LIVE: Ailing Braves try to end skid against Strasburg
The Braves hope to break out of a slump today but will face Washington's young fireballer, Stephen Strasburg (AP photo).
The Braves are not completely devoid of positive signs these days. It’s just that after starting the season 22-13 and beginning to take the form of a wrecking ball, there has been a market correction.
And the question is: How ugly will this get?
Losers of five straight games and faced with the prospects of missing Chipper Jones for another several games, the Braves face the Washington Nationals today (4 p.m.).
Mike Minor (2-4, 6.96) — who allowed four home runs in his last start and generally has been a mess for the past month — will be opposed by Stephen Strasburg (4-1, 2.21). So much for positive foreshadowing.
It’s only late May. The Braves are two games out of first place, and trail
Mike Minor has allowed 31 runs and 11 homers in his last five starts. (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)
a team (Nationals) who don’t exactly have a resume of Octobers behind them. So it’s hardly panic time. But yes, there is concern.
The positives: Martin Prado (.333) is on a tear. Michael Bourn (.307 with 13 stolen bases) is still doing his part. Dan Uggla (.256, 6 homers, 25 RBI) is fine.
But overall, the team is struggling to come up with key base hits — they stranded eight base runners in Friday’s 7-4 loss, including six in the first three innings — and the starting pitching has fallen off. Then there are the individuals:
• Jones was put on the 15-day disabled list after Friday’s game, retroactive to his pinch-hitting appearance Wednesday. His contused left calf is still to painful to play on and the Braves needed his roster spot because . . .
• No. 2 catcher David Ross suffered a minor groin strain Friday and will miss at least a few games. The Braves recalled J.C. Boscan, who will start today. Ross was playing because . . .
• Starting catcher Brian McCann is still weak from the flu. He replaced Ross in the game but by late in the evening felt sapped of energy. There’s a chance he could start Sunday night.
• First baseman Freddie Freeman is struggling with blurred vision and is adjusting to new contact lenses. Freeman’s batting average is down to .247, which isn’t much higher than Jason Heyward’s .239. Stating the obvious: The Braves can’t succeed with those two hitting at that level.
The Braves, only 4-8 since that 22-13 start, need a strong effort from Minor, who hasn’t had a quality start since winning at Los Angeles 4-3 April 24 (six innings, three runs, eight hits). In five starts since, he has allowed 31 earned runs, 37 hits and 11 home runs in 26 2/3 innings (10.46 ERA).
Sometimes in sports, teams win games they’re not necessarily expected to win. The Braves better hope that’s the case today.
And now, the cyber floor is yours. We’ll be live blogging from the first pitch.
By Jeff Schultz
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234 comments Add your comment
Hillbilly D
May 26th, 2012
3:10 pm
And just a couple of weeks ago they were being anointed as the greatest thing since sliced bread. It’s baseball, you have your ups and downs.
falconsrus
May 26th, 2012
3:11 pm
nice assesment Jeff maybe we need to get a rubber chicken to counter the nats
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
3:15 pm
Falconsrus — Or sacrifice a chicken.
Pepe Frias played here.
May 26th, 2012
3:16 pm
They recalled Boscan ? oy……….
Why didnt they call up Gaitis ?
I swear, the management of this team amazes me.
tulsabravo
May 26th, 2012
3:20 pm
Yea, that pinch-hit appearance by Chipper sure seems well thought out now. Sorry, but this is a .500 team at best, and unfortunately, they’ll be there soon.
falconsrus
May 26th, 2012
3:27 pm
The nats sacrificed a rubber chicken the other day it seemed to help them now we need to counter lol
Hillbilly D
May 26th, 2012
3:27 pm
They recalled Boscan ? oy……….
Why didnt they call up Gaitis ?
I believe Boscan was already on the 40 man and Gaitis isn’t. Simple as that.
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
May 26th, 2012
3:28 pm
The Braves R domed. When UR best palyer is a 50 yer old hooters prevert who is alwyas injrued U no U R in truble.
falconsrus
May 26th, 2012
3:28 pm
Gattis has a wrist tendonitis problem the braves are gonna go on a tear in june onwward and upward
Braves in last palce by the all star brake
May 26th, 2012
3:32 pm
Mark my words
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
3:35 pm
Forgot to mention the “interesting” lineup decision today: Tyler Pastornicky batting second, Prado third. … With McCann/Chipper out, its: Bourn-Pastornicky-Prado-Uggla-Freeman-Heyward-Francisco-Boscan-Minor.
Quack Quack
May 26th, 2012
3:37 pm
Now now, we’ve only just begun. Lets hope Minor has read all the articles comparing him with Glavin. Maybe this will be his game changer. By the way Jeff, I’ve already sacrificed the chicken, and it will be on the grill before the games over. Who knows.
GO BRAVES!! FW…sign Bourn……give Prado a raise!! Pray for health!!
Bravissimo
May 26th, 2012
3:39 pm
they definitly might be in last “palce”{whatever that is} but not last place…hows the food looking there Jeff?
Quack Quack
May 26th, 2012
3:40 pm
Yeah Jeff wondered about that as well. My guess is that maybe Prado will have some base runners for all his doubles and triples of late.
falconsrus
May 26th, 2012
3:43 pm
I like the way Fredi shook up the line up
Braves in last palce by the all star brake
May 26th, 2012
3:43 pm
Why is Freman still in the lineup if he cant see? Or maybe its just a BS ecxuse for him suxing at the plate.
Braves in last palce by the all star brake
May 26th, 2012
3:43 pm
Why is Freman still in the lineup if he cant see? Or maybe its just a BS ecxuse for him suxing at the plate.
Larry
May 26th, 2012
3:47 pm
This is one of those periods where having a genuine, MLB quailty manager help navigate his team through troubled waters.
It’s easy being a baseball manger when Beachy is pitching a shutout and/or the hitters are all in sync; however, times like now it is most obvious the unproven Cox offspring handed this team is just way in over his head. Indeed a nice man and the players like FG but his aptitude ceiling showing its ugly face right now.
Larry
May 26th, 2012
3:50 pm
Actually, I’ve been telling you for days Prado should bat third…he’s our best hitter and your best hitter should be batting third.
Why is this “interesting” to you Jeff? This is one thing correct that FG is doing.
keepinitreal
May 26th, 2012
3:55 pm
What the lineup lacks is a difference maker. Bourn is arguably the only guy who could be considered one. McCann can’t be considered one because of the position he plays. Chipper can’t be considered one when he’s only out there about half the time. Freeman and Uggla are solid players at this point, nothing more.
I said before the year that Heyward was the key to the entire season. With his blend of power and patience, he could and should be the anchor of the lineup. And early on, it appeared that’s what he was going to be. But he’s reverted back to his bad habits from 2011, and the entire team is suffering the consequences.
Of course it’s not all Jason’s fault, but I feel he’s the one guy who could transform the lineup if he could ever figure it out.
Pepe Frias played here.
May 26th, 2012
3:57 pm
Boscan is not on the 40-man roster and he isnt even hitting his weight .
Gaitis has 14 homers at Mississippi.
Like i said , the management of this team amazes me.
iTiSi
May 26th, 2012
3:57 pm
The question is WHY did the Braves call JC Boscan up instead of the younger but very good Yepez? Boscan is hitting .192 at Gwinnett with only 12 RBIs. He’s only 20 for 104 with 37 Ks. Don’t expect any help from him offensively, WHICH IS WHERE THE BRAVES NEED HELP NOW! Somebody tell Dr. Fredi Gonzalez that! Yepez was 2 for 2 last night and is hitting .275. I know just does not make sense!
JoeFan
May 26th, 2012
4:00 pm
The Braves have a couple of open spots on the 40 man roster. They could have easily called up Bethancourt. Boscan is a weak hitter. Almost like giving the oppostion multiple outs with him and the pitcher batting. Braves management is painful to watch.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
4:01 pm
Bravissimo — I had 2 small scoops of tuna and a salad, thanks for asking.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
4:01 pm
Quack Quack — Yep. He’s one of only guys hitting so might as well put him in a spot where he can drive in runs.
falconsrus
May 26th, 2012
4:01 pm
I feel it coming J Hey picks it up in June I like Marteen in the three hole with the Pastor at two
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
4:02 pm
Larry — I don’t see Pastornicky as a No. 2 hitter, but late in order, but I understand options are limited.
iTiSi
May 26th, 2012
4:04 pm
Since FG is so good at diagnosing the flu, maybe he is in the wrong profession. He should have been a doctor instead of a baseball manager, that’s for sure. It’s so obvious he is part of the problem and not part of the solution with his asinine decisions.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
4:06 pm
Late lineup change — Eric Hinske plays first, replacing Freeman. No explanation.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
4:09 pm
There goes the no-hitter. …. Espinosa bloop double to lead off.
iTiSi
May 26th, 2012
4:09 pm
No Freeman, no BMac, no CJ, and a catcher that cannot hit. Looks like another “giveaway” game. I will go ahead and mark this one down as a loss, no use in waiting. FF said last night he had been seeing 2 baseballs. Wouldn’t that be even better? Just pick one out and hit it. Odds are 50/50 you’ll get the right one. If you get real lucky and hit both of them, then you’ll really confuse them.
Ralph
May 26th, 2012
4:10 pm
Ball game!
Ralph
May 26th, 2012
4:10 pm
I said it First.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
4:14 pm
iTiSi — Using that logic, a guy could hit .500. That would work.
iTiSi
May 26th, 2012
4:16 pm
Ralph, check my post at 4:09, as I do believe I beat you by one minute. Sorry!
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
4:16 pm
And there’s one.
Hillbilly D
May 26th, 2012
4:17 pm
The Braves’ web site says he’s on the 40 man (if he wasn’t he couldn’t be in the game). The transaction list says he was called up, not that they purchased the contract, so he was already on it.
iTiSi
May 26th, 2012
4:18 pm
JS, well yes, I do see your point, but I was thinking of FF usually making contact.
Hillbilly D
May 26th, 2012
4:22 pm
The Braves have a couple of open spots on the 40 man roster. They could have easily called up Bethancourt.
That’s true but when you call up a guy who hasn’t been up before, that starts the Free Agent/Arbitration clocks running. Teams often shy away from that so they can maintain another year of team control.
robert todd
May 26th, 2012
4:22 pm
Jeff,how is Minor still in Atlanta?If he was a righty he would be in Rome!!!!!!!!!!
iTiSi
May 26th, 2012
4:24 pm
My weather channel temp page says it’s 91 in Atlanta right now, so I’m thinking at least half those people sitting out there in that hot sun must have purchased their tickets well in advance of the current doldrums. Otherwise they would be elsewhere. BTW, if BMac is feeling as bad as Joe and Chip was just saying(they gave him a pity party on air) what is he doing sitting out there in the hot sun? Why is he not in the clubhouse watching on TV?
Bill Donohoo
May 26th, 2012
4:25 pm
Uggla is his usual, many SOLO HRs, many after the Braves are far behind in late innings. Strikes out with less than 2 outs and a man on third. Somebody needs to research the number of 1. solo HRs 2 number of solo HRs after game out of hand 3. number of 2 run HRs and 3 run HRs. 256 is not fine for a “RBI’ man. Maybe I am wrong but it sure seems Uggla is not “clutch”
Until Minor develops good breaking ball he will continue to have difficulty. He gets behind too often and does not show confidence.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
4:25 pm
Robert — He had 3 pretty good starts in a row early in season. They’re not ready to jump ship yet.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
4:35 pm
Geez. Minor is toast. Espinosa hits 3-run shot on 1st pitch after Minor allows hard single by Strasburg. Nationals 4-0.
Fredi Kruger
May 26th, 2012
4:39 pm
Mike “Batting Practice” Minor
FSUBrave
May 26th, 2012
4:39 pm
this team sucks…takers on if the braves will be in the cellar by all star break?
Brian
May 26th, 2012
4:40 pm
Unreal…….shooting for 6 losses in a row! Come on guys!!!
Plate Appearance
May 26th, 2012
4:42 pm
LOWE
I’ll bet Wren wishes he now had D. Lowe back!
I know I wish Lowe were back, the way he’s been pitching for the Indians.
bronkelliott
May 26th, 2012
4:43 pm
Are they booing the Braves yet? This is a joke, sorry to see the once noble Braves reduced to dust by the likes of Cincinnati and Washington!
TURTSNAP
May 26th, 2012
4:43 pm
No Minor to the rescue, but hell atleast Glavine can relate!!!
I’m here at the game. With no Chipper, McCann or Freeman, and an ineffective pitcher on the hill….. Can’t help but wonder if I could get a 40% refund on my tickets!!!
After today 3-9 in the division! Gotta love it!!!!
So, if we are pitching rich, why does Minor toe the rubber every fifth day?????
59bulldawg
May 26th, 2012
4:43 pm
He needs to go down to the minors and work things out. He’s stinking up the joint yet again.
ACE
May 26th, 2012
4:44 pm
You just have to tip your cap and believe the back of the bubble gum card.
G
May 26th, 2012
4:44 pm
Still trying to see where everyone was seeing a team that could win consistently. Everyone talking about how great the pitching is. This staff was not good entering the season. What did everyone expect?
Mike
May 26th, 2012
4:45 pm
This is why I love Minor’s games. I go and move my car and check on the grill and bam! 4-0.
ACE
May 26th, 2012
4:45 pm
It is time to give Tehran a chance. Could he do any worse.
Adam
May 26th, 2012
4:45 pm
Why the change from Minor’s first few starts? Is it his mechanics?
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
4:46 pm
Turtsnap — Still time to buy some 50-50 tickets. Maybe you can win the jackpot.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
4:47 pm
And the wind cries: Juan Francisco. 4-1 with 2 in scoring position for Boscan.
ACE
May 26th, 2012
4:49 pm
The braves can’t win on Mondays, can’t win on GIVE AWAY days and now can’t win when Minor pitches. Time to do something even if it’s wrong.
Adam
May 26th, 2012
4:52 pm
Got 2 back, it’s a start on what should be a painful game
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
4:53 pm
For those wondering about potential starting pitchers in Gwinnett — and you know who you are — Todd Redmond and Julio Teheran each have started 9 games. Redmond is 4-3, 2.63; Teheran is 4-2, 2.98.
bronkelliott
May 26th, 2012
4:56 pm
The Braves will have to score at least 8 or 9 runs if Minor stays in the game. They need an offensive miracle to win this one. Although Straussburg doesn’t look invincible!
ACE
May 26th, 2012
4:59 pm
Thanks for the info Jeff. Looks like time to give those guys a shot.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
5:00 pm
No runs. Kegger!
Plate Appearance
May 26th, 2012
5:01 pm
HOME RUNS
It’s the home runs more than anything that have killed Minor — and are killing the Braves.
TURTSNAP
May 26th, 2012
5:02 pm
Good one Jeff, my son just said the same thing.
So….. Why not give Tehran the chance? Is it simply because the Braves are too proud to admit drafting Minor number 1 might’ve been a mistake? They just had to admit signing Kawakami was a mistake!
Sonny Clusters
May 26th, 2012
5:06 pm
We was hoping we was wrong about Chipper being on the DL in May but here it is happening right in front of us. Jeff, when is a losing streak EPIC like the EPIC Collapse? We was wondering what the difference is if they can’t win no matter what they do? One more question, if you was Fredi would you do anything different?
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
5:07 pm
Turtsnap: 2 possible reasons: 1) They still think Minor will come around; 2) Teheran wasn’t ready last time they tried him so he’s no certainty.
Braves in last palce by the all star brake
May 26th, 2012
5:10 pm
mark my wrods
Biff Pocoroba
May 26th, 2012
5:10 pm
Scotty McCreery is doing the postgame concert and was a good pitcher in high school. Why not give him a shot today since he can’t do any worse than Minor?
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
5:10 pm
Clusters — I was thinking we’re a long way from “epic.”
Braves in last palce by the all star brake
May 26th, 2012
5:11 pm
THis blog suxs just like the Braves it wont let me post N E thing
ACE
May 26th, 2012
5:13 pm
I bet Niekro would be good for a few innings.
Braves in last palce by the all star brake
May 26th, 2012
5:14 pm
My favroite potatoe chips R actualy Doritos.
ACE
May 26th, 2012
5:14 pm
Larry DL Jones.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
5:14 pm
“Braves in last palce by the all star brake” — You didn’t have any comments flagged by spam, so maybe they just spontaneously combusted for being stupid or bad spelling.
Sonny Clusters
May 26th, 2012
5:16 pm
We thought we’d do some research to see what we’re dealing with here. Flu symptoms include:
A 100oF or higher fever or feeling feverish (not everyone with the flu has a fever), A cough and/or sore throat, A runny or stuffy nose, Headaches and/or body aches, Chills, Fatigue Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. WE WOULD BAN ALL HUGGING until this has passed.
bulldogbubba
May 26th, 2012
5:18 pm
Clusters- Do you think we could get some Panther players to fill the holes while these guys are out of the line-up.Maybe having some “winners” on the team will help the morale. Oh , the flags in the Orange Jungle are for “real” championships!
Braves in last palce by the all star brake
May 26th, 2012
5:19 pm
Dont call me stupid.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
5:20 pm
Minor threw 46 pitches (4 runs) in first 2 innings, 24 pitches (0 runs, 1 hit) in next two.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
5:22 pm
Time out for this out-of-town pitching line: Derek Lowe vs. White Sox today: 2.1 IP 10 H, 8 ER, 3 Ks, 0 BB
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
5:23 pm
Guys (and gals) … Straburg not looking that great. Has walked 3 of last 4 batters. Up to 69 pitches with none out in 4th.
Onion & Apple Soup
May 26th, 2012
5:23 pm
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
5:14 pm
“Braves in last palce by the all star brake” — You didn’t have any comments flagged by spam, so maybe they just spontaneously combusted for being stupid or bad spelling.
Schultz, are you always this classy?
TURTSNAP
May 26th, 2012
5:24 pm
What level is last years number 1 playing, and how is he doing? And how is that catcher that they are now grooming to be a LF doing?
bulldogbubba
May 26th, 2012
5:25 pm
I Lowe done the year?
Sonny Clusters
May 26th, 2012
5:25 pm
Yes, there was no fake banners in Growing Gwinnett. When we won a championship everybody knew it was real. If we finished first in the division we were just happy – we didn’t put up any fake little signs in the outfield. If we ever put up a sign for getting the wild card the last day Coach would have gone crazy.
iTiSi
May 26th, 2012
5:25 pm
SC, no one has said BMac had the “flu” except Dr. Fredi Gonzalez. Everyone else said “flu-like symptoms”, whatever that is. I would like to know the difference in the two.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
5:25 pm
Onion and Apple Soup — Pretty much.
ACE
May 26th, 2012
5:26 pm
That is the Derek Lowe we all know and love. That is what we want for our 10 Million.
Biff Pocoroba
May 26th, 2012
5:28 pm
Pinch hit for Minor here and try and take the lead. He always runs out of gas in the fifh and gets knocked out anyway. I wish that Fredi had a clue what he was doing.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
5:28 pm
Agggggggggggh.
Braves in last palce by the all star brake
May 26th, 2012
5:29 pm
Would U say that 2 my face Shultz? If so let meat somewere so U can say that 2 my face. R U brave enuff?
TURTSNAP
May 26th, 2012
5:29 pm
Why in the heck do you swing? Bunt with 2 strikes. 1st and 3rd, no out….. And nothing!
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
5:30 pm
Biff — was thinking same thing on using PH. That’s why he was going sacrifice route (until there were 2 strikes).
iTiSi
May 26th, 2012
5:31 pm
JS, sounds to me like he wants to have “lunch” with you.
TURTSNAP
May 26th, 2012
5:32 pm
But even with 2 strikes, against Strasburg, bunt again. Miss it you K and Bourn still gets a chance!
bucket
May 26th, 2012
5:32 pm
This team is almost unwatchable right now. You have 1st and 3rd with no outs and the rookie swings on a 2-0 count and pops up. Then Minor can’t get a bunt down before he hits into a DP. This team looks very similar to the team that fell apart in September last year.
bronkelliott
May 26th, 2012
5:33 pm
Now now fellas let’s behave. Let’s be good ponies and keep our focus on the game not each other : )
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
5:33 pm
Sure. There’s a Waffle House on Holcomb Bridge Road near 400. Meet me there at 6.
ACE
May 26th, 2012
5:36 pm
Chances lost for scoring runs are like losing games in April and May they still hurt come september.
bronkelliott
May 26th, 2012
5:36 pm
Waffle House does have a bad reputation for that sort of thing!
ACE
May 26th, 2012
5:36 pm
There is some Hustle maybe the braves take note.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
5:37 pm
Heyward compounds error with lackadaisical pick up… Bryce Harper goes to second. Crowd lets Heyward hear it with boos.
Bob from Cobb
May 26th, 2012
5:38 pm
And Minor is still pitching in the MAJORS for WHAT REASON? Mike Minor is so bad,My GRANDMOTHER could beat him. And she’s been dead since 1985! Send him to Gwinnett and let him get his head on straight on YESTERDAY!
ACE
May 26th, 2012
5:40 pm
Even the umps hate Minor.
bucket
May 26th, 2012
5:41 pm
In Minor’s defense, he is getting squeezed by the home plate umpire this inning.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
5:42 pm
Laroche out saves Heyward from costing team a run (or 2).
truth5
May 26th, 2012
5:43 pm
Like usualy, Minors 1 bad inning will cost us the game. Other than that 1 inning, he has looked fine. Boscan really hurt him last inning. 2 men on base with 0 outs, 2-0 count and he pops up ball 3. I dont care if he has previous major league experience or not, the guy is batting .190 in the minors, and this team needs all the offense it can get. Why not bring up the other minor league catcher batting over .300, makes no since. This organization doesn’t care about winning.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
5:49 pm
Strasburg over 90 pitches.
ACE
May 26th, 2012
5:49 pm
one bad inning seems to be the story every game lately.
ACE
May 26th, 2012
5:50 pm
Uggla Uggla Uggla
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
5:51 pm
Uggggy …. 3-1 pitch just clears wall and leaping Harper in left-center. We’re tied 4-4.
ACE
May 26th, 2012
5:51 pm
Back to even, now don’t give the runs back next inning
Minor & fredi
May 26th, 2012
5:52 pm
Guess someone talked to fredi the freeloader about trying to show some interest in the ballgame he is SUPPOSED to be managing. At least he’s not sitting in the dugout with this head down. Now, onto Minor. Why do we keep dragging him out to pitch? Anybody can see he needs help. But instead he drowns out there and is as miserable as we are. Is there nobody to pump this this team up or are we starting to be an embarasment all ready?
ACE
May 26th, 2012
5:52 pm
Get the pen ready.
bucket
May 26th, 2012
5:53 pm
Thank God Uggla got it done before the rally killer Hinske got to the plate. If you have to play Hinske, why do you bat him 5th? Hinske killed a rally earlier doing the same thing Boscan did. He swung at a 2-0 pitch and hit a weak grounder to third.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
5:53 pm
Medlen in for Minor.
ACE
May 26th, 2012
5:53 pm
Minor will get a NO decision.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
5:54 pm
Minor allowed 4 runs, 4 hits, 1 homer in 1st 2 innings, threw 3 shutout innings on 2 hits after.
bronkelliott
May 26th, 2012
5:54 pm
Here comes a hold your breath inning!
ACE
May 26th, 2012
5:55 pm
Here we go again.
Bob from Cobb
May 26th, 2012
5:55 pm
And Minor is still pitching in the MAJORS for WHAT REASON? Seriously. Send him to Gwinnett until he can get his head on straight. And while we’re at it,do the same with Randel del Gado. Is J.J. ready to come back,yet?
ACE
May 26th, 2012
5:58 pm
J.J. is far from ready. He will be the highest paid minor leaguer just like KK.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
6:00 pm
Chad Tracy hits double but he’ll be coming out…pulled up lame go to 2nd.
ACE
May 26th, 2012
6:00 pm
looks like MO is back with the Nats.
truth5
May 26th, 2012
6:00 pm
medlen sucks too.Should have ran Minor one more inning, then pinch hit for him.
TURTSNAP
May 26th, 2012
6:01 pm
Well atleast all those crying for Medlen to start can shut up. He hasnt looked good his last 2-3 outings
kerryb
May 26th, 2012
6:01 pm
Man, what has happened to our pitching?. Offense keeps scoring at least 4 runs a game. That would have been great last year. This year our pitching is giving up more than 5 runs a game.
bronkelliott
May 26th, 2012
6:02 pm
Who would have thought that the Braves pitching would be so awful this year?
todd grantham
May 26th, 2012
6:03 pm
Jeffrey, surely our bad feeling about Mike has been minormized with 3 good innings to end on.
can you say minormized on the blog? i know you can say maximized.
kerryb
May 26th, 2012
6:04 pm
This team can’t win without a 40 year old player in there.
boringasssouth
May 26th, 2012
6:04 pm
can we at least get some exciting and entertaining announcers. These clowns are putting me to sleep every game. No catch phrases, no real insight, nothing, Medicore at its fucin finest. Your Atlanta “Moron Lead” Braves.
truth5
May 26th, 2012
6:05 pm
Medlen getting rocked.
ACE
May 26th, 2012
6:05 pm
Get two Give up two. This team is not ready for Prime Time tomorrow night.
kerryb
May 26th, 2012
6:05 pm
Tell Joe his glove didn’t jar. Bourne just missed it.
boringasssouth
May 26th, 2012
6:06 pm
How the hell did fredi “dumb ass” gonzales get this job again? someone remind me please.
todd grantham
May 26th, 2012
6:06 pm
Was going to speculate that Stephen Strasburg got his moxie from his Uncle Lee, but alas, different spelling of the surname.
kerryb
May 26th, 2012
6:07 pm
Now the guy we thought could be a starter sucks like Minor.
ACE
May 26th, 2012
6:07 pm
Andruw Jones would have caught that ball.
Braves blow
May 26th, 2012
6:08 pm
WILL U PLEASE FIRE FATSO GONZALEZ ALREADY!!!
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
6:08 pm
Not sure what they said on TV but that’s a play Bourn has to make. Looked like he didn’t know where wall was.
boringasssouth
May 26th, 2012
6:08 pm
bring him in to face all their lefties why dont u. this is incredible. the announcers never point out fredi flaws. Has sports turned into politics? An honest opinion please. At some point.
kerryb
May 26th, 2012
6:08 pm
Joe said it jarred from his glove when it never touched his glove. He was there, he just missed it.
kerryb
May 26th, 2012
6:10 pm
I thought of Bobby Cox when Freddie waited one too many pitches to take Hudson out last night. He learned a lot from Bobby.
ACE
May 26th, 2012
6:10 pm
Jim Powell and Don said the same thing.
ACE
May 26th, 2012
6:11 pm
Kerryb you are right. The apple didn’t fall from the tree. Just waiting for a ground ball.
Braves blow
May 26th, 2012
6:12 pm
Heyward…overhyped overrated
Minor overhyped
Delgado overhyped
Teheran overhyped
Medlin over hyped overrated
HEY WREN ARE U GETTING THE PICTURE???
ROGER MCDOWELL,AKA G- BASHER, IS RUINING THIS STAFF
ALL HE DOES SIT ON HIS ASS AND WRITE IN HIS LITTLE BLACK BOOK…HE AND FATSO ARE LAUREL AND HARDY…ABBOT AND COSTELLO
kerryb
May 26th, 2012
6:12 pm
Oh no, Johnnie Venters is up in the bullpen. Never thought I would say that like that.
bronkelliott
May 26th, 2012
6:13 pm
Like I said earlier, the Braves will have to score 8 or 9 runs to win this game!
todd grantham
May 26th, 2012
6:14 pm
dang it! wish i knew what was goin on but ma didnt pay emc or dish so i had to take the battery out of the radio to power my pc for the blog.
Braves blow
May 26th, 2012
6:16 pm
Everytime i hear gonzalez voice in thepostgame interviews i start to puke
todd grantham
May 26th, 2012
6:16 pm
is Mike Bobo calling the Braves’ offense?
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
6:16 pm
Kerryb — Wall might’ve jarred his glove, but either way it looked like he didn’t know where wall was, so either way it’s his fault.
todd grantham
May 26th, 2012
6:17 pm
current state of Braves: can you say moribund?
Scott
May 26th, 2012
6:20 pm
The team on the field today looks like an average minor league team. I would be shocked if the win one game in this series. Bring on football
Sonny Clusters
May 26th, 2012
6:20 pm
Cream colored uniforms. Hugging. Fanny patting. Flu-like symptoms. They got Davey Johnson and we got Fredi.
Sonny Clusters
May 26th, 2012
6:22 pm
Hmm . . . Bourn and Hinske seem to have gloves with flu-like symptoms.
todd grantham
May 26th, 2012
6:23 pm
if Strasburg was on his game this would already be over. its close anyway.
Braves blow
May 26th, 2012
6:24 pm
Cheer up all
After today the braves wii drop to fifth place, one game out of last place!
And we get to play Cards,Yakees,,BlueJays!Orioles and Yanks again!
Things are certainly looking up!!
NationalGuardDawg
May 26th, 2012
6:24 pm
Wow, we have a manager with no clue how to handle pitchers, no emotion, a pitching staff that serves up homeruns like batting practice, and a managment that is clueless. I can’t wait until football season.
todd grantham
May 26th, 2012
6:24 pm
what were Fredi’s credentials other than being a pal of Bobby and Frank?
TURTSNAP
May 26th, 2012
6:24 pm
We aren’t just bad, we suck!
Can the Braves just forfeit the last 2 1/2 innings, so my kids can see the concert and I can go home?
todd grantham
May 26th, 2012
6:25 pm
Jeffrey, can we say that Johnnie is venturing into uncharted waters?
AlanFalcon
May 26th, 2012
6:27 pm
Has anyone seen the braves starters or bullpen, for sure the group that is going out there every game is not the group that we had last year. Maybe Roger, Freddie and Frank thought they needed to change things up ???????????????????????????
Braves in last palce by the all star brake
May 26th, 2012
6:28 pm
HAHAHAHA!! Shultz tell me to meet him at a palce he no he wont be at.
kerryb
May 26th, 2012
6:28 pm
How does a pitcher go from being one of the best relief pitchers in the game to total and complete garbage?
Braves blow
May 26th, 2012
6:29 pm
Time to tip your cap…….and your elbows
Harpie
May 26th, 2012
6:31 pm
Wow, the Braves are playing like it’s the last part of the season…
todd grantham
May 26th, 2012
6:33 pm
I didnt realize that Brooks Conrad was playing first for the Braves.
todd grantham
May 26th, 2012
6:34 pm
every Brave is going for the fence now. Game over.
Robert08
May 26th, 2012
6:34 pm
It appears they already have forfeited this one. By the way, how much longer will we have to suffer with Hinske? He can’t hit and now he cannot field. Another pathetic outing …
Caseyatthebat
May 26th, 2012
6:34 pm
Send Minor back to Gwinnett……….and let Venters keep him company.
um
May 26th, 2012
6:38 pm
Everything can be summed up with “face-palm”………
J-Man
May 26th, 2012
6:38 pm
Fredi Burned out Venters out last year
J-Man
May 26th, 2012
6:39 pm
Enter your comments here
oldfart
May 26th, 2012
6:39 pm
These announcers are pure-d homers! These Braves players have no team spirit what-so- ever.
How is it our long gone players are doing a lot better than when they were in Atlanta. Oh yea,
our managers are player’s managers alright. Just do your thing…..
J-Man
May 26th, 2012
6:40 pm
And naturally Schultz has left the building……Because he doesnt want to see people blasting his favorite coach in Fredi Gonzalez
todd grantham
May 26th, 2012
6:42 pm
fredi burned out everybody last year. strictly a formula manager.
Minor & fredi
May 26th, 2012
6:44 pm
Dumb ass fredi needs to go. And take Minor, Ventors, Mcdowell and Medlen with him. Wouldn’t it be nice Joe and Chip lost their excuse pages and actually had to call a ballgame like it should be….without all the excuses.
real braves fan
May 26th, 2012
6:47 pm
The last 6 games are the Braves that we should get used to seeing for the rest of the year. No major moves in the offseason and we expected different results?
oldfart
May 26th, 2012
6:52 pm
Did I hear that the Nationals have 10 on DL already and we are missing a 40 year old and some with flu like symptoms. I forgot, we have Fredi Cox. Is Walker on vacation?
Felix
May 26th, 2012
6:53 pm
Today the Braves have performed very poorly in some very important components of baseball—- pitching, throwing and catching.
What has happened to Venters? Tonight he might be on the next bus to Mississippi–which has become Atlanta’s outplacement center for under performing pitchers.
LakeDawg
May 26th, 2012
6:58 pm
Is the Braves whole starting rotation going to be sent down to the minors?
rally
May 26th, 2012
7:00 pm
Well without Chipper were a dead last place team its clear to me at this point. Unless they want to contend for anything it’s up to Chip(Healthy that is) without him and I’m not even sure Freeman, and McCann could pick up much slack. They might have helped today or they might have hurt. Fredi G is just not a good manager at all. They guy didn’t even run out a blatant strike down the middle and sends little errand boy Roger because he’s a puss. Go argue the freaking call Fredi and quit sulking over there on the bench because we don’t have Chipper. God he ticks me off!!!!!
todd grantham
May 26th, 2012
7:02 pm
Schultzie must be trying to get the print column done so he can meet Mrs. Schultz at Ruth’s Chris later.
rally
May 26th, 2012
7:03 pm
@todd grantham. I saw you and Ms. Grantham there last night!!!!
ACE
May 26th, 2012
7:06 pm
The not ready for prime time players.
todd grantham
May 26th, 2012
7:07 pm
rally, you’re very observant. but that wasn’t Mrs. Grantham. heh, heh
rally
May 26th, 2012
7:07 pm
I do swear we will be 15 games out by the time Chipper comes back. That’s awful to think about…..and the slide begins.
rally
May 26th, 2012
7:10 pm
@todd grantham well she sure was smoking hot:) I’d ask you how the steaks were…but I think you guys left a little early. Must have been a red panty party you were headed too…
todd grantham
May 26th, 2012
7:11 pm
rally, put it this way. my friend wasn’t worried about how her steak was cooked.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
7:11 pm
Sorry folks, was working on print col. And Todd Grantham, no Ruth’s Chris in the plans (unfortunately).
Denard Span
May 26th, 2012
7:11 pm
Francisico is 3 for 4 today..to bad everyone else didn’t show up.
Roger McDowell needs to go. The pitcher are going backward instead of getting better.
oldfart
May 26th, 2012
7:11 pm
To hear these announcers, it would appear that all our players that are non-starters are high school players.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
7:12 pm
Bourn, coming up, has three strikeouts since his first-inning single.
LakeDawg
May 26th, 2012
7:13 pm
Just think, the Braves were 26-16 with the third best record in baseball. They had beaten the dodgers 2-1 in LA, the Cards 3-0 in St Louis, the Rays 2-1 in Tampa. Have a couple of bad games and completely COLLAPSE! That’s on the manager. Chipper didn’t make that much of a difference.
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
7:14 pm
Make that 4 strikeouts since his first-inning single.
todd grantham
May 26th, 2012
7:14 pm
Michael was born to strike out.
Denard Span
May 26th, 2012
7:15 pm
This is the team Wren said during Spring Training that he liked..we didn’t need anything..Well Wren I hope you like what you got…..
todd grantham
May 26th, 2012
7:16 pm
the Bravos have a great crowd and can’t make any friends with a good performance in front of casual fans.
oldfart
May 26th, 2012
7:17 pm
My pony is dead so send my saddle home!
todd grantham
May 26th, 2012
7:20 pm
thanks for the blog Jeffrey. Enjoyed it. Best, Todd
Denard Span
May 26th, 2012
7:22 pm
The End
LakeDawg
May 26th, 2012
7:22 pm
Actually, this is a very talented team. It appears they’ve quit. That is pitiful so early in the season. The manager normally doesn’t have much to do with the play on the field, but is needed in times like these. This is where they earn their keep and MANAGE the situation before it spins out of control. Even though its early, a long winning streak or a long losing streak can decide your season. See Braves 1982 and 2011.
BulldogBen
May 26th, 2012
7:22 pm
Total free fall right now. Nothing working. Shades of last September.
If you believe the injury reports, it could be sad swan song season for Chipper.
LakeDawg
May 26th, 2012
7:24 pm
Man, its way too early for the season to be over. Still 3 months before football kicks off.
todd grantham
May 26th, 2012
7:28 pm
Jeff, how could F. Wren have put so much weight of responsibility of the Braves’ offense on Chippper’s gimpy knees?
Scott
May 26th, 2012
7:30 pm
Can you say done? This team couldn’t beat my 12u girls softball team
LakeDawg
May 26th, 2012
7:31 pm
26-136?
JWOOD
May 26th, 2012
7:32 pm
Teheran HAS to get a shot now. I just don’t see how you can keep running Minor out there. This isn’t the Astros.
Larry
May 26th, 2012
7:41 pm
I hope you all recognize that I called this a long time ago. Anybody can be a good manager when you’re winning. It’s when you’re losing that the quality of the manager is most important. We are now losing regularly and it’s because we have a lousy manager. When we were winning, sure Freddi seemed like a good manager but that’s because we were winning. He never does what I say he should do, and that makes him a bad manager. Hence, the losing.
Uncle Tom
May 26th, 2012
7:41 pm
With the possible exception of the 1969 New York Jets (and Joe Namath), has there EVER been a sports team like the Braves that was so helpless without its star player?????? And what about the future when there is no Chipper?
jimmie
May 26th, 2012
7:42 pm
who won?
real braves fan
May 26th, 2012
7:43 pm
I feel like selling my tickets for tomorrow night. I really don’t feel like wasting my time watching these guys right now. There has to be something else better to do tomorrow night.
Larry
May 26th, 2012
7:45 pm
If we start winning again, it might look like Fredi is a good manager. Don’t be fooled. He’ll only “look” like a good manager because we are winning. In fact, if we win the World Series he will look like a really good manager. Again, I say don’t be fooled. Anyone who wins the World Series will “look” like a good manager but that’s because they won the World Series. He really is not a good manager and I don’t care if we win 5 World Series in a row. He just doesn’t listen to me. Look at us now! We can’t win a game and that’s the mark of a bad manager.
BulldogBen
May 26th, 2012
7:49 pm
I think you may be insane Larry.
extremus
May 26th, 2012
7:51 pm
I was out of the house so I didn’t see the play Mr. Schultz referred to where Jason Heyward “lackadaisically” went after a misplayed ball, but that REALLY doesn’t sound good at all. Considering all the talk about Heyward’s “great attitude, work ethic, patience, etc, etc” we heard when he first came to the Majors, we’ve seen an awful lot of evidence since then to call those statements into question. I realize that like all of us he’s human and maybe he was just frustrated on that play and unfortunately let it be visible, but body language can say a lot about someone’s mindset (and from Mr. Schultz’s post it sounds like that body language made a lot of fans present quite angry).
I think it’s becoming obvious that the Braves are in need of something to “stir the pot”, whether it’s sending people down and calling up replacements or perhaps a player throwing stuff around the locker room and calling an impromptu “team meeting” to get some sense of accountability going and light a fire under some people. If players are quitting out there the problem needs to be addressed NOW, and decisively, because if this mess continues for much longer, I don’t see Fredi Gonzalez’s managerial tenure lasting through the end of the season.
Larry
May 26th, 2012
7:52 pm
Tomato harvest during a losing streak. Sorry I got so analytic…
Fred Will Screw It Up Somehow
May 26th, 2012
7:56 pm
LMAO! He fooled you all again!
Po Boy Tim
May 26th, 2012
7:58 pm
I question the desire of McCann & Freeman. They know Chipper’s injured and they don’t man-up and play. There’s no Cal Ripken Jr.’s on this team…
Maria
May 26th, 2012
8:00 pm
Does anybody but me think it’s time to send Roger McDowell packing? He is not doing something right with this staff this season. He didn’t even go out to the mound after Minor gave up the three run homer to tell him, “it’s okay, kid, there’s a lot of game left to be played”, they sent Hinske over to do it or perhaps he just did it on his own. Once Strasburg had his first sign of trouble, his pitching coach went right out and talked to him. Even when the Braves were hitting lights out, the pitching was sub par and now that the offense has gone cold, it’s really showing. McDowell is not doing something right and I think it’s time to give him the heave ho.
Mets R Best
May 26th, 2012
8:02 pm
Hello there Braves fans. How is it going for you? It has been great here in Mets country! As I so predicted, the Mighty New York Mets have now surged past your team. The magnificant Metropolitans accomplished this feat with superior talent, skill and coaching. The Braves players felt the heat the Mighty Mets were bringing and as usual—they did what they are best at–they choked.
Tomy Fournier
May 26th, 2012
8:04 pm
Enter your comments here
The Braves
May 26th, 2012
8:13 pm
We don’t understand why you guys care so much that we are losing. You see we really don’t care if we win or lose. We aren’t like you working smucks who get demoted or fired if you don’t perform. You see we have big fat million dollar contracts and get paid the same whether we win 40 games or 100. So don’t sweat it Atlanta because we aren’t.
Chillahill
May 26th, 2012
8:24 pm
Same team that was 10 up with 17 to play. Last year. 26-16 until FG starts coaching
Thats the team that has shown up. Frddy g is a joke. And it shows. This team has no spirit
Lucky to finish 11 games outta first. Late srptember cone back and read this chillahill said ut.
How about. Ventors,heward,henski,Diaz, JJ,wilson minor Freddi G and Joe johnson to the rangers for
Hamilton. Lets pull the string and get it done!
George Washington
May 26th, 2012
8:31 pm
The Braves should have traded heyward for Hunter pence last season and brought Francona in to replace gonzalez. I’ve been adamant about those moves for months now and my intuition is proving to be true. But next season will be here before you know it and we’ll be hoping for a successful season again.
Larry
May 26th, 2012
8:35 pm
I think we would turn this thing around if we’d get better pitching. So if I was Fredi, I’d ask our starters to do a better job. In addition, we need to score more runs, so we should probably pick it up offensively. I’m pretty sure Fredi doesn’t see how simple the solution is, but if I were manager that would be my approach. Score more runs and tell the starters to stop giving up so many. Then, and only then, can we unleash the bullpen on our unsuspecting opponents and win more games.
Don Corleone
May 26th, 2012
8:36 pm
This team needs a new manager. Motivating by being a nice guy ain’t working with this bunch. Might be time to get someone like Lou Pinella — a manager who can chew some butt, shake things up and kick up some dirt. A fire breathing maniac who will find out real quick who wants to play their guts out and who needs to be sent packing.
Larry
May 26th, 2012
8:39 pm
Good point Don, except that Lou Pinella is a confirmed non-winner as a manager. Yeah, he won back in 1990, but that was kind of a fluke. Other than that, he has been in charge of more under performing teams than whoever runs the Atlanta Hawks.
GameChanger
May 26th, 2012
9:02 pm
But at least the Braves beat the Cubs who have lost 10 in a row and are in LAST PLACE. Oh wait, they lost the series to them as well.
Ted
May 26th, 2012
9:08 pm
Excellent! The Braves have lost SIX games in a row!!! Love it!!!!
CK Bigoldi
May 26th, 2012
9:20 pm
This is the 2011 braves. To think they would be better is illogical.
DAMON
May 26th, 2012
9:21 pm
Let’s see where things are mid-August; then I’ll have a comment…….
Jeff Schultz
May 26th, 2012
9:32 pm
Folks, game column is posted if you want to transfer commenting over there.
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2012/05/26/braves-suddenly-lacking-pitching-defense-and-a-clue/