Braves suddenly lack pitching, defense and a clue
Michael Bourn misplayed this fly ball into a run-scoring triple by Rick Ankiel, one of the Braves' several lowlights. (AP photo)
If for a moment we can get past that the Braves currently have too many players who either can’t stand without wobbling (flu) or can’t see straight (blurred vision) or can’t walk without pain from a strained groin or a bruised leg (or “hematoma,” to use Chipper Jones’ new word), this isn’t a difficult problem to figure out.
If the Braves hope to survive this problematic intersection of injuries and batting slumps, they’re going to need two things: pitching and defense.
They received neither Saturday.
For the second game in a row the Braves spotted the Washington Nationals an early 4-0 lead. They scrambled back to tie, but ultimately spontaneously combusted again — like no perceived pennant contender should.
They lost 8-4. That makes six straight. They’ve suddenly tumbled into fourth in the National League East (not that standings are worthy of panic in late May).
Most important, the Braves not only lack any semblance of clutch in their offense — 15 stranded runners in two games — but their pitchers are being dismembered, and their defense Saturday looked one Volkswagen and a pair of exploding shoes short of a clown act.
“We’re not playing particularly well right now, and there’s no excuses,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
Those words were stronger than any others spoken by Gonzalez in the postgame. Fact is, Gonzalez’ temperament seemed a little too mild for a manager whose team is playing so poorly and, at times, lifeless. The Braves have allowed Washington, the team ahead of them in the standings, 15 runs and 12 extra-base hits in two games — this after Cincinnati had 10 home runs in a four-game sweep last week.
Gonzalez barely said a peep about right fielder Jason Heyward, who in the fifth inning had the type of lackadaisical defensive play that aroused memories of a 1998 game, when center fielder Andruw Jones was slow to hustle for a fly ball that fell for a single, prompting Bobby Cox to yank him in the middle of the inning.
Heyward’s play didn’t result in a run. But it was heinous enough that many in the crowd of 42,698 loudly booed him. He bobbled Bryce Harper’s single and then was slow to pick up the ball, allowing Harper to get to second.
Gonzalez acknowledged the miscue later. But when asked about TV replays confirming Heyward’s nonchalantness, he said only, “I have not seen that [replay] yet. I was in the middle of trying to get [reliever Kris] Medlen warmed up.”
It might’ve been the worst coverup in postgame history.
Heyward later said, “I let the ball get away, and [Harper] took the extra base. If I had attacked it aggressively, I still more likely would’ve bobbled the ball, but he probably wouldn’t have run. … [Teammates] just said, ‘Let it go.’ I said, ‘My bad’ out there, and I said ‘My bad’ when I came in. I play the game as hard as I can. I want that to happen as few times as possible.”
The Braves were missing Chipper Jones (leg), Freddie Freeman (eyes), Brian McCann (flu) and David Ross (groin). It’s not like they have much margin for error.
But Heyward wasn’t alone. Three other plays led to runs: Left fielder Martin Prado got a slow jump on Danny Espinosa’s short fly to open the game, and the ball fell for a double. Center fielder Michael Bourn lost track of the wall, bumped into it and played a fly ball into a triple. (No error was charged.) Reliever Jonny Venters had his glove knocked off by Ryan Zimmerman’s comebacker, recovered but threw wide of first base. (The error was charged to Eric Hinske.)
Bourn was as stand-up as a guy could be: “I messed up.”
He said more. But that summed it up fine.
Nonetheless, this isn’t a time for Braves pitchers to feel victimized. Mike Minor recovered nicely after allowing four runs in the first two innings, but that doesn’t excuse the start. (He also allowed a two-single to pitcher Stephen Strasburg before Danny Espinosa’s three-run homer). Medlen and Venters were poor in relief (three runs in two innings combined).
Bourn’s tidy summary: “We were hot before. We’re not hot right now.”
Forget hot. A little less slapstick would suffice.
By Jeff Schultz
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247 comments Add your comment
jipwiz
May 26th, 2012
9:31 pm
This stinks!
jipwiz
May 26th, 2012
9:31 pm
1st is not quite what it used to be…
Peter
May 26th, 2012
9:32 pm
Folks died this weekend in Atlanta driving motorcycles and cars…….The Braves are a team, and they play a game….not very well but it is just a game.
iTiSi
May 26th, 2012
9:33 pm
Leave it to Jeff Schultz to be the one to tell it like it is. Best article so far this year JS. Somebody needs to “build a fire” under some players, and so far looks like it’s not going to be the manager. Thanks for calling him out on a couple of things. Somebody needed to.
Papa Cisse
May 26th, 2012
9:33 pm
We need that Spanx chick to buy the Braves and increase the payroll so we can afford better depth.
DaveinNEPA
May 26th, 2012
9:35 pm
IMO this team needs a complete housecleaning from the FO on down. Anyone who thinks this bunch is capable of winning any kind of playoff berth needs to take off the rose colored glasses. This bunch looks uninspired and lackadaisical. Injuries and sickness haven’t helped but that’s no excuse. There weren’t any sparks coming out of the collective butts of those guys anyway.
johnny
May 26th, 2012
9:36 pm
First? Not much done right today. One thing that strikes me lately is the number of bad at bats. Watchhing to many good ones go by and getting in a hole. And the pitching… Yikes!
johnny
May 26th, 2012
9:37 pm
Oh well not first,
DetroitBraves
May 26th, 2012
9:39 pm
Jeff, I don’t know if you meant to say Bourn played a fly ball into “a trouble” but either way it was an excellent description.
Wilbo
May 26th, 2012
9:39 pm
The Braves need short skirts and really red lipsticks– they are such a tease.
Oh, and I wouldn’t let Fredi Jesus González manage my little girl’s church league softball team.
Vol4ever
May 26th, 2012
9:52 pm
Just another of the sports teams in Atlanta that wont spend the money to win. Ive been saying all along the starting pitching is overated and it seems to be proving me right.
Nutjobzach
May 26th, 2012
9:53 pm
Venters’ throw wasn’t wide of first base. A little low, but Hinske just missed it. Really sux when you would rather see Durban in the game then Venters.
Ho Hum
May 26th, 2012
10:03 pm
Atlanta. Ranked #1 most miserable sports city. Between football, baseball, basketball, and hockey (now departed), over a cumulative 154 seasons, they have delivered 1 championship. This is just too much to ask of fans.
Time to go ahead and sell the Braves, Falcons, and Hawks, move them all to another city, and let us sports fans pick another team elsewhere for whom to root vicariously. Seriously, they are considering a new football stadium for more of the same.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 26th, 2012
10:04 pm
For me, the shine is off Gonzo for PHing Chipper THEN putting him on the DL.
Officially on the clock.
Lacey Underall
May 26th, 2012
10:07 pm
Screw this team! They sux!!!
RGP
May 26th, 2012
10:07 pm
The Braves once reliable starting pitching is not anymore except for Beachy. Our once lights out bullpen gives up runs like its batting practice except for Kimbrel. Its tough to win games when your down 4 runs after the first two innings. Three fielding miscues didn’t help things either. When it rains its pours.
Lacey Underall
May 26th, 2012
10:09 pm
I totally agree with “Ho Hum”. Atlanta needs to get rid of all of its sports teams! SO BAD!!!!
Blow it up and start over.
Lacey Underall
May 26th, 2012
10:09 pm
FIRE FREDIE! FIRE FRANK!
sugar bear blanks
May 26th, 2012
10:14 pm
June swoon…..already.
Lacey Underall
May 26th, 2012
10:15 pm
Go Nats! sweep these losers!
Blahblahblah
May 26th, 2012
10:21 pm
No need to overreact. At 26-16 they were on a 100 win pace. That was not realistic. Now they’re in a funk. It’s a short term thing. They’ll rebound and get healthy. Looking at the standings at the 50 game mark is just silly.
Henry D.
May 26th, 2012
10:21 pm
Tired of hearing the excuse about players being on the DL or hurt. How many players does Washington have out? If this team is this dependent on Chipper, and that seems to be the biggest excuse thrown out,what are they going to do next year? Let’s see now, blew the playoffs last year because Fredi couldn’t pull theri head out of their butts. Played meserably in spring training and he couldn’t get them straightened out, and now this. This is what we get for hiring Bobby Cox, Jr. Same lackadasical, no inspired play.
Walt Frazier
May 26th, 2012
10:26 pm
What the hell is a “two-single”?
Walt Frazier
May 26th, 2012
10:28 pm
P.S. Lacey Underall is a complete and total moron. Please crawl back under the rock from which you came. You are an idiot. Also, please don’t respond as your comments are totally irrelevant.
Vol4ever
May 26th, 2012
10:29 pm
Chipper is killing this team making his huge salary, he wont play half the season, he’s done! That salary could have been used to bring in a very good player.
Lacey Underall
May 26th, 2012
10:30 pm
Walt…Go back to the hood where you belong! you tool!
Lacey Underall
May 26th, 2012
10:32 pm
Walt…Shouldn’t you be watching the Hawks? Oh wait, they aren’t playing!
norris
May 26th, 2012
10:34 pm
Part of what made Bobby such a good manager was that he would get himself kicked out of a game occasionally to light a fire under his team. Something should have been done in the first inning when Minor thru two strikes in a row that were called balls. It set the tone for the whole game cause the nats turned that into 4 runs.
Robards
May 26th, 2012
10:38 pm
Not a big deal, Jeff. This club will rebound. Things were great last week on the eve of the series win in St. Pete. The team was not as good as it seemed then and not as bad as it looks now. The Heyward blunder was something that could happen to anyone. It was a hustle play by a Harper. Most outfielders don’t hustle on routine base hits.
J-Man
May 26th, 2012
10:39 pm
All of that and you still dont address the Braves number 1 problem FREDI GONZALEZ
Dawg Haus
May 26th, 2012
10:40 pm
As flat as the Braves look right now, I’d rather them pull this kind of mess in May rather than September. There are plenty of games left to be played and I know they’ll turn it around soon. Still, watching this team right now is tough.
chuck
May 26th, 2012
10:42 pm
This team needs a swift kick in the backside. There is ZERO excuse for the lack of effort.
Lacey Underall
May 26th, 2012
10:45 pm
Dawg haus…They pulled this crap last September! Remember????
chuck
May 26th, 2012
10:48 pm
norris, excellent point. Gonzales needs to raise a little heck to let the players know he has their backs. If that doesn’t work, he better have a plan B because plan C is a new manager.
mace224
May 26th, 2012
10:48 pm
Hey Walt…Lacey’s fire Fredi comment isn’t so bad..
bravesinthetoilet
May 26th, 2012
10:50 pm
So sad to watch a team that was enjoying life and playing so well suddenly stink up the joint…so what happened? Now no hit, no field, no pitch, no enthusiasm, and that all starts with the manager and his coaches. I see so many players on the team that are content to sit out a game and relax on the bench. And to put McCann in as a PH whe you’re 4 runs down especially when he undoubtedly was too sick to play. Stupid. And Venters? Did he forget how to pitch or is it mechanical? If it’s the latter, then why can’t the pitching coach see what he’s doing wrong and correct it? I’m just tired of the same old crap…I don’t need excuses about sickness, injuries, etc…They all make way too much money to have as many crutches as they use all the time…Grow up and earn your salary and get the hell out and get a real job…
Dawg Haus
May 26th, 2012
10:52 pm
I do, Lacey. I’m just saying I’d rather them get the “jitters” out early this season rather than choking in September like they did last season.
STRETCH
May 26th, 2012
10:57 pm
Vol4ever,
Thats exactly the problem. I love Chipper, but he’s human just like all the other players that have come before him. He is finding it hard to say goodbye. He should have left this season.
iTiSi
May 26th, 2012
11:00 pm
Has anyone looked at the Braves June schedule? I predict maybe a 12-14 month if they’re lucky.
STRETCH
May 26th, 2012
11:03 pm
What amazes me is the fact the Wren and company did nothing the past few years but stock up on pitching and so far its done nothing. Heck, he should have stocked up on batters and try to out hit opponents. Cause pitching is not gonna do it. OVERRATED!!!
Steve
May 26th, 2012
11:09 pm
Agree with Lacy. Someone has to be held accountable. Frank and Freddie were in charge during the September collapse and with this lifeless team. Time for changes.
StingerSplash
May 26th, 2012
11:15 pm
(He also allowed a two-single to pitcher Stephen Strasburg before Danny Espinosa’s three-run homer).
Shouldn’t that be … a two-out single to pitcher Stephen Strasburg?
Move the copy desk back from West Palm Beach, Cox Newspapers, Inc.
Denard Span
May 26th, 2012
11:20 pm
Wren misjudged this team..they have not changed from Sept.The GM, Fredi & McDowell need to go.
Were are the great pitchers Wren talked about the last two years? McDowell is a joke, 6 years he’s done nothing. Time for someone to take charge of this team.
Mike
May 26th, 2012
11:20 pm
Yes, if Chipper is going to let a brusied leg…..er, “hematoma”, keep him out of the lineup he needs to reture tomorrow.
As far as the Venters/Hinske play, ask anyone who was sitting in the sun down the first base line today. Throw was on target. There was no way Hinske could even see the ball. Just one of those things.
Denard Span
May 26th, 2012
11:29 pm
I like Bourn. He bust his a@@ 99.9% of the time and gets mad at himself when he don’t hit.He lost the ball today that hit wall but didn’t make excuse. He never makes excuses he always mans up..We need more players like that. He also wants to play every game and told Fredi he didn’t want a rest but Fredi made him take it while his bat was hot.
ane
May 26th, 2012
11:34 pm
This is what happens when a corporation owns the team and really doesn’t give a s**t about them. As long as the gm and pres keep the team within budget so what! we need local ownership of the Braves. Fire mcdowell too. He is a lousy poitching coach, just look at the staff, not just this year, but for the past few seasons. Yes, we have some injuries that does affect the team offensivly, but what about the pitching! The shill up in the broadcast booth and the ajc keep making excuses for delgado, minor and recently venters too. The staff is falling apart and it’s only may, fire mcdowell. Make a move any move, standing with your headfs up your a**es as the team falls apart,. I know it’s early in the season, but the six straight losses count.
losers always
May 26th, 2012
11:36 pm
this team sucks
losers always
May 26th, 2012
11:39 pm
amazes me while idiots use fake names of athletes on here u guys suck also glad to see this writer addresses where that other writer does nothing fire fredi and take that DOB WITH YOU
losers always
May 26th, 2012
11:44 pm
QUIT MAKING EXCUSES WASH.LOST WERTH,AND THERE CATCHER YET STILL WINNING.ALL FAT FREDI DOES IS LIFELESS
YEAH IT IS WHAT IT IS
THIS TEAM IS A JOKE.DODGERS LOST MATT KEMP AND THEY ARE 7-2
IF U WANT A LAZY JOB JOIN THE BRAVES
EVEN BOURN SAID TO REPORTERS YESTERDAY WASH.BE A NICE PLACE TO PLAY
4 STRIKEOUTS TODAY
DONT WORRY BRAVES FANS THEY WILL BE SELLERS
GOOD BYE BOURN VENTERS FAT FREDI,AND FAT MCCANN
Harpie
May 26th, 2012
11:47 pm
Never in the history of sport has there been a city whose pro teams make more excuses than Atlanta’s teams do. Part of the Braves’ problem is that instead of getting out there and busting their butts trying to play well, they spend half their energy bellyaching about who’s out of the lineup. It takes more than 3 good players to make a good team – Play ball, guys!
Denard Span
May 26th, 2012
11:48 pm
fake names are no worse than yours “losers always” thats a good name for “u” .Do agree Jeff did a super job while some don’t.
I used Span’s name today because he can be had from Twins. But no-one gives a crap..thats ok.How many people us real name? lol
Stammering Stank
May 26th, 2012
11:50 pm
But they swept the Cardinals a few days ago…payback time for the so called ‘world champs’!!!
MLB should finally force Atlanta to drop the Braves moniker. Native Americans should not be associated with these losers.
The “Chokers” would be a good choice.
losers always
May 26th, 2012
11:50 pm
•The Braves are more likely to pursue an impact starting pitcher than a hitter this summer, according to rival teams. GM Frank Wren maintains that Kris Medlen is “probably better than any arm who will be available.” Medlen could join the rotation midseason, according to Wren
Denard Span
May 26th, 2012
11:52 pm
I like baseball. big fan
losers always
May 26th, 2012
11:52 pm
Braves centerfielder Michael Bourn could be a possible target for the Nationals and while he wouldn’t directly talk about playing for Washington, he told reporters that he likes what the club has to offer, writes MLB.com’s Bill Ladson. “They are good. They have some real good pitching,” Bourn said. “They made some key acquisitions, and they have Gio Gonzalez over there now. They bring a good starter every night
KNEW U IDIOTS WOULD NOT BELIEVE SO HERE S THE SOURCE
losers always
May 26th, 2012
11:55 pm
4 STRIKEOUTS TODAY?
BET HE WONT DO THAT WITH WASH.?
DERNARD SPAHN
HE SUCKS TO WASH.OFFERED 3 PLAYERS THEY SAID NO,BYE BOURNE FAT FREDI VENTERS,MCCANN COME JULY 31
losers always
May 26th, 2012
11:58 pm
DERNARD SPAHN
GO JOIN WALT IN THE HOOD
OH WAIT….NEXT TO TURNER FIELD IS THE HOOD…..
Denard Span
May 27th, 2012
12:00 am
Thats my bro at 11:52..he likes baseball .big fan but mom always called him Forrest Gump.
Denard Span
May 27th, 2012
12:00 am
me and chipper at hooters looking for another wife
i love this team
May 27th, 2012
12:08 am
you can get drunk and get paid,ask derrick lowe
ask hanson drunk on way to park in spring training
cheat on wife ask chipper
miss your mommy ask prado
again being drunk ask christian
minor worse than jj yet he stays?talk about color gender
hmmmm venters,minor still here ???
i agree with losers
i cant wear glasses sit
im sick sit
bunch of wimps all time
ahh yes the braves where to go and get paid while acting like a baby
t god chipper on dl,know why he suits up?so he can get all the free gifts
yes i went to game today,and tomorrow and will continue to ask chipper,hey chipster,going to hooters tonite?
Ted Striker
May 27th, 2012
12:24 am
Page HIT!
wayn]
May 27th, 2012
12:31 am
this is baseball not basketball 3 players shouldn’t make that much of a difference, maybe 1-2 games but look at the last 10 games.
NorCal Brave
May 27th, 2012
12:52 am
I’ll give them credit for battling back to tie against Strasburg with a lineup that’s a shadow of what it was a couple weeks ago. But starting pitching and relief work (except Kimbrel) have been thin all year long. Unless that gets turned around, there’s no way the Braves can compete in this division. All the other clubs are stronger in the pitching department.
SilentCC
May 27th, 2012
12:55 am
Don’t have a clue what’s up with Medlen. Never expected this from him. But as long as Minor and Venters are regulars on the mound, i’ll choose to watch PGA Golf.
Rowland Office
May 27th, 2012
1:17 am
I coulda caught that ball…Tough period for the home team…
Dennis Green
May 27th, 2012
1:22 am
When you have a payroll of around 78 million of players that are actually on the team and of that only around 60 million that actually play on a consistent basis, stretches like this are bound to happen. Average hitting (at best) with no true 4 hitter/RBI man and average pitching with no true ace = 81-85 wins.
THEY ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE
Miami
May 27th, 2012
1:37 am
Payroll means squat!
yes i went to game today
May 27th, 2012
1:40 am
and tomorrow and love my team…even though Otis sniffed lines and Bobby beat mommie…..quit complaining man!
SwanSongBraves
May 27th, 2012
1:44 am
Its about the smooth transition from old GM to new and old Coach to new…not about whats best to bring Punkass Selig to the TED!
SwanSongBraves
May 27th, 2012
1:47 am
to deliver trophy…
LakeDawg
May 27th, 2012
2:12 am
It starts with the front office. They don’t like emotion. They want corporate types that play golf. Works fine when you’re winning or during the regular season, but not so well when you’re in a slump or the playoffs. See Bobby Cox: Winning one WS with three hall of fame pitchers for 15 years and two other hall of famers in the field.
Gwinnett Fred
May 27th, 2012
2:33 am
Didn’t watch the game, but seems as if Jeff (if his opinionated writing is accurate) should include the Official Scorer to the list of those having a bad game!
TROLL PATROLL
May 27th, 2012
2:57 am
So funny LAKE/FRED..stick to ACC football. OMG TROLL stink here.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 27th, 2012
4:51 am
With all the injuries on the team, now would be a good time for Heyward to step up and show that he is the superstar capable of carrying this team that he was hyped to be, and not just the latest in a long line of fake superstars on Atlanta sports teams who get all the hype and don’t back it up. I say this as a Heyward fan, but it is year three, and now is the time for him to start putting it together.
Pink Pony
May 27th, 2012
4:59 am
Yeah, that loss the other night was Hansons fault. He gave up one run.
Pink Pony
May 27th, 2012
5:00 am
Bring back Frenchy. Because I like to say Frenchy.
Matt from MN
May 27th, 2012
7:06 am
Tip o’ the cap to “Frediots” management style.
Po Boy Tim Tron
May 27th, 2012
7:09 am
A bunch or primadonna wusses. Cal Ripken Jr. played 25 years straight with flu,groin,hamstring,dry eyes,hematoma,etc. injuries. These guys are weak.
CF-Brave-Fan
May 27th, 2012
7:12 am
Heyward is not making any adjustments at the plate. I have an app for my phone, and see that everyone pitches him inside and he has not adjusted all year. Just swings at balls. He looks clueless. They are not going to win with him as the RF.
Po Boy Tim Tron
May 27th, 2012
7:16 am
Who goinna replace Chipper numbers next year. He disabled this year more than a MMA fighter. Just retire Chipper. Braves look lost when Chipper have hurt leg. Fans want money back. They pay to see baseball game not circus.
Cap Tipper Fredi
May 27th, 2012
7:24 am
I just want to forever tip my cap to the Nationals,Reds,Phillies,and Marlins. I’m goin on the DL when Chipper comes off (if he ever does) with tip-capping elbow twinges. Me arm hurts.
WTF
May 27th, 2012
7:26 am
One of the teams we’re watching is a playoff team…and it isn’t the Braves. Enjoy watching a good team play good baseball. Forget the Braves. Until the team is sold to a caring baseball PERSON and new management is installed from top down, the Braves will be a write-off for Liberty Media and a kiss-off for Atlanta and it’s baseball fans.
Tune in to FSSO at noon to watch good baseball. Tech and Miami go at it for the ACC championship.
Lil' Barry Bailout
May 27th, 2012
7:48 am
What a surprise–the same team that had no clutch hitting and played spotty defense over 162 games last year is doing it again.
Nativebird
May 27th, 2012
7:57 am
Why is it that according to your buddy Bradley when theses braves were in first place in May, it was all see I told you these guys were the second coming of the 27 Yankees, but when they’re in fourth place losers of 6 straight it’s “don’t worry it’s only May”.
NO O
May 27th, 2012
8:04 am
As the season goes on the Cream will rise to the top and one thing for sure the Braves are not the Cream. Cmon Football Season.
braveshoo
May 27th, 2012
8:15 am
The Braves need a complete housecleaning. It needs to start with Freddie Gonzolez. A team wont fight for its manager if they dont fight for them. We lose every close call, and FG never says a word. The players dog it, and loook like they dont care, and FG does nothing.FG needs to go, followed by Chipper Jones who is too old, Brian McCann who cant see and seems to have a new problem every year, the pitching coach who cant seem to help pitchers when they are going bad, but they go somewhere else and become Allstars again( ie. Derrick Lowe). And finally, what have we done since Stan Kasten left and Frank Wrenn has been running the team? I have been rooting for the Braves for 30 years, but its getting a lot harder. And whoever is our eye Dr should be fired. He ruined the career of Brian McCann, and it looks like the same thing is happening to Freddi Freeman.
Matt
May 27th, 2012
8:19 am
Should have traded Minor last year when we could have gotten something for him. The kid talks the talk (”I belong in the Majors”), but can’t walk the walk.
AlanFalcon
May 27th, 2012
8:21 am
Somtimes sucess brings about a feeling of being invenciablity (Braves player’s, coaches and the manager). Some teams are able to manage these things and sometimes not (Braves), for sure you don’t overcome when you let everything pass and give everyone a pat on the A$$. There are times, believe it or not that you have to speak up, rattle some souls and kick A$$—–The bad thing for the Braves is that we don’t have a clubhouse leader that will take this job and speak up, that along with a Manager or the lack of one) that has no clue as to how you do this and therefore takes the easy road and says nothing. Miami must have taken all of the fire out of Freddie’s belly when they stood of for Hanely Ramerize (sp), therfore it has carried over and the Braves are the recipients.
Tom G
May 27th, 2012
8:23 am
Come on Jeff, the Braves are missing three regulars(Mac, Chipper & Freddie). Probably three of the best hitters on the team. There is a reason the substitute players are called back-ups?
Larry
May 27th, 2012
8:32 am
So where’s Lewd and LoboDumbDumb these days?
Larry
May 27th, 2012
8:34 am
Tom G,
And the Nationals are missing two of their best players, Werth and Morse, the latter hasn’t played a game this season.
Tom G
May 27th, 2012
8:34 am
Reading the posts of some of you knuckleheads in depressing, to say the least! We have a Major League team here, you should be happy about that, if you are a real baseball fan? Most of you should be on Jay Bookman’s liberal blog, commenting about your real hero, Barrack Hussein Obama!!
Tom G
May 27th, 2012
8:38 am
Larry – Perhaps our back-ups are not as good as theirs?? Washington is a loaded team just like Philly was a few years ago. They may win the whole thing this year!! We are a decent team, not a very good or great team??
Larry
May 27th, 2012
8:38 am
I’ve been telling you guys that I know for a fact several key players have very little respect fopr FG. Like him? Yes. Respect his in-game, situational decisiona making and leadership skill? No.
Larry
May 27th, 2012
8:41 am
Tom G
Both teams have comparable talent when all are healthy and playing at their best. However, the Nationals have one very importantant thing the Braves haven’t…a proven, bonified, major league manager.
flagger
May 27th, 2012
8:41 am
vol4ever u sir r a idiot.. please return to the hillbillys..
Tom G
May 27th, 2012
8:43 am
Larry – Where is your two brothers(Curley and Moe)? You have a bad attitude man!!
LWells2000@aol.com
May 27th, 2012
8:48 am
Braves have gotten sooo bad sooo quickly, our new rule: We Don’t Watch Any More Catch-up Games. They get behind, we switch channels.
Strange Murphy
May 27th, 2012
8:51 am
FIRE BOBBY COX!!!
Sonny Jurgensen
May 27th, 2012
9:04 am
The Nationals played with extremely cheap payrolls for several years, when they first came back in 2005. It helped parley into some horrid play, but yielded high draft picks: Harper, Strasburg, Ryan Zimmerman, Drew Storen, Detwiler, Ramos, Jordan Zimmermann, among others. The Braves actually have two Nationals rejects in their bullpen – Durbin and Livo – which shows how Washington’s pitching depth has developed. Trades for Morse, Clippard, Gio Gonzalez (you’ll see him tonight at 8pm); signing of Werth, Ankiel, Nady.
Add one of the very best in-game (and mind-game) managers of all time, and you have potentially, a dynamo for years to come. Braves have a LOT of work to do to keep up with the Nationals. Phillies will get old (showing signs now), and Miami has some parts too. Looks like rough sailing in the ATL.
Brave Hokie
May 27th, 2012
9:06 am
The Braves SUCK ~ Welcome to Loserville USA!
Jack Dennis TN
May 27th, 2012
9:07 am
Was disappointed in off-season lack of pursuit in R handed hitter. A screaming weakness.
Packer ed
May 27th, 2012
9:12 am
I just hope when fredi is let go that clown frank wren goes also.
1991 braves
May 27th, 2012
9:18 am
The “Bad News Bears” are back, with their manager “Fred Flintstone” running the show. This is the same pathetic team that had one of the worst collapes in baseball history last fall. The only difference is the bullpen is terrible this year. The braves bullpen has gone from 1st to 17th in era, and Venters and Medlen aren’t the answers. Medlen should be sent to Gwinnett to work on his pitches and gain some confidence. Venters needs a pitching coach that can help him find out if it’s between his ears or mechanical. The braves need a new manager and G;M. Fred Flintstone doesn’t have a clue now, and he never did have a clue on how to manage a m.l. baseball team. He is just another in a long line of terrible moves made by the worst G;M. in the national league. But Fred was cheap, so that’s a good thing for Liberty Media. Just like Hinske, Medlen, Minor, J.J, Heyward, and several other braves. When you have Chipper, Lowe, and Hudson sucking up over half of the payroll, you get what you get. A team with over the hill talent, and production from none of the guys that are eating up payroll. This team is what it is. Not much position player talent, average pitching, and terrible management from the G.M. to the field manager. Wren and Flintstone have proven that they have no clue on how to evaluate talent, especially pitching talent. Hell Fred Flintstone wanted to keep trotting J.J out there every 5th day, saying the guy was an all-star last year. How is he working out in Gwinnett? And now he is doing the same thing with Minor. The guy has no confidence now, and a good Pitching coach and a good manager could help him with this. Yet these 2 clowns sit on the bench looking like two overweight drunks and do nothing when the kid is desperate. Look at the Nationals yesterday. As good as their starting pitcher is, he was struggling and the pitching coach calls time out and goes out and settles him down, Minor was struggling and there was no help to be found. And for the love of God, Hinske is the worst defensive 1st basemen in all of baseball. The guy can’t move his feet, and now he can’t even catch a throw from the pitcher. If the lardass could bend over he might be able to catch the ball. Yet the homers on the braves telecast and the homers on this blog make excuses for him.I didn’t see the Nat’s 1st baseman losing the ball and missing the ball. This team is just like the only resemblance of a leader it has(chipper), all it does is make excuses, and wimp out when times get tough. Hate to tell crybaby chipper, but that is when true leaders lead.It is a shame when the only leader this team has is sitting on his ass 100 games a year. Then you have lardass McCann, who is suppose to be the face of the franchise when chipper leaves, and he is sitting on the bench beside chipper. These guys are what they are. Overpaid, babies, who have no heart or desire. When you couple that with an average pitching staff, terrible bullpen, no management, you have what you have. MEDIOCRITY!!!!
Dawgdad (The Original)
May 27th, 2012
9:19 am
And Frank Wren says “we really like our team”.
They didn’t need too much tinkering, but you can’t just sit there while the rest of the division gets better. His stock pile the pitching philosophy is great, if he ever put it to use. He never wants to trade one thinking everyone is going to be the next Greg Maddox, when he really often has the next JoJo Reyes.
Canadian Bacon
May 27th, 2012
9:24 am
Over the past week, Michael Bourn has been managing his position in the outfield with the same level of acumen Atlanta Spirit Group has been managing the Atlanta Thrashers.
Lawrence Taylor’s advice to Mr. Bourn might be:
“Don’t Smoke Crack.”
Canadian Bacon
May 27th, 2012
9:26 am
Are the Braves having Michael Bourn play centerfield to keep him from trying to snort the left & right-field baselines?
Derry Bergin
May 27th, 2012
9:26 am
Braves have stunk up the country all the way from Cincy to Georgia. The stench will probably be with us here in Ga. all summer. At least they had the decency to implode early this year, to save us all what we had to endure last season. Blow up Turner Field and turn it into a parking lot. I predict there won’t be enough attendance this year to pay the utilities. So much for the corporation’s all mighty bottom line.
Derry Bergin
May 27th, 2012
9:39 am
I’ve never heard of so many young, in the prime of life, supposedly in prime physical condition athletes coming down with “flu”. It’s not even flu season. And most of them are legally blind. Statiscally speaking, there should not be that many young men on one team with incapacitatimg vision problems. Maybe Wren only hires the handicapped.
News: They meet again: Heat-Celtics in East finals – Atlanta Journal Constitution | News Aggregator for you
May 27th, 2012
9:47 am
[...] Braves suddenly lack pitching, defense and a clue [...]
a initio
May 27th, 2012
9:53 am
““We’re not playing particularly well right now, and there’s no excuses,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said.”
So leave. Because they’re all “fine”, right?
Really, I don’t understand why y’all keep cheering this bunch. I guess Barnum was right.
Longtimefan
May 27th, 2012
9:54 am
As predicted, after a losing streak the haters and I’ll-informed fans come out of the woodwork. Prior to the current 6 game skid the Braves were playing some of the best ball in the majors. Now you guys want to fire everyone, trade all the players or sell the team. You guys are not rational. We have some significant holes in the lineup due to injuries. It is a 162 game season. Teams have bad stretches, it’s called baseball. A 92 win season will usually get you in the playoffs- that means you lose 70.
I believe some of the comments above are from dbags that just get their kicks from pulling other
peoples chains. Others are probably casual fans or new to the game and think the team should win every game, players shouldn’t make an error and pitchers shouldn’t give up gopher balls. They aren’t perfect. The joy in being a true fan is suffering thru the agony of defeat and also experiencing that joy of your team having that magic moment. An unprecedented 14 division titles. How soon we forget.
shorty
May 27th, 2012
10:00 am
Its time for Fredi Fail to leave town..he has no passion,no fire and the team reflects that
ab initio
May 27th, 2012
10:04 am
“Teams have bad stretches, it’s called baseball.”
No. It’s called a thin bench; bad coaching; and a couple of guys who should have been tossed when the Braves imploded last year. I guarantee you, baseball fans don’t forget what happened last year, and remain absolutely gobsmacked that the front office sat on its hands during the offseason.
If you equate “hater” to simple analysis than you are the one with the problem. You don’t like the truth.
Matt
May 27th, 2012
10:18 am
Too Bad The Braves Second Best Pitcher is playing for Cleveland right now. I still cant get over we are paying Derrick Lowe 10 million to play for the INDIANS and right now he is the best pitcher in the American League
STRETCH
May 27th, 2012
10:21 am
Love all my Atlanta teams, they are like children and the Braves and Hawks are identical twins. Both teams did nothing to strengthen themselves during th offseason. The Falcons, bless their hearts, they atleast make aquisitions but cant win a playoff game.
The Hawks and Braves are phony wanna be’s that will kindly accept the hard earned money the fans throw at em every season while not giving back!
FSUBrave
May 27th, 2012
10:23 am
there’s no leadership…freddie is not the man for the job..we need a manager to lay down the law.
DetroitBraves
May 27th, 2012
10:30 am
Verlander, Weaver, Hernandez, Lowe, Davish – one of these things is not like the others. @Matt, Derek Lowe yesterday – 2.1 IP, 10 hits, 8 ER, 3 K. On the season he’s got 18 K’s in 61 innings with a 1.52 WHIP. Go home. Study hard. Come back in, let’s say 3 weeks, and take another shot at naming the best pitcher in the American League.
Heisenberg
May 27th, 2012
10:38 am
I questioned Heyward’s effort on the walk-off HR (catachable or not) in Cincy. And the play yesterday removes all doubt in my mind. This guy needs to be “Francoured” – sent to Mississippi. Hopefully the results will be different.
Heisenberg
May 27th, 2012
10:40 am
DetroitBraves, I have said it many times on these blogs. DLowe is a cool weather pitcher. His ERA rises with the temperatures.
Ben
May 27th, 2012
10:54 am
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=atl#y=2012&m=6&calendar=DEFAULT
The June schedule for the Braves is brutal. Playing like they are now it’s not impossible to believe this team will be out of it by the beginning of July.
Sonny Clusters
May 27th, 2012
10:56 am
Fredi may be afraid to correct players because he lost his job in Miami trying to discipline Ramirez. It’s probably a lot easier to tip your cap.
Sonny Clusters
May 27th, 2012
11:00 am
EPIC Collapse. That’s what happened at the end of last season. Are they going to do it again? Do you think they could win a “must win” game right now? Heck, they can’t win any game right now. We was thinking maybe somebody should sit down with Jason Heyward and talk a little bit about effort and results. Of course, Heyward wasn’t guaranteed a job coming off last year . . . right! This is a disappointing bunch of huggers and fanny patters with flu-like symptoms and weak groins.
Disaffected Braves Fan
May 27th, 2012
11:03 am
I’ve said for years that the Braves’ most fundamental problem is their inability to move on from the 1990s. When Bobby Cox retired, the Braves had not won a playoff series in nine years. Instead of trying to find a manager with a new and different voice, they instead hired Fredi Gonzalez, a Cox protege who has all of Bobby’s negative traits and seemingly none of his good ones. Similarly, when John Schuerholz stepped down, he was replaced with his right-hand man, Frank Wren.
This trend of trying to cling to the glory days has also been evident in some of the player-personnel moves the Braves have made. They brought back former greats like Brian Jordan, Mike Remlinger and Tom Glavine long past their expiration dates, and the results were predictably disastrous. It would have been one thing if the Braves had taken a flyer on those guys as roster filler, but in the case of Jordan, they signed him to be their starting right fielder, and Glavine, at age 41, was penciled in as the No. 3 starter.
The Braves badly need a new organizational philosophy.The ’90s were great, but the game changes, and what worked 20 years ago may not work today. Especially when you don’t have Ted Turner’s deep pockets as a safety net.
The Bravenator
May 27th, 2012
11:12 am
It took six weeks, but the Braves situation has become what Spring Training indicated it would be. Chipper is $13 mil worth of useless at this point and the team and manger are actually playing to potential–just good enough at times to excite, but generally very mediocre. FG is treating us to the same bunch of managerial nothing he showed last September. He is a third base coach, not a manager. Injuries are going to happen and people have to take up the slack. Wren’s foolery and the salary budget have left the team with a weak bench. We’re getting what the Braves were willing to pay for and what we should have expected. FG needs to go NOW before his lack of managerial ability causes any more damage. An inspirational move would be to bring Cox out of retirement for one last hurrah, retire Chipper and make him Bobby’s lieutenant on the bench. If McDowell can’t figure out why All-Star pitchers are suddenly throwing gopher balls, then he needs to go, too. Light a fire under this whining, underperforming bunch and make something good happen…or at least try!
jek
May 27th, 2012
11:18 am
This is the same Freddie Gonzales that should have been fired last year. How can you let a starting pitcher give up multiple first inning runs? and then stay in the game? And why bring in Venters to give up runs. I know there is a plan, but hello!! its not working. Also the starters have always been only Tripple A. The injuries and slumps will resolve, but the lack of real pitching and the stupid managing seem permanent.
Tdawg
May 27th, 2012
11:20 am
Ah, I see that the Braves are back to being the bunch of buffon’s that we saw at the end of last season. Didn’t take long did it folks?
Falling Apart
May 27th, 2012
11:21 am
without a clue.
Yunel Asscobar
May 27th, 2012
11:27 am
Jeff – good article; thanks for your candor in assessing the Braves. It’s a refreshing departure from the norm and much-needed.
@sonnyclusters – what he said! On the whole, this is a disappointing bunch, beginning with the GM and manager. Failing to recognize last year’s weaknesses and address them was a critical error in judgement. One of the first responsibilities of leadership is to define your current reality. These two are either unwilling or incapable of doing so and until they do, we will continue to be fed the standard, “But hey, last August, we had the fourth best record in the NL.”
As long we they are satisfied with wild card banners, we will continue to see the pursuit of mediocrity.
JayBird
May 27th, 2012
11:29 am
The Braves are playing like last September. did I miss a football game yesterday???
Fan of the Game
May 27th, 2012
11:44 am
I am a Braves fan all the way and will always be, but this team makes the Cal Ripken streak look like a much bigger milestone.
Gene
May 27th, 2012
11:45 am
This is not the team that manhandled the Dodgers. I first noticed the pre-game dance ritual in Cincinnati, after which the Braves played like zombies, managed by a zombie. Bourn drops a fly ball and Heyward lollygaggs in the field, blurred vision, flu-like symptoms, and Chipper talking about a “hemotoma”? Surely it’s a voodoo curse!
JoeFan
May 27th, 2012
11:46 am
Hope the Braves are ready for plenty of empty seats because they are on their way. People have better things to do with their time and money than waste it watching this group impersonate a major league team.
it is what it is
May 27th, 2012
11:51 am
braves trade drew sutton……296 should have made team,then he was traded to tampa bay hitting in 4th spot,went 3/5
braves call up a 32 yo catcher who has 10 ab in entire career cant hit the fences if this was softball and sign a outfielder who hits .245
bourn is gone send fat fredi and kiss all dob writer with him
it is what it is
May 27th, 2012
11:57 am
here is the deal
bourn-thinks he is hank arron when did he get a stolen base?
prado-he is cool now that mommy is here
freeman-i cant wear glasses,i cant see..wimp
uggla-strikeout or hr,yesterday 1st time all season had hit with men on
mccann-gets the flu,no one in baseball has this,hmmm too fat huh?
heyward-hey i messed up my bad,was texting about the nba.
chipper-now i can go to hooters all the time
JPatrick
May 27th, 2012
12:13 pm
Not a big Heyward fan, never have been, but that play he made (Or didn’t make) was horrible. Can you ever see Bryce Harper make a play like that? Doubtful! What is JJ status? Tehran? Maybe time to send both Heyward and Minor back to Triple A for a mental adjustment.
alex
May 27th, 2012
12:18 pm
Jeff thank you, you right on the money, by the way you remember #17 in hockey, after 10 miserably years in Atlanta sport team with just one playoff sweep, now in Stanly cup finals with n.j. and he is a key player. we just cursed in this city with stupid ownerships sports team.
chipper's ACL
May 27th, 2012
12:28 pm
Heyward should’ve been pulled for his lack of hustle. For his manager to dodge the subject and not address it at that time shows he does not posess the skills needed to manage a team. Lots of folks can make out a line up and talk to the media. Not many can manage. No excuse for this on a major league team. We need a spirited player like Harper. Like him or not he plays the game the right way.
iTiSi
May 27th, 2012
12:32 pm
“Sonny Clusters” I liked your post at 11AM. Direct and to the point, and totally accurate!
marco
May 27th, 2012
12:34 pm
Once again the team is falling apart, Heyward makes no effort and Freddie stands there with his arms crossed and does nothing-what kind of message does this send to the team?
Lack of effort by a player is inexcusible; lack of response by the manager is disgraceful.
RB
May 27th, 2012
12:57 pm
Thanks for the NBA game tonight. The Braves are not a good watch lately. If they only win with Chipper, what happens next year?
BothChipssuck.
May 27th, 2012
1:01 pm
If Larry Jones was a real stand up guy he would either take a damn pay cut, because he’s only gonna play in a quarter of the damn games anyway, or he would retire now, instead of receiving parting gifts, like he’s retiring from the post office and shyt. Damn Shame. And most of u lames will support him. He’s fucin killin us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Longtimefan
May 27th, 2012
1:01 pm
Lose six and the fair weather fans come out. And yes, some are haters who oddly seem to take more pleasure in the Braves losing than winning.
BothChipssuck.
May 27th, 2012
1:04 pm
And Heyward’s play wasnt a lack of hustle u fucin morons, it was a misplay. He misjudged the ball, as hundreds off ballplayers do every year. U clowns have no idea how the games is played because uve never played. This town is full of fans who’ve obviously never played and just feel the need to share their terrible opinion. laughable. really.
iTiSi
May 27th, 2012
1:07 pm
“Longtimefan”, if the new Titanic they’re building was leaving port today, I will bet you would be on it, wouldn’t you? Some people will just never get it!
BothChipssuck.
May 27th, 2012
1:07 pm
good ole boy networking. still stuck in the south. everywhere really. damn shame.
Larry
May 27th, 2012
1:09 pm
The way I see it is that the problem is twofold. First, our pitchers are giving up too many runs. They need to give up fewer. Second, our offense is not scoring enough. We need to score more runs. Now if you put the two together – pitchers give up fewer runs and offense scores more runs – I believe we will be more successful. I think Fredi should mention this to the team.
Therut
May 27th, 2012
1:11 pm
HoHUm, you forgot that Atlanta also lost one of their annual Nascar races. Minor belongs in the MINORS
Largo
May 27th, 2012
1:14 pm
OK Guys! We’re in good shape now. The braves signed Collin DeLome. He is a six year minor league outfielder who the Astros just RELEASED. Another great deal by our general manager?
Chris
May 27th, 2012
1:16 pm
Good article and a breath of fresh air compared to what is being written by others and coming out of the mouths of the radio/TV nitwits. No mention of small parks or other exuses. And I assume Matt Turnoff has turned off the presses for now on WS tickets. Thank You
extremus
May 27th, 2012
1:24 pm
There is definitely something causing the Atlanta Braves to be perennially snakebitten as an organization right now. It’s hard to put an exact finger on, but I believe management and ownership has a lot to do with it, along with a culture that’s frankly to laid back and dispassionate.
Look at Derek Lowe. No one here, myself included, wanted him in a Braves uniform this season, and look at what he’s doing now in Cleveland (on $10 million or whatever paid by the Braves, no less). Look at Rick Ankiel in St. Louis, or several Braves who stunk it up here only to be heavy contributors to another team’s success elsewhere. Now look at those who had success before and came to Atlanta, say Nate McLouth. Dan Uggla was unbelievably awful (save for one hot month) his first year here, and is trending back that way again. The farm system that once was “loaded” with pitching and position prospects now seems like it has no potential difference-makers within sight of the Majors (something especially telling given Jurrjens and Minor’s struggles). Jason Heyward is constantly drawing comparisons to Jeff Francoeur as a “should have been superstar” that’s looking more and more like a flash-in-the-pan, and his on-field attitude seems to be going in the wrong direction as well.
Something is wrong HERE, in THIS clubhouse, in THIS organization, that isn’t happening in successful organizations elsewhere around baseball. The Braves are trending downward as an organization, despite all their claims to the contrary. Maybe it’s a prevailing attitude or company line-spewing self-delusion, maybe it’s the culture (which looks more like the one ushered in by Eddie Haas in 1985 when he told his new team “Don’t be afraid to fail”. Maybe it’s the management that sits on its hands when it needs to act or the ownership that lives in Denver and probably attends more Rockies games. Maybe it’s a bunch of players who individually have done or could do great things elsewhere but for some reason can’t do so cohesively here. And maybe it’s just a Perfect Storm of all these things, but whatever it is, it needs to be found and rooted out for the Braves to ever see another day of true relevance in MLB.
NIck
May 27th, 2012
1:32 pm
Hey Peter…this is a article about a game…go post on a article about people who died
falconfan58
May 27th, 2012
1:45 pm
There are a couple of problems with the Braves-just a couple, but they are big ones.
1-The Braves only have average pitching. The Phillies, Nationals, and Marlins have better.
2-The Braves only have an average hitting team. The Nationals, Marlins, Phillies and Mets have better hitters.
3-The Braves have no effective bench hittlers/players and only an little better than average bullpen.
4-Manager and coaches are weak and lack experience. Example: Got to carry three catchers.
5-Minor league options are very limited in players and pitching.
TomB
May 27th, 2012
1:45 pm
Sucess starts with the general manager…just look at the Hawks. Should have done something with Jurrjens and Prado when he had the chance. Paying 10 million for Lowe to pitch lights out for Cleveland…that’s nice. We needed another good left handed starting pitcher, and good hitting outfielder. Now, we will hold our breath with upcoming McCann and Bourn decisions. Help wanted.
TenacuousD
May 27th, 2012
1:56 pm
You do realize that these are the real Braves, right. There was no way that Freeman, Heyward and Bourn could play at that pace all year. Plus, Chipper will be lucky to play in 100 games. I still say they end up closer to 100 losses than 100 wins.
From First to Fourth - EPIC COLLAPSE AGAIN!
May 27th, 2012
1:58 pm
It seems the only thing these Braves know how to do well is LOSE!!!! From First to Fourth place and all laid at the feet of the lousy manager Fredi Gonzalez….he needs to be run out of town faster than he had to leave Florida…..never has and never will be a big league manager. What a freaking waste!
Don Abernethy
May 27th, 2012
2:00 pm
I used to watch a lot of professional sports but I decided it was a waste of time so now I try to do more productive things. I still can’t get used to the high salaries they pay these players. So I really don’t care if our local teams win or loose.
Can we put Fredi on the DL?
May 27th, 2012
2:04 pm
Fredi ought to go on the DL….he is crippled too high for crutches…..
Dan
May 27th, 2012
2:11 pm
Right on, Extremus, @ 1:24 pm. The play in right field was cause for a mid inning roster change!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fredi "Don't Argue The Call" Gonzalez
May 27th, 2012
2:15 pm
Should have been out of that dugout yesterday fighting for Mike Minor. It was bad enough to hear the announcers saying McDowell went out in place of Gonzalez and rarely does that happen. However The Manager of a ball club has a responsibility to back his players up when strikes are called balls. I for one saw alot of that yesterday not that Minor should have been given a pass. Please do us a favor Fredi go fight for this club….and quit sulking on the bench like a neanderthal! Quit throwing out these excuses for poor play because right now it’s pitiful. The Nats have like 6 guys injured and they are in first place!!!! How’s that working out for us????
iTiSi
May 27th, 2012
2:28 pm
Everyone knows the Japanese are big on robots, and have made various experimental types to do the jobs humans had been doing. I am now fully convinced that the manager of the Braves is nothing more than just that. It is an experiment being conducted right under our noses by Japanese robotmakers. Therefore, the reason for the non-emotional reactions, the repetitive answers, etc. Watch his face sometimes when something out of the ordinary happens on the field. Nothing! This has to be the obvious reason.
shadetree
May 27th, 2012
2:31 pm
The Braves are tired. I mean they’ve played like 30 games in a row with no break. That’s alot. The Braves aren’t that good and they’re not this bad. I do agree though that Fredi does “just sits there”. Heywards ball is when now you pick it up and get more agressive with it. Fight thru the tired and aching bodies. Just play hard.
Stinger2
May 27th, 2012
2:32 pm
Seems like a lot of you people are down on the Braves. Has the fact that they have lost six games without a win changed any of your lives? Calm down and see what happens today. Don`t be so uptight over something you cannot control.
double
May 27th, 2012
2:57 pm
Errors & Excuses.The team makes less errors.Excuses are about the same.Hustle a word they do not know.Pitching sub-par.Hitting sub-par.Management sub-par.Payroll above avg. I would think.If they are tired now.Toward end of season they will use the bat for a cane,and the pitching will fall short of home plate.
BooBoo
May 27th, 2012
3:07 pm
I seem to remember in Spring Training they showed how ineptly they could play (1-13-2). They are just living down to expectations now.
?
May 27th, 2012
3:21 pm
AIN’T NOBODY GOING TO FIRE THE FAT BALD HEADED ILLEGAL CUBAN,HE IS BOBBY CROTCHES MAIN MAN. AND FOR MIKE MINOR HE IS A WANNA BE PITCHER. PUT THE WHOLE TEAM IN A BA SHAKE THEM ALL UP AND THEY STILL COME OUT AS DOG TURDS.
Mister Frisky
May 27th, 2012
3:24 pm
Not even 50 games in and Schultz is already preparing us for his retraction on “standing pat’.Same team as last year but older,slower,fatter.and less athletic.Last place is coming soon.
WOW
May 27th, 2012
3:29 pm
From first to worst in a week. Wow! Terrible. Tale of two teams.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…
Send Fredi to the guillotine?
WOW
May 27th, 2012
3:31 pm
Place your bets now. Check the braves sunday night ESPN record.
Common Sense
May 27th, 2012
3:48 pm
Lame @$$ Atl. Fair-weather fans. Crybabies. I will continue to watch whether they win or lose, because I have what is called long term affection for my local sporting franchises. LETS GO BRAVES TIL THE DAY I DIE
Common Sense
May 27th, 2012
3:48 pm
Not a huge Fredi Gonzalez fan though.
LWells2000
May 27th, 2012
4:18 pm
Like I said earlier….I’ll watch until they get behind. No more Braves watching during catch-up attempts. Makes the games more interesting.
Bill
May 27th, 2012
4:27 pm
The only time I’ll Tip My Cap is when Wren, Fredi and McDowell are gone.
How many millions will Wren throw away before they fire him? Its beginning to add up.ex Lowe=$10 million.
Bill
May 27th, 2012
4:29 pm
Adam Jones get new 85.5 million for 6 years with o’s.
LakeDawg
May 27th, 2012
4:58 pm
This is why I don’t consider baseball to be a sport. AT no time are they physically challenged. Never get winded, never have to suck it up. Then go on the 15 day disabled list with a BRUISE! Please. Take a damn aspirin and get out there. Chipper needs to take his own advice he gave to Heyward.
ugakev from columbus
May 27th, 2012
5:47 pm
I love Chipper but he screwed us by coming back. The injuries were inevitable and now 15 millions dollars that could have been used on a healthy young star are being compensated to Chipper Jones. This is no shot ate Chipper because he has been Mr. Brave for so long but man this hurts! Heyward is not going to get better! I just dont see it! Everytime he hits a monster shot we think he is back on track but the consistency isnt there! We need to go after Josh Hamilton in the off season! I’m tired of Cheap owners trying to put together a good a enough team to get people to watch but not good enough for championships!!!!!! Especially when the owners have the money but would rather use it on a third Beach house or tenth car they dont need!!! Atlanta doesnt deserve this crap! Fans are not stupid we see between the lines! Fredi Gonzalez is a nice guy but we are staring to see what the Marlins saw. He can not manage the game in important game situations! Maybe when or if we get healthy the outlook but wont be quite so gloomy but there is a storm brewing and it’s not Beryl!
NO O
May 27th, 2012
5:51 pm
Atlanta is Loserville simply because we can’t just can chipper because he has done so much for the team. They always want to hold on to their favorites even though they are way past their prime. Forget that we need everyday ballplayers.
Scott Brantley
May 27th, 2012
6:26 pm
I miss Bobby now more than ever. I miss seing #6 bolt from the dugout to argue at the drop of a hat if a close call goes against one of his guys. I miss hearing him chirping from the dugout non-stop. I wish he would come out of retirement and take over from FG who seems, well, indifferent.
Tdawg
May 27th, 2012
6:29 pm
Common sense you are right. I also an a Braves fan and will always be. That’s why I believe I have the right to say that they suck. Just because you are a die heart Braves fan, doesn’t mean that you have to settle or be happy with the product that management has put onto the field. I don’t like it and I will not watch such a laughable, lifeless and totally inept team. I have been watching this team sense they moved to Atlanta. I have seen some woeful Braves teams in the past, but not a one of them was as heartless as this bunch. This team has no answer to adversity other than to have their coach say. Well, ya just gotta tip your hat to them. No I don’t. I will however put the blame for a lot of these losses where they blame. On the player’s, the manager and management of he Braves. I would a heck of a lot more rather watch those lovable losers of the early years than those bunch of clueless lossers on that field today.
Heyward is what? 6′4″ 235 lbs. Will someone please tell that frigging idiot to please get the bat off of his d#mn freaking shoulders. This loon should go up there with the intentions of killing the ball if it is anywhere near the strike zone. He!! he should be a RBI man, not a walk as often as you can man. Crap all a opposing pitcher has to do is throw the first two pitches right down the pipe and that idiot will take them every time. It’s hard to hit when you limit yourself to one strike and that third strike is most often out of the strike zone. Now he will swing at a pitch out of the strike zone in a New York minute. Fool swing the dang bat. You are not good enough to take 2 strikes and still hit the ball. You’d figured by now the idiot would have figured that out all by himself by now.
Longtimefan
May 27th, 2012
6:48 pm
Some of you guys are nuts. You must have just started following the Braves after you finished pee wee league. The poster who said there was something wrong with the Braves organization must have been asleep the 14 straight years of division titles when the Braves organization was considered a model others attempted to emulate. Most of you guys really don’t have a clue. Just a bunch of angry haters. Go kick your dog again.
When will they learn?
May 27th, 2012
7:12 pm
I get so embarrased when I see dum ass fredi do nothing to secure his job or “his”team. How can such a loser be called a manager or a motivator? The Braves need a foot in the backside to rev em up. They look like they did last September. So they have injuries, and been on the road a lot…big deal. They make waaaaaaaay to much money to play like 5th graders. And the commercial says…”This is why we chop”. Yeah, right.
Don Corleone
May 27th, 2012
7:19 pm
Someone needs to light a fire under their butts. But who? Fredi doesn’t seem to know how to or have it in him.
Don Corleone
May 27th, 2012
7:22 pm
This sorry play keeps up much longer and soon Fredi will be back to coaching third base somewhere.
Rome? Mississippi?
When will they learn?
May 27th, 2012
7:22 pm
A good column JS. But I know nothing good will come of it. The higher ups are pleased, and will not rock any boat to keep this team from drowning. gonzalez couldnt manage a t-ball league, never mind none of them want him either. Many of us said at the end of last season to let him go, They didn’t listen then and they aren’t listening now. And it shows.
Don't forget
May 27th, 2012
7:26 pm
The Braves and idiot gonzalez can make fools of themselves on ESPN tonight. So all of the baseball world can see. Can it get any worse?
Jojo
May 27th, 2012
7:41 pm
OMG, will this season ever end? could we loose all the games we have left to play??? of course not. it’s still fairly early, let’s don’t get rid of everybody YET. when and if everybody gets well and back playing, then we’ll see how things play out. then we can start all over with another expansion team, new stadium, etc….
jerry
May 27th, 2012
7:41 pm
I’m just thankful the Braves didn’t play the Yankees in the ‘95 World Series. Hell, Atlanta still wouldn’t have a world champion.
Chaos
May 27th, 2012
8:33 pm
We will be OK, all you none Braves fans….Take a hike!
extremus
May 27th, 2012
9:03 pm
@ longtimefan,
Actually I’ve been following the Braves since 1982, so I’ve seen and weathered both the good and the bad. What is frustrating to me is the reality that the current Braves, on paper, have talent close to that of those great ’90s teams who ended up winning 14 straight division titles, but the results consistently come up far short of that. And yes, they’re trending down, and folks outside of the Atlanta sports journalism circle and fanbase have taken notice. Take a look at Buster Olney’s blog “A Tale of Two NL East Clubhouses” that’s up right now over at ESPN.com. Guess which club (between the Braves and the Nationals) is described as in “survival mode” and is definitely NOT “fired up” like their counterparts? Hint: It’s not the Nationals. Here’s a short exerpt (the link requires registration):
“There’s nobody dragging themselves into this clubhouse,” said Gio Gonzalez, who starts on Sunday Night Baseball against the Braves’ Brandon Beachy, in a matchup of early Cy Young candidates. “Everybody’s excited. Everybody’s fired up. You don’t see guys yawning as they’re going out to take batting practice. They’re into it.”
On the other hand, there is a completely different environment in the Braves’ clubhouse these days: They are in survival mode. –End quote
So no, “fair weather” Braves fans aren’t the only folks seeing glaring problems with this team. And if we were truly “fair weather”, most of us would’ve quit following the Braves a long time ago instead of caring enough to continue posting here. Sometimes your best friends (or fans) are the ones who tell you things straight as they are, not the ones who are all “rah rah” and spew the company line. I pull for the Braves and other Atlanta teams the same as you do; just because I criticize them when I feel it’s justified doesn’t mean I’m a troll.
BHZ
May 27th, 2012
10:08 pm
Young men probably became over-confident, and people were giving them so much love too early..
With Chipper, security in the line-up is gone..
Private lives may be a distraction at home…
Brave’s Legacy Pressure..
I always that Derrick Lowe wilted in the Atlanta Sun…He was sweating like the sprinklers were on the mound.
If you’re out of shape, and out of AC, the lack of endurance will show…Bad diets, etc..
Delbert D.
May 27th, 2012
10:32 pm
That photo of Mike Bourn brings back flashes of some of my misadventures in baseball.
OldTimer
May 27th, 2012
11:11 pm
Ownership rules all of sports. The Braves and the Hawks have jokes for owners. The Falcons on the other hand are in a quite different position. As a result, they will be getting a new stadium.
J-Man
May 28th, 2012
1:21 am
What?
TROLL PATROLL
May 28th, 2012
2:40 am
What squared?
reason
May 28th, 2012
6:48 am
The Braves as a team lack unity. Fredi maybe a good person, but as the Braves manager he lacks leadership.
Since last year, they go from hot to cold in a blink of an eye that is no way to win. They have become sappy and lazy. They repeat last year format. They have to shake up that team before it is too late, even if it means replacing Fredi. Fans are fed up with the I quite attitude of the Atlanta Braves Players. Striking out 3 or 4 times in a game can’t not be tolerated It time to let that player go. The Braves player’s, play as if their mined is somewhere else. This type of crap has being going on too long, to make excuses. What makes them tick; I do not care just want the team to play to their full pretention.
It is a shame when they depend on a breaking down 40 year old to win.
LAC
May 28th, 2012
6:49 am
Yes “freddi” Has to GO !!! Then worthless wren, they know nothing about the game. How are they where they are is Amazing, you’d think asg is in charge.
Being loyal, which the Braves are WAY too much of and WINNING are two different things,
the freddi show needs to be cancelled once and for all !!!!
Great jeff to see NO NHL coverage this season, you guys are really lost when it comes to all sports,
sec football, WHO CARES !
Tucker
May 28th, 2012
7:18 am
Toast.
James
May 28th, 2012
7:49 am
The Braves are not very good right now but hey it’s early in the season so hopefully the injuries will continue to mount and the bullpen will continue to blow games wide open and the hitting will continue to strike out.
BobbyDawg
May 28th, 2012
8:14 am
Same ole Braves!
Bob
May 28th, 2012
8:22 am
The thing the Braves lack most is heart. They don’t have enough players that hate to lose. For all of you fans who are still optimistic, this team will not be in the playoffs.
Fan of the Game
May 28th, 2012
8:24 am
Man, how did Cal Ripken make it thru the streak. I know how and how about this Harper kid. Has Hustlin Pete comeback? Watch how he plays the game Heyward and you might learn something.
Old Time Fan
May 28th, 2012
8:42 am
Just got out of Fernandino in the nick of time, lost a whole day on the beach. It is sad to watch the Braves play so lacklusterdly (is that a word?). For the poster that said Heyward did not loaf, you need to get real. Did not you see him pat himself on the chest and say “My bad”? The team is playing shorthanded now, but where is the fire and determination, surely not in the manager. He is the leader of the team and should have his players back when they need it and kick them in the backside when they need that. He is doing a poor job at both. What happened to the good at bats the team was putting up at the beginning of the season? Too many times the players are looking at good pitches going by or are caught guessing with two strikes. See the ball, hit it, don’t go up there guessing. They are also one of the worst baserunning teams I have seen, getting thrown out trying to stretch base hits with no outs, and it not even being close. Shortstop defense is killing them, the would be better off bringing up Simmons and playing the two rookies and see which one develops the best. Wilson can go, nice guy but you know where nice guys finish.
Bottom line, some guys are underachieving and the manager is in over his head, get someone in there that will push them to bust their butt and play the game like it is supposed to be played.
cloudodust
May 28th, 2012
9:33 am
The past week has caused me to flash back to the nights of 1977 when me and 5,000 other die hards showed up at AFCS to drink beer first and watch baseball second.
Go Go Pilots
May 28th, 2012
9:46 am
Well after wednesday it will 10 straight loss’s for the Inpetaturd Braves and Freddi G..Watch coach tip hat and tell AJC O’Brien we be find soon and by all star break when we 37-49…and in last place will get hear How we lost key players we lost chipper to a Hang Nail and accouncers on Sportsouth will chirp bad breaks n stuff while Tampa n Nats suprise us lead there divison’s of course followed by Baltimore and Ny Mets go figures Mets have less talent n yet they win and in 2nd place followd by Marlins and phillies we be in Last….Wren will run to dallas lookin for that pool to fall into again durin winter meetins which he did zip!Freddi the freeloader he just claim No contest soon and chipper he blame media for his hurts….and La dodgers have all ready won west now so has Texas Rangers before June1 its over now……Brewers went from playoffs to oops and Cubs well they just same as was in 1972…..and arizona no win west rockies done fire manager at all star break too!
screwball
May 28th, 2012
9:49 am
You cant count anything before the all star break.
Braves in last palce by the all star brake
May 28th, 2012
10:15 am
It becuz they have a loosing manager. I done told U this last year and everone laffed at me. I say it again this year and Shults calls me stupid. Well who is laffing now? I was rite.
Braves in last palce by the all star brake
May 28th, 2012
10:19 am
And anoter thing I aslo told U all what a looser Haywood is and U all made fun of me.
wayneone
May 28th, 2012
10:21 am
this is the least disciplined team we have had since ‘88.
Larry
May 28th, 2012
10:28 am
Anyone heard from Lewd and LoboSoDumb? Did they move to a state that will give them a marriage license?
With this manager’s ineptitude, Chipper sucking the financial life out of this club collecting 14 million on the DL, Heyward an obvious bust, a host of free-swinging, guess hitting hacks in the line-up, and now both starting and relief pitching AWOL, and with first place now permanently in the rear view mirror, it’s time for me to say…
Turn out the lights
the party’s over
they say that all
good things must end
Call it a night
the party’s over
and tomorrow starts
that same old thing again
Vicki
May 28th, 2012
10:34 am
I agree with Harpie. It takes more than 3 good players to make a good team-Play ball guys! Fredi needs to put a fire under this team or else we need a new Manager. Fredi didn’t make it in Florida and I don’t think he is going to make it in Atlanta either. The players and the manager need to quit making excuses.
Brad
May 28th, 2012
11:12 am
EXCEPT FOR NO OFFENSE, POOR DEFENSE AND POOR PITCHING , THE BRAVES LOOK GREAT. UNTIL THE GAME STARTS, THE BRAVES EVEN LOOK LIKE A MAJOR LEAGUE TEAM. THEN THE GAME STARTS ABD THE BRAVES STRIKEOUTS BEGIN. HINSKE ONLY STRUCT OUT FOUR TIMES YESTERDAY BUT THAT IS BECAUSE HE ONLY CAME TO BAT FOUR TIMES. WHAT A PLAYER11
Scott
May 28th, 2012
11:23 am
Seven in a row. Seriously? Wonder how the Braves will find another loss today?
JAXDAWG
May 28th, 2012
11:27 am
Hematoma is a word. Fredi needs to go another clueless pitching change. I don’t understand why Livan Hernandez or Chad Durbin are on major league rosters. There has to be someone else.
BooBoo
May 28th, 2012
11:50 am
I watched a few minutes of Sunday’s loss, and in the 9th inning the broadcaster said, “Hinske’s been waiting all night to finally get a chance to bat against a right-handed pitcher, and here’s Davy Johnson making a change.” I turned the game off at that point. The game was over. There is never any fight in these Braves, and Davy Johnson knew it. He was changing pitchers just to show Freddie Gonzales the reason they actuall pay managers (rather than charge them for season tickets to sit in the dougout) is they manage games, even in losses. Gonzales only “closes the barn door after the cows have gone,” when someone says, “Can’t you smell that Freddie?” If they keep Freddie, I hope they can lose 120 games this year and start to rebuild like Washington has. PPS: I would much rather have Michael Bourne in CF than ex-wildthang pitcher Rick “Stick another roid needle in my hind end” Ankiel. That guy makes Dave Kingman look like a Hall of Famer.
nashvillewill
May 28th, 2012
12:44 pm
Heyward should have been benched – his “play” and the non-response to it tell you all you need to know about this team. No fire, no energy, no enthusiasm, and no consequences. Since payroll is always an issue with ownership the only options seem to be to promote from within the organization. Braves minor leaguers are showing promise – Simmons and Betencourt in AA, and in Gwinnett Parraz, Mejia (36 rbi), Constanza, Durango (22 Sb’s), and Gartell (11 HR’s). Gearrin has a miniscule ERA and seems to have worked out his issues; Redmond and Carlyle have been effective. How about some shuffling – release Hinske, Diaz, and Wilson, they bring no hitting and Wilson’s defense could be replaced with Simmons. Send down Venters to work on his control. Release Livan. Make some moves, show some life.
Pete
May 28th, 2012
1:02 pm
The Braves are a collection of very AVERAGE players. Average.
Nothing about this team get’s you excited or believing that they are a post season contender. Stale, lackluster, leaderless, mostly overpaid non performers.
Mediocre at best.
thankswren
May 28th, 2012
1:25 pm
But we’ve had injuries – So has every other major league team
But it rained and the ball slipped – Rains on both teams
But Wren waved the majic wand and being a genius last years losers with pixie dust were gonna be better this year – Right
C.L.
May 28th, 2012
2:32 pm
The last 2 games I’ve seen Hansen pitch his effort fielding the ball and basic effort in the field stinks. It has cost him big time in both of those games. You would think that a pitcher who doesn’t have over powering stuff would bust his fanny fielding his position and try not to give 4 &5 outs an inning at times. It’s very frustrating to constantly her all these accolades about him and he struggles to go 5 innings on most of his starts. Effort and hustle can make it palatable in rough times.Disgusted
J Harris
May 28th, 2012
2:43 pm
The Braves have hit a wall. I thought they may have turned a corner when they took 2 out 3 from Tampa Bay Rays. They need to go out a spend some money. Chipper is always banged up. I would relegate him to a pinch hitter or a defensive replacement and get a third baseman or infielder with some put who can bang out 40-50 homers. Jason Heyward has not pivoted to be a superstar. I don’t know if the Braves should trade him or let him stay. It seems like everytime a Braves player is traded, they do better somewhere else. Not a huge fan of Freddie Gonzales. I don’t see the anger and passion and the killer instinct in them. I would have yanked Heyward out of the line up when he lazily got the ball the other game which caused the runner to go to second. I would have yanked Hudson after he walked the pitcher with opened up the floodgates.
Remember Sugar Bear Blanks
May 28th, 2012
2:47 pm
The Braves are a dull team. No spark. No hustle. No nothing. The Rays and Nationals hustle and they look like they actually like playing baseball. College baseball is much better than the so-called major leagues.
DITTOS
May 28th, 2012
4:10 pm
It’s time for somebodies head to roll!! This is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!!
David S.
May 28th, 2012
4:19 pm
All you cry baby bitches that are already giving up on this season… Shut the HELL UP!!! Please… There is a whole lot of ball still to be played.. yes there are some issues… # 1 is pitching… Delgado has all the tools… Kind of reminds me of Pedro Martinez with his delivery… damn sure doesnt have his mind… Minor needs to decide if this is what he wants to do for a living… Shultz nailed it with this article.. but you typical front running fans of Atlanta is just sad!! Some things never change and when these Braves get back on track you all will be the same people giving them praise…
Dick
May 28th, 2012
4:51 pm
Looks like there’s soon to be 2 noteable jalopies in the Atlanta area.
Scott Brantley
May 28th, 2012
6:24 pm
EIGHT IS ENOUGH!
Rt
May 28th, 2012
7:07 pm
David S. you must be watching a different team!!!!!!!!!!!
BobDawg
May 28th, 2012
10:26 pm
I don’t see the Chicago Cubs fans throwing their team under the bus…. Maybe the gravy train fans can all “exit left” and let the few diehards enjoy the season… this is just a streak and will go away as all do…
D-bo
May 29th, 2012
12:42 am
Time to get rid of McDowell, and fredi g should be on the hot seat, considering the end of last season.
Limbo Joe
May 29th, 2012
12:46 am
How low can you go?!?! The Cubs have gone under the 12-loss streak bar. Braves, can you limbo?
James scores 32 as Heat run past Celtics in Game 1 – Atlanta Journal Constitution | The Time of Press
May 29th, 2012
7:18 am
[...] Braves suddenly lack pitching, defense and a clue [...]
Kelley Ledbetter
May 29th, 2012
8:02 am
What the braves need is a manager like Billy Martin. Sure he was a drinker and hell raiser but he got the job done. Every where he went he was a winner NY Detroit
Minnesoto (I think). Let’s face the facts Atlanta is losersville, USA. That is the reason I do not spend my money to go see the braves play. Why waste your money.
Cecil34
May 29th, 2012
9:14 am
The Tim Tucker interview with Terry McGuirk in the off-season said it all to me concerning the Braves and their ownership.
That article pretty much did it for me as far as following the Braves and spending any money on them.
what of it?
May 29th, 2012
10:05 am
at least someone is willing to call a spade, a spade
Braves Fan
May 29th, 2012
10:19 am
Good lord – hit a skid and everyone is off the bandwagon. The teams in Atlanta aren’t the issue – it’s the lousy fans.
BTW Jeff – the throw from venters was OK – Hinske missed it – it was not wide of first base.
Joel
May 29th, 2012
10:24 am
I just want a legit apology from someone with the Braves. They don’t connect with their fan base anymore. They collect their $$ and they don’t seem to care about the fan who pays thier bills. I saw all those people in the seats this weekend and I felt bad for them having to sit in that heat and tolerate this BS. Heyward sucks! I tried to buy some Braves gear from local stores for my little newborn boy. They all are Heyward jerseys and some McCann. WTF? McCann has been the man in the past (ok with him for now) but Heyward is a BUST! I am 36 years old and have been to see them every year of my life. Not this year. I will not go back until they win a NL title. Wild card doesn’t count.
Double Zero Eight
May 29th, 2012
10:39 am
S.O.S. The ghost of the Titanic has
resurfaced. Man the lifeboats.
Here it is....
May 29th, 2012
11:07 am
Yep, here we go again….year, after year, after year…nothing ever changes with this organization! The front office is awful…They don’t have a clue about putting a great team on the field. They just want to sell you expensive tickets! hahaha…keep buying um…see where that gets you….haha…Its been this way for YEARS…even with Booby Cox. He messed up so many Championship teams….and only won 1..sad whats going on in Atlanta…When is this city going to demand changes in ALL sports??
Milburn Drysdale
May 29th, 2012
11:13 am
I agree with an earlier post that said Derrick Lowe is a cool weather pitcher. Once it hit 90 degrees you could just see all of his energy getting zapped. I believe Hanson is the same way. Starts getting a little hot, and ERA starts going up. Not very good for pitchers in HotLanta.
DZ
May 29th, 2012
11:57 am
You left out the Hanson/Hinske/Uggla I-got-it/you-take-it grounder that turned into an infield single and led to a 4-run 3rd inning that basically ended the game.
If I was the manager of this team, after that play, I would’ve gone to the mound and called the whole infield in and read them the riot act.
Fredi is too nice. He has no fire.
Roscoe P. Coltrain
May 29th, 2012
2:00 pm
What’s this? The Braves suck? Heck, just last week they were the best team in the NL.
This is what breeds haters. When they are winning, the whole organization is the most well run in baseball. The media and the fans in this town swoon at how great the Braves are and Chipper is on his way to the HOF.
Then when the true side of the team is exposed (mediocrity) all of you start boo-hooing. After 17 years of this dopey cycle…it just gets old watching them lose dramatically with that Ol’ Bobby Cox formula.
Clean house. Completely. And please do not bring back Jones to be a coach. Enough already…
mediocrity continues...
May 29th, 2012
3:49 pm
Know why they don’t have a “clue”? Start with the doof in the dugout filling out the lineup card. Is there a clause built into his contract for tipping his cap? Pathetic…
Go get Joe Maddon when this season is over.
mediocrity continues...
May 29th, 2012
3:57 pm
Right Milburn… Because there were no Cy Youngs in “Hotlanta” in the 90’s. Great point sir.
Paul In Richmond
May 29th, 2012
4:03 pm
The entire team has turned into Larry Jones. Part time players. Ill, whining and hurt. Playing in fits and jerks instead of putting a consistent game on the field.
smooth
May 29th, 2012
5:13 pm
Jeff, you need to move to NY or some other dirty place, you don’t belong here and have no idea what you are talking about. Get out of town bum!
John A.
May 30th, 2012
2:14 pm
Jeff, don’t you think it’s time to focus on John S., he is the President, and the one responsible for hiring Frank Wren. If I were the President (and the man responsible for the 14 in a row) I would taking that guy to the woodshed for making me look bad. Obviously John no longer cares what is going on with the team, or has decided to just draw a paycheck.
If John no longer shares the interest of the fans the least he could do is retire and go fishing.
johnny 99
May 31st, 2012
1:25 am
Schultz = moron. every week it’s a new article on how great the team is, then how awful, then how he was wrong, then how he was right, and on, and on and on. every year since 2007. just go write about the falcons and college sports, where no one cares that your last original idea was to grow facial hair when you went bald.
SR
June 1st, 2012
11:16 pm
It’s Wren that’s the moron- just saw Melky Cabrera triple to the deepest part of AT & T park here in SF which is not easy to do. Another multiple hit game for this dude, who the Braves gave up on way to frickin early by releasing him no less, didn’t get jack for him and the dude has raked ever since, hitting about .375. WREN = MORON, MORON, MORON.
We give you odds on Braves', Falcons' or Hawks' title parade | Jeff Schultz
June 5th, 2012
2:22 pm
[...] have been really good (25-15) and really bad (eight-game losing streak). The issue is not talent but chemistry. We’ve seen that they’re a different team when Chipper [...]