The Braves used to be able to hit. What the heck happened?
A sight seldom seen of late: The Atlanta Braves scoring a run. (AP photo by John Amis)
We begin by saying that no one regular-season series tells anything approaching the whole story. Remember when the Braves were swept by the Yankees here in June? Remember how that series seemed an example of boys against men? Well, if you check today, you’ll find that the Braves have a better record than the Bronx Bombers. (Only a half-game better, but still.)
That said, it was nonetheless chilling that the Braves could go the final three games of a four-game set against Colorado and not score a single earned run. The Rockies have the worst team ERA in the big leagues, and here, after a 6-1 victory on Labor Day, is how the Braves fared: Shut out on Tuesday, won 1-0 on a run scored via a bad throw on Wednesday, won 1-0 on a run scored on a flubbed return catcher’s toss by the pitcher, which might have happened in the big leagues twice in the past two decades.
For the first half of the season, the Braves hit better than they pitched. Indeed, they were fourth in the National League in runs scored at the All-Star break. Here are their numbers since: Ninth in runs, 10th in on-base percentage, 14th in batting average, 12th in slugging percentage. They hit .232 as a team in August; they’ve hit .230 in September.
The good news is that they’ve pitched superbly. (Their team ERA is the league’s best since the All-Star break.) The bad news is that they’ve had to pitch superbly, and much of that pitching has been done against lesser opposition. (Since the break, only 17 of the Braves’ 53 games have been against teams currently above .500.)
This is worrisome not because the Braves are apt to play themselves out of the postseason — with 24 games remaining, they still hold a five-game lead over Pittsburgh and Los Angeles for the second wild card — but because they won’t be facing substandard teams once there. There’s no reason this lineup shouldn’t hit better than it has the past month. This same lineup, give or take, hit rather well for the season’s first half. But now it isn’t, and that’s troubling.
By Mark Bradley
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115 comments Add your comment
ChopAttack
September 7th, 2012
11:33 am
McCann and Simmons got hurt and Uggla is a bust. Pretty simple really.
Carlos Collazo
September 7th, 2012
11:38 am
I guess the best part is that we can’t really hit any worse. I am not expecting Simmons to come in and revive the offense either, he’s a rookie and we shouldn’t expect what he brought earlier in the season offensively. Sure he’s better than Janish/Wilson/Pastornicky but he’s not a silver slugger. Brian McCann and Uggla on the other hand….
ChopAttack
September 7th, 2012
11:40 am
When a third of your lineup can’t hit (McCann, Uggla, Janish) plus the pitcher it puts a lot of pressure on the other 5 guys to produce every day. I don’t think McCann’s shoulder is going to get better. Uggla might be a lost cause. Simmons is a rookie.
Weyman C Wanamaker Jr, (A Great American)
September 7th, 2012
11:59 am
Which hitting coach do we throw under this bus this time?
Sonny Clusters
September 7th, 2012
11:59 am
Not to worry, light hitting Dan Uggla is about to break out of it and become somewhat light hitting Dan Uggla. Did you hear Fredi praise light hitting Dan Uggla for hitting a ball to the right side? We was thinking that maybe light hitting Dan Uggla is not such a big threat to break out as Fredi seems to think and what we are seeing may be what light hitting Dan Uggla has become now that he is being paid like an All-Star and is cavorting with pornn stars and thinking the team is where it is because of all his great walks. Having this huge hole in the lineup has hurt the Braves time and again and it looks like light hitting Dan Uggla has regained his starting position with that ball he hit to the right side. Sad.
Weyman C Wanamaker Jr, (A Great American)
September 7th, 2012
12:00 pm
And the sad thing is that the run that is shown scoring in the picture was an un-earned run.
Tana
September 7th, 2012
12:01 pm
Braves still are hitting. They had bases loaded multiple times. They still won their games. It means more at this time to be able to pitch and win games 1-0. If you’re pitching is imploding like in New York then you won’t be able to hold any leads. You’re all idiots for trying to say they aren’t hitting.
Tana
September 7th, 2012
12:05 pm
10 hits in both games. 10 walks in both games. Look beyond the 1-0 VICTORY and actually read a box score. Best ERA since the All Star break with maybe best pitcher in the league right now in Medlen.
Tana
September 7th, 2012
12:06 pm
9 hits in shut out on Tuesday. Quit trying to make the team fall apart. If you aren’t wanting to see them win you can go watch Georgia Tech football.
Mark Bradley
September 7th, 2012
12:09 pm
Twenty-five hits and eight runs in 33 innings against the worst pitching staff in the big leagues. That’s some hitting.
Hillbilly D
September 7th, 2012
12:09 pm
Which hitting coach do we throw under this bus this time?
The current one. You’d think after the third one in three years, folks might catch on that it’s the guys in the batter’s box and not the coaches.
As Tana posted, LOB is where the problem is. The last two games 8 and 9.
al
September 7th, 2012
12:13 pm
Bad write up. Just another way to bring the fan’s morale down. Look at statistics. Just saying. Braves are doing what needs to be done. Quit bashing the hometown team Bradley
Danny O
September 7th, 2012
12:22 pm
al, Bradley makes a lot of sense here. The Bravos can’t hit, period. If the truth hurts that’s because it’s supposed to. 1-5 spots are fine, and Ross can swing a good stick. But McCann, Uggla, and Janish aren’t cuttin it. We could stand one of those guys to be dragging, but not all three. Might make sense to put Prado at 2nd more often so that Reed Johnson or Constanza can play in LF.
Felix
September 7th, 2012
12:23 pm
Well, we don’t have Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz anymore, so banking on a lot of 1-0 wins is probably not a good idea. Right now, it’s Medlen and Hudson and pray for rain….
Sonny Clusters
September 7th, 2012
12:24 pm
Let’s say you was a Clusters and you was able to hit a curve ball 450 feet and most fast balls further than that and you was working second shift while some of the Braves players are not hitting and earning major league pay plus they can’t pay for their own drinks (except maybe Hanson) anywhere in town. Let’s say Fredi Gonzalez called you one day and said, “You know what? I’d like to run you out there for a few games and see what happens.” What would you do?
Sonny Clusters
September 7th, 2012
12:28 pm
We’re not saying Fredi has called us, and we’re not saying he hasn’t. All we’re saying is that Coach never complained about us with runners on base because when we hit the ball we ran to the occupied base and the runners ahead of us would score. That’s simplifying the game but some of the bloggers on here might find simplifying helpful – and we’re not being mean because there is not a mean bone in a Clusters body. Clusters have always been truthful and clean living and never spit seeds or scratched on television or nose picked either. This team needs some Clusterization and we are standing by our phone now.
Bryan G.
September 7th, 2012
12:29 pm
Bourn isn’t hitting either…has no one noticed that?
Sonny Clusters
September 7th, 2012
12:34 pm
Let’s say the Braves got Clusterized in the last few weeks of the season and everybody started hitting the ball and hitting behind runners and taking an extra base and throwing to the cutoff man and bunting the runners over and then bringing them in when small ball was called for. Let’s say they ran a Clusters out there for a few games and you know what? A Clusters made a difference in winning and losing a few games and then they offered us a big contract making $60 million over 5 years and wanted us to play second base and bat around .265 or more and hit about 30-35 home runs and drive in 100. That shouldn’t be a problem for that kind of money and we would still be able to make second shift most days when we was in town and not in places like New York where they are today.
Sonny Clusters
September 7th, 2012
12:38 pm
When we was playing ball at Parkview one of the things we liked best was hitting the ball out of the park and hitting some cars parked out in front of some nearby houses. Sometimes the alarms would go off and sometimes you’d just hear glass breaking. There’s no noises when the Braves bat because popups and strikeouts and ground balls to second base just sound normal at the Ted. What this team needs is some glass busting ball players and some cars damaged in the parking lot. Now, we are off to second shift while you think about it.
FIRE FREDI GONZALEZ
September 7th, 2012
12:40 pm
JUST WIN BABY.
I don’t care if we have a no-hitter thrown on us as long as we win. If you don’t give up a run then you don’t lose. You mention the worst pitching but failed to mention the Rockies can bash the ball. They got 3 ER in 4 games.
Jdawg010
September 7th, 2012
12:48 pm
Hate to place all the blame at the feet of any one player, but the way Dan Uggla looks at the plate is the most distrubing. His bat is the lynchpin for the entire batting order. He needs to take two weeks off to clear his head….maybe a phantom muscle strain.
Redbull
September 7th, 2012
12:49 pm
“What the heck happened”
It’s obvious? September happened!!
Redbull
September 7th, 2012
12:50 pm
Btw, the previous article is up on the front sports page so no one will see this article
Mr. October
September 7th, 2012
12:55 pm
It’s the same thing that happens every year: everyone slumps all at once. But at least they’ve won a few games.
BravesFanInBama
September 7th, 2012
12:59 pm
Uggla not hitting is not something new…..McCann, on the other hand, that is a HUGE bat to have lost for almost this entire season…I can’t decide who has killed more rallys lately: McCann or Janish?
bighittas
September 7th, 2012
12:59 pm
It’s called ‘always swinging for the fences.’
Ostrich Racer
September 7th, 2012
1:07 pm
Fredi also offered high praise for McCann: “If Francisco doesn’t score on that error, McCann’s fly ball would’ve been a sacrifice!” And he was serious.
Mud
September 7th, 2012
1:10 pm
Thank goodness for Medlin, Hudson, and Minor. They have turned it up in the rotation just have the bats appear to have begun hybernation for winter. The Braves always struggled with winning the games that they are very favored to win. Let’s hope the bats will awaken and the pitching will continue at their current pace. Think there’ll be a market for Hanson, Uggla, McCann and company? Wild card bound!
TNS
September 7th, 2012
1:21 pm
Its called TNS = Tight Nut Syndrome! They are so tight they gripping the bat trying to be the man instead of putting the ball in play!
J T Ellenwood
September 7th, 2012
1:23 pm
Fredi was forced to put Dan Uggla back in the lineup. That is too much money to have him sitting on the bench.Micheal Bourn is a free agent and we want to sign him.
BravesFan79
September 7th, 2012
1:30 pm
Im happy to get the wild card and to keep winning any way we can!
Hopefully Gonzalez dosent go by the book like Bobby Cox did by starting Mike (not a big game pitcher) Hampton over Smoltz (in the bullpen at the time) in a do or die game. I can still remember screaming at the tv as Hampton (who never should of been a Brave and the Braves cheaper replacement of Glavine)… of course blew the game by the 4th inning as the greatest postseason starter ever sat in the bullpen wondering why in the world Bobby chose FU Hampton over him.
We must start Medlen over Hudson! It seems Hudson is more likely to give up 2 or 3 runs, and gets shutouts based on luck and good fielding. Medlen on the other hand, is the hot hand, and were suprised when he gives up 2 or 3 runs.
dean
September 7th, 2012
1:32 pm
It was written in hieroglyphics that if an Atlanta team is involved then there must be turmoil and heart-break.
Stinger 2
September 7th, 2012
1:32 pm
Clusters: You need to work overtime and quit contaminating the AJC blogs. Try working the first and second shifts for a while. That way you will not have time to post so much nonsense and garbage. What a pitiful excuse for a so called Braves fan.
Bruce Bochy
September 7th, 2012
1:36 pm
Still can believe that Melky was on dope. I would have never guessed it.
G-Dawg
September 7th, 2012
1:37 pm
Preoccupied with college football season!!
UKUGA
September 7th, 2012
1:37 pm
Agree with the first poster. McCann is key in this. Ross is a superb back-up catcher, but not an everyday force.
Simmon’s return will be a spark.
Sonny Clusters
September 7th, 2012
1:39 pm
Stinger2, you remind us of a little old lady that is suffering some cramps and stays grumpy all the time. We are a fan that likes good baseball and you are a true fan that likes being nosy and minding other people’s business. That makes us a match and we are proud to call you our best buddy. Now, soak in a hot tub and calm down so you can be rested for tonight’s game. We will look forward to more dialogue with you as your mature.
FIRE FREDI GONZALEZ
September 7th, 2012
1:39 pm
“Fredi also offered high praise for McCann: “If Francisco doesn’t score on that error, McCann’s fly ball would’ve been a sacrifice!” And he was serious.”
There’s no way. It barely got over the SS.
Sonny Clusters
September 7th, 2012
1:44 pm
Our feelings are hurt and we are going home. Goodby cruel world.
andrew
September 7th, 2012
1:44 pm
It’s simple the Braves have a ton of talent on their team, but they can not play talented baseball. They are a So/So team. They play just good enough to keep you watching and then they blow it! It happens year after year! I am soooooooo tried of being a Braves fan! I think it is a curse that is on all of Georgia ’s sporting teams!
Fiddlin John Carson
September 7th, 2012
1:54 pm
Signing Uggla was an affront to the baseball gods. Prado had just came off a monster year at 2nd….the braves were scoring runs by the bucketfull…just not alot of HR’s. It was a move motivated by ticket sales…not improving the team.
Idiots.
Gil Hodges should be in the Hall of Fame
September 7th, 2012
1:54 pm
Somebody put a curse on all their bats. We need a live rooster…
Heisenberg
September 7th, 2012
1:55 pm
A lot of Braves hitters have the pitchers philosophy of hitting – swing hard just in case you do make contact. Did none of them hear Chipper mention he backed off his swing on the tater of Papelbon? Is Frenchy the double-secret hitting coach? No need for adjustments, just try harder!
Mike Jay
September 7th, 2012
1:56 pm
Chipper needs to call one of his patented closed door, player only meetings. I think Simmons will provide a spark and hopefully terrorize the base paths. Two guys with speed at the top of the order might cause guys to get better pitches. Still have to hit them but maybe it will help. Plus Chipper in NY! He could go on one of his binges up there and light the offense on fire.
Heisenberg
September 7th, 2012
2:00 pm
Typical Braves at bat:
1) take strike 1 on a fastball down the middle
2) swing at breaking ball low and away
3) foul off a few pitches while working the count to 2-2 or 3-2
4) strike out swing at breaking ball in the dirt
5) listen to announcers talk about battling and not giving away at bats while getting opposing pitchers pitch count up
But at least they go up there with a plan.
Ostrich Racer
September 7th, 2012
2:15 pm
I should probably go to confession over the impure thoughts I’ve been having: I’m beginning to wonder whether re-signing McCann would be a good idea . . . .
bulldogbubba
September 7th, 2012
2:20 pm
Clusters – Keep telling the truth.I can not believe that so-called fans would watch “light hitting” ballplayers come to the plate time after time and swing at pitches way outside and think that is “positive” ball playing. Crazy!!! People this team has been lucky to win the last two games because of pitching. I remember Kimbrel giving up a homerun ball to someone in relief this week. You think Washington will go easy on us if we make the playoffs.They just played the Cubs and scored an average of 9 runs a game.I believe Atlanta’s average was 2 over 4 games. Sing your praises “Stinker2″. When the season is over and we don’t make the play-offs all you goody goodies can get together and stare at your Uggla and Chipper posters and sing Cumbaya.Have a swell day!
Gil Hodges should be in the Hall of Fame
September 7th, 2012
2:21 pm
Agree with ya Heisenberg. Hearing Joe Simpson say “he really had some good cuts his last at bat” has really gotten old.
Alaska Braves Fan
September 7th, 2012
2:26 pm
What factors have contributed to the dearth of runs? Everyone on these blogs sees pretty clearly that, as ChopAttack wrote, the situations with Uggla, McCann, and Simmons have been critical. It’s true, too, that McCann’s shoulder is highly unlikely to get better without surgery, and even then there is some likelihood that it never will be as it was.
So, what to do now? Make a couple of relatively simple changes.
Lineup against lefties:
Bourne, CF
Prado, 2B
Chipper, 3B
Heyward, RF
Freeman, 1B
Johnson, LF
Ross, C
Janish, SS
Pitcher
Lineup against righties:
Bourne, CF
Prado, 2B
Heyward, RF
Freeman, 1B
Constanza, LF
McCann, C
Francisco, 3B
Janish, SS
Pitcher
When Simmons gets back, he probably should go right into the eight hole, replacing Janish. As a rookie who has been rusting in rehap for so long, he probably won’t burn up the base paths right off. (Let’s hope he surprises!) Just leave Uggla out of it, except to pinch hit from time to time, unless he actually does get hot. I do like the idea of having two set lineups so people are not being shuffled too much.
ABF
Mister Frisky
September 7th, 2012
2:39 pm
McCann blind and Fat.Uggla is just plain pathetic.Janish couldn’t hit his weight if he were a starving kid in Africa.First pitch Freddie too inconsistent.Heyward not ready forthe 3 hole.Throw in the pitcher it’s like a three man line up.
don shoe
September 7th, 2012
2:43 pm
Well, you gotta tip your cap.
Dawg Haus
September 7th, 2012
2:44 pm
Simmons coming back (Saturday?) should provide a bit of a spark in the lineup. Janish is a fine defensive SS but the Braves need more hitters right now. Heck, maybe Janish could just take over for Uggla at 2nd? His average isn’t that much lower and he has a much better glove.
Alaska Braves Fan
September 7th, 2012
3:03 pm
It’s crystal clear, from the data of most of this year, that the Braves have a team that can score runs. Certain factors, which many have mentioned here, have combined to produce a real reduction in output. Just change the lineup a bit and provide support for players who really can hit. It seems likely that this drought will end and the Braves will begin to score some runs very soon.
Meanwhile, it’s a big piece of good fortune and planning that our pitching seems to be peaking now. Best ERA since the All Star break – that’s pretty good. I love the way Medlen and Minor both have stepped up. Hudson usually finds a way to be effective and to win, and Maholm, though he has had a bad outing or two, generally gives us a chance to win also. Hanson pitched reasonably well last time out, but he does worry me.
ABF
Wrecker
September 7th, 2012
3:08 pm
McCann’s BABIP is .224 this year, versus his career .292. It is clear that he is hitting in bad luck and that the line drives right at them comments of Joe Simpson are not just anecdotal.
Bye Bye fg
September 7th, 2012
3:15 pm
Boy, these posters won’t give MB a break. If he is all sugar and spice it makes people mad. If he tells the truth, as he tried to in this blog, he’s in trouble for that too. And Sonny Clusters is very smart about baseball, so let him alone too. It’s clear as the nose on your face; fg has not a clue how to be a major league manager. Why does it matter if Uggla is striking out or sitting on the bench. The Braves have no fire in their belly, and as said before, the only good that may come from these dismal showings if that fg is outtahere. And I wish, just once, that Joe and Chip would have the guts to call it like it is. They must not be watching the same games the rest of us are watching.
afan
September 7th, 2012
3:21 pm
Agree with Hillbilly @ 12;09…its not the hitting coaches its the players not getting “Quality at Bats”.They got to have the right mindset which some don’t. I know Greg Walker and he preaches it and so does Chipper.
Uggla is a lost cause…McCann blames injury but he has other problems with his eyes and depends on Brother and Father rather than hitting coaches. I would not resign Mac but trade to AL team. Take Bourn, Prado, Freeman, J-Hey and Chipper the rest suck..maybe Simie will help sure can’t hurt. Go Braves!
poolcue
September 7th, 2012
3:21 pm
out of things to say sad just sad frank and fredi on a rail
Bye Bye fg
September 7th, 2012
3:27 pm
Boy, you folks on this blog will not give MB a break. If he is all sugar and sweet, people get upset. If he tries to get close to the truth, people get upset. What difference does it make if Uggla is on the bench or strking out? He still collects a paycheck. The only good that may come of this up and down season is that fg can start packing. Too bad the picture at the top of this article wasn’t even an earned run. Depressing. 2 runs in 2 nights. Neither one earned. Pathetic.
Alaska Braves Fan
September 7th, 2012
3:29 pm
This team is scrapping, and just won three of four from the Rockies. No, everything isn’t wonderful, but we have a super chance of making the playoffs through the wild card. Most other teams – like, maybe, the Yankees – would love to have a pitching staff that is getting the results ours is.
Doom and gloom never helps a team, particularly when we’re in the thick of it and have some real bright spots to cheer. Come on! Don’t be such pessimists! It may not turn out well, but we certainly have a great shot!
ABF
yep
September 7th, 2012
3:30 pm
it isn’t that they aren’t hitting at all, the problem is that they aren’t hitting with RISP. once someone gets on base whoever comes up next is trying to hit the ball 1000 feet and they end up with a strike out or a pop out.
Wrecker
September 7th, 2012
3:33 pm
Alaska Braves Fan: I think some of these people could win the lottery and then complain about the cost of gas to go claim the money. The Braves have the third best record in the NL, but the sky is apparently falling. If the season ended today, the Braves would be in the playoffs (albeit a one-gamer to start). 18 games above .500 and 5 games up in the wildcard race. Like you said, we just won three out of four from a surging Rockies team. Cheer up, everybody!
Alaska Braves Fan
September 7th, 2012
3:33 pm
yep: Yep.
ABF
afan
September 7th, 2012
3:34 pm
Yep..u right.
Alaska..one and done wild card game is a joke. One damn game proves nothing.
Alaska Braves Fan
September 7th, 2012
3:34 pm
Wrecker: Thanks! You are absolutely right.
ABF
afan
September 7th, 2012
3:35 pm
Wrecker, 3 games up in wild card chase.
Alaska Braves Fan
September 7th, 2012
3:36 pm
afan: Winning that “one damn game” would prove we were in, and not out!
ABF
Stinger 2
September 7th, 2012
3:37 pm
bulldogbubba: You can sing the praises of Clusters all you like. I will continue to say that he is full of himself based on his repeated references to himself. He also has a penchant or hobby of bashing Braves leadership and players without including any reasons of substance. As for you saying the Braves are lucky to win the last two games because of pitching….what would you say if they won the games by a 10-9 score? Lucky again I guess. Also, when they make the playoffs are you going to admit you were wrong?
afan
September 7th, 2012
3:38 pm
u right and I pray we do but MLB play-off wild card (1 game) does suck.
Wrecker
September 7th, 2012
3:41 pm
We are 5 games up on the team currently in third place in the wild card race. We could change places with the second place team and it would only change the home field.
afan
September 7th, 2012
3:42 pm
ABF nothing would make me more happy that Braves go deep in play-off. I have alot of my life invested in Braves since 66.
Alaska Braves Fan
September 7th, 2012
3:44 pm
afan: I agree that a one-game playoff is not appropriate for this sport. When MLB decided upon two wild card teams, they boxed themselves in. A series even as long as three games would extend the playoffs too much. Personally, I wish they had stayed with a single wild card.
ABF
afan
September 7th, 2012
3:44 pm
who cares about third place. MLB said 3 games up on Cards..thats what counts.
afan
September 7th, 2012
3:46 pm
agree Alaska..are u from Alaska are transplant? Its go to have fans from there on blog.
afan
September 7th, 2012
3:47 pm
good not go…
Alaska Braves Fan
September 7th, 2012
3:49 pm
afan: My mother’s side is from South Georgia, and I lived in GA for many years. We came up here about a dozen years ago, and love it! Despite being an Alaskan citizen, I never have lost my enthusiasm for the Braves. Whenever possible, I get down to San Francisco or San Diego to see them. We’re four hours behind GA time – it’s 11:50 AM here now – and that actually makes it easier to follow the games on-line.
ABF
afan
September 7th, 2012
3:51 pm
Thats great..what town in S-Ga?..I’m from SG also.
Alaska Braves Fan
September 7th, 2012
3:56 pm
afan: Nashville. I remember it from the ’40’s, when all the streets were sand. Lovely place, but really hot and humid and quite buggy. Nonetheless, I return to visit, though only in the winter.
ABF
Justin
September 7th, 2012
3:57 pm
The Braves never can seem to put it all together at once. When the pitching gets going, the bats stop. When bats get hot, pitchers forget how to pitch. Peanut butter no jelly, ham but no bread, if we ever get a whole sandwich we’d be awesome!!!
afan
September 7th, 2012
4:02 pm
I’m from Douglas Ga, 30 miles from Nashville and u right its very hot in summer. Move to Cobb Co in 1971- Kennesaw, Ga.
Man its good to know you and I look forward to more blog talk. Would love to go to Alaska one day. Go Braves.
Homer the Braves
September 7th, 2012
4:04 pm
Yesterday the Braves became the first team in history to win two consecutive games without an RBI. It’s good when the other team defeats themselves.
Alaska Braves Fan
September 7th, 2012
4:06 pm
afan: Be careful. We came to visit, and then found that we never wanted to leave.
ABF
sidslid
September 7th, 2012
4:24 pm
Medlen, rain, then pray for a hurricane
tjhook
September 7th, 2012
4:39 pm
A Braves fan just wished for a hurricane. SMH – the team has not played ball that badly. We’re frustrated, not ready to for a natural disaster to lay waste to our entertainment. I’m excited about this month but also worried about a grand collapse. Just glad we are up and control our own fate.
Skeezix
September 7th, 2012
4:56 pm
It’s pretty bad when you can’t score runs against Colorado. The mutts have been playing pretty good lately, so I don’t think this trip to NY will be easy. I would love to see Chipper go on a hitting binge just one more time at NY.
heartofdarkness
September 7th, 2012
5:14 pm
Might want to check the clubhouse to see if Melky left any unmarked bottles or random pills around. If nothing shows up, might want to buy the team a round of what Clusters is drinking.
Sonny Clusters
September 7th, 2012
5:44 pm
“You must be the change you wish to see in others. We forgot which one of our Clusters cousins said that but you can bet it was one smart Clusters. There is a little fella blogging here who says we have nothing to contribute and that we are a terrible Braves fan and that we have poor personal hygiene and that we don’t like light hitting Dan Uggla in the lineup. We think it may be light hitting Dan Uggla himself but we can’t be sure. Until we know for sure we’re going to refer to him as light thinking Stinger2. Deep thoughts must not run in the Stinger family.
Pat's Rockett
September 7th, 2012
6:00 pm
I know why they are not hitting.
They’re tired. Its September.
GB's Hamburgers
September 7th, 2012
6:01 pm
Tana, hitting is incidental to scorkng. The game is about scoring more runs than the other guy. I doesn’t matter how many hits they get if none of them are when it matters. What we are seeing are hits when they really don’t matter …. so they are irrelevant. They are paid to produce runs.
so al brave fan,
September 7th, 2012
6:05 pm
YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD, YEP
longtimefan
September 7th, 2012
6:25 pm
In a 162 game season there are many ups and downs. We appear well positioned for the playoffs, even if only for the WC. The team that wins the WS is not usually the most dominant regular season club, but the team with the hot hand. We will see in 25 games where the Braves stand, They have as good a chance as any team in the post season. They have the best defense in the NL by multiple metrics. Their best 3 starters and bullpen can hang with anyone. If the hitting comes alive like it can, we can score enough runs. Spending big money on gig name free agents doesn’t necessarily guarantee a winning season or post season play. Look at the Phillies, Red Sox, fading Yankees and big spending LA. I’d rather home grow our players. That’s mainly what our roster is comprised of-drafted home grown players.
GermanBravesFan
September 7th, 2012
6:40 pm
“Until we know for sure we’re going to refer to him as light thinking Stinger2. Deep thoughts must not run in the Stinger family.” Clusters, that was an instant classic!! Keep ‘em coming!
Musky
September 7th, 2012
6:41 pm
I wouldn’t care if Dan StrUGGLA was making $50 million per year. If he plays like sheet then he sits.
Dawgdad (The Original)
September 7th, 2012
6:42 pm
Cluster comments are always appreciated. Sonny you have a unique take, so keep it up.
Musky
September 7th, 2012
6:45 pm
Let’s look at some of Wren’s moves : Kawakami = bust, McLouth = bust,Glaus = bust,Uggla = bust,
Bourn = winner,Reed Johnson = mediocre,Sheets = mediocre. Grade ? D+
mayor of ponce
September 7th, 2012
6:47 pm
SONNY! You worried us for a sec with that morbid goodbye post. Don’t do anything drastic, son. I for one would be broken up. And the Cluster’s clan, well, I don’t even want to think about how they would handle it.
You and Stinger might need to sit down like adults and hash this thing out.
dawg4u
September 7th, 2012
6:50 pm
The title of this article could have been written in September, 2011 as well. The batting averages and runs scored going down in August and September just points to the fact that these guys just choke when the pressure (just look at our hits with RISP) is on. The batters just look like they are pressing plus Fredi looks like the world is coming to an end or that he just is totally frustrated. I have really stopped blaming Fredi as I did earlier in the season. These guys just need to look at themselves in the mirror and know that they can get the job done and not get back on this negative rerun of September 2011. These next few weeks will tell if we are contenders or pretenders. Come on guys we still believe in you – but you have to start breaking out the bats and score some runs for these pitchers at some point!
BartBuzz
September 7th, 2012
6:51 pm
I’m beginning to have déjà vu all over again.
GermanBravesFan
September 7th, 2012
6:56 pm
Will the light hitting Atlanta Braves make the playoffs? If they’ll make it despite their hitting woes, iit’ll be another disaster during the first round. Who wants to see that????
steve dush
September 7th, 2012
7:02 pm
Bobby Cox let ‘em swing for homers unabated. Perhaps Freddies teams doing the same. Not a good recipe for this team.
southgabrave
September 7th, 2012
7:03 pm
Uggla hitting 7th in front of Ross….REALLY Fredi? What happen to that benching?
dawg4u
September 7th, 2012
7:18 pm
Maybe Fredi has a hunch that Uggla will break out of the slump tonight.
longtimefan
September 7th, 2012
7:19 pm
The Braves have been ranked this year as high as third in NL in offense(runs scored), as recently as a few weeks ago and are currently fifth. I wouldn’t say that’s light hitting.
dawg4u
September 7th, 2012
7:20 pm
Go Uggla!
bulldogbubba
September 7th, 2012
7:21 pm
Mr Stinger2- I wil be more than happy to admit I was wrong if they make it. Maybe me , you and Clusters can go to the Dairy Queen and have a dilly bar to end the sillyness.Now if the Braves scored 10 runs in a game more often I might see this team in a different light.Sense they only do that about once a month my opinion won’t change and if Fredi keeps putting this years Derek Lowe at second base we don’t have a chance.Have a great weekend fella.
dawg4u
September 7th, 2012
7:22 pm
@longtimefan – they were much better earlier in the season but now in September let’s just hope that we can hit like we did earlier instead of a repeat of last year’s woes.
bulldogbubba
September 7th, 2012
7:41 pm
“Bullet hit by Uggla – taken by the second baseman to end the inning”.Runner left on base.Now thats what I call getting it done.Fredi is right he’s gonna break out any time now. YEAH RIGHT!
smallmouth6
September 7th, 2012
7:43 pm
Mister Frisky: You’re a DH.
Nativebird
September 8th, 2012
8:49 am
The second wild card? You mean the one-game lottery? are you kidding me? Thats not the playoffs….that’s a gimmick welfare game that has NO business in baseball…..if this team or any team can’t win a division or the best runner up after 162 games then GOHOME…..you don’t deserve it!M period. This welfare 1 game lottery shot to knock off a deserving team is the WORSt decision MLB has ever made. It cheapens the game.
RGP
September 8th, 2012
8:59 am
Uggla needs two or three hits every game the rest of the season to end up with a respectable batting average. Freeman needs to get hot with the bat again. Ross is playing more which is a good thing since McCann is not hitting.
Art K.
September 8th, 2012
3:08 pm
Also agree with Heisenberg. I often wonder if the batting coach, or a player not starting, tracks what pitches the hitters consistently take and consistently miss. Has anyone noticed that M. Bourne cannot hit a curve from a lefty? M. Prado always takes a strike, sometimes two, then has to be defensive and reach for pitches. I always thought 2-0 was a batters count. I’ve seen more Braves take a strike down the middle on that count. Almost like they’re getting the take sign. McCann also takes too many strikes.
TOMMY HANSON STINKS!!!!
September 8th, 2012
4:46 pm
Tommy Hanson just stinks and that is being nice….Demote, Trade, or just OUTRIGHT release the LOSER!
Tarheel
September 9th, 2012
12:29 am
4th best record in major league baseball. Most that comment here don’t know their ass from a hole in the ground about baseball and most certainly have never played.
Escalante
September 9th, 2012
4:55 pm
Look guys yeah we may not be hitting well but we are pitching well and guess what we are winning ballgames and thats all that matters in the end of the day especially in September!!
Heat Check: Keeping up with the Joneses (Julio and Jarvis) | Mark Bradley
September 10th, 2012
7:44 am
[...] Really pitching now, and starting to hit a bit better. (Brian McCann and Dan Uggla did some weekend damage in New York.) Actually gained a game on the [...]
Fibo
September 13th, 2012
8:29 am
Only until they get a better offer. Major college sports has become another variation of the oldest profession in the world. Can you say w….. and p……….?