Why the Braves’ 13-inning loss to the Nats gives me pause
The happy Nationals after unleashing their winning fusillade of infield singles. (AP photo)
I’m on record as believing the Braves are a very good team, and I’ve been around long enough not to overreact — or at least to try not to overreact — to any single regular-season baseball game. (They play 162 of them, after all.) That said, a couple of things about last night’s loss in Washington bothered me.
They bothered me because they fly in the face of what I’ve come to believe — and, truth to tell, what some in the Braves’ organization have come to believe — about this team vis-a-vis the Nationals. I (and certain Braves folks) believe the local nine is better than Washington everywhere but in the starting rotation, and here let’s concede that starting pitching has an outsize importance. And that’s the root of my unease.
The Braves and Nationals were tied at 4 by the top of the fifth inning. Jordan Zimmermann, the Nats’ starter, was gone after five. Tim Hudson was pulled after six. The Braves worked eight innings — almost a full game — against a Washington bullpen that has begun to fray, and they couldn’t score a run. They mustered only four hits in those eight innings, but when you add six walks you get 10 baserunners. They had runners aboard in six of the eight innings, and four times their leadoff man reached. Still couldn’t score.
The game ended in the 13th, when Washington plied three infield hits into the walk-off winner. The game-ending single — it was originally scored a error, which seemed the sensible call — was a grounder hit to a drawn-in Dan Uggla. He should have been able to throw out Danny Espinosa at the plate, but Uggla bobbled the ball.
If we return to GM Frank Wren’s words of Saturday, we’ll note that he emphasized how well the Braves “catch the ball” — and it’s true; they lead the National League in fielding percentage — and also that “we’re also really good in situational hitting.” Alas, they didn’t catch the ball, at least not cleanly, when it mattered, and they couldn’t get the knock that would have given them a precious late-inning lead. And their strength (situational hitting) was trumped by what has become a perceived Washington weakness (relief pitching).
Again, it’s one game. The Braves could well win tonight and tomorrow and leave D.C. closer to first place than when they arrived. But this one game, I’m forced to confess, troubled me. It was a game of some magnitude that the Braves coulda/shoulda won.
(Oh, and here’s a video chat with Brian Clark of CineSport regarding the Braves, Dan Uggla and the Nationals.)
By Mark Bradley
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285 comments Add your comment
Reality
August 21st, 2012
1:29 pm
Braves choke right on schedule. it was absolutely brilliant to bring back the same team that comitted a record choke job last year. What a surprise, they are doing it again. Wow! Couldn’t see that one coming!
Will be 8 or 9 out by the weekend. Pitt, STL or SF will be wildcard winners. Braves are in the tank-AGAIN.
what of it?
August 21st, 2012
1:31 pm
Marteen is a Ballplayer, exactly
He has the worst eye in baseball, and his at-bats are terrible as a result
Dawg Haus
August 21st, 2012
1:32 pm
If the Braves don’t make the playoffs this year, Fredi has to go.
MikeyDC
August 21st, 2012
1:32 pm
And how is it that the Nats’ bullpen has become a perceived weakness? Of the Nats’ key relievers, only Drew Storen, who was hurt for the first half of the season, has an ERA above 3.16. Burnett (1.90), Mattheus (2.42), M. Gonzalez (2.42), Stammen (2.45), Clippard (2.83), Gorzellany (3.16). I will concede the Braves bullpen is solid. Kimbrel, O’Flaherty, and Venters are beasts. But even Venters checks in with a 3.38 ERA to date. Mark, take off your blinders, buddy. Don’t sleep on the Nats. They play with the same kind of heart that fueled the Braves’ playoff runs back in the day.
RealNCBravesFan
August 21st, 2012
1:33 pm
I am TIRED of Uggla! Most of the time his plate appearences are three pitches and out! His “at bats” no longer justifies his poor fielding. ENOUGH!
Marteen is a Ballplayer
August 21st, 2012
1:36 pm
Actually RealNCBravesFan, Uggla sees more pitches per plate appearance than anyone in the league. Outside of that, I’d like to see him riding the pine as well.
Maxwell the chihuahua hunter
August 21st, 2012
1:38 pm
Uggla can’t be too bad…you Braves fans voted him the all-star starter. Brandon Phillips is BY FAR the best second baseman in the NL, yet he stayed home because you voted for Uggla and Houston had to have a player rep at game. Doesn’t matter the team…Braves, Dawgs, Hawks, they all are vastly overrated by the ATL fanbase.
Marteen is a Ballplayer
August 21st, 2012
1:38 pm
I am as disappointed as anyone with last night’s game, but not the team as a whole. If you are 18 games above 500 and played 42 straight games against winning teams in the first half, you are not a bad team…the issue is that we are not as good as the Nats or the Dodgers post-deadline. My guess is that you will see the Dodgers vs. the Nats for the NLCS.
GB's Hamburgers
August 21st, 2012
1:39 pm
We seem pretty inept at hiitting with runners in scoring position. Are most teams like this? For example Heyward is a nice prospect with a big upside, but he often swings at balls in the dirt when the pressure is on.
CaliBravesFan
August 21st, 2012
1:40 pm
These Braves are never going to be anything. It is a group of scittish players who have never really gel’d as a team. They don’t look like they really care, which surprises me. I’m starting to think they brought in the wrong type of mgr after Bobby retired. Needed someone to bring in some real energy and wake them up.
Marteen is a Ballplayer
August 21st, 2012
1:42 pm
Based on my personal opinion of the individual Braves performances:
Bourn 9/10
Prado 8/10
Chipper 8/10 – I get he misses games, but he has had some great clutch moments this year.
Heyward 8/10 – His 2nd half has been amazing.
McCann 3/10 – Terrible season. Really miss his usual production.
Uggla 1/10 – The experiment is over. Bench him. Bench him. Bench him.
Janish 7/10 – He has done his job and had some clutch hits. Can’t wait for a healthy Andrelton to be back.
Freeman 7/10 – Only keeps getting better and can adjust his swing like no one else to get out of a slump.
MikeyDC
August 21st, 2012
1:43 pm
P.S. — Davey Johnson’s stool samples have more managerial promise than Fredi.
RT
August 21st, 2012
1:44 pm
Uggla stinks, and Monday’s game has nothing to do with it. He just stink. FG need to go to
JRoswell
August 21st, 2012
1:47 pm
The series will show that Washington is the better team. Braves need to hope that their underperforming players can get back to playing as expected. Given McCann’s health issue and Uggla propensity to slump, this is not likely to happen. The good play of Hayward and Bourne is not enough. To win the division, a team must be deep and have all the pieces in place and working.
What the Braves need in a bona fide left fielder and Prado in the infield.
Just wishful thinking, but I want a re-do on Infante for Uggla
4dabirds
August 21st, 2012
1:48 pm
When is Simmons coming back?
older1
August 21st, 2012
1:49 pm
I bet everyone counted the ST LOUIS CARDS out last year too. If this was the wild card game, i could see reason to complain. BRAVES don’t ever give up. Get off the floor and come out SWINGING.
Tucker
August 21st, 2012
1:52 pm
Thank McCann and Uggla nicely for what they did in the past. Then trade or more realistically release them after the season. They will not return to their productive ways this year or in future years.
Sonny Clusters
August 21st, 2012
1:53 pm
“Clusters has not come on today yet but if or when he does, there will be more of the negative posts. Count on it and take it to the bank.”
That little fella just gets creepier and creepier. We think it was him Skip Caray had in mind when he said, “don’t put downed power lines in your mouth.” Not to disappoint, we have some things to say. (1) The AJC runs quotes after the games and we was wondering where Chipper’s quote was today after he waved at grounders, kicked a ball, and left all those men on base? (2) Uggla is not slumping. This is Uggla. We have seen enough of him to know by now what he gives the team. Not much. (3) The HOFer and the All-Star did not come up big last night and we was wondering if maybe this is what we have seen before again and again and if maybe it’s what we saw at the end of last season . . . an EPIC Collapse. What’s worse than an EPIC Collapse?
Sonny Clusters
August 21st, 2012
1:54 pm
We was filtered! We’re not even sure why we bother.
Stinger 2
August 21st, 2012
1:57 pm
By estimate, 80% or more of the post on this blog have been negative
about anything or everything relating to the Braves. It a good thing the players and management don`t read these blogs or they would be demoralized.
Gary
August 21st, 2012
1:59 pm
its the hitting……….especially righthanded…..
PaddyDC
August 21st, 2012
1:59 pm
I love the premise. “I, and some unnamed Braves, have come to believe that our local nine are better than the Nats everywhere except the starting rotation. So, everywhere except, like, half the game on any given day. But, everywhere else! And it is that superiority, well, that superiority everywhere except for the most important player on the field in any given game, that explains…why…we…have been trailing the Nats all season? SO, in sum, that explains why I am troubled. I am troubled because my baseless theory that I just made up failed to be proven correct, and now we are six games behind instead of five. This gives me pause.” Excellent analysis. Very insightful.
Stinger 2
August 21st, 2012
1:59 pm
Clusters: Try saying something nice and you may not get filtered.
Sonny Clusters
August 21st, 2012
2:01 pm
When we was at our last game last year, Derek Lowe was pitching and we spent about $150 on tickets, and food, and parking, and beverages . . . and Derek Lowe didn’t come to play. The Braves tanked and they stayed in the tank and we was wondering if the tank is about to be filled up again with lost opportunities and lost games? Don’t ever believe the marketing associated with this Braves team because they’d have you believe Uggla is a worthy All-Star and this organization is of championship caliber. How is an organization without a championship a championship organization? And where are Chipper’s quotes from yesterday’s game? He got a pass from the AJC.
Dawg Haus
August 21st, 2012
2:02 pm
Stinger2, I think it’s just the pulse of the fanbase after a very demoralizing loss. If they win tonight and tomorrow, we’ll all be singing a different song. I’m not in the highest of spirits myself, but I have tickets to both remaining games and will be chopping loud and proud till the final out is recorded. Go Braves!
Heisenberg
August 21st, 2012
2:03 pm
Do they sell replicas of the glasses Davey Johnson wears at Nats park? I think a pair of those with a fear-the-beard could get fan of the game.
MikeyDC
August 21st, 2012
2:06 pm
Davey will be on Mt. Rushmore some day. The Nats are already designing a freakishly large “Davey” to compete against George, Tom, Abe and Teddy in the President’s Race.
mjn99
August 21st, 2012
2:06 pm
I figure that in order for the Braves to take the division, they have to go 30-10 over the rest of the year while Washington has to go 23-17. Somehow I really don’t see either of those two happening and that means a one game playoff for the wild card and I don’t think there is anyone out there that doesn’t think they won’t choke and lose that game.
Sonny Clusters
August 21st, 2012
2:06 pm
We have a little stalker after us and we’re not sure why. He reminds us of a 3-story elevator in a 6-story building. He may be the one Skip Caray was talking about when he said, “don’t put downed electrical wires in your mouth.” Why he blogs about us instead of baseball is troubling to us. We will continue to point out this team’s foibles and frailties and we’ll probably continue to see creepy posts about how we need to be nice to Fredi and Uggla and uh, Chipper. Here’s a riddle: What does Chipper do these days with a Chopper to Chipper?
Stinger 2
August 21st, 2012
2:10 pm
Clusters: My answers to your comments are: Last year and D. Lowe are gone forever. Why dwell on the past? Secondly, the Braves have won many
Division Championships, NL championships and a WS. Why did Chipper need a pass from making comments?
dick whiskey
August 21st, 2012
2:11 pm
fredi is an imbecile no doubt,but look at some of frank wrens moves,uggla,kawakami,mcclouth,guy has got to be on the same idiot level as fredi g.,both need to go after the season
chief pitchanono
August 21st, 2012
2:12 pm
Enter your comments here
Sonny Clusters
August 21st, 2012
2:13 pm
We will be taking answers for the next few minutes to the riddle: What does Chipper do these days with a Chopper to Chipper?
Some answers so far include, miss it, drop it, kick it, lose it in the lights, wave at it, and wet his uh, pants. The bat has been working but the glove has gone on holiday. He did almost have a kick save last night, though.
Sonny Clusters
August 21st, 2012
2:15 pm
Little fella, you don’t have to answer us. You can answer the riddle, though. We are an equal opportunity riddle maker and we will even spot you a couple words . . . “Uh,” and “error”.
RBI
August 21st, 2012
2:17 pm
I smell toast.
Sonny Clusters
August 21st, 2012
2:22 pm
Carl Sagan said it and it rings true here. “The last way for skeptics to get the attention of bright, curious, intelligent people is to belittle or condescend or to show arrogance toward their beliefs.” It’s like having a little pretend mama following us around telling us how to think and behave. Dull crayons make it hard to stay within the lines. We was wondering how much use that crayon has had lately?
Stinger 2
August 21st, 2012
2:23 pm
Clusters: Do your homework before you make statements. The Braves (including Chipper) played errorless ball last night. Check the box score.
Let the officail scorers do their work and you be a cheerleader. Go Braves!
Andy
August 21st, 2012
2:24 pm
Is it just me or does Uggla stink? 217? And I’m tired of him moving out of the way at the plate like the pitch is right up on him then it crosses the plate for a strike. He reminds me of a soccer player faking a foul — the problem is that by changing his stance like he’s dealing with a pitch way inside, he puts himself out of the play with no opportunity to hit the ball.
Dawg Haus
August 21st, 2012
2:25 pm
Heisenberg, that would be pretty funny. I’ve always thought the dude looks like Emperor Palpatine from Star Wars. All he needs is the robe.
Chief pitchanono
August 21st, 2012
2:25 pm
After the last few games i think you can say the offense is in a little funk right now. Its gonna happen a few times a year. The problem is the defense and the starting pitching could have been better last night. Huddy is supposed to be our ace. He cant spot the other team 4 runs in the first and expect the team to win in a big game/ playoff. That was my major concern. The offense gave em four runs against a good pitcher and it should have been enough. Hes gotta stop the big inning if were gonna win a playoff game. The offense will come around but sometimes u need a strong start and last night we needed just that and we didnt get it. Even more frustrating when he puts up zeros after first but a little too late.
jayvee
August 21st, 2012
2:26 pm
That game was choke-a-rific. The saddest thing is, the Nats were just as inept for inning after inning.
But the Braves, in the end, were inepter.
Richard
August 21st, 2012
2:26 pm
It is obvious that Chipper’s knee is bothering. He has trouble with balls not hit directly to him. He should have never tried to get the ball by the mound. Washington made him look foolish by take 3rd easily.
Uggla needs to sit! I don’t care what he is getting paid or how hard he tries. Even Dale Murphy was let go when he didn’t have. Granted, the Braves weren’t in the playoff hunt then, but the best team is not on the field right now. Let’s hope the “M” boys can give us a couple of wins tonight and tomorrow.
DetroitBraves
August 21st, 2012
2:28 pm
Didn’t watch the game. Did Fredi really save Kimbrel for a hypothetical inning again? These hypothetical innings are killing the Braves. So are the real ones. To be honest, most managers make this same decision (though not all of them). Still, if a thousand people say a stupid thing it is still a stupid thing……..
TB
August 21st, 2012
2:33 pm
I’m an Uggla fan, but reason dictates that you sit him down for 2-3 games. Put Johnson in left & Prado back at 2nd. Maybe Uggla can be the right-handed bat off the bench. If you’re watching closely, he watches the good pitches go by & swing at the bad ones in the dirt. Reminds me of Javy Lopez in his last few seasons here.
lol
August 21st, 2012
2:35 pm
LOL at all the Mets and Phillies fans on here posing as Braves fans. Your 19 back. Go away.
DetroitBraves
August 21st, 2012
2:36 pm
The box score may not contain an error but errors are very subjective things. The box score will forever say (though for a short time it did not) that the Nats got a clutch hit at the end to win the thing. How heroic!!! But do any of us really think a play could not have been made on the ball hit to Uggla? The subjectivity of the scoring is one of many reasons errors are a poor way to evaluate defense. But enough of Uggla and his occasional miscues. His results may not be what we want but I’m sure he is trying. I’m not going to get down too much on a guy trying to make a play but not making it. Happens. However, we should not be subjected to our head guy being so often out-managed. Seldom are these decisions made in the split seconds. He may well be trying hard too but maybe it would be best if he tried hard at another vocation.
Sonny Clusters
August 21st, 2012
2:40 pm
Little fella, you are obsessed with this Clusters and we can understand it though it usually is females that gets obsessed with us. We have to ask you a question . . . have you ever played any ball or do you just like to take comfort in the fact that the official scorer changed the ruling? When we was playing ball kicking it and dropping it and drooling on it was all errors. We are glad you’re not our mama because you would try to turn us into a sissy with all your golly, gee, wow, talk about the Braves.
MariettaGator
August 21st, 2012
2:45 pm
When is Dan Uggla Bobble Glove Night?
Let's Go
August 21st, 2012
2:45 pm
Uggla’s play at second didn’t lose the game last night. Not scoring on the Nats bullpen over 8 innings is the biggest stat that jumps out at you but also they had 12 hits and 8 walks and only mustered 4 runs. That is unacceptable if you plan on playing ball in October. There’s going to be games when the other teams pitchers hold you to a few hits and runs, like Billingsly on Sun, but when they give 20 baserunners you got to score more than 4 runs.
Still feel the Braves can win 2 out of 3 in this series providing they don’t have a hitting fiasco like last night. Strasburg has never been able to shut the Braves down and this year he is 1 and 1 in 3 starts and has given up 11 earned runs in 13 innings . Tomorrow Medlen pitches so I like the chances there.
romedawg
August 21st, 2012
2:46 pm
They owe me an hour of sleep. 4 a.m. came early this morning.