AJC > Blog > Archives > 2008 > June > 12 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHave Braves lost more than a few players?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s official: Joe Simpson and I are concerned that the Braves are starting to crack.
In the fifth inning last night, Jeff Ridgway, who had just been called up from Richmond, entered the game and set the Cubs down in order for the first time all night — and got absolutely no reception in the dugout. No one even talked to him, much less gave him a high-five or a slap on the back.
That’s extremely uncharacteristic of the guys on this team, whom Joe accused of having their own individual “pity parties.”
Maybe I’m making too much out of it, but if they’ve lost the camaraderie and support that makes them a team, they’re in serious trouble. And while I can stomach losing if the guys hang together and keep laying it out on the field, it’s getting difficult to keep watching when it looks like they’re putting up minimal resistance. Those of us in Atlanta may soon envy those of you outside Peachtree TV range.
It’s up to Bobby to get in their heads and bring them back around — that’s what good managers do. (Check out Ozzie Guillen’s tirade from a couple of weeks ago and what the White Sox have done since.) And no matter how you feel about Bobby, if it were any other manager in that dugout, he would be on the hot seat on this trip, regardless of how many injuries there have been. If for no other reason than to shake the team up.
Speaking of management, I also have to ask: What the heck was up with sending down Josh Anderson, who has speed and was hitting .318, and bringing up Brandon Jones, who might have a little more pop? Is Bobby that desperate for a three-run home run?
I really hope Dave O’Brien is right when he suggested they might be showcasing Jones, because otherwise, that move is a sign that the entire organization has lost it.
Now I have to give props to a couple of posts from yesterday’s blog asking for exorcisms and rituals:
jonny: Any way you can get that fried chicken for lunch, before today’s 2:20 start?
Amy: I love the idea of a bonfire using those dark blue jerseys as kindling, and Tom Glavine will light the match. (He was wearing that jersey when he sustained the only two injuries that have put him on the DL in his career.)
Jeff321: Good idea to bring back Chief Nocahoma’s teepee!
A shout out to toon to say thanks for reminding everyone that a blog isn’t necessarily supposed to be a 2,000-word tome — no offense, DOB :-)
And to richbrave: We’ll miss you and those farm reports. Good luck with the surgeries and get well soon!
Upcoming TV Schedule
Thursday: at Cubs, 2:20, Peachtree TV
Friday: at Angels, 10:05, SportSouth
Saturday: at Angels, 9:05, SportSouth
Sunday: at Angels, 8:05, ESPN
Monday: at Rockies, 8:05, SportSouth
Permalink | Comments (51) | Post your comment | Categories: Chop Chick
Comments
By bulldogbubba
June 12, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this
it seems we need some dugout leadership.i am not saying chipper is not doing that, but is anyone else? we as fans know they have talent but are not seeing positive results.it has turned into a “me” situation and not “we”.i watch other teams on mlb.com and you can see the difference in the dugout in teams like the “rays”,”pirates” and others.
By legalbuzz
June 12, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this
With Smoltz and Glavine out, Chipper is the only veteran left. This is his team. It is basically Chipper and the Children. He has been the leader on the field all year, now he has to be the leader now off the field too.
Let’s get a win today, win one in LA, then try to beat up on Colorado and Texas and see if we can try to get close to a .500 roadtrip.
By taterpicker
June 12, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
At least Ridgway and Armstrong looked like they wanted to play—-compared to the half-hearted attempts by some of the players. Never seen so many stupid desicions by ball players since little league 50 years ago. Lack of hustle and lack of grey matter is really hurting this team. Get Yunel out of lead off and put Blanco there and johnson hitting 8th and get some offense going.
By STEVE LLOYD
June 12, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this
I have not seen the Braves this listless since 1989
By bballnut
June 12, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this
I see no passion, no intensity on this team. They jog down to first base like a spoiled little boy. They drop pop fly balls by hot doggin the play and then drop it, causing the inning to continue and us to lose the game. Replace them. Send the entire team back to the minors and replace them with guys that want to be up here and will show some effort. A stint in the minors and a few all night bus rides might be just the ticket to make them realize that they must show some intensity and passion for the game or they need to go home. The lack of all the above is disgusting.
By Casey-Tiffany
June 12, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
HiyA Will, SEE me at hotstuff@aol.com did you see about that poor guy at Spring and Peidmont?? Cops found him dead in a park…wearing hot pants, make up, a wig, hi heels, and a Braves shirt..they removed the shirt as to not cause his family further embarrassment.
By Jonny
June 12, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this
Sweetie, 2 things: I flip burgers and you don’t need any more chicken. Have a salad.
By gnat
June 12, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this
I agree that something needs to light a fire under the Braves pants, cause they are going down fast. Also, where is the patience at the plate? I can’t say how many times I see these guys pop up or ground out on the first pitch! Homers aren’t the only way to score runs.
By Raleigh Dog
June 12, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this
The only thing Cox can regularly now that you can absolutely count on is pick his nose on camera. Not greeting Ridgway was bush league. The Braves stink. Big egos and no class.
By Raleigh Dog
June 12, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this
The only thing Cox can regularly do now that you can absolutely count on is pick his nose on camera. Not greeting Ridgway was bush league. The Braves stink. Big egos and no class.
By Murphy
June 12, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this
I am shocked we havent seen a reaction from the Braves on the Ridgeway thing since the blogs, Joe Simpson and then Braves Live were all ripping on them for that slight.
By BlackberryCobbler
June 12, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this
I don’t remember what inning it was in but Simpson also pointed out 2 instances— back to back ground balls to Johnson and Escobar, routine ground balls that weren’t charged and hustled on and the runner was able to leg out an infield hit.
If the players have given up, hey here’s an idea, how about 20-30,000 of us keep our @$$ at home the rest of the season!!
By beau vighn
June 12, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this
Joe better be careful. They will ban him from the charter flight the way they did years ago when the TBS guys had the nerve to criticize the play of that team.
The reason there is no fire is the Braves have always had this business mentality and sports in general is a game of emotion. This even keeled stuff sounds good but the emotion comes from the Skipper and the only emotion Bobby wants to exhibit is directed to the umpires.
I love Yunnel’s enthusiam but I fear the stuff shirted veterans will quell this exhuberance. Look at the White Sox with Ozzie. He is energetic and holds his players accountable. That attitude carries over just as the current Braves attitude has carried over.
I fear this will be a long summer.
By beau vighn
June 12, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this
We could very well have some excitement in today’s game. I doubt the Cubs,especially with Zambrano pitching, take the accidental beaning of Soriano laying down. With a fiery manager like Lou Pinella I will bet there will be some fireworks early.
It also looks like Lou hasn’t missed many post game buffets either.
By bernard brooks
June 12, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this
Bobby Cox is grossly OVERRATED!!!! hE HAS PERSONALLY BLOWN AT LEAST 2 WORLD SERIES. HE REFUSES TO USE THE BUNT AND PLAY SMALL BALL. BRAVES HAVE TRADED MOST OF THEIR TALENT. LOOK AT THE ROSTER OF OTHER TEAMS WITH FORMER BRAVES? LETS DO LIKE THE MARLINS AND LET THE KIDS PLAY! ITS A KID’S GAME!! KELLY JOHNSON BITES! AND BLAINE BOYER IS A BUST!
By fifthbusiness
June 12, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this
What do you expect it is June. The Braves have been terrible every June since 2006.
By Go Cubs Go
June 12, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this
Thing only thing Bobby beats consistently is his wife.
“Bobby Cox, the Atlanta Braves’ manager, finds himself in that position today. Arrested just before midnight Sunday at his suburban Atlanta home, Cox stands charged under Georgia’s domestic violence act with simple battery. He was accused of punching his wife, Pamela, and pulling her hair.”
By Charlie Tater
June 12, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
Bobby, be a coach and put some fire under these spoiled million dollar babies. Oh yea the only people you put a fire under is the umpires who are a lot of the time right on their call. Wren, you are terrible at your job!!! Move them all down and give players and coaches that want to win a chance!
By Sad Brother
June 12, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this
Horrible Upper management with McKirk at the helm. No one could win with that incompetent. Liberty is CLUELESS!
By Dana
June 12, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
The pitching is gone and the team knows this. I said they had to do something to restore the spark in this club. Brandon Jones might be trade bait, but he also might be the spark that Anderson is not. Brandon is a spark and the braves have none. Brandon also knows McCann, Francoeur, Estrada and Johnson and if you put a live wire in that group the spark will light.
Finally they are giving Morton a shot. Hes ready and hes been ready. Why they have been playing with Chuck James and JO HO is beyond me. We have pitchers ready to go and since James and Reyes are not that impressive its time to give the others their shot.
As for Ridgeway, they might not have wanted to jinx him. Ball players are like that. And with the way this team or should I say the utility team is playing they need all the luck they can get.
By alan from Atlanta GA.
June 12, 2008 4:17 PM | Link to this
I understand the frustration at Bobby Cox, but much of the blame should also be placed on McDowell and Pendelton. Since McDowell became pitching coach the pitching has gone consistantly downhill. The hitting is also beginning to suck though not as bad as the pitching has become. We need a shakeup in coaching, McDowell should be the first to go.
By Jonny
June 12, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
Casey-Tiffany, If we make the playoffs, you buy me inner,,if WE DONT, you get the full monty, oiled up and a Fighting Bulldog, Raf rAFF.
By Johnny
June 12, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this
Casey-Tiffany, Tells you what, we dont makes the playoffs, you canz have me fer a whole day of fun in the pecker sun..IfN wez do makes it, Iz has you fer a day..like m feisty. Whaz ya says.
By Jed Clampet
June 12, 2008 6:08 PM | Link to this
Well Dogies this don’t look like the Braves.This looks more like the bad news bears.Shoot i’ll bet granny could out hit that bunch.
By Jed Clampet
June 12, 2008 6:09 PM | Link to this
Well Dogies this don’t look like the Braves.This looks more like the bad news bears.Shoot i’ll bet granny could out hit that bunch.
By Coach (NOT DRINKING THE KOOL AID)
June 12, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this
Chop Chick, you were right. Cox needs to be fired. The man is simply incompetent.
By DSan
June 12, 2008 6:43 PM | Link to this
We are well on our way to breaking the impossible road-loss record set by the 1899 Cleveland Spiders (11-102), we all know the Braves find a way to lose on the road. And they are almost half way to breaking the 1-run loss record of 44 loss by the 1968 Chicago White Sox. Go B-R-A-V…ahh forget it.
By cubbie
June 12, 2008 6:45 PM | Link to this
Remember how Chicago used to look on the baseball field??? Along came a gent named “Sweet Lou” and in a blink of an eye, they are transformed into baseball’s best team. Now there is a manager the Bravos desperately need. He does NOT baby his players and he knows how to play the game to WIN. Cox is a “player’s manager” and that translates into “do as you please boyz” just hit me a 5-run homer and we’ll be buddies forever and ever.
By Opie
June 12, 2008 7:16 PM | Link to this
Bobby has no fire on the field. I think he has given up. Boyer is overworked and needs a break, Acosta is not a closer,Blanco is not hitting, Soriano is no help and needs to be on the disabled list, Tex is not carrying his weight. Solutions- Quit over working Boyer, forget Acosta as a closer, use a closer depending on the batter (left handed power hitter like Edmonds in the 9th inning use a lefty), bring Anderson back and put him in center field (why is he in Richmond) , Blanco on the bench, trade Tex to the American League for a team that is desperate for power (even though he has not shown it so far this year)for a starting pitcher (healthy one). Trade Brandon Jones and maybe a young pitcher for Laroche to play first again. Now we just need the others to co-operate.
By Dumbing Down
June 12, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this
What do the owners “Liberty Media” have to say? Terry McGuirk is in their pockets and sucking up the money (and air) while giving the fans a bad product… ask him!
By Country boy
June 12, 2008 8:43 PM | Link to this
Cubbie you are spot on !!!! To me things look as grim with this bunch as the Cubs usually do.
By bobby
June 12, 2008 8:50 PM | Link to this
I don’t know who needs to go worst, BC or TP. Maybe we could start a fund for two-one way tickets.
By carl
June 12, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this
All this started when they moved Pete and Skip to radio only. The great Braves baseball spirit is as upset as when they took down Noc-ahoma’s teepee. Bring them back to TV!!!!!!!!
By Opie
June 12, 2008 9:21 PM | Link to this
By ramonamac
June 12, 2008 10:00 PM | Link to this
I think it all comes down to fundamentals. The Braves don’t have them. Two hand catches, batting the runner over, who’s covering second? Those things should not be, “oops, let me think about it” times. They should be ingrained in their DNA-automatic.
By ben
June 12, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this
No fire in the belly of Bobby Cox! Time for him to go upstairs and bring someone in that can light a fire under these young ball players.
By Glep
June 13, 2008 1:02 AM | Link to this
The Braves need to clean house. Starting with writers that hype a minor league player that is only average at best and mislead their readers. The farm has been in the cellar for yrs That’s where these guys have been.AND THAT’S WHY THEY CAN’T PLAY FUNDAMENTAL BASEBALL. It is high time that those who lived and wrote books about winning were exposed as the imposters they were. The 14 championships were due to the Hall of Fame crew Maddux, (a younger)Glavine,(a younger) Smoltz, And Hoss. None of the brass up stairs played a single game and took the credit for the efforts of this trio of Famers. Now they don’t know what to do but look on scrap heaps for “Lightn in a bottle”. Sold any books lately John? They say there is no deals out there. Well that has not been the problem for a lot of other teams that are blowing the Braves away right now. Back when Turner sent John to get Maddux, you can be sure he didn’t find him off the waiver list and he wasn’t off no scrap heap either. He was a top notch star. And that’s where you go to build a 14 yr dynasty!!!
By santa3247
June 13, 2008 3:32 AM | Link to this
Hi, I’m Seong-Ho,Yoon living in Jinhae city southkorea now and couldn’t write here for three weeks
around. ^*^
Fake Santa was?^^with friends of Babylon’s full help?^^
Hey! Daniel Smith do think that like “I want to go to southkorea and meet with santa and do reservation of air-ticket which can be cancelled at anytime.”^^ Maybe Babylon might make you going up to AAA or Major. Think continuously …..^^
Hey! Jeff Francoeur!! lips must be closed when you do swing. Thhree-weeks ago’s my writting about one-feet range before wall, meant that
THE HEAD OF BAT MUST START AT TEH END MOMENT. SO YOUR SWING CAN BE MADE IN ONE FEET RANGE.
OTHER TEAM’S PITCHERS COMPLETED ANALYSIS ABOUT YOUR DEFECT I THINK.
WITHOUT REPLETION OF YOUR DEFECT, YOU CAN’T KEEP YOUR FAME I THINK.
May the force of Messiah be with you
By jill
June 13, 2008 7:46 AM | Link to this
My dad and I noticed Sunday that just about every Brave (especially Yunel Escobar) has stopped hustling on the field and when running the bases. Josh Anderson was hardly ever in the “ready” position in left field in that game, and Escobar and Greg Norton wouldn’t even run all the way to first base. Their actions are speaking louder than words. The Braves just don’t care.
By TheCutMan
June 13, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this
Performance reflects leadership.
By lw
June 13, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this
Watching the Braves has become just too painful. Can’t/won’t do it anymore. Just out of curiosity, why not give Stockman a chance?
By Big Dog
June 13, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this
Did someone ask “are the Braves beginning to crack?”
Well where has the questioner been?
It’s a damn shame so much was expected. Maybe we expected too much.
Glavine just flat out doesn’t have it anymore. Hampton has been a waste of millions, literally. Smoltz gave it his all but it looks like he can call it a career and await his entry into MLB’s HOF.
Then their is Carlyle, James, Reyes and Bennett. Ugh. There’s Campillo too but he’s a stop gap out of necessity
The bullpen is a sham. When they announce Boyer, Astacio, Ring, etc… chalk up some runs to the opposition. Look at all the losses the BP continues to ring up.
Face it. This team is not a serious contender in the NL East or even for a Wild Card slot. They just don’t have the horses.
By atlbravesfan44
June 13, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
Opie: Adam F*** Laroche??? He’s the worst hitting regular 1B in the majors this year!!!
By will
June 13, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
This sums up our season in a nutshell: A good manager sets his players up to succeed. A poor manager sets his up to fail. Sound like anybody we know???
By Earl
June 13, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this
Since Mazzone left and McDowell took over, our pitching has gone down hill and injuries (which rarely happened) are now comon place. Hitting has never improved under Pendelton and those that listen to him get worse (like Frenchy) Cox, who has rarely done well in post season, has now lost it in the regular season. The Braves are toast!
By lvp
June 13, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this
For those of you who want to fire Bobby Cox, who do you suppose would initiate that move? The Braves have no ownership that cares enough about winning and losing. These players are not cracking, they just don’t have what it takes to play winning baseball. Cox and the organization consistently make mistakes in evaluating talent
By by johnny
June 13, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
This ———g team is playing like —-t. they suck. They get a guy on second and don’t know how to move the runner over with no outs.Like a dummy i bought MLB to watch the Braves. I didn’t know that Fox was doing me a favor by not televising them on TBS.
By johnny
June 13, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this
One more note, Jed Clampette, I thinkings youz my Pappy. Hope to seez ya, found me a real Peach, named Tiffany.
By bbuurke
June 13, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this
When was the last time Bobby jumped on a plyer for not running out a ground ball out? Or dropping a pop fly? Or not taggin up on a fly ball, or not taking the first pitch, or not making an adjustment in your hitting stance to hit to right on outside pitches (francour).
You team takes on the character of your manager.
Terry Pendeleton has got to go, McDowll has got to go.
Is Leo still looking for a job?
Fla has the youngest team and lowest payrool and doing it with attitude and talent.
Corky Miller? My grandmother could hit better than him.
The fat lady is warming up her pipes
By Cliff
June 29, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this
The braves just stink. I cant stand to watch them anymore. I mean come on, who wants to waste their time watching bad fundamentals, dropped balls, lack of effort, ect. The braves are done till they get a new look.
By Cliff
June 29, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this
The braves just stink. I cant stand to watch them anymore. I mean come on, who wants to waste their time watching bad fundamentals, dropped balls, lack of effort, ect. The braves are done till they get a new look.