Poll: Should Braves start Lowe in playoffs (if they make it)?

First. Hell no

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He has 16 losses on a team that’s 20 games over 500. That there should be enough of an answer. Cards up 6-4 last I saw on a 2 out homer where no one on base, 2 singles and then the homer. They are red hot, pun intended. The Braves are done. Nice epic collapse.

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Worrying about who to start in Game 3 of the NLDS should be the least of the Braves worries right now.

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As long as the offense keeps refusing to hit, it doesn’t matter what pitcher is starting. Unless they throw a shutout we have no chance of winning.

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Perhaps they should allow Lowe to have on more beer before taking the mound..he is not drunk enough.

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with everything on the line, this sorry team gets 2 hit by yet another chump team. Absolute joke. This team doesn’t deserve to go to the playoffs anyway – no heart, no hitting. Trade Jurriens please – he’s a brittle player who can’t finish a season, ever.

Pitiful, PITIFUL performance from another team of pretenders.

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Schultzie:

This is ridiculous. Everyone knows they’re not making it at this point. You really think we’re going to win one fewer game than the Cards hereon out considering the Cards play the Cubs and the Astros (and one game against the pitiful Mets)?

Why even write this drivel? Please write on this collapse and the ramifications on the Fredi regime.

HT

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These guys are chokes !

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So the last post was too honest? Boy, you AJC guys have a real hook there – maybe you should pitch for the Braves next year – they need help.
Trip, stumble and fall…
On the beach in a week.

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The Atlanta Police Dept. should’ve locked him up when they had the chance. The Braves would have clinched the wild card by now.

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Ironic how two ex braves, omar and javier, both beat and will be the reason the braves don’t make the playoffs. That first game was the killer.

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Enter your comments hereJeff,

Come on man, it’s down to one game in the lost column…

Go be the Jeff Schultz whose courage–unlike DOB–we’ve all come to respect
and ask a more legitimate question like “why should Fredi Jeff,

Come on man, it’s down to one game in the lost column…

Go be the Jeff Schultz whose courage–unlike DOB–we’ve all come to respect
and ask a more legitimate question like “why should Fredi Gonzalez be
retained after blowing what was considered an insurmountable lead in just
two weeks?”

Seriously, Jeff, how about asking the tough questions to and about Fredi
that you’ve asked about Mark Richt, an infinitely more accomplished and
successful coach.

Gonzalez be retained after blowing what was considered an insurmountable lead in just two weeks

Seriously, Jeff, how about asking the tough questions to and about Fredi
that you’ve asked about Mark Richt, an infinitely more accomplished and
successful coach.

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Srndn Lower down to the minors and bring up someone who has a chance to win.

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perhaps we should fire Gonzalez and then rehire him.

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Good call loweser, bravos stunk since the mouth ole Chip said Philly series did not matter and they would beat them in playoffs….but the ATL media loves Chip and would never dare call him out

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If DLOWE is going to pitch in the postseason, I’d rather see a team like the Cardinals there instead. How much more can Fredi make the Braves an embarrassment and to have DLOWE pitch on this team?

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nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah hey hey hey goodbye….Cards win!

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Jeff, I am a bit surprised that “Anybody BUT Derek Lowe” isn’t a choice. Oh well.

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Problem is, they are a very undisciplined team at the plate. Ugla, McCann, Heyward, just swing for the fences all the time regardless of the count, or the situation in the game. The whole team is horrible at advancing runners, and they strand runners at third all the time. I thought Freddie would manage differently than Bobby, but it turns out he will be Cox 2.0. At least they are choking in September instead of October this time.

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The Braves can look at the Cardinals and watch a team with heart. All of the Braves can hit but it seems most are waiting for someone to hit a big home run. This didn’t just happen, it’s been going on all season long. The pitching has been sufficent all year, but the hitting has been pathetic. When a prfessional can’t even hit a sacrifice fly then that says it all. It’s all over I hope because this team has no heart and is vastly overpaid. Maybe next year, this one is over.

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well the nats just sweeped the phillies. does anyone think we can? Haha

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Cards win the World Series…mark it down.

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I voted for Delgado, based on his composure and consistency. Derek as been disappointing. but you can’t hang this month-long meltdown only on him. This has been a collapse of the entire team: hitters, pitchers, and an uninspiring manager and coaching staff. For my money I would can Fredi, find a manager who can handle the club, and do a thorough review of all coaching positions, starting with Larry Parrish. My concern is that Fredi will get a pass because JJ and Hanson went down.

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I said it before and I’ll say it again Lowe needs to go he has single handedly put the Braves on the brink of elimination form the playoff WTH is Gonzo thinking?

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If Lowe was just an average (5th starter) he would be like 10-10….those 6 games would come in handy right now. And this goof was saying to wait till September…he was going to be the difference maker. Guess he was right!

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I wish we’d all stop talking about the playoffs. Focus on Friday’s game. Period.

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HELLLLLLL……………………………..NO………………………………..

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The Nats will sweep the Braves. Braves will be shut out at least once, and score 1 run the other game. Bullpen blows the 3rd.

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The Braves piss me off with this type of effort. Lowe’s stuff is old and worn out. Throw a damn strike! Sinker, two seam or God for bid throw a 4 seam fastball. Keep your eye on the catchers mitt and throw it! McCann’s numbers finally look like they always have. I so mad at the braves they deserve to sit their ass at home and watch the phillies win the world series.

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Look if the braves don’t score runs they can’t win no matter who pitches they need a new batting coach “……………………….

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Ha, at this point, why not…start Lowe I say!

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Not no, but hell no. Lowe should not start another game in regular season or post season. He needs to be exiled to Kawakamiville as soon as possible.

Even Bobby Cox would have enough sense to not keep running Lowe out there every five days to continuously and spontaneously implode on the mound.

Reality check: The Braves have lost their number 2 and 3 starting pitchers to injury. If we make it to the post season now, it will be nothing short of a miracle since we cannot outscore anybody.

I’ll always have hope, but it is hard to see the postseason happening.

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Doesn’t look like the Braves even care anymore. Without Hanson and Jurrjens they know they don’t stand a chance so they are just mailing it in. The team has talent, just lack motivation and that comes from a weak manager. I hope Gonzo’s little boo boo with his leg will allow him to play this weekend. Heck, maybe we can even get a game or two from Chipper.

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Remember last year when the Braves players were wearing their 11 for 6 Shirts. Those mental midgets went out and won 1 game for Bobby Cox. Chipper proclaims a victory and then whiffs mightily while watching the team win despite his chokiness.

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What did the chicken say to Derick Lowe? BAAAAAAAALK, BALK, BALK, BALK, BALK, BALK.

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I think they are all dimwits on the Rude awakening. Hey Leo, you and Bobby had 3 Cy Young Winners on the staff at the same time and won only 1 world series. I could have done that. How did things work out in Baltimore for ya?

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Leo is the biggest homer and will get called out on it if the Braves miss the postseason. I’m sick of every baseball mind in this town being brain washed by Bobby Cox and his way of doing things.

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And Chuck Dowdle sounds like Barney.

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Jeff,
Seriously, I am as big a baseball fan in general, and Braves fan specifically, as there is. I have to say that when Jair and then Hansen went down, I didn’t feel too good. Our offense has been untrustworthy all year. We were the second best record in the NL for most of the season due to pitching and pretty good defense. Suddenly, two of our three best starters (Jair and Hansen) are out and Lowe has really not deserved to be in the rotation for most of the year, so effectively we’re Hudson and the rookies.
Bottom line to me is this: it’s absolute crunch time and we lose two series to the Mets and Marlins, two of the worst teams in the NL. We really don’t deserve to be a playoff team, as much as it pains me to say it.
Fredi is a good manager, great hire, but next season they HAVE to find a way to keep the bullpen a little fresher for September. Scratch that, they HAVE to find a way to keep O’Flaherty, Venters and Kimbrel fresher for September.

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my buddy keeps telling me its not the coaches fault…he doesn’t pitch and doesnt hit for the players. Brainwashed fool…. the coach is a coach in the majors because he supposedly knows what to do from meltdowns…collapses…injuries…hitting…pitching. Fredi Gonzalez is none of these. Pack his bags and ship him out. Schultz needs to ask the hard question to Fredi if they miss the playoffs one question and one question alone. Why in the crap would we need your services one more year? What will be different next time around? What will you change? If he doesn’t give an honest answer I say give him the boot……is Frank Wren Listening?

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When are these so called reporters, really opinion piece writers, going to start questioning Frank Wren and Fredi Gonzalez like they do Mark Richt?

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Braves from Athens, Great point. J.J should have been traded for a big bat at the trade deadline. Besides Tim Hudson, no braves starter can go past 5 1/3 innings. That’s not playoff baseball.

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Not only will they make it, they might still win the division.

Right, Jeff?

Why don’t you just stop. Retire.

You’re a joke.

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Playoffs?

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Hey Jeff…Let’s worry about getting into the playoffs first.

The two teams that have killed the Braves this year they finish up with…Washington (it pains me to say) and Philly. Who do the Cardinals finish up with? The hapless Cubs and Houston.

The Braves are NOT even going to the playoffs so this is moot.

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Why get pitchers that are basket cases when the Braves used to recruit and develop 20 game winners. Now all they do is tolerate pitchers who are double digit losers with a better chance of being 10 under than a .500 pitcher. Lowe must retire. I’d rather have A.J. Burnett or an injured Jake Peavy. Braves would have a better chance.

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Nats are flyin high with the braves coming. I see a nats sweep!

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Who are the 14 people that voted for Lowe? Lowe is unfortunately not the same pitcher anymore.

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You have to go with one of the kids & bring in Lowe if needed (he knows how to pitch from the bullpen). Fredi has to take a chance to try and win (that is if the even get to the playoffs). Right now the young guns Minor & Delgado give the Braves a much better chance.

EXAMPLE: why then don’t we have Sherill & Linbrink as our set up & closer, after all they are veterans & have the experience.

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Doesn’t matter who starts if you only get two hits.

Bring Barry Bonds out of retirement and start him at cleanup. That will do a lot more for the Braves’ postseason chances than any reshuffling of the starting rotation.

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Hey, he shouldn’t even be pitching right now with a lot of young talent that has at least a fighting chance to win. He’s an automatic loss, and in the playoffs he’s an automatic loss. Is this difficult?

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Derek Lowe absolutely should start in the playoffs.

Game 1. The Braves always lose Game 1 anyway so why not?

The problem is the Braves would probably be dumb enough to do that anyway under the continued delusion he is legitimately the best option given his past playoff experience, which is of course complete bulls***.

But if they ever got smart and decided to think outside the box, they would intentional use him to start the series with the expecation that we would lose the game.

Then you have the much more favorable rotation of Hudson, Minor and Beachy the rest of the series and in the off chance they actually show up in Game 1 and don’t wet their pants–for onc–and somehow win the game, the ball is squarely in their court.

Because otherwise you start Tim Hudson and lose predictably in spite of what would probably be a respectable performance by the ace and then you’re lucky if it’s not a sweep.

Seriously… okay, not seriously, we’re going to lose the wild card but if we did make the playoffs… Derek Lowe, Game 1 starter.

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Truly a moot point. A lot like deciding how to rearrange the deck furniture on the Titanic after the iceberg hit. However, I will defend Fredi Gonzalez to the point that losing Hanson and Jurrjens has been devastating to our rotation. Also, he is not afraid to tinker or flatout overhaul the batting order to get something going. I love Bobby Cox and cant stand the folks that say he should have done more, but did Bobby ever bat Chipper anywhere other than the 3 hole? Some nights the changed batting order has worked, and some nights not. But at least Fredi aint scared to move people around. I am also glad that Wren did not trade away the good young arms to rent a bat for a couple months. We have some young talented pitching and offseason should be interesting.

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Yes.

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@GT 2011 Remember, it was to shed payroll and we received Arodys Vizcaino and Mike Done, whom we traded as part of the deal for Uggla.

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THIS IS LOSERVILLE. What did you expect?

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choozer

Here’s a poll question: Will the Braves have a new hitting coach next year?

Yeah, Terry Pendleton.

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We have got to get stronger production from our OF guys. If Phil did not sign Pence to long term contract, go after him. Also go get Frenchy(Oh, my god) back, both are now veteran proven players. Let Prado back up 3rd, SS and 2nd base(that should get him alot of AB’s). That;s my initial thought about next year now that WC is gone!

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Skip all this, we all know what all of you backwood Georgians want to do. Let’s make Chipper president of the world and execute Jason Heyward for the same reason you executed Troy Davis. Yes, Lowe should start because he is what Georgia likes

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Playoffs?! LMFAO

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In the end, these guys don’t care. You’ll be able to see more Braves players at the airport after the last game than you will see on the field before sny game. I’m done spending another dime on these posers. The only bigger losers are those that post “First” on these blogs.

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Maybe I’m missing something but how can anyone expect Lowe to win big when he never gets any run support. Does anyone even watch the games? I guess you people just believe the dribble you read in this rag newspaper.

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superiorblogman, Chipper would make a great, current president. He says all the right things but doesn’t and never will produce. I don’t know Troy Davis so I assume we executed him for refusing to play with a sprained thumb?

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I heard the M.E. left Troy Davis’body and rushed to Florida to pronounce the Braves dead too.

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Short answer: No.

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Well Jeff, do you think anyone feels better after all this Lowe bashing? Do you feel any better after this? Lowe is not THE problem. The entire team is the problem. They have no on the field leader to jerk a knot in their rearends when it is needed, which was 2 weeks ago. They have a pitching staff which seems yo break down every year, their ability to bit a fly ball to the outfield goes back to the last game of the 1991 World Series, their timely hitting has never been consistent and for whatever reason, we wind up with a manager that everyone likes and the players like, but doesn’t know how to take them to the next level. Offer Joe Torre a one year contract, he would come in and know how to show no favoritism.

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Hell no! I hope they dump D Lowe after the season. They wont make the playoffs anyway.

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Remember when we had “too much” starting pitching? Lowe should not be a starter anymore this year.

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No go with Lowe. His 16 losses tell the story.

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All this brings back memories of the Braves of yesteryear – ‘65 – ‘90. Names like Sonny Jackson and Knockahoma come to mind.

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Can I vote for Freddi not to manage.

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He should have been traded at the beginning of the season when he had some value…..but as far as starting in the PS….NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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How soon we forgert. Lowe is reminding me of another multi million loser Kawakami. Wondering if he should get a start if the Braves make the playoffs. He has one more scheduled start before then, so the Braves will not make the playoffs.

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Parrish has to be fired at end of year.

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My opinion is the Braves don’t make the playoffs so this will be a non issues. However, if they do make it then you do start Lowe but keep him on a very short leash.

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I agree with Big Wally

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Playoffs? You talking playoffs? The 2011 Braves will go down as the biggest wild card chokes ever…10 1/2 games up on St Louis less than a month ago. Atlanta continues to be….losersville USA.

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Ditto.

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Bobby Cox Lite does not have a clue.

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Lowe was once an excellent closer; he might have some use out of the pen. But I would go with Hudson Beachy Delgado. The Braves, however, having blown their comfortable lead, do not have the luxury to set up their rotation. They are now a desperate gagging team. If they make the playoffs at all, it’ll be “Johnny Allstaff” as Sutton used to call them.

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It seem the Braves only hope is for St Louis to collapse. Quite frankly I think St Louis could collapse…they have had some pretty bad stretches this season.

Capuano beats them this afternoon.

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The Braves have won 9 of Mike Minor’s last 11 starts. One of the losses was from the homerun that Kimbrell gave up Monday. Let’s see Lowe or Minor?

Mute point though, as the “Swiss Miss” or Freddie won’t have to think about it by next week.

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With this Overpowering Lineup, the Braves will be lucky if they win another game this year……and last, but certainly not least,the brilliant managing of Gonzo Fredi in over using his top 3 relievers is even worse managing of the bullpin than what old Grunting Cox used to do.

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Damn, Pujols kills Capuano. .611 ave against him in the last 5 years

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No. And he should have been moved to the bullpen (or to another team before the trade deadline) ages ago.

BTW, whoever writes your headlines on the Braves page needs to learn a bit of baseball…the Braves are up by *1* game in the loss column….that 1 1/2 games nonsense doesn’t matter at this point of the season because missed games will be made up if they matter in the pennant race. So, they’re up by 1 over the Cards and only 2 over the Giants now, not 1 1/2 games. But not to worry…I’m sure Fredi the Genius [tm] will think of something.

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On the Lowe question, Don’t let him near the field. His play stinks and he will just be a loss we can’t afford.

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This collapse is epic! I sure hope that if they make the playoffs that they will do the little things to win ballgames, like hitting behind runners, bunting guys over, stealing bases and going deep into counts. We need to play small ball and take the homers if they come to us, but not predicate our whole offense on the 3 run homer….just doesn’t happen in the playoffs.

Now, to the question at hand…..i would put Lowe on the bench. He has not showed at all that he can be counted on…i don’t care what his experience is. I say let’s ride our young guys. See what they got and let them experience the postseason. Let’s stop babying these guys. They are pros for a reason. I would go first with Minor because he is a lefty and could mix it up then i would go with Delgado.

The Braves brass needs to make some tough choices here. Do you want to win or not bruise an ego!

Go Braves!!

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I’m just sayin’…need I say more?…:-(

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Tried to tell you delusional fans several weeks ago, and was called an idiot…… ONE and counting.

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Braves players and management have golf tee times scheduled immediately after the season ends and they do not want the playoffs to interfere.

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And, no Lowe shouldn’t pitch. He should be used in short relief if there’s a six-run lead or better.

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This team may not make the playoffs. If they do, they are not built to beat teams like the Phillies. I would not pitch Lowe the rest of the regular season and I would not pitch him in the first round of the playoffs. We have young pitchers that need the experience. These last 6 games are going to feel like the playoffs because they are really must win. This experience will serve our youth well. There’s about $26 million available between Lowe and Chipper. Maybe the Braves need to add youth, speed, and another big bat going forward.

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Call in the dogs and piss on the fire boys, this hunt is over!

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Lowe has lost it. He lost it a long time ago, and sitting through each agonizing inning with him pitching is torture. We are out of the game before it gets started good when he is on the mound (which should be NEVER).
I really had high hopes that with the Bourne trade and the rookies, the Braves were going somewhere. I was wrong. CHIPPER JONES – about half the time! He makes fielding errors, so his bat is the only redeeming quality he has. I have been ready for him to retire to a pinch hitting status at best.
Not too sure Gonzalez is the one.

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The National League Western Division Delusional Champion Atlanta Braves!!!!!

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This is loss is not on Lowe.
3 runs in over 6 innings is what you hope for.

With Chipper coming back he will motivate the team to hit.

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It doesn’t look to good for the home team.

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Just wait till next year, then the Braves will show the rest of the league, what it is all about!

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Somehow it wouldn’t surprise me if next year’s Spring Training main story surrounding the Braves is very similar to this year: a lot of new faces and a new manager/coaching staff. The Freddi Gonzalez era is SO 2011…

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I’m thinking Larry Parrish is a worse hitting coach than Terry Pendleton. I’m thinking we need a new Larry for hitting coach.

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I don’t expect them to make the playoffs. Am actually hoping they don’t. If they do back in accidentally it would be an embarrassement to watch them get blasted out quickly. This team has no heart.

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At least they are not as bad as the Mets. That is a pathetic team. All of their trolls are in here talking about the Bravos. Take a look at your Mets, that’s the real joke.

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I have serious doubts about whether the Braves will make the playoffs at all so this question is very premature.

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Washed up. “Innings-eaters” as coaches just love to say, just don’t get you what you need in October. Again, this club is too focused on the “marathon” and not the hot-hand “when” you need it. Tony Larussa knows this. Young Bobby cox..uh er…Freddie Gonzalez needs to.

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BTW, what happens if the braves and cards tie? Who hosts the one-game playoff?

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Seems to me that the Braves slide began when Fredi took Constanza out of the lineup. When he was in on a regular basis, we seemed to be playing small ball and succeeding. Suddenly, we have Jason every game and the run production tanked… not to mention the fun of watching the game.

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LOWE SUCKS! Don’t even include him on the roster. He’s ANOTHER example of overpaying a pitcher. Mike Hampton hurt would be better than Lowe the Loser.

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You never know what happens if they make the playoffs. The lineup is better than what the SF Giants had last year when they won it all. Everybody will be rested during the playoffs because of all the off days. We just need a few great performances by a few of our starting pitchers. It’s hard to see that happening now, but it could happen.

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bah! Where is your tomahawk-chop now, barbarian?

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NO WAY. Starting Lowe means you are throwing in the towel if you are Freddi Gonzalez. If we are going to win it all we need another young gun in there with Hudson and Beachy. Delgado seems to have the best stuff right now. Sure, it’s a risk, but Delgado stands a better chance of shutting down a lineup. With Lowe, we know we are going to have to score at least 4 runds to have a chance.

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Everybody is talking about the Braves choking. They’re not choking, you actually have to make it to the playoffs to choke. Same ole same with the Braves, they stunk with Cox and they stink after him. With the talent the Braves had in the past, we should have had at least 6 rings, only one person to blame Cox. One ring and a thousand division wins. So what. Now a new coach but the same dance. And baseball should end the week before Labor day. That is all.

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Asking whether or not Lowe should pitch in the playoffs is like asking whether Custer should be in charge of the follow-up campaign to Little Big Horn.

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NOTE TO AGON: Suck it up, you are now IN THE PLAYOFFS, you wimp! Romo played football with a cracked rib and punctured lung, and you got a ‘TWEAKED MUSCLE”. Yeh, it’s in your head!
You had one of the best hitting records against that pitcher last night and you sit! Take a pain pill or a cortisone shot before each game if you have to.
NOTE TO FG: GET TOUGH with these guys. They don’t need your “oh well, he was good” and “we’ll be alright” style right now. If you’re the leader, it’s time to speak up and lead. You would make a good vice-President, as you fit right in with Obama. KICK SOME BUTTS!!!

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you got to be kidding..

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If Jurrjens and Hanson are out…I say give the ball to Lowe. If we’re gonna crash…let’s crash and burn!

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@Swaga1 & Crocket. Don’t worry about the Braves making the playoffs. The Phils are going to make sure we win, bet on it. They do not want to have anything to do with the Cards in the playoffs.

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It’s a moot point, Jeff. These guys are hapless. After having been swept only once all season, when it comes time to seal the deal in September, they lost two out of three to Los Angeles, they got swept by Philadelphia, got swept by St. Louis, lost two out of three to the Mets, then lost three out of four to the Marlins. They are better than this and we all know it, but they’re wearing the iron collar big time and can’t shake it off. By the way, Lowe is over the hill and not worth fraction of what he makes (that’s a nice way of saying he sucks).

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If the Bravos make it to the postseason–if, being the keyword–the third pitcher should be Delgado. Though I don’t like that he can’t go beyond 6 innings, he’s pretty sharp. And he’s much sharper than Lowe.

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Won’t matter if Greg Maddux, Tom Glavin, and John Smoltz in the prime of their careers were starting, you gotta score at least 1 to win. With the Braves offense struggling as badly as they are and Venters and Kimbrel seeingly gassed it won’t matter who starts.

At least they chose September this time to fall apart instead of Ocotber.

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“So… on the offchance that the Braves turn it around, overcome some very serious injuries, and very serious slumps, what would you guys think about using our worst pitcher in the playoffs?”

I can’t believe this is where we’re at. I don’t know what’s worse: the fact that this is probably the most pertinant and interesting discussion right now or the fact that this is something the Braves are actually pondering themseles.

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Forget Derek Lowe. The topic here should be Chipper Jones

He showed his colors yesterday. He showed just how much his team means to him. Taking off the day before an off day to be with his family in a non life-threatening situation while his teammates are struggling in a wild card race

Absolutely unbelievable

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The Braves Starting Playoff Lineup:

LF: Barry Bonds
CF: Ken Griffrey Jr.
RF: David Jusice
3B: Derek Jeter
SS:Alex Rodriguez
2B: Brett Boone
1B: Mark McGuire
P: Greg Maddux
C:Mike Piazza

Sounds good to me….

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I don’t think we’ll have to worry about setting up a postseason rotation. St. Louis is probably getting theirs together right about now…………..

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Guys! You might as well throw in the towel the way you all think! It is unreal…
Yeah, I saw the game…and it wasn’t just the pitcher here…IT WAS TIMELY HITTING. Once we get men on base…it is HTH to get them home. The Braves are 9-12 this month…the Cardinals are doing good…Phillies are not. We have an off day today…So, get with the scoop here…
Fredi is not to blame…it is timely hitting,
I have seen some of these batters…how can they swing at some of those off the plate pitches?! Even my sight is better than their’s!
I am not giving up on them yet. Sure…it may go down to the very last game…and yes, it will be against the Phillies…but miracles do happen.
So…I am playing for the Braves here…let’s hope for a good 6 more games…see what happens.
But, I do think Derek Lowe should not be a part of the rotation anymore…he should be waived…and bring on a younger pitcher.
EOS

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we’re not going to the postseason, so this is all moot.

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…and hey, Robert? Did you watch the game? Chipper’s son had a sinus infection…and he did right going to see his son. Bailing out…suppose it was your son…whilst you were at work or whatever you were doing. You would ignore his situation…wouldn’t you, huh? Bailout?! Unreal on that thread of your’s…
And “The Joker”…you think Bonds has enough “steroids” to help him through the lineup…doubtful…NOT.

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An astute manager, with his finger on the “pulse” of his team, would have recognized long before now that a veteran player’s apparent problems off the field are possibly contributing to his woes on the field, Go with the “kids” and end on an exciting if not winning note!!!

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Start Lowe? Not no, HELL NO. They have already wasted 15 million dollars on the guy for this season, don’t compound that by making a stupid decision to let him hurt the team further.

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The Braves are America’s most “shovel-ready” project!

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Who cares? You assume they will make the playoffs but right now they’re just hanging around. Besides, it’s football season. Who wants to watch baseball which has gotten to be too slow & is played by a bunch of overpaid mercernaries.

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The Braves will not win another game this year, thus this question is pointless, or should I say run-less which is what the Braves usually are. I said it before the season, you have to play your best players all season long, and you have to have 3 or 4 good outfielders on your team for the whole year. Freddi is like Bobby… worthless!

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Shades of Jim Mora, Sr. : “‘Playoffs ? Playoffs ?”……(You know the rest.)

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“and hey, Robert? Did you watch the game? Chipper’s son had a sinus infection…and he did right going to see his son. Bailing out…suppose it was your son…whilst you were at work or whatever you were doing. You would ignore his situation…wouldn’t you, huh? Bailout?! ”

If I were being paid $14 million and was looked to to be the leader of my team, I wouldnt be away from the job at a time of crisis at the workplace to be with family for an elective surgery

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Hey, saw on the TV last night the Braves are selling playoff tickets (for our games at St Louis). We have no problem going up to Philly and beating them the other day (unlike some teams). This makes the 5th year in a row my team has won 86 games. Heck we might just beat out the Brewers to start the playoffs at our place. Did you see the fans at our game last night. They are really into it unlike some teams fans!
Wait a sec…. We just scored another run.

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I have been the biggest Lowe basher around, but now the proof is in the pudding. There is really no dilemma here. We have blown the season already. Why ask the stupid question Jeff? I hope Lowe and Fredi read this blog. But its like the scene from Gone With The Wind; “Frankly, my dear; they don’t give a damn.”

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The season is not over.
Why whine before then?

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What is the problem? The Braves are not going to BE in the playoffs anyway. They have always had trouble against the Nationals, and they will lose at least one — and perhaps two — of those games. Then, they play the Phillies. Anyone think they will sweep that series, even if the Phillies rest some starters, based on their consistent inability to hit against the Phillies? Looking forward to facing Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay? Unless the Cards fall on their face and allow the Braves to back in, the Braves will not be in the post-season. So what is the problem with Lowe? He will have plenty of time to think about his collapse — and the Braves — over the winter.

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If Lowe was just 11-14 instead of 9-16, the Braves would be in better shape now, wouldn’t they? If, and I mean if the Braves back into the playoffs, is this a team that is going to get it done? Sorry, but I just don’t see Turner Field being jammed to capacity.

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Refuse to vote Jeff, because there is absolutely no chance of this team making it into the playoffs. There is blood in the water and we are done!!! I can barely stand to watch at this point, this thing is so ugly. Granted the Monday loss was just an absolute freak occurence (but bound to happen when you constantly live on the edge), but we have managed two wins in the last 6 games against also-rans. I predicted this over the weekend, and it’s actually been worse than I suspected. I would be shocked if we win more than one game the rest of the way. We can’t put away the Nats and Philly will rout us as they get out of their post-clinch funk and start to tune up for the post season. I thought that we would lose badly in a play-in game in St. Louis, but at this point that won’t be necessary. Brutal!!!!!

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The braves have really disappointed me this year. Losing to the Mets 2 out of 3 at home and then the Marlins 2 out of 3 in Fla. There is no excuse. I don’t think they can hold back the cardinals at this point. The cardinals are playing great baseball and the Braves stink right now.All year they have been terrible with RISP, especially this month. I think they are hitting around .170 with risp in sept.They are done!!!!

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Maybe they could platoon Minor & Delgaro for a few innings each for the 3rd starter and use the usual suspects to close it out.

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What a pathetic exhibition we have seen from this team in the last month. While the players are responsible for thie poor play in the field, I believe the manager is responsible for allowing this nonsense to continue. Lowe should have been parked weeks ago; he has shown nothing. Have they held a team meeting since April?

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I just wish it was any team except the cards. Last time they went to the playoffs they put big billboards all around St Louis. All making fun of the Braves. I know this because I saw them. Hopefully they will get their butts kicked by somebody, anybody. As for Chumpie Jones being with his child for the surgery, maybe he has seen the writing on the wall. Let that idiot Fredi juggle the line up some more. Like he is fond of saying, “there is always tomorrow.”

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There’s nothing a fan has more contempt for than a team peeing in its pants during crunch time.

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At this point, I suspect that the team hits the field behing a Lowe start with the mindset “We are probably going to lose again with Derek on the mound”, and then of course they do. Baseball, like so many other sports, is a head game.

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It doesn’t matter. The Braves are not going to be in the playoffs…unfortunately. And, don’t say it’s just the injuries to the pitching staff. It’s the same story again. The Braves are not scoring runs. They have the hitters to do it, but it has now become a “mental” obstacle.

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PLAYOFFS? You wanna talk about PLAYOFFS???

PLAYOFFS??

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No if we get in there is no way I start him in the series unless we happen to win the first two games. Delgado has done a great job for a rookie so I think he deserves the honor. Put Lowe in the bullpen and hope for the best. Most likely Delgado will only give you around 5 innings so at that point I would try to put Lowe in for a couple and hope he can be effective. Maybe he can bridge the gap and get you to the Nasy Boys 2.0. That would be my game plan anyway. Its certainly not cenventional, but its the playoffs and that gives us the best chance to win. Go Braves!!!

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Pitch Lowe, why not? If we’re going to score 0 runs in the game does it matter?

It’s laughable that we’re putting all this thought into a pitching performance when you can’t muster up enough strength to score a single run.

This offense is pathetic…..if anything Lowe gives us a slight upgrade when he’s in because he handles the bat a touch better.

Offence? HELLO? You there? I don’t give a crap who’s pitching……..score a bunch of runs and it wouldn’t matter so much!

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Your kidding, correct? I will say this is one sure way to get your column read.
I hope we somehow make it, maybe a miracle and everyone goes on a hitting spree for 6 games….. stop laughing folks.
After this season ends for certain a good house cleaning is in order for this team. I’d rather see our beloved Braves play so so ball with the young pitching and some young position players than veterans who are so erratic.
I remember how both Smoltz and Glavine had growing paings their first season or 2 in Atlanta and both are certain HOF’ers.
I hope the Braves limp into the playoffs but I would not bet any money on it.

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Start Delgado. Lowe to the bullpen. Amazing how he gets a pass for a 4.50 ERA last night. Those kind of numbers got kawakami banished to the minors.

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When George came up the Braves had their best games of the year. When he got hurt they did not play as well. When he got better he did not play and the Braves lost. Also, Fredi Cox started playing Hayward again for no apparent reason and the Braves still lost. Now it maybe too late to correct his fooling with the lineup. Now everything is not Haywards fault by a long shot. Fredi Cox still continued to play B-Mac when he did not hit. Why? Sometimes you have got to do what is best for the team and not what a player wants. You have got to be in charge and make decisions and some of them will hurt some high price feelings. Players managers do not really win the big ones-ask Cox.

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There won’t be house cleaning because the line-up is basically in order for next year. Where are we going to see drastic change over in our everyday lineup? AND….what does it matter, they put on a Braves uniform and within minutes they forget how to use a baseball bat.

Hitting is our problem and all we complain about is pitching. In the off season they are going to deal with who’s pitching, both starting and bullpen. All this club ever talks about is pitching.

I’d like to see SOMEONE hit the ball. If there were runners in scoring position it would be like seeing a Gravy boat on Thanksgiving.

HIT
THE
BALL

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And im sick of Freddie saying Lowe will come around. Stop judging players for what they did in the past! The fact now is Derek Lowe is the NL version of John Lackey right now. Eventhough he pitched well enough for them to win the game last night, you just cant win when you dont score.

This has been the case for several seasons now, and that is just the economics of it. They just dont have the money for big time players. The organization develops pitching like no other organization, but year after year, they usaully settle for lower tier hitting.

And the stats show it from the start of the season up until now. A few more hits w/RISP and they wouldnt be in this situation. And NO, i dont have faith in this team, havent had any in quite some time. Thats just what happens in “Cleveland South.”

Us fans just need to be prepared for the worse, take it on the chin, standing up and hope Wren can once again try and address and upgrade some areas like:

1. Big bat in LF is definitely needed. Prado is ok, but he is showing what he really is the 2011 version of Omar Infante…a super utility guy.

2. This has got to be the last year for D Lowe, most of his starts have had the team in holes too early and too often this season. I dont see that trend ending.

3. I love Chipper and i must admit that i havent seen him play this long in a season, but its time to start looking to the future.

4. B-Mac/Heyward/Freeman/Bourn…no doubt about it will be the core of the offense next year, but they could use a little help.

5. Next season would be a good oppurtunity to get those young arms inclimated into the rotation. Top to bottom, no. 1 to closer, they are gonna be scary next season. THE PHILLIES DIVISION RUN ENDS NEXT YEAR.

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Pitching is what gets us to this point so consistantly. It did so in the 90’s and we’re right back to that again. First half, our starters looked great, most of the year our bullpen was shut-down all-mighty. Just like every other Braves season we’re going to come up short, regular season or first round because we can’t score runs.

Lowe gives up 3 and we all complain that it’s KK numbers. It’s not good enough.

No, what’s not good enough is that 3 runs against us is such a tall order. Why can’t we score 4-5 on a more consistant basis? With speed at the top, Chip/Uggla/Mac in the middle and a solid rookie performance from Freeman that alone should be getting the job done.

It’s not.

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fredi is a terrible manger and lowe is a equally as terrible player, but our problem all year lies with the hitting. when the team was winning we were barely winning with unbelieavable pitching performances. They never last, you need to score runs to win in the regular season. Now it is just cathcing up to us. People are complaining about Lowe last night, but truth be told, it was a quality start, even if he only gives up one run, we lose.

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Where do the Braves rank in these…

In Play (runs)

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ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
IF (and now that’s a huge IF) the Braves make it to the playoffs, Lowe needs to SIT. But contrary to the positive attitude I’ve displayed on here has been replaced with “realism”. The Braves are on a collossal downward spiral. If not before, the last three games of the season will spell their doom. Not sure what to blame it on, but the Braves have blown it. I find it hard to blame it on injuries to Hanson and Jurrjens. Our true “rookies” have filled in for them in a fine fashion BUT the Braves offense has disappeared. They cannot score runs and when you can’t score runs – DOOM sets in.

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I would hope a rehabbed Medlin is in the mix…..

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Relax, Braves are just waiting for another Trade Deadline to come and we’ll fix this up……..there is one more right?

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I just love Chipper’s comment from last night

“Again, we’ve got six games. We’ve got to go balls to the wall and not hold anything back”

I guess playing trains with his son after elective surgery while his teammates struggle is Chipper’s idea of balls to the wall

What a frickin self-serving hypocrite

Roger Dorn in the flesh

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Forget the pitching,,it has been more than enough to ease us to the playoffs. I put 99 percent of the blame on the offense. McCanns averaged has dropped 30 points in the past 6-8 weeks. Prado is nothing near to what he was last year. Heyward gives you nothing other than a 225 average. Gonzalez is not much better. The rest of the lineup are average at best. We’ve needed a power outfielder for two years and we answer that question with Matt Diaz and Constanza who are basically no better than a couple of pinch hitters. If they want to compete with the big boys you’re not gonna get it with a bunch of ho-hum 250 hitters.

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TechRon,

im thinking the same thing, Constanza hustles, and not to take anything from Prado, but Constanza is faster and bunts for base hits. I just dont understand how Freddi does not have he and Bourn in the lineup at the same time?!

Eventhough he struggling, guys like that, find ways to get on base and ways to move around the bases. Once again it will be a dissapointing September/October in Atlanta cause of the managers blundering.

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I’m out….anyways, just so tired of the Braves investing so much time and effort into pitching to get us there. At some point the Braves need to start getting there with the ability to do a little more damage.

The few guys that truly light up a line-up like Tex Mex did, we had to sell the farm to get, then watch him leave.

Chip is still solid but he’s not bringing home a WS……we’re used to that……MAC is fumbling and Uggla is just a swing for the fence kinda guy. Great when he hits one, but that average doesn’t come through enough. Until they cough up the dough….they better hope that Freeman is THAT guy to plug the order for years to come. Sure asking a lot from a kid.

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What has he done in the past 3 months that would make anyone believe that he will be effective? I’d go with who’s hot right now. And if Delgado or Minor pitch well in their next outings, go with either of them.

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The National League Eastern Division Delusional Champion Atlanta Braves!!!!!….Get REAL PPPPLEASE?!!!!!:-(

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It don’t matter who pitch out the regular, the Braves are finish they have no heart they are lossers, St Louis will beat out the Braves for the wild card. They will play better in play-offs.
Come back Bobby Coxs this guy can’t coach a lick.

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This just in – Chipper’s wife is scheduled to go the dentist on Friday and might need to have a cavity filled. Chipper will miss the weekend series to be at her side

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Plus, I have said this before and it becomes truer every day: House shills Dowdle, Mazzone and Belue and their constant Pollyanna reviews of Braves failures. Every PM you can turn to 680 The Fan and hear how everything is just hunky dory. What a bunch of BS. They know it, too.

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What the announcers say is BS. What Braves.com says is BS. What the players say is BS.

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Who are the players that run hard and hustle every play? Bourn and Constanza . . . both from other organizations. Atlanta has talented young players but they are counseled by Chipper Jones and his group of underachievers. That’s why our players look so cool and play that way, too. Forget being almost good enough. Get some leadership and get the most out of the talent assembled. This organization is inbred. Bring in somebody that picks his nose with the wrong hand.

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choke [chohk]: verb, choked, chok·ing, noun
What the Atlanta Braves do EVERY time they put in a position to show they actually have male testosterone, each & every Fall for the past 21 years except for 1995
{which much have been a ‘leap’ year for heartless quitters}

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Schultz, why not a poll on whether you think it’s a good idea
constanza was removed from the starting lineup when the collapse started.

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The team has been amongst the top four winners in MLB most of the year, but about 15th in attendance. This isn’t new. So management can’t afford as good a team as, say, the Phillies, who sell out every night. And now that the exhaustion of many of the top players is taking its toll, Braves’ fans here are quick to dump on them. Y’all don’t deserve a winning team.

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Lowe has got to go. He is paid too much for what he is giving and he just slings the ball up there like it’s BP. Last night it didn’t matter if he pitched a no-hitter because the offense didn’t scratch.
That being said, “Hang on Braves, the next one is the most important!”

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If we actually make the playoffs, no way should Lowe make the roster. Last year he really came on late in the year. This year it hasn’t happened.

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“If we were Yankees fans and they were going through the same slump right now the Braves are going through then we would be blaming it on Jeter and Arod. At least chipper decided to put his family first”

They are paying him $14 million. During the season, barring something life threatening, the team comes first. If he wants his family to come first, that’s fine. Give the Braves their $14 million and go home to your family

Under the same circumstances, Jeter would NEVER have left the Yankees. Of course, that’s part of why Derek Jeter is a champion and Chipper Jones has nice personal statistics

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I REALLY cannot imagine a Fall when I am not afraid to turn the channel to the Braves game / and am ACTUALLY proud of the way they are fighting and scrapping like other baseball teams do this time of year.

‘Disappointment’ does not describe what they do and who they are… and it seems it will NEVER change.

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I agree that this blog is crap, and you post is the biggest pile of crap on it. The Braves have caved in. They have a weak hitting team that lived on the the backs of an overachieving rotation that finally wore down. When management had a chance to make some changes, they stood pat. They have imploded this past month, which I had predicted they would, because they do not have that good a team. They are in dire need of a new 2nd baseman, shortstop, 3d baseman, and leftfielder. They need at least 2 more starters, some quality middle relief, and a manager that does not overwork their stud short relievers. St. Louis is simply a better team in most areas, closer the most notable weakness. Their manager, love him or hate him, is simply the best in the league. They have real hitters, who can score and make the pitchers better. They also are missing Adam Wainwright (the ex-Brave), one of the premier starters in MLB, and have battled injuries all season. They have a fire in them that the Braves do not have. If you think that the Braves have had a heck of a year, guess again.

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There are several reasons why the Braves are in the position they’re in. First is lack of run production thanks in most part to a few injuries and Heyward’s terrible bat. Second, injuries to Hanson and Jurrjens. Third, nothing from veteran Lowe!

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Baseball is HARD, man…

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Any idea of where Lowe’s favorite watering hole is? I might just go out and buy him a drink or five after the Braves tank this season-whether in the playoffs or not..

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“There are several reasons why the Braves are in the position they’re in. First is lack of run production thanks in most part to a few injuries and Heyward’s terrible bat.”

Jonny: Please WATCH the games. Why on earth are you calling out Heyward and not, for instance, McCann? Uggla? Prado?

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If it doesn’t work out for Fredi; would Wren and Schuerholz consider Jim Fregosi, since he’s one of their scouts, he has managed successfully, and won with the Phillies?

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Wont make it with Cox 2.0….

Enough said….

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Chipper= overated

Justice= Winner

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Whoo,, Clusters is Pi$$ed,,,

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It’s a mute point.

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Sweep? Thats Bobby’s trademark…. C’mon 2.0 lets keep the trend going…Buster….

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2 words NO WAY.

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How lowe can the Braves sink?

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DOWN GOES FRAZIER!

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Phillies will sweep em…..Yawn….

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Not to worry. If the Phillies want to progress through the playoffs, they need to lay down, help the Braves eliminate the red hot Cardinals, who no one wants to play???

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BRAVES ARE EATING PEANUT BUTTER CHOKE SANDWICHES……………

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The Braves are big CHOKES. They aren’t going to the playoffs because they sure can’t beat the Nationals or PHILLY. When it’s time to get going the only going they are doing is down hill. I question Lowe, Hanson and Jurjiens. Is either one of the 3 able to get it done? All year they haven’t hit and how Kimbrell has won as many as he has is a pure wonder and every year Vinters chokes at this time. There seems to be no chemistry at all on this team. Maybe the Braves need to clean house from the GM, Manager on down. I like the Braves but it is pretty depressing to watch them play when they couldn’t hit their way out of a paper bag with a hole in it. McCaan is a big slumper also. Uggla might have been a big expensive mistake. Chipper needs to think about retiring also.

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I’m bringing Tom with me!!

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It is hard to understand what has happened to the Braves, who were lots of fun to watch in August. But now it is like cringing while driving by a really ugly car accident, The Wild Card was their’s to lose, and while it is not over yet, it looks now that they have chosen to lose it. The other side of this, of course, is that worrying about starting pitchers in the post season, to put it kindly, is very premature at the moment. The Phillies have played out of their minds this year, and still are. The Diamond Backs and now the Cards are surging.

They are doing what the best teams do (real contenders) when fall is in the air. The Cards can feel it and smell it, and they play like they do. If the currently comatose Braves do eek out a Wild Card spot (more than likely based on good fortune than the recent level of play), how long will they actually be in it against these other teams? It puzzles me why all of the emphasis is on just getting the wild card slot? Let’s just get there, and then (like waving a magic wand?) everything will be good? I highly doubt it based on September’s effort.

At this rate, three starters would get one start and one starter would get a second start and that would be it. So there are bigger fish to fry. I am a true Braves fan, and hate to say that unless there is quick and dramatic change, better for the NLC that the Cards take it rather than a team that stumbles in by dumb luck, in spite of itself.

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I wouldn’t want Lowe to pitch in my 28 and up city baseball league. Unless he was the opposing pitcher. Then I’d love to go up to bat against him.
http://www.ctbl.org/

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Can you say, “Moot point?”

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Lowe you are only a part of the overall problem due to your LACK of quality starts this year, so NO playoffs for you. This is a team problem which stems from leadership or in our case a lack of……………

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Out of seven months this year and eight months last year, he has only looked good in one month. I’d say middle relief is all he’d get and if he choked there, he can take KK’s spot down in Mississippi.

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LOWE SHOULD PICK UP PAPER CUPS IN THE BULLPEN.

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Lowe will be back and dominate……ok maybe not, but we can hope!

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Sonny Clusters for president!

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Similar to last season…the heart is there(Monday’s comeback against Fish was good…then the “LOST IT IN THE LIGHTS” incident)the bodies are falling apart & who’s left standing? Lost weekend v. Muts didn’t help neither. WE WILL START WINNING AGAIN TONIGHT!

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Sad to see a team blow a lead like this… Probably won’t make wild card, but if they do, try Delgado. Can’t rely on Lowe any more, sad to say.

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Yes Lowe should start.

If you want to lose!

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Meaningful baseball in September!!! Allright!!!
Sure beats the days of ’70s and ’80s playing before 2000 paid attendance and mathematically eliminated in July…
Last week, GET EXCITED, Yell at the TV if you can’t be at the game….WAKE UP and QUIT Bitchin

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He’s got to go…. Should’ve been off rotation several starts ago!

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Simple…. NOMOLOWE! He’s done. FREDI should have pulled him a lot earlier….Seems like the same ol’ Bobby Cox. Let me tell you somthing else, I would have won more WS Rings than Bobby
with the Pitching Staff we once had. It’s a shocker we didn’t at least win 3. I would have been happy with two. Chipper has got to go too. He is a choker! It’s in his head. Can’t get rid of it when you choke EVERY year…Look what Jimmie Leyland did with the ‘97 Marlins and their staff wasn’t even as good as ours. CASE CLOSED.

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…and, no, there’s no need to worry about the playoffs any more this year.

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Smarty; yeah, that Chipper. What a choker…that is why so many pitchers walk him when the game is on the line…because he is a choker.

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Are the braves management so damm dumb, lowe is over the hill, do they want to lose every four days, what a dumb manager and general manager, the way they are going they will not be in the playoffs anyway?????

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I, for one, will not go to any games at the stadium, will not watch this team on TV or listen to any games on the radio if Derek Lowe is on the Opening Day roster for 2012. I have been a fan my entire life, but if he is not released after this season I am done. He should have been gone two years ago, and I never wanted him in the first place.
Release him or lose a fan until he is gone. I know my few dollars don’t matter to our nameless, faceless corporate overlords, but they matter to me.

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Not an issue since these sorry chokers won’t make the playoffs.

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Goodbye Lowe, we hate to see you go, but as you also KNOW, that you are not our hero, and you do indeed have to GO!

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Oh, and one more thing, for all of you Fredi Gonzalez detractors out there, give it a rest folks. It ain’t his fault. Don’t blame him for our hitters’ failure to hit and score runs. What do you want him to do??

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But Chipper says I am doing fine…

Baseball is HARD, you know.

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The team needed an on field leader, a captain. Chipper ain’t it. He needs to go so someone else can step up and fire up the team.

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First off, let me say I’m a huge braves fan, and really hope they make the playoffs, I have serious doubts that they will, but if the Braves do continue this horrid stretch of baseball, I think this will surpass the ‘07 Mets as the biggest collapse to end a season, and I just don’t think we can take that away from the Mets… so Please Braves… please, for the love of all that is HOLY…. win some frigging baseball games!!!!

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I hear ya B…….but also Chicago’s collapse to the Mets in ‘69 and Red Sox collapse to Yanks in ‘76,’77 (?) was pretty wild.

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Mr Davis , NO-DUH! I answered the question of an article, I dont have those answer’s. I would indeed pay half his salary just to trade him. We can absorb that with all the youngsters we have not making a ton yet. I like Lowe and wish him the best, but please Frank find a way to trade him this offseason. Teheran , Delgado, or Minor will fill that position.

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Long way to go and a short time to get there
Braves can do it

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Not only NO but HELL NO to Lowe being the third starter. Take his starts away and throw in Mike Minor or even Julio Teheran in his place and I would venture to say we would be in a better situation right now

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Wrens Nephew I change my mind and agree with you, give it to the kid, atleast in the first the rounds :^) if we can make it there. NO MO LOWE!!!

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sorry meant first three rounds off playoffs :^)

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GET RID OF DEREK LOWE!!!!!!!!!!!

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No need for this question…….Brave will not be in the playoffs…….Chokers…unreal

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Rain delay in St. Louis…maybe that will slow em down!

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No way to Lowe!!!!! He’s not capable at this point of pitching well, even in the postseason. His last start was basically a postseason game due to the importance and he wasn’t too good.

For me it’s between Minor and Delgado, and if you look at the stat lines from each of their last handful of starts it’s pretty clear that Delgado has pitched better.

Minor is pretty much guaranteed to pitch 5-6 innings and give up 3-4 ER. Unfortunately, with the Braves hitting these days that means they’re going to lose.

Delgado has a chance to only give up 1-2 ER through 5-6, which means the Braves have a chance to win those games. Delgado is definitely who I’d go with.

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IF Hanson returns, should go with Hudson, Hanson, Beachy and Minor. Put Lowe in the pen.

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I’m voting with the “It’s not going to matter anyway” camp. The Braves aren’t going to the NLDS and even if the Cards completely melt down and the Braves squeak in, it’s going to be a one and done thing. I’d rather not go than be humiliated as the team that shouldn’t have been there in the first place. You can’t slide into the post-season with a .300 wining % in Sept and hope to advance. Breaks my freakin’ heart to say it, but let’s just wait til next year!

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Sure are a lot of fair weather fans on here. GO BRAVES!

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To answer the question: No real options if they get there. Lowe is experienced. You have to hope for a decent effort. Right now it’s only Huddy, three rookies and Derek. The rookies all have looked great at times and terrible at times–it’s a lot of pressure for them.

I think the schedule favors the Cardinals, but whoever their fan who predicted the Cards in the series is a joke. They’re one and done.

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great STL already up 2-0 and only 2 batters into their 1/2 of the first, looks like it’ll be a 1 game lead going into tomorrow…

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“that is why so many pitchers walk him when the game is on the line”

Lately, when the game has been on the line, Chipper has either been on the bench sitting out for no apparent reason, home visiting his family on a work day, or, on the rare occasion he has actually been on the field when the game is on the line, losing ground balls in the lights

An absolutely shameful month from a man who supposedly wants to be thought of as a leader on this team

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Mr. Wren’s decision to sign Lowe? A gamble that padded Derek’s pocket nothing else. Very stupid business decision and dare I say Kawakami is collecting Wren’s charity too.

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I just dont agree with putting this on Derek Lowe
Lowe has done a decent job for the Braves. He is in his late 30’s. He is going to have his slumps.

It’s unfortunate that he is slumping right now – but he isnt the cause of the Braves’ real problems

I can not believe that the team and the fan base are ok with the team’s supposed leader abandoning his post at a moment of crisis for a nonemergent family situation

If this is really ok with his teammates, then that’s the problem with the team. I suspect that they were just saying that it was ok to keep from having to deal with a hissy from the prima donna

It’s crunch time. Do or die. And Roger Dorn TALKS about balls to the wall – but his actions suggest he really doesnt care.

Heck, if he can get paid the same $14 million and not have to play those extra games in October, it’s better for him, right?

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If the Braves lose the first two games, let Lowe start the third game to assure the Braves can
clean out their lockers the next day and go home. There is no way the Braves can win the postgames with most of their pitching corp hurting. They gave us lots of thrills this year. Next
year will be better when the bats come alive and give the pitchers more support than they did
this year.

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“1. Fredi Gonzalez, the Cox disciple, is the culprit. You don’t see Charlie Manuel playing with the lineup day in and day out

Fredi G is NOT a Cox clone. If Cox were managing, this team wouldve been out of it at the All-Star break

I dont care what Charlie Manuel is or isnt doing. Personally I have my doubts whether he could even read a lineup card, but he manages the Phillies and they are not my team. I dont care what they do.

I DO care what the Braves do. And I dang well expect the team’s supposed leader to be with the team during their time of crisis.

I cant say my opinion of Chipper has changed, I have ALWAYS said that he is a great hitter who had nothing else going for him, and that opinion was just reenforced by his actions yesterday.

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@Robert

Yep you’re right on Chipper… a great hitter but it pretty much stops there.

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“a great hitter but it pretty much stops there”

There aint no “pretty much” about it

Chipper Jones IS Roger Dorn. Any respect I had for him went out the window with that stunt he pulled yesterday

Someone is dying – yeah, you leave. Youve clinched a playoff spot, you leave

And I dont blame the Braves for okaying him leaving two weeks ago – they figured it wouldnt matter

But if Chipper had any desire as a player he shouldve stayed with the team. Yes thats tough to tell your family. Yes, a seven year old might have been unhappy.

But a $14million a year job sometimes means having to make some tough decisions – having to play when it hurts, or when it’s not convenient

I can tell you this – if I were a player on that team, I wouldnt want him on the field with me after that stunt.

You wanna be with family? Fine, go be with them. Just kindly dont make your team and teammates think you have made a committment to them. And it would be nice if you wouldnt take $14million either but thats between him and the front office.

His teammates need him there. He is a big league hitter. He is a supposed leader. For him not to be there sends the message that it doesnt really matter

And y’all are surprised that the team is flailing at crunch time?

What Jones did yesterday is just un conscionable

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Robert…

You’re wrong on being with his son……………….wrong pal…wrong…

Chipper did what he had to do for his son; I was surprised that the surgery couldn’t have been done today instead of yesterday. Maybe they did schedule it two weeks ago, I don’t know what the deal is with that one…

Chipper is a Hooter’s hang out guy, that one we know for sure…but you know what, half of the Hall of Fame is a bunch of hard drinking, tough fighting rough necks….and
Chipper is today’s Southern Red Neck version…..

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“Chipper did what he had to do for his son; I was surprised that the surgery couldn’t have been done today instead of yesterday. Maybe they did schedule it two weeks ago, I don’t know what the deal is with that one…”

I disagree. The kid wasnt dying.

$14million dollars – you gotta be there for your team in the crunch.

Maybe they did schedule it two weks ago – thats ok – back then it seemed it would be no problem. And Im ok with the team letting him go and not retracting that

It is to Chipper to realize that he he is being paid to be there in the crunch and that if this isnt life threatening, he CAN NOT abandon his team at that time

Forget it – let’s win one tomorrow. Got a big gift tonight from the Mets – Maybe they were repaying us for when Boby Cox tried his darndest to get them to the WS in 1999

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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! LOWE!!!!!!! For the playoffs.

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START DELGADO HE’S TO YOUNG AND INEXPERIENCED TO GET NERVOUS, LOWE JUST DOESN’T HAVE IT, THOUGH BRAVES DON’T SCORE ANY RUNS FOR ANYBODY!

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And another thing…With what the sairlines are charging for BAGGAGE these days on flights, I would leave DLOWE off the roster, just to save some of that money we paid this bag of doughnuts. Otherwise, leave a six pack of beer in the clubhouse and let him have one each inning that he pitches. It couldn’t hurt, I guess.

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and yet another way of bashing Chipper…this time for being excused to be with his son who was having surgery…shame shame. Happy to know he is a DAD first…imagine the criticism if he wasn’t.

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You have to go Lowe game 3; I dont care if Minor, Delgado pitch better, Lowe is a playoff gem and a veteran leader. You have to go experience in the post-season!

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Derek Lowe is DEAD WEIGHT.

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No way. Lowe had a decent start in FL, but still a complete liability. No way in hell. He’s had a terrible season, and should be shut down.

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HELL NO!!!! He is a $15 mil gauranteed loss everytime he goes to the mound! I cringe everytime I see that it is Lowe’s turn in the rotation. I feel we have a chance to win any ballgame that any other starter starts but when Derek Lowe is on the hill I turn the channel and chalk up another PITIFUL outing. playoffs??? no thanks!

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If Lowe pitches on his next scheduled start I’m not gonna watch it, and I don’t even want to hear about it.

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1. No he should not start.
2. He will because he is part of the Braves buddy system.
3. Braves still have a good chance of not even making it in. The villains are coming to town to finish us off and fat Fredi will tip his cap.

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How do we have Hampton,Lowe,high paid parasites.We need a different scouting,management crew.If either had been worth their keep,would have taken cut in pay.

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[...] one, the Braves will start a rookie, Randall Delgado, against Cliff Lee. In game two, it’s the struggling Derek Lowe against Roy Oswalt. In the series finale, it’s Tim Hudson against the Phils’ Cole [...]

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Enter your comments here

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bobby cox going to the marlins to be the next manager should be talked about

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braves should trade all their players and sign back the 1980 team

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