Braves, Derek Lowe blow up again (but somehow still live)

Anyone could have predicted this, Lowe has been terrible this year. I would have rather seen a rookie run out there tonight. Lowe would be a very good BP pitcher.

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MAKE A STATEMENT WREN AND FIRE PARRISH TONIGHT!!!!

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Braves offense is so bad they couldn’t even hit Lowe.

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Fire Chipper!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hire Justice!!!!!!!!

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No real sports fan minds losing – it’s part of life. But being an embarrassment is unacceptable. And this sort of thing lasts. Gene Mauch never recovered from the Philly flop in 1964 – even his division winningAngels epically folded to the Red Sox almost 20 years later. He was the guy you were glad was not managing your team.

Well, that’s the future Fredi. He’s just no good. This is a good baseball team but a team cannot play in baseball without some leadership. It may be quiet like Sparky or intense like LaRussa or crafty like Earl Weaver or even just dog stubborn like Cox. Fredi has nothing at all to recommend him as a manager. He’s completely lost. He manages on almost girly emotions and “the book”, a bad combination..

The Phillies needed 12 years to overcome their 64 swoon. Prepare for some long seasons, Braves fans.

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Hey Freddie Mack how much they pay ya to throw in the towel?

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Stick a fork in ‘em..even IF they make the playoffs, they’re not going to make any noise. Sorry, non-story Schultz

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Derek Lowe has given Braves fans many highlights and he pitched a heck of a September and LDS last season, and we greatly appreciate him for that, but there have been too many “Lowe”lights this season (had to say that). So if by miracle the Braves sneak into the playoffs, then hopefully this answers the “does Derek Lowe start in the playoffs” question. I feel bad for him, and I wish him the best whereever he is next season.

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Awful. No other word to describe it. Worst part is that the losing now seems inevitable. First Braves team to collapse since they’ve been in Atlanta.

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Come on Hudson…. 9 innings of shutout ball and a solo HR (by yourself of course!) and we’ll win it!!

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Hey Freddie, I thought this only happened in the NBA?
Too easy man…..

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tied up 6-6

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Regarding the Post Season tickets on sale – I think once the Braves are eliminated from postseason tomorrow, the players should be required to return to the stadium on the dates that the home games were to be played and entertain the fools that bought tickets (though even those fools should be given a refund). How would they entertain? Let Lowe & Linebrink (and bring back Proctor for good measure) pitch to the hitless mental midget Superstars like McCann & Chipper and see just who is more inept.

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What can D Lowe say? He had a great career. He is just done. The contract was too much money and too long

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Derek & Chipper can go fishing this weekend permanently…

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Can Barry Larkin come play SS ?

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balt. 1 on o out bottom 9th

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wow balt.11 pitch vs papplebon

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Go Vols… Lowe might not be the only one to blame but he has been awful 0-4 in September and gave you no shot at all tonight

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go tbay

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GoVols: “First Braves team to collapse since they’ve been in Atlanta.”

What planet have you been living on? Count on a Tennessee fan to make a statement like that.

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Hey freeie you knew this guy had nothing left in the tank… Too easy man…..

Little league for you….

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Cards and Astros tied 6-6 in 7th 2 on, 2 outs Cards batting…

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Go Vols..My team! Lets hope they show better than the sorry Braves.
PhilliesFan…What can DLowe say? He should have said, before the game, ” I shouldn’t be on the mound. My pitching stinks, I need a drink.”
What does Fredi say? I hope its BYE. I would help him pack.

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Do most of the Braves live in San-Francisco?

I’m just askin?

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Can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched a Lowe-starting game for the Braves and thought to myself: “Hmm..bases loaded, one out, how is Derek going to get out of this one?”..by about the 3rd inning. He’s been doing it, but all of y’all have continued to defend him because of the name, and now you’re just realizing the sad truth. Luck can only run for so long

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Poor demonstration of a baseball team. We need to fire Lowe, Gonzales (FL knew he was no good), pitching coach, and others! What kind of idiot would give Lowe the ball tonight – they need to give him his release tomorrow – don’t wait for Friday or later in the off-season. What a joke!!!! That idiot they hired as a coach needs his head examined — he obviously doesn’t need to be coaching in the major leagues – he might make it in little league

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Agree, PhilliesFan, but doesn’t that fall on the manager for putting him in there in a crucial game like this?
And BaseballBluff, I didn’t say that we haven’t lost playoffs and World Series that we as fans thought we’d win, but I don’t recall a wilting down the stretch like this. But I don’t pretent to have a great memory for these things if I’m wrong.

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Schafer scores winning run as braves make playoffs tomorrow

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No Way… I completely agree with you that he should’t have been pitching. I am just saying I don;t think it is a lack of effort or fire I just think he is done.

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OK, growing up in Atlanta and watching the Braves through the 70s and 80s, I’ve seen some really bad Braves baseball in my life… but this just defies explanation. My question is who is the most overpaid Braves player on the team: Chipper “On the DL” Jones (fantastic in his earlier career) Dan “It took me over half the season to realize I’m supposed to be good” Uggly, or Derek Blowe? The Braves could pay me $1.5M per year and I could go out and throw batting practice like DBlowe has lately. Geez… Even if they somehow do manage to limp backwards into the playoffs, I think they’ll find a way to lose the series in 2 games.

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One comment; The final 6 games indicated that the Zombies were one the rotisserie – getting toasted on all sides. Our manager – brain as he is – get down to the next-to-last-game and, against everyone on earth screaming that D. Lowly is burned out and has a rubber arm nonetheless lets him pitch. Results: behind before the patrons get seated. BUT: Fredi figures that, what the hell, the Zombies are “due” and Roy Halliday isn’t that good, is he?Before this post is cold the Cardinals will have found a way to get that extra run to break the tie and go on to win. Oh, yeah, they’ll win tomorrow, too. The Zombies really didn’t want to change their tee-off times set for this next week.
Is anyone still surprised that Liberty Media doesn’t want to attend a Zombie game?

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9-6. DAMN

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These other teams get multiple hits in the same inning. I don’t think the Braves know that is allowed.

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Did Dan Kolb get plastic surgery, a tummy tuck and change his name to Derek Lowe? Just asking…

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Schafer on Houston DL?

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Too easy Freddie! Too easy Freddie!

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i have never seen a team just quit trying to win a ballgame. This is very embarassing to the city of Atlanta. Don’t any of them have any grit and competiness in them. The Phillies and their fans have got to be laughing their heads off and wondering how in the world this team won 89 games. I’ve seen high school teams that could compete against them better than this team. Why don’t they just sell this team and start all over?

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PhilliesFan, have fun playing the Cardinals who just might eliminate you. We will all be watching Football and be rid of the bothersome Braves.

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Barring a miracle, the NL Wild Card will be tied after 161 games, after this sorry Braves team blew a 10 1-2 game lead.

I’ve been a Braves fan since 1983, through thick and thin, last place and first, but, this is the worst Braves collapse ever. Worse then even the 1996 WS.

Bottom line: The Braves dont deserve to make the postseason, and the Cards do. We had it on a silver platter, and did everything to squander it. Its like a person who was rich, and then turned penniless, by just blowing all their cushion.

Maybe I’m being melodramatic. Even if we squeak in, we will lose quickly in the first round. Might as well go home tomorrow. The Cards will give the Philles more of a run in the NLDS, than we would give any opponent.

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Loserville full of excuses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^777

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Sure Lowe has stunk up the month, but as anyone can see is that Maddux, Glavine and Smolts reincarnate could not consistently win with the way the Braves bats have frozen up for what seems like—-all season. Losing your top two starters for virtually the last half the season would hurt any team, but the young guys have filled in admirably. And once again, we’re back to the lack of conistent hitting that has plagued this team since April. Sure there have spurts of offense, but the lack of hitting the past month has absolutely killed the Braves—no matter who has been pitching. And you know the worst thing about tonight’s game. I had planned to get my oil changed at Express Lube tomorrow but after tonight’s 1-run explosion I will get only $2 off. Now, that’s something to cry about!

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Hater.. Exagerating a little aren’t we? The Mets collapse was worse and the Phils collapse in the 50’s when they lost the last 10 was worse.

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To even be contending for a playoff spot is an accomplishment, given this roster. Everyone was singing Frank Wren’s praises, but truth be told, it was yet another year with little, if any, consistent offense. Many thought Dan Ugglas was going to dominate; his numbers clearly show otherwise.

This roster, much like last year’s, simply was not capable of producing runs on a consistent basis. Throw in a disastrous season by Derek Lowe, and it’s really impressive that they have a chance of making the playoffs going into the last day of the regular season.

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Braves, Falcons and the once Thrashers……go Atlanta.

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Don’t blame Lowe..Fredi knew Lowe didn’t have it and put him out there anyway.. Fire Fredi ASP..

Bring Back Baylor, Pat Corrales, Hubie and Leo..Make Greg Maddox the manager.

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As for Derek Lowe from the show Swamp People SHOOT HIM SHOOT HIM!!!!!!!!

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braves outscored by philly 45-7 last 4 games

11 RUNS/GAME

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I’ve been a Braves fan for 43 years. I would watch reruns of Braves games with Chuck Tanner managing before I bother to watch these current
goons play.

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The Phillies are playing the Monty Python role as the “Killer White Rabbit”

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FG asked for this one, Why in the world would he start Lowe in a must win game, Lowe has been terrible in his last five starts, Did FG really believe he would actualy pitch a decent game? They say panic spreads quickly and looks like FG has been infected and is not thinking clearly, I really want to feel sorry for FG but when he does something stupid like starting Lowe it makes it difficult to do so. Maybe the Phils will make the killing blow quick and painless tommorow night and get this season over with, It will take a long time to forget this one, I don’t think it will make any highlight films.

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Hey freddie something smells real fishy in Atlanta baseball… Too easy….

I thought this only happened in the NBA..Too easy….

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Thanks Robert.I agree fire the four..asp…..

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I’m ready for these spineless beta males to be put out of their, and our, misery.

There’s only so much you can take. I think having the Braves out of sight and out of mind until next spring will be good for everyone’s mental health. If the Braves do my some miracle get into the playoffs then I’ll root for them, but I just want this season to be over.

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Braves now 11.5 games out of 1st behind the Phillies.

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When they sent Blowe out there they knew he was going to lose. Doesn’t Fredi know how to read statistics. What does he owe Blowe? Blowe owes Atlanta $14 million back for this pathetic season.

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LETS NOT FORGET THAT RELIEVERS HAVE BLOWN 14 SAVES THIS YEAR FIRE THEM ALL

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Do the Brave have a hitting coach? I can honestly say I don’t know his or her name which is hard to believe. The Braves do not seem to have a clue in terms of a hitting stategy. It was very obvious tonight listening to the frustration in Joe Simpson’s voice that he had the same opinion.

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Look what Kirk Gibson did with the sorry D-backs — less talent than the Braves. Right after Braves broomed them, that team went on a tear and finished strong. Now THAT’S a manager.

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It’s bad, it’s sad, but it’s not all that unbelievable with the injuries to the pitching. Where I fault Fredi is his tampering with a good thing by pulling Constanza from the lineup. The only time in the season when the Braves had a robust offense was when Constanza was playing.

The other problem is the ownership. Hopefully we’ll get somebody here who cares about winning to take advantage of all the young pitching.

And it’s not Derek Lowe’s fault that he’s the best we have right now. The man carried the pitching to the playoffs last year, but the tank might be running dry on the old pro.

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That has to be Derek Lowe’s final outing as a Brave. The guy needs to retire.

Braves may get a win tomorrow and have to watch the television. if they get into a one-game playoff with St. Louis, they will lose. LaRussa owns the Braves.

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We can beat those Cheese Steaks

HOW YOU LOVE MATT RYAN AGAINST TAMPA BAY????LOSERS

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Red Sox and Rays tied for wild Card… hope Rays win with their 45 million pay-roll– beats out the 195 million payroll of Sox’s.

Ozzie going to be Fish manager. ap wire

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I went to the game tonight and I have tickets for “the first two playoff games”. Laugh’s on me. Cards just went up 9-6 and they’ll have caught the Braves tonight.

I haven’t said a single bad or critical thing about Freddi all year, but he may two idiotically bad decisions tonight that cast a pall of sheer hopelessness over the Braves and the fans from the very beginning of the game. First, starting Lowe, which was idiotic and gutless, and second, not pinch-hitting for Lowe leading off in the bottom of the third already trailing 3-0. What on earth was Freddi thinking in the bottom of the third? Sure, in April, May, June, July, or August you leave your starter in, but THERE ARE LESS THAN TWO GAMES LEFT IN THE SEASON, and you don’t need to preserve the bullpen because YOU HAVE AN EXPANDED ROSTER and if you lose out THE SEASON IS OVER. You pinch-hit, you idiot! Duh.

I’ve been watching MLB since about 1959. Aside from watching Gene Mauch and the Phillies choke up 1964 this is the most pathetic stretch-run performance I’ve seen in my lifetime, and that includes the 2007 Mets. There. I said it.

Face it, the Braves could have swapped rosters with Gwinnett on Sep 1 and fared just as well. Win or lose, if they want to sell me tickets next year they need to clean house of the core veteran players on this team, including McCann, and rebuild for two-three years down the road. I have NO desire left to pay to watch this plodding, moribund bunch. Now, what GM in their right mind is going to take Uggla and his ridiculous salary?

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The Braves are fine, they’re playing great baseball right now.

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BMAC ON MLB NETWORK ON THE BUNT YELLING 333

IDIOT

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Guy in mlb blames the game on McFann’s stupid 3 3 3 cry for lowe to throw to 3rd on the bunt. he’s partially right. It was a big turning point. McCann is turning into a lousy player.

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McCann a lousy player? That’s about as dumb as Fredi starting Lowe.

McCann is one of the best hitting catchers in all of baseball, idiot.

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Funny yanks probably want sox out so they let tampa win. philly players look at chippies comments and want them out.

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Look at the cardinals offense. About 7 players batting right at or over 300. They will pound us 12-1

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Smokey

September 27th, 2011
11:02 pm
McCann a lousy player? That’s about as dumb as Fredi starting Lowe.

McCann is one of the best hitting catchers in all of baseball, idiot

mccan since allstar .209
since return from dl..179

YOU ARE THE F IDIOT

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SMOKEY

HUDSON GIVES UP 1 AND WE LOSE TOMORROW HE SUCKS TO

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Chipper Jones for Mayor of Norcross..

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Houston has some damn good kids playing ..they will be good in Future.
Schafer may not make that team and then Braves will pick him up again on waivers…thats there habit..rejects!
If I was Constanza I’d ask to be traded .

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the braves should fire freddy i can not believe he let lowe pitch the biggest game of the year w t h.why not start tehran or anybody this is a total disaster lowe is a 15 million dollar pitcher damn braves is awful got to make alot of changes starting with freddy g and for damn sure lowe

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Hudson tomorrow against Blandton

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Cards 12-6 in 8th..they will tie for wc….

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Hitting sucks, yes. But SO DOES THE 5.05 ERA THAT DEREK LOWE HAS, JACKWAGON!

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This will sound like sour grapes but for the past 6 weeks I’ve been saying it. When we had Constanza in RF everyday, our speed game was winning for us. Then for some reason(the face of ATL) was put back in RF and we proceeded downhill from that point on. He will finish around.225BA, with about one SO every 3-4AB’s. It is not soley about one player but we lost that chemistry/spark when Constanza was removed. Yes, George is not a good PH(his average has went down considerably when he was PHing! I told you it would happen and it has!! Mac has played poorly since coming back from his injury, perhaps he came back to soon or just could not get his stroke back, I do not know? We owe D Lowe $15 million for next season, hope we can trade him for about 7-8 million and just eat the difference! About Prado – make up your damn mind, either IF or OF and not both?

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cards lose tomorrow

BANK ON IT

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Tom G

kimbrel and venters have cost the braves 4 games ,keep sucking up to constanza,go to gwinett next year and make him proud

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Oh, wow. So now @Braves is passing blame on Kimbrel and Venters. Two of the best relievers in all of baseball and the former will probably be Rookie of the Year.

You’re a bright one, dumbazz.

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Old Leo Calzone has turned into nothing but the world’s only bald cheerleader. The way he and those other pre-game guys slobber over the Braves is truly pathetic.

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Bye Bye Braves…they can’t hit, they can’t pitch…Bye Bye Braves…they can’t coach, but they choke…Bye Bye Braves…Bye Bye Happiness…$15 Million worth of selfishness…what a world we live in…Bye Bye Braves….

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Even IF the Braves make it either a playoff game or the NLDS, the Braves have no chance. And to think on 25 Aug, they had what a 10 1/2 game lead on the Wild Card? The answers are simple:

1) Fire Freddi – he was a loser in Miami, he is still a loser.
2) Send Lowe to AA next year (or retire).
3) Tell KK to take a hike (a given).
4) Thank Chipper for his service and ask him to retire.
5) Tell Uggla to take a pay cut or take the same bus that is taking Lowe to Mississippi.
6) Trade Jason Heyward.
7) Sign a couple hitters for the money saved in 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Of else be prepared for a battle next year with the fish and the nats for the basement.

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One of the worst Cities for Pro Sports..They fail year after year!!!11 All of em Stink!!

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Just kidding.

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Tom G—- I agree 100% on Georgie..we were winning till he hurt his ankle..then Fredi the cat, decided he wouldn’t play him anymore for Diaz and Wilson and the guy named “Nate Heyward “in rf with his 223 ba.another Frenchy and Schafer.
I’ve been a die hard fan since 1966 but to tell the truth after all the crap from Fredi etc I hope Cards win the wild card. Braves just don’t deserve it period. I’m still a fan but this crap has to stop.

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Wow, I just saw Freddi Gonzo on the ESPN highlights show, he looks like he ate some bad fish. Completely shell shocked and with no clue what to do.

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smokey u full of it

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smokewagon

pls get off the meds

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13-6 Cards Rolling!!!!!!!!!!!!

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They won’t live much longer. Tomorrow night they will be flat lined. They actually look like they have already!!!

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The only wild card the braves will draw is the Joker. What a big joke they have been.

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@Braves

Blame it on Kimbrel again, idiot. He’s only going to be Rookie of the Year and set the rookie record for saves in a season.

Why not Flarehty? He had a 1.05 (or close) ERA this season. The best in MLB history with at least 75 innings pitched. I’m sure he did something terrible, too.

DEREK LOWE SUCKS, SUCKWAGON. And Fredi does too for believing in him tonight.

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WHITE CANT F HIT PUT MORE BLACKS ON TEAM AND U MITE WIN.IF I WAS HEYWARD I WANT A TRADE TO GET RID OF ALL THESE CRACKERS

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No one’s blaming the collapse completely on Lowe, idiot @Braves. The hitting has been atrocious. But, Lowe has been crappy most of, if not all, of this season. Can you at least admit that?

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The worst part about this is you know that espn is going to be all over these wild card races. So the whole nation gets to watch the Braves hemorrhage to death tomorrow.

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smokewagon go suck on kimbels jock strap

jackwagon pos

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I guess after tomorrows game they can start the excuse game. If not for the injuries….the schedule…….the parity in baseball……..the way the planets were aligned……..global warming.

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How does a team like Tampa Bay get a top caliber skipper, and retain his services, like Joe Maddon? He would look awfully good with a Tomahawk on his chest. No one in the game does more with less. Something we should consider since our payroll will never match the Phillies. He’s about to make the playoffs for the third time in four years……in the AL East!

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I agree with blast,someone please tell atlanta the kkk no longer exists…..pathetic

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Cards got 13 runs and 17 hits tonight. It would take the Braves a month to get that.

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Fredi Gonzalez is either a complete IDIOT or he took the money….There’s nothing in between.

Fans routinely get chastised for “Monday Morning Quarterbacking”, but there’s not a Braves Fan anywhere on this Earth that would’ve started Derek Lowe tonight knowing that this was a MUST WIN game. And I’m so sick and tired of seeing Fredi’s fat stomach and fat face smiling and complimenting everyone after every loss. What’s it take for this guy to show some freakin’ EMOTION!?!?

Maybe that’s why all the players look like they feel they’ve already earned their paychecks just by showing up at the ballpark. Sometimes mulit-million dollar pro athletes have to be MOTIVATED to get off their arses and earn their money on the field…..Clearly Fredi Gonzalez is NOT the guy to do that. Absolutely CLUELESS about managing a baseball team.

I’m tired of being embarrassed by pro players that wear this city’s name on their unis. The Hawks SUCK…..The Falcons SUCK…..The Braves SUCK…..The Thrashers SUCK, but at least they had enough class to leave.

“This town(’s pro teams) needs an enema!”

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BREAKING NEWS………BRAVES HAVE FORFEIT WEDNESDAY’S GAME CARDS WIN THE WC

BRAVES FANS….WAIT 6 WEEKS TO GET YOUR MONEY BACK FROM THE POSTSEASON TICKETS

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Braves #17..its not up to Houston. They have nothing to gain. If The Braves want it bad enought it up to them to Win tomorrow and see what happens.

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This team flat out sucks and it doesn’t deserve to go to the postseason.

I don’t know what the reason is for this collective collapse but right now I can’t wait for the season to end.

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ole boys have done it again I reckon?

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There’s zero chance of Lowe being traded or “fired” in 2012 as many would like. He’s under contract next season. And his trade value is absolutely zero: no team in baseball is going to take on $15M in payroll for a 17 game loser. No team would take him even if the Braves ate 90% of his salary.

There’s also no real chance of “asking” Chipper to retire in 2012. He’s already stated he wants to come back next season, and has a contract which allows him this option.

The only significant money to come off the books next season will be Kawakami and McLouth, presuming Wren doesn’t pick up the latter’s option.

Bottom line: better get used to seeing #32 with another 5+ ERA in the rotation again next year.

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blast..85% of Braves are not white..as for me being a “idiot” i’ll just consider who said it…I’m black and I don’t complain and don’t want any freebees…get it

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Bill

we all knew u was black,who else watches the dream

btw how is that hope and change working for ya?

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Braves and Astros will win tomorrow…cool

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CARDS WILL NOT SCORE ANY RUNS TOMORROW

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Cards win 13 to6…its down to final game. If Cards and Braves win tomorrow— there will be a play off game between Braves & Cards to see who wins wild card.
Go night all..
blast i’m praying for you.

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Sherman treated Atlanta better than Fredi Cat Gonzalez.

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I can imagine Freddi standing on the deck of the Titantic, resolutely insisting to all who will listen that “it’s only a little hole”.

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So I looked up the Braves’ team stats today, and guess what? In spring training, Lowe had the lowest ERA: 3.09. That reminded me: Lowe actually pitched pretty well at the beginning of the season. So I looked up his season game log. Indeed, he pitched well in April and early into May. Then every collapsed. And guess what happened to Lowe at the end of April, just before his pitching plummeted? He was arrested for DUI.

I’m guessing he would’ve stopped or cut down on his drinking after being exposed in the media, so the terrible thought occurs to me: could Lowe’s pitching success a result of his drinking?

I doubt it, but the correlation is interesting.

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Dan..what u talking about me watching the dream…?
I have my own dreams when I sleep.

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An incredible implosion of epic proportions.

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bill

with your comments about the deam update ever 5 minutes here is what i think he was talking about

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MLB

The only sport where there is no salary cap on every team

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He is brilliant. Start your worst pitcher tomorrow. Allow the braves to win. That way there is likely a one game playoff. So make St louis have to play another game before coming to Philly.

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I checked out a few St. Louis news sites and am surprised by the lack of Cardinals’ spirit. I remember back in the early nineties when this town went nuts!! I want that feeling back again.

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Paul

who was your choice?beachy,tehran,minor?

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mlb sucks up to the cardinals,brewers like espn does boston,and the yankees

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thanks Rio..

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So what! Even if the Braves get in the post season they’ll get swept in the first round. This team is perennial one of the worst post season teams ever. It will always be that way. 95 was a fluke, and they beat Cleveland – Cleveland to get that. Do us a favor Braves and just lose tomorrow so that we can get this over with.

Braves Suck. Always have, Always will.

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If by some stroke of luck, the Braves actually do make the playoffs, Derek Lowe shouldn’t even make the roster…the 40 man roster.

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@Rio – You’re right about ESPN. Both their home page and their MLB page feature Boston, not the Rays nor Cards. I remember earlier in the season, something huge happened with another team. I went to ESPN and they were talking about Boston.

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The Fat Lady is Singing

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Funny how all those math numbers that were thrown out and everyone said Braves had nothing to worry about… they came true.

FIRE PARRISH TONIGHT!!!!

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D.lowe started because we still had 1 game to spare.He lied when he was quoted as saying earlier he give the quick exit

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Rio … I would have pitched Delgado … he’s coming off a win and his ERA is half of D. Lowe’s

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Constanza is hitting 319 but u right he wont be on roster because of good ole boy policy and J-Hey is future star. Thats why fredi has stop playing him. same damn reason Braves not winning, the BS policy at work. u get what u pay for.

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Rio:

“i guarantee you that no hit constanza wont be on the playoff roster”

Well, no kidding genius, because the Braves won’t be in the playoffs.

HT

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guess we have to depend on beachy on thurs.omg come on astros

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HT i got 500 say we win,wanna bet here is my email

expert @yahoo.com

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If the Braves played a team of midget Ditkas, I’d have to go with Ditka.

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tomorrow is Sept 28 I believe Rio

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Dan, there’s always hope for ya..

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Whats the opposite of Brave?

They lose 10-2 tonight…A lock….Right Freddi?

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O-me

sept.29 where i live

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Ooops. D. Lowe did it again. You’re breaking my heart. My achy break heart. It’s a rainy night in Georgia. But the sun will shine another day.

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Lineup i like to see
BOURNE
HEYWARD
FF
UGGLA
BMAC
PRADO
WILSON
HUDSON
CONSTANZA

CHIPPER IS HURT

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Heyward .318 batting 2nd this year,ff,uggla was hot in this batting order

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Is Hudson well? is his neck still hurt him?

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I can imagine Freddi standing on the deck of the Titantic, resolutely insisting to all who will listen that “it’s only a little hole”.

Nah, he’d say, “Sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the iceberg.”

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Sports in this town sucks!

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Our best pitcher pitching the last game i like our chances,braves won last year on last day,How many of u were really here saying braves win last year?

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Fredi is just not that emotional,lou pinella would have died from a heart attack,im sure the braves will give it there best,some of you act like its the end of the world if the braves lose.Its just a game ,but i bet some of you would want people like derrick lowe and others im sure to be like donnie moore was with the angels.After he blew the series,he committed suicide.

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In regards to the ridiculous home team bashing, check out Kelvin’s post above. He offers nothing intellectual. I rest my case.

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PMC

Please show us the facts on who is getting paid for 30 years

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PMC

A garanteed contract is only guarantee if u play,unless you work out the contract like bobby bonilla did

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Hunter pence had a choice between phil.and atl.seriously who would you go to s.ga boy?

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Management let FG start Lowe………..Im thinkin that at least 2 or 3 jobs are open after tomorrow’s loss.

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BTW………..South Ga is RIGHT On.

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Well I’ve put this season in my back pocket. Next year the Braves need a new hitting coach, dump Lowe, dump Alex Gonzalez move Prado to SS, trade either Big Red or Jurrjens for Matt Kemp. They also need to make a change on utility players. Last but no least send Jason Heyward’s azz to the fruit league in the winter so he can work on his hitting. Nuf Said Good Night!

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It seems that our sports teams relish in embarrassing us on the national scene…..Joe Johnson, Michael Vick, the ENTIRE Atlanta Braves…….I mean….millions in paychecks, and for what?

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What an embarrassment! I’ve been a Braves fan for 54 years and I’ve never been more disgusted with my team.

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It just smells real bad. And you thought it only happens in the NBA Grasshopper?

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Guys on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight using words like reeling, collapsing, punchless, clueless, lost, stunned, etc. to describe the state of the Braves. Not pretty.

Some symbolic action will need to be taken, and it wouldn’t surprise me if one or more coaches are fired – and maybe one dumber-than-dirt manager.

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What does a bunch of homies in the Locker room= Epic fail!

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Fredi seems like a nice guy, but not the sharpest tool in the woodshed. And during this run he seems totally in over his head, with that deer-in-the-headlights “WTF just happened” look on his face.

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Lost 10.5 game lead in 1 month>>>>>>> Epic Failure

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Thanks JB and north ave. Rio, it would be hard to believe that you could defend Lowe’s record over the last 3 yrs for the money he’s gotten, not counting the fact that he’s now had a disastrous 3rd yr with a 4th yr owed to him for another 15 mil. If we were the Yankees with the YES network and annual revenue somewhere north of 400 mil/yr then I wouldn’t have minded taking a chance on Lowe, BUT WE ARE NOT THUS. And since Liberty restricted our payroll to around 85 mil a yr, a smart GM has to be very careful how he spends his money. Locking 20% of our total payroll into a player who only plays every 5th day and who is in his mid 30’s,at the time, is reactionary at best and just plain stupid at it’s worst. Secondly, anyone who follows the Braves, knew that Heyward and Freeman (both LH hitters) were zooming thru the minors, and combined with BMac, would give us 3 out of 8 LH everyday players for yrs to come and some balance had to be achieved and not ignored or we will always be dominated by LH power pitchers in the playoffs. Now add Bourne and Chipper (who only has power from the left side) and we have a serious lineup problem. Uggla only offsets the 20 or so HR’s that Glaus and Lee hit last yr because we traded those RH bats for a LH Freeman at 1st base, therefore we didn’t gain much in RH power to the lineup by adding Uggla, though I’m all for the move, it doesn’t address the lack of RH POWER. All of this has been ignored by Wren and, apart from you Rio, I think everyone else see’s it very plainly.

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Does anyone at liberty media have Mark Cuban’s phone number. After this choke job the bottom is going to fall out of season ticket sales . For Liberty it is all about the money ,which means it is time to sell. They have bled this fan base dry , and they have had enough . Sell the Braves now and find a owner who wants to win more than make money.

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Why all of the Phillies trolls out tonight, mocking and dumping on us Braves fans? Kind of sad and pathetic and cruel and classless. But hey, what else can you expect from Philly? (Because the Braves were the Buffallo Bills of the 90’s in baseball and should have put up 2 more World Series championships when they had the chance.) I think realistically, the Braves or Cardinals are cooked whoever wins They cant beat the Phillies. My concern more this week is the Falcons, which are paper tigers. They have all these “high character” guys, but I want nasty play nasty dominant players winning the game. Atlanta sports, what the h*ll is the problem????

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He isn’t gangster enough I can tell you that. I have been in town for 15 years and these clowns will never rock the boat. They are so used to just making the playoffs and Yipee! If I were these clowns, I would be asking why Atlanta sports teams have over the last 15 years(more the Braves than Falcons) why havent we tasted more championships? Jeff will be drinking the Kool aide tomorrow morning and Go Braves! These guys are such homers and jokes!

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I have been a Braves fan since 1954 when I was a kid and Henry Aaron was a rookie. I cannot remember a more disastrous finish to a season. I am just stunned. There have been some awful teams…but the 2011 team gave us all great expectations. Why did they start Lowe? A really big mistake. Fredi is not getting it done and Larry Parrish is an awful hitting coach. Maybe Roger should go as well.The late and great Skip Caray would probably be telling us that it is “time to walk the dog”…

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Braves #17 Fan

September 28th, 2011
1:37 am

The Phillies still have one of history’s most epic and biggest all-time chokes in Major League Baseball history when they blew a 6 1/2 game lead over the Cardinals with 13 games left in the regular season. The lost 10 in a row and the Cardinals ended up winning. The Phillies fans were the same back then as they are now and used to heckle and throw stuff at Dick Allen to the point where Allen had to wear a helmet. You won’t see that here in Atlanta.

I’m gonna do my part right here on this blog.

1. Bourne- choked down the stretch or went cold whateva you wanna call it.

2. Prado- Had no business playing everyday just because he can play multiple positions. He does not put out well enough to warrant everyday play.

3. Chipper- just go home, the only thing close to a leader he did this year was call out Heyward and we see that it really helped a lot. (sarcasm)

4. Uggla- If you are satisfied with someone hitting .235 and 30 HR’s a year then you have your man, because that is basically his history, a low batting average and around 30 over the fences.

5. Freeman- Went cold at the end of the season and strikes out too much.

6. McCann- was garbage offensively after the energy.

7. Gonzo- garbage discipline at the plate and low batting average.

8. Heyward- had no clue about anything hitting this year.

Pitching staff is a victim of the front office. The starters were never that good but front office spoke like they were the Phillies.

Hudson- Proven, no problem IMO.
Lowe-Proven, but the history thing did not work out and you were too cocky to go and get insurance.
Beachy-unproven
Jair-unproven at the level he started this year
Minor-overblown and unproven
Hanson- always had a pitching delivery that was going to cause problems and noone called him on it

Bullpen

unproven once Moylan went down.

Freddie G has no clue and never did. He is only here because of the history mess and acts like a robot, no feel for the game just go off of history. He manages scared like he uses that history mess to justify himself incase he makes a mistake and the team follows by playing that way.

Front office is lazy for picking someone just because they have history with organization instead of doing a thorough search and they overrate there talent.

No mercy on any of these bums. The whole team sucks, there you have the truth

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Braves Fan # 17- I have loved everything you have posted tonight. I think you and I see sports similar. I’m from the North, and the fans up there, the people up there you dont have the hospitality like you have in the South. The fans are harsh, but they expect results. Its just passion, in life that can be good or bad. I honestly would love to see that in an Atlanta team and the fan base.

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Hit the ball no hit, can’t WIN

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Mop Man you have it right. It may seem so simple and stupid but the truth f**king hurts sometimes! My favorite blog of night “Cards got 13 runs on 17 hits tonight. It would take the Braves a month to do that.” Again the front office is cheap like the 90’s. Insanity is to do the same thing and expect the same results. They could have gotten another bat in the lineup and got 3 or 4 more wins and not have to worry about this bullspit.

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Ive never critized Gonzales before, but WTF wasnt the rookie pitcher given a chance for a good start?? We ALL knew what Lowe would provide, at least 3 runs given up in 5 innings or less. Hard to believe the Braves didnt want Smoltz back, yet keep running this guy out there.

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And even with all this debacle. We still have a chance. Just take care of business tomorrow.

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Now here some funny after bein behind by 6-0 lead they crawl hurry get u 2012 season tickets now n u be lock in to playoff tickets for this n next season for this is Braves country hurry seats are well few n far away…..Get u NLDS n tickets plenty good seats still come watch us fold tent in One Game take all thursday bring u friends we need it since they not even near sro crowds yet…St.louis sold out anyway no matter if they make it are not….we like Tampa rays only they had lost players who won to other teams the owner is a treat n GM too they the rag tag team who wins with starless players n yet the Fans there can’t find the stadium there make excuse’s bad parkin n stuff..I watch Tampa fans no one was there upper deck was empty at top coverd so make look full. Tampa will have play a One Game thursday for wild card if both win tomorrow knowin this i know Yankees try win but i believe red sox vs rays at the Trop are fenway park at 4pm are 8pm not sure yet depends on if braves n card each decide win are lose to a one game playoff here are at busch stadium either way Rays fans can’t find the trop there as in atlanta be better if game in busch n fenway both are sold out now….Oh and Tampa u morons like here go out fill trop to 43,000 folks u jerks are in 2014 u be playin in canada has the new Montreal expos!

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Hawks are the only team in ATL worth watching. Now bring back the Hawks blog and let the Braves Rest In Peace.

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In all of my life, this is the first time EVER that I am completely ashamed to be a Braves fan – and I’m old. Even those years back in the 80’s when the Braves were losing close to 100 games a season I could easily keep my chin up because they had less talent than most other teams and were decidedly the underdogs.

These Braves have no excuse, whatsoever, for not even showing up for the final month of the season. They deserve to be booed, although, I’m sure it’s no sweat off of their athletic supporters. After all, they haven’t given enough effort to work up a sweat in months. Shame on you Braves!

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The way they’re playing now, it would be a shame to see them in the playoffs.

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I still love this team, and will support it.

That said, I sure hope that if the Braves are eliminated, they’ll learn a valuable lesson from it. Fredi Gonzalez slavishly managed the team according to Wren’s payroll this year. McLouth, Lowe, Heyward, and Proctor all got more playing time than they deserved, and now the Braves are paying for it (yes, pun intended).

Also: for God’s sake, let’s get a new coaching staff for next year. This one obviously doesn’t inspire much confidence in the players. After the McDowell incident in San Fran and Larry Parrish’s inability to help Uggla, move J-Hey closer to the plate, or compete with players’ relatives for hitting tips, something ought to be done…

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The only thing I don’t understand in all this, why on earth wouldn’t the Phillies want the Braves in the playoffs. If we get eliminated, they probably draw the Brewers vs. the Diamonbacks.Although Arizona’s playing well, Milwalkee seems a tougher matchup. And if by some fluke the wildcard team wins the first round, be it the Braves or Cards, who would you rather play in the second round. Maybe the Phillies are good enough that they don’t care who they play, but weird things happen in the playoffs, and having the Braves in the mix only increases their chances of making the World Series. Who knows how this will all turn out, but the Phillies getting beat by the Cardinals in the League Championship series just might be the result of knocking the Braves out (are you reading this Charlie?)

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Yeah Right RIO Derek Lowe commit suicide you gotta give a sh__ to do that get real he dont give a SH__…..save us the stupid drama…idiot

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I don’t think this team will go far at all until they start doing what a lot of teams do to them; they need to become station-to-station, point-to-point team, that base-hits the other team to death, and scores a lot of runs that way. Playing for the long ball, and hoping your pitching holds up isn’t working anymore. I’d rather have players who hit .275-.300, with a ton of hits and RBIs, than a team who has 50 home-run sluggers, but who have twice to three times as many strikeouts, and who leave a legion of base-runners stranded in their wake.

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My God, this man got zero run support in his last start and 1 run Tuesday. What a bunch of idiots. No wonder Atlanta is considered one of the worst sports citys in the country. This newspaper is embarrassing.

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not to worry–chipper said he’s coming back in 2012!! 2012 will be the year of the Braves! Chipper will light it up big baby!!!! Braves will rule in 2012!!!

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9-17? Really? They going to re-sign this loser?

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The people I feel most sorry for are the ones who bought their playoff tickets two months ago and will now have to ask for a refund! Is there ANYONE out there who thinks the Braves can beat the Phillies worst pitcher, Joe Blanton???? I don’t think the Braves can beat ANY pitcher right now!! not with their “anemic” can’t hit the ball out of the infield or away from an outfielder’s glove..this team is PATHETIC!!!! and will go down as the worst collapse of ANY NL team ever!!!!! And I don’t want to hear about the injury excuses!!!…this time of year, all teams have key injuries.

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The Phillies and Cards can hit. What’s up with the Braves hitting or should I say lack of?

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WhosoSuprised ….. This is an AWESOME assessment of the current mindset and environment in Atlanta …. well done!

~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*

Why are Braves fans so surprised? For years, this team has been a corporate team whose strategy is to put a product together where during the course of the season a season ticket holder can send a client to a game and have a 50-60 % chance of them seeing a win and then pack up: It’s college football season. It starts with the fans that are mostly the Chastain Amphitheatre table types more concerned with the entertainment value than the quest for a championship. If this weren’t true, that stadium would be packed for a wild card race rather than the fans packing for what…fall foiliage. I have season tickets on the front row and it is amazing how little focus is on the game even now. This is followed by top down corporate attitude. How many times have you heard about the business like attitude in the clubhouse? Demand excellence…be a little controversial… outtta here. In comes a manager with the same attitude. I think truthfully, BC fought against this for most of his final years. This is the antithesis of Steinbrenner or Turner for that matter. Sure the playoffs bring in more money, but this is not instilled in the players who feel no threat to perform there. Behave, make some entertainment value plays when there’s no pressure, and have a good golf handicap is the prerequisite. Then hire a feel good broadcasting staff led by Chuck doodle and force them to drink loads of Cool aid before each broadcast. Lemke and Mazzone are so disingenuous it is incredible. These guys were competitive SOB’s and if you don’t think they have been defrocked or voluntarily cast that aside for a pay check, then you’ve been drinking more than cool aid. Chuck is an idiot yes man, but that is his goofy shtick. Just watch the Mark Richt Show. Buck, well he’s a football guy but at least you can hear some skepticism in his voice. This is all Disney entertainment product. When the goal is an entertainment product rather than winning championships, this is what you get. And, it’s really all Atlanta fans want.

So sad, yet so true …

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Man, Atlanta Braves fans sure have been spoiled since 1991. Ya’ll should have been around since the 60’s and you’d understand what losing really felt like. Here’s to hoping the Braves have a game to win left in ‘em…

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Hey Fredi – Did you know the White Sox had an opening for a manager?

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Hey Schultz! But the Braves schedule says that they can still catch the Phillies for the division right? You are the worst sports writer in America. AJC should be embarrassed to give you a paycheck. Don’t worry, the Phillies will put the Braves out of their misery tonight like a sick dog that needs to be put down.

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Bobby Cox would have sent Lowe to the Gwinnett Braves a couple of months ago. This is baseball. If you can’t get the job done there’s someone waiting for their chance that can. We need a new manager.

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Firing Fredi TODAY would be a strong move on the part of the Braves organization. No matter what happens right now, he does not deserve to stay.

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Hope the fans rain boos down on the team tonight…maybe some batteries…choke on it Braves, you a66holes… Go fudge yourself.

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Time to RE-BUILD. Do like the GIANTS did in releasing Aaron ROWAND and MIGUEL TEJADA. Giants had to eat 13.5 MILLION.

Detroit Tigers ate 13 MILLION a couple of years ago to rid themselves of GARY SHEFFIELD.

Braves will find no takers on DLOWE nor KAWACRUMMY………………………………In the mean time they are taking up space.

PRADO is a utility man, JHEY needs to start at AAA. We need 2 outfielders. Their is alot of work to do with this team. We also need new owners that will pump some payroll into the team.

Kick them out and show them the way to the airport or highway. If we get new owners I hope Gonzalez and WREN are shown the door.

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somehow still alive? you didn’t know that if they lost and stl won, they would be tied?

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No fire in any of the players. No one can hit. Next to last in hitting to the PADRES this month. It is time to see what they can do for next year. I believe this season is gone. CARDS are playing better but not great.

And to think we never considered LANCE BERKMAN.

The problem we have is you have 6-7 players that make I believe about 65-67 % of the payroll.

HECK,……………………….Just Chipper and DLOWE make 33 % of the payroll………………Embarassing.

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This is a nice 20 year tribute to the ‘91 team.

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I hear Canada is looking for a team.

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What more can you say, but wow! I agree with most; I have no idea waht Freddi was thinking in starting Lowe. At least one of the young guys gives you a chance of pitching lights out. With Lowe, you KNOW he is giving up 4 or 5 runs.

However, what has happened with our bats?? We don’t even hit hard foul balls at this point. Its as if some of our guys can barely make contact with the ball. Of course none of them will admit it; but the Braves are wound so tight rignt now, we have very little hope. I’m tired of Freddi and Chipper trying to put on this Joe Cool face. I want to see some FIRE…Kick some tables, throw your glove, do something to bring some PASSION and show me you actually give a crap. Otherwise, I will find myself spending my dollars elsewhere

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U all need 2 admit I was rite all a long.

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There is not a player on this team or any team since David Justice…..He had attitude, and he had moxie, and then when the time came he backed it all up.

For all the talent Chipper has, he has never carried this team, or been a leader. He has had a wonderful career, now the Braves need to find a guy like David Justice.

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We saw a different team from the 1st half to the second. The Braves are a first half team….barring injuries next year, they will be back. Although Chipper has proved so much to the Braves over the years and he has been plagued by injuries, he still can’t get the bat off his shoulder when we go down the stretch?????

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Little Jimmy – i like your thinking … think that is exactly what it’s going to take to win today … Hudson shutout and a homerun by hudson. Ugh, this collapse is monumental. Fredi did a horrible job managing his pitchers this season. Every single one of them is tired beyond belief. I place the blame solely on him.

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Go Phillies!

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FIRE FREDI………………….HE DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE

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How about a pay for performance plan. Instead of stroking a huge check to these guys for half butt attempts at winning, hit them where they have their heart, their checking accounts. If its good enough for the rest of working Americans it should be good enough for them. Bonus for homeruns, era’s, stolen bases, and a big bonus for the ring. Coaches included.

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The stimulus is working!

Obama is doing a great job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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For what it’s worth:

“Gonzalez served as the manager for the Florida Marlins for three-plus seasons (2007 through June 22, 2010) and went 276-279 with the Marlins, including 34-36 in 2010. He is the all-time winningest manager in Marlins franchise history, surpassing Jack McKeon’s 241 career wins.”

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@dean “Freddie never played in the big leagues”-Hanley Ramirez, player for Marlins all-time winningest manager.

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I’ve said this before, and I’ll repeat it again; this team has no heart or guts. The problem is none of the writers or fans in Atlanta have the nerve to say it publicly. These guys are scared and define the meaning of the “choke artist.” The front office is incompetent and useless (Pence should be in Atlanta instead of Philly); the manager has no fire or baseball intelligence. The Marlins signing Guillen as manager has insured the Braves will never win with Fredi or Wren. Any manager with a set of smarts would have put Lowe in the bullpen. Any team whose hitting coach isn’t worth a tinker’s damn would have fired him when this mess started. I have followed the Braves since college, but i’m about ready to dump them for a team that has the desire to win and play like major leaguers, and not the high girls softball team. This is what needs to happen for 2012: fire Fredi and Wren tonight after you choke tonight; trade Chipper to the AL for a pitcher with some talent; send Heyward to the minors; trade Lowe for whatever you can get; trade for a SS who can hit; sign Bourn long term, no matter what it takes; trade Prado and make Constanza your every day outfielder. It’s sad when you can’t beat teams that have minor league talent at best (Marlins, Mets and Nats). In my opinion, unless you address these issues, this organization will never see postseason again; they will be doomed to failure.

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what an epic gag job. they don’t seem to have any fire. very disappointing

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If by some miracle they do squeak in, Fredi will pitch bLowe because he’s gonna he has thoughts he’s gonna give us a hell of a pitching performance. Fire Fredi and at least fire Parrish & Roger. Don Baylor for manager or hitting coach!!!

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Hope they lose tonight and Cards win. They don’t deserve to even watch the playoffs, much less be in them. You’re right Schultzie, they can’t hit or pitch, and the catch thing is certainly doubtful at times. Boozer and Chipper have been done for awhile now. Both are stealing money, as is Heyward and several others. Jair Jerkoff is awful even when he’s healthy. Face it, you’re stuck with Boozer for the duration of his contract. Trade him? What could you get besides a hood ornament for an old Buick, and that’s a maybe, and only if you’re really lucky, and the owner of said trinket is stoned out of his mind. The hitting coach should not be fired, but instead should be “FIRED AT”.

All of this confirms the need for “pay for performance” contracts. If any other proof is needed, I refer you to Mike Hampton. The above stated contracts should apply to all professional sports. If you don’t believe that once a player gets his “payday”, and then sets his a$$ on cruise control, you’re as crazy as a s#!!house rat.They don’t earn money, they steal it. When the last year of their contract comes around, they play like both their hair and a$$ are on fire. Then disappear as fast as a fart in a whirlwind. Some of these people are paid more than some third world countries have as their entire national budget. Here is a very good argument for “taxing the rich more”. If they (the owners) are stupid enough to pay these players the type of money they do, then they should face a huge tax rate. And I’m not even a Demo (or Repub for that matter). And let’s not forget these players. Some of these “bozo’s” actually go broke. How the hell does that happen???? Do you really need 10 houses, 25 automobiles, and yachts the size of a light destroyer? The answer is “NO”. Yet some of you will say yes. Greed after all is what has gotten this country to it’s present state.

I won’t be one of those who “waits till next year”. I decided some time ago, to quit watching over paid individuals play a game of any type. Even a rerun of Thomas the Train on PBS is better than that. Am I the only one who gets this? Apparently so.

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OMG, LMAO, GFY, FAY, And “WHO” didn’t expect this…………….loser’s

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Please…just lose tonight…put us all out of our misery. “Worst to first” will have a beautiful ring to it…next year. Not.

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SOOOOO. IT WASN’T TERRY PENDELTON’S FAULT AFTER ALL! HOW BOUT ALL THEM PLAY-OFF TICKETS THE BRAVES HAVE BEEN SELLING!!! GODD LUCK WITH THAT!

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will I get back all the money I paid for playoff tickets? someone told me no refunds!

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They need to cut the stupid kid crap with the mohawk’s and silly stupid stuff and play ball. That is what they are paid to do not see who can have the worst haircut. And how about a true leader on the team. We need someone to step up in a closed door meeting and blow the hell up. A little emotion from our coach would also be nice. Bobby would have lit up a ump, spit and cussed for a few minutes by now.

Come on Braves close this thing out!!

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Why is it that everyone in America knew not to start Derek Lowe except Fredi Gonzalez?
Did he think he was magically going to become awesome?

.

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Pathetic, isn’t it?

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I heard Freddy said he wouldn’t trade any player on his roster for anyone else. PANTS ON FIRE! PANTS ON FIRE!!

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I heard Freddy said he wouldn’t trade any player on his roster for anyone else. PANTS ON FIRE! PANTS ON FIRE!!

Freddy was promoted to GM? And he changed the spelling of his name??

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Derek Lowe has been a joke for years. Unfortunately that joke has been completely on us. We can’t give that guy away (and we’ve tried–several times).

Who the hell starts a pitcher who’s 4-11 w/ a 6.19 ERA in his past 15 starts, with the season on the line, when the guy has shown you nothing in years? Looks like Fredi’s got some of that good ol’, loveable “player’s manager” in him! That’s always worked out peachy for us in the past.

Epic. Absolutely EPIC.

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what does Buster say when he meets a friend…Hi I’m buster and I am an alcoholic intravenous drug user…and braves fan.

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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!

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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.

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Told you weeks ago that the Cardinals would catch the Braves, but got ridiculed. Well…. TOLD YOU….TOLD YOU….TOLD YOU….TOLD YOU.

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Fredi or Freddy does it matter? It will be mud in a few days.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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

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Their not a team of Brians – they are very naughty boys!

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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OMG… Can’t believe I’m going to say this. Great article Jeffy.

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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.

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If you hate to play the what if game, then why are you playing it?

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“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

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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

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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.

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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.

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“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

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“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

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“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

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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.

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“He has had a very good, though not great, career, but his days are over.”

Not great? He’s a first ballot Hall of Famer.

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“Not great? He’s a first ballot Hall of Famer”

He’s been a great hitter.

He is not a great player

Great players, when they have a legitimate chance, take their teams to the promised land

Derek Jeter is a great player – though his stat lines pales in comparison to Chipper

Chipper is NOT a first ballot HOF. There’s a difference between a Hank Aaron and a Chipper Jones – and one of the ways you acknowledge that is that you do not elect Chipper on the first ballot

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“His last three months (July, August, September) have been great”

And the Braves results the last month have not been great.

To ME, the team’s results matter more.

The Braves were doing very well with Chipper NOT in the three hole. He whined about it. He got what he wanted. Is the team better off for it?

What matters more to this organization? The team’s success, or satisfying Chipper Jones’ desires?

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Play the bench! Bench the starters and play the subs! They can’t hit any worse can they???????????

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“And do you know what Derek Jeter has …?”

Yes.

Five rings

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2012 Season Tickets, anyone?

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Part II: I find I’m most upset about the Unbalanced Schedule. Talk about “NOTFAIT.” How many games did the Cardinals play against the Phillies? How many games did the Braves play against the Phillies? And, how many games did the Cardinals play against the Astros [and Cubs, too!]” And, how many games did the Braves play against the Astros (and Cubs)? See?! I can’t stand it. …Nevertheless, our family – which ranges from Atlanta to Indianapolis to Memphis to Illinois will be all pulling for Da Braves with have candles burning in our windows and living rooms and dens to bring them Good Luck. Go Braves!

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Welcome to the New Year… Pssst, treating the Dream will be a good thing

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[...] aren’t a lot of tangible things we can pin on Gonzalez. He certainly stuck with Derek Lowe too long, and the decision to start him Tuesday over rookie Julio Teheran blew up in the manager’s face. He made the bold decision to go with [...]

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