Mike Minor was mightily major, and still the Braves lost
One picture of Johnny Venters, worth several thousand words. (AJC photo by Hyosub Shin)
Before Tuesday’s game, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez noted that Kris Medlen, sent to Class AAA to “stretch out” his arm in case he’s needed in the rotation, was scheduled to throw 95 pitches in his next Gwinnett start. Meaning: Any more wobbles from Mike Minor could mean his last name becomes his next destination.
If that weren’t enough, Minor’s mound opponent this night was the heavyweight (word used advisedly) CC Sabathia. The massive Yankee — “He’s a moose,” Gonzalez said of Sabathia — had won seven games to Minor’s three, had compiled an ERA of 3.69 to Minor’s 6.57. Were this, er, a heavyweight bout, they’d have stopped it before it started. But this was baseball, and in baseball there’s no such thing as a sure thing.
To wit: The underwhelming Minor worked his best start since the second Saturday of the season, and he did exactly what Gonzalez had, speaking before the game, said he wanted: “I want him to go deep in the ballgame, past the fifth. I don’t think very many clubs are built to have four innings of relief.”
Over his past six starts Minor had worked six innings only once, that on a night in Cincinnati when he left with his team down 4-1. He had won only once since April 19, that on a night in Miami when he needed 103 pitches through five. He had become the weakest link in an underperforming rotation, and there have been times when it seemed his status with the big-league club was, to invoke the sporting prognosis, day to day.
But on a night when Yankee fans — and maybe one or two of those who back the Braves — arrived expecting a walkover, Minor gave his team and his career a lift. He threw 7 1/3 innings against the Bronx Bombers, limiting them to five hits and one earned run. This was the Minor who, on April 14, had held the brawny Milwaukee Brewers to two hits in 7 2/3 innings, only this was better because it was against the Bronx Bombers and their burly ace.
The night began with Derek Jeter, who in a pregame briefing had lavished praise on the retiring Chipper Jones, singling up the middle. (Right here you thought, “Uh, oh.”) After retiring Curtis Granderson, Minor walked Mark Teixeira. (And here you thought, “Told you so.”) But Minor induced a foul pop from the famous Alex Rodriguez and a groundout from the stellar Robinson Cano, and the half-inning was done.
When next Minor threw a pitch, he had a three-run lead. Michael Bourn singled leading off the home half. Brian McCann, who had made 850 feet of screaming outs in Monday’s game, hoisted a ground-rule double. Dan Uggla walked to load the bases. Matt Diaz doubled to right, thereby unloading them.
We pause to note: At 3:40 p.m., the aforementioned Chipper was heard to exclaim in the Braves’ clubhouse, “My professional career is over! I’m hitting behind Matty Diaz.” Chipper was kidding, but still: It was noteworthy to see the future Hall of Famer batting sixth to Diaz’s fifth, and it was likewise intriguing that Gonzalez had benched Jason Heyward to make room for Diaz. “I told Jason, ‘This is not a platoon thing,’ ” Gonzalez said.
Nope. Just good managing. The right-handed Diaz got the key hit off the fearsome lefty Sabathia, and Minor took it from there. He didn’t look like a big-league team’s fifth starter; he looked, not for the first time but for the first time in a while, like a big-league pitcher.
In his most recent start Minor had needed 103 pitches to record 15 outs. This time his 100th pitch saw him working to Jeter with one out in the eighth and the Braves leading 4-nil. That pitch was Minor’s last — Jeter, who has hit everybody for the past 16 years — singled to right, and Gonzalez made a change. The manager had gotten what he’d wanted and more, and Mike Minor left to a rousing ovation.
He did not, however, go home as the winning pitcher. Jonny Venters faced four Yankees and retired none of the above. With the bases loaded, A-Rod drilled a 3-2 Venters serve over the left-field fence for the most deflating home run hit in this city by a Bomber since that rat Jim Leyritz.
Mike Minor had spent 2 1/2 hours giving his team a major lift, and with one swing the lead was gone. Then Cory Gearrin was greeted by a Nick Swisher two-run shot, and the Yankees were ahead. The weakest link had held up, but the acclaimed bullpen let him down.
And for those of you who are wondering: No, the Braves were not crushed by this stunning defeat. Dazed, but not crushed. “You’ve just got to flush it,” Chipper Jones said. “We play 162 of these. You can’t dwell on one or two of them. You’ve got to be professional.”
Gonzalez said his plan was to pull Minor after the first baserunner in the eighth, which is what happened, and it’s hard to fault that move. Minor had gotten the Braves far enough that Venters, whose province is the eighth inning, could be summoned. Trouble is, this was the bad Venters we’ve seen on occasion. He tried to throw A-Rod a sinker. It didn’t sink until it dipped into the seats in left.
Said Venters: “I threw a pitch right down the middle to one of the best players in the game … I made a bad pitch and he crushed it.”
The grand slam was A-Rod’s 23rd, tying him with the immortal Yankee Lou Gehrig, so it’s not as if the Braves didn’t have a part in history being made. But most of the postgame talk concerned Minor, of whom Jones said: “This was by far his best start in the major leagues. He was dominant.”
Minor: “I have had a lot of bad starts this year, but [management has] also seen me pitch well. They know what I can do.”
Gonzalez: “Minor was outstanding. We pushed him as hard as we could. He did a terrific job.”
(As to why the just-up-from Gwinnett Gearrin was deployed in a tie game with one out in the eighth, Gonzalez said Eric O’Flaherty wasn’t available Tuesday. Seems he awoke the other day with a twinge in his elbow.)
Asked if he would give his players a pick-me-up talk after this egregious reversal, Gonzalez said: “Maybe tomorrow when we stretch.” And that, too, sounded about right. No sense smashing furniture after a game like this.
Said Chipper, who could actually smile after this one (as opposed to the Leyritz game, when nobody smiled for a month): “We did our job for eight-ninths of the game.”
Yes, losing hurt. But there was good to be taken from this loss, and that, pardon the pun, is no minor thing.
By Mark Bradley
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241 comments Add your comment
whoa Nelly
June 13th, 2012
1:16 am
Even Sutton on radio and Joe,Dale,Chip wondered why Kembrel was not up and ready. 5 outs for a win would over work Kembrel is BS.
Also why are all the pitchers hurt and so bad..ans. McDowell.
P. Bull Terrier
June 13th, 2012
2:40 am
Just one more Venters slider in the dirt and the Braves might have won the game. If he throws ball 4 to A-Rod, instead of a meatball, only one run crosses the plate, and who knows what might have happened next.
(Sure, maybe the only difference would have been that Swisher hit the grand slam instead of A-Rod, but at least A-Rod would still be one behind Gehrig.)
IlliniBrave
June 13th, 2012
3:38 am
Wait… you mean, Fredi did not tip his cap to the Yankees? What is wrong here? No cap tipping? Could this be a transformation of Fredi? Or… could it be that Fredi realized that this was all on him and his pitchers – and that any cap tipping would be a misplaced assignment of blame for this really egregious loss. The Nats are winning and we are not. The signs are not looking good at all.
clay
June 13th, 2012
4:11 am
this one is clearly on venters not the coach.
clay
June 13th, 2012
4:14 am
The Braves will not go anywhere this season, because they are too streaky. You can got from losing eight in a row to winning eight of nine and now three straight or maybe four straight, especially at home. In order to play in the post season you have to dominate at home and play atleast .500 on the road. We suck at home, smh because these are the losses that hurt you in the big picture. Oh well atleast we have hudson pitching tomorrow.
Billy D
June 13th, 2012
5:54 am
Where to start? First, dont tell me the Braves players are not crushed by Tues… Night. This can wreck a season. Next, why cant this team add on runs during the game. It seems when they score a few runs early the attitude is ,”thats enough” it happens all the time. The thing that really bugs me is the “old School” philosophy tha states dont bring your closer in until the ninth inning. Any fool could see the Tues. game needed the closer in the eighth inning, it cried for Kimbrell. What was left to save in the ninth. I am a 30 plus long distance fan who watches the team every night so I know them well.I am so grateful that I was not at the Stadium Tues. to feel the humiliation that the fans had to endure from those Yankee fan in person. I can not bear to watch the Wed. game.This team needs some fire and I am afraid it wont happen under this manager
WTF
June 13th, 2012
6:00 am
WTF!
WTF
June 13th, 2012
6:01 am
No, really, doesn’t ‘our’ Fredi remind you of another just as ineffectual and messed up ‘Feddy’? You know – Freddy Corleone?
Lets dance
June 13th, 2012
6:08 am
chipper said home run was like game 4 home run where we frown for months in 96…..You should know chokein runs in braves family ask Bobby cox One time champion and 6time wife beater wins everytime…….and chokes to wild card marlins twice see who wonWorld series too….and in 2000 chipper Mr God u call him threw last out over 1st base so bad error and all runs scored and You blew it and we had play St;louis instead of La dodgers we would had still choke since Cox was pickin nose with Bradley and O’Brien butt kissin him……Bad 3 games Livan pitch like softball game sunday i bet he put in Livan wednesday as yankees score 18 runs!
NickGranite
June 13th, 2012
6:10 am
Again. Kimbrel didn’t have to pitch both innings. Snuff out the fire Venters poured gas on in the 8th with your best, worry about a clean slate with someone else in the ninth with maybe a 3 run lead and if your lucky a 4-0 lead. Surely the percentages favor almost any major league pitcher coming into an inning with no runners and maybe a 4-1 or 4-2 lead should Kimbrel have given up a forceout run or anything except a %$%^&%$# grand slam.
Ellabell1
June 13th, 2012
6:18 am
How many pitches in the dirt in a row before it takes Bobby Jr. to realize that Venters hasn’t got it. Same old Braves, when they win, it’s in spite of their poor managing. I’m sure that somewhere in BJ’s post game comments he probably said: You gotta tip your caps to ‘em. Send Bobby Jr. to the minors and bring up someone who knows something about baseball to coach the team.
Ron E.
June 13th, 2012
6:27 am
You don’t leave a struggling lefty in to pitch to Arod with the bases loaded. If you can’t figure that out, you shouldn’t be a major league manager. Kimbrel would have been the smartest choice, but any right handed reliever not named Hernandez would have been acceptable.
dawg tired
June 13th, 2012
6:40 am
Watching Venters throw pitch after pitch into the dirt, you just knew A Rod was going to kill the first good one across the plate. I think the most sickening thing was that Fredi saw those pitches hit the ground and he did nothing to stop it.
Scott Brantley
June 13th, 2012
6:46 am
Jonny Venters initials are JV and that’s what he is.
Longtimefan
June 13th, 2012
6:51 am
Looking thru the retrospectroscope always provides the right answers. I suspect if FG had made some moves suggested by the Monday morning armchair QBs and they had lost-he would still be criticized.
RGP
June 13th, 2012
6:57 am
Venters was lights out last year. O’Brien’s article tells a different story for this year. Last 20 games he is 1-3 with a 7.04 ERA. The problem with our bullpen this year is other than Kimbrel no one else is consistent and reliable.
cloudodust
June 13th, 2012
7:10 am
Prior to the slam, I was thinking we played the games to win ‘em. This one goes down as shooting one’s self in the foot.
dcb
June 13th, 2012
7:12 am
Have to agree with Bill Donohoo above – no problem with using Venters in this situation-especially after his last performance just a game or two ago. But leaving him in when he didn’t have it which was obvious the first two batters he faced and much before A-Rod’s grandslam, was the goof.
Jim Harper
June 13th, 2012
7:30 am
As long as Gonzalez is the coach, the Braves will just be contenders. Bobby Cox had a unique style that created accountability and motivation to play for him. Fredi has tried to adopt this style, but it simply does not win consistently…not in Miami or Atlanta. Fredi either needs to change and start lighting fires under people or he has to go. Until then, expect the Bravos to tease you.
Regular ole Braves fan
June 13th, 2012
7:30 am
Sad to say but a 5 year old would have pulled Venter’s with the bases loaded and pitching to a right hander……Oh wait….we didn’t have a RHP warming up….
Kyle
June 13th, 2012
7:30 am
A championship team would never loose a game like Sunday’s or last night after being up like that. They are just getting ready for September and October a little earlier than they normally do.
This just proves!!!!
June 13th, 2012
7:34 am
This just proves, these BRAVES cannot win with Fredi as manager…..he has absolutely no clue what he is doing as manager…..he should not even be allowed to manage a little league team…..he is a freaking waste!
AtlantaDude
June 13th, 2012
7:41 am
Why is it against the law to pull a pitcher mid at-bat?
Venters obviously couldn’t get his sinker/slider out of the dirt. Did Freddy really believe he was going to be able to get A-Rod out throwing only fastballs. That grand slam was the most predictable outcome in sports in the last 10 years. Only surprise was that A-Rod fouled the first meatball off his foot.
James
June 13th, 2012
7:49 am
Second game Feddie has given away. On Sunday he took out Julio Tehran when he got into a little trouble instead of letting him fight his way out. Brought in Levan and the rest was history as he kept him there until he gave up 5 runs….go figure. Last night Minor should have stayed in until there he had trouble. Venters hasnt been right for quite a while… This is the same I am loyal to my guys no matter what and to the system no matter what that Cox put us through.
Golden Girl
June 13th, 2012
8:03 am
Geesh — what a disappointing night. What was Freddi Gonzolaz thinking? I’m thinking we need a new manager — Chipper would be GREAT!
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
June 13th, 2012
8:03 am
How many times have I told U all what the problem is.
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
June 13th, 2012
8:04 am
How long have I told U all about this problem?
crackbaby
June 13th, 2012
8:09 am
So so tired of the Fredi haters drivel. Blaming last night’s loss on the manager is idiocy. I guess you are allowed to hate on the home team manager but your thoughtless negativity is revealing. Seriously, post your IQs – nevermind, it’s not necessary as we can tell from your comments.
Let's Go
June 13th, 2012
8:14 am
Mark I disagree with you about Kimbrel in the 8th because at that point with the bases loaded that was the ballgame. People can call it what they want to in stat world but 8th or 9th that was the game so why not use your best pticher at that point. Kimbrel should have been getting ready and as soon as Granderson singled he should have started throwing hard. You worry about the 9th when the 9th comes around and if Kimbrel couldn’t finish then you go with one of the others but if you use Kimbrel and he is able to shut down the Yankees or hold them to 1 or 2 runs that is just as big as a save and guess what you still have the lead going into the 9th.
Fredi and McDowell get the blame for this lost. Actually why Roger McDowell still had a job after last season still baffles me.
True Falcon Fan
June 13th, 2012
8:14 am
Freddie & Frank = FF —– Sweet 16 could be around the corner, there once were 4 and then there was 8 — oh could be sweet 16, not yet. But fore sure it will happen this season, rest assured!
My favorite MLB teams are in order, as follows: #1 Braves, #2 Yankees, #3 Rangers
I will never forget around 1959 or 60 at Pounce de Leon ball park, my brothers & me have a picture with Cleat Bower, WOW that’s was really great – My Father was very proud.
Folks “Frick & Frack” ain’t the answer!
Go Falcons!
Ted M
June 13th, 2012
8:15 am
The Braves need some major bullpen help. Not for Venters tho.
Now’s the time for Wren to make a trade. Overall the Braves bullpen sticks.
Paul H
June 13th, 2012
8:16 am
For the record, Kimbrel hasn’t pitched since June 9th. He would’ve been FINE to go in and get 5 outs instead of the usual 3. Pretty sure he wouldn’t have paid for those 2 extra outs after 2 days of rest later in the season. BAD move by Fredi.
Not a freddi fan as of last night
June 13th, 2012
8:17 am
I have an idea. Lets drop Levan from the roster and send venters and gearin down and put Minor and Delgado in the bullpen. That would hurt someones feelings though, we dont do that in Atlanta.
crackbaby
June 13th, 2012
8:20 am
@Loosing Managar (sic)
You are a prime example of the lack of intelligence exhibited by all you Fredi haters. 1) you can’t spell, and 2) your IQ is sub 70.
The Braves are 34-28. Six games above .500 even after losing 3 straight. If they would have won last night, they would have the same number of wins as the Yankees.
Fredi has done all this with shorthanded lineups (chipper, vision problems of McCann and Freeman, a not ready for prime time SS – that’d be PastorNOTky which he fixed by bringing in Andrelton “Silk” Simmons, and inconsistent performance by his entire pitching staff – starters and relievers). He’s firm when he needs to be (e.g. Juan Francisco’s unacceptable behavior in Cincy) and patient enough for the guys to know he’s got their backs.
Shut up already.
meh
June 13th, 2012
8:24 am
I can live with pulling Minor and bringing in Venters. I think Fredi messed up when he left Venters in to face A-Rod after he just walked two in a row. He obviously didn’t have his stuff last night and should’ve been pulled.
gwd,SC
June 13th, 2012
8:27 am
Fredi G. Why pull Minor. Wrong . Wrong. Wrong. Minor was cruising. Only 100 pitches
Vel Crow
June 13th, 2012
8:27 am
Headline should have been, “Minor was Major, Fredi was Pathetic.”
Dubvee
June 13th, 2012
8:35 am
Anybody know why Fredi had Heyward bat for Diaz with 2 on and a left handed pitcher throwing? Diaz was having a great game, and Heyward is no match for CC. What did I miss?
Matt
June 13th, 2012
8:37 am
I sure wish that nimrod would learn the difference between “losing” and “loosing”. Better yet, why can’t he just be blocked from all the blogs? He is obviously a troll.
Milburn Drysdale
June 13th, 2012
8:38 am
Thank you “Mr push all the wrong buttons Gonzalez”. Venters has obviously lost it.
Sonny Clusters
June 13th, 2012
8:40 am
Pitch after pitch in the dirt. He elevated and the game was tied. Hmmm . . . how could Fredi have known? Maybe because Venters couldn’t throw a STRIKE? Well, everybody ignores the ground ball that got through to Chipper’s immediate left. “Found a hole” according to Joe Simpson. The “bad” pitching got better when the defense improved with Simmons. The team was winning. Insert Chipper and the defense goes away and they haven’t won since. Mess up the chemistry by sending Constanza down and the “2 leadoff hitters” strategy that they were winning with goes away. Have to tip your cap.
richard whiskey
June 13th, 2012
8:45 am
yankees payroll 200million,braves payroll 80million,who do you think’s gonna win more games? is the reason i no longer watch baseball
jt
June 13th, 2012
8:46 am
Bradley, you and DOB make me sick in your articles! You never see what everone else see’s. Like the obvious mistakes our glorious manager made, like taking Minor’s out too soon (he was having a pretty good game), like leaving Venters in after most of his pitches were bouncing in front of the plate and not in back of it, Like putting a rookie in, when the ballgame was on line and tied, Like pinch hitting Heyward for Diaz, when Diaz was having a great game and Heyward was coming in Cold. Other than that you nailed it.
Yankee
June 13th, 2012
8:46 am
The stadium emptied in the 8th inning. That is, emptied of Braves “fans.” Looked just like a Falcons game at the Ga Dome. With that $83 million payroll, get used to being like Pittsburgh and Kansas City.
J-MAN
June 13th, 2012
9:01 am
Mark Bradley will call out Larry Drew and have a poll put up on him on if he should be kept……But Larry Drew makes the playoffs (Something Fredi didnt do) and has actually won a series/game (Something Mike Smith hasnt done). The Braves have a horrible manager, Chocking that 10 1/2 wildcard lead last year, the boneheaded decisions, wearing out EOF, Venters and Kimbrel last year. EOF and Venters are not the same this season. The lack of faith in is rookie pitchers when they are pitching good. 4-0 leads to Tronto and the Yankees in the last week alone. But he keeps pitchers in there too long when they are getting shelled. The lack of any intensity and fire and he never argues any bad umpire calls……….And throughout all of that Mark Bradley you Jeff Schultz and D.O.B go out of your ways to never criticize Fredi Gonzalez because you are too busy being buddy/buddy with him instead of asking him important questions. But hey keep dogging a coach that actually made the playoff with his all-star center hurt for most of the season and was several bad calls from the refs from beating the Celtics, while you keep kissing Fredi Gonzalezs ass.
J-MAN
June 13th, 2012
9:02 am
Mark Bradley will call out Larry Drew and have a poll put up on him on if he should be kept……But Larry Drew makes the playoffs (Something Fredi didnt do) and has actually won a series/game (Something Mike Smith hasnt done). The Braves have a horrible manager, Choking that 10 1/2 wildcard lead last year, the boneheaded decisions, wearing out EOF, Venters and Kimbrel last year. EOF and Venters are not the same this season. The lack of faith in is rookie pitchers when they are pitching good. 4-0 leads to Tronto and the Yankees in the last week alone. But he keeps pitchers in there too long when they are getting shelled. The lack of any intensity and fire and he never argues any bad umpire calls……….And throughout all of that Mark Bradley you Jeff Schultz and D.O.B go out of your ways to never criticize Fredi Gonzalez because you are too busy being buddy/buddy with him instead of asking him important questions. But hey keep dogging a coach that actually made the playoff with his all-star center hurt for most of the season and was several bad calls from the refs from beating the Celtics, while you keep kissing Fredi Gonzalezs ass.
Huh?
June 13th, 2012
9:03 am
Hey richard whiskey, does it bother you on the nights when the Braves payroll greatly exceeds the opposition’s? Or is that fair, and it’s only not fair when the Braves are outspent?
Dawgdad (The Original)
June 13th, 2012
9:04 am
If this is a duplicate, I’m sorry, I tried.
When you watch the Braves vs the Yankees, it is like pulling for True Value Hardware vs Home Depot.
One has good management and is well stocked, the other tries to get by as the local alternative.
Dawg Fud
June 13th, 2012
9:08 am
I was at the game. The BRAVES did not lose anything. Venters freaking blew it along with his dipstick friend Gearrin.
True Falcon Fan
June 13th, 2012
9:18 am
9:04 Great post!
Go Falcons!