Update: After 13 innings, the Braves’ epic failure is complete

The game that hurts most is the 1st game of the last series in St. Louis going into the 9th with a 3-1 lead. Nothing more to say until next year. That was a disgusting effort all the way around.

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This hurts deeply, the only thing that compares to this is that Falcons loss to Green bay during the playoffs… But fellow Bravo fans, even after this heartbreaking loss to the phillies and pulling one of the biggest chokers of all time,but life will go on…. Let the playoff teams have their high priced bottles… Take the Kids out to play, enjoy quality time with Friends and Family, indulge in some of your favorite hobbies… There is truly more to life than these pathetic teams in our State… Have a great night

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it never ends for the losing city of atlanta. Good riddance to these losers.

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The season is now over and the braves do not have to worry about this painful season anymore.

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Sorry to Say, Mark but the ending was apt.. in the past 6-7 weeks, Braves lost every series to sub-500 team and were swept by every playoff contender.. you don’t need bigger statistical evidence that they were awful.

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That was a very eloquently written article, Mark. One of your best.

I’m not even upset. I’m annoyed, disgusted, humilated,etc. I didnt even feel this bad to say I was a Braves fan, when they stunk in the 1980s.

I dont know where they go from here. They should have walked to the Wild Card. Simply, this “Major League Team”, should hang their heads in shame.

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I’ve attended Braves games up to the last 2 years.I made a wise choice and stopped waisting my time. I’m not impressed with Freddi and I didn’t see a rookie-of-the-year canidate when it counted.

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On the bright side, our bullpen will be well-rested next game.

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A fitting end to a disappointing season. A real “close, but no cigar” season for the braves. But now the balls in Frank Wrenns court. Do something to make the team better.

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I washed my hands of these chokers in ‘96. Nice to see that 15 seasons later nothing has changed.

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good column mark..honestly couldnt say it any better..this is a epic failure and yes one of the biggest Braves chokes that even eclipses the 1996 World Series when we could have been up 3-1 and a hanging curve ball ended that fantasy and a series win. I have to believe this will carry over to next year and without some major adjustments to the roster in getting rid of some dead weight in veterans who were overpaid and didnt produce (LOWE being at top of list) in the clutch, don’t see us even being this close in 162 games this time next year. Sad night, sick feeling inside and disgust. Total failure, game over man, game over.

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They always represent Atlanta well as the city with the biggest choke artists ever. There’s no doubt that Atlanta is the worst sports city in America. But hey….at the least the Dream is in the finals! I will be pulling for them. Its funny that the women go further than any other sports team we have.

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I think Fredi’s got to go. When they showed him sitting on his hands with Linebrink in trouble, I knew it was over. No way Linebrink was going to throw it by anybody. All you could do was pray he made it out of the inning. The manager has got to trot somebody else out there in that situation.

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College ball is the way to go in this town. Better value, better talent.

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At least the atl is still black mecca! the black chicks here are superfine quality!!!

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Serves all of you women haters right, now you and Fearless Leader Jones can go and hide on the Deer harvesting farm and lick your wounded macho egos! Oh yeah, here’s a note to Chipper, next time to you tell your detractors to (and I quote): “Kiss you explicit” try to win something without David Justice carrying you! When do pitchers and catchers report?

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Wow. Gonna be a looooonnnng off-season for these guys.

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This proves that Fredi is no big time Mgr. There is no veteran leadership on this team whatsoever, and the young talent chokes.

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Yes. They waited until the 13th inning of the 162nd game to screw me, but theres a reason I have an atlanta A on my arm. That’s because I love my team. This isn’t the last we will hear of this bunch we are loaded for the future. It just really sucks now.

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Oh.. we will be breaking new lowest attendance records in ATL next year..but can we really fault the fans after this season? See what happened to Mets? They have nobody showing up in their big new ballpark after their choke full seasons..

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Cardinals could give the Phils a series, especially if they beat Doc in game one

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The blame lies totally on Fredi. He decided to start his play off lineup at the beginning of September. He is the one to put in that no hustle Heyward in the line up and take out Constanza

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The sad thing is that the Braves will not be any better next year. Both the Marlins and Nationals are on the rise, and they have clutch hitters. The Braves have enough pitching. They better gets some hitting or they will be hanging out with the Mets in the second division.

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The most discouraging thing was the total disappearance of Brian McCann over the last month. Chipper didn’t hit anything down the stretch and is washed up as far as I’m concerned.

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When will this nightmare end?

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its different losing in the playoffs, im used to that. Atlanta is used to that. But this collapse, this total baseball disgrace, hurts. Im injured, injured bad. Chipper Jones is our curse. The curse of the Larry.

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Chop! Chop! Off with their heads!!!! Start with Freddi and Larry Parrish and start working your way down; there’s a long list of guys who need to go…NOW.

And let’s get a real HUMAN, LOCAL ownership in here. Hey, Arthur Blank, the Braves’ stock isn’t gonna get any lower! Buy now while it’s most affordable!

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If we don’t fire Freddie we are the laughing stock of MLB. Hell I could have managed this team over the past month and do a better job then this clown. If Frank Wren wants to keep his job, he needs to grow a pair and fire Freddie tomorrow. Just sickening.

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If we had won today’s and tomorrow’s play-in game, there was a possibility the Braves would have had three rookie starters out of four (almost certainty with recent Lowe performance) and a rookie closer and a rookie first baseman.. I bet that has never happened. I think at best we were AAA+ team and in the past one month, we were AA team, if that.

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Hmm, bet those folks who bought up postseason tickets are kinda bummed right about now.

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Check that the worst collapse just happend. We were it for about 15 mins. The title has been lifted

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I won’t trash the hometown team but I won’t be buying tickets until things change.

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This one hurt the most. In 45 years it’s like this team had no heart, no drive. Their BA with RISP is what did them in. And some may say, “let’s see you do better,” but I don’t make a gazillion dollars a year to do what they are paid to do. This collapse has been epic and unbelievable. I know the players hurt, but instead of hunting, fishing, and golfing, they should play winter ball.

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Chopper to Chipper. That was the beginning of our “Bartman”. He was 0 for 5 tonight as well. I wish he would just go. Regarding poor hitting, Phillies try to make contact. Braves try to hit home runs every pitch. Pretty simple. Probably the worst hitting baseball team in ATL in the past 20 years. Lastly, this team needs to get rid of the Tomahawk Chop shop and all of that B.S.. It really has done us no good. I say we burn all of those limp foam pieces of crap on the mound at Turner Field and bring in a Cherokee Medicine Man to relieve the curse of this God forsaken sports town. Best Regards, TT

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The Red Sox also completed an epic choke job tonight, with Papelbon blowing a one run lead and giving up two after having two out and nobody on. 5 minutes later Evan Longoria hit a walk off home run to beat the Yankees 8-7 after the Rays had trailed 7-0.

So at least the Braves can share an historic choke job with one equally as bad by the Red Sox.

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Looking forward to 2013 when Jones’ and Lowe’s salaries will finally be off the books. Jones has had a great career, but the Braves desperately need a change in clubhouse leadership. Next year will be more of the same.

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I’m done with them. They don’t deserve anyone’s financial or emotional support. This team quit when Hanson and Jurrjins left, so now I’m quitting on them.

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I wonder how long it will take Chipper to get his foot out of his mouth now. They couldn’t take one game from Philly when it did not matter to Philly and Chipper thinks that Atlanta could have taken Philly in the playoffs. Right!!!!

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Wren has to DO something this offseason after witnessing this choke, something major, Fredi and or Parrish fired, and major moves in this FLAWED roster

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Well, the Red Sox just did the same thing! Rays are the AL Wild Card.

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Unfortunately, Nationals, Marlins and Mets are all going to be better next year. With the Braves inability to beat the Phils, they seem destined for bottom finish next year.

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Somebody NEEDS TO BE FIRED!

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Cheer up Bravos fans….here is a leaked copy of a top-secret timeline for the next 24 hours…

1. A banner files over Atlanta which reads “It’s George Bush’s fault”

2. Our President gives our Bravos a bailout – they get another chance to be responsible

3. Our President, and other local Dems, march to the Tavern at Phipps and shove some women sitting at the bar aside and order a round of drinks

4. Our Bravos are awarded a playoff spot, regardless of merit

5. Our President is awarded another Nobel Prize

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Let’s get off the past last minute “heroics” by Brooks Conrad. He’s cost us more games than he’s won.

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Craig Kimbrel = Mark Wohlers. Million dollar arm, five cent head. He’s not blown the four biggest saves of his career.

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Hey, at least misery has a company.. Red Sox too eliminated after being one strike away. Rays complete amazing comeback like the Cards.

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Braves vs Red Sox in the CHOKE Series.

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Nothing left to say. Going to vomit now.

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Enter your comments here

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Thank you Red Sox! Misery loves company.

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Hey Kevin, wait til next season! Now get that computer airborne.

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The only win tonight for the Braves is being saved the humiliation of being swept in the first playoff round.

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Mark Bradley… will you p.ease leave Atlanta and not come back?

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We didn’t score many runs tonight guys, but we hit the ball hard and that’s what really matters.

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I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER TICKET TO A BRAVES GAME UNTIL SOMETHING BIG CHANGES

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Here’s hoping the 2011 World Series is the Cards vs. the Rays.

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Yo whiners and cry babies – Wren and Fredi aren’t going anywhere. Braves still have a bunch of young starting pitching (that Wren didn’t trade away) that needs to get healthy. Hitting must improve.

Root for the Brewers & Rays and wait til next year.

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I think the Braves should’ve ran Lowe out there again tonight. He’s a veteran and deserved a 2nd shot at the Phils in the same series.

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This team finished hitting .244 or something and just flat out stunk all year long in clutch spots trying to get runs on the board. I have never seen a professional baseball team with this much talent just completely and totally underachieve.

Fredi’s style, with the game on the line, is to sit back and wait for the big hit that never comes. We leave Bourn and Heyward sitting on 1st and 2nd to keep the bat in Prado and Chipper’s hands? Why?

We just insist on playing Bobby ball and in clutch spots we choke. The season is a direct result of a defensive approach to baseball at the plate.

The injuries hurt, yes, but the offense was a travesty all season long.

Lowe, KK — money wasted on below average pitchers. In fact, as bad as KK is, I think he could have outpitched Lowe this season.

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I KNOW heartbreak! In ‘84 when the ball rolled through Leon Durham’s legs. Bartman in ‘03. The Cubs have lost every way you can think of………… except giving up the way the Braves did this month. We have our lovable losers and bad luck, but as soon as Philly tied the game up in the 9th I turned the channel. At least you all can watch the Dream!

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Just a couple of bad bounces tonight. That one to Willie at short was just a bad break. We hit the ball hard all season, but just right at people. We’re a young team…Heyward especially…gosh….that kid is gonna be something. All the reporters say so. We were just snakebit this year. But you gotta tip your cap to the Cardinals, Phillies and Brewers. We’ll get ‘em next year!

The above was obviously a tongue-in-cheek representation of what I expect to read in Fredi’s post-game. At least the Falcons loss to the Cowboys in 1980 was sudden and quick…as death should be. This was worse. MUCH worse. This was a slow, month-long slog to the guillotine. Simply inexcusable, and heads SHOULD roll!!! But we all know they won’t. Because the Braves are a franchise content living in the past with a legacy of mere division championships. It’s disgusting.

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I’m sorry, but Jason Heyward is pathetic…what a complete and total bust

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I wonder how different this September might have been if our owner had been a single person and not a corporation. It doesn’t always work, but someone with “fire in his belly” and who might insist on accountability often lights fires under players.

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…just speechless.

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If Dan Fuggla had been sprinting from the start, his chubby azz would not have been thrown out at the plate.

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It honestly doesnt hurt anymore…I was laughing at the end of this game.

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LMAO, Chipper Jones classless arse slyly throwing around blame in the post game interviews. Wish the dude would just go his fake 1st ballot arse away

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The good part about all this, Lowe, JJ, Hanson all come off the books. We can finally get some real bats in the lineup and hopefully a pitcher or two.

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And please…

Lose the stupid Braves Country slogan….moronic.

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Did you see Tampa Bay win tonight? I wish we had a team like the Rays, never quit. The Braves used to be like that, but not anymore. I have been a Braves fan since 1974, and tonight was almost as bad as watching this team in the mid to late 80’s. 4 hits after the Ugla homer in the 4th. Pitiful….just pitiful. And it was not like we faced Halladay for 9 innings. I thought Manuel did everything to give us the game by trotting out minor league pitchers out of the bullpen. Horrible, horrible baseball.

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And the fact that it was the Phillies that we lost to makes it even worse!

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Bradley, if you think they’re choke artists…. just say so.

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fredi can’t coach a lick—bring back bobby cox next year!

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Every single hitter got at least one hit in this game. Guess which one didn’t? Oh yeah, Chipper! Danggit old man, fold the cards!

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Good for the Cards. They earned it.

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I have followed the Braves for 37 years and this is BY FAR the worst performance and feeling that I have EVER experienced from them. I will remember this FOREVER. There are only two teams that really matter; the Georgia Bulldogs (foorball) and the Atlanta Braves (baseball). Both have broke my heart and I don’t think I can ever look at sports again with any joy. I quit. Thank you for the pathetic performance and ruining those things that I consider worthy. I wish you luck. I am done.

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The Braves failure was all Obama;s fault.

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What I would like to know is what will it take for an AJC writer to call for Wren’s job.

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The two players that VANISHED when we needed them the most. Chipper Jones, Brian McCann

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FIRE FREDDI NOW

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I wonder what Bobby Cox was thinking when he watched the Braves collapse.

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Total team collapse from top to bottom.

Absolutely pathetic!!!!!!!!!

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Please retire Chipper!!

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They would have been managed better by a puppet and two manaquins for coaches… At least they would have shown some signs of life.

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Alright Kevin, I won’t say it again. Don’t want you littering up the yard with computers.

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Wren shouldn’t be allowed to make another move. He should be told to clean out his office tomorrow.

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how do I get a refund for those 5 playoff tickets I bought? someone told me today there are no refunds—buyer beware! ):

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Its Beautiful !!!!! No Stupid War Chant every time braves bat, Thank You Phillies !!!!!! A super playoff season, no more Braves chant !!!!!

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You gotta tip your cap to the Phils. I mean we ran into about 10 of their best AA and AAA pitchers and everyone of them brought their A game.

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Not scoring for the last 10 innings of the game was another sign of gagging.

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I gave up my 2 season tickets last year after all the bad play and rude people who work at turner field. they treat you like crap down there and I will not go back! Good riddance, losers!!!!!!

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This team (if you can call it that) needs to be dismantled. I love Chipper but I wish he would retire.

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I am so very thankful the Braves season is over tonight. It would have just been one more embarrassing 1st round playoff exit anyway.

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THE ATLANTA HAWKS ARE THE BEST TEAM IN ATLANTA (OUTTA OF THE 4 MAJOR SPORTS) HOW ABOUT YOU CLOWNS GO OUT AND SUPPORT THEM INSTEAD OF CRYING OVER THE BRAVES AND FALCONS EVERY YEAR WHO ARE ALWAYS OVERRATED.

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There is no way Fredi Gonzalez and Larry Parrish should be allowed to keep their jobs.

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Til we clean house starting with Fredi this team will never win anything no fire at all!!

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Losers. The only reason is that this epic collapse won’t get much attention from the real press is the fact that the Red Sox choked, too. The Braves are a sorry team — a good match for their sorry fans. And, Larry the Hooters patron needs to retire.

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NO hitting at all and the phillies tried to give the game to them but again no clutch hitting. A team will never make it with only three players batting over 250.

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The Phillies could have rolled over and let the Braves win a game or two to avoid the streaking Cardinals.and play the upstart Diamondbacks. Got to admire old school Charlie Manuel for keeping the integrity of the game intact and play to win.

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As a Cardinal fan in STL. Thank you. Got to say, this never would have happen if Bobby Cox was still the skipper

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You stop chopping…you stop choking. Simple as that.

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who yall gonna blame this year??????????

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I thought that Mark Wohlers to Jim Leyritz was the worst baseball moment in Atlanta history. That was bad, but this is worse. At least that year they rebounded from a 3-1 deficit to make the World Series, and won two games against the Yankees. This. They blew what should have been a sure fire lead, with an absolute collapse over a longer period of time, and then waited until the 13th inning of the 162nd game to fold.

My call is that tonight is the worst night in the 45 year history of baseball in Atlanta.

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For the opening home game next year, someone should put up a mock banner “2011 NL Wild Card Chokers”.

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I saw these clowns and jesters do this to me for years. Leibrandt, Lonnie Smith, Wohlers, Reardon. and Booby Cox. I got sick of them, gave up the TV package, and refused to listen to anybody tell me they were good when they had the second best record in the NL earlier this year. They are the Braves, the choking bums of baseball, one notch in hell above the Bills and Vikings. They are the proverbial ex husband who gets drunk, wrecks the car, soils himself, and tells you next time he’ll do better. Anybody who pays good money and faces that traffic to see these losers deserves the drek they get each year.

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How come the Yankees never have a rebuilding year?

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i can still play…………………….

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Hey, at least the future does seem bright with a core of McCann, Freeman and Uggla, and especially the pitching with Teheran, Medlen, Beachy, Kimbrell, Venters, Minor, Jurrjens and Hanson. But the Braves need to resign Bourn and get two more outfielders (Heyward is a bust, and Prado is a utility guy), a shortstop and a new third baseman. The Chipper era needs to end.

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A team that loses in such a way is bad, but they certainly aren’t as pathetic as those fans from opposing teams who gloat about it.

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I WANT MY MONEY BACK

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What stings the most about this is how close we were. Other than the games in which Lowe pitched, it’s not like we were getting crushed. We were right in most of the games. Unfortunately, the offense was always just one hit away, and the pitching was always just one out or even just one strike away.

And despite all that, we still would’ve won the Wild Card had a few freak things not happened. Chipper losing that ball in the lights of Florida’s craphole that they call a stadium–anywhere else, Chipper’s able to see the ball, field it, throw out Bonifacio, and the game would’ve ended without Infante getting a chance to hit. Today, Ruiz’s would-be-double-play grounder that spasmed at the last bounce and glanced off Jack Wilson–if not for that bounce, Wilson easily could’ve turned an inning-ending double play, the Phillies would’ve still been down 3-1, and the Braves likely would’ve won 3-2. With those two wins, we would’ve won the WC race. But life decided to be a real pain in the rectum this year.

To end this bitter season on a positive note: I believed at the beginning of this year (wow, it feels like a long time ago), and still do, that we have a starting rotation that could carry us to the World Series. That didn’t happen because Lowe went back to his customary sucky ways, and our two best pitchers of the first half got injured and were never the same again. However, if everyone can manage to stay healthy for all of 2012, and Lowe either finds some way to pitch well or to at least avoid hurting the team, just look at what we’d have: Hudson, a healthy Jurrjens, a healthy Hanson, a more experienced Beachy. If any of those guys need help, we’ll have Minor, Delgado and Teheran, all of whom will be more mature and experienced. They should be able to pitch deeper into games next season, which hopefully means we can use the bullpen less, and our Big Three won’t burn out at the end.

So at the very least, we have a bright future to look forward to. And given the way this season ended, next year can’t possibly come quickly enough.

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Anyone surprised here must be new to Atlanta. We’ve been racking up failures across all sports for years and our only success came against the only sports town possibly worse than ours- Cleveland. More of the same coming. I guarantee it.

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Riiiight… I see where you’re going. But Heyward sucks. So do Chipper, Prado, and Lowe; but that doesn’t change the fact that Heyward sucks.

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I can take solace in this: I didn’t waste a penny going to a game this year.

If the higher ups want to continue to raise the price of tickets, concessions and parking while continuing to lower the payroll every year, I’ll keep my damn money. If more people would do the same, we’d actually see some changes. Tell them what you think with your wallet.

In 2003 the Braves payroll was over $106 million and it was the 3rd highest in MLB. 2011 payroll was $87 million, placing us at number 15 in MLB. Over the years it has went up and down, but never reached that height again. It has obviously mostly been reductions. All of this happened as ticket prices were hiked year in and year out (especially for the families who have no option but to go on weekends), increases in the cost of concessions and jacking up the cost for parking as well.

So… stay away from Turner field, don’t buy the merchandise, and hell if you want to go the whole 9 yards, don’t support their sponsors either.

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I for one am glad they lost. The Chipper era ended tonight. Bravo for hard fought year. They are young and will be a team to be reckoned with in years to come. Chipper and Prado must go and new leadership established. Be at peace and let this one go. Looking forward to spring training next year. Will miss the blog and Mitchell & N8 and others who make me laugh. One word of advice to McCann is to get in better shape for next year. Take care guys and gals.

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So Heyward is a bust now after battling injuries in his SECOND year and going through a sophomore slump that so many have went through? I mean really, if you’re going to be racist just come out and say it rather than hide.

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This braves team is young and overachieved this year and had a lot of injuries. In 2012, they will get it together and make the playoffs—mark it down!

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Thomas Williams, you’re 100% correct.

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Georgia Born, you nailed it. Heyward has become lazy in only one year. I stopped counting the number of times he was thrown out after a defender bobbled a ball, because he didn’t hustle down the line. He is most certainly not the reason for this meltdown, but is it coincidental that the Braves latest lack of production, which was mostly to blame for the collapse, started after Heyward was reinserted into the lineup in early September, and we never saw Constanza again?
The pitching injuries killed us. Picture Philly with Oswalt and Halladay (sp?) missing the last six weeks or so, and you have us without Hanson and Juerjens. Our strength was pitching and defense. The defense was not bad, and the pitchers not named Hudson either got injured, got overworked (O’F, Vent and Kimbrel) or collapsed (D Lowe).
Take a team that can’t hit, and relies on pitching and defense and take the pitching away, that team loses an 8 1/2 game lead in three weeks.
Next year? We’ve GOT to find a different approach at the plate. And we also HAVE to find a way to keep the ‘pen fresh. Maybe more quality bullpen arms, or endeavor to get Roger to let ‘em pitch for more than 5-6 innings.
Time for football.

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It’s sad that it came to this. All summer long, this was a fantastic, fun team to watch with many great moments (Uggla’s 33 game streak, Lugo’s “winning slide” in the 19th against the pirates, a ton of walkoff hits, Zambrano melting down in front of a Braves lineup that ended his career). It’s how it works with a team that survives on “magic”. With Hanson and JJ injured, our unhittable bullpen (of many rookies) had to step up and their arms couldn’t withstand constant use, and Lowe (similar to Troy Glaus last year) seems to have finally run out of gas. We had a lineup that could beat anyone when it was at full strength. Unfortunately, it’s never at full strength and you have to have a backup and be able to recover.

Hope it doesn’t get to Kimbrel’s head. He’s an outstanding closer who didn’t give up a run for three months. To 2012 and hopes of a better year. Come spring, hopefully our team’s recovered and our arms fresh and we can perhaps beat the teams that just pay their way to titles.

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I have to keep attending games; they have the best chicken nachos…EVER!!

Hell, I had been eating out at Turner Field for years before I even realized a baseball team was playing there. What’s their name again?

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Riiiight

I coud’nt agree more.These pp are just insane to blame Heyward.It’s ridiculous.

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Hey Riiiight… why are you defending only Heyward. Lots of white guys are taking hits on this here blog – Parrish, Chipper, Lowe, McCann, etc. You’re the one who brought up racism. Just because the dude is a minority, that doesn’t excuse him from honest criticism. Get a life.

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The Rays rallied back. The Braves couldn’t hit one into the ocean.

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Hard to say the collapse wasn’t unforseen. The hitting was absent all year and when Jurjens and Hanson went down we were done. Heyward was worse than Francouer in his Braves days. He needs to learn how to make adjustments and become the star he thinks he is. Lowe, how do you go the entire month of august without contributing ANYTHING? Chipper still contributed and Hudson was the stud he always is down the stretch.

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Bourn underperformed compared to his last three years after coming to ATL.
Prado underperformed compared to his last three years.
Uggla underperformed compared to his last three years.
Heyward underperformed compared to last year.
McCann underperformed compared to his last three years.
Gonzalez underperformed compared to his career averages.

At the very least, Parrish has to be replaced. The entire offensive approach of this team has to change to something more along the lines of what it was last year, when they finished first in the NL in walks. I wouldn’t be opposed to replacing Fredi with someone more fiery who represents a clean break from the laid-back Bobby Cox culture.

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1. Happy with Frank Wren as GM.

2. Poor job down the stretch by Fredi, but he followed tough act in Bobby Cox.

3. Ownership needs to care (Show it with the GREEN!!!).

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Really nicely worded article, Mark. One that wish was never written, however. This choke job is almost unreal. I still can’t believe it. At least we won’t be disappointed in the playoffs again.

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How about some hardcore, wholesale changes? I like the uniforms but am so sick of the chop. Why don’t we drop it. Maybe get a new announcer who doesn’t shout BBRRIIIIAAANNN MCCAAAAAAAANN. Stop with the Ozzy song when Chipper bats (Aye, aye, aye…) Do away with the tool race and cap shuffle. Let’s get back to baseball and lose all the circus theatrics. Now’s as good a time as any.

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I think that there are two issues in considering the Bravos’ disappointing finish, one relating to pitching and the other to hitting. On the pitching, I’ll cut them some slack — we lost two good pitchers (Jurrjens and Hanson) and thus had a problem filling the bill when the veteran Derek Lowe demonstrated that age had caught up with him. Enter some promising youngsters — Beachy, Minor, Delgado, Teheran — who pitched well but seemed in the crunch unwilling to trust their stuff. They tried to pitch to the corners and the edges, and their stuff is good enough to allow them to be much more challenging AND much more economical with their counts. Did you see the young Philly relievers tonight? They went after us! Admittedly, the game was meaningless for them and they could be loose — but I’m just saying. OUR relievers, on the other hand, have been burned by overuse. Venters, O’Flaherty, and Kimbrel are wonderful — let’s use them more wisely next year. On the hitting side, I would like to see some more imagination — think of the Martin Prado of 2010 — foul balls off! Hit them where there they’re pitched! Drive up the opposition’s pitch counts. Teams like the Phillies are really good at that, but there’s no reason why the Braves can’t be. Dan, Chipper, Brian, and Alex G. can all take lessons from Rollins, Utley, and Victorino. None of these players have stellar numbers, but they get stuff done.

The Braves gave me many great moments this year, especially in mid-season when Dan got rolling. Thank you, and looking forward to next year. Special players for me? On offense, Freddie Freeman — a wonderful year for a rookie and a wonderful defensive player. Pitching? Special kudos to Christhian Martinez. He’s a keeper, but one has to give it to Tim Hudson. He pitches like he believes in himself: a great role model for the younger staff. . Defense? Freddie again, but kudos to Dan Uggla for fine second-base work, both our shortstops, and Chipper for the one-handed pickups! Thanks to the team — despite the nasty comments in these posts, you can’t fault the effort. Next year will be tough with the Marlins, Nats, and Mets all improving and exciting. The old guard — Phils and Bravos — will be challenged.

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“How about some hardcore, wholesale changes?”

If they are going to change anything about the fan experience, they can start by getting rid of the stupid ass hoedown song they play after Take Me Out To The Ballgame, and that song about the hoochie’s coochie they play during the 8th inning.

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Mark Teixeira proved the difference in performance when quality hitters are surrounded by other quality hitters.

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Najeh, that’s a good one. I agree, let’s lose the hoedown, too.

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Frank and Freddi never played one inning this season so it’s not their fault. Most of these players that we see getting it done on other teams are homegrown and our homegrown players are only showing up to pick up a paycheck. I’ve already tossed all of my boys’ Heyward shirts in an attempt to fight off as much laziness as possible.

I agree with ‘no mo’ about the poor, rude service at Turner Field for the overpriced everything. The difference is that I realize that Turner Field is staffed with ‘Atlanta’s finest’ so I’m not surprised or disappointed with the level of service. How ironic it is that you will get robbed both inside and outside of the park by ‘Atlanta’s finest’. I’ve got two kids and too much time left to worry about poser baseball millionaires and getting jscked for spare change afterwards.

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Just one more “you suck Bradley” before I head to bed.

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A disappointing end to a promising season . The Braves had a golden opportunity to show all of baseball that they were ready to take the next step to being a perennial Playoff contender. How do you let a 8 game Wild Card lead to evaporate in less that a month will haunt this team until they can erase that bitter taste with a World Series win.

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Most of the team tried its hardest. Heyward did not. He hustle’s to Utley’s 13th inning single, and Schneider never gets to 3rd, and so he never scores on Pence’s infield single. Heyward has really shown a lackadaisical sense of laziness this year. Troublesome, because the kid has all the talent in the world.

If you can’t put forth 110% effort with every movement you make when the playoffs are on the line, you don’t have a pulse. If Heyward’s future is to have a pulse, kid better focus more and simply start trying harder.

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Wohlers to Leyritz not as bad as this?? Are you serious?? That was the World Series, you idiot. This was a regular season game to back into the playoffs!! Geesh, between the idiots who think that bringing up an athletes’ shortcomings makes one a racist, and the hyperbole spouting ‘me’ generation
bloggers who have a new ‘greatest ever’ or ‘worst of all time’ every week, the real Braves disappointments, such as the Series loss to the Yanks, starts to seem not so bad!
Grow up! It’s SPORTS !!! It doesn’t really matter in a country that’s coming apart because the leadership is clueless. Oops, there goes that racist statement again.

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Jason Heyward needs to be ready to catch the fly ball in RF in the 7th that wound up a double and Tim Hudson’s glare told the story to the loafing, uncoachable pheonom…if you are not hitting use the leather and the arm to justify your roster spot.

Constanza should have seen more action these last couple of series…hands down a better fielder than Heyward (slow as mud getting a jump on flyballs) and his speed never slumps…thanks Freddi for mimicking Bobby…wait on the 3-run HR and you end up watching postseason instead of participating. Speed scares pitching staffs and defenses…bobbles mean extra bases. Poorest fundamental team in baseball for last 20+ years!!!

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No. I do not miss Bobby yet!

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Heyward is playing right field for one reason only ………………… it is Atlanta and he is black?

Frenchy in light years ahead of him in every category ………….. but Honkie must go

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bravo n knoxville, your Constanza/speed comments are absolutely spot on! Pretty good for one from Vol country!

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I have to believe that the Braves’ players feel the worse of everyone. But before you go home to your ranch/mansion/yacht/etc. understand that there are those of us who have followed you for DECADES and these losses are painful. Some of these folks on this board say their from “Atlanta and their used to it.” Don’t you believe that’s how we all feel. Some of us live and die by what happens on the field. So don’t think that this is no big deal. It is. This collapse will haunt me for years. I won’t watch a minute of baseball until next year.

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Well Braves…after years of causing me heartburn, heartache, and heartbreak tonight you guys just made me plain sick. Oh well! See you in Spring Training. Maybe over the winter you all can learn how to hit something other than rock bottom. Hopefully they rid themselvers of Lowe first then hire someone to actually coach hitting. I would also trade Jurrjens and look for a replacement for Gonzalez for next year. I would send Heyward to winter ball to work his crap out. This one hopefully won’t carry over into next year. For the first time in my life long love of the Braves they made me wish I wasn’t a fan.

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dawgonit you don’t know a d@mn thing if you think chipper hasn’t done anything down the stretch.

We’ll be fine next year. We don’t need to change much.

Without Larry Pairdick, Derek Blowme, and Linebrick we’ll be a much better team. Frank Wren go get us some right handed relief pitching worth something.

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Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia Phillies 
The Meanest Fans in America

http://www.gq.com/sports/lists/201104/worst-sports-fans-in-america#ixzz1ZJbDyecy

Over the years, Philadelphia fans have booed Santa Claus as well as their own star players. They’ve even booed a guy who just helped the city win a friggin’ World Series title—while he was getting his ring. Boooo!

Admittedly, there are some things fans have cheered. Like Michael Irvin’s career-ending neck injury and a fan being tased on the outfield grass. Things reached their nadir last season, when Citizens Bank Park played host to arguably the most heinous incident in the history of sports: A drunken fan intentionally vomited on an 11-year-old girl.

The truth is this: All told, Philadelphia stadiums house the most monstrous collection of humanity outside of the federal penal system. “Some of these people would boo the crack in the Liberty Bell,” baseball legend Pete Rose once said. More likely, these savages would have thrown the battery that cracked it.

Do a search on “worst sports fans” and that article comes up #1.

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Imagine if Derek Lowe was capable of going 1-4 in September instead of just 0-5. $15 Million well spent.

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athens dog…thanks for the kindness…just know that this is the 44th year that my heart has chomped Tomahawk Blue…I don’t say alot on here, but Jason Heyward is a loafer, pouter, and when Chipper Jones has to call you out for not being able to play with pain…a wimp too.

Yes. I do not have or never have had his ability…but I give my all at everything that carries my reputation along side it…grow up J-Hey, and then you will deserve the Tomahawk on your chest

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You deserve a rest, Mark. Unless they settle the NBA lockout, you’ll only see me if you’re writing things about the Braves. I’m not a fan of football or hockey. Never have been for some reason, sorry.

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I blame Fredi…. That guy has no personality and obviously cannot motivate the players. I was at the game: Bourn was great, Chipper is done, McCann was awful, Heyward lost the ball AGAIN in the lights…..this team is just mediocre and proved it at the end of the season. The Phillies have outstanding players and it is so obvious watching them live but I hope they lose

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Athens dog,, I can only assume that you are feeling so bad that you can only resort to namecalling and excuse making. The Braves suck,, Atlanta sucks and no delusional thoughts or insults can change that. As I stated earlier,, maybe if you fake fans actually attended a game or two your team will be able to spend the money necessary to compete in today’s game. Until then I will forgive your insults as the ramblings of a deluded, let down, to be pitied soul. Just remember, if nothing else,, we are a city of winners and you, sadly are a city of excuse making losers… Goodbye braves,, we never knew ya,,, you choking, whinning bums, and your whinning excuse making fans.,,,,lol… lmao.

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“Kimbrel was overthrowing.”

I don’t understand. I just don’t understand. Kimbrel, how hard is it to put one right down the middle? If they hit your 98 mph pitch, then so be it, but it is completely unacceptable to walk 2 guys to load the bases in the 9th inning of a must win. Not when you are throwing 98.

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Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia Phillies 
The Meanest Fans in America
Over the years, Philadelphia fans have booed Santa Claus as well as their own star players. They’ve even booed a guy who just helped the city win a friggin’ World Series title—while he was getting his ring. Boooo!

Admittedly, there are some things fans have cheered. Like Michael Irvin’s career-ending neck injury and a fan being tased on the outfield grass. Things reached their nadir last season, when Citizens Bank Park played host to arguably the most heinous incident in the history of sports: A drunken fan intentionally vomited on an 11-year-old girl.

The truth is this: All told, Philadelphia stadiums house the most monstrous collection of humanity outside of the federal penal system. “Some of these people would boo the crack in the Liberty Bell,” baseball legend Pete Rose once said. More likely, these savages would have thrown the battery that cracked it.

Not my words. Do a search on “worst sports fans” and that article comes up #1.

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“Of all the stupid stuff being thrown around in this blog..The worst has to be blaming Parrish for the big choke..Get real folks.”

If not him, then who? Someone has to take responsibility for the fact that the roster was significantly upgraded talent-wise this year and yet finished worse in every offensive statistical category compared to last year. Is that Fredi’s fault? The grounds crew’s? The people running the tool race?

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wild’n…your answer to why we pitched to Pence…Freddi G….period! We could have had Kirk Gibson as I clamored on here last season, but no I’m from K-Town so I ‘m too dumb to know the difference from a leader like Gibby than a follower like Bobby Gonzalez.

Nonetheless, just fuel for the inferno…Julio Teheran never broke a sweat…neither did Beachy who at least can strike people out…sometimes. Thus, the last visions that will dance in my head is everytime Julio takes the mound over the next 10+ yrs…that Freddi chose Linebink to face Pence instead of the organizations #1 stud pitcher with a postseason on the line?!?!? Really….are you freakin’ kiddin’ me???

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The thing that makes me sadder than anything is knowing there will never be another Larry Bowa-type player make it to the major leagues.

My son turned 6 the when the Braves made it to the playoffs in 1991. He doesn’t know what it is like to hope the team does not lose 100 games AGAIN

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“Frenchy in light years ahead of him in every category ………….. but Honkie must go”

Frenchy got four and a half years as a Brave to prove that he was unwilling/unable to make adjustments to MLB pitching. Heyward deserves at least that long, especially in light of the fact that despite having an abysmal year, his OBP this year was still higher than Francoeur’s career OBP. If Heyward at his worst is as good as Francoeur at his average, I’m pretty confident the Braves made the right decision.

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You are right Mark. There are two words that describe this Atlanta Braves 2011 season. EPIC FAIL. Unbelieveable. I don’t know what exactly needs to change. I think this team needs a better hitting coach. I also think it needs better starting players that actually know how to hit with guys on base and not completely choke like so many of the Braves players did ALOT this season. Something also needs to happen with Heyward. Either he needs to see a shrink and/or take some serious batting instruction over the winter to learn how to hit better at the major league level. If Uggla had found his stroke the month of the season and Heyward actually hit somewhere near his rookie season then Braves would have been in a much better situation. I blame 4 people for this Braves team not making the playoffs=1) Jason Heyward for not hitting anywhere near where he should. 2) Derek Lowe for not giving this team a chance to win hardly at all 3) Combo of Sherrill and Linebrink for not being consistent out of the bullpen and last but not least 4) Freddi Gonzalez for mainly not managing the bullpen very well. There were guys that were pitched in games that had no business being out there in those tie or close games Braves played. I also think he over used Venters and Kimbrel. I know people might want to blame the injuries to Hanson and Jurrjens but you really can’t put blame on players that get hurt…it happens.

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Lets face it guys Francour season was a fluke.But to blame Heyward im absurd.Thats why Atlanta sucks bc of so many clueless fans.

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A MLB team batting coach is more or less just a staff position With a title to it..What big league millionaire ball player is going to take hitting advice from anyone?..Either you know how to hit or you don’t but since they are in the big show they just keep doing what got them there..Maybe if most of the line up wasn’t trying to hit a homer every at bat the hitting might of been a little better.

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Before you start asking for ownership to spend more money, Braves fans need to put their money where their mouths are and show up! That place is empty during the season. Don’t you think the players notice? They go up to philly and play 3 sold out games in front of an electric crazy crowd and then come home and play in front of empty seats and a loudspeaker playing the FSU fight song!

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Well, at least we won’t have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore.

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You are the one making the excuse. It’s always something! Get a new product and people will come? We never even sold out during the run in ’90s. I’m saying that it would generate revenue so that we can compete payroll wise with teams like Philly for FAs. It’s a joke!

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How ’bout a “worst of 3″ series with my Red Sox to decide this year’s biggest loser.

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Just about everybody ran out of gas – either to over-use, injury, age or long season: Hanson, Jurrjens, Venters, Kimbrel, Lowe, Prado, McCann. Chipper hung in through obvious injuries, but couldn’t pull us through.

Was mostly a really fun season – till last couple weeks. Lots of decisions for next year. Look at all the starting pitching – Hudson, Hanson, Jurrjens, Lowe, Beachy, Medlen, Minor, Delgado – wow. Probably time to move on without Lowe – take whatever anyone would assume ($2-3 million) and trade him. What happened to Prado after the infection? Was McCann playing injuried? Can Heyward bounce back?

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I think we all deserve a pat on the back tonight.

At least we’re not like Cubs fans.

We know we’re losers. Our team is good but we are ultimately losers and we know it.

Cubs fans simply won’t admit it, that they are the problem. Not the team.

The Braves and their fans are all in the same.

Brooks Conrad lets a ball go through his legs, gets booed and we lose the game. But what happens? The next night people cheer for him.

Cubs fans make a scapegoat out of one of their own and ruin their team’s chances of getting to the World Series.

Any fan base that gets that unruly and turns on itself deserves to spend eternity in misery.

Braves fans know their team will lose but just hope maybe they can avoid it.

We may not have the better team when in comes to the clutch but we’re better people.

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Sooo many people to blame so little time. Here is my short list…

Freddi Gonzalez – Allowed Lowe to keep pitching in September. He allowed Larry Parish to be the hitting coach all year. Manager is held accountable first.
Derek Lowe – Couldnt pitch his way out of a wet paper bag.
Jason Heyward – Couldnt hit out of a paperbag
Alex Gonzalez – Loved his hustle on defense, got to balls most SS couldnt get to. Again couldnt hit water if he fell off a boat.
Dan Uggla – Before the all star break again couldnt hit. Even starting his hot streak a week earlier we are not in the position we are.
Larry Parish – I just gave three reasons why you shouldnt have a job next year. When a quarter of your lineup can not even bat above .250 then please GTFO!
Frank Wren – Handcuffing us with Lowe’s and Kawakami’s contracts that even if we get rid of we would still have to pay the majority of. Signings of Wilson and bringing Diaz back. Bourne was a decent trade but I believe we are 26-27 with him. So really how great of a deal was it?

I’m so sick of everything about this team. O and one more thing Please CHIPPER JONES do not comeback !!!! All you do is sit on the dl all year, or play when you should be on the DL. We need the money from your horrible contract and the roster spot available. Please just retire already!

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Crazy diamond.. I would rather loose 100 games a year then get to this point every year and choak on a big donkey penis.

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Factoids:

1) Freddie G is out of his league- will make a good bench coach one day- since when do pitchers bat 8th in a major league line-up?
2) $24 Million a year for a Uggla and Lowe is about $23 million too much
3) $15 Million will get you 75 games from Chipper in his Hall of Fame finale next year- hope its worth it. Sometimes the best way to help a team is to retire and coach. “Greed is good?” That’s so “80’s”
4) Only one player on the team batted over .280 (FF), but will he have a Heyward sophomore season?
5) No 20 game winners in Braves rotation- not even close
6) Lowe earned about $1.6 MILLION per win this year
7) Uggla struck out 1 out of every 5 times a smoking .233 BA and (never good in the clutch)
Uggla committed 15 errors- lead the league in errors by a 2B
9) 21 players in MLB hit 30 homers or more in regular season- 18 of those players had more RBI’s than Uggla- 12 had more than 100RBI- Uggla ended with 82. Hit or miss, I guess.
10) Freeman & Heyward cost us less than $1 million combined this year- as compared to the high flyers, their return on investment is pretty solid.
11) Bourne PLAYS like he wants to win
12) Why exactly is McLouth getting $7 million- he plays half the games- so game-per-game, he is the 2nd highest paid Brave with a 3-year batting average of .249 and average games played of about 85 per season. That’s Chipper “heyday” money.
13) It was a nice night for baseball in Atlanta. The fans were there and the chop was “in the house”.

FINAL ANALYSIS: Braves Management failed miserably and let our city down this year. Even if we had beaten the Phillies tonight (a series sweep with the playoffs on the line) it would have prolonged the agony of losing (again) in the first round of the playoffs.

Keep McCann, Freeman, Heyward, Hudson, Jurjenns, Chipper (hitting coach- save $14 million-or make whoever extended his contract through 2012 pay the difference) and three of the best young pitchers- clear the rest for 2012 and pay the money to get the best product on the field. If not, you’ll see more Philly fans than Braves fans in the seats for the season-ending series.

Atlanta- we got what we deserved this season- our team is owned by a media company- whose interest is return on TV contracts, sponsorships and hot dog sales. They forgot about the hard core Atlanta fans and winning.

Gwinnett Braves anyone?

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Larry Parrish was a Phillie if I remember… oh well,,, lets face it… Phills were a stronger team this year. Braves should make Chipper a player/hitting coach and fire Parrish. release Lowe as he’s washed up. Sorry but it happens to us all Lowe. the new speed is impressive. Prado moves to 3rd and Constanza to outfield as regular. oh yeah,,, I get a free season pass for this advise. u can bet some had bags pack and on planes to hawaii by now.

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yeah the braves choked and yeah the do not belong in the postseason, but the had a lot of rookies this year, and it showed late can anybody remember last year when all the injuries it hurt us late same story the yankess and phills can plug a vet in when someone gets hurt the braves can not but look on yhe bright side …… we are not the cubs

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Hey Bradley, how come you never publish my vents? They’re not THAT obscene…

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Look at it this way Braves fans…at least you spared yourselves the embarressment of not selling out a post-season game. Too bad you didn’t have Bobby ’slap-a-ho’ Cox there to will you to another win so you could lose in the playoffs for the 15th time out of 16 tries (or whatever the numbers are).

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Actually the Phillies had much to play for.. their victory gave them the all-time franchise record for victories and their skipper because the ballclub’s all-time winningist manager. That’s why the Phillies kept playing hard and never gave up. The Braves are a good ballclub, but they are not great and they are inferior to the Phillies. The 13game margin in the standings proves it.

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I feel for you guys… this is so similar to the 1964 Phillies to an old Phillies fan such as myself. That season is forever stuck in the psyche of Philadelphia fans. Kind of made us into the surly bunch that we are

In that season the Phillies blew a 6 1/2 game lead to Cincinnati with 12 games to play.

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With Terry McGuirk ANYWHERE near the Braves…. we’ll never reach our potential. What a waste of money to an air sucker. McGuirk does NOTHING ( but collect a paycheck) and is the link to tax write off Malone and Liberty.

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An ownership that doesn’t care…mediocre players…an average team…a below average manager. Nuff said

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There’s only one man to blame for this collapse….darn you Thomas Edison. If this jerk never invents the light bulb then the Braves don’t lose all those balls in the lights.

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The forces are against ALL ATLANTA TEAMS because of the negative energy
both sides of the racial divide have for one another. We don’t deserve a championship.
That would put us in a positive spotlight. We shine much better with executions,
discrimination, segregated communities, disparity. All the things we’ve always
been champions at.

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Did anyone expect anything different from this bunch? They couldn’t hit a bull in the a$$ with a bass fiddle, trot out pitchers like Boozer Lowe and Jair Jerkoff, and a worn out third baseman who’s stealing money, and they actually believe in Jason HeyIsuck. I’m soooo glad this is finally over. College football is the life blood of the south anyway…..

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Glad to read of the ‘collapse’. Saves the embarrassment of getting beaten by any other NL team in the playoffs. Go Phillies!

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In a city known for their phoney, fair weather fans and teams that spit the bit down the stretch, this takes the cake. I thought the Falcons getting humiliated by the Packers in their “House” while Cheeseheads owned the place best exemplied Atlanta futility, but I was wrong. The Braves proved that they were the biggest chokers in town and they did it in epic fashion. Just like the fat Clown Bradley declaring the 1996 World Series over when the Braves won the first two in NY, before getting rolled in the next four, the Braves and Atlanta fans are a joke.

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Your words said it all, your column was brilliant. The other night I was shaking my head wondering what had happened to these guys who had provided so much energy and thrills earlier in the season. Plain and simple, as you so noted, they choked.

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Chip and Joe are still talking about how great this Braves team is. You’d think they’d won 120 games and at least 6 players were All World. And Fredi and the front office, simply brilliant.

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I’m just glad it’s over..This teaM SUCKED!!!!

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This area is cursed. Probably for good reason.

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I think as long as we keep the same manager, the team will under-perform. Bourn should never have tried to steal third…right before Uggla hits a dinger. My manager once told the team that if any one of us tried to steal third on our own, we’d better be damn sure we’d be successful, cause we’d be riding the bench otherwise. Hudson should have been out of the seventh inning….perfect hard grounder right to our short stop…tailor made. All in all, a combination of lousy managing and one of the worst choke jobs of this or any other generation.

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we need a new manager,somebody with fire in his eyes.2 bobby cox’s is enough.if you can’t hit you are gone.bring back ted turner….

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It all starts at the top people. Look no further than the ownership who could care less if this is a competitive team or not. The payroll has been shrinking for years now and they have too much money tied up in players that are not performing.

This franchise cares about 1 thing …. keeping the corporate tea-toatlers happy and coming back to the ball park weather they win or lose. They want to create this “Disney experience” at the ball park while making sure the corporate luxury boxes and Suntrust Club are full of fat wealthy executive baby boomers and VIP’s who really don’t care about this team.

Fredi Gonzalez needs to go along with the entire coaching staff. <~ This is a MUST!

I'm sick of it all …. Something better change or I will …. meanign I won't be coming back!

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Its all Bobby Cox’s fault..oh wait…

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Year after year, the Braves have found new and creative ways to break my heart in the post season; however, this epic collapse at the end of 2011 has to be the most bitter season finale of them all.

I keep trying to tell myself that I will be excited about baseball next hear, but right now I just don’t think that I will ever be able to get over this one… I am going to remember this terrible loss for a long, long time.

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2011……the choke season, enough said.

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Its just as good, because these guys are worn out. The starting pitching, the offense, and the relief corp are all done. Turn them over. I know the season is long, but good grief, do something different to be stronger at the end. Learn a lesson, and try and get better. We have a very young team, leave Lowe at home, and lets just go after it next year.

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gotta have better pitching management – can’t Dusty Baker them – they break. To have Prado, McCann go through a whole slumping year tells me there is a big issue with the hitting coach. Send Parrish to Mississippi and give it back the Terry – he had them hitting in September. If not, got to buy new bats in August, the ones we had ran out of hits too early.

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This is the epic choke…

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Hey! How about that Dream! In the WNBA Finals!

Life is good.

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Bradley, don’t give Fredi a pass. he should have yanked Kimbrel after the first guy got on. how many saves did he blow in September. he shouldn’t have started Lowe in the next to last game. but, it might be irrelevant, if Fredi returns he will do what he can to burn Kimbrel’s and Venter’s arms off. Guy is a loser

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I hear Winnipeg is looking for a baseball team.

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Keep coughing, keep coughing….

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1. Starters not going but 5 innings.
2. Over use of bullpen, causing burnout. See Venters.
3. Hitters with no patience.
4. Hitting coach with no answers.
5. Speed at the top of the lineup, not allowed to run.

The problems were systemic and finally came to roost

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i say this loss is on mccann…kimbrel throws the ball 99mph and mccann calls for curve balls…that’s not his best pitch…give the batter the best pitch u got and make him hit that…not your 2nd, 3rd best…and, fredi did leave kimbrel in too long..and lowe..what else can be said about him…well, don’t have to plan my tv watching around the playoffs this year…

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“But part, maybe even most, of being a champion is the capacity to perform under pressure…”

Excellent read, Mark, one of your very best. The line above is right on the money.

I still say if Constanza doesn’t sprain his ankle, and if McCann STAYS on the DL, we win by 8 games. We were rolling with Ross at catcher, good D, good game management, and clutch hits.

Oh well . . .

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It’s official! Atlanta is Losersville once agian!

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I hope the Cardinals can beat the Phillies in the playoffs. Charlie Manuel played this game like it was the 7th game of the world series. I can’t blame him for that because that is what he is suppose to do but I would have thought he would have rested more of his players but if the braves can’t hit then it would make no difference anyway. I felt sorry for Kimbrel in the 9th inning. He looked like he was trying so hard but it wasn’t meant to be. I don’t know what the braves can do with teams like Washington and the Marlins getting better. They need to clean house on some of these overpriced players. The Rays with a 42 million dollar payroll is the team I am rooting for to go to the world series. These rich teams who can get any player they want are just trying to buy the pennant. I am glad the Red Sox got eliminated and I hope the Yankees and Phillies get eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. These teams have unlimited funds and can go out and get anybody they want. I don’t guess they will go after the 2 premier free agents this year since they don’t need a first baseman. 2 weeks ago I predicted on a blog that the braves would get eliminated and I missed the Washington series by 1 game. I said they would win one game in Florida, get swept by the Nationals and then by the Phillies. I missed that prediction by one game in Washington. I don’t exactly understand why this game seemed to important for Charlie Manuel to win because he played it like the 7th game of the world series when it meant nothing to the Phillies. He may regret it since they will play the Cardinals who are hot. Again I hope they send the Phillies home too.

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How do you go for 10 innings and not score a run then blame it on the pitchers?

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One cannot name me a franchise that has been around the league as long as the Braves that hasn’t, ever, never, choked. This is baseball. It happens. It just turns out it was the Braves turn in the barrel. Comparing the Braves to the Cubs will make you feel better about things…

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The Braves are the worst hitting team I have ever seen. Not one hitter over 300. Most under 250.
You can’t pout that much pressure on your pitching staff.

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NO! The Braves lost arguably their best starters. Derek Lowe morphed into something from the move Major League. They were basically going with Hudson and an inexperienced Beachy. It’s tough.

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Fire Fredi. Retire NOW Larry. Enough of this tired old style of Booby Ball.

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Want to be better next year?

Get rid of:
- Heyward
- Gonzalez
- Lowe
- Linebrink
- Conrad
- Jurrjens (phantom injuries every other start)

Tell Chipper it’s time to retire as a Brave,
or become a bench player. Get a hot young 3rd baseman or left fielder and move Prado back.
Re-sign Bourn, add players who can HIT, and not just swing for the fences every time.
Get a stud #1 or #2 pitcher to add to Hudson…

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I have said it all season long, even when the post season seemed like a lock, never underestimate the capacity of the Braves to find new and inventive ways to break your heart. Case and point, last night.

I have officially had enough.

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Bobby cox—come back—they need bobby to get back to the top!!

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Coach D,

They “now know?” Clearly you are not a Braves fan since we have been experiencing this same feeling for decades. Only difference is it has seldom happened DURING the season.

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I said months ago, even when the post season seemed like a lock, never underestimate the capacity of the Braves to find new and inventive ways to break your heart. Case and point, last night.

I am officially done with this franchise, enough is enough.

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This is how we rock in the ATL… Wait til next year.

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Where are all the people that said at the beginning of the season the Braves were going to win the NL East?

Go Phills!

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A few posters back, somebody blamed Conrad. Blaming him for the Braves’ collapse is like blaming the guys in the engine room for the Titanic.

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Duh they said they would be the NL least not east

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When Linebrink came in I turned off the TV and went to bed. Watched that sceario unfold too many times this year not to know what was about to happen.

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This team will not be back next year unless it gets a hitter for the middle of the line up and when I say hitter I mean a guy that hits for average with power. Prado is a back up not a starter and we should go get a bat for left field

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Other than MB in this article, Terence Moore was the only other AJC sportswriter who dared tell it like it is with the Braves.

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Just one more win when the Braves were 8+ games up, and we wouldn’t be talking about any of this. Yet I remember an almost arrogant “what-me-worry” attitude, given some of the clubhouse comments. Take care of business, and take care of it early. I can’t believe anyone would have sympathy for such highly-compensated professionals who fail to understand that.

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Earlier in the season when McCann homered to tie a game in the 9th then won it with another homer in the 11th, I thought these guys were good to go. Last night when Chipper’s drive to left center got hauled in (great catch by-the-way), I turned the lights off.

I knew when I woke up this morning what the headline was going to be. My wife, no baseball fan, told me she was sorry. All I could say was, “That’s baseball.”

Wait ’til next year!

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I am stunned at what has happened. I have followed them since they moved to Atlanta. I thought I had seen it all by now, but this is a brilliant new failure. But I do know I cringed when I read about Chipper saying “we can handle the Phillies” earlier in September. I thought, why did you go public with such a statement? Are you trying to jinx your own team? We see what happened. Lost six out of six games to the Phillies. I wonder if Chipper’s comment was motivation for the Phillies. Or did the Phillies even need any motivation to beat the Braves?

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Face it folks, baseball is the most boring sport to watch in its entirety. There are fragments of excitement, much like panning for gold in the Amazon river, but as a whole BASEBALL IS A SNOOOOOZER! Last year I watched a Mets pitcher on one channel, between scratching his nuts, shuffling around and getting a visit from the pitching coach, take more time to make ONE PITCH than it took for the Falcons on another channel to score on a 5-play, 60 yard touchdown drive!

Bring on the rest of the football season and next year hope MLB’s homeless-looking bum of a commissioner will shorten the baseball season to 80 games. Or better yet, 40.

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About 4 years ago I took my young daughter to a Braves game. Between 2 tickets, parking, food, and a lousy souvenir I spent $150.00…….to watch a baseball game. They have priced middle America out of it. I don’t care anymore and don’t even watch the Braves on TV. Give me college football.

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Hudson is the only fired up player on the braves team.

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The Braves completing the typical swan song they are known for!Jones needs to go, I dont have confidence in his influence on his team mates, Feddi needs the boot, and get some hitters who know how to hit in the clutch. Atlanta needs pitchers who can stay healthy, and get players who have new mojo!

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The braves played just fine, bless their hearts!

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This team sucks!Feddi (fed up) isn’t the one we need managing the team!

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We are the Seatlle of the East Coast. Fairweather fans with 2nd tier teams. The braves won 14 divisions and 1 World Series ? The Falcons are still wheeling from getting there butts handed to them last year and the Hawks are just the Hawks. We lost not 1 Hockey team but 2 . Back to the Braves , they got in trouble the 1st game against St. Louis when they were up 3 to 1 in the 9th ( sound familiar ) and other than the Red Sox last night , they blew one of the biggest leads in MLB . I would not laugh at the Mets anymore. Will Frank ” I can’t sign a decent free agent” Wren please be terminated and get a real GM in there ? Chipper , you had a great run , but your over , please retire so the team can bring in a quality 3rd baseman and bring up some youth. Bobby Cox would not have had this epic break down. Fredi was talking with ESPN and was smiling , really ? this is the past, present and future of Atlanta sports. I’m going back to working on my bikes . At least I can relax. Good Luck

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This doesn’t really have any bearing on me now that football has started. I only watch the Braves as a filler during the spring and summer months. So as an honest opinion, I can tell you the reason for yet another meltdown by the Bad News Braves:

1. This revolving door as a lineup. Too much emphasis is put on lefty/righty matchups. Play your best players… Every game counts, as we can see…

2. Derek Lowe- The worst pitcher in the NL, hands down.

3. Chipper Jones- I know he is a fan favorite, but he has become another Keith Brooking. His lack of agility at 3rd has cost the Braves multiple times this season, as well as last night. Not to mention that if the wind blows too hard, he strains a neck muscle.

4. And most importantly, playing the Washington Nationals. If the Braves win 3 more games against a team they should beat everytime they play, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

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Bradley could have turned up the heat on management but he chose to put it on the players. Typical AJC garbage.

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DisCUSSed yes. But anyone could see it coming. The pitching broke down. The hitting was non existant. Possibly the broken pitchers will be gone next year. Possibly, the young pitchers who are waiting in the wings will get their chance next year. Possibly Uggla will start fast and keep it going next year. The 2011 rookies will hopefully remember the collapse of 2011 and profit from it. Maybe even Haywood will make a comeback. It would be nice if The Chipper would hang around another year and be part of a winner for his last curtain call. Hey, Prado might even return to form.
THERE IS HOPE, BUT WE SAY THAT EVERY YEAR. RATS, RATS, AND RATS.

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Yeah let’s just blame the hitting coach..NOT..Morons

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Long night huh Mark? Those guys in the Brave uniforms did not fool me one bit. They were the Vancouver Canucks! Seriously. As a follower of Atlanta sports teams since the 1960s disappointments have become the norm not the exception. To lose going down swinging is no disgrace. To compete without heart is the epitome of unprofessionalism. The Braves went through the motions in front of home fans who cared. This one no longer does. Have a nice day all. Early October is for football anyway.

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Please restore my last comment Mark. Do not have heart to type it again. Knew I should have saved damn thing!

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All these Fans ripping the Braves…..get over it !
Hey you should be proud of them anyway for having the chance to maybe go to the playoffs, look at what the team has done over the years. That is a statement in itsself !
The Phillies have one heck of a ball team and probably and unless a sattelite falls on them will win the World Series again !
As long as that game lasted and as hard as Braves had to play and then if they had won, to fly to the Cardinals today and play them a game, they would have lost to them because of being tired anyway !
It was better to go on and lose the final game of the Series and played it hard as they did.
Quit Ripping them and being a bunch of Jerks ! ” Be Proud of the Braves! ! ! “

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Good grief, so the Braves swooned, the world has not ended. They were entertaining all year and competitive. They just ran out of starting pitching, wore down a bull pen no one expected to be as good as it had been and hit an offensive slump. The were not going to be world champs anyway, and the best we could have reasonably hoped for was to go one round into the playoffs.

And they’ll be entertaining and competitive next year. Give Uggla a normal season, see Hayward play just a little better, Chipper can still hit and if the starters can stay reasonably healthy, 2012 should be fun. But again, don’t expect a World Series appearance.

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Only 2 words I can think of to summarize the team: BRAVES SUCK

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JS changes are needed and have been for years. FW is looking in the want ads – washed -up ball players for 2012. If you start with a proven manager that has no ties to our Braves, maybe, he won’t keep players that are just hangers. You have a complete pitching staff to rebuild. (we do have young talent but no pitching coach.) It is hard to watch this team die. New management and players are needed. By cutting the money suckers, money can be available for good younger players. JS & FW get a plan going. Washington and the Marlins have teams to be reckoned with in the near future. You can not change old players into winners. They are set in their ways. Youth, Youth. A prime example, Chipper – if he would realize most of his power is gone – could lead the league in hitting – hitting to all fields – but he is getting paid a tremendous amount of money for what he used to be.

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If Chipper Jones is on the Braves roster next spring, put me to sleep. It’s unbelievable that people still think this guy should be in the Hall of Fame some day. Nearly 20 years of completely clutchless baseball.

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@P-ROSE WHY YOU BLAMING HEYWARD, IM NOT SUPRISE! GO AHEAD AND BTBM!!!

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Words you will never see in the same sentence: “Fredi Gonzalez” and “post-season baseball.”

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Kick’em while they’re down Bradley. That’s what hacks live for. No Grantland Rice’s here since Bisher left. Like sports really matters anyway.

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IF THE RED SOX FIRE FRANCONA (AND THEY WILL) THEN FREDI NEEDS TO BE FIRED TOO!! TERRIBLE MANAGING JOB THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY IN SEPT. HOW COULD ANYONE EXPECT THE BRAVES TO WIN EVEN ONE GAME AGAINST THE PHILLIES IN THIS SERIES WHEN THEY COULDN’T BEAT THE HAPLESS MARLINS, METS, AND NATIONALS OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS? FREDI NEEDS TO BE FIRED, CHIPPER NEEDS TO RETIRE AND THEY NEED TO GET SOME HITTERS WHO CAN HIT THE BALL OUTTA THE INFIELD!!! OTHERWISE IT WILL BE MORE OF THE SAME NEXT YEAR-EXCEPT THEY WON’T EVEN BE IN POSITION AT THE END TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS..I FEEL MOST SORRY FOR THOSE POOR FANS SITTING IN TURNER FIELD LAST NIGHT..HOW MUCH CAN SHEER AGONY CAN THEY CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH?? ESPECIALLY AFTER THE PAST 20 YEARS??!

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Mr. Bradley,

Still give Fruity Gonzalez an “A” grade on his management?

You’d better get real honest and courageous about your final assessment of this buffoon if you want any of your readers to take you seriously.

For sure, you have much more courage than Fruity’s bike buddy, DOB, so now is the time for utter, unabashed honesty…YOUR grade by your readers will depend on this!

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the Braves were screwed last night. Bourne was safe at third. Uggla’s homer should’ve been for three rather than two. Braves should’ve won 4-3. the Braves were screwed.

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What difference did this game make? If they weren’t going to lose game 162, they’d lose the playoff in game 163. The team died in front of our eyes, and couldn’t hit it’s way out of a paper bag. 17 losses from Lowe, and he had to pitch game 161? Nah, this team was deader than a fart.

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The main difference between a player like Derek Jeter and Chipper Jones was on full display last night. That explains why Jeter has 5 rings and Chipper only has one..how many times have you seen Jeter strike-out 3 times in a huge game? Chipper has had a great “regular season” career-much like Bobby Cox did as a manager..but when it counted the most in the playoffs and world series, Chipper “choked” much as he did last night..time to hang up the cleats, Chipper-and take Fredi and D. Lowe with you!!

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@CURTISJONES THAT RIGHT BLAME THE ONLY BLACK PLAYER ON THE TEAM! I GUESS HE THE REASON THE BRAVES LOSS!

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Not deader than, just deadlier than…

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Guys, it was obviously a terrible collapse but they finished a game away from the playoffs and that’s a lot more than can be said for many, many teams out there. Baseball is a hard game, period. My son played youth ball, college, four years in the minors…in youth ball played against Davies & Francouer and against and with the McCann boys. At every level, it’s a hard game–we saw it first hand. The fact that it is a hard game makes it such an awesome game. The coaches and players are not trying to lose. Yea, there ought to be some changes but there are a lot of good players on the team. There’s one thing you can’t change about the players or coaches–they are human. It didn’t happen this year–cut ‘em some slack & turn the page.

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Good pep talk Chipper – get those guys pumped up – then go o’fer. NICE!!

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@alex – Heyward is a .230 singles hitter that can’t hit an outside pitch because he has one foot in the dugout. His swing is slower than a barnyard rusty gate. Francoeur was four times the player Heyward was in 2011. Heyward was a HUGE disappointment in 2011.

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This outcome might be the best thing to happen to this organization in the sense that when the Braves would lose in the first round in the past they could fall back on the excuse that “at least we made the playoffs. How many teams can say that” yada, yada, yada. This collapse should be the wake up call this team has never received before that say’s we don’t have mentally tough, gamer’s. Yes, we have talent but talent alone doesn’t win this time of year. This calls for a change in philosophy in the coaches we hire, the player’s we sign, and kids we draft.

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Very disappointing. To be honest, the Braves do not have the level of talent required to be consistent winners so this breakdown should not come as a surprise. The pitching staff was great most of the season. Kimbrel was a pleasure to watch. The lack of run production throughout the season wore the pitching staff down, the defense is not championship caliber, and neither are the manager and most of the coaches, Pendleton excepted. Catching is also a problem; the pitch calling and handling of the pitchers was questionable, to say the least. The people management picked up to give the team a boost, with the exceptions of Constanza and Bourn, were leading characters in the ensuing tragedy.

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Mark – actually, when Fredi came out to argue the call at 3rd, I was hoping he didn’t choose this moment in the season to get thrown out! Like him or not, the last thing we needed was to go the rest of the game without a manager…

Overall though, I’m in agreement about Fredi, no fire, little discernible leadership and a seeming lack of interest (although I’m sure this is just his demeanor).

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With the exception of Cleveland, this is the worst sports town in the nation. To win championships, you need elite players. Atlanta has none. The only elite players this town has ever had were Dominique Wilkins and Michael Vick. I hate to admit it, but Shaq was right. Joe Johnson was given all that money because the Atlanta sports market is so poor. Johnson is not elite, but is the closest athlete Atlanta has to an elite player. This epic collapse just reminded me of that. It is time for Chipper to retire. Yes, he has had a great career, but his time is passed. He’s just a liability now, not an asset, and the sad thing is the Braves are going to keep him for sentimental reasons. That’s only going to hurt this team. Parrish needs to go now, and if significant improvement doesn’t happen next season, Freddi needs to go too. That is going to be hard in this division, seeing the Philadephia pitching rotation is second to none. Pittsburgh had its dynasty in the 70’s, San Fran in the 80’s, Dallas in the 90’s, Washington has won, so has LA, Philadephia, Detroit, NY, St. Louis, Houston, Miami, and as much as I hate to admit it, even New Orleans. Atlanta? Its lone championship was won over the only sports city thats worst than ours: Cleveland. Without any elite players, the trend will continue. This isn’t going to be a fun sports city for a long time.

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@alex why you so raciest?

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The long offseason will be tough on this team. They showed greatness at times, but sputtered out in the end. Time for everyone to start preparing for next year – Frank Wren’s got a lot of work to do.

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Overused relievers. Gonzalez follows everything Cox did and as last year they were worn out by year end. What happened to Costanza-they played great with him and Bourn playing? Heyward having a poor year and injured. They had a formula with the 2 speedsters, so why stop? Also you have a huge power hitter at Gwinnett in Stefan Gartell-shoudn’t he have gotten a callup?

Next year they need to use Pastornicky at SS, let others compete for Heywards job and move Prado to third and let Chipper retire or be part time. Costanza was a “nobody” and he helped. Gwinnett has some career minor leagues so why not give them a chance (Gomez etc)?

Lowe needs to go-would have been betetr having Teheran or Christian replace him as a starter,

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I remember being relieved when the Braves – Giants playoff series finally ended….everybody hurt, couldn’t hit, blah, blah, It was a numbingly difficult series to watch. But they outdid themselve over the last month. Way to many underachievers. I’ve felt sorry for the announcers on TV and radio…must have been like announcing an execution.

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Oh, and McCann! Have you ever looked at his face on TV when he comes up to bat?! What is he looking at? Can he see ANYTHING! He can hit, when he can see, (and, when his back is not injured). I am not sure he is that good a catcher, regardless – poor pitch calling and terrible against base stealers!

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Glad it’s over. These guys wouldn’t have made it past the playoff game anyway. No mention of the blown call by the ump at 3rd base. Had that call been correct, Uggla’s HR would have been a 3 run dinger instead of a 2 run dinger, and the Braves would have never lost the lead or their confidence. Came blame the ump for a single call though, they had their chances late in the game to soore and didn’t. Typical of the entire season.

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I’m surprised more people on this blog are not griping about Heyward not catching that fly ball that lead to the second run. that was the game right there had he caught that, like he should have, Hudson would have pitched deeper into the game and our relievers could have been more aggressive.

Fredi made the wrong move.

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Philly had nothing to play for and they still won. Their approach at the plate was so much better than ours. They laid off all those sliders at the bottom of the strike zone and then just tried to put the ball in play somewhere. Our “hitters” tried to hit it to Charlotte. Really weak effort over an entire month. An entire month for ch@#!t sake. @Dan Gurian. Spot on. O’Flaherty 2 freakin pitches? He finds the strike zone. Gets people out. Pitch him 3 innings if you have to. This manager has no clue. 20 years of competent baseball. Not electrifying. Not mezmerizing. Competent. And that gets you 1 title over that time. Marlins won 2 with a smaller payroll and no long range plan. Ged new ownership, PLEASE!!!

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If I were manger we would have won. You ATL fans just don’t get. How you can blame the game on Heywards hustle? The guy didnt get come in until the 7th and went 1-2 at the plate. Then your rookie of the year closer blows the game, but you blame heyward? Your SS boots a sure double play ball hit right at him and allows an unearned run? What about the biggest fraud in sports history “larry Choke jones” 0-for forever in the biggest game of the year but I know you will find a way to defend him, if you can find him because you all know he wont show up till after the playoffs.

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Bradley,

If Chipper retires, who will they get to replace him. The reason I ask is isnt there a slugger they can get to take his place. Isn’t tampa’s Evan Longoria available and would the Braves consider going after him?

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What is the status on Michael Bourn? Is he a free agent or does he have a year or two left on a contract. Whatever his status, Atlanta needs to keep him at all costs.

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Tomorrow, David Ross, MLBPA representative for the Braves, plans to meet with Commissioner Bud Selig to discuss the benefits of a 120-game season.

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It’s quittin time,typical atlanta race baiting here…Bring down sharpton,now THERE’s a guy we can ALL respect! Sheeeesh,city of morons and posers!!

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Bourne was safe at third. Uggla’s homer should’ve been for three. Braves should’ve been up 4-2 in the 9th and won it 4-3. The Braves were robbed.

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“Even without Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson, this team should have had enough to play into October.”

No, they didn’t, because they didn’t. Braves without Jurrgens and Hanson (and Venters and Kimbrel, if you want to split hairs) weren’t a playoff team. Just like last year, without Prado and Chipper they weren’t a NLCS team.

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Can someone please take that “tipped cap” and smack Fredi as hard as possible in the face!!!! His attitude was disgusting as the Braves wheels came off the last five weeks. For those that wanted Bobby gone…….be careful what you wish for!!! We got Bobby-Lite…….oh by the way Chipper can you shut the F up about being only Team that can challenge Phillies in the playoffs!!! And quit talking about “baseball gods” as they have nothing to do with the fact that your Body is breaking down!!!

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3 SIMPLE REASONS WHY THE SEASON ENDED LIKE IT DID
1) Cards come from behind down 3-1 in the ninth…Kimbrel blows save
2) Omar Infante hits two out ninth inning homerun…Kiimbrel blows save
3) Phils walk the bases and tie the final game in 9th..Kimbrel blows save

Thats it, its easy….3 simple reasons.

You can have great stuff, but if you cant harness it at crunch time, its useless

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I predicted this collapse on Sept. 1. It truly is time to clean house.

Bourn – Sign him long term
Heyward – Shape up or trade
Prado – at third
Uggla – Build the team around him
McCann – Keep, but don’t overuse in the first half of the season. Ross is a great back up.
Freeman – Good Season. Can’t expect a rookie to come through all the time.
Gonzelaz – Keep at short
Constanza – Give another shot next year.
Hudson, Medlen, Hanson, Beechy, Minor – the starters.

Lowe, Jones, Linebeck, Sherill, Moylan. Gone

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I am relieved now. This past month was painful to watch. While reading this article I kept hearing the voice of Darth Vader saying to Luke “Now his failure is complete.” I hope the Braves go get some consistent bats next season. You have to like how the pitching situation looks, though I hope Lowe isn’t in the rotation again. -Tuba

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Even the Orioles showed more SPUNK than the Braves did down the stretch

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