What we learned from the biggest week of the Braves’ season
J-Hey by the bay: Four games, three home runs. A good weekend's work, I'd say. (AP photo)
It started badly and could have spiraled into something far worse. The Braves played seven road games — three on one coast, four on another — against two division leaders, each possessing the kind of starting pitching that can make a good team look bad. If there’s to be an Epic Collapse II, it figured to start here.
But it didn’t. The Braves lost the first two games in Washington to fall seven games behind the Nationals, and they also lost the first two in San Francisco. But they somehow went 3-4 and drew within 4 1/2 of first place, having gained a sliver of ground in the season’s most difficult week. And now the Braves have 34 games remaining, 28 of those against sub-.500 teams, and they’re 2 1/2 games ahead of St. Louis for the first wild-card spot and four games ahead of Los Angeles for the second.
In sum, they’re in good shape. But they were in good shape last year, and they went 9-18 in September. They will not, however, play .333 ball this September, and here’s why:
They have too many healthy starting pitchers. The E.C. happened because Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson got hurt and Derek Lowe couldn’t win and the rotation was reduced to Tim Hudson and a bunch of rookies, thereby increasing the load on an already-taxed bullpen and further exposing a lineup that couldn’t score to save its life. Ben Sheets, Kris Medlen and Paul Maholm energized a rotation that was substandard over the season’s first three months. Mike Minor is actually pitching well — eight quality starts over his past nine outings — and Tim Hudson is still stout (figuratively if not literally). Even with Sheets on the disabled list and questions surrounding Tommy Hanson, there’s Randall Delgado as a fallback.
They hit the ball too well. They’re second in the National League in runs scored, fourth in on-base percentage. (They were 10th and 14th in those categories last season.) Even with Dan Uggla doing his annual disappearing act and Brian McCann hurting, this is still a lineup that’s good at the top and solid in the middle. Jason Heyward hit four home runs last week and is looking more and more like a franchise player, and Freddie Freeman is on pace to drive in 104 runs.
They figure things out. In a seven-game span that saw them lose six times to the Dodgers, the Nationals and the Giants, the Braves were 6-for-54 (.111) with runners in scoring position, which is terrible. But they were 7-for-25 (.280) with RISP in their final two games in San Fran, winning both. On the season, they’ve hit .250 with runners in scoring position and two out, which mightn’t sound like much but is third-best in the National League. This is not the worst situational hitting team you’ve ever seen. On the contrary, it is, as general manager Frank Wren averred 10 days ago, a pretty decent one.
They still have hope of winning the East. A year ago, even the Braves privately conceded they couldn’t catch the Phillies. The Nationals have never known a pennant race, and the strain might be starting to show. Sunday’s loss in Philadelphia turned when Jayson Werth and Adam LaRoche didn’t run hard because they thought a ball LaRoche hit off the top of the fence was a home run. Afterward manager Davey Johnson, who had pulled the famous rookie Bryce Harper in a double switch, was visited by GM Mike Rizzo, and Johnson was overheard by reporters yelling at Rizzo, “You come down here and manage the team.” There’s also the lingering matter of Stephen Strasburg and Rizzo’s innings cap, which hasn’t played well in the Nats’ clubhouse.
They have the league’s third-best record, and there are two wild cards this year. The Cardinals are surging again, but the Pirates are waning, so that’s essentially a wash. The Dodgers are buying up every big name in sight, but they probably stand a better chance of catching the Giants in the West than they do the Braves in the wild-card chase. We can argue at length over whether the Braves have enough top-line starting pitching to win a World Series — my grudging guess is that they don’t — but this has borne the look of a playoff team for a while now, and going 3-4 on the road against big-time pitching only underscored the notion.
By Mark Bradley
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119 comments Add your comment
Dawgs East Champs
August 27th, 2012
1:46 pm
First. Go Braves, hope they can continue to close the Nat’s lead!
dawgnation1
August 27th, 2012
1:53 pm
First????
Goldenrod
August 27th, 2012
1:54 pm
FIRST! Finally! Go Jackets!!!
dawgnation1
August 27th, 2012
1:54 pm
NOOOO!!!!!!! so freaking close. That’s what I get for actually reading an article mark wrote.
dawgnation1
August 27th, 2012
1:55 pm
FIRE HERSCHEL TALKER (he’s an idiot)
Goldenrod
August 27th, 2012
2:01 pm
Filthy leghumping dawgs!
dawg tired
August 27th, 2012
2:01 pm
Dan Uggla is stealing money! He has the worst batting avg. of any every day starter in the league! Last season’s slump is the norm, not an abberation.
Elonbrave
August 27th, 2012
2:02 pm
That’s a real good column, Bradley. Nice work.
Paul
August 27th, 2012
2:03 pm
A mild way of saying they won’t squander. It’s gonna be funny to watch st louis and la or sf get those last 2 wild cards and another choke season down the drain.
evan
August 27th, 2012
2:07 pm
I agree about the Braves not having the top of the line starting pitching to win a WS, but then again, if Medlen keeps it up and either Ben Sheets or Tommy Hanson gets back on track that would give the Braves a good #1-3. Unfortunately, Huddy seems to be the only sure thing the Braves have this year. The Braves bullpen is lights out and the offense has been great.
Widespread Panic
August 27th, 2012
2:12 pm
Good points, Mark. Another: Freddi Gonzales may have finally smelled the coffree regarding a certain right handed infielder, who formerly started about six games per week. Jannish isn’t going to hit a lot, nor the pitcher, Starting Prado at second and Johnson in left gives the Braves 7 legit bats in the lineup on a consistent basis, increasing the lineup turns for the reliable fast guys and the surging mashers in the middle of the lineup.
Genevaman
August 27th, 2012
2:15 pm
Why isn’t Tim Hudson being considered a contender for the Cy Young award? Few in the National League can top his won-lost record, and he is certainly the pitching MVP for the Braves.
TC
August 27th, 2012
2:17 pm
When is Simmons coming back?
Steve
August 27th, 2012
2:18 pm
I can’t believe how bad people want to be first. Must be the highlight of their day. Pretty sad.
Sundrop Kid
August 27th, 2012
2:26 pm
MB failed to point out, in all his optimism, that the Padres are on a 7 game winning streak, and start a pitcher tonight making his MLB debut. That is usually the “kiss of death” for the Braves, so don’t chalk up another victory yet.
Max Sizemore
August 27th, 2012
2:26 pm
Cardinals to beat the Braves in the wild-card playoff, then beat Wash. and Cincinnati to reach the World Series again, this time losing to the Yankees.
Steve
August 27th, 2012
2:28 pm
Genevaman, I agree but Hudson is nowhere close to these guys:
Cueto – 16-6, 2.47 ERA
DIckey – 16-4, 2.76 ERA
Lohse – 13-2, 2.61 ERA
sidslid
August 27th, 2012
2:36 pm
The race is against the Giants. Dodgers will dominate in September when most teams play intradivison games. A while ago it looked like that series against Pittsburgh was going to be for a playoff birth, but Pirate pitching can’t hang on. St. Louis will at least win 2 of 3 this week from them (they have owned Pittsburgh for 20 years) and you can stick a fork in Pittsburgh. Therefore, Cardinals get a wild card no matter what as that division is a cake walk outside of Cincy. Giants have to face a suddenly hot San Diego and a decent Arizona team. Even Colorado has begun to play well.
Lookatmyaverage
August 27th, 2012
2:37 pm
How common is it for a GM and Manager to yell and scream at each other? Any insight on that? Looks like pressure bust pipes and the Nats might have a few pipes close to bursting? Not saying we going to catch them but lets see how they handle that September pressure…..tennis balls turn into golf balls! Just keep Uggla on the bench and I think we can make those last three with the Nats a nice wram up for the playoff run for the Braves!
Mark Bradley
August 27th, 2012
2:39 pm
Kudos, Dawg East.
Alaska Braves Fan
August 27th, 2012
2:51 pm
Mark: I often cringe when I see a new article from you. You provide honest appraisals, and those sometimes are uncomfortable to read. In this one, you are, I think, absolutely correct in your evaluation of the Braves’ chances. I hope you’re wrong about starting pitching and the Series, but I have to admit to having had the same worries.
If Reed Johnson is moved into the starting slot in left field, and Martin Prado goes to second full-time, I think this team takes a step up. (I know, teams don’t like to sit big earners like Uggla, but he has had more than enough time to show what he can and cannot do at this point in his career.) David Ross probably should get about half the starts from here on out, too, because McCann has a shoulder issue that simply will not get better on its own. Those two moves would be a big help.
Thanks for your work!
ABF
Medlinfan
August 27th, 2012
3:01 pm
How can people say that Hudson is the ace of the staff or that he’s the Braves’ MVP of pitching? What does Kris Medlin have to do, please??????? He’s pitched middle relief – he even had a 3 inning save this year – and the team is 16-0 in his starts since last season. I think he even got a hit (maybe walked) but scored from first on a double in his last start. That kid has been lights-out all season in any role they’ve put him in. I say, in a seven game series, give him the ball in games 1-4 and 7 if necessary. Let’s just hope we have a 7 game series to play at some point.
Medlinfan
August 27th, 2012
3:02 pm
That should be 1,4, and 7. Bad use of a dash in place of a comma. Ha! Anyway, go Medlin and go Braves!!!!!!!
Stinger 2
August 27th, 2012
3:02 pm
Paul: Are you a fan of LA, SFO or ST Louis or maybe all three?
You comments indicate that you must be an anti-Braves fan.
Stinger 2
August 27th, 2012
3:05 pm
Paul: Are you a Braves fan?
Stinger 2
August 27th, 2012
3:06 pm
Mark: Good analysis of why the Braves will at least get into the playoffs.
disbot3000
August 27th, 2012
3:09 pm
What are you guys talking about? Dan Uggla is an All-Star. AN ALL-STAR!
Just kidding! I can’t keep a straight face. I think the rest of the MLB fans voted him in just so we would feel obligated to keep him in the line-up, no matter what.
bravesgirl4ever
August 27th, 2012
3:11 pm
I love the Braves but am even more amazed at how they keep on winning with Uggla doing nothing; Jannish tries but really can’t hit; and a hurt McCann. Watched them take the last 2 from the Giants and was applauding the 5 who are DOING IT,,,Bourn, Prado [an unsung hero], Freeman, Jones, and even ole Francisco…Heyward, and Johnson is coming around….not got them in the right order but yall know who I mean!
GO BRAVES!
Stinger 2
August 27th, 2012
3:15 pm
As much as Uggla has struggled, he is not hurting his team any more
than many of the so called “fans” are doing with their never ending negative comments.
Alaska Braves Fan
August 27th, 2012
3:20 pm
I love watching Janish play. You’re right in saying he just cannot hit, but you do have to concede that he’s getting the biggest bang he can for the buck. His hitting has improved somewhat – he has put in his time with Walker – but the most impressive part of his offense is that he has come up big when you least expect it. He has had some critical RBI’s, and he really has not been an automatic cipher in the lineup, despite the fact that everyone said he could not hit at all. And, of course, his defense needs no defense. I wonder just how many runs he has saved us with his fielding when compared to what would have happened if Pastornicky had returned to SS.
DanthenotsomuchMan
August 27th, 2012
3:21 pm
Please send Uggla down to Gwinnett for goodness sakes he’s terrible. He has the worst swing in the majors and plays less than average defense. Absolutely no reason he should be in the lineup day after day. I know highschool players with more talent. So I’ll ask again please, please, do what is long over do and get rid of him.
VinceVanGo
August 27th, 2012
3:33 pm
Just get excited Braves fans, it’s almost Sept. 1st. Then Wren can call up Constanza, Meija, Lyle Overbay, Delgado, Gearon, and maybe a few more. Then Fredi will have a full pantry to choose from and if he’s serious about playing the hot hands and match ups the Braves should be able to play with anybody. I only hope that he(with Wren) make the right decisions when it comes to the post season roster, even if it means leaving off a high priced player or a popular veteran who has under performed.
Bradley Curse
August 27th, 2012
3:38 pm
“If there’s to be an Epic Collapse II, it figured to start here. But it didn’t”
just as how they won the last 2 games of the Giants series they could just as easily get swept by the Padres and negate everything …. so obviously to early to say that for sure
Stinger 2
August 27th, 2012
3:38 pm
VinceVanGo: Who would you leave off? Bet I can guess at least one of them.
Alaska Braves Fan
August 27th, 2012
3:40 pm
You might find it interesting to compare the stat lines of Simmons, Pastornicky, and Janish at the Braves’ site. I know I was a little surprised.
AB’s: Simmons, 115
Pastornicky, 161
Janish, 140
Runs scored: Simmons, 13
Pastornicky, 21
Janish, 17
Hits: Simmons, 34
Pastornicky, 40
Janish, 29
Walks: Simmons, 8
Pastornicky, 9
Janish, 12
Average: Simmons, .296
Pastornicky, .248
Janish, .207
RBI’s: Simmons, 15
Pastornicky, 13
Janish, 9
In actual run production, Janish is holding his own, despite the low batting average.
ABF
eastbound and down
August 27th, 2012
3:40 pm
I am not sure the team figures things out regarding hitting with runners in scoring position. this is just one of the nerve wracking aspects of baseball and the 162 game schedule. the Nats couldn’t lose and now can’t score. (thankfully)
But, i am glad an off day is coming up this week, Fredi has fielded some interesting lineups over the past week or so. now everyone can have thursday off.
Stinger 2
August 27th, 2012
3:43 pm
Bradley Curse: How about looking at it in a positive way.If the Braves take
two of three with the Padres, it will be a 5-5 record in a ten day road trip
across the country and playing two division leaders. Not too bad I would say.
Brown
August 27th, 2012
3:44 pm
Bradley Curse – I think you missed the point of the quote
Realtycheck
August 27th, 2012
3:48 pm
After watching the crowds in Philly, Washington and San Fran and the empty seats at Turner, maybe fans get the team they deserve. Just saying.
Sonny Clusters
August 27th, 2012
3:48 pm
Well, we went back and looked at the last blog and found out somebody had taken a shot or two at us for our comments on there. That got us to thinking that special education classes don’t always work with everybody. We was also wondering if our little pretend mama that follows us around and blogs about us would get deer tattooed if Chipper was to offer him a deer tattoo for being a blind squirrel of a fan. The only way to know is if the offer is made unless some of us on here would be willing to pay to get him deer tattooed just so we could laugh. Now, we stand by our comments on the earlier blog and we reiterate our position that should be some pop in Popeye arms – and we’re not talking pop-up.
Train Wreck Bystander
August 27th, 2012
3:49 pm
You people and your silly attempts at firsitude.
=====
The only good thing about Uggla’s horrid summer is that it can only get better from here.
Brown
August 27th, 2012
3:51 pm
Realty check. You’re right – the Braves always seem to have trouble filling the seats when they are on a road trip for some reason.
P.S. – do you have any residential properties available?
Abnerish
August 27th, 2012
4:04 pm
I gotta say that the Braves are a much better team with Prado at 2nd and Johnson in LF. At least until Uggs starts hitting again. But at this point, I’m worried that this season is a wash for him. Frankly, if I were Fredi I would play Uggs and if he continues to pull off the ball and swing wildly, I would bench him the next game. Then repeat until he either gets it or until Fredi gives up hope.
Lou Piniella's cap
August 27th, 2012
4:11 pm
“Then repeat until he either gets it or until Fredi gives up hope.”
@Abnerish, I wouldn’t count on the latter happening. You have a better of talking Liberty Media into selling the team in the offseason. And as far as the Gonzalez talk about picking and choosing when to sit Uggla and when to play him, I’ll believe it when I see it. I’d be downright shocked if Uggla sat more than 3 times down the stretch.
Lou Piniella's cap
August 27th, 2012
4:14 pm
better chance*
bfred
August 27th, 2012
4:26 pm
I’ve honestly never seen a major league hitter pull off the ball the way Uggla does. He couldn’t reach the outside half of the plate with a 40-inch bat; my son’t little league coach wouldn’t put up with that.
Mark, I know the usual response is that players get help from the hitting coaches when they ask for it, but surely by now someone is forcing Uggla to work with them? Watch some film of his swing? Anything? I wouldn’t let that kind of investment sit broken; I’d try to fix it.
bfred
August 27th, 2012
4:29 pm
“son’s little league coach…”
In an unrelated question, what does Hudson look at when he pitches? The ball leaving his hand? The upper deck beyond third base? Airplanes? That photo from the Giants game is crazy! He looks like his head was Photoshopped onto his body.
dean
August 27th, 2012
4:36 pm
By-the-way, who is the dumba** that scheduled the Braves from DC (night game) to SF without a day off?
Right about now the gnats are looking over their shoulders.
oh brother!
August 27th, 2012
4:41 pm
lol Brown..love it.
oldtimer
August 27th, 2012
4:42 pm
Even after Simmons gets back, Fredi could use Janish at 2nd. Pardo back to lf. Still no Uggla and a great middle defense behind our starters.
Ted M
August 27th, 2012
4:44 pm
Is Fredi gonna start “resting” Uggla more often? Seems like a reasonable question to ask.
dawgnation1
August 27th, 2012
4:51 pm
Yo quiero hombres
smitty derf
August 27th, 2012
4:54 pm
Enter your comments here
Mr. Bradley, what is your analysis of the Uggla situation. I keep expecting him to figure it out. Is he stubborn like Andrew jones and Komminsk and refusing to adapt? are his eyes bad like Brian and Freddie? Is he hurt but won’t say it like Jason? What is the deal?
bvillebaron
August 27th, 2012
5:08 pm
oldtimer:
I realize that Uggla has really struggled this year, but play Janish @ second after Simmons returns? Are you serious? Janish’s BA is no better than Uggla’s. At least opposing pitchers take Uggla seriously because he still has prodigious power.
If you want to bench Uggla, then put Prado @ second and play Johnson in left.
JNick
August 27th, 2012
5:22 pm
Prado…Janish…Medlen…Gearrin…these are the proper spellings of the last names of the players you’re talking about….not Pardo, Jannish, Medlin and Garron….
If you can’t even spell someone’s name properly, the rest of your post probably doesn’t hold water.
VinceVanGo
August 27th, 2012
5:40 pm
Stinger 2…
If the post season was starting today, I would leave off Uggla & Hinske. When Lyle Overbay gets to the Braves on Sept. 1st he’s going to make fans forget about Hinske . And I think a lot of fans have already forgot about Uggla. Unless Hanson picks it up a bunch I’d be tempted to leave him off too.
Jaded
August 27th, 2012
5:53 pm
There’s no reason the Braves can’t get to the World Series with the team they have. Our rotation reminds me of that of the 2002 Giants. They lacked a true ace, but they had veterans like Kirk Reuter, Russ Ortiz and Livan Hernandez who gave them a solid chance in every game. That’s what the Braves have now. The way things are going, I would feel very comfortable with a top three of Medlen, Hudson and Maholm/Minor in the postseason.
In fact, I feel the Braves are better suited to win a division series this year than they’ve been in quite a while. The biggest challenge is going to be surviving the knockout game, should we end up there. St. Louis and Los Angeles would be very scary in a one-game do-or-die setup with their AL-caliber lineups.
Jaded
August 27th, 2012
6:02 pm
Also, I love the idea of putting Janish at 2B when Simmons comes back. Nothing would get past our infield. It would be like when we had Belliard and Lemke back in the day.
Stinger 2
August 27th, 2012
6:31 pm
VinceVanGo: I believe Overbay will replace Hinske. Not sure what they will do about Uggla and Hanson but you may be right.
Stinger 2
August 27th, 2012
6:40 pm
Clusters: Everyone is aware of your deer tattoo line since you have
used it so many times. I know you have some followers who like your
“funny stuff”. However, they might want to see something new before
the Braves season is over. By the way, the Uggla “Popeye” line is getting old too.
Skeezix
August 27th, 2012
6:41 pm
Mark: Good assessment of the Bravos at this point and how they held up despite the stiff pitching they faced in the last three series. I am much more confident about the outlook for this Sept. than l was 3-4 weeks ago. Jason and Freeman are both coming on strong and appear to be having fun–so that bodes well for the offense. The bullpen looks real good too.
And Mr. Uggla, I hope, continues to sit on the pine.
Mister Frisky
August 27th, 2012
6:50 pm
It ain’t rocket science Deliverence fans.Simmons when healthy at SS,Prado to 2b,Johnson to LF.Uggla to the bench and his situation to be dealt with in the winter.Only chance this line up would have against quality pitching in the playoffs.
Sonny Clusters
August 27th, 2012
7:21 pm
Little man, talk more baseball and less Clusters. We suspect your biceps are too little for a deer tattoo anyway.
Mike S.
August 27th, 2012
7:49 pm
I agree, Mark. The Braves look like a team that will make the playoffs. However, I think they need to win the division. I would not like their chances in a one game playoff with St. Louis or LA. A series? OK.
bulldogbubba
August 27th, 2012
8:38 pm
Stinger2 must be a Tech fan.That is all. GO BRAVES
longtimefan
August 27th, 2012
8:45 pm
This team has a reasonable chance to win it all. They have a balanced lineup without too much reliance on a couple of hitters. In general excellent defense. SP has come around with 4 solid starters. Lights out bullpen. As optimistic as I generally am, I agree Uggla has had 3/4ths of the season to turn it around to no avail. There are better options at second with Simmons due back in the next several weeks. FG is obviously aware of the situation and I believe gave some thoughtful answers concerning Uggla in his interview this weekend. Despite what many say about him on this blog I think he is a good manager. We could be the Red Sox and be stuck with Valentine-now that’s a problem.
tyger
August 27th, 2012
8:53 pm
Braves treat Black players differently…
Any Black Braves fan/admirer…it’s complicated…
Won’t openly say, but I will, they never would tolerate…
This type performance from a black player…
Never have, Never will…
see Justice, Sanders, Gant, Lofton, Jones, Sheffield, Furcal, etc…
Yet, why so patient with Uggla and not Heyward?
Heyward??? Yes…last season there were rumblings…
They were moving Heyward after just 2 seasons…
Why so impatient with the best prospect in Braves history?
What about Jair?…He’s been cast off like a leper…
I’ve never seen an Allstar treated as such, never…
They treat Ben Sheets like he’s Maddux or Smoltz…
He has 4 Braves wins to his credit…what gives?
Yet, one guy has us in 2nd place…yes, one guy…
Uggla has cost us at least 5 games by himself…
If he’s not booting it, he’s fumbling it, if he’s not 0-4, he’s 1-5…
It’s painful…it’s hopeless…why? why? why?
Yet, if Jair has a couple bad innings, he’s persona non grata…
Why the double standard???? Nevermind, Uggla’s contributions to…
Jair’s bad innings…w his routine boots/kicks/drops/strike-outs…
The guy has become a $13M side-show…
He needs to perform in between innings…
ATL Crackers minstrel show…
Let him run around selling peanuts/beer…
Earn some of his money for a change…
He’s made folly of the sport…
Mgt. is complicit…either too big or too small…
To swallow another $13M mistake…
Teddy B
August 27th, 2012
8:58 pm
Can’t wait for Simmons to get back and hopefully get back in the groove of things rather quickly and produce from the SS position. Its been a while, Janish is good on D but he is the only guy I know who gets like a single almost every game and his average keeps plummeting.
Starting pitchers need to watch Medlen and Hudson to see how its done. Everyone else besides Minor is just not throwing good at all. Minor is complicated. Just when you think he’s doing good and he himself thinks he’s got it all sorted out he’ll melt down and get crushed when we really need a win. Check your ego man- that spring training comment about wanting to be in the majors starting or demanding a trade rubbed me the wrong way, and he needs to first prove that he has the ability to BE a starter before making demands like that.
Hanson just seems lost, the games that he has won this season were the result of our offense giving him lots and lots of run support. I can’t remember one game this year that he’s ‘wow’-ed me with his pitching he just gets lucky a lot.
If Hanson wants his mega-agent to land him the big bucks when he hits free agency, he better start pitching better or its not going to happen. I know if I was an owner looking for a mid-high quality starter I’d pass on him the only way I’d pick him up was if I needed a #4 or #5 starter on the cheap- which his agent surely won’t let happen so I’d say no. I think any team dealing with Mr. Boras needs their head checked because it just seems to me that he’s doing all he can possibly do to ruin the game. The sap cost Mark Appel a couple million dollars if Appel doesn’t get drafted in the top 8 next year and set him back a year’s worth of development. What he did to the Pirates was dirty and there is no place for someone like that in today’s game the players are dirty enough (yeah YOU Melky!).
Teddy B
August 27th, 2012
9:08 pm
VinceVanGo: have you seen Overbay play the past couple of years? When the Pirates signed him in 2010 I think it was, he really underperformed for the $5mil or so that they paid him. Lyle Overbay is NO answer to ANYTHING. He’s way past his prime, washed up, and has-been- Just like Wren likes ‘em!
I know when Lyle Overbay comes up to the plate for us in a big situation I’ll be hiding my face in embarrassment without even taking so much as a peek of what will surely be an out and it might cost us a series or championship. Bad, bad move.
Dawg Haus
August 27th, 2012
9:29 pm
Solid finish to the series in San Fran. Let’s catch those Nationals!
Chilidawg
August 27th, 2012
9:31 pm
Dump Liberty!
Gene
August 27th, 2012
9:33 pm
We learned that the Braves are capable of championship play and of emulating the Houston Astros. They are capable of being knocked out of the wildcard in the one game playoff, particularly if they face the Cardinals. But we already knew that.
Michael
August 27th, 2012
9:37 pm
After that horrendous metdown last season against St. Louis, I hope none of the Braves player read this article, and let their guards down. The under 500 teams should be played with the same intensity and focus as playoff caliber teams.
It's over now
August 27th, 2012
9:42 pm
bvillebaron – you need some help with your stats… For August, Uggla is .190 and Janish is .227, so hitting is no reason to keep Uggla over Janish (for the season Janish is .207 vs. Uggla’s .206). And lets’s not forget Uggla’s 142 K’s (versus Janish’s 25). No one who is serious is going to say Uggla is better in the field. And Janish is a better value in payroll.
I do agree that Prado is probably a better deal at 2B but Uggla is not someone to fear in the field or with the bat.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
August 27th, 2012
11:07 pm
these are the games they NEED to win..not looking great so far
ButterMilk Tuesdays
August 28th, 2012
12:02 am
“Bradley Curse: How about looking at it in a positive way.If the Braves take
two of three with the Padres, it will be a 5-5 record in a ten day road trip
across the country and playing two division leaders. Not too bad I would say.”
Sounds like you have the same mentality as the Braves… “Yeah, we’re fine with being second-best.”
ButterMilk Tuesdays
August 28th, 2012
12:03 am
“…Uggla is not someone to fear in the field or with the bat.”
Unless he’s on your team…
ButterMilk Tuesdays
August 28th, 2012
12:08 am
Uggla has one of the ugliest swings in baseball.
ButterMilk Tuesdays
August 28th, 2012
12:11 am
Heh, Gonzalez just doesn’t get it. He REFUSES to play small ball. We can’t score 2 runs, even when we have a lineup that has plenty of speed.
ButterMilk Tuesdays
August 28th, 2012
12:16 am
A 2 run game, and we’re going to pitch one of the worst relievers in the game. Brilliant.
benchwarmer
August 28th, 2012
12:17 am
Davey Johnson just looks like he would enjoy chewing up a GM.
ButterMilk Tuesdays
August 28th, 2012
12:25 am
What do you know, the worst reliever in baseball comes through with flying colors. Good work, Gonzalez.
Bradley Curse
August 28th, 2012
12:34 am
“28 of those against sub-.500 teams”
can’t go underestimating teams just because they’re under .500.
Padres showed you why.
rc35
August 28th, 2012
3:43 am
After a game like Monday, despite the statistics, it’s hard to say, “and further exposing a lineup that couldn’t score to save its life” and intend it to refer to LAST year’s team. That line could have referred to Uggla and Company far too often this season.
For those of you old enough to remember the cartoon, I keep hearing the voice of Bugs Bunny saying to “The Crusher,” “Let’s just pin these little old shoulders to the little old mat,” while the Crusher stares stupidly into space and says, “Yeah…”. There’s your Braves’ offense, far too often!
dtanner
August 28th, 2012
6:23 am
frank wren should be fired see uggla,lowe,kawakami,mcclouth i’m i missing anybody else? guy is a fool and a idiot
Nativebird
August 28th, 2012
6:36 am
If a teams gets into the second “one-in-million” wild card spot for its one game “series” against the traditional wild card team, is it really a “playoff” team…or more of a lottery winner?
klaus
August 28th, 2012
7:43 am
Way too soon to say they can do anything but be bipolar week to week. Medlen and Hudson are your best pitchers with Minor and Maholm battling for 3/4. Hanson is terrible still.
You are looking at a pray for rain WC one game playoff (as is a team they can easily beat, is there one?).
Davy Johnson has almost certainly laid down the law in WASH regarding folding or playing soft with a lead. While the Phillies played hard like spoilers the Nats didnt seem to have a plan at the plate.
That won’t last.
In any case I digress. Bottom line the Braves get owned far too often by any LHP and until that changes AND Uggla gets traded don’t expect more than what we have seen. World beaters one day, Astros farm team the next.
maxman
August 28th, 2012
7:56 am
went to bed last nite before game started(have a job) did the all star second baseman start? how did he do?
Call It Like It Is
August 28th, 2012
8:22 am
Why the debate. Same song, same verse. Braves don’t have the talent, dont have the desire, and will choke away as they do every year. Until they get an owership that wants a crown, this will not change. The main issue it that the fans continue to watch, continue to cheer. This needs to stop. Tell the ownerns enough is enough, we will not continue to spend hard earned money on a subpar product.
lyon
August 28th, 2012
8:56 am
Braves treat Blonde players differently…
Any Blonde Braves fan/admirer…it’s complicated…
Won’t openly say, but I will, they never would tolerate…
This type performance from a Blonde player…
Never have, Never will…
see Conrad, Schafer, Linebrink, Boyer, Francoeur, Lillibridge, etc…
What about McLouth?…He was cast off like a leper…
I’ve never seen an Allstar treated as such, never…
Sonny Clusters
August 28th, 2012
9:16 am
It is time for Constanza to come up here and run and force defensive errors and act the fool in the dugout and shake things up. Bat him 9th just before Bourn and see what happens. A team that cannot score a run playing small ball will not be successful in a short series facing really good pitching. When we was playing ball Coach told us speed does not slump. Fredi had some magic working for a time last year with a speed lineup but that got changed looking for the 3-run home run.
What Happened to Simmons?
August 28th, 2012
9:41 am
What happened to the 4-6 week recovery time for Simmons?It has been almost 8 weeks now!Are the Brave’s covering up a more serious injury?No statements have been made about Simmons progress.Are they waiting for Sept callups?
2011champs
August 28th, 2012
9:43 am
MB, your predictions are no better this season than last. I tried to tell you then that the Cardinals were the team to beat, and I was right. I say again this season that they are the team to beat, and will play either the Pirates, Dodgers, or Giants in the wildcard game.The 2012 Braves choke has already started, and they will continue to fall. They do not have the team to catch Washington, and will be caught by one of the above teams for the wildcard. The Braves have a good team; just not a playoff good team. No leadership either on or off the field!
Why not call up Gerrin?
August 28th, 2012
9:47 am
Why did the Brave’s call up some scrub wash up who they just picked up instead of Cory Gerrin?Gerrin pitched well before he was sent down to AAA……..sub 1.00 ERA with the Brave’s Mlb club.The Brave’s should either play him or trade him(Gerrin).Doesn’t make much sense to me!
Forecast for 2013
August 28th, 2012
9:53 am
Let’s see………No Bourn(walks as free agent)
………No Chipper(retires)
………No Prado(traded to K.C.)
………No McCann(option for 12mil+not picked up)
………No Beachy(still hurt)
………No Sheets(experiment over)
WHICH=NO PLAYOFFS!
Wren-a-player
August 28th, 2012
9:59 am
It looks like another of our Rent-a-player”s will walk this offseason………Michael Bourn to be exact!
Wren-a-player
August 28th, 2012
10:01 am
Maybe we should have sent Heyward and Freeman to the Dodgers along with Uggla because that is what it would take to get rid of Uggla’s contract….Wren you are a bird brain!
P Rose
August 28th, 2012
10:03 am
But let’s look at the bright side, Forecast for 2013:
No Bourn = $6,845,000
+No Chipper = $14,000,000
+No McCann = $11,500,000
+No Derek Lowe = $10,000,000
___________________________
=$42,345,000 to spend on new players
Mora Sr.
August 28th, 2012
10:03 am
Play-offfffs………Play-offfffs………..the Brave’s can’t hit their way out of a paper bag!
ctwins3644
August 28th, 2012
10:06 am
Does anyone else see the wheels falling off the Nats when they pull Strasburg? I live in the DC area and the game/organization revolves around him here. I like the BRAVOS to win the east.
Forecast for 2013
August 28th, 2012
10:06 am
Yeah P Rose I agree but the 42 mil+ will be saved by Liberty Media and not put back in the team!……….Mark my words!
Jack
August 28th, 2012
10:07 am
Each time I start to watch a Braves game and I see Uggla in the lineup, I sorta lose interest.
Snap Crackle Pop
August 28th, 2012
10:15 am
The Brave’s thought they were getting a 2nd baseman with Pop in his swing when they got Uggla but all they got was a player who hears the Pop in the catcher’s mitt after he swings and misses!
the truth...
August 28th, 2012
10:34 am
UGGLA PLAYS……………………
BRAVES LOSE……………………
There’s your headline Mark………….until he is on the pines for 5-6 games out of 7 we will not pull it off. He is contributing nothing but defense and there are most likely 5 players AAA and below that can do that…………..
UGGLA is a zero now and in fact is weighing the team down.
Don’t think for a minute that Uggla in the posted lineup each day is a drag on the players……….he is the pink elephant in the room…………
Sonny Clusters
August 28th, 2012
10:56 am
Here’s some quotes from after the game:
We was noticing a rookie who had never before started a game here threw a 3-hitter over 6 innings and what do you think went wrong?
Chipper: “Uh, these guys better start pitching better and some of us need to start hitting.”
Fredi: “That was his first start? What’s his name? I saw Bud run him out there but I had no idea. We hit the ball hard. We stung the ball but it went right to somebody. I’m reading baseball cards and I say we’re better than this and Danny’s going to break out at any time and carry us just at the right time.”
Uggla: “Gee, you’ve never interviewed me. What’s up?”
DawgDad
August 28th, 2012
11:00 am
From an old-timer’s perspective (I can remember the 1959 NL playoff) a team has to WIN the wild-card playoff game to “qualify for the post-season”.
Can the Braves catch the Nats? Sure, far stranger things have happened, and for as well as they’ve played this season the Nats haven’t won anything yet. Can the Braves hang on to a wild card spot? Less likely in my opinion. This Braves team has has to EARN the benefit of the doubt.
The Braves offense seems to climb in and out of the deep freeze on a daily basis; you only have to look at the highest paid players to see why. Management has been slow on the draw to make tough decisions and it’s cost the team wins. The team is not deep; if they lose a key player they are in big trouble. Still, if they keep getting four quality starts every pass through the rotation they have a chance.
DawgDad
August 28th, 2012
11:09 am
To add: If Simmons comes back and plays anything close to what he did before it will be a huge boost. I would be comfortable with the Braves going into the playoffs with Janish starting, but not Janish and Uggla. Janish would be the glove man coming off the bench the Braves needed in 2010.
zbulldawg
August 28th, 2012
11:21 am
The Braves are playing TEAM ball now ! Go Braves
Peter
August 28th, 2012
11:40 am
All baloney……. this team could implode at any time.. last night is proof.. rookie pitcher and no patience at the plate or consistency.
Uggla is a waste of money, and Bourne will be gone next year.. we need a new GM more than anything…….. Wren has traded away the franchise, and we are still not capable of playing with good teams on a constant basis..
2011champs
August 28th, 2012
12:00 pm
You are right. The Braves are playing like a team now. Unfortunately for them, they are playing like a beaten, choking team with no leadership to try to stop the slide. They will not make the playoffs.
DawgDad
August 28th, 2012
12:05 pm
“the 42 mil+ will be saved by Liberty Media and not put back in the team”
I’m not so sure about that. They ought to use some of that money to lock down the key younger players, because they are carrying this team and figure to for some time. If they sign veterans considerable judgment is required. We don’t need more Chippers and Ugglas. Nothing against Chipper personally, but the Braves won’t remain competitive if they keep paying 10+ million$ salaries to part time players and guys not on the team.
gcs
August 28th, 2012
12:16 pm
“They have too many healthy starting pitchers”
Why did they trade away a future All-Star (Arodys Vizcaino) for a mediocre pitcher in Paul Maholm?
Maholm is 2-3 and has given up 6 HRs in 5 ATL starts. He gave up those dingers to such sluggers as Jesus Flores (his 4th HR), Logan Forsythe (3), and Yasmani Grandal (6).
P Rose
August 28th, 2012
12:32 pm
First inning. Second batter. Close play, but Prado is SAFE at first… Wait — what?? He was called OUT? Prado argues, but to no avail.
Gonzalez just… sits.
Hey, Fredi: show the players that you have some testículos and that you have their backs once in a while, and who knows — maybe they’ll play harder for you, and maybe the Braves will get a close call once in a while.
Ted M
August 28th, 2012
1:08 pm
Epic Collapse II could happen.
Stac
August 28th, 2012
1:43 pm
They will get no place this year. They just got plowed by yet another low level team and a rookie. That does not spell good for our team. A ROOKIE by gosh sake.
rob
August 28th, 2012
3:35 pm
Mark,
You’ve got to be kidding, Top line starting pitching is not the Braves problem. Hudson, Medlen and Sheets to start with. Who in the National league would you swap these three for? The only team would be the Phillies and look where they are. Will we hit in the clutch? That’s the question. Will we ever stop swinging at bad pitches. This includes Freddie, Uggla, McCann and Heyward. As much as they have improved, it’s still so hard to watch a game like last night vs a rookie or the other night when Zito pitched. No way we should let a rookie pitcher with no experience embarass the team like they did last night. That will be our achillies heel. We will lose games when we get no run support. No matter how good our pitching may be, we can not let rookie/bad pitchers continue to dominate us.
Gman 84
August 28th, 2012
3:48 pm
With McCann, Uggla, Janish and the pitcher batting consecutively, half the lineup is absolute dead weight. The Braves really only have 3 innings a game they can realistically score in. If any of the other hitters are on a bad stretch, the whole thing collapses.
2011champs
August 28th, 2012
5:28 pm
@rob,I can see Medlen, and maybe Huddy(getting old), but Sheets??? He is on the DL, and his days are numbered. He looked of in his first 3 0r 4 starts, but it has been downhill from there. He will not be here next season. Personally, (Former Brave)Adam Wainwright is better than any of those 3, and looking at this season’s performances, I would take Kyle Lohse(14-2 with a sub 2.50ERA), and the returning in 2013 Chris Carpenter. The Cardinals have a rookie, Joe Kelly, that would hold his own against most starters. The Braves have several youngsters that will be good, but not for a couple of years. Maybe by that time, Chipper will have finally retired, and Uggla will be hitting .250
BradleyCurse
August 29th, 2012
8:35 pm
“In sum, they’re in good shape”
in sum I think these 3 games against the Padres have more than enough represented the Braves, with the streaky and sometimes non existent offense being the main representation. Are they in good shape? You might think they are with their schedule but I really have no clue …..