimeter….. a MILLIMETER!!
And pro baseball WON’T have replay on close and inconclusive calls on the bases? Why not give a manager a chance at, say, 3 opportunities of his choice to ask for checks of close calls?
Tonight the Brewers had a man called safe, and Prado called out, that, as of now, no manager has the right to ask about checking. And there are other countless times when a tag on a baserunner is more phantom than real.
The argument is: Baseball already goes 3 hours, replay would make it too long. Hmmmm — Tennis often goes 3 – 4 hours, and football almost always goes 3:30.
As long is the technology is there and other sports are using it effectively with no fan backlash, that argument carries no weight. Yes they’re using replay to check for homeruns over the fence when necessary, but base calls, when obviously close, should be just as respected.
It’s time, and reasonable, to expand replay in baseball.
Music City Hammer
September 11th, 2012
11:56 pm
I posted these thoughts on another story. If this team is as bad as it is made out to be here then what is the rest of the league? As frustrating as they have been all season (and they ARE FRUSTRATING), the Braves have the third best record in the NL and USA Today’s “power poll” slots them as the fourth best in MLB. Basically they need a new hitting approach — playing long ball is not getting it done for them. It may be too late to expect a major turnaround this season, but a little “small ball” could go a long way for this club right now. Forget the home runs. Go the “other way.” Opponents with all the shifts are giving it to you anyway. String together some singles. Hit and Run. Bunt. Sacrifice with the middle of the order. And you’ll get some runs, but everyone needs to buy in. Small ball does win games. Look at the Brewers the last two nights. The Braves are probably good for a wild card slot. Magic numbers are around 12 or so. They’ll get enough “help” from these folks. After that your on your own.
JNick
September 11th, 2012
11:57 pm
The sky is falling, oh no!!!!
Oh wait..we still have the 4th best record in baseball.
robertatl
September 11th, 2012
11:57 pm
Fredi needs to attend the Lou Pinella or Jim Leyland motivational seminar.
Semper Fi Braves Fan
September 11th, 2012
11:59 pm
Expanded replay is coming next year… to check fair/foul balls down the lines. lol
Baseball is still ruled by people who played in the 50’s and 60’s… it will take time.
Semper Fi Braves Fan
September 12th, 2012
12:02 am
4th best record in baseball, 2nd worst average in the MLB with runners in scoring position. Ahead of only SD.
robertatl
September 12th, 2012
12:06 am
Semper Fi Braves Fan, perfect example no accountability for there actions.
Gray Mule
September 12th, 2012
12:06 am
Why does everyone act so shocked? It’s not like we haven’t
been here and done this before.
What has happened to timely hitting? Where, oh where is
the hit and run? Or, the run and hit? Or the stolen base?
Do we have to always get caught trying to steal?
Do we even have a clue as to how to manafacture a run?
Do we ever try to get ‘em on, get ‘em over and get ‘em in?
Or, do we wait the three run homer that never comes??
Oh yeah, we’ve been here before. Same players on the
same stage with the same story line.
Oh well, the Dream won tonight and they are on their way
to the playoffs in the WNBA and the Falcons won their opener.
Too bad about the demise of the Braves.
————————
robertatl
September 12th, 2012
12:06 am
The blockhead manager doesn’t demand it from his players.
bulldogbubba
September 12th, 2012
12:07 am
Today was my birthday.Couldn’t they have won one for bubba? Maybe next year.Boo hoo
robertatl
September 12th, 2012
12:09 am
Gray Mule time to bring the curtain down on this show and blow it up with a new direction. Never thought I would day that about a Braves team , maybe a Hawks team before Ferry came onboard.
robertatl
September 12th, 2012
12:14 am
Time to sit Bourne down for a while and play Reed Johnson and leadoff Simmons, since he is the only one hitting the ball.
wayn-o
September 12th, 2012
12:19 am
It is really sad to even be comparing this september to last years epic collapse but it’s just too familiar. Wren needs to shake this team because Fredi won’t.
Ahem, we lose because of hitters...
September 12th, 2012
12:23 am
I read yesterday where Chipper said “that was the ballgame” when Venters made his error.
First, I like Chipper even though he has rarely played a full season with no injury, aka hamstring issue.
Second, he could be right b/c the boneheaded play did mean that the Brewers scored.
But, Hey Chipper… go look at the record and check the losses. I bet 80+% are when the Bravos either score fewer than 2 runs or are shutout.
We can blame various pitchers, but this team stinks on offense and has been offensive for many, many years.
That was the ballgame when the Braves mighty batters could score only 1 run. Venters just slammed the door shut on the loss.
RoyU
September 12th, 2012
12:36 am
When is media going after the real culprits – ownership??? Let’s just call it what it is and what it has been for a number of years now!!!! Braves have an ownership that will “only” pay enough to put a “competitive”, not a solid “winning” team on the field and they pray for the “luck” that will pull them through!!!! If they were not such cowards and had some pride in this organization, they would admit this! As fans, we need to go back to the basics of the Braves’ ownership philosophy and that is as we all really know it – “IT”S JUST A BUSINESS”!!! Our players and manager are putting everything they have on the table (field) except the one thing that is most importatnt and that is “support” from upper management and ownership!!! Let’s not knock the efforts of our players for the irresponsibility of the higher ups!!!!!!
Train Wreck Bystander
September 12th, 2012
12:39 am
Swinging for the fences wasn’t necessarily a bad strategy tonight:
“Marco Estrada’s main problem at home has been home runs. Batters are hitting just .224 against Estrada at Miller Park this season, but 11 of their 23 extra-base-hits have been home runs.”
ref: http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/baseball/flb/dailynotes?page=mlbnotes120911
Didn’t work out for the Braves tohight, but it wasn’t a bad strategy against this pitcher.
Braves Fan in Indiana
September 12th, 2012
12:44 am
We cannot expect our pitching to be perfect, so the offense has got to step it up. Until our “Clueless Leader” puts the best offensive team in the lineup, it isn’t going to happen. When someone does get on, I agree with Gray Mule. Why don’t we try to steal, hit and run, bunt., anything besides what we’re doing McCan”t & Struggla usually make an out anyway, so they might as well attempt a bunt rather than swing for the fences and either fly out or strike out.. It amazes me how we have such a hard time putting the ball in play when someone is on. The way things are going right now, I doubt if we can get by the one game wildcard playoff game–if we even make it to that game. The only positive thing about failing is that it will probably cost Fredi his job. He has been out-managed all year.
Tough Love
September 12th, 2012
12:46 am
If they make the playoffs, they will be lucky to get past just the one game playoff hitting like this. Don’t see them getting past the first round unless all their pitchers throw shutouts.
reckingball
September 12th, 2012
12:47 am
Just walked outside and looked up.
The sky is not falling in on us yet.
The Braves just need a little luck to fall there way, in the form of getting some hits with RISP.
If you believe, they will come.
go braves
Dan The Man
September 12th, 2012
12:55 am
Offense has been missing for two weeks-got lucky against the Rockies. It will be a long series against the Nats
thomas smith
September 12th, 2012
12:56 am
as i have said here before,fredi does not know when to change pitchers.some times it is a visual thing-like when the pitcher starts leaving the ball up its time to change.just out of experience start someone in the bullpen at start of 6th inning,if pitcher walks or gives up a hit change him then instead of two or three baserunners.sometime you have to have a gut feeling or instinct about a pitcher or hitter.fredi don’t have any gut feeling about anyone or he dosen’t show it .hudson should have been taken out after 1st hit in the 7th.the braves should fire fredi and get a manager with some fire and guts to do what is right .if a player is not performing put someone else in no matter whose feelings get hurt.put the best 9 on the field every night.not because on buddies to the coach.overbay,baker and bautista serve no purpose for this team.get ernesto meja ,gartrell and gilmartin up for the bench.management do what is right.
gotigers72
September 12th, 2012
1:10 am
Listless, lifeless, lethargic. Last September and this year since the All Star break. Their manager does nothing to fire them up, motivate them. There were times tonight when Bobby would go out and argue to just try and get some life in his players! It just seems there are chokers, because they are not just struggling against the Halladays, Kershaws and Hamels of their league, but they can’t even hit with RISP against the no name ragarm pitchers with sky high ERAs like the Rockies’ pitchers or these Brewers’ ragarm no namers. Now they have to go against a really good pitcher in Gallardo tomorrow.
If Fredi is not gonna show some fire, it’s time for Chipper to try and light that fire before tomorrow’s game. What does he have to lose? To have this happen for two years in a row at crunch time is just sickening. Some of these guys that aren’t hitting in the clutch need to look in the mirror, bow up and start earning their keep.
I agree with CC and others. Replay is available at all ML games and should be used. Especially in games where the outcome is effecting the races for playoff spots. Come on Mr. Selig, get baseball in the 21st century! The 3 challenges per manager suggested by CC seems reasonable. Same as football in that the ruling on the field stands, is turned over or there is not enough evidence to tell either way.
JHarber
September 12th, 2012
1:12 am
Guys i am out till next year, good luck all.
Tbird
September 12th, 2012
1:13 am
The biggest difference between the Braves and successful offensive teams is their approach. Chipper and Prado are the only two people on the team that are willing to change their approach when they are behind in the count. I don’t care if it is the MLB or high school ball. NOBODY in the lineup should have the same approach in a 1-2 count that they have in a 2-1 count. Shorten up and be willing to drive the ball the other way. Most everyone in the Braves lineup are too pull happy and don’t make adjusments when they are behind in the count. Don’t have to make a play if you don’t put it in play. Put it in play, might find a hole and “keep the line moving.” I understand that the “big boppers” are there to drive in runs and hit the long ball, but when they are hitting .215 with 50 RBIs, it might be time to change your game plan.
rc35
September 12th, 2012
1:14 am
It’s long been obvious that these Braves are not a reboot of the 1927 Yankees. They have to rely on good pitching to win most days. That’s not inherently bad, but no team has ever won without scoring at all. You can say, “We wuz robbed” until the cows come home, but the simple fact is that this team has been in an offensive slumber for a long time now…most days. Their occasional multi-run outbursts serve to inflate overall statistics, but game by game, they usually alternate between eking out a win or sleeping through nine innings, as they did tonight.
At the same time, they seem to project a lackadasical air…”Well, if we don’t catch the Nats (and at the moment, Kaiser Wilhelm is in a better position to reclaim first place), we can surely hold onto the Wild Card!” but that is a virtual coin flip this year for either team that makes it (and, I must add, Bowie Kuhn is no longer baseball’s worst Commissioner), so getting into this year’s Wild Card one-game playoff is tantamount to betting your retirement on a lottery ticket.
No. 1 Braves Fan
September 12th, 2012
3:52 am
I read all of the comments above. Except for a very few, all of these people sound like they are happy the Braves lost and want them to lose as many games as possible. This is for one reason: They are chronic complainers!
The love to have another opportunity to be negative about something. In fact, they are the losers who need to get lost.
clay
September 12th, 2012
4:22 am
Braves win tomorrow and go 4-2 on the road trip. That doesn’t sound like a September collapse to me.
BillyD
September 12th, 2012
4:40 am
I am a long range Braves fan. I watch them every night and have had it. This is the most boring offensive team to watch. I dont care if they have a winning record,due strictly, by the way to pitching, they are sad offensively. As a team they look scared at the plate and give the impression that each one is hoping for a walk. When this team gets behind Its apparent they are not going to catch up. Im sorry to say that if I lived in Atlanta I would hate to go to see this bunch of patsies play. Watching this bunch at the plate is like watching grass grow.Are there no young aggresive hitters on the farm? All management does is hire some retreaded rejects who dont seem to give a damn so why should I.If they even get to post-season they have as much chance of winning as my church league team.Sorry to be so negative but unless things change a lot this organization has had it.
Buzz 2011
September 12th, 2012
6:21 am
Braves have little or no chance in the playoffs. No sticks!!
Chas
September 12th, 2012
6:39 am
CHOKE JOB, the 2012 edition. This team has NO clutch hitters. None. Zero. Nobody seems to step up, when things are on ther line. They are on the same path as last year…spitting it out down the stretch. They are who they are. Winners find a way to win, losers will find a way to choke.l
MikeY
September 12th, 2012
6:49 am
The one bit of good news is that the Cards, Dodgers, and Pirates are also on losing streaks. So the Braves remain 5.5 games ahead of St. Louis (for the WC home field) and 6.5 games ahead of LA. Pittsburgh is 8 games back.
Looking like the Braves will host the Wild Card one-game playoff on October 5. Can LA catch St. Louis?
man and dog
September 12th, 2012
6:52 am
Fredi – WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
man and dog
September 12th, 2012
6:53 am
Thank you
64 year Ct. Braves fan
September 12th, 2012
6:55 am
Lack of hitting puts too much pressure on the pitchers who can’t afford to make a mistake.
reality
September 12th, 2012
7:18 am
Wow, win 5, loose 2 and all the negativity returns. I may be confused but don’t we have a larger WC lead then a week ago?
Rick in Macon
September 12th, 2012
7:21 am
Fredi is a product of the MLB diversity program. If he wasn’t Hispanic, he’d not be managing in the big leagues. This social experiment is over…let’s get someone who can actually manage and inspire players.
Davey Sprocket
September 12th, 2012
8:01 am
I take it that all the jibba jabba about how the Braves can still catch the Nationals is OVER, now? I remember how it was – “we’ve won 18 out of 24, but those pesky Nats are still winning, too. But they have to stop sometime, so we are bound to ctch them”. Something along those lines was always on here.
Bottom line is that the team hit .246 last year, and is right aroud there again this year. Same guys, same team results. Some of the guys just swapped – a couple of guys picked it up, while others dropped off. The result is the same, however.
The increase in teh WC lead is more the fact that everybody else is losing, than the Braves are peaking and playing well. Truthfully, they have NOT played winning ball against teams with winning records. Any freakin’ USA Today poll (which someone quoted) that say they are the 4th bst team in baseball is a total JOKE. ARe the Braves better than ALL of the A.L. teams?? Course not. Because Cincy, SF, and of course, Washington, are better than them in the NL You cannot play the Mets for the next 22 games, folks..
,
Devillover
September 12th, 2012
8:10 am
The Braves did not lose any wild card ground with their two loses to the Brewers. They are 5 games ahead in the 1 w/c position and 6 ahead in the 2nd position with only 8 games left.
For the last 2 games, St Louis is L2, LA is L2 and Pittsburgh is L5.
I think the Braves need positive fans who understand that it has been a long season and that the players are doing everything that they can do to win every game.
Devillover
September 12th, 2012
8:11 am
18 games left
DaltonBrave
September 12th, 2012
8:15 am
Is that two years in a row now that the Braves are close to the top of the leaderboard in failing to score with runners in scoring position? My, hasn’t this been played out long enough? It’s beyond ridiculous at this point. We are talking about two consecuitve seasons with the same scenerio being played out. When is it time to make some changes to this horrible offense? I’m surprised to still see Braves and playoffs in the same sentence considering how horrible their offense is. Find us some players with consistency, please.
NO O
September 12th, 2012
8:16 am
I think instead of calling UGA Old Man Football we need to call the Braves Offense Old Man Baseball
man and dog
September 12th, 2012
8:19 am
And now ladies and gentlemen, your Atlanta O-fers
Old Braves Fan
September 12th, 2012
8:27 am
For the 4th or 5th time this year the message is the same–this team has no heart, no fire in the belly, no consistency and a manager who does not understand strategy and is uniwilling to take chances.. The only thing left to say is thank God for decent pitching or we would really be in a heap of trouble. Chipper or someone needs to call a clubhouse meeting with players only and raise the roof in a big way, otherwise this season just as last season is lost. I can now see the Dogers, Cards, Brewers, Phils and Pirates all finishing ahead of us in the wild card race. Time is getting very short
Preston Hannatized
September 12th, 2012
8:32 am
Relax. 19 games to play … and they have a 6.5 game lead over the Dodgers for the second wild card slot.
I have never been a Fredi guy, he’s overmatched and clueless. I think Frank Wren too often steps in a cow patty and comes up smelling like a rose, but I do believe the Braves can hang on to this WC slot. A collapse at this stage would be worse than 2011 and the Braves pitching is too good and the bullpen still solid for that to happen. But offensively, this is not a good team.
They must hold on to the #1 WC slot for the home field because they will have zero chance against a road lefty in a one-game event.
longtimefan
September 12th, 2012
8:47 am
The soulless Braves are 7-3 in the last 10 games in the heat of the pennant race while the trailing 3 teams have lost at least 3 games to us. We must be watching 2 different teams or you guys expect perfection. If you guys were Cub or Astro fans we would be on mass suicide watch.
harry taylor
September 12th, 2012
8:56 am
The point is what is the Braves record against teams with .500 record or better. You aren’t going to be facing the trailing 3 teams in the playoffs.
Tom
September 12th, 2012
9:01 am
At some point you’d think Freddi and the Braves hitters would recognize that they need to play small ball and try to score 1 run at a time when they get someone on base rather than continue to “swing the bats hard”. This is Bobby Cox’s method of (non)management of the offense during game situations and obviously Freddi learned it well.
yellowfever
September 12th, 2012
9:01 am
Phillies will over take choking Braves in their head to head match up in a couple of weeks. Good Bye Fredi, Chipper. Glad to see your back Dan, back in the line up is about it. Freddie Freeman where are you? Michael, Prado, J-hey, where are you guys. choke, choke, choke,choke,choke,choke,choke,choke,choke,choke,choke,choke,choke,choke,choke,choke,choke!
Don
September 12th, 2012
9:03 am
With Uggla, it looks like the Braves may be stuck with another “part time” player taking up a significant part of the salary budget for years to come.
Of couse being a “part time” player does not have to be the problem — the way he has produced for a significant part of this season, he should not even be playing part time – so it could be a “no time” player taking up a big part of the budget.
But when you have a Bobby Cox clone, we all know how that works relaitng giving players playing time and playing your best players.
Problem is when you can’t hit, and you are significantly below average defensively, and are a significantly below average runner – there ain’t much left. — especially in terms of what you are getting for those big bucks.
phil
September 12th, 2012
9:04 am
More excuses….blah, blah, blah.
We play like a bunch of scared 3rd graders. It gets old.
Fats Johnson
September 12th, 2012
9:05 am
This is nothing to worry about. They will regroup and make the playoffs
Playoffs, WHO CARES
September 12th, 2012
9:05 am
Braves, do us a favor. DON’T make the playoffs. You will embrass yourself’s and your fan’s.
Don
September 12th, 2012
9:08 am
With the (for the most part) the great pitching that the Braves have had since 1991 (over the last 21 years), it would seem to have to be judged as the period of the most wasted talent and wasted opportunities in BASEBALL HISTORY.
man and dog
September 12th, 2012
9:13 am
@Don – We can thank Boobie Cox for most of that. Now, we have Boobie’s hand-picked replacement. Fredie makes Cox look like the best manager of all time, which he is not.
vesaversa
September 12th, 2012
9:14 am
I watch that game it was if they turn on the air when the Brave hitter’ got up to hit. I saw many long ball that i though should have went out of the park but came up short . The Braves will continue to play hard and jump out of this slump . Go BRAVO’S
old scout
September 12th, 2012
9:17 am
Chipper needs to shut up and play. Sinced he has only played about half of the games, surely he can play the last two weeks without days off..after all, he is about to have years to rest up. Right now the offense is being killed because the lead-off hitter strikes out more than he makes contact. This guy is not worth a big bucks, long-term contract.
Nerdville
September 12th, 2012
9:22 am
Any chance at a Division title is now over. Forget that one.
Now the Braves are up against a good team and they are exposed again. Face it. The offense sucks. It is beyond pathetic. Wren didn’t think we needed more offense. Wren also believes Batman is real.
Where are all the rah rahs now? Crying to their mommies? They got all excited when the Braves swept the Mets who right now may be the worst team in all of MLB.
DonofAcworth
September 12th, 2012
9:23 am
I just read all of the posts to see what the posters are saying that I agree with. Seems all season 80 per cent or so are for replacing Fredi because we only have the forth best record in baseball and we’re up against the Nat’s who are having a break out year with all their talent peaking the same season. I must admit I an very unhappy with him because of the way he is. (read above posts) Still IF we get to the playoffs and IF somehow our good pitching manages to win in spite of our hitting and lack of manager good scense and lack of ability to spark the team…. well… it will be all LUCK because what he’s doing lacks skill!
Double Zero Eight
September 12th, 2012
9:26 am
Fredi and Liberty media will consider this season to
be outstanding when the Braves make the playoffs
as a wild card team. They have no realistic
expectations that the Braves will win the NL pennant.
The Braves should have added a big bat when they had the
opportunity. Their only chance of making it out of the wildcard
playoff is if Medlen holds the opposition to 1 run or less.
Let’s hope the bats can come alive in the event they make it
out of the wildcard playoff. Anything is possible.
Bob Horner
September 12th, 2012
9:36 am
16 games left… 8-8 would probably do it. We have 9 games against the Marlins and Mets remaining (6 of which are at home). Odds look good to make the playoffs, so the sky is not falling. The offense hasn’t been producing, but we were lucky enough to win 5 in a row without bats. It’s evening out now. Just start swinging a little, and we will be fine.
That’s not to say anyone on this blog has an ounce of confidence that we can win a sudden death game against another Wild Card team. This new structure epitomizes ‘urgency’ — and the Braves do not know what that means. Urgency = panic in Atlanta.
Just get your heads in the game people. Do not pee on yourselves when the Nationals come to town Friday night – it’s time to start playing baseball
Rick C
September 12th, 2012
9:37 am
Old Braves Fan, three of the teams you named are struggling right now and having losing records in their last 10. The Braves are above 500 in their last 10. The Phillies and Brewers are playing well now, but they still would have to pass three teams just to get the second WC spot.
Fols
September 12th, 2012
9:47 am
I see where this is going. We’re going to play 163 ball games, MAYBE sqeeze into a one game play-in style match-up and like most of our important games, we’ll score zero runs.
The Atlanta Braves legacy is being a regular season hero. Someone forgot to tell them that September is still the regular season.
I can handle a loss, but can we ever lose a game without being completely shutdown?
Steven
September 12th, 2012
9:52 am
These comments are ridiculous. Where are the real fans? This team has a chance at the playoffs and you have nothing positive to say??? People need to wake up and support their team. Show up to home games and packed out Turner Field. All the “negative nancys” need to go away. Go Braves!!!
Let's Go
September 12th, 2012
9:57 am
On the plus side in the last 10 games the Braves are 7 and 3 while the Cards are 4 and 6, the Pirates are 2 and 8 and the Dodgers are 4 and 6. On the negative side the Phillies and Brewers are red hot and knocking on the door of the wild card. All of a sudden next weekends series at Philadelphia is looking awful large for both teams.
BravesFanSince80s
September 12th, 2012
10:05 am
I agree Fols, it’s not the losing, it’s HOW they lose. This team (sorry to beat a dead horse) is pretty much the same one as last year in terms of personnel. They are now showing that same bleak, “deer caught in the headlights” look any time the breaks don’t go their way. I can handle some losing as well, it IS a long season afterall, but what about a little fire in the belly? For example: last night after that debacle in the 7th, why wasn’t SOMEBODY, HELL ANYBODY, trying to motivate the team to rally and come back? If we see that going on, and the team scrambles and scrapes at anything they can to come back, and still falls short, then oh well, they tried their best. Can you honestly say (to all the RAH-RAH types) that this team looks like they give their best effort every night (or even close to that)? The realistic answer is unequivically, no…
Let's Go
September 12th, 2012
10:06 am
I still think the Braves will make the Playoffs as one of the wildcards because it’s a lot easier for a team to get out of a hitting funk then it is to all of a sudden need to find good starting pitching. The Braves starters have been outstanding for a while now and even though I’m still not crazy about the bullpen I think somehow they will come up with 6 guys to get it together for the last couple of weeks of the season. One thing I am certain and that is Miguel Batista will not be one of those 6.
sean jones
September 12th, 2012
10:10 am
FREDDIE has to go!! THis team hurts to watch! THink they just swallowed their tongue—paging the choke Dr. to the Brewers visiting clubhouse!
Same Ole negative dumbazz comments
September 12th, 2012
10:16 am
Lot of good comments today.
I am a ‘lifelong’ fan of the Braves, but I sure do hate their guts.
Boring, no fire, can’t hit, Uggla, and some more blah, blah, blah.
The Living Legend
September 12th, 2012
10:16 am
History repeats itself, usually not two years in a row though. Braves fall down the stretch again.
cdog
September 12th, 2012
10:23 am
one thing puzzling me is the braves lack of scoring runs.well, the big problem and question i have is why all of the braves players go up to the plate taking pitches and looking to walk instead hitting the ball.the next thing is when we played ball back in the day, we went up to the plate looking to hit whatever pitch was thrown. we didn”t go there looking for certain pitches.we were prepared to hit any pitch thrown and we hit the ball and not get into 1-2 counts by taking pitches then swing at balls that we should have taken and strikeout as the braves hitters usually do.i remember the pittsburgh pirates with al oliver, willie stargell, richie hebner, roberto clemente, manny sanguillen, bob robertson,dave cash and the rest.when they went up to the plate they were all looking to hit and not walk.they were known as the lumber company.the braves should be known as the air company because they never swing at pitches.they take pitches right down the middle with runners on baseball and wonder why they don”t score runs.to score you have to swing the bats, be prepared to hit whatever pitches are thrown then you find your team will start winning and scoring lots of runs more often
Braves??
September 12th, 2012
10:29 am
It’s football season, gentlemen. Baseball season ended two weeks ago. The whisper is for baseball. The screams are for football.
Gary
September 12th, 2012
10:34 am
pITCHERS HAVE TO BE PERFECT……..NO MOVES were made at the deadline….to improve the offense other than Johnson……
reckingball
September 12th, 2012
10:36 am
The Braves have the potential to go all the way, and win the WS in 2012.
Everyone that has watched them play this season, should be able to recognize that, I would think.
reckingball
September 12th, 2012
10:40 am
I believe that it would be beneficial to the team, if some of these players would be given a couple of games off, to restore some energy to their bodies. Bourne, looks like he could use a little rest.
go braves
beachcomber
September 12th, 2012
10:43 am
cdog – Thanks for bringing up the Pirate lumber company. That, indeed, was a hitting bunch. Their Achilles heel, ironically was their pitching. Combine that line-up with our staff and you’re talking dynasty Much as I like the individuals on our current team, there needs to be some sort of shake-up of the offense in the off season. Down the stretch Bourne has been most disappointing. We need an igniter like him but he isn’t the answer. As several pointed out at the time of the trade last year, he strikes out way too much for a lead-off hitter.
Matt
September 12th, 2012
10:44 am
“These comments are ridiculous. Where are the real fans? This team has a chance at the playoffs and you have nothing positive to say??? People need to wake up and support their team. Show up to home games and packed out Turner Field. All the “negative nancys” need to go away. Go Braves!!!”
You and the rest of the folks like you must be Atlanta transplants who haven’t followed the Braves for very long, and thus, haven’t seen this kind of performance year after year after year. If you were like me, who has watched the Braves choke in the playoffs my whole life (I was too young to remember 1995), then your attitude may be a little different. I am SICK and TIRED of watching the Braves choke. No urgency, no desire, no fire, no clutch hitting, no nothing except pitiful performance after pitiful performance. Remember, 2 of those 5 consecutive wins were gifts. I cannot take much more of this. If the Braves don’t make some noise next year and win in the playoffs, I’m finding a new team to root for. Sorry, but I have just about had enough of this annual choke job.
And Chipper wonders why we aren’t selling out the stadium. Who wants to spend all the money to go to the game only to watch the Braves go 1-for-12 with RISP and get shut out by some guy they’ve never seen before? Not me.
Jasons Shrinking Waist
September 12th, 2012
10:52 am
You know, outside of the one game the braves bats woke up (against a rookie Mets pitcher) this offense is still the same. Inconsistent, a bunch of free swingers, and guys who cant play small ball at all. There is NO excuse for losing to the two righthanders we faced the last two nights.
I hate to say this , but this team is feeling tension, you can tell.
They are always thinking about the collapse from last year…”Will it happen again”?
I tell you this, if the Phils get the last playoff spot, they will have no problem coming to ATL and beating the Braves in a one game series.
They own The Ted, they always play well there, and they are very confident they can beat us in our park.
BravesFanSince80s
September 12th, 2012
10:57 am
good point Matt, there are a ton of older guys on here who don’t seem to realize that there are plenty of adult Atlanta fans now who never really saw the Braves win anything of note, makes it a little tougher to cut them much slack at this point if this past decade is all you have to go on, once again, good point…
Rick C
September 12th, 2012
11:02 am
Gary, where can an improvement be made in the starting nine? Face it, Uggla’s not going to be permanently benched in the second year of a five year contract. And McCann is not going to be permanently benched after having five or six years of sustained success. There’s no where to improve the lineup other than supporting bench players. The starting players need to be playing to their career numbers though and obviously Uggla and McCann have not this year.
reckingball
September 12th, 2012
11:04 am
Matt — 10:44am…….Look at the record that the Braves had, from when they first came to ATL, until 1991.
There were not that many times that they even, finished over .500 for the year.
How would all of the folks here like that? haha
There would really be some ‘outCRY’, from all of these wonderful team supporters, here today.
go braves
doug
September 12th, 2012
11:16 am
No excuses, Braves had all last winter and the Spring to find a hitter or two. Could have even tried to work in Dvaid Ross in left field some, we know he has right handed pop that is still missing since Andrew Jones departed.
I think the team makes the Playoffs despite leaking oil this year, mainly because they can’t fold like last September….. the odds are in their favor.
Maybe this next winter with the departure of Chipper management will go find a power hitter ( right handed bat) for left field seeing Prado will probably move to Third Base. The one plus is that Simmons is going to get stronger and develope more power, he could become a nice right handed power hitter one day.
If all else fails maybe they can have 3 Wildcard teams next season just incase the leak never gets plugged by Management.
Rick C
September 12th, 2012
11:28 am
doug, again where was there an open spot in the lineup besides SS? And with Simmons and Pastornicky near ready they clearly weren’t about to go get Reyes or Rollins on some big multi year contract. Ross in LF? Simmons becoming a power hitter? You really have no clue.
BravesFanSince80s
September 12th, 2012
11:31 am
Simmons will NOT be a power hitter, I hope he never tries to be one. I hope he develops into a .300/10/65-70/.400OBP type hitter who would be HUGE in any lineup for years to come…
BravesFanSince80s
September 12th, 2012
11:35 am
@Rick C, go sit patiently in Fredi’s office for the rest of the day and wait for his “wisdom” to be dictated to you as you so obviously do. The rest of us would like to see a lineup something like this most days until season ends:
Constanza
Prado
Chipper
Heyward
Ross
Freeman
Bourn
Simmons
Pitcher
holes? in this lineup? where are there NOT holes? GEEEEEEEEEEEZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BravesFanSince80s
September 12th, 2012
11:46 am
Due to our ridiculous excuse for a manager and his ineptitude at setting a productive lineup, I’ll repost mine including postions to avoid confusion on what I meant:
Constanza LF
Prado 2B
Chipper 3B
Heyward RF
Ross C
Freeman 1B
Bourn CF
Simmons SS
Pitcher
Rick C
September 12th, 2012
11:51 am
BravesFanSince80s, all I said was that permanently benching Uggla and McCann is just not going to happen with their salaries and history of success. I know they have struggled badly this year. The idea that guys like Constanza and Ross are going to save the lineup is just ridiculous though. Constanza is a minor league journeyman for a reason. Ross is a backup catcher for a reason.
BravesFanSince80s
September 12th, 2012
12:02 pm
thanks for proving my point Rick C cough cough Fredi’s protege…
BravesFanSince80s
September 12th, 2012
12:04 pm
oh and stop with the “journeyman” title with Constanza, it’s BS, the guy only won the freaking batting title at AAA this year, he’s being screwed by the Braves FO, period…
lee maye
September 12th, 2012
12:07 pm
Constanza, a minor league journeyman. Actually, he is the IL batting champ who has never been given a chance. Prado hit over .300 in the minors and wasn’t given a chance for a long time. Bourn is slumping. Constanza can definitely hit what Bourn has for the 2nd half. But, alas, he won’t get the chance. Too much possibility that it will make Wren look bad.
BravesFanSince80s
September 12th, 2012
12:14 pm
Why not? I didn’t call for a benching of Bourn, he’s still one of our better hitters, just move him to the 7 hole (something we tried successfully with Grissom as I recall) and try and get something generated. It’s hardly rocket medicine…
Rick C
September 12th, 2012
12:16 pm
Apparently you still aren’t getting my point. Management is not going to permanently bench Uggla and McCann, and to expect them to is stupid for the reasons I outlined. I never said if I agreed with it or not. But I don’t think Constanza and Ross are the answer either.
I trust years of scouting on Constanza. He’s hitting 245 with a 302 OBP right now. If other teams thought he was such a great player, don’t you think the Braves would have traded him by now? Surely they would get something valuable if another team thought he was worth it. Hitting in AAA is not the same as hitting in the ML. Got to be able to hit the ML breaking ball. He had brief success last year, but the league clearly caught up to him quickly.
Ross is a lifelong back up player, and has never played more than 112 games in a season. And that year he barely hit over the mendoza line with a 203 average.
BravesFanSince80s
September 12th, 2012
12:21 pm
Rick, we’re not talking a FULL SEASON HERE MAN, we’re talking the final 16 games! Answer me with something that doesn’t sound like crap filtered down from Frank Wren, PLEASE!
BravesFanSince80s
September 12th, 2012
12:29 pm
as I remember it, Constaza was on fire right up until tweaking an ankle running across first base, then he took a few days to get over it, and never really got a chance to play every day again after that and for some inexplicable reason was relegated to VERY limited plate appearances the rest of the year, the league never got a chance to “catch up to him” regardless of what his numbers looked like after his injury…
BravesFanSince80s
September 12th, 2012
12:32 pm
and for the record, there are STILL people on this blog who try to claim Prado isn’t an everyday player but a “super-utility” guy, whatever the hell that is…
Tumbledown
September 12th, 2012
12:52 pm
Matt (10:44) I feel your pain. I have been a Braves’ fan ever since 1974 as a young boy when my family moved from Texas to Atlanta. I have experienced way more disappointments as a Braves’ fan than triumphs. The Braves for the most part from 1975-1990 were terrible. Then came the succession of division titles, several World Series appearances, and one title. Since the title in 1995, I have witnessed the Braves slowly slide away from being a contender and have seen them lose in many excruciating ways in the playoffs.
Through all the years, the absolute worst experience was watching the Braves collapse last year in September. It affected me as a sports’ fan greatly and moved me tho think that this team was headed straight down the toilet. I had had it with playoff and late season disappointments. After the slow start this season, I wanted wholesale changes with the organization. I wanted heads to roll. I wanted all of this as I had come to despise my sporting lot as a braves’ fan.
But, the Braves have fought this year. They have battled not to fall of a cliff. They have sputtered at times and are in an offensive funk right now. Are wholesale changes really the answer? Even if they are THE answer, the Braves cannot make them now. Anyway, look at how Boston is faring with a larger payroll. They changed managers and went nowhere. Now they have gutted the team. Luckily for them, they have a payroll to bounce back but it will take awhile. Meanwhile, the Braves are in the playoff hunt despite all of the negativity that surrounds them, despite all of the psychological baggage from the past years.
There is still much work to be done to reach and make an impact in the playoffs. We all want that, but we all remember the playoff and late season disappointments. We have to remenber that this is the 2012 team with some different parts. If the Braves colllapse again or fall meekly in the one-game playoff, then we can and should discuss Fredi, Wren, and the players who did not rise tothe occasion. Until then, can we at least have some shred of hope in the team? There are alot of real serious things going on in people’s personal lives and the world. Do we have to be so negative and fatalistic about our favorite baseball team?
Brave New World
September 12th, 2012
1:14 pm
reckingball September 12th, 2012 10:40 am I believe that it would be beneficial to the team, if some of these players would be given a couple of games off, to restore some energy to their bodies. Bourne, looks like he could use a little rest. go braves
reckingball: Great observation regarding Bourn. He is a key catalyst for the offense, but his once .300+ average is now in the .270’s. He alone cannot carry this team but he must get on base at least once or twice per game to get things started. On the subject of Bourn, his somewhat low OBP and high strike out rates are 2 of the main reasons I won’t be crushed if the Braves cannot sign him beyond this year. Is he a good player? Absolutely. But is he worth in excess of $15 million per year? No. GO BRAVES!
Brave New World
September 12th, 2012
1:18 pm
reckingball September 12th, 2012 10:40 am I believe that it would be beneficial to the team, if some of these players would be given a couple of games off, to restore some energy to their bodies. Bourne, looks like he could use a little rest. go braves
reckingball: You may be right about Bourn. His once .300+ average is now in the .270’s. While he alone cannot cary the Braves offense, he must get on base at least once or twice per game to get things started. On the subject of Bourn, his relatively low OBP and high strike out rate are 2 of the reasons I will not be crushed if the Braves do not sign him. Is he a good player? Absolutely. But is he worth $15 million or more per season? No. GO BRAVES!
BravesFanSince80s
September 12th, 2012
1:19 pm
I for one think the team, overall is a pretty good, above average team when considering the pitching as well. However, there are a couple “regular” players who have been offensive holes pretty much the entire season and should have been relegated to part-time status sime time back. If that had happened, perhaps the offense wouldn’t be in the funk it is now. I guarantee you Chipper’s average would be higher as he’s been forced to swing at a lot of pitches off the plate in the second half of the season because he freaking KNOWS he isn’t gonna move off first base if he walks!
Brave New World
September 12th, 2012
1:19 pm
Sorry for essentially the same entry – the first one did not initially post.
Rick C
September 12th, 2012
1:19 pm
We are down to the last month now, but people have been calling for Ross and Constanza in the lineup just about all season. It’s funny though because Uggla has been our hottest hitter the past week. Anyone who thinks a player with a 245 BA and 302 OBP is the answer is clearly clueless. I don’t agree with every move the Braves make, and that’s not what my posts have been about. My comments are purely based in logic and stats. But you’re just too clueless to understand.
BravesFanSince80s
September 12th, 2012
1:32 pm
Rick, what is Constanza’s .245 BA over a span of vs, Ugly Dan’s .20? BA over a span of? You want logic? Ugly Dan has sucked Dirty Donkey D I C K the entire time he’s been here and REGARDLESS of what asinine deal our inept GM signed him to, any manager worth his salt would have had him on a VERY short leash, starting in April! You say Constanza is a journeyman minor leaguer, how do you really know this since he’s never been given a chance to play a full season in the major leagues? Like a previous commenter pointed out, Prado went through pretty much the same thing because he didn’t fit any of the ridiculous “molds” the Braves and most other teams try to pound players into before they’ll allow them to play in the bigs. You wanna know the only reason the 2 retards let Prado play most days in LF? They ain’t got anybody else! I guarantee you if they had another corner outfielder, Prado would have seen about 1/2 the playing time he’s seen thus far because he doesn’t profile as a ML outfielder, once again, whatever the hell that means….Logic, geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez….
Tumbledown
September 12th, 2012
1:46 pm
It seems like the Braves could work Constanza in a little more as I believe, like Reckingball, some of the starters need some rest. Bourn has appeared to wear down. Let’s give Constanza a spot start or two to see if is can provide a little energy to the braves. If not, at least Bourn or some other regular can get a little rest for the late season and hopefully playoff push.
As for Ross, there is probably a reason why he succeeds more as a backup than as a regular guy. He may just wear down too much if he plays everyday. Has McCann struggled against lefties? Maybe more of a platoon will work to help both catchers this late in the season.
While I would bet against Constanza being a difference maker, you just never know. I remember back in the 90’s when Mark Lemke was the Braves’s best clutch hitter in the playoffs. He could have been the 1991 World Series MVP had the Braves won. He probably performed better in the playoffs at bat than the great Barry Bonds did for the Pirates at that time. You never know who rises to the occasion and who slinks away from it.
i agree with Rick C, however, that it is more logical for Fredi to stay with Uggla and McCann in their usual roles. I am sure if anyone of us were placed in the role of manager, we would probably act a bit more conservatively than we boost on this blog.
Fredi
September 12th, 2012
1:48 pm
Enter your comments here
caleb
September 12th, 2012
1:52 pm
Excellent comment CC, i could not agree more. Everyone go and read CC’s comment!
Fredi Gonzalez (not THAT Fredi)
September 12th, 2012
1:52 pm
FG is giving the Fredi Gonzalez’ of the world a bad name. Do something! He has the stare of a person with limited mental capacity.
ICEBURG DEAD AHEAD!!!!!!!!!
reckingball
September 12th, 2012
1:55 pm
BFS80s @11:45……”The rest of us would like to see a lineup something like this”
Speak for yourself, not me.
Constanza is a satisfactory, 4th or 5th OF, a super-star AAA player, that’s about it. My opin.
I would perfer to see Johnson in there anytime, over Constanza.
Ross doesn’t need to be playing everyday, he was playing hurt while McCann was injured.
Rick C
September 12th, 2012
2:00 pm
I’ve acknowledged several times that Uggla has struggled this year. But I guarantee you very few managers would permanently bench a 12 million dollar player only in the second year of a five year contract. Especially not one who works for a team with such a limited payroll. You just don’t seem to be capable of understanding that. I’m not even necessarily arguing for that, but it’s the position that they are stuck in with the contract. Stop being such a crybaby and learn to deal with it or go follow the Yankees.
Tumbledown
September 12th, 2012
2:01 pm
CC’s comments were interesting. The one thing unique to baseball is the umpire’s domain over calling balls and strikes. The call for electronic oversight over certain plays may lead some to go even further and review the calling of balls and strikes. I think the powers that be in baseball have trouble with instigating additional replays as there will be more of a clamor to review the very important but subjective strike zone employed by umpires today. Have I made any sense?
Tumbledown
September 12th, 2012
2:03 pm
I forgot about Reed Johnson. If I were the manager, I too would allocate more spot starts to him rather than Constanza.
Carl Farvman
September 12th, 2012
2:13 pm
“Fredi should have argued the call at first and got thrown out, going through the dugout, ripping, cursing, and throwing everything in sight. Somebody has to wake these hitters UP. Start all backup players tomorrow. send a signal to your players. man be a manager.”
Yeah, Bobby was always getting thrown out and it bought him 1 WS championship with the best pitching staff in baseball for over a decade. Multi-Millionaire adults who’ve played this game almost all their lives shouldn’t have some guy making an idiotic scene simply to somehow motivate these guys to do their jobs. The team doesn’t have the depth of talent to play consistantly at a high level.
reckingball
September 12th, 2012
2:22 pm
I saw Bobby get thrown out of A LOT of games, for arguing with the umps.
Never, saw him go through the dugout, ripping, cursing(well maybe cursing), and throwing everything in sight. haha.
go braves
reckingball
September 12th, 2012
2:30 pm
I will say that Fredi does need to get on the field a little quicker(most of the time he doesn’t even go out of the dugout at all), when some of his players have a disagreement with a bad call made by these umpires.
Bobby was ejected many times, while trying to protect his players from being thrownout of the game.
Now it looks like the players don’t even bother to disagree with bad calls, because they know that will not get ANY backup from their manager.
It looks like a mind-set that Fredi has inflicted upon his team. IMO.
longtimefan
September 12th, 2012
3:15 pm
If someone were to read the majority of the comments above they would think we were cellar dwellers. The Braves are 5.5 games up in the WC and own the 4th best record in baseball. In NL they are 5th in hitting, 4th in pitching and 1st in fielding. This is a tough crowd. Either you guys expect perfection or are pessimists. In the dog days of september they have won 7 of 10 and put distance between them and Cards/Dodgers/Pirates.
ChipperisGod
September 12th, 2012
3:16 pm
Everybody needs to calm down. Things don’t look good offensively right now. And haven’t for a week minus that one game against the Mets.
But this team is capable of doing really good things. We’ve seen it. Those come from behind victories against the Dodgers at LA. Coming back FROM A 9-0 deficit in Washington to WIN! Down 7-1 against the Phillies and winning 8-7. We are a good hitting ball club. We got robbed on a bunch of hits last night and a blown call at first base. Yes, we haven’t hit well with RISP at all lately. But if we can just put some quality at bats together, we can break out of this funk. All this negativity is sickening.
I know it seems like a far way off because we’ve just scuffled for a while now and gotten by on the skin of our teeth. And I know September from a year ago is in our (the fan’s minds), and at times we do look similar to that team. I think Mike B needs a day off. Rest him today and he gets an offday tomorrow. If he can consistently hit again, we’ll be more dangerous. He’s gotten a few nice hits lately but seems fatigued down the stretch as he was last year.
Something does need to be done to get the troops going again. Fredi or Chipper need to call a meeting. We need to start beating quality opponents if we want a chance to even make the post season. We haven’t taken a series from quality opponent since at the end of June when we took two of three from AZ. And if you don’t want to call them a quality opponent, then when we took two of three from the Yankees in June.
This team fights harder than the team from last year I think, and puts together better at bats. I agree with everyone that we need to start hitting better, but don’t throw a hissy fit over choking. I know it’s something that’s happened too many times to too many good teams that the Braves have had. But if you all just have this negative disposition towards everything then you just shouldn’t watch anymore, nor should you consider yourselves fans.
The great thing sports is that anything can happen, and the fun of believing in your team no matter what. Do teams need to be held accountable for not getting results that they should be getting? Sure. And I think this team does need some pieces it doesn’t have right now. We aren’t hitting in the clutch. But we can, and our pitching has been stellar overall. If we can get the bats going, this team will be fine. If not, I am worried, but I’m still pulling for our team 100%.
Can’t stand the negative attitude that so many bloggers have here.
Tumbledown
September 12th, 2012
3:20 pm
Preach on Brother ChipperisGod!
Bob Horner
September 12th, 2012
3:37 pm
Man, Matt really nailed it with the post below. Son, you may have been too young in 95, but I was old enough to remember it all – 1991 included. I grew up watching them suck in the 80s, and have been a lifelong fan. All the Blue Sky Rah Rah folks on here haven’t dealt with the annual letdown that some of us have. There’s a reason for the negative comments. If your dog had explosive diarrhea every time he licked his balls, well by Golly, eventually you’d let him out every time you saw him lick his balls.
The Braves, my friends, are licking their balls. Again.
Matt
September 12th, 2012
10:44 am
“These comments are ridiculous. Where are the real fans? This team has a chance at the playoffs and you have nothing positive to say??? People need to wake up and support their team. Show up to home games and packed out Turner Field. All the “negative nancys” need to go away. Go Braves!!!”
You and the rest of the folks like you must be Atlanta transplants who haven’t followed the Braves for very long, and thus, haven’t seen this kind of performance year after year after year. If you were like me, who has watched the Braves choke in the playoffs my whole life (I was too young to remember 1995), then your attitude may be a little different. I am SICK and TIRED of watching the Braves choke. No urgency, no desire, no fire, no clutch hitting, no nothing except pitiful performance after pitiful performance. Remember, 2 of those 5 consecutive wins were gifts. I cannot take much more of this. If the Braves don’t make some noise next year and win in the playoffs, I’m finding a new team to root for. Sorry, but I have just about had enough of this annual choke job.
And Chipper wonders why we aren’t selling out the stadium. Who wants to spend all the money to go to the game only to watch the Braves go 1-for-12 with RISP and get shut out by some guy they’ve never seen before? Not me.
Bob Davis
September 12th, 2012
3:41 pm
I’ve always said the Braves problem is an overall lack of offense–not a lack of pitching. GM Wren needs to seriously address this issue during the off-season.
Steven
September 12th, 2012
3:48 pm
Thank you ChipperisGod
longtimefan
September 12th, 2012
3:50 pm
I have been a Braves fan since 1966. I don’t have blinders on. Most of you guys are over reacting to every 2-3 game skid. Look at other teams. You don’t think they have issues? That’s why we have the 4th best record in baseball-because it’s not a game of perfect.
longtimefan
September 12th, 2012
3:50 pm
I have been a Braves fan since 1966. I don’t have blinders on. Most of you guys are over reacting to every 2-3 game skid. Look at other teams. You don’t think they have issues? That’s why we have the 4th best record in baseball-because it’s not a game of perfect.
crm300
September 12th, 2012
3:54 pm
Braves win 7 of 8, then lose two in a row and the “sky is falling” fans are out in force. 19 games to go and Braves are 5 1/2 games up on St Louis, 6 1/2 up on LA, and 8 games up on Pittsburgh. Do you really think they can blow the wild card again? Have a little faith, boys and girls. That is what being a fan is all about. Look at all the teams in the bigs that are never in contention. The Braves are working for a post season spot every season. You think other teams don’t have the same offensive problems? You negative losers are spoiled rotten!
reckingball
September 12th, 2012
3:59 pm
By my count, there are around 21 other MLB teams and their fans, that would like to be in the same position as the Braves are, in the standings, as of today.
Sometimes, these down in the mouth, reactionaries come off, as pretty dang pathetic.
go braves
Tumbledown
September 12th, 2012
4:03 pm
longtimefan – Are you advocating that everyone try to gain a little perspective on the Braves by looking at the bigger picture? That is an awfully tall request from you. It is so much easier to criticise without knowing the whole picture.
Believe it or not, one can actually be a fan of the braves since the 1970’s and still retain some optimism. I do understand the angst from those who have paid their dues so to speak as a fan of the team.
Rick C
September 12th, 2012
4:04 pm
Bob Davis, the thing is though, if the players were all hitting to their career numbers, we’d be fine. This lineup should be a big consistent threat. When you look at career numbers, there really isn’t a place a pitcher can go to get an easy out. Uggla has to have the lowest career BA of the starting nine, and I know his is still around 250 (which isn’t bad at all with his power IMO). It seems like the problem is more so consistency. Mac has struggled the whole year except for July. Uggla has struggled since after the first couple months. Bourn has struggled the whole second half. In his short career, Freeman is starting to establish himself as a streaky hitter as well. It’s like they can’t get more than one or two guys clicking at any given time, so even when they get hits they are always spread out. And how do you get them to improve on hitting with RISP?
crm300
September 12th, 2012
4:14 pm
Well said, Tumbledown. As a longtime fan from the 50’s, these Braves teams are golden compared to the teams I supported before the 90’s. In those 14 straight division titles, the Braves probably had the best record in the National League for most of them. That would have automatically put them in the World Series in the 50’s and 60’s, just like those Yankee teams. It is so much harder to get to the WS now. There are so many more opportunities to get beat by a hot team in a short series. That can lead to a lot of frustration for the modern day fan. To quite being a fan of any team that is competitive in today’s game just makes no sense. The World Series teams could be decided by the first of September before divisions play and wild cards. Look how much more exciting the regular season is now!
Tumbledown
September 12th, 2012
4:29 pm
crm300 – Thanks. In the 90s, the Braves won their first playoff series on seven occasions (1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999). A team winning seven of the “first” playoff series in the 50s would have won seven World Series. Of course, as you know, there was only one round of playoffs until 1969.
The cup is never completely full or completely empty. We can choose how optimistic or negative to be. Just remember the plight of the Chicago Cubs’ fan. When was the last time that team won the World Series? Nobody alive in Chicago can provide a first-hand account of the last Cubs’ WS win.
harry taylor
September 12th, 2012
4:41 pm
Tumbledown said: crm300 – Thanks. In the 90s, the Braves won their first playoff series on seven occasions (1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999). A team winning seven of the “first” playoff series in the 50s would have won seven World Series
That is a false fallacy. Just because they won the their first playoff in THEIR league doesn’t mean they would have beaten a team in the American league.
longtimefan
September 12th, 2012
4:46 pm
false fallacy?say again. say again.
longtimefan
September 12th, 2012
4:51 pm
Harry, his point is once upon a time in baseball the NL winner met the AL winner for the whole enchilada. Win once and you are World Champion.
Tumbledown
September 12th, 2012
5:16 pm
My parents always warned me to never commit a false fallacy. And look what I have done! People excoriate the Braves for winning only one WS. My point, as longtimefan understands, is that it is much tougher to win a title under the current playoff format. I also wanted to point out that the braves of the 90s were a pretty good playoff team, winning more playoff series than they lost.
I also believe, as much as I despise the Yankees, that their achievement in winning four WS is five years under the current format is quite remarkable.
Tumbledown
September 12th, 2012
5:24 pm
Harry .- Dod you believe that American League teams in the 90s were much stronger that the Braves and their fellow NL counterparts?
Tumbledown
September 12th, 2012
5:24 pm
Do you
harry taylor
September 12th, 2012
8:27 pm
From 1996-2000 the Yankees were the best.