Lousy call, lousy game, lousy system: A lousy Braves’ exit
This was a warm and fuzzy moment. The rest of the night stunk. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Why to hate baseball’s newly minted play-in game: Because you can be, as the Braves were over the course of six months, the demonstrably better team and still give a performance that fuses the three-error Brooks Conrad game of October 2010 and the Epic Collapse of September 2011. Because you can go home having sipped from the postseason cup for all of 189 minutes. Because you can put yourself in position to be rooked by those darn replacement umps.
Wait. These aren’t replacements? These are the real umpires? Is this a real sport?
Had Andrelton Simmons’ pop that dropped been allowed to stand, the Braves would have had the bases loaded and one out. When you’re trailing by three runs in the eighth inning, that’s rather different than having men on second and third with two out, which is what they wound up having. But not before the game was halted for 19 minutes as the field was cleared of the cups and bottles that had been flung, with somewhat greater accuracy than the Braves’ infielders displayed this night, by incensed patrons.
Pete Kozma, the St. Louis shortstop, was positioning himself to catch Simmons’ meek fly when he stopped running and chose to leave it to left fielder Matt Holliday. And here we note the incongruity: A shortstop deferred to an outfielder on what left-field umpire Sam Holbrook adjudged an infield fly. It was a horrible call, indefensible at the moment and more ludicrous after further video review, but this is baseball and replay can be applied only to home runs. (The Braves registered an official protest. Summarily denied.)
And thus, in its first manifestation, was baseball’s play-in game rendered a bigger joke that it appeared on paper. A team that won 94 games is gone; a team that won 88 gets to go home and play twice against the National League’s No. 1 seed. One bad performance. One lousy bit of umpiring. Season over.
“You’ve got to judge a team over the 162-game season,” said Braves’ manager Fredi Gonzalez, classy in bizarre defeat. “Anyone can have one bad call [go against them] or one bad game.”
His team was guilty on the latter charge. The team that made the fewest errors among National League teams offered up three in the span of four innings, leading to four unearned runs. Each was on a throw, each by an infielder. First Chipper Jones, playing his last game. Then Dan Uggla. Then the aforementioned Simmons, a rookie shortstop at the center of nearly everything Friday night.
The errors turned a two-run lead — and Chipper, speaking before the game, had suggested the game’s first run could be the determinant — into a 6-2 deficit after 6 1/2 innings. By then the unbeatable Kris Medlen was gone, having yielded only three hits and two earned runs but about to become a loser as a starting pitcher for the first time since 2010. That left the Braves in comeback mode, and there were moments when they appeared capable of climbing the mountain. But Chipper swung at the first pitch and grounded out in the seventh with two men in scoring position, and Michael Bourn struck out with the bases loaded to close the infamous eighth, and Uggla, representing the tying run, ended the season by grounding to second.
Said Gonzalez: “We didn’t score runs, and we didn’t handle the baseball.”
Said Chipper: “You give a good team extra outs and it ends up lightning.”
To his credit, the man who will play no more faulted himself above all. “Ultimately when we look back on this loss we have to look ourselves in the mirror,” Chipper said. “We put ourselves behind 6-2. Three errors cost us the ballgame, and mine [a fourth-inning throwaway of a cinch double play] was probably the biggest. I’m not willing to say a call cost us the ballgame.”
Because he always been a stand-up guy, you wanted it to end better. Still, in his final at-bat the great Chipper Jones managed to block out the deafening ovation and the applause from the Cardinals’ dugout — he tipped his helmet to the crowd and pointed to the visiting team — and the flashes from camera-phones and remind us why he was so great. He worked the count to 3-2 against the heat-bringing Jason Motte, and finally he put bat on ball (breaking said bat) and legged out an infield hit. Down to his and his team’s final strike, he got a hit.
We’re lucky that, as time does its work, we’ll have our memories of Chipper Jones to keep us warm. And maybe someday we can get past the strange doings on a lousy night in October 2012, when a good team played badly and got unlucky to boot, and thanks to this silly professional “system” it was eliminated. At least in the College World Series they play double elimination.
By Mark Bradley
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516 comments Add your comment
Klaus
October 6th, 2012
12:50 pm
The call was legitimate but ill timed.
You hope like any post season game the refs stretch the rule book a bit and just “let them play” but that doesn’t always happen. When it happens in your favor you say bravo refs. When it goes against you it suddenly is a terrible call etc.
Bottom line the Braves played sloppy and “tight” baseball for most of the game. They needed their aging back up catcher to swat an improbable 2 run HR to provide 99% of the runs in this game.
Uggla is a nice guy who tries too hard and is not worth more that 7mm a year never mind 14mm he is making to hit like a back up SS.
Bourn has been tanking offensively since August. Simmons is still rusty from being on the DL.
The hard truth is had Medlen not channeled Maddux the past two months the Braves would have been caught by the Cards and Dodgers potentially missing the post season entirely.
Did anyone really believe a rotation that relies on a 36yo Hudson and Medlen (pitching out of his shoes) with a coin toss on how Minor would do (in pressure spots) was going to get to a WS or even the NLDS?
It sucks to lose but this team’s rotation was about out of gas. The offense was bi polar all year and we believed otherwise bc the Sept schedule was a joke apart from any games with the Nats.
The NL East is one of the weakest divisions in baseball with only the Braves and the Nats with winning records.
Both teams beat up on the division in the end to pad their win stats.
So yes the Braves are one and done in 2012 but it is not surprise. Their rotation lacks a shut down ace. Medlin is quite good but to say he is Maddux part 2 based on two months is silly.
Maddux would have pitched 9 innings and given up zero runs if needed in this one game playoff spot. Asking Medlen to do the same against a team not named the Mets, Marlins or the fading Phillies was too much.
He may be a find for the rotation in 2013 or get lit up like an XMAS tree next year. Who knows.
What we do know is Hudson is fading, Hanson is broken, Maholm is filler. Minor is good but not great AND the rookies in AAA are all a work in progress.
But I digress.
There are some huge decisions facing the Braves FO this winter. The old model of licking your wounds and bringing everyone back won’t work. This team cannot put other teams away – in a season or in the post season.
Players like – Uggla, Mac, Hanson, should not be back IMHO. Mac is fading and you likely have this winter to brush off his 2012 as a fluke down year in the trade market. Keep him next year and if he face plants you just missed out on a gravy train of prospects or a key ML ready player.
While it will not happen trading Mac would be a strategic move and begin the move away from relying on a catcher to carry the offense. It didn’t work with Chipper here and it will be a mess without him here. Get a defensive whiz behind the plate and invest in offensive power in the OF and 3B where it belongs.
Uggla needs to go as a straight salary dump. He is the position player version of Lowe.
Hanson needs a change of scenery and someone will take a flier on him. Boras is likely thinking the same thing. Get him out of ATL for a year or two to rebuild his value.
The bench sucks apart from Juan F and needs to be rebuilt.
Ted M
October 6th, 2012
12:50 pm
you are absolute right Heisenberg… it was an unbelievable insult of epic proportions to claim that was the right call.
Joe Torre and MLB said we think the fans are stupid and gullible so we are gonna claim it was the right call.
No Flag Since Lemke
October 6th, 2012
12:51 pm
Only needed to look at the umpiring crew to know we were doomed last evening. Interestingly, two of the umps in last night’s game blew calls in the 18-inning fiasco against Houston in ‘04 (Cedarstrom and Holbrook – see a trend here?) that would have turned the tide of the game. They were abetted by “Fat Eric” Cooper who also made a horrendous check swing call that dashed a rally.
Baseball fans like football fans deserve better.
No Flag Since Lemke
October 6th, 2012
12:59 pm
Holbrook was part of another crew that changed another game for the Braves back in the ‘04 playoffs – the 18 inning fiasco against Houston. Both he and Cedarstrom (also part of last night’s crew) blew key calls that would have changed the outcome of that game along with a third miscue by “Fat Eric” Cooper who fortunately was not part of last night’s crew.
Ted M
October 6th, 2012
1:00 pm
omg…I can’t believe I have to say this. The infield fly rule is in place to prevent a fielder from intentionally dropping a fly ball so they can turn a double or triple play.
No double play was even remotely possible and it was obvious it was not dropped intentionally. And there are at least 5 other things that don’t make a lick of sense on that play, but if someone doesn’t get this “The infield fly rule is in place to prevent a fielder from intentionally dropping a fly ball so they can turn a double or triple play.” there is no point in engaging them in debate.
Klaus
October 6th, 2012
1:01 pm
Sooo… this winter consider doing the following.
Trade Mac, Uggla and Hanson for a combination of prospects and or ML ready talent. Put Prado back at 2B where he should have stayed.
Release the entire bench apart from Juan & Ross. Pastornicky is a toss in as part of trade IMHO not some super utility player find for ATL.
Trade an arm pkge to Texas for Elvis and then trade one of Elvis or Simmons to AZ for Justin Upton.
Sign BJ Upton for CF
Make a run at Greinke and or Peavy.
I would rather have Peavy’s power arm in the rotation over Hanson’s and possibly Hudson. Greinke is the Ace you don’t have today. He may not come here but a player of his caliber is needed to anchor this rotation.
Give Juan a shot a 3B with the requirement he gets in better shape over the winter & works on his approach at the plate and at 3B.
Use one of the trade scenarios above to get a 3B prospect into the system. BTW If Terds name comes up again as the replacement for Chipper we are screwed. He is not very good. A better version of Pastornicky at 3B.
Some other cocktail of players may work but in 2013 we need new faces in CF, LF and 3B at a min with 25% of the rotation and 75% of the bench replaced.
I don’t think Wren does this and that is why he should be flushed along with JS & McGuirk. They have this desire to white wash the previous season and convince fans their tweaks or ill advised all ins moves (Uggla, Lowe, KK) could have worked.
If you want to put away other teams you need a FO with a killer instinct. The Braves lack that and quite frankly so does Fredi. I would broom the lot. Get Francona who has actually won two WS rings versus a manager who has won nothing and is channeling BC (the later years).
Steve
October 6th, 2012
1:03 pm
Correct call like it or not; read the rules and watch the video showing players and umpire. The shortstop EASILY got under the ball, at that point a catch or no catch did not matter. The rule is clear on that point. Judgment calls are subject to protest or appeal and never had been. If you do not like the rule, then work to change it because right now all that matters is a infielder easily got under the ball.
All that should matter now to the people Atlanta is the blackeye the reaction gave the city.
Steve
October 6th, 2012
1:07 pm
Opps meant to say judgment calls are not subject to protest.
Larry
October 6th, 2012
1:18 pm
Steve,
What is is about being in the outfield do you not get? I have seen many outfielders square up under a short pop up too but never have a seen an ump call the IFR before.
The 3rd base ump had every right to make that call too so why didn’t he?
Canton Dawg
October 6th, 2012
1:23 pm
As a Braves fans since I was a kid in the 60s and 70s, I have to agree with the bloggers that are pointing out that the Braves had a couple bad calls go their way along with the one that didn’t and the team that plays error-free ball is generally the one that wins. Four unearned runs usually kills any team. Time to accept it and move on. This team is young and its future stars are more seasoned by this playoff game. Forget the infield fly ruling, leave poor old Skip alone and let’s get ready for ‘13!
You gotta be kidding!
October 6th, 2012
1:37 pm
If you watched the game on TBS, you also saw that the home plate umpire was calling balls and strikes in the Cardinals favor throughout the game. I think St. Louis bought the umpires. I’m through with major league baseball.
to Dave in St. Louis
October 6th, 2012
1:46 pm
glad to hear your thoughts, weell said. however, as someone who works in pro baseball, I know thay the mlb networkand announcers are in full spin mode as ordered from the top. first defense was -it’s a judgment call. but as that defense crumbled, the mlb has had time and edited, replayed, spliced and diced and spun it evry which way. the truth: bad call, wrong in letter and spirit.
cards played a better game. good luck against the nats.
David Granger
October 6th, 2012
1:49 pm
We know where those NFL replacement refs are working now.
Son of Sammy Davis Jr, Jr
October 6th, 2012
1:50 pm
The Braves are who we thought they are…….
Skeezix
October 6th, 2012
1:51 pm
If Holbrook, after watching replays, still thinks he made the right call, then he needs to be fired immediately since his judgement and understanding of the rules is so poor. If MLB doesn’t fire him, then he will be certain to make similar stupid calls in the future–just think, what if that had been the seventh game of the WS?
Michael
October 6th, 2012
1:54 pm
To properly enjoy baseball you only need to watch the last game of the World Series — no season-long anxiety.
phil
October 6th, 2012
2:05 pm
Steve, you’re and idiot……bug off.
phil
October 6th, 2012
2:07 pm
We laughed at green bay’s misfortune…..karma bit us.
John H.
October 6th, 2012
2:20 pm
Lousy Manager… lousy fans for throwing $$hit on the field…. lousy infield play on the biggest game of the season…
Harry Reid
October 6th, 2012
2:53 pm
Fire Freddie? He ain’t got any players worth anything!!
rich k
October 6th, 2012
2:56 pm
Enter your comments here
Stan
October 6th, 2012
3:15 pm
Steve. The rest of the adult world understands that infield in the title of the rule means you don’t need further definition. Atlantans are fine. You my friend are a joke.
rich k
October 6th, 2012
3:20 pm
I’ve been a cardinals die hard fan for 60 yrs. That would really upset me to have that call against my team also, sad that it happened, the braves are a great organization, i mean that. Defense cost them the game. Chipper jones is a first ballot hall of fame guy. I read some of the comments about the game, one comment was wrong… “They didn’t throw enough on the field” the other point that i would like to make is that no one complained about the umps before the game or the one game rule…i know the Dodgers would have loved to have that chance to play. What Chipper said after the game was very classy and he has been a cardinal killer his whole career. Bad call, but it was ruled a judgment call and the cardinals were lucky that timely hits didn’t beat them. Good luck next year…
Umps not to blame
October 6th, 2012
3:21 pm
Let me start by saying that I do not pull for either team in last nights game…you will never feel my pain, as I am a Rockies fan.
However, I am an umpire, and I have to defend the umpire that called the “infield fly rule” in last nights game. That ball could have been caught, with ordinary effort, by an infielder. Being called a little late is also understandable as you must first note the arc of the ball, it’s projected path, and then must locate the infielder drifting back to determine if ordinary effort makes the play. When this play happens in the infield it is quite obvious and therefore called much quicker. The outfielder and shortstop completely botching the play does not mean the rules of the game should be ignored. It would have worked out good for the Braves in this case, and that makes everybody mad. What if the shortstop misses that ball and the left fielder picks it up and fires to third, and then to second for two outs? Then everybody’s is screaming for the rule to be enforced.
I can assure that before every batter, in every game, those umpires are giving hand signals as to what rotations they need to run, as well as what game situations are in effect at that time. I am sure if you we’re to go back to Simmons walking to the plate you would see all of the umpires touch the bill of their cap, or whatever their signal was, to signify “infield fly rule” in effect.
The umpire made the correct call, it just didn’t work out for Atlanta.
If Atlanta would have won last night there wouldn’t be any of this whining about a one game play-in today. I am sure MLB will look at it after the season is over.
If you want to be pissed off today, vent it to Chipper, Simmons and Uggla in the field, as well as some very questionable plate decisions.
Better luck next season….Go Rox
Pat Robson
October 6th, 2012
3:28 pm
Alright all you “experts”, listen up! Sam Holbrook GOT THE CALL RIGHT! Stop complaining with your heart and know & understand the facts. When the Cardinals SS gets under the ball (which he did) and turn toward the infield (which he did)it was THEN determinted (judged) that the could be caught and the IF rule goes into affect. It doesn’t matter if the ball is caught or hit the ground. Think about it; if the SS catches the ball and the IF rule is called, NOBODY SAYS A WORD OR GETS UPSET! The TBS “experts” (especially Mr Darling) says the call was Late. The call HAS to be made late. The umpire must determine if the fielder can reasonably catch the ball. That takes time and the ball must be on the downside coming down to the fielder. So, the can’t be made as fast as Mr Darling would like it called. Sam Holbrook got it right – period!
Ted M
October 6th, 2012
3:30 pm
ha, he even capitalized easily because he knows its not true. pretty funny
Umps not to blame
October 6th, 2012
3:38 pm
Pat Robson has absolutely the best, simplest explanation of the call, and why it was the correct call. Braves fans will boo Holbrook forever, which is too bad. He did his job, he enforced a rule, enforced it correctly, and unfortunately it cost the Braves….possibly.
Why not more animosity to Simmons, who bunted, and then ran inside the base line, causing a runner interference penalty. Should the umpire not have enforced that since it cost the Braves two runs? Tell you what…next season we get a MLB rule book, and a Braves rule book. Umpires shall go by the MLB rule book as long as it isn’t to the detriment of the Braves, in which case we will revert to the Braves rule book for clarification.
southern hope
October 6th, 2012
3:39 pm
I’m as sad and depressed as I’ve ever been over an event outside of my family, If anything, I feel worse this afternoon than I did last night. I’m sick of baseball…sick of the Braves….sick *for* the Braves that this has to be their curtain call, furious at the azzhole MLB organization for wanting to squeeze out more money on this ridiculous game…sick of it all…..i feel frustrated, humiliated, angry, and overall ugh.
Pat Robson
October 6th, 2012
3:40 pm
Enter your comments here
Umps not to blame
October 6th, 2012
3:41 pm
Also, if the Braves would have won last night there wouldn’t be any discussion about it being a one game play-in…
Big Crimson 75
October 6th, 2012
3:44 pm
Everybody involved deserved a piece of this fiasco.
MLB included. This wasn’t a playoff game.
MLB approving this 1 game “play-in” is a disgrace to the National Pastime. That wasn’t Playoff Baseball.
The Braves, or any future wildcard team, deserve a playoff series. They’ve earned it over 162. The Cards didn’t deserve the shot.
Any Team can beat another Team in 1 Game.
The call was ridiculous. The Worst call ever! Worse than Denkinger blowing the call @ 1st Base in Cards-Royals WS Game 6. Worse than Rich Garcia calling the Jeter HR against Baltimore involving an ex-Brave – Tony Tarasco.
They completely whiffed on the Rule & looked dumb in the process.
If all the showering the Field took place in Cities like Chicago, Green Bay, Philly then those people are die-hard fans. Since it happened in the ATL, you’ll hear the “classless” fans comments from all the commentates that hate Atlanta.
I don’t blame the Fans for littering the Field, the Call an EPIC blunder.
Same ol Braves.
Pat Robson
October 6th, 2012
3:44 pm
Attn Skeezix (if you can read) – with your comment about Sam Holbrook, you reconfirm my belief the the the MOST baseball fans are the biggest idiots around. And, yes, Skeezix you are in the group.
dap01
October 6th, 2012
3:54 pm
Joe Torre is a joke. MLB would be acting alot different if the Yankees had been screwed. No competant up would call an fly to the outfield an out. Why not simply say all popups are outs. Idiots.
Justin R
October 6th, 2012
4:01 pm
Well, this is just wild. I am from St. Louis, redbird fan to the core. I was shocked by the call last night, no doubt the timing couldnt have been worse. Bases loaded with one out in no way means one, two or any runs will be scored, but obviously the odds are rediculously better. Unfortunately this kind of stuff happens. 85 world series the Cardinals had one of the worst calls ever made by Don Denkinger, three outs away from a ring. The birds ended up shooting themselves in the foot a couple plays later, then got murdered 11-0 in game seven. Point being, i feel your pain, but you have to look at three horrible errors, questionable managing (bunting before the pitcher?) and the fact the Cardinals are yes an 88 win team but have more moxi than any other squad in the majors and battling for a hard 9 is the motto. Three questions— 1) why do Braves fans boo every two minutes. 2) In the Ross at bat in the second, he calls time once before the pitch and gets it, then calls time again even later, and gets it, should have struck out, then hits a two run shot. I think the fans booed that too. and finally 3) Who the HELL gave Uggla 65 million!!!! Lets go Redbirds!!!!
Wilbo
October 6th, 2012
4:01 pm
My brilliant comment and brilliant prognosticating was SO spot on, I didn’t want any of you to miss it:
Hmmmmmmm, let’s see, who was it now…..? Who said that the Braves would continue their October tradition of choking like dogs, and our 3rd baseman, Mr. Playoff Error, would contribute to the defeat with some type of bonehead booboo? Oh, yeah it was ol’ SkinnyWilbo, and by doggies he was just right as rain, wouldn’t he? Lemme answer that for you: Yes he was! Yeah, have to say terrible call, but that game was already lost. Already choked away. Until they can prove they don’t– The Atlanta Braves = October Suck. Lousy chokers.
AlanFalcon
October 6th, 2012
4:03 pm
The raves came back this yuear and fought their ass off so that what happened last year would not be duplicated, for that I congradulate each and everyone of them. The Braves were responsible for loseing last night due to poor fielding (nerves) that you can’t see and the inability to push runs across when in scoring position, but the fans were there in full support and could have lived with what happened until MLB screwed up and in a major way.
I’m 71 years old and can’t even began to say how many ball games I’ve watched. I’ve always been familiar with the infield fly rule, never seen it prosecuted the way it was last night, someone is in the woodshed and MLB has covered it up. Its true the Braves probably would not have won the game but the MLB umpires assoc. stole the opportunity they might have had and it was coarborated by the other umps involved in the game and backed up noless by Joe Torre and the commissioners office.
I may be the only one that thinks this way and for sure the only one that will compair it to the BlackSox scandle, MLB needs to review the rule and correct the fact that it can’t be reviewed, had that been the case it would have been overturned and just maybe the Braves may have come back, this way we will never know.
I’m proud to the Braves and of each and every fan at the game for thier reaction, to hell with those that expressed the fact that they were ashame !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jack
October 6th, 2012
4:07 pm
Lets go Cardinals!!
braves suck
October 6th, 2012
4:15 pm
this team always make excuses,make excuses for everything blame yourselves you people here sound like u was the ones throwing shyt on the field hope u all get arrested
ATLANTA FANS AND TEAM POS
Hurst
October 6th, 2012
4:26 pm
From the MLB rules,
When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an Infield Fly, the umpire shall IMMEDIATELY (emphasis mine) declare Infield Fly for the benefit of the runners. If the ball is near the baselines, the umpire shall declare Infield Fly, if Fair.
So yes, Pat Robson, the umpire must call it quickly, it was in fact late, and Darling has a point. That said, the Braves made too many other mistakes and had too many blown assignments to say they would have won without the call.
jchalupny
October 6th, 2012
4:47 pm
Mark – I think you need to look at the replay again. Cards SS Kozma did not “stop running” to allow Holliday to make the play. He was camped out under the ball and at the last second moved back toward the infield thinking Holiday was coming in to make the catch. It is apparent from the replay that Holiday had no intention of making the catch. Right after the ump signaled the infield fly call Kozma abruptly moved toward the infield which allowed the ball to drop where he had been standing. He was not running to get into position to make the catch.
Pat Robson
October 6th, 2012
4:57 pm
Attn Hurst: is your first name Will?
jchalupny
October 6th, 2012
5:02 pm
Hurst if you are going to quote rules -at least quote them correctly. Many people, you included, are seizing on the word “immediately”. However, the rule says the umpire shall declare the infield fly rule in effect immediately after determining that the fly ball can be caught with reasonable effort by an infielder. The word “immediately” in the context of this rule is not tied to when the ball comes off the bat – it is tied to when the umpire determines that an infielder is capable of catching the ball with ordinary effort. Kozma could have (should have) caught the ball with ordinary effort. He was camped out under the ball waiving the LF off. The ball fell exactly where he had been standing before he quickly moved toward the infield and let it drop. He would have caught the ball nearly standing still and facing the infield – it would not have been an over the shoulder catch while on the run. The whole argument about how late the call was made makes no difference. It is either an inf, fly or it isn’t. The only way the Braves are hurt by a late inf. fly rule call is that if it is made really late it would hinder the runners chance to advance – both runners advanced – so the fact that the call the made late in the opinion of some doesn’t matter. The Braves simply choked under pressure and the Cardinals took advantage of all their mistakes.
Canton Dawg
October 6th, 2012
5:09 pm
The Cards are a class organization. I wish them well and hope we can improve next year. We have the dead money from the Lowe deal, JJ’s salary, Chipper’s salary and perhaps Bourne’s and Huddy’s, if the front office elects not to pursue them. Should be plenty of $$ to retool. Beachy will be healthy at some point next year which gives us a fine young rotation of Med-dog, Minor, Hanson and Beachy. I am convinced there was more to that accident this spring than the Braves front office is letting on and Hanson has some sort of nagging injury from it. The team has potential, but we have to make sure Mac is healthy and Uggs gets in some work on basics and maybe goes up an ounce to slow that swing.
jchalupny
October 6th, 2012
5:11 pm
Blame it on the infield fly rule all you want – but the truth is that the Braves crapped down their legs and choked under pressure again. Over the course of the season they were the best defensive team in baseball. What happened last night is beyond having a bad night. Some teams/players get better when you squeeze them – some don’t.
steve cook
October 6th, 2012
5:25 pm
I’m sure I’m repeating what others have said, but, to me, the biggest error, was the one that determined that a one-game playoff was a good idea. I’d said all season that this is a joke. A baseball series, a stepping stone to the World Series should never be determined by a one game “series.” If this had been any year previously, the Braves would have been in a best of 3 series. Personally, I think all post season series should be best of 7, but a one game playoff? Ridiculous. Any team, no matter how dominant can have a bad game, obviously, since even the best teams lose more than 50 each year.
With all that said, I think the call was ridiculous, but that’s not the real reason the season is over for the Braves.
Cards fan
October 6th, 2012
5:44 pm
Back during the McGuire-Sosa home run race, McGuire was ejected in the first inning for questioning a called third strike by the now infamous Mr. Holbrook. Apparently he’s been making bad decisions for awhile.
Skip
October 6th, 2012
6:01 pm
Why was Freddie still in the dugoutwhen the mess was cleaned up.. He should have taken one for the team and gotten tossed. Imagine if Bobby (or other greats like Pinella, Weaver or Martin) had been managing. They would have dragged him from the field in a fit of rage. You gotta show some emotion and do what a leader does: inspire your troops.
sam
October 6th, 2012
6:15 pm
To those thumping the rule book to defend the call, consider this.
As I understand it, the intent of the IFR is to protect the runners from a cheap double play when defensive player intentionally lets a ball drop. Was that a risk last night? No, because the ball was 50 yards out in the outfield! ! In fact, the ball did drop unexpectedly and both runners advanced without a play made on either one. Now consider this. If the umpire had NOT made this call, do you think anyone, I mean ANYONE, would have said “man he just blew that call”? Do you think it would have been all over ESPN this morning? No, because the ball was 50 yards out in the outfield!
This is like a cop stopping you for speeding for doing 56 in a 55 and everyone is passing you. The INTENT of speeding laws is to improve safety. And in this case you were driving closer to safe than everyone else. But, technically you were speeding. So I’m assuming all the rule thumpers would happily pay this ticket.
It’s about judgement, folks. And in this case the umpire used extremely bad judgement and disadvantaged the very team the rule was meant to protect. And even worse, none of the other umpires, including the crew chief, had the stones to step in and correct this obvious flaw.
That’s why this really is the Worst Call Ever. Keep in mind this was not a case where a call had to be made. This was not a “safe or out”, “fair or foul”, “homerun or not”, “ball or strike” situation where the umpire had to make a call. The right call here was no call, and no one would have even noticed.
benb
October 6th, 2012
6:50 pm
Yes, it was a really bad call and yes the Braves blew it and yes the one game setup stunk but the worst thing was the total lack of class by the fans. Absolutely no excuse and I hope some were ejected. They need to change this to a 3 game series.
Walt
October 6th, 2012
7:12 pm
The fans who threw things on the field were still totally lacking class. It was and always be a low rent and childish thing to do. The Braves fans of old were far above that. Those of you who participated in it brought shame to the city, the team, and yourselves. (as if you really care about the last one)