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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,053 comments Add your comment
Tracey
October 6th, 2012
2:36 pm
Bitter loss. We will be back and win the division next year. Putting our destiny in our hands. Still tough to take though.
DawgNole
October 6th, 2012
2:38 pm
GT50
October 5th, 2012
9:46 pm
We saw Tommy Aaron hit the first Home Run at Atlanta Stadium, during the first preseason game in 1965.
________________
Your post likely was a trip down memory lane for longtime Braves fans, but you didn’t watch that first preseason game in 1965. The team didn’t begin playing in ATL until 1966.
Dum-Bass
October 6th, 2012
2:39 pm
I’m sure I’m not the only one who remembers Simmons running all the way out to CF last week to catch a looping fly ball that Bourn would normally be in position for. It was a heavy hitter and MB was back at the wall. The announcers were raving about how far Simmons had to run to get there and catch it. My question is, why wouldn’t the infield fly rule apply in this situation also? What’s the difference, if the rule applied last night, as Harold Reynolds so wrongly says. He’s an infielder obviously and was in position to ordinarily catch it, even though in the outfield. What FG should do next year to prove a point, and show how stupid the rule is, would be to have Simmons do this every time, and see if they call it. With his speed he could be used a lot to invoke the infield fly rule, with runners on base.
JHarber
October 6th, 2012
2:50 pm
Jim–I agree. I will no longer support any MLB team, Bud Selig-Joe Torre and company just put finishing touch on ruining baseball. If they can make judgement calls like that they can have this Grand Ole Game. I stayed in baseball for most of my 70 years but i chose to Resign from all postions effective immediately. Umpires have gotten out of Hand and MLB supports them. Good luck to all and thanks to AJC and Company for their coverage over the years.
hit a single
October 6th, 2012
2:54 pm
On the infield fly rule the infielder has to be camped under the ball. Hate to say it but by the rule book he made the correct call.
hit a single
October 6th, 2012
2:58 pm
It is not just baseball. Look at the NFL, coaches can no longer argue with officials. Coaches and managers are a part of the game and should always be. Who ever came up with the one game playoff was crazy. Should have at least played and 2 out of 3. Could have played the series this weekend and then started Division playoffs on Tues. Bud Selig needs to go.
Reality
October 6th, 2012
3:01 pm
From 2000 to now, the Braves have been involved in 9 post season series. They have lost 8 of those 9 series. Add in one of the all time cave-ins to end the 2011 season. What one thing did all of those teams have in common? The presence of a supposed leader named Choaker Jones. Now that he is gone, maybe we have some hope for the future.
Chad Wellington
October 6th, 2012
3:08 pm
Guys, it was NOT a bad call. Read the actual MLB “infield fly rule” before commending here. We’ve got to realize it was the correct call. We lost the game due to errors and failure to hit with runners on. Listen to the MLB officials today and ESPN analysts–why are you guys saying it was an incorrect call??? THE REALITY IS, any fan who threw something embarrassed the city of Atlanta and made us look terrible on national TV. Despicable. Any fan who threw something should be banned from going to a Braves game next year. Really sad end for Chipper as we almost forfeit the game due to drunk angry fans. Sad ending for Braves. Get your story right people. Go to ESPN or some site that actually covers the facts on what happened with the errors that really lost the game. Not the stupid Infield Fly Rule. I feel sorry for all the kids at the game who saw the terrible unsportsmanlike fan behavior. Sad.
Chad Wellington
October 6th, 2012
3:14 pm
Guys, it was NOT a bad call. Read the actual MLB “infield fly rule” before commending here. We’ve got to realize it was the correct call. We lost the game due to errors and failure to hit with runners on. Listen to the MLB officials today and ESPN analysts–why are you guys saying it was an incorrect call??? THE REALITY IS, any fan who threw something embarrassed the city of Atlanta and made us look terrible on national TV. Despicable. Any fan who threw something should be banned from going to a Braves game next year. Really sad end for Chipper as we almost forfeit the game due to drunk angry fans. Sad ending for Braves. Get your story right people. Go to ESPN or some site that actually covers the facts on what happened with the errors that really lost the game. Not the stupid Infield Fly Rule. I feel sorry for all the kids at the game who saw the terrible unsportsmanlike fan behavior. Sad.
cardsfan
October 6th, 2012
3:18 pm
Wanted to check the forum here to hear your side. Funny how everyone complains that atlanta had more wins than the cards and its not fair they had to play a one game playoff. These were the new rules. One game take all, no matter how many regular season games you win it no longer matters. It is the playoffs. A team that ranks so low in attendance, with a playoff team, finally shows up and trashes the field. Blame the call, but what about the homerun where the umpire called time after the pitch was thrown, that was just as questionable. After the replay Chipper was clearly out at first. You had calls go your way just as well.
82BravesForever
October 6th, 2012
3:19 pm
That place *erupted* on the call. The plastic bottles and cans hit the field immediately. There was a serious energy in the stands, perhaps a negative energy for even having to play this game at all. Cards won 88, Braves 94. Braves beat the cards 5 of 6 in the regular season. And then this one game. It felt as if we were getting shafted from the start, and only escalated from there.
NOTE: trash on field happens whenever fans feel they’ve received the rawest deal possible. It happens in St Louis, even. The “classy” comments are a joke. Classy folks stayed home!
JHarber
October 6th, 2012
3:19 pm
Wellington Common sense has to be applied at times and forget rules. Game was sloppy but the point is bad umpires and MLB, A grain of salt at times helps see entire picture. There times for everything. Rules are rules but common sense should prevail. Winning or losing is not at issue with these calls its fairness.
GTSteve
October 6th, 2012
3:24 pm
Horrible call, no doubt about it, but it didn’t cost the Braves the game, the correct call there and the Braves MIGHT have overcome their self inflicted wounds. The way the rule is written, is the umpire has to see that the INFIELDER can make a play using normal effort. That was not the case here, we have all seen players tag up and score from 3rd on an infielder running full speed towards the outfield….You just cant call infield fly rule on that play…..but again, Braves errors cost them this game
82BravesForever
October 6th, 2012
3:24 pm
Cardsfan is the odor so bad off the miss this morning you have to stay indoors and troll another teams site? Do you really think Braves fans feeling shafted is unwarranted?
P.S. Braves drew 2.5mm this year. That’s not ranking low. That’s close to 30k a game, and good for a 15th ranking. Keep in mind 15th is just above average. Not “low”. Another math-challenged Cards fan.
Brave New World
October 6th, 2012
3:38 pm
Headine should be: “Umps Oust Braves”
Brave New World
October 6th, 2012
3:39 pm
Sam Holbrook = Eric Gregg
nashvillewill
October 6th, 2012
3:40 pm
BRAVES FIZZLE AGAIN IN POSTSEASON: WHY FREDI GONZALES IS TO BLAME
Another in a long line of postseason failures for the Braves with one difference: this was a one-game “playoff”, a ridiculous, money-driven creation of MLB/Bud Selig, that has no legitimate reason-for-being in a series driven sport like baseball(even little league postseason is best two of three in most contexts).
Since this loss clearly can be placed in the hands of the players who fumbled, bumbled, and continued to leave runners on base (7 in the last three innings), why should we hold FG accountable and responsible? For (mis)managing this team to the runner up position in the East, when it was clearly takeable. Although FG handling the pitching much better (minus some questionable usages of Martinez and Venters in July and August), his Bobby Cox-like stubbornness to continue to use players who are non-productive cost this Braves the division and first round “bye.” I am referring mostly to his use of the non-productive Uggla in the face of one of the worst seasons by a ML baseball player, and the use of Bourn when he clearly had run out of steam after a pretty decent first half. Constanza offered a more-than-adequate replacement for Bourn when used (witness his triple on Friday), and Prado was a clearly superior second baseman. Reed Johnson could have been inserted in LF, Prado put at 2B and, voila! stability and superior players in one feel swoop. I guess these moves made too much sense and were not attempted on any consistent basis by a manager who plays favorites. For these reasons as well as for last season’s inept finish, Gonzales should not be retained. It goes without saying that Bourn should not be retained and Uggla should be shopped for whatever can be gotten. With a new manager (Francona is available as of this writing), a new 3B (Please, not Francisco), Prado at 2B, Ross as the everyday catcher, Braves might contend for the division title next year. No consolation in the WC, at least in the one-and-done format.
cardsfan
October 6th, 2012
3:41 pm
Odor of victory is sweet, thank you. I have a new born that why Im inside, not sure why you are inside. And 15th for an awesome team as you guys have pointed out is not great. Without that homerun with a late time being called it would have been 6 to 1 at that point of the call. Your team choked again in the playoffs as usual, blame the team not the rules of the new playoffs, or infield fly. MLB network and espn both broke down the play and showed other examples of the same play being called the same way. Go cardinals
Brave New World
October 6th, 2012
3:45 pm
At least a case of beer on the field were the empties the umpires had consumed prior to calling the “Infield Fly Rule.”
Brave New World
October 6th, 2012
3:49 pm
cardsfan: First of all, congratualtions on your new born. Cards are a first class organization with a great history. However, the most prevalent odor from this game came from 2 places: 1) the umpires in left field and 3rd base; and 2) the Braves defense. Nonetheless, congrats to you and your Cardinals from a Braves fan.
DawgNole
October 6th, 2012
3:51 pm
bitman
October 5th, 2012
9:48 pm
Hey Fact Check -Do you really think The Bad Station or MLB will even notice our absence?
____________________
Doesn’t matter what Fact Check thinks. The answer is, Absolutely not. Nor will MLB care–unfortunately.
Busch Leaguer
October 6th, 2012
4:02 pm
Listening to that Flak Harold Reynolds on the MLB Network makes me sick. With all of the video tape at MLB’s disposal they still can’t find any play that comes close to the idiotic call Holbrook made. Why do these umps have to inject themselves into the outcome of baseball games ,especially playoff games.And back to Reynolds you have no credibility at all just a flak reading a script approved have Bud Selig. And for Joe Torre if this call was made in Yankee Stadium and against the Yankees ,you would have overturned the call ,or there would still be a riot going on in New York City.
nelson
October 6th, 2012
4:02 pm
another lost, same thing… braves continue history in postseason : CHOKE
Same ol' same ol'
October 6th, 2012
4:04 pm
Only a few comments here deal with the BLOWN CALL on the pitch just before Ross hit his dinger. That bad call didn’t raise anyone’s ire, apparently…wonder why!?
And only a few mention Jones slow-poking to first and being handed his last “hit” in the majors, which was clearly an OUT. What a wholly underwhelming end for a future HOFer, jogging to first like a first-rate BUM. Then to have Fan Struggla finish it off…well it was apropos. Another thirty grand pocketed for a weak at-bat by the most overpaid, and roided-up infielder in baseball.
Homers see what they want to see. The “worst call” didn’t ruin the Braves. Ineptitude did. And it’s all too typical.
don
October 6th, 2012
4:28 pm
The umpire called timeout before Lohse delivered the pitch. That call was correct.
However, Jones was clearly out at first base. It was a going away gift.
don
October 6th, 2012
4:33 pm
Simmons will be fine. The calls to trade for Elvis are without merit. While it is true that the Rangers have Profar ready to take over shortstop, Elvis will probably be kept until he can become a free agent. then the Braves won’t be able to afford him. Simmons is not Andrus. Nor is he Profar. However, he is better than most other young shortstops.
Anyway, the Braves have very little that would interest the Rangers other than possibly Heyward.
KYBravos' fan
October 6th, 2012
4:43 pm
Did y’all see the graphic last nite on TBS about Chipper? #2 in franchise history in something like 5 categories. Homers, rbi, hits, avg., and runs(I believe were the ones shown). Was #3 in homers–to Captain Eddie Mathews. 2nd in all the others to The Hammer from Mobile–as Milo Hamilton used to call Henry. Not bad, huh? Chipper’s headed to Cooperstown and REAL Braves’ fans love him and all that he’s accomplished. Thank you, Chipper. A Brave forever.
yellowfever
October 6th, 2012
4:55 pm
what a bunch of choke artist.
Busch Leaguer
October 6th, 2012
5:05 pm
@same ‘ol
the ump on the Ross play had raised his hands for time before the pitch was made and Ross swung and missed. You can argue that the ump should not had given Ross time. I don’t make a claim that the Braves would have won the game if Holbrook did not make the infield fly call. The more likely outcome would have been that Motte would not have pitched around McCann and McCann would have bounced into a double play.Even with the shoddy defense and bad managerial moves,.ie Safety squeeze with the pitcher on deck. The Braves could not overcome batting.000 with runners in scoring position this problem has plagued the team all year.
Ron
October 6th, 2012
5:34 pm
Not a fan of Joe Torre. Hey Joe, How would have you reacted if you were still managing the Yankees and that happened to your team in the deciding game?
Mark
October 6th, 2012
5:35 pm
The Truth, buy a dictionary….
hit a single
October 6th, 2012
5:35 pm
Like it or not he made the right call. With our weak offense we left it in the hands of the umpires.
Is thowing trash on the field ever okay? Musings from the upper deck at the Cardinals/Braves Wild Card Game « dylanmclemore.com
October 6th, 2012
5:43 pm
[...] of them unearned. Atlanta, meanwhile, racked up 12 hits, but managed just three runs, leaving 10, 12, 18, 21 runners on base, depending on where you look (seriously, is it that difficult?). The [...]
Philly Phanatic
October 6th, 2012
6:10 pm
If you thought that was boorish behavior by the Braves fans on that abortion of a call I shudder to think what would have occurred in Philly with the same call against the Phillies. They would have made that scene in Atlanta look like a love in. The reaction was more than warranted. Like so many have succinctly stated it probably wouldn’t have mattered anyway as hitting with RISP is certainly not Atlanta’s strong suit. It’s their defense!
Spud Webb
October 6th, 2012
6:10 pm
Good job Braves fans!!! I was glad to see the trash on the field!!! Holbrook had money on that game, that is the ONLY WAY to explain that call. MONEY on the game, I said it, think about it a “judgement” call”??? Perfectly played by Holbrook, un freaking believable.
Yes, the braves should’ve hit in the clutch and yes the errors hurt, but you cant tell me bases loaded and 1 out doesn’t change that game. Joe Torre is a joke…..
Spud Webb
October 6th, 2012
6:12 pm
The FIX WAS IN!
Spud Webb
October 6th, 2012
6:15 pm
Philly Phanatic, I was giggling thinking if that was in Philly or NY….water bottles=batteries and no way one of those umpires would’ve made it safely out of there.
pathetic pos players
October 6th, 2012
6:27 pm
pathetic.
Tracey
October 6th, 2012
6:45 pm
If you disagree with a single elimination wild card game then sign this petition….https://www.change.org/petitions/major-league-baseball-end-the-failed-experiment-of-a-one-game-wild-card-playoff
Tracey
October 6th, 2012
6:45 pm
Here is the petition link..
https://www.change.org/petitions/major-league-baseball-end-the-failed-experiment-of-a-one-game-wild-card-playoff
Fred
October 6th, 2012
7:09 pm
Hey Atlanta fans – you are getting lambasted all around the country for the embarrassing way you behaved Friday night. You want to fire Joe Simpson for telling the truth? There is never a reason to endanger people in the stands or on the field by throwing garbage.
(you do realize that most of the trash you threw never even got to the field which means you pelted your own kind)
You lack the passion and the perspective for the game of baseball.
74bravesjersey
October 6th, 2012
7:32 pm
You know what, Fred, any other city fan base, the Bronx, philly, Boston, anybody else, in the heat of the momment, for you’re team, & a momment of euphoria, pressure on the cards, bases loaded, 1 out, mommentum going particular in any of those cities fan base way for their team, & an outfield line judge calls infield fly rule out in mid-left field, the ball drops, think about it. If it were Boston fans, Newyork team fans, philly, etc.. there would been chaos beyond bedlam, mayhem, those umpires may never came back out, in another place, especially passion beyond compare, we we’re tamed compared to those cities, tired of all this righteous, pious crap talk, let em’ lambash us, fred, they know where we stand. Also, some Digs from Jena on page 9, Sam holbrook hails from alton, just outside of st.louie, bless his heart, he made sure his redbirds we’re mov’n on, that’s ok, we heard from philly fans, mets fans, Billy Ripken,Omar vizquel, of mlb, Dennis eckersely, Buster onley of Espn said the umps missed bad on this call, very poor in their judgement, they helped seal the deal for the redbirds, not excusing the Braves horrendous defense.
Philly Phanatic
October 6th, 2012
9:18 pm
Fred, I’m almost thinking they should either have the stadium cordoned off with fans with no passion and those with. Or we could possibly have games for the backgammon type fans and those who have their Heart and soul into THEIR team. Maybe in Philly, NY, and Boston with years of tradition, successful or not your team has been threaded into as big and important part of your life as anything but family. I was actually very pleased to see the fans in Atlanta act the way they did as I really always thought that was the difference between the fans from Philly whose attendance mirrors their love affair with their team and Atlanta. I guarantee the game would have been suspended for a lot longer in Philly as their behavior would have begged for a level playing field. Their will always be the fans who want to keep the human element as a large part of the game. Instant replay is an absolute necessity in all sports. What is worse than being eliminated from a 162 game schedule because an ump had the call so wrong at an extremely integral part of the game. If you thought the behavior was out of line stay home. My only problem with staying home is my son and his friends may nail me with a battery on theft call.
count_schemula
October 6th, 2012
10:06 pm
“Hey Atlanta fans – you are getting lambasted all around the country for the embarrassing way you behaved Friday night”
Suck up. You probably thought there was WMD because “they” said so.
Grow a brain.
Discussion Post: Week 7 « COM 315 Course Blog
October 7th, 2012
12:03 am
[...] forced Matheny to change pitchers, bringing in his closer earlier than he had intended, and it cast a pall over the first-ever wild card game, which St. Louis claimed a few outs later. Every dot you see here is a piece of trash that an angry [...]
George Washington
October 7th, 2012
1:10 am
Anyone commenting on this game has to make less than $30,000.00/yr. Anyone with intelligence does not waste their time complaining about a game with which they have no control. It’s a waste of time folks! Get an education or a part-time job and make something of your life. If you aren’t careful you’ll be known as losers.
You were robbed!
October 7th, 2012
1:49 am
First, thanks to Chipper for all that you have done for the Braves over the last 19 years. It’s been fun this year watching you play and getting this team to the playoffs. I was at the game last night and I understand why people got so upset and starting throwing things….you guys had a chance and you were doing what the Braves always do…fighting back. And it was just wrong. So, think of it this way..those beers are $7 a piece, so those.fans think alot of their team… Thanks for taking up for your passionate fans, because we love our Braves and we love you. Thanks Chiiper!
Braves fan
October 7th, 2012
9:13 am
Hey Tracie – Bite Me! We don’t want your sissy $#^@$^ kids watching the braves either.
Well said mark – about time braves fans showed emotion. We was robbed!!
George
October 7th, 2012
9:24 am
Chipper you are great and you should be peace.People the call was made in good faith.shame on you for your behavior in front of the kids I thought you people set a good example for kids.That was thug behavior someone could have been killed but no one was arrested shame on the police.If that would have happen at Clark Atlanta people would ave been cuffed ,stuffed.and baged WOW .Shame on Atlanta the real jokers stoodup.You people was out their acting a dam Fool and Chipper talked with Class and acted with Class.
Realist
October 7th, 2012
9:44 am
It is only contrversial if you don’t know the rule and its rule comments:
Rule 2.00 (Infield Fly) Comment: On the infield fly rule the umpire is to rule whether the ball COULD ORDINARILY HAVE BEEN HANDLED BY AN INFIELDERnot by some arbitrary limitation such as the grass, or the base lines. The umpire must rule also that a ball is an infield fly, even if handled by an outfielder, if, in the umpire’s judgment, the ball could have been as easily handled by an infielder. The infield fly is in no sense to be considered an appeal play. The umpire’s judgment must govern, and the decision should be made immediately.
It was a GOOD call. The Braves are like ThUGA, they can’t handle the pressure of a big game.
Georgia
October 7th, 2012
9:54 am
It’s not about the loss, it’s about the fact that the WC elim game had to be played in the first place. Georgia lost at least $2 million in otherwise earned revenue b/c of the new format. You can estimate at least $2 million per game in ‘tourism dollars’ for hotel/motel tax, motor fuel tax, food & beverage tax, extended jobs, etc. Georgia would have had at least 2 postseason games under the old format. Missourri now reaps at least $4 million of otherwise unearned revenue, a boost to the image of its state’s sports & gets free baseball. MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ROBBED ALL GEORGIA TAXPAYERS of extra (and earned) revenue by this new format. The outcome of the WC elimination game has an economic impact that is so much bigger than “just one game”. MLB only thought about MLB. MLB did not think about the much bigger picture of what postseason revenue does in terms of job extension & tax dollars for the state’s team that clearly had the better 2nd place record in 162 games.
A.B. Normal
October 7th, 2012
10:00 am
One-and-done . . . the story of our lives.
Oct. 7, 2012: Presidential Debates: Romney Takes Round One « COM 315 Course Blog
October 7th, 2012
4:20 pm
[...] forced Matheny to change pitchers, bringing in his closer earlier than he had intended, and it cast a pall over the first-ever wild card game, which St. Louis claimed a few outs later. Every dot you see here is a piece of trash that an angry [...]