A winless series concludes with a truly galling Braves loss
The Braves were ahead. Then the Grandy Man went deep. (AJC photo by Hyosub Shin)
The Wednesday loss bothered me more than the one that preceded it. On Tuesday the Yankees had to do something outrageous — six eighth-inning runs in the span of six batters, with an historic grand slam included — to prevail. On Wednesday they had only to stand back and watch as the home side did everything except win.
The Braves mustered 16 baserunners Wednesday night. They managed two runs. The Braves left 13 men on base, at least one in every inning. They managed 12 hits, at least one in every inning except the seventh. They were 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position, and one of the two was the rookie Andrelton Simmons’ bunt-for-a-hit single with Jason Heyward on third and one out, which Fredi Gonzalez conceded was “an aggressive mistake.”
This was a game that was harder to lose than to win, but lose the Braves did. They were swept in a series in which they made one error and outhit the Yankees 27-24. “We played good,” Brian McCann said, and that was the scary part.
This was a series that came down to little things. A night after Alex Rodriguez barely fouled off one 3-2 pitch from Jonny Venters and drove the next over the left-field fence, Martin Prado sought to squeeze home the tying run in the bottom of the eight. (This bunt had been called from the bench.) Instead Prado fouled Cody Eppley’s pitch to the screen. Two pitches later the Braves’ leading hitter grounded into a double play. One foul-off led to four runs, the other to two killing outs.
Said Gonzalez: “We lost three games, and we played two really good games and 7 1/3 of another.”
A professional athlete expects to lose on a bad night and to win on a good one. It’s losing on the good nights that leads to doubt, and doubt in a team is never a good thing. The Braves have lost four in a row after winning six straight. Even with an eight-wins-in-nine-games run mixed in, this team has lost 13 of 21. From 1 1/2 games ahead in the National League East on May 20, the Braves have fallen five games behind Washington — their largest deficit of the season.
Until the six-game winning streak, the Braves had hit better than they pitched. In this series they pitched better than they hit. They scored six runs, half of those coming off Matt Diaz’s RBI double against CC Sabathia on Tuesday, in 27 innings. For the series they were 3-for-24 with runners in scoring position, and only one of the three hits actually generated a run.
Said McCann, whose fifth-inning home run was the Braves’ only hit of consequence: “We couldn’t get the big hit.”
Tim Hudson pitched well, but not well enough. Derek Jeter led off the game with a double in the gap and scored on A-Rod’s single up the middle. The Yankees made that lead stand until McCann hit his homer. But Hudson couldn’t hold his advantage long enough to get an out. Jeter — yep, him again — led off the sixth with a single to right, and Curtis Granderson hoisted a Hudson cutter inside the foul pole in right. “It cut the middle of the plate in half,” Hudson said, sarcasm dripping.
Said Gonzalez: “We had a lot of good things [in the series] — other than a win.”
It’s not as if the Braves haven’t beaten good teams this season. They took two of three in Dodger Stadium and two of three in Tropicana Field, and they swept the Marlins in Miami at a time when the Fish were flying. But the determinant in this series was a subtle difference in class: The Yankees didn’t do a lot but they aced the essential stuff, while the Braves saved their worst for the worst possible moments.
Gonzalez again: “It seemed like we were one pitch away the whole series.”
That has to nag at any club, to be so close and to walk away on the dustbin end of a sweep. It sounds weird, given that June has seen the Braves’ longest winning streak of the season, but this is a team headed the wrong direction. Even good teams know they’re going to lose 60 or so games in a season — that’s just the nature of baseball. Far more galling are the losses that come for no reason. Like Wednesday’s.
Is there time enough for the Braves to right themselves? Sure. Ninety-nine games remain. But these wild mood swings — the Braves have already had three losing streaks of four or more games — have to subside. The hitting has to pick back up, and the surge in starting pitching has to continue.
“I think this club is ready to make another run,” Gonzalez said, and maybe it is. But those words would have carried more oomph had his Braves managed to beat the Yankees just once.
By Mark Bradley
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209 comments Add your comment
timthebrave
June 14th, 2012
9:38 am
The Braves need to learn to do the little things better. Getting bunts down…Moving runners over…etc..Until they do that they will wait for the 3 run homer and just be an ok team instead of a good team…Go Braves
The ATL
June 14th, 2012
9:38 am
atlanta–still the place to be–it’s black mecca! Rise up!!! The ATL!!!!
Why?
June 14th, 2012
9:40 am
Has anyone thought of making a banner saying “Fire Fredi” and taking it to a game?
It's over now...
June 14th, 2012
9:42 am
If I were king:
1) When Medlen comes up, send Venters down.
2) Tell Freddie Freeman to start wearing his Oakley’s and tell Under Armour to go pound sand if they don’t like it. UA is the reason why Freddie isn’t playing – he’s tougher than that finger injury.
3) Tell Dan Uggla to quit taking some plays off in the field. At times, he is brilliant, and at other times he just doesn’t put any effort into it.
4) Kill this Chipper Jones to the All-Star game talk. I’d rather have home field advantage in the World Series than Chipper as an All-Star. Besides, Chipper is not the best 3rd baseman in the NL and any talk about making him the starter is not in the best interest of the game.
5) Find out what Jason Heyward has done to bring up his game and make the rest of the team do it.
But I’m not King, I’m just a fan who HATES losing!!!
Pete
June 14th, 2012
9:48 am
Watching the Braves play against the mighty Yankees is like watching little kids trying to compete with their older brothers.
Hopeless.
richard whiskey
June 14th, 2012
9:50 am
don sutton has’nt announced a game for the braves in years
P Rose
June 14th, 2012
9:51 am
He’s still on the radio.
Kashi
June 14th, 2012
9:59 am
Everything is not clicking right. Beachy sore arm, Tim Hudson sore ankle, Chipper coming to play too early. Freeman sore finger. Speedy lighting fast left fielder Constanza send down to minor, Krish Melden not available out of bullpen. Jonny V losing his command. Lots of things are not cliking right !!!
ShadeTree14
June 14th, 2012
10:02 am
Richard Whiskey, it really is apparent you don’t watch or listen to baseball…Sutton is still doing Braves Games on radio and if this all comes down to “who’s payroll is better”…is was Cody Eppley, (a pitcher the Yankees picked up after the Rangers waived him, ERA of 8.00) who got Prado to hit into that double-play…I’d like to think our stars can come through in situations like that.
John
June 14th, 2012
10:05 am
I have nothing against Diaz or Hinske but how is Costanza good enough to start nearly every game he is up over Hinske and Diaz but then is sent back down? Also, not calling for Bourn to steal 8th in the second with a fast runner on third made no sense to me. Instead, we get a double play. I will never get mad with Bourn getting caught stealing. I do get frustrated with not allowing him to try.
Bill
June 14th, 2012
10:08 am
Sutton the other night also wondered out loud why Fredi didn’t have Kembrel warming up…..Last night I didn’t hear what ya’ll say he said but in general he is the best voice we have. Remember the announcers get paid to support the team…some ajc reports may? It looks like it anyway.
Yesterday Carroll Rogers also cut the fans down for not going to game and keeping NNY fans out..LOL. Everywhere Braves play we have alot of Braves fans..she needs to get a life.
I’ve been a fan since 66, had season tickets holder, used to set with Pearl and four row behind Walters section. Victor took pictures for me of all the players from both teams. etc. That said I’ve had it with Braves fredi and Wren. Both seem over matched at their jobs….when they’re gone I’ll come back. The reckingballs and Lesolbo on blog whatever that keep saying all is well must be crazy. I’ve also lost a lot of respect for our reporters. One called for Hawks Coach and GM to be fired but they go to play-off…Braves GM and so called manager don’t do crap and its ok..My $.o2 worth.
CommonMan
June 14th, 2012
10:08 am
I didn’t mind the 3rd loss as much as the 2nd one. The 2nd loss happened due to truly bad managing of the pitchers by FG – he literally threw away the game.
Ted M
June 14th, 2012
10:10 am
The Braves are in dire need of a bullpen trade or two.
Bill
June 14th, 2012
10:19 am
Braves started winning last year when Constanza came up and played..
Lost in Sept when he was removed from line up. This year Braves go out an win 6 when he is called up.. lose 5 when he is sent back to AAA..He may not be great at bat but Braves win when he plays.
He’s our Lucky Charm….Fredi’s our dumb A38….
Burger king whoppers
June 14th, 2012
10:23 am
This just in folks accourdin to MLB cable channel on 213 on Directv said Braves are much inproved and has done stuff make club better ….yea right same team from last year chipper who thinks Leyritz is battin again….remember Game4 how we blew it and made yankees team of the 90’s thanks to Bobby cox and freddi was there so learn from the worst um best.Now The Orioles come to town how will it Go will Obrien say we just struggle after they sweep us here sunday….Now remember Frank Wren Use to be with Baltimore as GM and ruin the team before he got Fired..And then he came here Pick his ass and nose with owners and GM who is clueless now….If they lose to Orioles its time To Fire Wren…But no he get approval rated by mark bradley n kiss rear O’Brien…No guts writers ask freddi where u coachin today are did u beat your wife again!
Bill
June 14th, 2012
10:24 am
Ever time I post something negative about AJC reporters it gets deleted..Is Ric Holder running the ajc blogs?
Bill
June 14th, 2012
10:25 am
Eric Holder..
Jobo
June 14th, 2012
10:25 am
While were getting rid of Fredi and the batting coach, please just get rid of Terry Pendelton. That guy has been a drain on the Braves for too many years and does nothing to contribute . He should back up to get his paycheck every two weeks!
Walter
June 14th, 2012
10:26 am
I don’t know if anybody’s said this yet, but Fredi Gonzalez is not very good.
Bill
June 14th, 2012
10:28 am
10:23 you will be deleted..be careful The govt is watching…
hiway61
June 14th, 2012
10:30 am
The hitting coach is probably the smartest in dugout.Its the Pitching Coach and Fredi that needs to go.
Scoff
June 14th, 2012
10:33 am
The Braves embarrass me…
OZ
June 14th, 2012
10:34 am
Us in the blogosphere sensed this flat since FG waved the white flag
in the 5th inning on Sunday by bringing in Fatnandez. This is a collection of retreads from last season and no noted improvements have been made. They’re lucky if the starting pitching can make it through six innings & this year the bullpen has multiple leaks. I guess FW was hoping everyone was going to have a career year the same season. This team reminds me of the 2008 nightmare but at least they’re not waiting until September to have their blowout.
Blah
June 14th, 2012
10:36 am
@Burger King Whoppers…
Dude, you need to go back to 2nd grade and learn proper grammar, spelling and punctuation. Scary…
isitFREDDIEcrugar
June 14th, 2012
10:38 am
The braves MANAGER is a big part of the problem
GTRob
June 14th, 2012
10:39 am
There was a fundamental lack of baseball execution in this series. There were obvious things like not getting a first pitch strike or getting a bunt down. Good teams do this stuff and the bad ones don’t. The Braves did not. The Yanks did and they deserved the sweep in every way. This was totally disturbing to watch. Thanks Braves for ruining the last 3 nights for me.
diddykong
June 14th, 2012
10:40 am
I can tell you one thing. Ted Turner would have fired Freddi a while ago. Tell you what….Turner Field should offer specials on food and drinks when they pull the crap that the players pulled these past 3 games. Give up 6 runs in the 8th inning??? Free Nachos. Leave RISP in 3 innings…50% off beer. Throw a fastball over the plate to STEROIDS with the basesloaded….FREE Braves merch. Done with you clowns.
Jfreak13713
June 14th, 2012
10:40 am
The Braves have no true ACE on their pitching staff and that is the reason for long losing streaks and the reason they don’t win in the playoffs. I know their offense is having trouble hitting the ball with runners in scoring position and that is a problem for sure but the when you run Hudson (Good), Hanson (average), Beachy (average / good), Delgado (below average), and Minor (below average) out weekly there will be losing streaks. If the Braves don’t get a true frontline pitcher they will win 85 games possibly make the playoffs but get beat by a better team.
Fansince66
June 14th, 2012
10:45 am
I’m sorry to hear of my Braves troubles. I can’t watch them on tv any longer, they keep getting blacked out here in Birmingham. I have been a fan since they came to ATL and have gone to many games from the days of Hank Aaron and Orlando Cepeda thru the Bob Horner Dale Murphy era to the recent teams. I am now on disability and on a fixed income and can’t afford the trek over to Atl and the high prices for admission. Now I can’t watch many games on tv either due to the numerous blackouts. I have missed 5 of the last 6 games and will be blacked out this Friday and Saturday. What is becoming of this country when the average fan is turned off and turns to another form of entertainment. What about the fan in Texas or Arkansas just for an example that can’t pick up the family and drive over to catch a ballgame. Ted Turner made Braves fans all over the country with TBS. It appears MLB is trying to get rid of them.
jacket
June 14th, 2012
10:47 am
We showed we can’t beat the big boys. Extremely disappointing.
SSIgator
June 14th, 2012
10:48 am
Just checking in to see how the Gimper Jones Farewell Tour is coming along . . .
Oh, I see.
Veritas
June 14th, 2012
10:52 am
This team needs an enema. From the top, down.
Peter
June 14th, 2012
10:52 am
Same old story…. month after month.year after year…….. Glad I am not really paying that much attention to the Braves, as in watching at home, or wasting my money at the games.
Bob Batchelder
June 14th, 2012
10:53 am
Howcum’ I had to go to the Braves website to get the score? I would think that would be in the basics of sports journalism school!
GwinnettDad
June 14th, 2012
10:54 am
@P Rose seemed to make valid observations about Chipper. Before his most recent injury, Chipper was hitting the cover off of the ball. Recently he looks arthritic and old, as if hitting the ball all the way to the pitcher is all that can be expected. Flying out to the outfield looks to be a HUGE victory for Chipper, at the moment. What’s the deal?
Otherwise, as soon as Granderson hit that HR, I knew the Braves were dead. The Yankees may be good, and at the moment hot, but in the AL they’re not as good as the Braves make them look.
But anybody that expects the Braves to match the Yankees payroll is too stupid, too blatantly ignorant of baseball economics, to mention. Local TV contracts are EVERYTHING in baseball. The Braves may have the largest radio market in baseball in terms of square miles, but when it comes to revenue from TV and radio, the Braves are probably average, at best.
The facts are that there are only around 15 real Major league teams and the rest are disguised minor league teams. Unfortunately, the Yankees made the Braves look like one of those minor league teams.
Bill M.
June 14th, 2012
10:57 am
The Braves are in trouble but I have seen firing the manager jump start a team. New ideas and direction. Fredi G. just seems to be lost. On Sutton, he was run out of Atlanta and brought back. I’m not a fan of Sutton and never will be. During the strike, they had a call in show. A 72 year old man called in about autograph’s and he and Sutton had words. Sutton called the old gentleman a bald face liar. He didn’t understand that he had to pay for autograph. Ever since I have lost all respect for him. I was taught to respect my elders.
Peter
June 14th, 2012
10:57 am
The Braves have sucked since Wren traded Blanco for Ankiel….. Ankiel still sucks and Blanco is doing great in SF.
He totally shook up the club house and the Braves have never been the same since then.
Really is Wren any good ?
Braves 73
June 14th, 2012
10:59 am
There is definitely something wrong with the chemistry in the locker room and I believe it starts with the leadership (or lack thereof). I was pretty convinced that Fredi was the right selection when the Bobby Cox retired, but the sign of a good manager is consistency and no prolonged losing streaks (which unfortunately has been the only consistent with this team).
I know the Braves had a ton of injuries last year and this year, but every team goes through this and must sustain themselves. The first sign was the epic collapse last September and this trend has remained into this season (with 3 losing streaks beyond 4 games – including an 8 game). This is only a harbinger of things to come and I believe that a change is needed.
jake
June 14th, 2012
11:00 am
Anybody else noticed that the losing streak began when #10 returned to third base?
That hit in the 9th notwithstanding, Chipper’s been no help at all. Bravos are better off with Prado at third, Constanza in left.
And, boy, am I sick of hearing how Hudson’s pitches …or Minor’s or whoever is pitching … didn’t go where they wanted them to. That’s TV-speak for not getting the job done. Seems like the Braves settle for moral victories — McCann: now we know we can play with them — rather than the winning attitude you saw across the field in the other dugout.
cdog
June 14th, 2012
11:01 am
the braves are in bad shape. the announcers are terrible. they rubbed in the yankees who when i last checked was not in first place until the braves came along. eric henski, martin prado, johnny venters, martinez, matt diaz are all losers and a waste of time. i use to wonder why the marlins fired freedie gonzalez, now i know. he’s a terrible managers. the fans don’t support the braves like other teams.thats why they lose at home. the players as a whole don’t care so let’s get ready for a summer of losing
TJ
June 14th, 2012
11:04 am
May be a reach, but don’t all the Atlanta/Georgia major sports teams seem to fail at executing the basics/details and save their worst for the worst possible moments? Blowout losses in key games, failure to execute in critical situations…it’s the hallmark of ALL the major teams.
Peter
June 14th, 2012
11:06 am
cdog ……….. I beleive Venters has been over used, and it is now showing up.. Cox and Freddi have burnt the bull pen early in each season, and not the wear is showing.
Prado is a wonderful player, no idea why you do not like him….. He plays any where you want him to play, and is very productive. Diaz and Henski are good off the bench guys, so I question your attitude about those two.
RAL
June 14th, 2012
11:11 am
Noticed that the Braves have not won since Chipper Jones
was put back at third. They had a six game winning streak
with young guys who just love to play ball. Why change the
chemistry when things are cooking?
P Rose
June 14th, 2012
11:16 am
IT’S A BUSINESS. That’s the patent answer to everything in baseball, as in life.
Why is there no salary cap? Why do the Yankees get to have the highest payroll, and therefore the best players? Because there are more people in New York than anywhere else, and they have most of the money there, so MLB wants them to win. IT’S A BUSINESS.
Why do Fredi, DOB, and the Braves’ announcers put a positive spin on the most gut-wrenching losses, instead of honestly addressing the tough questions? Because that’s what they’re paid to do. IT’S A BUSINESS.
Why do players forsake their loyalty to their home town, to join the team’s rivals, breaking the hearts of their fans? Why, for a little more money, of course. Because IT’S A BUSINESS.
Why doesn’t Liberty Media seem to care whether the Braves win or lose? Because they don’t. IT’S A BUSINESS.
In Little League, we were told, “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” But that was a lie. The truth is, it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how much money you can make for the corporate bottom line. It’s all about business.
SM
June 14th, 2012
11:16 am
How long until football starts?
nashvillewill
June 14th, 2012
11:19 am
1: The Braves have no clutch hitters, surely this is obvious before last night. Bourn and Prado do not hit with men on base; McCann has pretty much lost his ability to hit in clutch situations; Uggla never has shown such ability; Freeman’s uppercut swing kills most rallies; Chipper is a shell of his former self; Heyward, see Uggla above; Simmons is our best hope, simply because he has no previous track record and shows energy and enthusiasm.
2: Speaking of energy and enthusiasm–team lacks it, especially in the management team. Also, no imagination-waiting for something to happen rather than trying to force the issue, by, for example, running Bourn or hit-and-run. Get rid of the management team. Even the vaunted hitting coaches apparently have been unable to instruct in bat skills when men are in scoring positon.
3: Release the dead wood on this team and bring up young talent – Simmons at least is a bright spot. Say goodbye to Wilson and Hinske, and Diaz and Francisco.
A shake up is required. Give Uggla a few days off and start Prado at 2B; try Constanza, Gartell, or another AAA player in LF; trade for a new 3B and give Chipper more time off; try Mejia at 1B, especially against lefties; platoon Ross and McCann. Release Livan; bring up Medlen and Flande.
Try something before this team finds itself 10 games out.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 14th, 2012
11:24 am
“Because Hinske had to stay in and play first base. Freeman had a sore finger.”
Could have played Prado at 1B and Diaz in left.
JeanE
June 14th, 2012
11:26 am
I think they should cross-train MattyD at 1st and next year, they can keep him on the bench instead of retaining Hinske so is having a kind of off-year. I agree, MB, it was just disgusting losing all 3 to those Skankees. Way way too many men left on base. Not taking advantage of situations, just bad baseball. I feel for Freddie and get he needed the night off, he hasn’t been the same lately anyway. Very deflating.
VinceVanGo
June 14th, 2012
11:33 am
The Braves biggest problem is club house leadership(or lack of). Fredi evidently doesn’t display it. Chipper can’t because he is oft injured and the other players don’t respect him as a leader because of it. McCann may have been a leader at one time but he hasn’t hit in almost a year, his defense is terrible, and he seems to be bit with the Chipper Something Hurts bug, and the players are aware of it. But I think that the Braves possess two players capable of being team leaders. Dan Uggla and Martin Prado. Both play everyday, play hard every play, and don’t whine. They would both be excellent team leaders and I hope they get the chance next year. But they’ve got to get rid of Chipper(I can’t believe I’m batting 6th behind Matt Diaz), and Brian McCann(too many lame comments and excuses) first before that can happen. And hopefully by next year the Braves will have a manager that knows how to lead with a little fire in his managerial approach.
GMR
June 14th, 2012
11:34 am
I have to agree with you Mark – the game last night confirmed my growing view that this team does all of the little things badly. I suspect this has a lot to do with the apparent nonchalance of FG and his view that the breaks even themselves out over a season. I don’t want a coach who just seems to consider stranding runners on third multiple times in a game as hard luck. I want a coach who is completely p***** off by it, and lets everyone know. There are players on this team who play hard to win but there are others who needed a fire lit under them and FG is not the man to do it.
Another observation last night was that the fans still give Chipper a rousing welcome every time he comes to the plate. It’s great to recognize him for his past achievements but don’t make him feel his current contribution is acceptable. $15M a year for 5 HRs so far – that’s less HRs than any Yankees position player – give me a break. Just use him as a pinch hitter when there are late innings chances and give the kids an opportunity to see him once more before he retires but stop jerking the everyday guys around to accomodate his latest injury. I have to wonder if Chipper’s special treatmennt is another reason for a luckluster clubhouse.
Finally let’s all realize the Braves have nobody approaching an ace starter. Hudson is still crafty but his velocity is shot – he has almost no control when he pitches in the high 80s, same as Lowe last year. Hanson is a good 3rd starter and Beachy may become an ace but is not there yet. Unless a splash is made to bring in a legitimate top of the rotation guy this team is going nowhere until a new young arm emerges.