Braves, Derek Lowe blow up again (but somehow still live)
Derek Lowe might've done better if he closed his eyes while he pitched Tuesday. Or maybe he did. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
(UPDATED: 11:45 p.m.)
So there’s this scene in Monty Python’s “Life of Brian” when all of those who have been condemned to death and are hanging from crosses suddenly break into the cheer tune, “Always look on the bright side of life …”
And that pretty much sums up the Braves right now. They are a team of “Brians.” Every ounce of their corpses screams – a blood-curdling scream – that they are condemned for a season without a playoff game, or at the very least without another win.
And yet, they live. They sing!
For a short while, Braves fans actually cheered Tuesday night when their team trailed the Philadelphia Phillies 7-0 in the seventh inning. Why? Because team officials – desperate for something to spark a cheer, or at least prevent throwing objects – showed highlights on the video board of Houston taking a 5-0 lead over St. Louis.
This is what Braves fans have to live for these days: Astros highlights.
Hoping to somehow, some way drag their seemingly dead behinds into the playoffs as a wild card, the Braves instead were dismembered by the Phillies 7-1. That makes four straight losses and eight in the last 11 and … well, we’ll stop there. And yes, league rules mandate they must play their 162nd game.
Meanwhile, Atlanta’s current favorite team also failed: The Astros botched that 5-0 lead and lost 13-6. So the Braves have dropped into a tie with the Cardinals.
The Braves could be toast soon. Derek Lowe already has pulled the chute. He allowed five runs in four-plus innings. It would’ve been more, but the Phillies couldn’t stop laughing.
Lowe didn’t quite provide $15 million worth of clutch. But given that he is now 9-17 with a 5.05 ERA, maybe there’s a chance the Braves at least qualify for federal disaster relief. He has lost his last five starts, most by several furlongs.
I can’t recall if the Turner Field crowd ever chanted, “Let’s go, Braves!” on Tuesday. But they chanted, “Let’s go, Houston.”
A 105-loss Astros team has a stronger pulse than the home team. The Braves’ game was so over so early that you half-wondered why the marketing department didn’t just mandate that the team leave the field. The could’ve shown the St. Louis-Houston game on the screen. It would’ve kept more fans in the stadium. They would’ve sold more hot dogs.
It’s one thing for a baseball team to fade in the pennant stretch. It’s another to spontaneously combust.
The Braves are 10-19 in their past 29. Yet somehow, they started the night with a magic number of two to clinch the National League wild card. They realized a win would at least clinch a tie with the Cardinals for the playoff berth, thereby forcing a one-game playoff (albeit in St. Louis on Thursday).
But Lowe gave them no chance. And frankly, their bats would’ve given Cy Young no chance. Those are the three absolutes about the Braves these days. They can’t hit. They can’t pitch (save Tim Hudson). The other team is better.
Asked before the game what his thoughts were of Lowe, manager Fredi Gonzalez said, ““My thoughts are he’s going to give us a hell of a pitching performance.”
Did he mean Vaudeville?
There was a rainbow over Turner Field two hours before the game. But any belief that it represented some wonderful fantasy evening ended quickly. The game’s second batter, Chase Utley, cracked a Lowe pitch somewhere over that rainbow. It was 1-0. And counting.
Lowe was booed in the first inning. And in the top of the third when he gave up two more runs. And in the bottom of the third when he came to the plate. And in the fourth when he allowed another run. And in the fifth when he allowed a leadoff single to Jimmy Rollins.
Finally, Gonzalez went out to get him. A mob with pitch forks and torches already had started to form on the field level.
Gonzalez gambled that the struggling Lowe could give him more than rookie Julio Teheran. Consider the gamble an epic fail. Lowe was 0-4 with an 8.24 ERA in his past four losses. Guess what? That wasn’t an aberration.
We can debate just how much should be expected of a 38-year-old starting pitcher who has thrown over 2,500 innings in his career. But when a team is dying on the postseason vine, nobody wants to hear excuses. The Braves needed a strong performance. Lowe face-planted. They all face-planted. But for what it’s worth, postseason tickets are on sale.
By Jeff Schultz
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518 comments Add your comment
Runnin With The Dawgs
September 28th, 2011
9:31 am
There have been some bad bad moves made on our team. For instance….Why isn’t Furcal playing short for us?
wardenerd
September 28th, 2011
9:33 am
what does Buster say when he meets a friend…Hi I’m buster and I am an alcoholic intravenous drug user…and braves fan.
RB
September 28th, 2011
9:34 am
Atlanta you can quit banging on my Cleveland teams. At least we won like 10 championships with Otto Graham, 1with Jim Brown and went to 2 Nba finals with Lechoke. Your only title was when you lucked up beating an Indians team you should have lost to.
Braves Scalped
September 28th, 2011
9:36 am
Talk about poetic justice…now Atl can join the other history making flubs of baseball with their own version on the epic fail….holy cow, what would Skip Carey say about these braves??? At least he would tell it like it is.
Fire sale in Atlanta this off-season…really anyone on this team good enuff for another team at this point? I am not so sure any more!
Carlos sotolongo
September 28th, 2011
9:39 am
How to pitch a no hitter against the Braves;
walk the 1st batter every inning and then balk him to 2nd. you then have the braves in the RISP. This = no hits
TheAntiMe
September 28th, 2011
9:39 am
will I get back all the money I paid for playoff tickets? someone told me no refunds!
Cheer up, money max. It’s true that there are no refunds if the Braves somehow make it to the playoffs but if the Braves don’t make it to the playoffs you and everyone else will get a full refund. As of now, it looks like there is a better chance that Lindsay Lohan will be elected as the Archbishop of Canterbury before the Braves make the playoffs again.
STRETCH
September 28th, 2011
9:39 am
Well, to all the Terry Pendelton haters, these guys STILL cant hit! Its all about management putting together a lineup of scrappy players that know how to hit.
These guys are soft in their approach to the plate and its exposed now that they dont have the pitching they have had.
And i know its not all Lowes fault, but gosh…MLB really needs to look at how they issue garuanteed contracts. KK and Lowe has burned the Braves for 2 years in a row!!!
But if this team could hit just a little, they wouldnt be in this situation. There should be MAJOR changes next season!!!
JMac2011
September 28th, 2011
9:42 am
Told you weeks ago that the Cardinals would catch the Braves, but got ridiculed. Well…. TOLD YOU….TOLD YOU….TOLD YOU….TOLD YOU.
dean
September 28th, 2011
9:42 am
@Boyz from North Ave.
I was only pointing out what surprised me when I looked at his record down there. 2007, his first year was a losing record. 2008 and ‘09 were winning records. Last year he was 2 games under and had a run in with a player for dogging it. (Didn’t a former ATL center fielder get benched, mid-game, for dogging it?) That’s what got him fired. Any other reason was made up.
@ Infamy, so what if he never played in the bigs? He did play in the minors. Where is it written that a manager must have played in the majors? He also had years in the Braves system and only left when a MANAGERIAL position was offered to him.
He had to run this team with what he had. During the All-Star break I swear Frank Wren said he was surprised at the Braves position. I don’t agree with all of Fredi’s moves this year. I think on occasion he might have been quick to pull a pitcher. And whose fault is it that Heyward hit the wall this year? Is it Heyward’s or Fredi’s? I think it’s Heyward’s fault. He has the bat in his hand. Shouldn’t he make adjustments to the adjustments pitchers made to him? Low and away. Even if he knows it’s coming, he ain’t hitting it. Ala Andruw and Gant when they were here? Then some players just forget how to hit for awhile: Jeff Francouer. And who was Andruw’s, Gant’s, and Francouer’s hitting coach? It wasn’t Parrish.
So who should go, if anyone, after year one of Fredi? Him? His coaches? Or maybe the purse strings get loosened up so they can go get a heavy hitter or two? (I don’t think that’s going to happen.) I don’t know. I’m glad I don’t have to make those decisions. I’m just a peon fan with no experience in running a major league baseball team–just like everyone else here. But I do think Fredi gets another year.
RB
September 28th, 2011
9:49 am
Fredi or Freddy does it matter? It will be mud in a few days.
The Sun Will Come Up
September 28th, 2011
9:49 am
Eh, so what. Like Tom Glavine (who left a stamp on this team) used to say in his so-what speeches, “oh well, I still have my family, golf and life is good win or lose.”
Sonny Jackson
September 28th, 2011
9:52 am
Let’s not give up on Freddi… he has to play the guys he has, although starting Lowe was probably the worst move he could have made. I just can’t figure out why these guys won’t swing the bat. You take two right down the middle and then swing at one in the dirt… you have nothing to lose, why not even try?
Runnin With The Dawgs
September 28th, 2011
9:54 am
This reminds me of the ’60’s when the Cubs had a big lead toward winning the National League Penant and Leo got married and went on his Honeymoon with a month left in the season, and you know the rest of the story…….
Ed
September 28th, 2011
10:04 am
Sorry Jeff, but the criticism is over the top here.
Derek Lowe has had a fine career. He should have retired last October. Period. Making him your personal whipping boy for a team that’s stoppped hitting and lost two of its top three starters to injuries while at the same time burning out its relievers and thus lost a lot of games (funny how that worked out) is like me blaming you for the AJC’s declining circulation figures.
BigSam
September 28th, 2011
10:07 am
14 Braves tried to post comments on this article but none of them were able to hit the Enter key.
Sideline Dude
September 28th, 2011
10:10 am
Isn’t basebazll season over yet? Seems like it’s like hockey, year-round. Baseball is too slow, played by a bunch of overpaid mercernaries. I don’t watch baseball or the NBA or NHL.
Scores/Schedule/Standings/Stats & Stories 9/28/2011 - Goodsportsart Blog = Baseball news and commentary
September 28th, 2011
10:13 am
[...] Atlanta Braves [...]
Derek Lowe
September 28th, 2011
10:19 am
Sorry guys. I let you down. I always thought that you’re supposed to leave pitches up in the zone and they wouldn’t hit it. Boy was I wrong…oh well I have my $15 million so I’m good
jeffrey d
September 28th, 2011
10:21 am
For instance….Why isn’t Furcal playing short for us?
Because he’s hitting .255 with 36 errors for $12 million?
Guy Bailey
September 28th, 2011
10:23 am
Their not a team of Brians – they are very naughty boys!
Robert
September 28th, 2011
10:25 am
I want this team to win. I really do. And so do lots of Braves fans
But the thing is – we can want it, but they have to want it too.
And it doesnt seem that they do.
This team would not be devastated if they didnt make it. Chipper Jones would not be devastated. He is satisfied with the old college try. After all, he still gets $14 million. He will still get to hunting (looks like he can go this weekend). He still bats third.
What I want at this point isnt effort. It is even success.
What I want is some indication that anyone on this current Braves team CARES about baseball
Fire Frank Wren
September 28th, 2011
10:26 am
I’ve been saying for three years now that Frank Wren is completely incompetent. He has made poor personnel decision after poor personnel decision. This season is a culmination of that.
But, to make matterw worse, He’s now hired an incompetent manager. Fredi Gonzalez has made poor game decision after poor game decision this season and should be run out of town. And take Brian Snitker with you. Fredi has ridden O’Flaherty, Venters, and Kimbrel until their arms have fallen off, short-sightedly killing the Braves’ post-season chances.
Monday night, however, was an example of how Fredi has killed this team game-by-game. Down 4 to 2 in the 8th, Michael Bourn, who the Braves acquired for his speed, drew a walk with 1 out against right-hander Brad Lidge. Lidge hardly ever throws to 1st. Anyone with any sense would have had Bourn take a good lead and steal 2nd on the 1st or 2nd pitch to get into scoring position with Prado and Chipper coming up. “Anyone with any sense”–not Fredi. Fredi keeps Bourn at 1st. Prado slaps a slow roller to right on a 1-2 count that would have easily scored Bourn had he been at 2nd to make it a 4-3 ballgame. Not Fredi. Fredi and Snitker compound their error by holding Bourn up at 2nd! The fastest guy on the team can’t go 1st to 3rd on a slow roller to RF?
You know the rest. Chipper grounds into a double play, and the Braves go into the 9th down 4 to 2 rather than 4 to 3, which is a drastic difference. In the 9th, Uggla leads off with a double. Does he score? Of course not. Freeman and McCann strike out before a grounder to 1st ends the game. Now, had the score been 4 to 3, Freeman should have sacrificed Uggla to 3rd–tying run on 3rd with 1 out! Lidge would have to pitch very differently to McCann. If either McCann or Heyward gets a hit–the ball game goes to extras. Instead, the Braves lose 4 to 2. Why?
Because Frank Wren, Fredi Gonzalez, and Brian Snitker are incompetent at their jobs and SHOULD BE FIRED.
JT
September 28th, 2011
10:26 am
I said it at the beginning of the year, and I say it again NOW WE KNOW EXACTLY WHY FLORIDA FIRED HIS ASS !!!!
JoeFan
September 28th, 2011
10:28 am
Certainly in hind sight it was a bad decision to start Lowe and has been for many weeks now. Doesn’t say much for Fredi’s management ability to keep running the same guys out there but expecting different results. As constituted this is a terrible baseball team. Sad to be proven right but I have said the Braves were toast in late August. It just took a little longer than expected for them to free fall past St. Louis. If the Cardinals had been any better this race would have been over last weekend. Lots of questions and many holes to fill over the winter
BooBoo
September 28th, 2011
10:34 am
Three cheers for Skip Carey announcing after a Brave batter walked, “As you said … a baserunner is a rally.”
Then Chippy hits into a double play.
Me thinks the word rally means more than one runner on first base, and usually includes someone getting a hit. The last Braves rally was in August.
phillies girl
September 28th, 2011
10:39 am
wow. this is bad. i thought there would be some fight in the braves. someone said last night there was a white flag flying in Turner.
PMC
September 28th, 2011
10:43 am
Sure would be more interesting if Ozzie was the manager here.
At least we’d get better sound bytes than “Well you have to tip your cap…”
Sometimes, it’s not that they are better than you…. it’s that your team sucks.
BooBoo
September 28th, 2011
10:47 am
It is time to put Chipper out to pasture. Trade him to either the Milwaukee Brewers (ala Hank Aaron), the Colorado Rockies (ala Dale Murphy), or just tell him he is too old and release him (ala Phil Niekro).
The Braves organization ran out of space to put new flags on the upper level wall because they ran out of players worthy of winning another flag. Symbolic irony. Atlanta has become the new small market perennial losers. Fans can expect a parade of worthless managers and washed up players (like Hinske the mohawk wonder) to fill out the rosters over the next decade or two. If Kimbrell and Venters don’t need arm replacement surgery before next August, expect them to go in a fire sale to some contender. I doubt there is anymore interest in Hayward, but he was one of the top 50 players in the major leagues … before all the swinging and missing began.
5 Time National Champs Nebraska
September 28th, 2011
10:50 am
Again, there is always football season to look forward to……Unless you are a Dawg fan.
Joycee Banicheck
September 28th, 2011
10:52 am
OMG… Can’t believe I’m going to say this. Great article Jeffy.
jfreak13713
September 28th, 2011
10:52 am
Starting pitching injuries have played a big role in the Braves decline but good managers keep an 8 1/2 lead? Folks, there now has to be serious questions about Gonzalez? Nobody seems to lay the blame at his feet but then whose fault is it? Injuries are one thing and I would not have expected the Braves to do much even if they made the playoffs because of the injuries but to not hold that lead is not good. If they miss the playoffs some serious changes have to be made from Wren, Gonzalez, to the players.
Players: Embarrassing! A national embarrassment! Good job boys!
BigSam
September 28th, 2011
10:57 am
Those of you ripping on Chipper need to back off. Yes he’s hit into two double plays in the last two nights but he’s also been about the only Braves player hitting the ball at all. He had a homer and a double on Monday night and if you ask me he’s looked devastated by these losses. Check his numbers too. He’s hitting .284 this month with 4 homers and 10 rbis and an OBP of .350. That’s pretty darn good. In August/September he’s hit .316 with 9 homers and 22 rbis.
Chipper Jones is not the problem Braves fans. Look at the rest of the “offense” in September.
Bourn: .257/.298
Freeman: .227/.303
Heyward: .250/.372 (his OBP actually shocked me here)
McCann: .200/.326
Prado: .240/.262
Uggla: .237/.339
A. Gonzalez: .367/.355 (the ONE Brave that has better numbers than Chipper this month)
Really gonna blame Chipper for the offensive struggles? C’mon.
Scott
September 28th, 2011
11:04 am
Hate to play the ‘what if’ game. BUT, what if Chipper hadn’t lost that easy ground ball in the lights in a recent game. There’s your one win that would have sealed the deal for the Braves making the playoffs.
5 Time National Champs Nebraska
September 28th, 2011
11:19 am
If you hate to play the what if game, then why are you playing it?
face of the franchise
September 28th, 2011
11:26 am
who is jack wilson?
MLB network is looping his post-game locker room comments this AM….very sad!
Robert
September 28th, 2011
11:27 am
“Those of you ripping on Chipper need to back off”
If Chipper could field a ground ball we’d still be a game up
If Chipper hadnt decided to take a work day off in the midst of a playoff drive, we might already have clinched a spot
Chipper Jones has shown exactly what he is during this month. A guy who hits very well when the game doesnt depend on it. An absolute zero as a leader. A hypocrite – look up his “all hands on deck” quote from a day or two ago.
The team will not be worse off when he is gone – and they will have $14million more to spend on someone who plays baseball as a profession rather than as a hobby
Rcd
September 28th, 2011
11:32 am
An epic flop. An embarrassment. This will be talked about for years.
Robert
September 28th, 2011
11:32 am
Here’s another revealing quote from Chipper Jones
“Can we run into some guy that just doesn’t have it one night?”
Sorry Chipper, but this is the big leagues. If you’re counting on getting your success by the other guy failing, it aint gonna happen
My prediction – Chipper Jones comes to bat with two on and two out in the ninth and the Braves down a run. He pops up, goes to the bank in the morning to check his account balance, and then takes off to go hunting
Doug
September 28th, 2011
11:43 am
Only way after 50 years to get the Braves out of my system would be a transfussion, not a option even now.
Why Lowe started is a great question, the odds he would pitch a gem was a out of the Blue dream. Lowe could go back to relief work going forward but not as a Brave.
This team was built like many past teams in Atlanta, on pitching backed by a spotty offense. Lose half your starting staff and you won’t win with this offense very often.
The Braves have alot of fine hitters….. I don’t think so, fine hitters are generally .285 to .300, we have few in that range.
I hope we ( we, because I invest so much of my time & heart in Braves Baseball like so many fans)make the playoffs somehow, Hudson is our ace.
After/if then we won’t expect alot with a shattered staff and a hopeless offense.
BigSam
September 28th, 2011
11:45 am
You’re a joke Robert. Chipper is a HOF player. He’s the oldest player on the roster and he’s been the second most productive this month. I suppose “haters gonna hate” applies to you. This season he’s batting .332 with runners on. .340 with RISP. .300 with RISP and two outs.
Argue against Chipper all you want. You’re wrong.
And you’re seriously going to bring up the grounder in Florida? We’re on game number 162 tonight. Putting the blame for possibly not making the playoffs on 1 grounder is asinine. Lets just blame Kimbrel and Martinez for blowing that game against the Dodgers in April. We’d be in the playoffs if that hadn’t happened right?
We’ve lost 4 straight games and now 4 straight series. Singling out Chipper for this mess doesn’t add up.
Also, please explain how we won’t be worse off? I will repeat, CHIPPER IS STILL BEING PRODUCTIVE. What has this organization shown you that you think we’ll replace him with someone who will put up better numbers than .278/18/68? My guess is we’ll get another mediocre player and spend a little bit on a starting pitcher (who better not be from Japan) and we’ll simply move Prado to third and move around the outfielders.
To infer that Chipper is not a professional…. just wow. Go cheer for the phillies.
Robert
September 28th, 2011
11:50 am
Sam – if you’re happy with the way Chipper leads this team, then no doubt you are pleased with the results. And if that’s the case, good for you
I realize Chipper is productive. Dominique Wilkins was productive too.
What I am saying is this. No team led by Chipper Jones has ever won anything of consuquence, despite the fact that they shouldve been able to many times.
coach13
September 28th, 2011
11:52 am
Fire Frank Wren- someone of Bourn’s speed and ability probably has a green light. Just because he didn’t steal doesn’t mean it was Freddi’s fault.
If Freeman sac bunted Uggla to 1st they would’ve walked McCann to have Heyward come up with a double play in order.
RObert- how many 3b in all of baseball have better stats than .278/17/69? There are probably 5 3b in all of baseball better than Chipper.
coach13
September 28th, 2011
11:58 am
No one play wins or loses a ball game much less a season. CHipper is overpaid, fine, most baseball players are. Fact is he is still one of the better offensive 3b in all of baseball and an adequate defender. Unless you are going to put Evan Longoria, A-rod, David Wright, or Adrian Beltre at 3b you aren’t going to be much better off at that position. Now if the Braves wanted to move Prado to 3b and then go sign a big time OF then ok, I’m listening. What big time OF are they going to get??
They don’t need any more pitching. Between Hanson, JJ, Medlen, Beach, Minor, Teheran, Delgado, and Visacino they have enough to choose from for a starting rotation. They need some more offense and another bullpen guy or two.
Robert
September 28th, 2011
12:05 pm
“RObert- how many 3b in all of baseball have better stats than .278/17/69? ”
Chipper Jones has stats – I am not saying he doesnt.
There may not be five third basemen in baseball who have better stats than Chipper – but I guarantee you there’s more than five who make their team better more than Chipper does
The best comparison is Dominique Wilkins. He had stats. There werent five players in the league who had prettier stats. But he never elevated the team he palyed on. He occasionally CARRY the team (as Chipper did in 1999), but he could never ELEVATE it.
Robert Horry did much more to make the teams he played on better than Dominique Wilkins ever did even though his stats were never nearly as pretty
There’s a huge difference
It’s the difference between having nice stats and winning a lot of games vs being a champion
BigSam
September 28th, 2011
12:06 pm
Of course I’m not please with these results. Thanks for your sarcasm.
If you’re really going to start blaming Chipper for a lack of WS rings I’m going to go ahead and walk away. That’s neither here nor there right now.
I’m talking about 2011 and the fact that our 39 year old third baseman has done everything we’ve asked of him and more this season. Are you really going to argue that if someone told you in March that Chipper would put up .278/18/69 this season you’d be upset or disappointed?
Look elsewhere for the blame of this collapse. I already provided the rest of the Braves averages and OBPs for September. You’re seriously going to say that Chipper should have carried those guys? Guess what – that wasn’t his job this season.
Look at the situation without those blinders. We’re hurting for starting pitching and our offense doesn’t look like it could put up runs in a tee ball league. Chipper has hit the ball well for the last 3 months. I can’t believe he failed to drive in 7 runs last night. What a bum. (There’s some sarcasm tossed back your way)
And your Chipper/MLB to Dominique/NBA reference is apples and oranges.
Robert
September 28th, 2011
12:11 pm
“Fact is he is still one of the better offensive 3b ”
Meaning what? – That few third basemen will hit more bases empty home runs and doubles against the Astros and Cubs in May?
Or that most third basemen wouldve made THREE outs in the eighth inning of Monday night’s game while Chipper was so good he only made two?
Look – with the season crumbling, Chipper had chances to be the life preserver. He had at least three sepearte chances
He lost a ball in the lights. He hit into a double play. And the third time he took a pass and decided he needed an off day to be with the family
Talent means that if you dont perform in May you’ll perform another time later in the season
That doesnt mean squat when you’re at the point in the season where if you fail there wont be a next time
Dont talk to me about effort. Dont talk to me about all hands on deck. Dont talk to me about cutters on the black. Dont talk to me about all the pitchers you’ve faced being on their game
Just frickin do it. For once, just do it
Robert
September 28th, 2011
12:13 pm
“I’m talking about 2011 and the fact that our 39 year old third baseman has done everything we’ve asked of him and more this season”
I disagree. With the season slipping away, the man made a choice to take a day off to be with family for a non emergent situation
(And then had the audacity to make the statement that it was time for all hands on deck)
He’s a hypocrite hobbyist, not a pro
Robert
September 28th, 2011
12:15 pm
“Chipper has hit the ball well for the last 3 months”
How well you hit when you are up or down five runs might make a difference to your stat line
How well you hit when there’s men on first and second in the bottom of the eighth down 4-2 and struggling to hold on to a wild card lead makes a difference in the team’s fortunes
Chipper has always been good about accumulating pretty stats.
If you think the Dominique Wilkins analogy is apples and oranges, then we will just have to agree to disagree
Robert
September 28th, 2011
12:17 pm
“If you’re really going to start blaming Chipper for a lack of WS rings ”
I blame Chipper more for not caring about not cashing in on legitimate opportunities to earn a WS ring than I do for not actually winning the ring/s
JMac2011
September 28th, 2011
12:23 pm
Sam, I think what Robert is saying is that although he has decent, not good, stats this season, when is the last time he had a meaningful hit in a clutch situation to win a game? He has come up many times in the past couple of weeks with men on base and a clutch single here or double there would have made all the difference, and might have breathed life into the carcus that is the Braves, but…. He has hit into several DP’s, swings wildly at pitches far outside while leaving the bat on his shoulders as strike 3 goes right down the middle. He is but a shell of the player he used to be. Chipper is supposed to be the leader, the grizzly ole vet that the younger players look up to. He has had a very good, though not great, career, but his days are over. He needs to retire, before his body retires him.