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
9:20 am
Whiskey…Braves Pay-roll at start of season was $93,529,667.23 per Cots contracts. plus 10 million to Indians for Lowe.
Dawg Fud..I thought Braves were a TEAM? If so they lost the game not just Venter & Gearrin. The blame goes to the damn stupid manager and GM for not having a bull-pen worth a crap.
Venters is done
June 13th, 2012
9:22 am
Venters was only good when people would swing at those pitches that bounce 2 feet in front of home plate. Now everyone knows his deal, just don’t swing at ANYTHING until you have 3 balls. Keep the bat on your shoulder and you WILL see 3 balls. Might see 1 get-me-over strike in there, but he is gonna throw you 3 balls before he goes for the kill.
It’s funny Venters can throw 3 or 4 consecutive strikes with the bases loaded and a full count to A-Roid but he can’t do it with a man on 1st and 1 out. Minor finishes the 8th, Bravos win and he gets a well deserved W. Instead Fredi, in his infinite wisdom pulls him at 100 pitches. What a waste of space.
whoa Nelly
June 13th, 2012
9:25 am
Right on DawgDad..lol
Big Yank
June 13th, 2012
9:26 am
In the short run the Yankees are beatable. But in the long run the Atlanta Braves are a much inferior franchise and no manager can change that, so fire Fredi and see what happens.
Larry
June 13th, 2012
9:28 am
“Gonzalez said his plan was to pull Minor after the first base runner in the eighth, which is what happened, and it’s hard to fault that move.”
What a ridiculously dumb decision and supporting comment. So, Mark, regardless of the fact Minor was pitching almost perfectly, old stupid predetermined he’d pull him after the first base runner up 4-0 with one out? And this base runner got on simply from a seeing-eye grounder off the end of his bat off the outside of the plate?
Mark, we all know Fredi is dumb as a box of rocks; we have a bit higher expectations of an educated man!
Good Grief–stupid is as stupid does.
Venters is done, and so is Chipper
June 13th, 2012
9:29 am
Oh yea, how about Chipper’s 2 for 4 last night! Too bad he hits singles with nobody on and with runners on 2B and 3B hits a dribbler to second for the final out. His .300 BA is soo padded with meaningless hits. He is anti-clutch these days and all the faithfuls point to his “great” average and his “presence”. Bump that mess and get Constanza back in LF and Prado back on third.
Buddy
June 13th, 2012
9:29 am
I have never seen more incompetent managing in my life!!!!
JAC
June 13th, 2012
9:30 am
Best closer in baseball sititng in the bullpen and manager Gonzalez doesn.t use him as we blow a 4 run lead in the 8th inning. Many more more managing jobs like this and we may soon have ex-manager Gonzalez!!!.
PoochKick
June 13th, 2012
9:31 am
Loser talk, Loser talk
Ron Reed
June 13th, 2012
9:35 am
A grand slam by a Yankee in a game we thought was won.
P.T. Barnum
June 13th, 2012
9:39 am
We need a new pitching coach at least. Mcdowell has been here several years and what have the braves done? Didley squat. The pitching staff gets worse year after year. McDowell must come cheap.
whoa
June 13th, 2012
9:45 am
That game could very well be the turning point of whole season…sad.
fredi, i'm done with you
June 13th, 2012
9:46 am
Fredi reminds me of Eddie Haas.
In despair
June 13th, 2012
9:47 am
Mark … As the immortal Herm Edwards said … “You play to win the game.”
shorty
June 13th, 2012
9:47 am
Somebody associated with the Braves needs to grow a set and ask some tough questions instead of following the company line…Fredi G. is on his best day a coach …he is not management material…the fans and hopefully the players will demand this cancer be removed from our beloved Braves before more damage is done…if its not too late already.
Sonny Jackson
June 13th, 2012
9:48 am
Glad I didn’t pay to see this one! Used to attend a ton of games and could always justify spending the money… not anymore. Who is running this circus?
tired of DOB
June 13th, 2012
9:50 am
DOB is an absolute joke. He never asks Fredi tough questions. Probably b/c he doesn’t want to lose his buddy motorcycle rides with him.
1eyedJack
June 13th, 2012
10:02 am
“We did our job for eight-ninths of the game.”
That’s a back-handed cap tip if I ever heard one.
TOo Tough44
June 13th, 2012
10:04 am
Yep, Freddie G…I really wanted you to coach the Braves..however, you are making some decisions that stink. #1 As hot as Constanza was I believe 6-10, you bench him to play Diaz..(yea I know he got the hit last night…but, you messed with Constanzas mental by benching him with the hot bat…you messed with mine too…!) Anyhow, what an ignortant thing to do to NOT manage your pitchers better our at least remind Venters…dont let the superstar beat you! Well you did.. remember A DEAD FISH STINKS FROM HEAD TO TAIL!
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
June 13th, 2012
10:05 am
@ crackbaby
U R just upset cuz Ive ben rite all a long. I said it was a mistake 2 hire a managar with a loosing record and I thin it is a mistake to keep him a round.
Braves wll be in last palce by the all star brake.
Shelfish Chipper need 2 retrie now!
June 13th, 2012
10:07 am
Lets not 4 get Chipper. He is holding the team back with in shelfish atitude. Its time 2 retrie and let a younger player tkae the rooster spot.
MikeLum
June 13th, 2012
10:09 am
This is jim Leyritz all over again.
I have one question: Why stay with Venters so long? He was not a major-league pitcher last night. He gives up a hit to Granderson, walks Texeria and goes 3-0 on A-Rod. He could not throw his breaking ball for a strike. That left him with one pitch — the sinker, which he could barely get over the plate. A-Rod knew what was coming, and so did we. It was like a horror movie — we could see the disaster unfolding but could not stop it. A-Rod took a called strike, fouled off two to get his timing right, then blasted one out of the park. And then those fucking Yankee fans went crazy all over Turner Field. It was too much to bear.
But perhaps it could have been stopped. Fredi could see Venters had nothing last night. So why not go to Kimbrel early? You have two on with one out in the 8th, and the middle of the Yankee order coming up. This is the game! Right here, right now! Why not use Kimbrel? It’s like the house is on fire, but there’s good news: You have a fire engine nearby. But Fredi says, “No, let’s save it for the next fire.” You get out of the 8th and you face the bottom of the Yankee order in the 9th. You have a 90-95% chance of winning, even with Martinez or Durbin pitching the ninth. The Yanks made their move in the 8th, but we refused to respond. Fredi stuck to the book — the closer only pitches the last inning. Not guts, no glory — and lots of pain.
Milburn Drysdale
June 13th, 2012
10:10 am
I could be wrong, but I don’t believe Heyward pinch hit for Diaz. I believe Heyward was inserrted in the game defensively.
Losers
June 13th, 2012
10:12 am
We arent going anywhere with this sorry a$$ bullpen this year….. last night was horrible !!!
Jack Dennis TN
June 13th, 2012
10:15 am
Why did Heyward PH for Diaz against a wicked left-handed pitcher? I thought they kept Diaz to hit lefties. Hmmm?
seabass
June 13th, 2012
10:18 am
I was there, and I would have rather left Minor in than put him through that torture. He is probably mentally screwed for the braves. Pitch that good and bull pen blow it. Venters, Freddy might as well send him to AAA or trade him. It does not matter to me, I’m done. The Yankees were laughing in the dugout. With good reason to!
dc74
June 13th, 2012
10:29 am
You should be used to losing Bradley..you live in Atlanta
Milburn Drysdale
June 13th, 2012
10:38 am
Again, Heyward did not pinch hit for Diaz.
good grief
June 13th, 2012
10:44 am
Sportswriting in this city is a joke. How about the fact that Fredi left Venters out there too long? How about the questionable move of bringing the fresh out of AAA pitcher in in that situation? How about the fact that he left the AAA pitcher out there too long? Ask some tough questions for crying out loud.
wayn-o
June 13th, 2012
10:47 am
So Fredi knew EOF wasn’t available and he still pulled Minor out of the game, dumbass.
Dawgdad (The Original)
June 13th, 2012
10:51 am
I’ve heard Tom Glavine say and have seen him walk a guy with the bases loaded, on purpose. A good manager would have brought in Kimbrel to face A-Rod, but if you were asleep and didn’t have him ready, you go out to the mound and tell Venters to pitch carefully, you would prefer a walk in that situation rather than a 4 run GS. We could have pitched around A-Rod and then brought in Kimbrel. 4-1 game much better than what happened.
JoeFan
June 13th, 2012
10:55 am
The Braves are and average team, and that goes for the GM and Manager. The Yankees are a very good team and it shows in their approach to the game.
Vel Crow
June 13th, 2012
10:58 am
What about UGGLA running into an out at third base, when the ball was hit to the SS. That cost the Braves a run after Chipper singled. Heyward came in the game, in top of the 7th as a defensive replacement and drove in a run to make it 4-0. Don’t blame him, blame the manager and the bullpen.
snes
June 13th, 2012
11:04 am
He tried to throw A-Rod a sinker. It didn’t sink until it dipped into the seats in left.
Best line that you’ve ever written.
I don’t see the harm in leaving Minor in for one more hitter, if he can’t get the next guy then take Minor out. Gonzalez made it worse by not getting anyone else in there after Venters walked the bases loaded. If someone wasn’t ready yet then stall until someone is, we’ve seen managers do it a million times. Oh, and if the bases are loaded with A-Roid up then I think its a great time to bring in Kimbrel for a 5 out save. Anyone but Hernandez really.
I put this and the Sunday loss to Toronto on Gonzalez.
IlliniBrave
June 13th, 2012
11:04 am
The most depressing thing about last night was to see how Atlanta is no longer a Southern city and “Braves” fans are simply Yankees/Dodgers/RedSox/Mets/Phillies/etc. transplants. Same thing for Hawks and Falcons games. People wonder why so many folks focus on college football – because that is where you have real fans with real loyalty. No freakin’ Yankees fans at a Bulldogs game. No stupid Lakers fans at a Auburn game. No annoying Eagles fans at a Bama game.
the truth....
June 13th, 2012
11:11 am
Going to get my mornig 2 cents worth in here………….
OK Mark ….I’ve been addicted to baseball and especially the Braves, since 1956……..right…. 1956…..
Fredi is a great guy….a great bench coach rah-rah…..
His game management it weak……….
Venters in………..ok maybe…..
Venters to pitch to ARod……………….NO WAY
NOT GUERIN, NOT MARTINEZ…
ONLY KIMBREL……
LAST NIGHT THE EIGHTH WAS THE NINTH…………….
that is all that needs to be said………..
except…..see ya Fredi…………
flagger
June 13th, 2012
11:12 am
FIRE FREDI THE FREELOADER…..
Livan's HONGRY
June 13th, 2012
11:21 am
Fredi was paralyzed. You give Venters Granderson and Tex- if Granderson gets on, you warm up Kimbrel. If Tex gets on, you stall to give Kimbrel enough time to come in for A-Rod. I don’t have a problem with Venters facing ARod if he gets either guy out and has a place to put A-Rod. But you face their best RH bat with your best RH arm. Then let Durbin go in the 9th against the bottom of their order up by 3 or 4 runs, if you don’t want Kimbrel throwing 5 outs. Fredi was paralyzed- all there is to it. Apparently games can’t be saved in the 8th inning.
the truth....
June 13th, 2012
11:22 am
I’m so sick of Fredi’s dumb statements like……………
“we pushed him…..” …as far as we could……”
or some dumb stuff like that……….no body pushed Minor….he needed no pushing, he waltzed thru most of the game and then has stupid managerial decisions throw it all away in a matter of minutes….
This isn’t the first time gang…………
Look back at the way Fredi has handled the kids the past three games….especially Sunday and Teheran…..
So in that game we’re up 4-0 with the bases loaded and he brings in Livan…………….disaster……..
So what did Teheran take back with him to Gwinnett……? How about they didn’t expect him to win anyway so they just let Livan throw batting practice for the Jays……….?
Fredi makes about 5 horrible decisions for every good one…………..
He is NOT a SUCCESSFUL major league manager …..note that…..not Successful
TomB
June 13th, 2012
11:24 am
No one is mentioning it but I will. The reason why to move to Venters was a bad one was not the use of Venters in the eighth, but instead it was using him without anyone else warming up in the bullpen. So, when Venters got into trouble, the Braves had to scramble two pitchers late to get ready to pitch.This is the reason Venters pitched to A-Rod, and a serious mistake by our Manager.
Tom G (Independent - Viet Vet)
June 13th, 2012
11:24 am
Does anyone find it ironic that in the 3 games(since DL stint) Chipper has played in, we have three straight losses. Chipper has to do more than hit singles and chat with opposing players all game long. Constanza may have been our good-luck charm but we sent him down to make room for an aging vet! It should not be about what someone has done for you in the past, but what they can do now. It is a business!!!!!!!!! Venters should go to long relief and not when game is on line? Our closer should have been brought in(last nite) in 8th inning to put out the fire, we can worry about 9th inning later!! Just my opinion!!!
the truth....
June 13th, 2012
11:25 am
oh…one more thing……
The Braves are a GREAT TEAM with a STUPID MANAGER……………
That makes them a Good team at best…….
Big Chief
June 13th, 2012
11:50 am
Fredi can’t manage his way out of a paper bag. It’s ridiculous that he’s still managing this team. If it weren’t for upper management insisting on the change, we’d still be stuck with that crummy batting coach we had last year.
The guy is OBSESSED with only using Kimbrel in the 9th when we have a lead. Any deviation from that makes his head hurt.
Dave O'Brien
June 13th, 2012
11:51 am
I’m tired of people blasting me. I do the best I can and if it’s not good enough for you, tough. Would you ask hard hitting questions if you had my job?
Remember, I want to keep my job.
duronimo
June 13th, 2012
11:53 am
What’s the deal with the pitchers. I’ve never seen such reversals on one staff. JJ — one great, now a shell of a pitcher. Venters … once nearly unhitable now screwed up. And the rash of injuries that didn’t occur under Mazzone. Pitchers that “lose it” with the Braves seem to get their mojo back with other teams. The varibles I see are the pitching coach and manager. Kimbrall could have simply pitched the 8th when the game was on the line and Martinez the 9th when there was no trouble and the lower end of the batting order coming up.
ACE
June 13th, 2012
11:54 am
Typical, give Fredi Kudos for his one good move and then spin over the bad ones. Bring the IMPOSTER back to town maybe he will ask some tough questions.
TuffShhhtuff
June 13th, 2012
11:54 am
OK, would someone who thought it was so all-fired brilliant of FG “the robot” to start Diaz over Heyward, against a lefthander, please explain what he did in the 7th inning? Especially YOU, Mr. “I Know More Than All The Fans Put Together” sportswriter MB! FG threw his logic and reasoning right out the window, which he is good at doing, when he inserted Heyward for Diaz in the 7th inning with the bases loaded against…..wait for it……….the LEFTHANDER, Sabathia who was still in the game. Diaz had already driven in 3 runs with a double, so that makes it even worse. What changed? That one thing proves how inept and clueless FG is. Then, MB has the guts to give him a couple of “pats on the back” in this article, not even mentioning that!
Pound it
June 13th, 2012
11:55 am
I wish, for once, somebody on the Braves would show some passion. As usual, oh wll, we’ll get’em tomorrow.
taylor
June 13th, 2012
11:57 am
Where is this rule written that the only time you can use your closer is in the 9th with a lead? He’s your best pitcher in the bullpen, use him when the game is on the line, in this case bases loaded in the 8th with one out.
I don’t want to hear anything about overworking Kimbrel for a 5 out save. Who says he has to pitch the 9th? Especially with a 3 or 4 run lead.
I just hate how closers are managed now days.
iTiSi
June 13th, 2012
12:00 pm
“Milburn Drysdale” you might want to check the gamebox on MLB before opening your mouth and making incorrect statements. Heyward PH for Diaz in the 7th inning and drove in a run with a groundout against off all pitchers, the one FG didn’t want to start him against, Sabathia. That really makes a lot of sense doesn’t it, especially since the bases were loaded! FG is a “hair brain”(miniscule) or a “hare brain”(rabbit brain”. Either applies.