Help Fredi steady the reeling Braves: Your tips welcome!
Who thinks either man knows a thing about baseball? (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
The Braves, as noted, have played their way into a spot of bother. But this is baseball, where momentum is tomorrow’s — by now, that would be today’s — starting pitcher, who would be Randall Delgado. So hope remains. That said …
I know you folks. (Not personally, not even Sonny Clusters — at least not to my knowledge.) I know you’re not willing to rely on ephemeral concepts like momentum and fate. You want managerial action! And here’s where I ask: With his team reeling, what should Fredi Gonzalez do?
(I pause to note: Unlike his predecessor, who relied on his iPhone for electronic interaction, Fredi has a laptop. There’s no guarantee he’ll see the fruits of your wisdom, but there’s a chance. And if your advice is sagacious enough … well, you could be the one who saves the Braves!)
Being a famously splendid sport, I’ll go first. My advice to the skipper:
• Tell Chipper Jones, “The next time the ball is hit your way, try to find it.”
• Tell Derek Lowe, “The next time you pitch, throw left-handed.”
• Tell Jason Heyward, “That stuff you were doing last year? Do it again.”
• Tell Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson, “Stop hurting.”
• Tell his hitters, “When there’s a man in scoring position, try to drive him in.”
See, I’m not really sure a turn-over-the-postgame-spread-table tantrum is in order. I don’t for a second believe the Braves aren’t trying as hard as they can. (Think about it. Why would they not be trying hard? Because they’d much rather be lumped with the ‘64 Phillies than partake of postseason play?)
I do believe the injuries to Jurrjens and Hanson have put a greater load on the bullpen, and the load on the bullpen was already immense. I do believe Brian McCann’s post-DL slump has put a strain on a lineup that didn’t have a Prince Fielder or a Ryan Braun in the first place. (Note that Milwaukee has both those guys.) I also note that, if you go by that “expected wins” stat, the Braves’ overall numbers suggest they should be 83-71, not 87-67. So maybe they’ve actually gotten good value from this roster, which could be taken as a sign of — gasp! — skilled managing.
But I know you folks, and I know that’s not what you want to hear. You want action! You want accountability! You want resignations on the postgame-spread table! You want to see this team Play With More Emotion! You want all that stuff you wanted but didn’t get to your satisfaction with Bobby Cox and charge and aren’t getting with Fredi G., either. So here’s your chance.
Tell Fredi what to do. And if your suggestion is good enough and he happens to see it, I’m reasonably certain he’ll tip his cap to you.
By Mark Bradley
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406 comments Add your comment
Farnsworthy
September 20th, 2011
9:46 pm
Nieves? Whatever happened to Nieves?
And, why did that numbnut Frank Wren decide that it made sense to pay Lowe 15m a year?
Farnsworthy
September 20th, 2011
9:52 pm
Fredi: During the offseason consult with someone like Tommy LaSorda on the proper way to chew an umpire’s butt; because when it comes to confronting umps, man you are weak.
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September 20th, 2011
10:10 pm
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Jim from Roswell
September 20th, 2011
10:39 pm
Please don’t let Lowe start another game for the Atlanta Braves! Pitch one of the young guns and take your chances with talent that might even make it past the 5th inning with a lead. Lowe is done. Lowe can no longer pitch effectively in the majors. Lowe is through. Lowe is washed up. Getting the message Fredi? Need more hints? Loyalty has its limits and you have given Lowe 4 or 5 starts more than he deserved. Move on.
P Rose
September 20th, 2011
11:09 pm
That’s more like it! Nice win. Keep taking care of business and everything will be fine.
GoAwayLowe
September 20th, 2011
11:17 pm
Fredi, How can you even consider letting Lowe come close to a baseball? Put him in his little fancy sportscar and say he is on the DL. If you have ANY chances left, for the love of God, don’t let him start tomorrow. Then after that, bring Constanza in to play, and take out the dead weight. Lastly, pack your things and move on. Whatever made you think you could manage Major League ball players.
G.Wally
September 20th, 2011
11:36 pm
Hinske’s haircut did the trick.
JRW7
September 21st, 2011
12:13 am
Even if BRAVES hold on to win wild card, they are not going anywhere in playoffs. Something about this BRAVES team just ain’t right?
Nobleman
September 21st, 2011
12:21 am
One thing we, and I mean all can agree on, no way will FG, manage for 20 years, with the Braves like Mr.Cox, and who suggested Parish for batting coach, one of the worst coaches in baseball history. Braves fan since 1965.
Kelvin Frazier
September 21st, 2011
2:23 am
It should be obvious to anyone watching the Braves that they are tired. Their starting pitching is shaky and the bullpen has worn down from all the innings they have logged this year. But what can you do? With starting pitching the way that it is the Braves are going to have to continue to rely on the bullpen which will cause them to wear down even more. If the Braves manage to hold off the Cardinals and make it to the post season it could mean a quick exit with a tired bullpen.
Heath
September 21st, 2011
5:09 am
4 words: Jose Alvarez Pep Talk
Heath
September 21st, 2011
5:13 am
3 more words, Fredi: Mark Lemke bobbleheads
One for each player. You’re welcome.
Go back to bed
September 21st, 2011
6:05 am
Enter your comments here
Gladys Knight
September 21st, 2011
6:06 am
Buy a one way ticket back to the life you once knew.
Bud Wiser
September 21st, 2011
6:26 am
Here’s a no-brainer: give Derrick Lowe his outright release.
joe
September 21st, 2011
6:27 am
as much as I like to watch the Braves they are such a miserable offensive team( and now just a mediocre pitching staff, at best) that it would be 1 and done even if they get to the playoffs….
the fact that Lowe keeps getting the ball every 5 days has turned me off to the Braves
Double Zero Eight
September 21st, 2011
7:13 am
Go with the young arms during the playoffs.
Use Lowe as a reliever. Use Leo Mazzone as
a consultant during the playoffs. Get more
input from Terry Pendleton on hitting.
RGP
September 21st, 2011
7:42 am
Get Lowe out of the starting rotation immediately if not sooner.
Capt. Lou Albano
September 21st, 2011
8:00 am
Here’s a great idea, don’t let Lowe pitch anymore. I heard he was great at picking up donuts and sitting on the bench. We’ve lost tooooo many of his starts. We might as well bring Kawakami back and let him pitch in Lowe’s place.
Noholdsbarred
September 21st, 2011
8:20 am
Put bi-focals on McCann so he can see the ball . . . and second base! Use the line-up w/pitcher batting eighth Constanza 9th. Or even use this:
1.Constanza,
2.Bourn,
3.Freeman,
4.Gonzo,
5.Jones,
6.Uggs,
7.McCann,
8.Prado,
9.Pitcher
Dan Foust
September 21st, 2011
8:50 am
Find a new batting coach, and then teach Heyward a major league swing.
jefferson
September 21st, 2011
8:54 am
it’s called “Suckin it up, and get out there an at least ACT like you want to WIN. Quit all thi Whinin about my ___ hurts… Guys from Legends of Baseball, who did’nt have no Hotels, Team Doctors, Jacuzzi’s, all this Pampering Atheletes get today.. theyre SPoiled Rotten BRATS.
james schroeder
September 21st, 2011
9:02 am
Have a team meeting, then show them 1991:The Miracle Season followed by 1992:Lightening Strikes Twice. Then look for fire in their eyes, because if its not there, they are dead.
then you might check out this good braves blog
http://chopspringseternal.blogspot.com/
reckingball
September 21st, 2011
9:13 am
Dig up Eric Gregg, pay him off, and see if MLB will let him ump the remaining games of 2011.
reckingball
September 21st, 2011
9:17 am
008 @7:13am……Playoffs? What do you mean playoffs?
reckingball
September 21st, 2011
9:18 am
Also, agree with taking Lowe off of the mound.
joe
September 21st, 2011
9:21 am
Too late now, but stop pitching O’Flar/Vent/Kimb so damn much. Read the other day all 3 are over 75 appearances. Did you know Mariano Rivera never pitched 75 in any season?
joe
September 21st, 2011
9:23 am
Also, shut down Lowe for the remaining games, including playoffs if they make it. Would rather see one of our rookies out there in his spot…he’s done!
Buckwheat
September 21st, 2011
9:47 am
First, spell your name correctly. Who do you think you are; Jimmi Williams?
Braves fan from birth
September 21st, 2011
11:45 am
The most glaring issue with Fredi since the beginning of the season has been how to utilize the bullpen. We obviously have tons of talent there, but you have to know when to take them out when they just don’t have their stuff that night, especially with the rockstars. No need to waste their energy when they’re having an off night. It happens to everyone. Don’t belabor the point, and don’t wait for relievers to work out the kinks. They’re not starters; there’s no time.
Hope Fredi reads this far down. Great idea for a column, Bradley. First time I’ve ever commented, or read past the first few comment entries.
Chris Bowen
September 21st, 2011
12:23 pm
Lifelong Cardinal fan here. There is no way my Redbirds are catching the Braves, 2-1/2 out with 8 to play is a pretty tall order, so relax, and get ready to enjoy the playoffs. The Cards are playing pretty good right now, but its way too little and way too late.
sidslid
September 21st, 2011
1:37 pm
Fredi’s use of the bullpen last night was “Game 4 against the Indians with Pedro Borbon” gutsy. Now he has his boys rested for tonight. If Venters and Kimbrall can’t do it tonight, they are toast and so are the Braves as they don’t have a seven inning pitcher on the roster.
Arch Wallace
September 21st, 2011
2:46 pm
Fredi is a formula manager. Starting pitchers are suppose to go 6 innings by formula.Releivers ahve a set spot. Unfortunately, players don’t necessarily fit the pre-determined formula.If a pitcher begins struggling in the 5th, bend the formula and put someone else in. If a late innig reliever is struggling, change him. It is late in the season. Players are tense. Arms are tired. Lowe is no longer consistently effective; it’s a second half thing. Give him a week off. Use Tehran in his place. Put the speed option back in.
Ralph The Cat
Noholdsbarred
September 21st, 2011
6:00 pm
Just RESIGN!
superiorblogman
September 21st, 2011
6:31 pm
Fredi should resign. He played favorites all year and it killed the locker room even though noone is admitting it. Chipper should leave right with him and stop putting pressure on younger players to carry him to a championship to bolster his weak 1st ballot claims
chris
September 21st, 2011
8:45 pm
Play through it best you can; kudos to these kids who’ve played their hearts out..the veterans have not really stepped up as they needed to in some spots but baseball is 162 games, not 140…the last 20 games of the year count as much as the first 20. we’re just not getting it done and now we do have to hope the cards cool off or we will be singing “see ya next year” tune after a collosial collapse after leading the wild card 10 1/2 games a month ago…OUCH
chris
September 21st, 2011
8:52 pm
The bloggers on here who are asking for Fredi G’s head are without hope. The Braves have played hard all year even through this stretch. The manager can’t run, hit field or pitch. The starting pitching has went south and with the injuries its just made things worse. I have no problems with the managing, I have a serious problem with over paid players like LOWE who should have been traded to Detroit at the deadline and his 5+ ERA. We needed another bat in addition to Bourne and some life in this lineup to shake things up. That issue goes up higher on the food chain to Wren and management. Just got to pray the baseball Gods have not put on a Red hat just yet and the Mets can give us some help tonight and tommorow and we break this Washington jinx this weekend.
Runnin With The Dawgs
September 21st, 2011
9:05 pm
We’re playing like we did in the pre- Glavine, Maddux, Smoltz days. Did you hear what I said? Glavine, Maddux, Smoltz . GREAT PITCHING! We don’t have a pitcher in our starting rotation as good as either of these guys was in their prime,and we had all three on the same team. My advice is to keep hunting for great pitching and you’ve GOT to send the average pitchers on down the road.
Runnin With The Dawgs
September 21st, 2011
9:09 pm
Take away all incentives and impose as many pay cuts as possible untill we make the playoffs!
bravesfaninstl
September 21st, 2011
9:24 pm
1. Remove Derek Lowe from the rotation and put anybody else in there. We are guaranteed a loss every time he takes the mound. Tell Frank Wren to trade him ASAP.
2. Send Jason Heyward to AAA. Should have been there two months ago. That way he can get his swing straight and be back in Atlanta for next season.
3. Tell Chipper Jones to quit complaining about being in the 2 hole. Fredi is the manager last time I checked and not Chipper.
4. Most importantly: Fredi needs to be his own man and find his own voice. The shadow of Bobby Cox looms to much over this team. His “player friendly” approach got us one World Series when we should have won at least 2 or 3. He doesn’t need to pander to Chipper or Heyward. If Heyward needs to go to AAA then send him to AAA until he can get his act together. Fredi needs to manage his way and not Cox’s way.
Tell Chipper to hit in the 2 hole or in the 8 hole. Point is: Gonzalez is the manager, not Chipper.
Honestly, I think the franchise will not move forward until they move out of the shadow of Bobby Cox and Chipper Jones. They have had their time and its time to move on. Cox may not manage the team anymore, but his presence is still there. Chipper needs to go ahead and retire. There’s other guys that can take his place as leader of the team. Brian McCann being one name that comes to mind. The Braves have a lot of young talent that will continue to develop in the years to come. Hopefully, they can get their act together in the meantime and hold off the Cardinals.
GO BRAVES!!!
Oh Brother
September 21st, 2011
10:15 pm
Cards up…Braves gone! Lowe to pitch the next 6 games and then wash the player cars to try and earn his millions.
Oh Brother
September 21st, 2011
10:19 pm
I wish I was a Cards fan…now that is a team to get excited about.
A bit fed up
September 21st, 2011
10:37 pm
Getting runners on base, in scoring position, and not scoring them is a HUGE PROBLEM. Fredi G. just shakes it off “that will come.” Really it hasn’t come all freaking year. I think it is time to try to produce some runs. Isn’t that why we traded for speed? Play some freaking small ball. Hell steal home if you have to, just score a run!!!!!!!!!!
Clifford Ruff
September 22nd, 2011
3:54 am
Against right-handed pitching I’d go 1. Bourn 2. Contanza 3. C. Jones 4. Uggla 5. McCann 6. Freeman 7. Heyward 8. Gonzo 9. Pitcher……..Against lefties 1. Bourn 2. C. Jones 3. Prado 4. Uggla 5. McCann 6. Hinske 7. Diaz 8. Gonzo 9. Pitcher…..and mix the young pitchers like Delgado and Minor in between the veterans…..veteran players like Hinske and others are invaluable this time of year.
Runnin With The Dawgs
September 22nd, 2011
8:25 am
A bit fed up has a good point. We had the bases loaded with nobody out the other night and didn’t score a run. This is not the way a championship team operates. Fredi or somebody needs to figure out how to get runners across the plate when they’re in scoring position. Singles hitters like Constanza go a long way with runners on base.
“GO BRAVES”!
Runnin With The Dawgs
September 22nd, 2011
8:26 am
A bit fed up has a good point. We’re not scoring runs when we have runners on base.
Tom S
September 22nd, 2011
8:44 am
From the time I was 10 years old in Little League we were taught to hit “down” on the ball. Hit the upper half of the ball, put backspin on it and it’ll be hit hard and carry. Other than a couple of players on the current Braves roster, every hitter that comes to the plate looks to have one thing in mind, swing hard, uppercut the ball, and try to hit a home run. What happened to base hits, line drives, that will drive in those runs they are currently leaving on base at an alarming rate.
Arkie
September 22nd, 2011
9:06 am
Fundalmental baseball wins games and helps keep a team out of slumps. Single or walk, steal a base, hit and run, sac fly, good defense. ability to move runners into scoring position, hitting the ball where it is pitched, etc. Since most of our wins seem to come on home runs, this points to our problems. UPPER MANAGEMENT HAS ALWAYS seemed to be part of the problem, not the solution. Traded for older players on the down side of their careers, traded good young promsing talent for these. Build a strong house (team) and it will stand. Ours is crumbling. We have a good team that needs a few pieces and leadership from the coaches. Great teams have superior coaches, do we? NO.
SouthPhillyGirl
September 22nd, 2011
9:53 am
c’mon, Braves. Start playing like it means something. Stop tipping your cap to the other team. That’s is what I would tell them. It may sound like hollow advice coming from a Phils phan, but I would much rather play anyone else besides the Cards right now
Phils are just phoning it in right now, as they have nothing on the line. I hope that shakes off, come October. Good luck. Tough to watch your team lie down.
ken
September 22nd, 2011
10:12 am
It is my humble opinion that the Braves made a huge mistake by replacing one inept manager with another one. This guy is a clone of the previous one in that he has no idea what to do to get the best out of his team. The Braves need a manager with a lot more fire who is not afraid to put the best lineup on the field regardless. How can anyone develop any kind of cohesiveness when they are not sure when or if they will be playing. There is no doubt with the talent on this team, they should be coasting right now getting ready for the post season but as you can see they are struggling to hold off the surging Cardinals who have far less talent in their lineup. Folks, let us wake up and smell the coffee. Freddie G. is is not what the Braves needed and until we face this truth we will continue to see what we are seeing right now….