Kimbrel is undone by Infante, and this believer says, ‘Uh, oh’
Is the former skipper waving goodbye to the postseason? (AJC photo by Hyosub Shin)
I had my lecture notes ready, and the subject was, “Patience, children.” The Braves had overridden a 4-1 deficit through much help from the opponent and were one out from victory, and victory would mean a 3 1/1-game lead with eight remaining. And Craig Kimbrel, Mr. Automatic for the People, was on to do what Craig Kimbrel does, and after a nervous couple of days — heck, a nervous couple of weeks — order was set to be restored.
Then Craig Kimbrel, who had yielded one home run in his first 97 big-league appearances, was touched for his second in two days. Doing the deed: Omar Infante, former Brave and author of five homers this season. And the lead’s down to 2 1/2 games with eight left, the Cardinals somehow having gained ground on a night when they faced Roy Halladay and the Braves were one out from victory.
And now I say, “Patience? It can be overrated.”
As of Sunday afternoon, I was convinced the Braves were still in fine shape. They were 4 1/2 up and had a one-run lead on the Mets, and the Braves with a one-run lead this season have been safe as houses. But Jonny Venters started walking people, which Jonny Venters sometimes does, and this time he couldn’t tiptoe out of it. One blown save, one game lost on the field, one game lost (after St. Louis beat Cole Hamels on Sunday night) in the standings. And now this reversal in Miami. And now …
My faith is, shall we say, undergoing a test.
Even in a season where Dan Uggla stopped hitting for three months and 40 percent of the rotation has gotten hurt, these Braves have been able to bank on their bullpen. It’s why they were 8 1/2 games in front the morning after Labor Day. It’s why they figure — figured? — to be a tough out in the postseason. But now the bullpen is showing the strain, and if that goes then what’s left?
I don’t know the answer. I’m not sure I want to know the answer. All I know for certain is this: I no longer consider the Braves a postseason certainty.
On paper, they still should make it. But some games are so galling they make you wad up that paper and toss it in the trashcan.
By Mark Bradley
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222 comments Add your comment
Chris
September 19th, 2011
10:42 pm
This was one tough loss!!!!
Chris
September 19th, 2011
10:43 pm
We will bounce back though
tyler
September 19th, 2011
10:44 pm
First and uh oh is right
THE BIG R
September 19th, 2011
10:44 pm
THIS ALL STARTED IN THE FIRST GAME OF THE CARDINAL SERIES WHEN BLOWING A 3-1 LEAD IN FIRST GAME OF THREE GAME SERIES WILL BE OUR UNDOING
j.j.m.
September 19th, 2011
10:44 pm
Panic mode
tyler
September 19th, 2011
10:44 pm
dang it-
Really?
September 19th, 2011
10:44 pm
Yikes… 2.5 games out… trouble right here in ATL
Najeh Davenpoop
September 19th, 2011
10:45 pm
Obviously biased, but this would be worse than the ‘07 Mets if the Braves managed to blow this.
Mark Bradley
September 19th, 2011
10:45 pm
Close, tyler.
Chris with the kudos.
Chris
September 19th, 2011
10:45 pm
I say chipper carries us to the playoffs
Mark Bradley
September 19th, 2011
10:46 pm
This would be pretty bad — maybe not ‘64 Phillies bad, but in the ballpark. As it were.
Chris
September 19th, 2011
10:47 pm
Chipper carries us to the playoffs
Expect the Braves & Cards to be in a flat-footed tie on Fri...
September 19th, 2011
10:49 pm
Enter your comments here
Buzzboy
September 19th, 2011
10:49 pm
This just may be the wake up call they needed!
Hatmatbbat10
September 19th, 2011
10:49 pm
I’m in total shock right now as I just saw the replay of the home run. Having been there in person to see Venters and Kimbrel both give up runs yesterday, a second blown game seems almost unreal. I think the Braves can still make it, but they have to start winning soon.
Harpie
September 19th, 2011
10:49 pm
This team just has a losers aura about them…
PhilsFanFromNJ
September 19th, 2011
10:49 pm
Sorry the Phils could not help you guys out with some more wins against the Cards. After they clinched the division on Friday night, they have lost a lot of the intensity they displayed the first 145 games. Only consolation is that the Braves will be playing the Phils the last 3 games of the season where most definately AAA players will be in the lineup for most the those 27 innings, so you should have 3 wins there.
Chris
September 19th, 2011
10:49 pm
Sorry bout double posting
Herschel Talker
September 19th, 2011
10:50 pm
MB:
Why on paper should they still make it? The Cards have a joke schedule from here on out, and the Braves play 2 more against FL, 3 in DC (where they don’t play well), and 3 against Philly. Please explain to us why on paper this means they should make it.
HT
NickGranite
September 19th, 2011
10:51 pm
Not as bad as either of those two collapses. You lose your one and two for a month, it wreaks havoc on your pitching staff.
Just A Fan
September 19th, 2011
10:52 pm
The slide REALLY began when Chipper ran his mouth about this team being able to beat the Phillies.
Mark Bradley
September 19th, 2011
10:52 pm
And say this for the Phillies: Apart from Ryan Howard, who’s hurting, they’ve gone with first-stringers after clinching the East. Can’t fault their professionalism. (Not that you ever would.)
tyler
September 19th, 2011
10:52 pm
I still think we get it done but this is getting ridiculous, we have looked terrible the last few weeks. What has happened to our bullpen?
ATLien
September 19th, 2011
10:52 pm
Now we have a rookie (Delgado) and good ole Derek Lowe pitching the next 2 games. Stick a fork in us…we’re done!!!
McCant
September 19th, 2011
10:53 pm
When is Fredi going to take the pitch calling responsibility off of Brian McCann? Stupid pitch selection all night. First, he calls pitches to where Stanton can reach them. Then he calls an 0-2 inside fastball to Morrison. Then you call a fastball inside to Omar when you know he won’t be looking for the slider. Plus he went 0-4 at the plate yet again. Nobody knows it, but this one is on McCann. Fredi or Roger need to call the pitches.
Herschel Talker
September 19th, 2011
10:54 pm
tyler:
What are you watching? What makes you think we get it done? That’s laughable.
HT
DetroitBraves
September 19th, 2011
10:55 pm
@The Big R – I’m with you. It felt like if they won the first game in St. Louis that would have about finished off their charge. Instead…..well here we are. If I remember correctly, there were a lot of people in the comments here worried about Venters and Kimbrel being overused earlier in the season such that they may wear down in September. Particularly when Venters might pitch in a game the Braves led by 4 or 5 runs. Again, here we are.
Mark Bradley
September 19th, 2011
10:57 pm
The reason they should get in: They’ve got the lead. St. Louis (or San Francisco) has to rely on somebody else to beat the Braves.
Mark...a question...
September 19th, 2011
10:57 pm
Is it me, or does the team play with less energy, less ‘urgency’ since Constanza was relegated to the dugout and Heyward took his place?
Hatmatbbat10
September 19th, 2011
10:59 pm
McCant – just because the pitch was there doesn’t meant McCann called for it. The pitcher probably just missed the spot. I’d still want McCann calling the pitches any day.
Mark Bradley
September 19th, 2011
10:59 pm
They seemed pretty urgent when they trailed 4-1 tonight.
But baseball is a weird game. It’s the one sport where momentum matters the least. (Although on a night like this that seems a strange statement.) One good start from one pitcher and everything can change.
Sonny Clusters
September 19th, 2011
10:59 pm
We never lost a grounder in the lights.
tyler
September 19th, 2011
11:00 pm
Talker- we are 2.5 up with what- 8 games left? This team didn’t get to where they are by getting lucky.we certainly haven’t played well lately but we’re still in the driver’s seat. Just gotta get it going this week. No reason to throw in the towel- you’ll be the first one on here congratulating ‘em once they get in….
Herschel Talker
September 19th, 2011
11:00 pm
MB:
I thought you followed sports since you are the ajc writer. In case you haven’t been following, relying on Washington to beat the Braves isn’t exactly much to rely on. It happens pretty routinely.
Look, we all know how it works. You’re not going to bite the hand that feeds you and say what needs to be said. We know you know a collapse is a given at this point. Just acknowledge it for all of us, and we won’t bring it up again.
HT
Mark Bradley
September 19th, 2011
11:01 pm
I seem to remember Billy Loes, a Dodger pitcher, saying he lost a grounder in the sun.
But that was back when the Dodgers were based in Flatbush.
Mark Bradley
September 19th, 2011
11:02 pm
I believe I can say this with some authority: Herschel Talker will not be the first one to congratulate the Braves.
Tn Hawk
September 19th, 2011
11:02 pm
Was the infield single in the 9th something Chipper should have made the play on? I didn’t see it.
lifelong Braves fan
September 19th, 2011
11:02 pm
Big R, you are right about that loss. magic number would be 5 if we had gotten that one. I honestly felt worse after that one than this loss, although this luck was crushing as well.
Herschel Talker
September 19th, 2011
11:02 pm
tyler:
This aint the same team that built that lead. The bullpen is obviously burned out, and we’re down to 1 quality starter. Not to mention our hitting sucks again. Nice try though.
HT
wes
September 19th, 2011
11:03 pm
I’m a diehard braves fan but this team has too many holes to be playoff bound. The best thing for this team to do is not make the playoffs. That way the GM needs to go out and spend some money and get a real left fielder, sit chipper on the bench or trade him and Derek Lowe. More good veteran bullpen help is need. TOO MANY ROOKIES AND SECOND YEAR PLAYERS. New HITTING COACH PLEASE. TOO Many close games. bullpen is trashed.
McCant
September 19th, 2011
11:04 pm
Ok hatmatbbat….can you explain to me why you would call an inside 0-2 fastball to Morrison and even put your young pitcher in the position to make a mistake? Can you explain to me why you call for anything on the inner-half to Stanton? Do you think Infante would be looking for or hit a slider in that situation? Even Joe Simpson said it was a bone-head call.
RaleighDawg
September 19th, 2011
11:05 pm
Someone, anyone, please help me to understand HOW ON EARTH Chipper was NOT charged with an error when he did not field that easy grounder ?
LakeDawg
September 19th, 2011
11:05 pm
From this observers perch, it appears the Braves don’t have the killer instinct that champions have. Philly has shown it all year long. The Braves were red hot going into the all-star break, but lost concentration and the Phillies pulled away. Several times during this current slump, the Braves have had chances to put games away, but don’t. Take tonight for example. The Braves had scratched back to tie the game. Great! However, they still had the bases loaded with Chipper and Uggla coming to bat. They get one run from an error. After taking the lead, it looks as if the Braves rested on their laurels the next two innings, where it appears they didn’t have the same focus in their at bats. Two three up and three down innings later the lead was still very precarious. All it took was losing a grounder in the lights and a pitcher’s mistake. Braves should have put more distance between them and a possible loss. Its been a recurring theme. I still think the Braves make the play offs BTW.
todd grantham
September 19th, 2011
11:07 pm
a MONUMENTAL collapse. Was Bobby Cox waiving waving good bye to the Braves postseason hopes?
Braves fan NYC
September 19th, 2011
11:07 pm
It’s a miracle we’re still up 2.5, considering we haven’t had our best 2 pitchers for a long time.
Sonny Clusters
September 19th, 2011
11:07 pm
“A hunting we will go, a hunting we will go, Heigh ho, the dairy-o, a hunting we will go!” Deer season begins soon.
Mark Bradley
September 19th, 2011
11:07 pm
Ultimately it’s the pitcher’s responsibility to throw the pitch he wants. He has the ball. He can shake off his catcher.
DetroitBraves
September 19th, 2011
11:08 pm
Honestly, I don’t know if Chipper throws out Bonafacio with his speed even if he makes that play. As for the Kimbrel pitch selection, agree with &hatmatbat10. It was the location, not the pitch. If he had hung a slider everyone would be saying he should have gone with his best pitch, which is the fastball. Don’t believe me? See Wohlers, Mark – circa 1996.
todd grantham
September 19th, 2011
11:09 pm
Maybe Bobby was waving good bye to Fredi’s tenure.
tyler
September 19th, 2011
11:09 pm
Very true Mark- once i hit submit i thought better of it….he loves to hate.
todd grantham
September 19th, 2011
11:09 pm
Yes, but have you ever tried to shake off the catcher? Man, some of those guys can get mad.
heh heh
Herschel Talker
September 19th, 2011
11:10 pm
MB:
We Atlanta fans are sick and tired of the stomach punches, so we see these things coming ahead of time and prepare ourselves. We suggest you do the same. Keep up the good blogging.
HT
RaleighDawg
September 19th, 2011
11:10 pm
….and when is Fredi going to man up and start pulling Chipper for defense ? This is NOT the first easy grounder he’s missed…
Mark Bradley
September 19th, 2011
11:11 pm
And here’s why you can’t ever assume anything in baseball: The Cardinals faced Roy Halladay, who’s about the best there is, tonight. Who won?
Oh Brother
September 19th, 2011
11:11 pm
Blame this on the philosophy that a starter goes 6 innings. I am with Leo (who knows much more than the current staff) – if a starter is pitching well, keep him in as long as possible. Leo never had his bullpen collapse like this….he knows baseball.
todd grantham
September 19th, 2011
11:12 pm
I think Chipper’s gotta volunteer to come out for defense. His position with the Braves is a lot stronger (at least at the moment) than Fredi’s is.
Bill
September 19th, 2011
11:12 pm
If they make play-offs will it be three and out..1st round flop!
Oh Brother
September 19th, 2011
11:13 pm
These young kids have been over used. This isn’t on them.
LakeDawg
September 19th, 2011
11:13 pm
The Braves don’t have a killer instinct. After gaining the lead, they took the 8th and 9th innings off at the plate. Clearly not the same focus they had in the 7th. It left them with no room for error. Its a recurring theme and the reason they came out after the all-star break slow after being red hot and one of the reasons for the current slump (injuries have had something to do with it also). The Phillies focus every game, every inning and have pulled away. Stiil think the Braves are in, though.
Mark Bradley
September 19th, 2011
11:14 pm
And that’s another thing: You can’t extrapolate a postseason loss from what you’re seeing now. The Giants lost Games No. 160 and 161 to fall into a tie with San Diego last fall. They won No. 162 to make the playoffs. Then they won the World Series.
SG10
September 19th, 2011
11:14 pm
Mark,
Pretty dreadful day..but after your column like this, I feel better..seriously, somehow every time you write ‘confident, we are going to do it’ column, Braves come reeling down…and when you write column with harsh words, things turn around…I know it is just a coincidence but it has happened way too often in my memory.. May be Braves players read your column and either get a wake-up call or get complacent depending upon how you wrote it
Sonny Clusters
September 19th, 2011
11:14 pm
Constanza should be in the lineup.
todd grantham
September 19th, 2011
11:15 pm
Mark, just wondering why you didnt move on to ESPN or national forum as so very many of your colleagues have. Seeing Mark Schlabach on tv tonight spurred that thought.
Oh Brother
September 19th, 2011
11:16 pm
Loser vs Winner – braves vs. falcons. the braves have wren (sheesh) and the falcons have dimitroff. the braves have gonzo (sheesh times two) and the falcons have smith. The braves lose with more (sheesh infinity) and the falcons win with less.
Glad it is football season cause I am sick of these braves.
SG10
September 19th, 2011
11:16 pm
Here is a thought that even Philly fans won’t like..If Cardinals do reach play-off, they will be facing Phillies in the first round. Having taken 3 out of 4 recently, that should serve give them some edge..
DetroitBraves
September 19th, 2011
11:17 pm
I think saying Leo Mazzone’s staffs never had tough, late inning losses out of the bullpen is conveniently forgetting 1991, and 1992, and 1993, and 1996, and 1999, and 2002, and …….
But I’m with MB. Tough loss. Several missed opportunities this month. Numbers still favor the Braves. Don’t put those postseason tickets up on Stubhub just yet.
McCant
September 19th, 2011
11:17 pm
Mark do you watch baseball much? You think young pitchers are going to shake off their veteran catcher? They won’t! and they shouldn’t have to! McCann overthinks too much.
Robb
September 19th, 2011
11:17 pm
definitely not feeling good about the Braves right now. it sure doesn’t help when two key members of the starting staff are on the DL-hopefully, we can get out of the doldrums and win some games. Cards and Giants are coming on strong, don’t want to have to beat Philly for the wild card
SG10
September 19th, 2011
11:18 pm
Mark,
If my memory serves right, the Braves downfall started after the Irene break..would that be right?
Mark Bradley
September 19th, 2011
11:19 pm
That’s what the Braves think, SG10.
Me, I think that’s a pretty weak excuse. Time off in a six-month season is a bad thing?
Mark Bradley
September 19th, 2011
11:20 pm
What happened with the Braves (funny how things are easy to see in hindsight): The hitting got going for a while and they built the wild-card lead to a margin not usually seen in wild-card races, and then Jurrjens and Hanson got hurt and the hitting receded and pretty much all that was left was the bullpen, and the strain on the bullpen is showing.
Oh Brother
September 19th, 2011
11:20 pm
duh…every team has tough, late inning losses. Our team is now making a habit of it….overworked overworked overworked. Leo didn’t over work his guys.
SG10
September 19th, 2011
11:22 pm
I know..the break should be great thing, I would imagine..particularly for those relievers. I think I have another explanation.. The Braves fall would have started much earlier if not for few brilliant weeks that Constanza had until he twisted his ankle.. I think after he missed few games, the Braves downfall has started…unfortunately, there is no cure with the way McCann and Prado are hitting these days.. Uggla cannot carry offense like Howard, Pujols do or Chipper did in his good days.
SG10
September 19th, 2011
11:24 pm
Okay. Let me ask you question that I asked few weeks back..may be the answer is different now. How many wins or losses would you attribute to FG being the coach versus BC last year? I think it would be +3 to +5.
Mark Bradley
September 19th, 2011
11:24 pm
McCann not hitting is a massive factor. He carried this team for three months.
That said, the starting pitching was so good for so long that not much offense was warranted.
Oh Brother
September 19th, 2011
11:24 pm
Cardinal fans know their baseball…Cards will get better support in the playoffs anyway.
Benadawg
September 19th, 2011
11:25 pm
If we get in it will be over really quick……We suck, its a different player every night who screws up a hard played game….Thanks Chipper.
todd grantham
September 19th, 2011
11:27 pm
Do YOU think its overwork Mark?
SG10
September 19th, 2011
11:27 pm
I think the Braves are getting hits..no question..as everyone knows, they are not getting timely hits.. I don’t know how you can fix that..it is not a technical thing that can be fixed..it is mostly mental and somewhat luck based..
Mark Bradley
September 19th, 2011
11:27 pm
On Aug. 29, the Cardinals trailed the Braves by 9 1/2 games. Just a note.
Mark Bradley
September 19th, 2011
11:28 pm
Yeah, I do, todd. But what’s the alternative? Let Kimbrel and Venters have two weeks off in July and let Linebrink and Sherrill close?
Bill
September 19th, 2011
11:28 pm
constanza needs to play..agree
Michael
September 19th, 2011
11:29 pm
I’m not even going to ask why anyone would want this team in the playoffs. Let the WC go to a team that might put up a fight once they got there.
SG10
September 19th, 2011
11:29 pm
When McCann carried the Braves, he mostly did it by hitting big home runs…now late in the season, he seems to be tired and those HR hits are now fly-balls.. would that be correct to say?
todd grantham
September 19th, 2011
11:29 pm
Just a note is a polite way of saying just sayin’
Mark Bradley
September 19th, 2011
11:30 pm
McCann is doing what hitters do when they’re aren’t hitting: He’s swinging too hard.
Bradley's Foggy Crystal Ball
September 19th, 2011
11:30 pm
No backing out now, Bradley! You predicted they would close it out this week and you whiffed, proving once again that you are the worst baseball writer and prognosticator in the country.
Please go to Macon!
wes
September 19th, 2011
11:31 pm
FG has blown alot more than Bobby would have. For instance the first game against the Dodgers at Turner Field on Sept 1. The Braves have a lead late in the game 5-3 he doesn’t use kimbrel or venters in that game to hold the lead. We lose that game and its been a pattern the whole month. Now he has no choice but to use them if he even get a lead with these sorry hitters.
todd grantham
September 19th, 2011
11:31 pm
Why use both in every game? although the innings add up the same if you pitch one every night or 2 every other night.
SG10
September 19th, 2011
11:31 pm
Actually, saying that Venters, Kimbrel lost it yesterday or Chipper, Kimbrel lost it today is putting blame at the wrong place…it is like Conrad lost it last year. The main culprit is offense which should score enough runs to give more than 1 run cushion to your team to absorb fielding errors or bad pitches.. it seems like Braves hitters are spoilt by this awesome trio of relief pitchers that after getting 1 run lead, they just basically shut-down their offense..don’t try to score more runs..it has happened way too often.
TheAntiMe
September 19th, 2011
11:32 pm
Maybe the Braves and Red Sox can meet in the postseason in a match-up of two teams who managed to blow an almost insurmountable wild-card lead. In honor of the way the two teams are playing like clowns it could be played to honor the memory of the late great Bozo The Clown and be called – The Almost Wild-Card Winner Series. Just a thought.
Bradley's Foggy Crystal Ball
September 19th, 2011
11:32 pm
1991 World Series – “Braves in Six and Pitching is Why” by Mark Bradley.
todd grantham
September 19th, 2011
11:33 pm
Man, the filters being a pain tonight
SG10
September 19th, 2011
11:34 pm
I feel like Braves players are mentally fatigued.. I know watching them these days, I feel fatigued.. I can’t imagine the players.. of course, the only cure to this is winning few games but doing that is hard when you are mentally fatigued.. (not to mention physically fatigued with overload)
Bradley's Foggy Crystal Ball
September 19th, 2011
11:34 pm
Bradley is doing what writers do when they know nothing about the sports they write about: they backtrack on their earlier predictions.
PhilsFanFromNJ
September 19th, 2011
11:35 pm
@SG10 at 11:18, I beleive the Phils would rather face the Cards vs the Braves. The Braves are a better team regardless of the outcome of the WC race, they have much better relief pitching. Trust me the Phils would be happy to face the Cards instead of the Braves. Of all the postseason candidates (Braves, Brewers, Dbacks, Cards, Giants), the Phils would be most scared of the following teams (in order of hardest to easiest)
1. Giants (Phils do not want Cain and Lincecum 4 times in 7 game series)
2. Braves
3. Brewers
4. Cards
5. Dbacks
I still beleive the Brave will win wildcard. Remember the last 3 games against the Phils in Atlanta are W’s since AAA players will be in the lineup from the 5th inning on.
SG10
September 19th, 2011
11:37 pm
I bet that tomorrow we will see Heyward in 2nd spot in the batting order. Time to move Prado down.. it is really sad watching Prado struggle. He has been my favorite player these past couple of seasons. He seemed like one of the players who would always figure things out.
Dr. Phil
September 19th, 2011
11:38 pm
I go to see the Braves each spring in Florida, and I am a pretty loyal fan. Fredi has done a good job for a first-year manager. The Braves lost their two best pitchers, and that has certainly made a difference in the last two months. But this team does not deserve to be in the playoffs. St.Louis obviously is a better team and wants it more than the Braves. It will not be good for the city or the team for the Braves to stumble into the post season playing the way they have lately.
MitchC
September 19th, 2011
11:39 pm
Mark, over the years I’ve posted here, you know that I’ve fondly referred to you as “Mr Negative” regarding your stance on the Braves. This time, I think you may be taking an overconfident stance.
The Braves are in a freefall. They are playing as badly and stinking things up ah la the 2007 Mets who I as a Mets hater so cruelly laughed at.
The reason the Braves have a chance is that, unless the Phillies want to strive to keep the Braves out of the playoffs. Charlie Manuel, like Cox used to when he won division titles early, wont be pitching guys like Halliday and Hamels for eight innings in next weeks season finales.
The Braves need to win siome games, and soon. This is getting scary. The Cardinals are hot, and the Phillies may well sleepwalk through the rest of the season.
SG10
September 19th, 2011
11:39 pm
If Red Sox lose out in WC race, what must A. Gonzalez feel like watching his teams choke in the last month for two seasons in a row ?
Bradley's Foggy Crystal Ball
September 19th, 2011
11:40 pm
MitchC
That is because Mark Bradley knows nothing about baseball.
P Rose
September 19th, 2011
11:40 pm
Did you even watch this game? Why blame Kimbrell? He did his job – he got three outs. The problem is he needed four. You did not even mention that it was Chipper’s error with two out and nobody on that undid the Braves.
SG10
September 19th, 2011
11:42 pm
As hot as Cards are these days, Giants have won 8 (or 9?) in a row and only half game behind Cards…crazy to think but Cards and Giants could be battling out for WC in the last week! I know mathematically, Braves might still be in it but another week of futility would just keep that as a mathematical possibility
glacialspeed
September 19th, 2011
11:47 pm
[Will Ferrell voice] [running around in circles] EVERYBODY PANIC! If you have a small child, use it as a shield!
Oregon Brave
September 19th, 2011
11:50 pm
Everybody likes to say baseball is boring. So how come everybody is jumping off the bandwagon now? It aint ever going to be as exciting as what we are about to witness in the next 9 days. Tonight was certainly a punch to the gut. So was yesterday’s game, but perhaps tomorrow the Marlins take the punch. I can hardly wait. Go Braves.
DB
September 19th, 2011
11:58 pm
I have been a fan for 20 years. And failure to take advantage of scoring opportunities continues to haunt the Braves.In my opinion the way the Braves need to approach the remaining games is play each one as though it is the last game of a 7th game in the world series.
bean bag
September 19th, 2011
11:59 pm
The Braves sound just like the Jaws song “Oh how I want to go home, I’m tired and I want to go to bed.
NorCalBrave
September 20th, 2011
12:11 am
Quit it with the Leo overworked his bullpen stuff. We had Cy Young winners in the rotation, who regularly went deep into games. Fredi hasn’t done everything right, but when you have starters who put up 100 pitches by the 6th inning, and a light hitting team that never extends a lead, you have to lean on the horses in the ‘pen. Would have helped tremendously if Moylan wasn’t on DL, and Linebrink and Proctor had done their jobs.
I remember
September 20th, 2011
12:21 am
Braves kicked away large leads in ‘82 & 83. Joe Morgan homered them into the playoffs only to be easily swept by St L in ‘82. Can you smell the smoldering ashes of the burnout.?
On life support, and the plug is being pulled. Boston and Atl would embarrass themselves if they were to make it. Great season, mostly, now let’s enjoy seeing some GOOD baseball teams in the post season
bart
September 20th, 2011
12:22 am
I’ve told you before that the Braves were capable of losing their WC lead but even I thought they had a big enough lead to limp thru.
But now? They are on the verge of an epic collapse. They are in a race with Boston to see who can pull off the biggest choke-job of this decade.
CC
September 20th, 2011
12:28 am
Someone asked about Constanza — something happened. Lost his spark, started sitting on the bench. He was a firecracker every time he stepped on the field in August, but it seem he’s been infected by the same hang-dog body language this team always seems to take on each September.
And do all teams have their pitchers vacate the mound with injuries at the rate the Braves do? Seems all the Phillies starters are still answering the bell with a couple weeks remaining.
Mitchell
September 20th, 2011
12:36 am
Mark Bradley, there aren’t words to describe what a hack you are.
Your career is an embarrassment.
wild'n
September 20th, 2011
1:08 am
I think we still get in, but by the skin of our teeth. nonetheless, it could be a quick exit. everything is going wrong for the braves. mccann and prado and some other guys have stopped hitting, our starting pitching is either on the DL or just not very good all of a sudden (save huddy), and venters to an extent and kimbrel more so have had rough outings. What worries me the most is kimbrel. what all of a sudden has happened? is it fatigue? I’m not sure, but the combination of all these factors signals an early exit in the postseason if we make it there. such a shame, because this braves team had and has the potential for greatness (yes, WORLD SERIES greatness).
wild'n
September 20th, 2011
1:10 am
unfortunately, this team just does not look a shred like the team that built up the huge lead and was considered one of baseball’s top 4 teams most of the year. I try to be an optimist, I am just frustrated now.
GO BRAVOS
Ted M
September 20th, 2011
2:08 am
The Braves bullpen is great. They probably have been over worked but thats not it. No bullpen in the history of baseball is perfect. Its the offense, games early in the season count just as much as these and our offense blew so many games this season when we had both great starting pitching & relief pitching.
The Braves pitching, starting & relief, even w/all the rookies is the best part of the Braves. The offense not so much.
Lets go w/Delgado instead of Lowe.
Mr. Enigma
September 20th, 2011
2:18 am
The Braves lose 6-5 when they were one strike away from victory. The same night, the Cardinals beat Cy Young-candidate Roy Halladay.
Time to smash the panic button. With a hammer.
Free Constanza
September 20th, 2011
3:42 am
Mac called the only pitch slap hitting bonifacio could of hit on 0-2. A FB on the outside corner where all he did was stuck his bat out. Terrible 0-2 call by Mac.
Stinger2
September 20th, 2011
4:04 am
2011 Braves: Pitiful and sad.
Miranda
September 20th, 2011
5:00 am
The braves are getting what they deserve since Chipper has the nerve to say Atl can beat the Phils!! What world that clown live in.. Phils are the best team in baseball
June Cleaver
September 20th, 2011
5:48 am
Ward, I’m worried about the Braves!!!!
drew
September 20th, 2011
6:00 am
Bloggers are funny! Braves lose a couple of tough ones and all of sudden the blogs are full of “I told you so’s…” and “they don’t deserve to be in the playoffs”, along with a host finger pointers (Fredi ruined the BP; Chipper needs to sit; McCann calls a terrible game; Castanza needs to play;…”, yada, yada, yada. Some even shoot the messenger. It just tickles me that so many “fans” think they’re so freakin smart. They need to take a deep breath and take a nice cool drink of STFU.
To read some of these posts. you’d think the Braves are in the midst of a 100 loss season! We’re in the driver’s seat people. We’re not chasing anyone. We’re not the team that’s 2-1/2 games out. The post-season is a fresh start (just look at SF last year!). And if the Braves do make it to the post season, there’s no reason they can’t get hot and win it all.
ChasZee
September 20th, 2011
6:27 am
Even if the Braves hang on and make the playoffs — and it’s going to take at least 3 days for somebody to dislodge them — this is not the same Braves team that built the lead and appeared to be one of the top four teams in the playoffs. I’m just wondering, maybe starting pitchers shouldn’t be allowed to throw more than 160 innings or so until they are 25, 26?
SimpleDawg
September 20th, 2011
6:52 am
Reason the Braves make he Playoffs……
“The Cardinals have to depend on someone else to beat the Braves.”
Well, isn’t that what has been happening?
McDawg
September 20th, 2011
7:10 am
het Freddie-this is where you earn your paycheck
O'Brien
September 20th, 2011
7:10 am
Mark,
The difference with the Giants from last year is that they had the pitchers to shut down an offense. The Braves have no such pitchers (although Huddy has the potential to come close).
Besides Huddy, do we have one pitcher that you feel confident can end a losing streak?
McDawg
September 20th, 2011
7:11 am
drew we are the team tanking cards are surging
October Hunting Trip
September 20th, 2011
7:13 am
Nothing wrong with the starting pitching. Our fill-ins have been perfectly adequate. JJ and Hanson never went more than 6 innings, and that is what our rookies have been doing. Our “best in baseball” bullpen has imploded 4 times in about 2 weeks. That’s 4 of 12 games. We should have won, had maybe we had some starting pitchers that could handle going 7 or 8 innings consistently throughout the season.
Braves need some work in their instructional leagues to help pop the teet out of these kids mouths, help them to sack up, and throw 125 pitches. This mentality of “all I need is 6 innings” is BS, and subsequently the primary reason our bullpen is faltering right now.
I hope these boys have made reservations for their October vacations.
Erty
September 20th, 2011
7:17 am
If Chipper is going to carry us to the playoffs, I hope he has lots of money for tickets. Losing a chopper to Chipper in the lights, I have seen it all now. Good grief.
Doctor C
September 20th, 2011
7:23 am
There is a curse on the Braves. A Georgia Tech friend of mine stated the Braves had the wild card already won about 4 weeks ago. I tried to warn him about how Tech people always count contests over long before the finish and how things can change. He would have none of it and insisted there was no possible way the Braves could lose the wild card. I will call him this morning and see if he will admit he was wrong so the curse can be removed. Sadly, he will still insist the Braves have it locked up (he could never change his mind due to his Tech pride) and the curse will continue and the Cardinals will win the wild card. Only then will he reluctantly admit he was wrong about counting things over when they are far from done. What a vicious repetitive cycle! If he will swallow his pride and admit it was not over and remove the curse, then the Braves can still win this thing.
alex
September 20th, 2011
7:31 am
Not difficult to figure the problem:We have NO genuine star on the team and other than Freeman and mabye Bourne,there is no one that plays all aspects of the game well.The entire season many have been saying that this team has too many holes, ex. chipper fielding,gonzo hitting , uggla hitting, mac catching, heyward hitting, etc. Since all star break the starting pitching has been ,at best,6 innings…
drew
September 20th, 2011
7:32 am
What does it really matter???
IF they get in the playoffs they will get swept.
They really are not a good team – plain and simple.
It started when bobby cox came
September 20th, 2011
7:34 am
This started when we had cox show up at ted and look what has happen we lose chipper mouth runs over sayin we better then Philly ha ha who won east again sure not us what be more u folks sayin Phiilies are lettin cards get in ha should be sayin of Boston lettin Rays in wildcard race no differents is Redsox have people hurt in pitchin n outfielders we do not..Just chipper mouth n freddie G ego is all….As for tampa they playin well to tie for wildcard at end u have a One game playoff for it either in Tampa where fans can’t find the trop are in fenway Park the oldest but well kept stadiums beside dodger stadium too Wrigley field is last for there toilets overflow in streets! And u folks look sad when phillies swept us here n knock us out..And chipper runs cryin to Dave O’Brien sayin hey we made it we goin watch someone else now! And Tampa fans u day comin when u team is in Montreal in 2014!
Yankees’ Mariano Rivera sets mark with 602nd save – Atlanta Journal Constitution | CgPage
September 20th, 2011
7:38 am
[...] Kimbrel is undone by Infante, and this believer says, ‘Uh, oh’ [...]
It started when bobby cox came
September 20th, 2011
7:41 am
Hey nice see me comments not allowed its as fix as shultz football picks no way any persons can get all every pick unless they work for ajc n can change when done……..Now back to the chokin braves new plan ..How we choke the east n wildcard by chipper jones co wrote by Bobby cox…simple run mouth we better then Phillies next invite the cox who only won One ring choke the other 6 away! Goin look bad if Philles manager charlie Manuel wins another ring ….and then u see clearly who better….
Hope they get to playoffs
September 20th, 2011
7:43 am
Glad they are even in a wildcard race—-although its a bit like fighting sloppy seconds
Realist
September 20th, 2011
7:46 am
The Braves can get in the postseason all they want, but the fact is that theyre not going to do jack in the postseason with their current rotation. Beachy is a rookie with zero postseason experience and i dont want to even talk about derek lowe. The braves may be able to squeak by in the first round if hudson and beachy come out strong, but if the phillies are waiting in the NLCS then it’s over folks..
10-1 Lead After 3
September 20th, 2011
7:57 am
Mr. Bradley, aren’t you the guy who wrote a few days ago that the Braves have an 89% chance of making the playoffs.
I would someone explain to me why there are those who think Chipper Jones belongs in the Hall of Fame.
Ghostrider
September 20th, 2011
7:58 am
I think you can put a fork in them….if they cant beat the mets or the marlins how are they gonna beat the brewers or d’backs….there not
Shug
September 20th, 2011
8:00 am
Last night’s game was a Chipper standard– 0 for 4 and a boneheaded fielding play in a clutch situation. The only thing missing was him doing something stupid on the basepath, which is another thing he’s known for.
Boy, I sure hope he comes back next year, what with all he’s meant to the franchise. . . blah, blah, blah.
Chris
September 20th, 2011
8:00 am
The bullpen had been over used all year. The innings have finally caught up to it. Other than Hudson, our starters haven’t been pitching well. This happens when you lose your 2 of your best 3 starters to injury. The hitters feel like they have to press because they start the game in a 2 or 3 run hole every night. Not to mention our two most (usually) consistent hitters, Prado and McCann, are slumping big time. Even if we somehow hold on and make the playoffs, I don’t see us making it out of the first round.
rico carty
September 20th, 2011
8:04 am
Epic choke!
T-Town Dawgs
September 20th, 2011
8:06 am
As the saying goes, stick a fork in em’, they’re DONE!
Chris
September 20th, 2011
8:09 am
Why should they make it on paper? The way I see it, they will lose at least 2 against the marlins. And you know how they play against Wash. That will be 2 losses. And the phils! Well, I guess the phils can control who they want to play. If they beat us, which is likely 2/3 then they will almost certainly play st louis. If they let up against us, then it’s probably against Az, who I believe they dominated this year. If your philly, do you want to play a team that just beat you 3/4 to end the season at your place? Interesting things indeed. And St louis? 3 against the mets. They will win at least 2 and probably all 3. The cubs is a rivalry but it’s at home so I see 2/3 there and the strohs. Oh that’s a sweep. So the braves really need to go 5/8 to make the wild card and who thinks they can do that? Not me.
Chris
September 20th, 2011
8:10 am
10-1 lead
No it was a 96% chance they would make it. He got that from some morons at some website who don’t take into account the braves knack for choking and playing lousy every september
Double Zero Eight
September 20th, 2011
8:12 am
I think the Braves will make it……barely!
They have to remain focused. No one is going
to hand them the Wild Card on a platter.
They have to earn the right to go to the playoffs.
Let’s hope they get hot now, and continue playing well
in the playoffs. Timing is everything.
Mr. Obvious
September 20th, 2011
8:13 am
Even if the Braves do actually make the post-season, Michael Vick will still have Herpes for the rest of its life.
FSUFalcon
September 20th, 2011
8:15 am
and Bradley said this team will coast in sept..hahaha..i told ya man..this team is choking just like last year…it used be choke in the first round, now it’s choke 2 weeks before the first round
meh
September 20th, 2011
8:15 am
just a run of bad luck. just when the Braves want Philly to win, they lose 3 of 4. And then the Braves are one out from a come from behind win and Chipper loses a chopper in the lights. In all my thirty years I’ve never seen a ground ball lost in the lights. And then a dude with 5 homers on the season cranks one off of one the best closers in the game. It’s some bad luck, flukie, craziness. I got a feeling the Braves are gonna snap out of it though. GO BRAVES!
Dontavius Supremo
September 20th, 2011
8:16 am
The players aren’t hungry, they don’t care. It is obvious by their play on the field. Having said that, why sholuld I care if they fall out of the wild card? If these guys making millions don’t care, there’s nothing more to motivate them except pride, and they even lack that.
Tall Cool one
September 20th, 2011
8:19 am
For all you morons who point to SF last year. Idiots, this is NOTHING like them. They went 18-8 in September last year. What are the braves doing? They have a LOSING record this month. They are 6-12 this month! How dumb can you be to not get that? This team is DONE. They are worse than last years at this time.
juice sourcer
September 20th, 2011
8:24 am
Like I said a couple weeks ago…doesn’t make any difference if they make the playoffs..they are one and done…it’s all about momentum and the Braves have none.
We Need Bobby Back!
September 20th, 2011
8:24 am
DEPORT FREDI GONZALEZ!
up north
September 20th, 2011
8:25 am
Does McCann call the pitches, or does it come from the dugout?
RGP
September 20th, 2011
8:29 am
Hanson and Jurjiens out of rotation has hurt. The new guys Beachy and Minor have done a good job for most part. Lowe hasn’t looked so hot losing his last three starts. Delgado has looked pretty good at times. Braves need a spark to get going again.
Curious George
September 20th, 2011
8:32 am
Mark,
Do you think it would help if Fredi Gonzalez started picking his nose constantly on live television for good luck that appeared to be Bobby Cox’s “secret weapon” for the run of division titles?
beebee
September 20th, 2011
8:32 am
Chipper: “Oh, we got a 8 game lead. I’ll just sit this on out and rest my tummyache.
Chipper: “Eek, what’s THAT? a ground ball out to win the game. Eek, the lights! I’m sceeered! EEK!”
jerry
September 20th, 2011
8:33 am
They could still make it to the WS, where they could have the opportunity to extend their 8 game losing streak to the Yankees.
JoeMac
September 20th, 2011
8:34 am
Mark, A couple weeks ago, I said that the Cardinals had a great chance, a better chance than the Braves to make the wildcard, and you had serious doubts. What do you think now???? 2 back on the loss side; winners of 5 of 6 against Atlanta, 6 of 9 against the Phillies, it is quite obvious that the St. Louis Cardinals are the better team and deserve the playoff berth. All this without their #1 starter, and one of the top pitchers in the NL, Adam Wainwright. The Braves are like the Bulldogs, wait till next year.
Rickster
September 20th, 2011
8:38 am
And you all scoffed at me when I said Mark reminded me of Kevin Bacon’s ROTC character in Animal House as he yelled “ALL IS WELL!” just before he got trampled.
Tick
September 20th, 2011
8:41 am
The lack of offense, or putting games away, and over using Venters, Kimbrel, and O’Flarety early in the year, is why this has come down to this. The only thing the Braves had over the other top teams was/is the end of their bullpen. They were automatic, but obviously after these last two weeks, their not automatic. Throw in the fact, three of our starters are Rookies which are now throwing more innings than they ever have, and Derek Lowe doesn’t have as good as stuff as Bobby Dews at this point, I’d have to say even with a 2 1/2 game lead, right now, we’re the underdog.
Greg
September 20th, 2011
8:43 am
what i want to know is why throw the only pitch that omar can hit out? nice call mccann. you’re suppose to be the leader of the team. and you call for a high fast ball??? a single doesn’t even tie the game. mccann lost this game. not craig.
Dave
September 20th, 2011
8:50 am
Are the BIG THREE being over-used? Yes, but that is a result of low offense which dictates their use. When you have a 1 or 2 run lead, of course you are going to use your best weapons to protect that lead. They have come through SO MANY TIMES taht we expect them to come through EVERY time.
Like Mark and Schultzie, I AM concerned.
But this is an opporrtunity to see what kind of team the Braves REALLY are. Will they let this heart-breaking loss be the catalyst for their collapse?
OR will they buckle down, win the next two games, then take 2 out of three from the Nationals,and force the Cardinals to win 5 of the next six just have a chance going into the final series next week?
We will see…
sheezy
September 20th, 2011
8:52 am
WES, the Braves don’t have any talent, that’s why they lose!! The Phillies will become the Braves of the 90’s, they spend money on hitting and pitching, that’s why they will win the division every year!! They are too inconsistent!!
Jason Heyward's Gynecologist
September 20th, 2011
8:54 am
Frankly, Mr. Bradley, I’m stumped about what might be the proper treatment for my patient.
Shug
September 20th, 2011
8:55 am
For the record, I believe the Braves greatest lead was 10.5 games on August 26.
Someone has to answer for this collapse. Chipper? Fredi?
StungByAYellowJacket
September 20th, 2011
8:59 am
Oh the agony!!!! Where’s the heart on this team??? How can a team that features so many talented players on paper lack so much???? This is beyond frustrating!!!! Coach Freddi!!! What is gong on???????
Brad in KY
September 20th, 2011
9:06 am
Missing the playoffs would be worth it if the Braves will fire Freddi G and Larry P.
georgiavol
September 20th, 2011
9:14 am
It will be a fun winter being compared to other GREATEST CHOKE JOBS IN BASEBALL HISTORY! It’s over. I’m sorry, but I’ve said it all summer. Fredi is a great guy, but just an average manager.
DC
September 20th, 2011
9:18 am
Like the Hawks fans did for Jeff Teague…we need to have a FREE CONSTANZA sign!
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
September 20th, 2011
9:20 am
My name says it all. THe Braves hired a managar with a loosing record. Just how far did U thing this would go?
Brad Komminsk
September 20th, 2011
9:23 am
You know what I don’t see from Fredi Gonzales? A seething hatred of losing. During the post-game last night his attitude was “ho hum”, we’ll go back out tomorrow. Look, I’m all for trying to keep an even keel but it’s clear he isn’t tormented like the fans by these kinds of excrutiating losses, and he should be. Bobby always was, you could tell. They seriously need to just pack it in, there is absolutely NO WAY this team will be able to survive the next week. They are tired, slow, hurt, and ineffective. They should go ahead and shut down the young arms and trot Derek Lowe out there every night. Maybe we’ll get lucky and he’ll blow his elbow out so he can go ahead and retire.
Herschel Talker
September 20th, 2011
9:26 am
Braves are done!
Vick lost so it’s not so bad. GO FALCONS!!!!!
George
September 20th, 2011
9:27 am
It seems that the Braves are not playing to win but playing not to lose. Big difference. However real fans hang and there and support them no matter what happens. It is called loyalty.
Strange Murphy
September 20th, 2011
9:29 am
Big time choke from the Braves but its what we’ve come to expect these past few years.
Sonny Clusters
September 20th, 2011
9:31 am
Giving Lowe another start would be like trying to put Coach back in uniform after the unfortunate incident. We don’t talk much about it anymore but we always keep our wits about us if we go out somewhere on a Thursday night when Coach is likely to be out on the town. Losing that ground ball in the lights was Chipperesque. Not moving on the grounder to his left earlier got no mention. We would start Constanza tonight and let him run all over the place and see what happpens. Then, we’d let him pitch Wednesday if it meant keeping the ball out of Lowe’s hands. Lowe did not compete in his last start.
Larry
September 20th, 2011
9:36 am
Remember all those games that Fruity blew earlier this year with Heyward or Gonzalez batting 1st or 2nd, Hanson’s suicide squeeze with two strikes, Venters pitching in his 4th consecutive game with a six run lead, popping McCann in at #3 on his first day back from the DL, etc, etc, etc.?
This historic mismanagement and collapse is on the goober with the goatee!
Walker, Texas Ranger
September 20th, 2011
9:39 am
Braves have a mouth full of cornbread. Cardinals are beating the NL’s best and the Braves are losing to the NL worst. Almost everybody on the team is in a slump and the starting staff has been riddled by injury. Somebody needs to load the guys up and head to Johnny’s Hideaway to pick up a slumpbuster.
DeProf
September 20th, 2011
9:39 am
Can we win 4 of 8 remaining games? 5 wins would probably cinch it. If St. L still wins, then they deserve it as they would definitely be more competitive in playoffs. Am worried about pitching to even win half of rem. games. Also, Braves will feel even more pressure esp. in later innings. However, if they can’t win 4-5 when it really counts, then they should not be in Playoffs. However, I do understand two of top pitchers being injured and that will help them next year. Would like to see Braves to go down fighting, though.
Mark, if we are fortunate to hang on, do you think Hansen or Jurgens will be ready for the playoffs? If not, it would truly be a miracle if they advance to second round. Hudson cannot do it by himself.
Elliot Garcia
September 20th, 2011
9:42 am
Fire Fredi!!!!
Dirty Dawg
September 20th, 2011
9:46 am
I’m sorry but I don’t agree that it was location rather than ‘the pitch’. Maybe Kimbrel hadn’t intended to brush back Infante on the first one, but he did and the situation called for a breaking pitch away. Frankly, I’ve been wondering if the Braves insistence on playing McCann every game – yeah, I know the need for him to get his ’stroke’ back – is wise. Ross calls so much better a game and, instinctively, understands what pitches, from which pitchers, to what hitters in what situations, so much better than Brian. Oh well, guess we’ll be wondering about that for the next six months.
I do have to also wonder what the Baseball Gods are trying to do…keep us on the edges of our seats (and our sanity) until we win it at the wire, or put us on the list of ‘all-time chokes’.
phil
September 20th, 2011
9:57 am
Nothing is certain in sports until it’s certain.
Why don’t Atlanta fans ever seem to get this? Georgia fans, of which I am one?
Until we clinched, it was never certain, especially with our terribly inconsistent hitting present since the last 2 weeks of spring training.
The games have to be won on the field of play, not on paper, not in our heads, not with wishful thinking, not just because we have a 10.5 game lead on August 25th. Now look at us. 2 game lead.
It’s STILL ours to lose, and I’m not giving up until the last out, but deep down we all know that we’re likely doomed, if not now then in round one in a week or 2. We just don’t have the bats and the pitching is toast.
PMC
September 20th, 2011
9:58 am
If they blow this thing they had better be making some wholesale changes….. They can’t blame this on “youth and inexperience”
This is an epic collapse.
PMC
September 20th, 2011
9:59 am
This whole baseball is luck thing too. Ok, The baseball gods really? Mistakes are mistakes.
You’re professionals, you get paid obsene amounts of money to be really good at playing baseball. If you suck at it people should get fired.
PMC
September 20th, 2011
10:01 am
How many years are we going to go into a September where Braves players cannot find ways to produce runs?
Every single year, not enough offense.
Ngagirl
September 20th, 2011
10:03 am
Wow, if Chipper had gotten that ball instead of dodging it the Braves would of picked up a come from behind win…Thanks for nothing Mr. Jones, I guess you are ready to hit the woods or belly up to the Hooters bars…but the rest of us want to see some Braves baseball in October
71 Dawg
September 20th, 2011
10:08 am
Who cares? With our current performance, we’ll be toast in the first round. . .
Matt from MN
September 20th, 2011
10:12 am
Remember in the early 90’s how we all mocked the Dodgers and Tommy Lasorda for blowing that huge lead they had over the Braves? Now we know how it feels to be on the other end of an epic collapse.
hesalive
September 20th, 2011
10:15 am
It only takes a spark to light a fire. Quitters never win and winners never quit! Go Braves!
jeff
September 20th, 2011
10:16 am
Uh Mark, no more tough talk from you about how the Bravos are just as good as the Phils?! Chipper needs to make that play last night, bottom line.
Jake
September 20th, 2011
10:17 am
It’s pretty simple, Mark: we’ve been watching an improved version of the same old Braves. That is, a team with considerable talent — and Frank Wren deserves a lot of credit for that — but still lacking the on-field leadership that separates pretenders from contenders.
WIth the exception of the year they won the World Series, the Braves have always been a one-speed team, a team built for the regular season but unable to ratchet it up for the playoffs. The teams that can and do gear up always have an edge, a refusal to lose. The Braves are built on a corporate model that prizes citizenship and tractability, which limits discipline issues, etc., but also seems to eliminate certain personality-types.
Chipper’s got Hall of Fame numbers, but there’s also a negative undercurrent to the way he speaks and thinks. He’s not a dynamic leader who refuses to lose, and his constant injury problems indicate that it’s not just his body that’s fragile, but his psyche, too.
It seemed like Prado was building that kind of will and leadership, but he keeps getting hurt, and his confidence seems down.
Great examples of willpower and refusing to lose were Michael Jordan and Larry Bird. Neither one of them were particularly likeable, but they had an edge. They hated to lose, and they imposed that on their teams. You watch the Phillies, you see a team that refuses to lose, and the leaders are hard-nosed guys like Utley, Halladay, Lee, Howard, Victorino, Rollins.
So, the Braves are going to be as fragile as their putative leader (Chipper) until someone else steps up who does have the will, or until they collectively develop it as the Giants did last year.
John Koktoastin
September 20th, 2011
10:20 am
This is seriously the best. World greatest choke. the whole team is so uptight…wow lost in the lights unreal…the team is lost in the lights. They do not deserve the playoffs.
Sonny Clusters
September 20th, 2011
10:25 am
Right about now this team could use a Clusters.
Phillies, Class of The NL
September 20th, 2011
10:31 am
Well, things are all wrapped up, up here in the beautiful City of Philadelphia, the home of Baseball’s Renaissance. How are things going for the lowly bravos? Oh, they’re choking? To be expected, obviously they are leaps and bounds below The All-Business, All The Time Philadelphia Phillies, never more evident than this season.
Sonny Clusters
September 20th, 2011
10:34 am
That Chopper to Chipper he lost in the lights was no more tragic than the earlier grounder hit to his left that he never moved to get. He sat one out earlier saying he’d have played if the race was really close. Ha! It’s close now and they’d be better off if he tweaked something. Huntin’ season is almost here . . .
Phillies, Class of The NL
September 20th, 2011
10:37 am
The lowly bravos are their own worst enemies. Truly a dysfunctional franchise if I’ve ever seen one. I mean, what’s the point of making the playoffs anyway? That way the braves can lose in the first round in a half-empty stadium? What’s the point?
meh
September 20th, 2011
10:43 am
they need to figure it out and win these next two against the Marlins cuz the Nats and Phils give em fits.
Jimbob
September 20th, 2011
10:44 am
BARTENDER!!, keep them coming.
JoeFan
September 20th, 2011
10:49 am
The Braves post season hopes were buried on the previous road trip when they couldn’t win a game agaisnt either the Phillie or Cardinals. However, their demise was predictable because of season long problems including an over worked bullpen, a sputtering offense, and starting pitching that didn’t hold up in the second half. Maybe going forward the Braves will realize that those losses in April and May count just as much as those in September and will play and manage accordingly. Hard to believe the Braves chances of making the post season will improve in the next few years as the Nats , Mets and Marlins improve. Ceratinly don’t see the Phillies regressing. The Braves have wasted a golden opportunity.
gcs
September 20th, 2011
11:01 am
The Braves have been leaning on the bullpen ALL season. It is time for the bats to pull their weight. Enough of these 1-run games!
Dragon
September 20th, 2011
11:05 am
3 1/2 not 3 1/1 game lead (3rd line)
wins-by-a-link
September 20th, 2011
11:15 am
This one really hurt! But lets face the fact that the Braves may be better off not making the post season, I don’t think they could compete with any of the top teams in NL, Phillies, Brewers or D-Backs who are presently better than Braves, Starting pitching is a shambles, Bull pen is showing the wear of a long season and starters only going into the 6th inning, The bats never really showed up, I don’t know what the average runs per game is but it has to be close to a record for a team this close to making post season, FG will probably get the blame for the melt down along with FW, But remember the present owners Liberty Media are the sole reason for the state of the Braves condition, They bought the Braves for a tax break and have no interest in winning a championship, Util the Braves are owned by local interest this is what you can expect for years to come
Too Tough 44
September 20th, 2011
11:15 am
BRAVES ARE FINISHED! I AM SAD TO SAY>>>>I THINK THAT IS A FACT> THEY JUST DONT HAVE THE UMPHH! I HOPE I AM WRONG>> AND WHY IN THE WORLD IS CONSTANZA ON THE BENCH? DIAZ STARTING IN THE OUTFIELD B$4 CONSTANZA IS NOT SMART BASEBALL!
JoeMac
September 20th, 2011
11:18 am
@Jake, The Phillies might refuse to lose, but they LOST 6 of 9 to the Cardinals this season. I guess the refuse to lose is just for some of the teams.
PMC
September 20th, 2011
11:23 am
I once lost a dilly bar in the lights at the Dairy Queen once, I sure wished a Clusters would have been there to catch it.
TechRon
September 20th, 2011
11:25 am
Braves are busy taking the gas. Culprits are: Gonzalez (for mishandling starters), Lowe, Virtually every batter, since the Braves are the worst in baseball at bunting, moving runners and actually getting a hit with runners on 2nd or 3rd. If they blow this kind of lead, they will move into the class of all-time dogs. I sure hope they don’t, but right now I cannot see a great deal of hope. They just have no fire. They swing at the balls rolling up there. they are a helpless bunch right now.
TechRon
September 20th, 2011
11:31 am
Plus — I must agree with Too Tough, above. What the heck are they doing with Constanza on the bench? When he was playing they were tearing it up. They have to make a place for that kind of speed. Also, he HITS. Maybe that is why he is sitting, the other guys are uncomfortable with a no-name standing up there and actually hitting the ball. Out of the infield, I mean.
Phillies, Class of The NL
September 20th, 2011
11:39 am
The Juggernaut wins the East, yet again.
braves? same old.
birdo
September 20th, 2011
11:40 am
No worry, they will make the playoff’s, sometimes it’s better to have the pressure on you. This will make them better in the long run. Always think its better to have pressure attitude going into the playoffs instead of a big lead. They will be ready. GO BRAVES
Help Fredi steady the reeling Braves: Your tips welcome! | Mark Bradley
September 20th, 2011
11:51 am
[...] Braves, as noted, have played their way into a spot of bother. But this is baseball, where momentum is [...]
BullDogMike
September 20th, 2011
11:54 am
The Braves are flatlining.. And it’s not completly the players fault. Take the last game against the Mets for instance. Freddie just sat there on his fat arse eating sunflower seeds while Venters walked everybody in sight. Waited until he walked in a run before he even thought about having anybody warm up. Too late then. What a duma*s thing to have to sit and watch. Welcome to the wild card play-offs St. Louis.
Stefan
September 20th, 2011
11:58 am
It’s not the Cardinals, it’s the Giants! Beware the Giants!
coach13
September 20th, 2011
12:10 pm
“On paper they should still make it.” Really?? 2 1/2 is not much with 8 to play. Especially considering how well St. Louis is playing right now.
I said it on another blog yesterday: This is exactly why you don’t pitch Venters and Kimbrel with 5 run leads and say “they need to stay sharp”.
JoeMac
September 20th, 2011
12:36 pm
Forget about the half, the Cardinals are 2 games on the loss side behind the Braves, and playing great baseball. The Braves are what they are, a weak hitting team that rode the back of an overachieving rotation until the rotation got worn out from carrying all the load. Now, they are falling and they will once again say…”Wait till next year”.
JoeMac
September 20th, 2011
12:36 pm
And do not forget the hard charging Giants.
George Allen
September 20th, 2011
2:10 pm
I am tired of all the so-called “experts” who communicated that atlanta was definitely going to the play-offs, no reason to worry, and backed it up by stats saying, “well if St Louis goes 15-3 and Atl goes only 8-8 Atl will still go to play-offs. Bob Boone told Don Sutton something years ago, that is a better warning to heed than any stat analysis…”sometimes when the air comes out of the balloon, you can’t just blow it back up.”
George Allen
September 20th, 2011
2:14 pm
Birdo, are you related to Gonzales?
George Allen
September 20th, 2011
2:20 pm
I agree with many of the posts (i.e. playing not to lose). What happened to being aggressive on basepaths? Keeping the opponents on their toes? Isn’t that what we got Borne for anyway?
George Allen
September 20th, 2011
2:22 pm
What is the strategy in getting Linebrink up in the middle of a close game to warm up??? Terrorizing Braves fans?
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It's Ok
September 21st, 2011
1:30 pm
The problem is right at the top of this column. Who in the world let Cox into the stadium during a playoff drive?