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
Olde Fan
June 14th, 2012
11:36 am
“Make another run’???? To what? the bottom of the division?? I see where Fredi got an Emmy award. He should get another one for Impersonating a Manger. And Venters needs to go to Gwinnett. Bring Kris Medlen back. He’s the better pitcher by far. Thank God Gearin is gone. He should have taken Venters with him. I don’t know about y’all, but it gets really tiresome to keep watching and pulling for a team with such a poor decision-making manager.
bulldogbubba
June 14th, 2012
11:41 am
Do you think Frank Wren is meeting with Bobby Cox in a remote place trying to get him to manage again?
Why?
June 14th, 2012
11:43 am
Na….rumor is their new head scout would be the one to take over. Though I would want someone outside of the team.
GaEgghead
June 14th, 2012
11:44 am
I agree with BooBoo. Why pull Minor on Tuesday because of a hit from a great hitter (Jeter)? He was doing fine. Gonzalez not impressing me much.
Why?
June 14th, 2012
11:44 am
@RAL
Because he’s Chipper. I’m a Chipper fan but truley think he’s hurting the team.
georgiavol
June 14th, 2012
11:45 am
Fredi coaches scared. The fans know it, his players know it, and the other teams know it. He will be gone at the end of the year.
hebrews11
June 14th, 2012
11:47 am
I am pulling for these guys. Never give up and never give in!!!!
Gen. 'Anyone Gotta Match' Sherman
June 14th, 2012
11:48 am
Y’All really gotta get rid of that ‘Chop’, it’s worse than the Red Sox singing ‘Sweet Caroline’…
Just sayin…
TB
June 14th, 2012
11:48 am
It’s all in the line-up if you ask me. For one thing, Freeman is the heir apparent to the #3 slot & shouldn’t be moved. Every time he is, he does poorly & this dates back to last year. McCann should bat 5th, and I’m still not sure whether Prado should stay in the 2-hole or whether Chipper might not be better off there. Also, Prado can play first if Freeman is out & I’d rather habe him there & Diaz in LF than Hinke on first or in the OF. In my view, Hinske has become a strickly pinch-hit guy. Oh, & Bobby sometimes used a 5th & 6th starter in ‘91 & ‘92′, so I don’t see why Medlin can’t stay in the bullpen & make a spot start now & then just to give the other starters an extra day off.
anonymous
June 14th, 2012
11:57 am
I feel much better about the Braves when they play on the road. Yes, but the sweeps at Cincy and at Washington do concern me. However, aside from that Atlanta has been the best road team in baseball. So my point is: This team can be a real good and strong team. Let’s not bury them just yet. I am mad like everybody else, but Give ‘em time.
trottsky
June 14th, 2012
11:57 am
Gonzales is a disaster…….buddy system doesn’t work in baseball……..
The rut
June 14th, 2012
11:58 am
How did Fredi get to the major leagues? In the fourth inning trailing 1-0, rain pouring down why in the world did he not have Hinske bunt Heyward over to third. Even with Simmons coming up you want to get the game tied because in just one more inning the game would be official and we needed ONE run immediately. The radar was showing a moonsoon in south Cobb county. I promise you this never crossed Fredi’ mind. OMG
Skokie Dog
June 14th, 2012
11:59 am
Did Fredi tip his cap to the Yankees last night?
George Stein
June 14th, 2012
12:00 pm
Freeman has a .296 OBP. At first base, he’s been startlingly horrible.
JASon
June 14th, 2012
12:01 pm
Rafael Soriano and Andruw Jones.
Derek Lowe, Melky Cabrera, Jeff Francoeur, Rafael Furcal.
I won’t say the braves organization wastes talent, they just kill the motivation of the talent they have.
We are told year after year that “the braves future is bright”. Will someone please tell me when that future is going to get here.
George Stein
June 14th, 2012
12:01 pm
Pretty sure idiotic bunting strategies are always on Fredi’s mind, The rut.
Mikey
June 14th, 2012
12:04 pm
On a night when hits are plenty and runs are scarse (12 vs 7), is there any plausible reason in the 8th inning with Simmons on third, Bourn on first, one out, Martin Prado at the plate a very wet ball, that FG did not have Bourn steal second base. The worst that can happen is the catcher attempts the throw and Bourn is thrown out (not likely) and Simmons scores the tying run. Oh, and it keeps you out of the potential double play. Freedie, did that ever cross your mind???? Nope, “Yanks just had all the answers”.
Tom G (Independent - Viet Vet)
June 14th, 2012
12:08 pm
I am not a Chipper hater, honestly!! But does anyone find it ironic that in the 4 games since Chipper has returned, we have 4 straight losses! Constanza seemed to be a good-luck charm and played well at times. Chipper at the 3B(power-hitter position) must do more than slap a few singles around. I disagree(I must be old-school) with Freddie about Tues nite game. With us ahead 4-0 in 8th inning, 1 out, Kimbrel(best pitcher on team) should have been brought in to put out the fire! If a 23 yr old kid can not get 5 outs instead of his usual 3 outs, I would be surprised?
2011champs
June 14th, 2012
12:12 pm
To Kashi at 9:59… What is your problem. The Braves are a weak team that plays with no heart. They have the Chipper Jones outlook; that is if you get a hangnail you have to sit out a game or two. The Nationals are playing lights out, and several KEY players are on the DL. The Cardinals are struggling, but hanging in there with 6 members of their 25 man roster (including 2 starting pitchers and starting CF and first baseman on the DL. They still show up and play every game. As far as the Braves go, I have said many times already this season, they are not a playoff quality team. They have some talent, just not enough; they play with no heart, and have no leadership on or off the field. Frankly it is a surprise to me that they have played as well as they have. 3rd place, and another “Wait till next year” awaits.
gene
June 14th, 2012
12:18 pm
The Braves have a good team, but they don’t have a post season team and won’t until they dump Wren and Fredi and spend some money.
dick whiskey
June 14th, 2012
12:22 pm
don sutton is still on radio? i’ll be damned,shows how much i listen to braves on radio
Chief Nocahoma
June 14th, 2012
12:23 pm
I was at the game last night; we simply could not get our runners in. Not sure I can blame this on Fredi, but the game that Minor pitched, Fredi made all the wrong moves. No way should we have lost that game. He pulled Minor too quick, ( 1 hit in 8th ), stayed with Venters too long ( pretty obvious to everyone in the stadium, including announcers that Venters had no control, except for his fastball ), and never even warmed up C. Kimbrel in an obvious situation where we needed him. And then, in a tie ball game, we bring in Gearrin??? Sad!
Heath
June 14th, 2012
12:26 pm
Is the next series against someone the Braves aren’t afraid of? Because that would be good.
4dabirds
June 14th, 2012
12:28 pm
I love going to a bad part of town and paying to see a mediocre Braves team lose to an overrated club , paying to eat horrible food and drink way overpriced beer, and then sitting in bad traffic while mentally challenged Atl cops figure out how to direct traffic. Good times. Can’t wait to go back.
Felix
June 14th, 2012
12:30 pm
I agree–last night’s loss was maddening. How many times did we not get a hit with RISP??? Fifty? Seemed like fifty anyway. The old puny Braves offense strikes again and wastes another good job by the pitchers. The plate umpire was a jerk–giving outside pitches to the Yankees pitchers that he wasn’t giving to the Braves.
b
June 14th, 2012
12:31 pm
Constanza should be on this roster. .304 lifetime minor avg. and .291 lifetime major league avg.
He’s been given the shaft last two seasons by management.
Mentally Challenged Atlanta Cop
June 14th, 2012
12:34 pm
Before they let me direct traffic they removed 1/2 of my brain.
Tom G (Independent - Viet Vet)
June 14th, 2012
12:37 pm
b@12:31 – I agree 100% with you. Why no other team hasn’t seen that befuddles me?
Dan Schlossberg
June 14th, 2012
12:37 pm
It’s painfully apparent by now that the stand-pat approach after last September’s implosion has been a dismal failure. The Braves didn’t hit then and aren’t hitting now. Rivals parade an endless string of lefties against them because people like Jason Heyward can’t hit lefthanded pitching at all. Freddie Freeman may have an injured finger but his post-Denver eye problems have plunged his average to .250 and neutralized his power. Chipper has become a singles hitter. Shall I go on? The Braves need RIGHTHANDED POWER and need to sacrifice something to get it. Any detail would be fatal.
Tom G (Independent - Viet Vet)
June 14th, 2012
12:43 pm
A question baseball fans, I’m being serious? Is it in Kimbrel’s( the closer phenom) contract that he only pitch in the 9th inning only??
hiway61
June 14th, 2012
12:45 pm
TomG..no its in that idiot managers head that he only pitches in 9..
hiway61
June 14th, 2012
12:47 pm
Thanks Tom G for your service to USA..as Vet I know the price you paid. God Bless.
gsu
June 14th, 2012
12:49 pm
History says the Yankees win the games in the spotlight on the grand stage in front of the biggest crowds. The Braves do not. Same song different verse. One championship flag vs many. The Braves find a way to lose.
no mo
June 14th, 2012
12:55 pm
I gave up 2 season tickets 2 years ago for this loser franchise. ATL – loserville, in every sport. Embarrassing.
George Stein
June 14th, 2012
1:01 pm
Costanza has a .250 OBP this year. A big league roster is exactly where he doesn’t belong.
Tom G (Independent - Viet Vet)
June 14th, 2012
1:04 pm
Another thing guys, who judges the baseball talent we decide to keep and let go? He should be fired today or yesterday? Just watched Blanco(former popular Brave) make a tremendous catch in CF to save M Cain perfect game in SF! In SF Blanco is hitting .280 at CF position and believe this or not, Melky Cabrera is hitting .367 in LF and playing great D. Both are regular players, and my fav, Jeff Franceour is hitting around.280 in RF, still throwing baserunners out at 2nd! What happens when they leave ATL, wish I knew?
Tom G (Independent - Viet Vet)
June 14th, 2012
1:08 pm
George@1:01 – You may be right, but he deserves an opportunity to stay longer than a few weeks to see what he can do or not do. Remember speed never slumps, I personally would like to see him play at least 3 months at the MLB level, then make a fair decision?
b
June 14th, 2012
1:08 pm
Stein, yea in 16 AB’s. That’s not enough AB’s. He deserves a spot and is a spark plug. Jose helps the team win and Francisco does not. If you can’t see this point, you are a buffoon.I swear some of you people have no clue when watching the games and how players impact it.
Realtycheck
June 14th, 2012
1:09 pm
Trouble is all the brains in the front office followed Kasten to Washington.
George Stein
June 14th, 2012
1:25 pm
Okay, so where would you like Costanza to play? LF, and take Prado’s spot? CF, and take Bourn’s? Or RF, and take out Heyward?
Milburn Drysdale
June 14th, 2012
1:25 pm
Hey 2011 champs….how many games have the Cardinals won against the Braves this year? With Pujols outta there, the days of winning the division by default are GONE. They are now the Houston Astros.
checkitout
June 14th, 2012
1:28 pm
Constanza has a lifetime ba 300 plus in minors and 300 for his short spots in two years with Braves. But his bat is not the main point..The main Point is Braves Win when he plays regular. He’s the lucky charm are whatever.
checkitout
June 14th, 2012
1:30 pm
the same line-up we won 6 in a row with..Mr Stien
let chipper sub
drew
June 14th, 2012
1:31 pm
It amuses me greatly to read the ongoing fodder of what’s wrong with the Braves. Come Sept. this group will be gripping about “what if”.
The answer is right in front of everyone, but no one in Atlanta wants to look. The Braves simply do not have consistent, and decent, pitching.
The Washington Nationals have a tremendous pitching staff. So do other ball clubs. The Braves will continue their ups and downs until they buckle down and actually get a few more really good pitchers.
The isn’t the fault of the players or even the manager….it’s management for not stepping up and drafting good players.
So, complain away Bravo’s! It’s make for some fun reading this summer.
Sonny Clusters
June 14th, 2012
1:38 pm
We would be willing to go in and manage a few games for the Braves and help them get out of this slump they are in. We think we would be able to get things right in the dugout and right on the field and could make a difference in the results. Doing nothing and expecting different results is where they are right now and the biggest change of late was to insert Chipper into a winning lineup and they haven’t won since. If we was manager we’d buy him a team colored boot for his hurt foot/leg and put him in a prominent place in the dugout and let him eat and spit seeds and enjoy himself. We’d help him on his way to the HOF. Now, right away. Don’t pass Go, don’t collect $200.
myside
June 14th, 2012
1:45 pm
For several years now the Atlanta Braves have shown that they simply
are not a major league organization.
Fredi is definitely not a capable manager for any level, minor or major. He has the same public reaction to a loss that he does to a win and gives his players not one bit of support.
Wren, for whatever reason, does not have the guts to make a change.
The players can get hits with nothing on the line, but with mates in scoring position, they seem limited to strike out or hit double play type grounders straight to the infielders.
It all adds up to not being a major league organization.
Ralph
June 14th, 2012
1:46 pm
One thing for sure they have to do, and I don’t think Fruti has the balls to do it, is get Prado out of the 2 hole. I know he is probably our best hitter and following Bourn who is on base a lot you would think that was good (as Fruti does) but it seems to me and I can’t get the stats to back it up, he get almost all his hits when 1st base is empty. Someone (Fruti, Wren) should research these stats and act accordingly. Prado drives in runs when they are on 2nd or 3rd base but if Bourn is on 1st he is concentrating too much on what Bourn is doing and not on the pitcher.
adam
June 14th, 2012
1:50 pm
Turner Field was built for Glavine, Schmolt and Maddux. It’s a pitchers park. Bring in the outfield walls and do away with the 1960s cookie cutter dimensions and maybe all Braves’ games won’t end 3-2 or 2-1 (yawn).
bustersonly
June 14th, 2012
1:54 pm
Ralph, I agree with you, Prado is to good a hitter to bunt Bourn over, maybe they need someone like Simmons who is a good buntter to follow Bourn, he also hits the ball to the right side a lot and has the speed to stay out of a lot of double plays which Prado does not have. Prado would be good in the 3 hole to drive in Bourn once he is on 2B. I know that would only be 1 run vs the 2-3 run homer that Fredi likes but in many cases one urn will win the game.
George Stein
June 14th, 2012
1:57 pm
So Costanza was the reason the Braves won. Okay, go it.