After a wasted homestand, the Atlanta Braves are in trouble
This man isn't a bad manager, but his team is in a bad patch. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
If you check the standings, the Braves are still OK — four games behind Washington in the National League East, nicely positioned in the wild-card chase. That’s the good news. Here’s the bad:
If you watch them play, you see a team in trouble.
A homestand that began 2-0 wound up 3-6, with a week on the road — first the Bronx, then Boston — coming. “There are a lot of guys in here frustrated right now,” Chipper Jones said Sunday.
June began with the Braves wondering about their starting pitchers. The rotation has stabilized — although a rotation awaiting an MRI on its best arm can’t quite be described as stable — but now the losses are coming hand over fist. Randall Delgado yielded two runs over eight innings Sunday, and it mattered not.
This wasn’t one of those games where the Braves left a zillion runners at second and third. They pushed only two runners into scoring position, both of those in a third inning that came undone when Delgado bunted into a 1-6-4 double play. Contrast this with the Baltimore sixth, when pitcher Wei-Yin Chen sacrificed Steve Pearce to third. Delgado began to pitch from the windup, whereupon manager Fredi Gonzalez whistled to warm Delgado to work from the stretch, whereupon the addled rookie halted his delivery and balked Pearce home.
If a guy pitches a one-hitter against you, you take your loss and tip your hat. (Jason Hammel had done just that Saturday night. Sure enough, Gonzalez said: “You’ve got to tip your hat to him.”) To lose another winnable game in a week that saw three winnable games lost gives greater pause. Are the Braves turning into one of those clubs that does just enough to lose?
Said Jones: “There’s a lot of pride in here. We’re going to go up there [to Yankee Stadium] looking to win a baseball game.”
Then this: “The only thing we need to do is to avoid pressing.”
Which is hard to do when you’re losing. The Braves hit into double plays in innings 1, 2 and 3. (First Jones, then Jason Heyward, then Delgado’s failed sacrifice.) That did suggest a batting order that was getting antsy. But then they came to the game’s final out, when Gonzalez thought too far ahead.
The right-handed Matt Diaz, who was hitting .120 against righties, was allowed to bat against Orioles closer Jim Johnson. With left-handed hitters Brian McCann and Eric Hinske available, why not deploy one? Gonzalez’s reasoning: He planned to pinch-hit McCann for David Ross if both Diaz and Heyward reached, and if Hinske had been used in Diaz’s slot there was a chance the pitcher’s spot could roll around with the tying run at third and nobody to hit except Tim Hudson, who’s a pitcher.
The counterpoint: If Diaz makes an out, all points are moot. And it should be noted that Gonzalez had sacrificed the left-handed Juan Francisco in the eighth not because Jack Wilson is a better hitter — Wilson isn’t a better hitter than many people in the big leagues — but because he hits right-handed and the O’s had just summoned lefty Troy Patton. (Wilson popped to first.)
The impression — heck, the reality — was that the manager of a team that had lost five of six suffered a sixth loss in seven games without using either of the two left-handed hitters on his bench against a righty closer. Had Diaz ripped a single (or drawn a walk), we would applaud Gonzalez’s patience. Instead Diaz whiffed, and his final swing was as meek as the rationale that put him in that spot.
This isn’t to suggest that Gonzalez is overmatched or that his team has stopped playing for him. He’s a solid baseball man, and there has been little to suggest his men aren’t trying. But these past four weeks — the Braves have lost 15 of 24, and that’s with a six-game winning streak mixed in — have put a hitch in this team’s swagger. First the Braves weren’t pitching well enough, and now they’ve stopped hitting.
“We blew a couple of four-run leads [on the homestand],” Jones said, “and those would have gone a long way toward having people not take a loss like today’s so hard.”
Add two wasted leads to the losses-for-no-reason that closed the sets against the Yankees and the Orioles, and you have a well-pitched-but-wasted homestand. (And with Brandon Beachy out, there’s no guarantee the starting pitching will be this good again anytime soon.) It’s still too early to say the Braves’ season teeters on the brink, but it’s not too early to suggest they need to stop losing winnable games.
By Mark Bradley
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363 comments Add your comment
nobobfan
June 17th, 2012
8:27 pm
All apologize to Ozzie Guillen, he said he admired Fidel Castro. That was taken out of context. He was asked “Who do you admire, Fredi G or Fidel?” Ozzie answered correctly.
Ebenezer Snerdberg
June 17th, 2012
8:29 pm
Fire Havana Fats!
Steve From Dalton
June 17th, 2012
8:31 pm
Would Chipper make a good Manager?
Gene
June 17th, 2012
8:32 pm
Sonny, the Braves probablyt won’t go deer hunting on Chipper’s ranch, because he is about to lose half of it. He may have to play another year to pay his attorney fees. I expect Wren to make a bold move and pick up Brad Lidge to shore up the bullpen. The fack of the matter is, Fredi is an average manager on a good day, and this is a .500 team at best. Wren is the best GM the Texas Rangers ever had. I am not throwing any more money at them until they stop their lollygagging..
Bo Diddley
June 17th, 2012
8:33 pm
Long, long, long time fan here. Season is far from over and team has been banged up. That’s a fact. That stuff happens. But Fredi does appear to be greatly overmatched. Even when he’s not defending a justifying yet another questionable move, even when things are going well, his public statements make no sense, are just a hodgepodge of cliches and rarely reflect any in-depth baseball knowledge or strategic thinking. Don’t know how much longer I can ride with him.
?
June 17th, 2012
8:33 pm
Why did the Braves sign Fredi after he blew it with the Marlins? I never understood that…
Nativebird
June 17th, 2012
8:35 pm
Three words: Jason Heyward: Bust.
nobobfan
June 17th, 2012
8:40 pm
Would Chipper make a good manager??? HELL NO! Like Mickey Mantle, a great player but dumber than a ditch carp.
Also: YES! I was in favor when Gonzalez was picked…but I thought it was ELIAN!
Grandpa
June 17th, 2012
8:51 pm
…..thsi IS last years team…… Brave’s as a collective whole…., suck!
jt
June 17th, 2012
9:05 pm
For the last time, Why in the Hell do you think Florida fired Freddie?????????????????????????????????????????
Who Me?
June 17th, 2012
9:05 pm
And this folks, is as close as the Atlanta newspapers will ever get to calling out a sports franchises management. Think New York or Philly fans would put up with this namby-pamby coddling??
RHR
June 17th, 2012
9:06 pm
Wow those pics of Chipper from today’s game. Hope he makes it thru the season.
DawgNole
June 17th, 2012
9:14 pm
Rick
June 17th, 2012
6:35 pm
Dr. Kenneth, he likely came out of the dugout just to get an explanation, not to argue.And the call was the correct one. Getting himself ejected there would have served no purpose.
_______________________
Not so sure it would have served no purpose. The general feeling is that he needs to be permanently ejected from this team. That certainly would serve a purpose.
tmc
June 17th, 2012
9:15 pm
Mark- i’m not a Fredi Gonzalez basher. I thought he was the right guy to manage this team. I’ve questioned many decisions/no decisions by FG, but given him the benefit of the doubt most times… That benefit has just about run dry.
His miss-managing is becoming routine. And it goes both ways. Making a move when he shouldn’t or not making a move when he should. There were several times today alone when we should have put a runner in motion to create runners in scoring position (both Bourn and Heyward w/ 2 outs on first… try and get into scoring position so a hit will score a run… not even an attempted steal). We hadn’t scored a run in 16-19 innings for god sake why not try and run your best 2 base stealers to create runs…
We also have a very bad bench and you can bet the other teams know it.
Wilson, Diaz, Ross from the right side…
Hinske, Francisco from the left side….
Wilson & Francisco are terrible and Ross can’t be used in most cases to save a backup catcher. That leaves Diaz and Hinske unless there is an injury in which case one or both of them start.
There best player (imo,Prado) is playing 3 positions. Thank god he is good no matter where he plays, but if he goes down…. this team sinks to the bottom of the NL East. and quickly.
The last thing this lineup needs is a manager making bad moves.
Well………… that’s exactly what they’ve got.
Capt Von Trapp
June 17th, 2012
9:17 pm
Salute to Mark for timely story on the serious attitude and robot like atmosphere invading the Braves duggout. Home stadiums make most teams put a swagger/snap in the players’ walks, BUT not this 2012 team. What is it that gets these Braves motivated? Or are they too arrogant to use motivation to kick start them? Strange brew we have here…………..strange brew
Legend of Len Barker
June 17th, 2012
9:29 pm
“Forward, the Light Brigade!”
Was there a man dismay’d?
Not tho’ the soldier knew
Someone had blunder’d:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
OTP
June 17th, 2012
9:29 pm
No, he IS a bad manager.
Top Dawg
June 17th, 2012
9:30 pm
There’s one of the problems right there. How many games are they going to play in Yankee Stadium, and Jones says that they are going up there looking to win a baseball game???
DawgNole
June 17th, 2012
9:30 pm
Laughing out Loud
June 17th, 2012
7:05 pm
While the manager as well as players can certainly be criticized, the common fan posting here has unrealistic demands and no positivie suggestions on how to right the ship. I say get off Fredi’s back and give him some positive encouragement and suggestions.
_____________________
And what are YOUR positive suggestions on how to right the ship?
Bobby's Cox
June 17th, 2012
9:32 pm
I am going to take a break from watching. I can’t take anymore of this bull$hit.
Bobby's Cox
June 17th, 2012
9:35 pm
As a matter of fact, I may not come back until the 4th. Screw it. TOO BORING!! and now Chipper’s trashy affairs are affecting our whole team.
ON the bright side the Phllies Suck
DetroitBraves
June 17th, 2012
9:35 pm
Stinger 2, I don’t know about the Braves’ hearts but the manager is an idiot. I swear, you remind me of Kevin Bacon’s character in Animal House. All is not well.
Bobby's Cox
June 17th, 2012
9:36 pm
ah forget it….I dont have anything to say anyway
Go Braves, I guess..
Larry
June 17th, 2012
9:37 pm
From the moment of the announced hire, throughout last season, before Spring Training and YTD this season, I was one of maybe 5, no more than 10, bloggers telling you all that this was a terribly poor hire and literally nothing but an extension of Bobby Cox’s greatest weaknesses as a strategist and in-game manager. As been proven, and much, much worse, he’s simply a total buffoon as a MLB manager.
Looks like I now have lots of good company…
DawgNole
June 17th, 2012
9:40 pm
DaveinNEPA
June 17th, 2012
7:41 pm
Unfortunately, the softsoap media (and company shills in the broadcast booth) in ATL keep trying to con us into believing that “all is well”. All is NOT well and isn’t going to be until this organization gets a complete overhaul. Firing Fredi would only be the start.
_____________________
“Company shills in the broadcast booth . . . .”
It’s nauseating to listen to, frankly. Jerenovich during today’s postgame analysis was saying “but they (the Braves losses) weren’t crushing defeats . . . . ” As if that were some sort of accomplishment.
Same with the Hawks announcers (Rathbun and Nique). Unabashed boot lickers. Apple polishers. Toadys. Sycophants.
Not even a feeble attempt at objectivity–and thus no professionalism.
Enough problems on the field and court without having to listen to these nimrods.
Jack
June 17th, 2012
9:46 pm
I see Uggla K’d 2x today, how many times did He pop up? What a waste.
Ralph
June 17th, 2012
9:47 pm
Thanks Mark for almost telling it like it is
Harvey Korman's combover
June 17th, 2012
9:48 pm
Tell Fredi to take that hat that he tips 4 after every loss and stick it where the sun dont shine
Leo and Joe
June 17th, 2012
9:50 pm
Are you negative nellies kidding? The Braves are the best team in baseball. Horrible home plate umpiring has been the cause of most of our losses. Plus injuries…and the wind is almost always blowing against us when we bat.
Tattletales
June 17th, 2012
9:53 pm
Stephen A. Smith on ESPN said some of the Hawks woes could be due to the ‘distractions’ in Atlanta, such as the gentleman’s clubs. Seeing how the Braves play better on the road than at home, maybe they have the same problem….except Diaz – he just sux
BravesWin
June 17th, 2012
9:54 pm
My thoughts, exactly, MB…I can’t believe I just typed that…but you are spot on. Go ahead, suggest that Fredi is over his head. It’s true. And his team is certainly losing trust in him, it shows.
gunter
June 17th, 2012
9:54 pm
Typical uninformed Atlanta fans, no time to panic folks. Managers don’t hit and throw. We’ve got a solid ball club and will be fine over the long 162 game season. Let’s keep Shurholtz out of this or we’ll end up with another Texas trade.
Capt.Mudd
June 17th, 2012
9:57 pm
“Reality?” A real assessment in brief? Fans are being served poorly–that is why I gave my Yankee tickets away last week. Poor folk come to see professional baseball and encounter an unorganized, no depth worth sh*t team. Wren ought to be ashamed–my favorite team is lacking on many levels right now I can’t even get mad anymore–what? Expect an intrepid effort? Just not there guys!
nextyearsfantacy
June 17th, 2012
9:58 pm
GATTIS IS COMING IN JULY TO SAVE US
Ryan
June 17th, 2012
9:59 pm
I’m not one to impulsively call for firings. I thought Cox was a decent regular season manager, and bad in the postseason. I thought Richt had a couple really bad years and was particularly bad managing the clock with the game on the line. I think Bobo is inconsistent. In none of these cases have I ever thought that the firings of these men would significantly improve their respective teams … at least immediately. FG, as much as I hate to say it, may need to go. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a team seem so defeated once a losing streak begins. It’s like a runaway train over and over. When they are healthy and able to right the ship, the ability of this team is apparent. Never, however, have I thought that their wins were a result of the acumen of management. In contrast, I’ve thought the team has lost on several occasions with absolutely no help from on-the-field management. If he stays, it’s FG that needs to step up first. When Cox was in the dugout, you could almost predict in advance when he was going to get tossed from a game to shake things up. FG needs to get tossed. He needs to do something unexpected to show that he’s ticked. At least then, perhaps, his team might respond emotionally in lieu of crafty management decisions that put them in positions to win.
chuck
June 17th, 2012
10:01 pm
We don’t have the talent to win in the post season and even if we did, our manager is a joke. I see why he got fired in Fla.
jj
June 17th, 2012
10:02 pm
We out hit the Yankees and O’s except one game and lost..The Braves need to learn how to win..like two or three bloggers above said manufacture runs..a,b,c, ball..If not fire Fredi and get someone who will.
Wren put this group of BAD PATCH together..maybe he should be fired.
McDowell has done nothing to help and improve the pitching staff. Fire him too and Bring Leo back.
Someone said Simmons was only one that showed he cared..Bourn is a winner, he cares and shows it and takes the blame.
Thats Mark for finally standing up for whats right on this team.
jj
June 17th, 2012
10:07 pm
Thanks Mark..not thats.ops
big mac
June 17th, 2012
10:10 pm
I’d say that it is FREDI who is in trouble…maybe the Marlins front office had it figured out right. He seems to have absolutely no clue as to whats going on. I can’t call for his firing yet because the penny pinchers in Colorado will promote Terry Pendleton.
GwinnettDad
June 17th, 2012
10:12 pm
Was at the game Sunday. Chipper looks arthritic. 3 DP in 3 innings. Misplay by Diaz in the outfield giving the O’s a 2nd run. Didn’t see a single hit and run play. Not a single hitter looked intimidating. Team is headed nowhere.
fg stinx
June 17th, 2012
10:12 pm
Larry and I have been saying since last year that fg needed to go. But others didn’t agree. This is what it takes? Like somone being in a terrible wreck before a stop sign is put up. Well, here we are folks, looking like fools, and everybody sees it now. Please stop the madness, and let the AJC headlines read tomorrow that fredi is gone. MB just nibbled at the edges of the problem. None of our sports writers or announcers have what it takes to tell it like it is. Fear is a powerful thing.
David
June 17th, 2012
10:16 pm
Mark, I really appreciated the piece about you and your dad in today’s paper. That was terrific. Thanks for sharing that.
Matt
June 17th, 2012
10:16 pm
At least the “Looser” has yet to show up.
LAC
June 17th, 2012
10:17 pm
Enough of the “Chicken wren & freddi” show. These two Idiots need to go !
Winning is MORE important than loyallty !!!!!!
ACE
June 17th, 2012
10:24 pm
way to point out the obvious that this team is in trouble but how about putting the blame on Fredi where it should be. I was at the game today and Kimbrell gave his dad a new Harley. Maybe Fredi, Dob and Mr. Kimbrell can ride off into the sunset. Please stop the cap tipping.
not a pitching coach
June 17th, 2012
10:34 pm
I’d like to see the Atlanta Braves bring Jose Constanza back up and keep him here. THe guy can field, hit and can he ever run. He can drive opposing pitchers nuts when he gets on base.
I’d also like to see them bring up Christian Martinez from Gwinnett. He too can hit–with power- and is a very good first baseman–and is agile and quick on the bases.
The Braves need a way to manufacture runs.
As far as JJ is concerned, in his last outing he got hit hard, but kept the balls inside the park, thanks to the GBraves outfield. He got a horrible break when he gave up the grand slam HR. WIth 2 out and the count at 2-2, he threw a pitch that everyone in the stadium–except the HB umpire–thought was strike 3. Nope. Ball 3. Count is now 3-2, with the bases loaded and he gives up a long drive that barely clears the center field fence by about 3 feet.
Instead of the score being 0-0, it’s now 4-0. Those are the things that don’t show up in the statistical analysis of this game.
Columbus
June 17th, 2012
10:34 pm
Constanza!
RoyU
June 17th, 2012
10:36 pm
Sure they are in trouble and with all due respect, he is part of the reason “Why”!!! If I heard right on the telecast, we are paying a “part” time 3rd baseman, 14 Mil and he has not a RBI in over a month. Does that really surprise anyone with good common sense? Based on the past TWO YEARS experience, didn’t it seem quite likely that he would be very much a “part” time player. Chipper should be a first vote HOFer but that does not help the Braves one iota in winning a playoff spot in 2012! He talks a good game but in reality he is a major part of the problem, just by being there while the Braves have a miserly ownership and management that are in dire need of necessary funds to improve the team. He is only part of the blame. That miserly management and ownership that put greed ahead of the Pride for the team they should show the fans is just as bad. Finally, with all due respect to our players that give their all, there is and has been since before spring training a need for more talent. What goes around comes around and management and Chipper are getting exactly what they deserve. Unfortunately, the fans asre the ones coming up on the short end. A lot of fans will not like this but only the ones incapable of facing reality.
Columbus
June 17th, 2012
10:37 pm
I posted “Constanza” without reading comments and it seems others seem ot believe he is a difference maker also. I would play him before Diaz and Heinske. I know they need some playing time but they havent dome much with it and Braves need to score RUNS and
Constanza will average over 1 run a game over the long haul I am sure…
Columbus
June 17th, 2012
10:37 pm
Not to mention pinch running