ajcsportstalk

By Justin

August 4, 2006 10:22 PM | Link to this

I think that was the season. They had a big chance in the 9th and blew it. With Jason Sheill pitching we are in deep trouble.

By Fed Up

August 4, 2006 10:23 PM | Link to this

I’ve never been so disappointed before. You’ve got to try REALLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYYYY Hard not to score in that situation. We made it look easy. I’ve been as optimistic as anyone (I actually have money on this), but this loss made even me give up on the season. Feel like I’ve been punched in the gut and then kicked in the n*ts.

By supergrass

August 4, 2006 10:23 PM | Link to this

i checked the boxscore and saw chuck james got the loss. maybe the bloom is off the rose with chuck james didnt get to watch all the game, did coxie leave him in too long or did he have a collapse? no surprise Jeff “Swing!” Francoeur grounded into a game-ending double play…. hes batting under .200 in his last 10 games.

By Train Wreck Bystander

August 4, 2006 10:41 PM | Link to this

Fun team to watch… not getting walloped… staying in the games to the end… but not going to be in the post-season this year.

Man, if that McCann fly had just been a few feet deeper…

But that’s baseball.

By Del

August 4, 2006 10:43 PM | Link to this

If you didn’t guess it by now, you should now be convinced that this team DOES NOT deserve to go to the playoffs. Pathetic RISP hitting, horrible 3rd base coaching and about 2 1/4 worth of starting pitching!!! Aybar is useless from the left side. For two weeks now we haven’t been able to throw out anybody attempting to steal——Catcher or pitchers not doing their job! How many rallies can JF kill in one season? And the beat goes on.

By Greg

August 4, 2006 10:44 PM | Link to this

This loss does hurt the Braves. If they eventually don’t make the playoffs it goes to show that it is difficult to overcome a 6-20 June. That bad stretch I think is haunting the Braves because they can’t fail one inch and there is no margin for error. They are behind 6-7 teams now at 50-58. When the went 7-2 right out of the all-star break. I thought maybe they have a chance to grab the WC and cut the Mets lead in half. They have to win 70-75 percent of their remaining games while the other teams ahead of them in the wild card have to play 500 and play each other out. They miss Chipper Jones the last 2 games of the home stand and this current road trip. They should have never lost 2 out of three games to the Marlins and should have least won 1 game against the Mets!! I am going give the mets credit for playing well because since the beginning of the season they have been the best team in the National League.

By supergrass

August 4, 2006 10:48 PM | Link to this

well said del this season has been maddening

By shawn

August 4, 2006 10:49 PM | Link to this

who thought with the way this team has been playing that thet had any chance. Wild card? come on get for real

By Young

August 4, 2006 10:50 PM | Link to this

When a pitcher has a no-hitter and then loses the game. He is not a good pitcher, he is just lucky. To pitch a no-hitter, a pitcher must have a commanding stuff and exceptional control. James was neither. James is a good high school pitcher. He is not Pedro. As for the Braves, they need to get to .400 before thinking to get back to .450 to be a solid last place team in the National League.

By Ron Roberts

August 4, 2006 10:51 PM | Link to this

Here’s a stat we should start keeping up with….

…how many pitches does Jeff Francoeur TAKE in key situations with runners in scoring position?

Would it kill the guy to show some freaking patience - just 25% of the time? Man, what a difference it would make for his stats and the team’s performance, overall.

COMPLETELY frustrating, and sorry folks, ya can’t hang this one on Chuck James. He gave up 3 runs in 6 innings in a homer-happy ballpark. Tip of the hat.

Ya gotta score to AT LEAST tie the game up with the bags loaded and nobody out. The hardest pill to swallow is knowing McCann didn’t come through with at least a good sac fly or work the count in tha situation.

But I just knew Francoeur would finally see the error of his wild, swing-early ways and come through in a clutch situation tonight, and I’m sorry, his inexperience showed through tonight.

I like the guy, and think he’s destined for stardom, but he’s got all the skills now, and it’s what’s going on upstairs that’s killing him.

By alex

August 4, 2006 10:53 PM | Link to this

These Braves dont deserve to go to the playoffs,thats it. And it looks as if the mets loose on purpose so the phillies gain in WC:) I am even angry I bought expensive tickets to watch these chockers in florida on the 18th.

By Ken Stallings

August 4, 2006 10:54 PM | Link to this

How can it be frustrating? We now full well this team is not talented enough to make a run for the playoffs. We had a fun fiction to celebrate for a few weeks around the All Star break, but baseball is not a sport of fiction.

It takes true talent to win.

The Braves lack the starting pitching and bullpen to win a pennant or a wild card. We have improved the bullpen with two trades. But, we still have only one playoff quality pitcher in the rotation and that’s Smoltz.

You don’t win with one quality starter. We started the year thinking our rotation was pretty good. But, Hudson has been awful and Thompson has been on the DL most of the year. Sosa was a good expectation, but he bummed out of town.

The Braves have a huge hole in their pitching staff. It will take some savvy trades of veteran players to plug that hole and until the Braves do not only is this season over, but next year will not be better.

By Ken Stallings

August 4, 2006 10:56 PM | Link to this

*know

ARGH!!

By Chipper's a Candy

August 4, 2006 11:02 PM | Link to this

Once again, Cox makes stupid pitching decisions, and batters can’t hit in the clutch. Ho Hum

By akljfd

August 4, 2006 11:05 PM | Link to this

if cox goes for the tie,we would have been goin for the lead in the 9th. I could even smell a firesale comin! it worked out for the marlins twice

By bravesfansince1966

August 4, 2006 11:12 PM | Link to this

TURN OUT THE LIGHTS>>>>>> I am sick.

By don

August 4, 2006 11:14 PM | Link to this

Bases loaded; no outs; no runs; no playoffs; no need for further posts.

By Knockahoma

August 4, 2006 11:16 PM | Link to this

This game pretty much sums up the Braves pathetic season. The starter(James) was brilliant for a few innings but then came unglued; our relief staff threw more runs on the fire; our offense could not score one run with bases loaded no outs; and the Braves lost another 1 run game putting them at the bottom of the NL in that category. Everything that has misfired this year happened in this game. As fate will have it, this will be the game that mentally takes them out of the playoff race.

By just4fun

August 4, 2006 11:21 PM | Link to this

Just put the whole darn team on waivers!!! They all need to go … especially the pop-up boys trying to hit homers every at-bat … you know who they are! The only smart hitter is McCann and he can’t do it by himself! I’ve watched both Frenchy and Thorman’s “golf swing” enough! They are going under the ball every time trying to lift it out of the park! Anyone ever try to swing level and just put the sweet spot on the ball????

By TommyA

August 4, 2006 11:21 PM | Link to this

I knew someone would bring up the Marlins. If everyone is so interested in the Marlins franchise they should become fans of their team, because Lord knows nobody in South Florida is. Listen, the Marlins are bad business. Their fan base is like that of the Expos towards the end. I live in Miami and I am telling you, no one is interested, which is why the Marlins will not exist in the next few years. If the Braves begin to run their franchise like the Marlins, this longtime Braves fanatic will check out for good.

By John Armstrong

August 4, 2006 11:24 PM | Link to this

I never understand why fans attack Bobby Cox the way they do in these forums. Come on folks, this was the “loser” franchise until Cox took over in 1991. You “fair weather fans” are full of yourselves. You should have to live in Chicago, and be a Braves fan as I am, and watch the futile efforts of the Cubs year-in and year-out.

This team is not that good and tonight underscores all the many reasons why. And I agree with the many posts that suggest that unless they fix their rotation they will not be that good next year either. Say what you will, the budgetary restrictions have slowed the Braves down but I still think Schuerholtz will do some good things in the year ahead. (Read Built to Win to get his insights on things.) Forget ‘06, it is truly over!!! Tonight was the season in microcosm.

By don

August 4, 2006 11:41 PM | Link to this

This was the “loser franchise” until Turner began spending money and the Braves were loaded with pitchers like Maddux, Glavine, Avery, Smoltz, Neagle, etc. the money is drying up, the pitchers are gone, and now Coxs must produce. He aint gettin’ it and neither is Schuerholz.

By Jeremy

August 4, 2006 11:43 PM | Link to this

This is the most down I’ve been on the Braves all year. Even in June, I felt if we just made a deal or 2, we’d be fine, and for a while we were. But they’re just not getting anything done. And with nobody from the front office downplaying the AJ rumors, I really think it’s all over.

By Young

August 4, 2006 11:50 PM | Link to this

We still have the best town for crime and traffic and stupidity becayse we do not know how to read or write. Throw away the Braves, Falsons, stupid Vicks is sick, Hawks and Dasher.

By Bill

August 4, 2006 11:50 PM | Link to this

As I restrained myself from throwing my shoe through the TV set watching Francoeur weakly ground into another maddening loss on yet another bad pitch, it raised the question of whether Terry Pendleton ever even speaks to him, whether he talks to his roommate Brian McCann, or talks to ANYBODY about what he’s doing at the plate. He’s clearly not a dumb kid, doesn’t make mental mistakes on the bases or in the field that would betray a lack of mental acuity about the game, but he just seems to have no idea at the plate other than applying Woody Held’s sage advice to “swing hard in case you happen to hit the ball”. He still acts like day one at the plate and makes Vladimir Guerrero look like the paragon of a patient hitter. I know he’s only 22 and has amazing God-given physical skills, but he hasn’t learned a darned thing about hitting since he came up last year. A couple of seasons ago, Chipper Jones got in Adam LaRoche’s face about wasting at bats and it seemed to help - I wonder if the same approach would work. A .281 OBP and 10 walks in 400+ at bats is just a cry for help - maybe Smoltz’s old shrink?

By Blake

August 4, 2006 11:55 PM | Link to this

yeah i was at the game tonight…not a good one to be at…reds fans are so obnoxious and completely untolerable…the bright side was i was able to talk to Francoeurs dad after the game…he was pretty upset along w/ the rest of us…

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 12:01 AM | Link to this

John, I have to disagree about you saying this team isn’t that good. They are a very good team that doesn’t play like a good team. When you look at this team as a whole and compare it with every other team in the National Legue the only other team clearly better than the Braves are the Mets. I love Bobby Cox to death but he has always frustrated me with his decisions.

For instance, earlier in the game they had 1st and 2nd with Aybar on 2nd and Giles on 1st and nobody out. Renteria at the plate. At the time the game was 2-0 and James was smoking. Why in the hell did he not have Renteria bunt so Andruw could come up with runners at 2nd and 3rd. Its that kind of crap that cause Cox to have critics. Quit always trying to get the big home run and just put runs on the board. Hell, I don’t know why they didn’t try a squeeze in the 9th with McCann and make Guardardo get off his fat butt and make a play. It would have been the perfect situation. The Reds would have never seen it coming and it would have left runners on 2nd and 3rd w/0 outs and Francoeur coming up. And even if Frenchy had still hit that grounder to third Renteria would have scored, Braves would have the lead, and Wickman would have been up for the save. Its that kind of mis-management that kills this team time and time again. Play for the damn win and quit trying to be on SportsCenter.

I did jsut rad the post game story and I have to say that I do feel for Frenchy. I know he is dying inside. You have to say that at least the kid shows he cares. He didn’t do what a lot of other guys on the team would have done and just took a shower, acted like it was no big deal, and uttered that non-sense about “there’s always tomorrow”. Well, you know what if you don’t stop spouting the stupid crap pretty soon tomorrow will be the day you clean out your locker for the season.

The fact that he sat at his locker and didn’t shower or talk to the media at least tells me that he cares. He is probably thinking, “why can’t I just show some patience once”. I was hard on the kid earlier in the other blog and I stand by my statement but I also have repeated time and time again that he is the second coming of Vlad Guerrero and with that will come some very frustrating moments (tonight) and some exhilerating ones(his HR in the 8th tonight or the walk off GS against the Nats). It goes with the territory I guess. Can this team make the playoffs? The National League is so bad that anything is possible but unless they get it going immediatedly the chances aren’t good. I think its quite obvious what happens to this lineup when Chipper is not in it.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 12:08 AM | Link to this

Bill, I totally agree. I suggested Sunday that if I were the GM one of my main offseason tasks would be to get Frenchy and LaRoche (if he’s still a Brave) a personal hitting coach. Perferably David Justice. I would get someone who can drill in their heads that they can be patient and aggressive. Have David Justice show old clips of him and newer clips of Chipper and David Ortiz and show them what a true power hitter is supposed to do. Teach them how to know the situation and adjust their aggressiveness accordingly. I know BC and TP think they are helping those two by not getting to riled at them but all this patting their a** crap is just hurting them and retarding their growth.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 12:11 AM | Link to this

Well, Blake, maybe Mr. Francoeur can have a long talk with his son. Sometimes a good stern talk from daddy can turn the tide. Chipper and McCann claims it works. Maybe Jeff should do the same.

By TommyA

August 5, 2006 12:15 AM | Link to this

Robert, I enjoy your comments. It is obvious that you are a fan.

About bunting with Renteria… I read in a Cox interview earlier this season that he doesn’t like to bunt with Edgar because “he is such a good hitter”. According to Cox, Renteria does not bunt very well and is such a good contact hitter that you hope that you can move the runners and still have people on when Andruw comes up and look for the big inning. Cox knows his hitters and does what he thinks is best in certain situations and it will not always go his way.

I do, however, the McCann situation would have been ideal for the squeeze, but it’s difficult to pull off.

By TommyA

August 5, 2006 12:17 AM | Link to this

“I do, however”, AGREE (forgot a word).

By Don

August 5, 2006 12:19 AM | Link to this

The Cox bashers conveniently forget him calling from the dugout for a pitchout that turned a potential squeeze play for a run into an inning ending double play. I sure as heck didn’t think about the Reds squeezing in that situation, but I’m sure all the Cox critics did.

There’s nothing easier than applying 20-20 hindsight to every managerial decision in a game that didn’t pan out. If Renteria had doubled in 2 runs there wouldn’t be any questions about why Cox didn’t have him bunt. Bunting early in a game with a .320 hitter in a hitter’s ballpark is not the percentage play. If Renteria had popped up a bunt, there would have been howls of outrage about how dumb old Bobby had his #3 hitter bunting with a runner in scoring position in the first inning.

The problem isn’t Cox, the problem is this team isn’t any good.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 12:31 AM | Link to this

No, Don, the problem is that Cox does make questionable decisions. I’m not bashing him. I for one would have not bashed him if he had Renteria bunt and he would have popped it up. My reasoning for doing that is that Andruw was up next. I would rather take the chance of Andruw coming to the plate with 1st & 2nd w/1 out or 2nd & 3rd w/ 0 out than Renteria possibly hitting into a double play and having Jones up with a runner at 3rd and 2 out. We were already up 2-0 and just needed to tack on a few runs.

This team is good. They have some holes and some problems but so do most teams. Can you honestly say you think the Reds are a better team? C’mon!

By shawn

August 5, 2006 01:54 AM | Link to this

yes the Reds are a better team…..the braves are just a collection of good players doing individual things.They are poorly constructed and have no balance. Every single batter wants a HR but hey that is what Cox wants too…..

By Rip

August 5, 2006 01:55 AM | Link to this

I bet my wife $25.00 that Francouer would swing at the 1st pitch. I just knew it and she took the bait. I got the money but she was so mad I gave it back. TP and RM needs to go. ROBERT I LIKE TO READ YOUR COMMENTS, YOU HAVE SOME GOOD POINTS.

By nathan

August 5, 2006 01:58 AM | Link to this

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

Robert, you said:

This team is good. They have some holes and some problems but so do most teams. Can you honestly say you think the Reds are a better team? C’mon!

UM………….

REDS: 55-53

BRAVES: 50-57

I guess my answer is…………YES

They are about 5.5 games better! :)

By nathan

August 5, 2006 02:08 AM | Link to this

Sorry, the “wild card standings” on si.com apparently don’t update on the same day of the games. The records are as follows:

Reds: 56-53

Braves: 50-58

I knew the Braves were 5.5 games out, but didn’t “check” the standings to verify that I had the right numbers. SORRY.

I’m not sure how so many of you can still be so blind/naive to the fact that it is AUGUST!!!

This is not some little losing stread the Braves are “stumbling” over and will pull together to climb out of. We are 108 games into the season. That’s exactly 2/3 of the schedule. THEY ARE 8 GAMES UNDER .500!!!!!

That is reality. So PULEEEEEZ STOP GIVING ME THE “WE ARE A BETTER TEAM THAN SO & SO, BLA BLA BLA BLA! IT’S NOT APRIL” WAKE UP, THIS IS WHAT THIS TEAM IS.

MEDIOCRE, AT BEST.

If I had to make a prediction, I don’t think I’d be going out on a limb, by saying that this team will not finish above .500.

But I suppose come October when the Braves are at home watching the playoffs for the first time since 1990, you people (probably the same people who echo Bobby’s “crapshoot” garbage about the playoffs and how the better team got beat again.), will be saying “man, I can’t believe the Mets won the division and the Reds won the wild card. We are a SO MUCH BETTER TEAM THAN THOSE TWO TEAMS!!

Wake up. It’s OVER. Trade Andruw, Trade Smoltz (he sure as hell dosn’t deserve to spend his last 2 or 3 years playing with this crap), trade Chipper and Hudson to any team willing to give JS & Bobby a copy of the Tom Emanski DVD, so they can actually learn how to play!

GOOD NIGHT, time to go to bed! Hopefully when I wake up ESPN’s headline will say Andruw is gone!

By Andy

August 5, 2006 02:22 AM | Link to this

that 9th inning hurt me—anyone else notice the braves had the bases loaded(with the season perhaps on the line) and didn’t score? oh yes the other comments…well I for one will be watching all the braves games I can—it might be a different team(as it always is) but it might get drastically different. Oh to have the bloggers who complain about winning all through the season to come up short in the post season…those were the good ole days—not counting the days when I had to defend Andruw and explain how BC would not bench nor would JS trade him—-those days gone as well. It is now replaced with race card players and let me tell you just how bad this team really is….ah change is the only constant…when is the game tomorrow…

By shawn

August 5, 2006 02:51 AM | Link to this

Betemit homered and had a sportcenter defensive highlight…..Chipper did ….well nothing he’s hurt again.Please put Chipper on waivers and hope someone takes that contract. Hudson as well. This team needs a shot in the arm and a drastic overhall for next year.

By hop on chop

August 5, 2006 03:17 AM | Link to this

Rip,

Actually, you owe your wife $25, because Francoeur did take the first pitch in the ninth. It was a ball down and away. Then he took a strike on the inside corner, so if y’all were betting double or nothing on the second pitch, then you owe your wife $50. It was a 1-1 pitch that Francoeur ended the game on.

If Francoeur had hit the first pitch into the stands, you all would be applauding his aggressiveness. You haven’t complained about any of those two-out RBIs Francoeur has produced this year (second in the league only to Beltran in that category), so quit contradicting yourselves. You all think this game is so easy, like a player through sheer will can just hit the ball anywhere he wants off a major league closer. Hitting is the toughest thing to do in sports — it’s not gonna go your way every time, or even a third of the time.

The Braves’ glory days had to end sometime. Try to go down with a little dignity. And how about admiring good players on other teams sometimes? I enjoy watching them. That play by Freel turned the game.

By the way, the Dodgers haven’t lost since acquiring Betemit, so thanks, JS, for making a deal that turned L.A. around, anyway.

By gotigers72

August 5, 2006 04:58 AM | Link to this

That 9th inning sickened me. They had pitched Frenchy outside on the 2 pitches he saw before he grounded into the double play. Why couldn’t he figure they were going out there again and gone the other way with the pitch? You can’t try to pull everything, ala Andruw.

Chucky gave up 4 runs, not 3 as somebody mentioned. 4 runs in 5 1/3 innings is not a quality start. I noticed the other night when Smoltz won that the Braves’ pitchers gave up 0 walks. Tonight, everybody they walked ended up scoring. That has been the real bugaboo for the pitchers, starters and relievers this year. In the minors, Chuck had excellent control, that was his forte’. But since coming up to the bigs, he has given up 3, 4, 5 walks a game. No wonder his ERA is near 5.

WTF has happened to Ken Ray? All of a sudden he’s giving up a run or more every time he comes in.

By spud

August 5, 2006 06:01 AM | Link to this

to the guy who said francour is dying inside because of his lack of hitting how can you feel sorry for a guy who swings at the first pitch not just sometimes but every single time he gets a bat someone please explain to me how this is has happened someone explain to me why he cannot be made to take the first pitch has tp talked to him does bobby cox even know aor care or just say well he is an agressive hitter this is bull crap he should be fined or benched or both the next time he swings at the first pitch is he getting advice from anyone on this team?

By Charlie

August 5, 2006 07:10 AM | Link to this

FINALLY, Braves fans should come to the realization that we ARE going to be out of the post season this year. Friday was another squandered lost, that is typical of this group of players. The 2006 version of the Braves is a mediocre, “deer in the headlights” group, without a “money” ball player (except maybe John Smoltz). In a “game on the line” situation this collective group folds up like a cheap suit. Hard to gut. If this group finishes at .500, I’d be surprised. I’m sure that there will be some house-cleaning of the present roster when the season is over. I’m resigned that we’ll lose Andruw before 2007 is over. Then, surely, our slide back to the old Braves of the 80’s will be complete. I appreciate the 14 past division titles. Thanks for those. Sorry to see it finally end. Charlie

By Hotrod

August 5, 2006 08:21 AM | Link to this

With bases loaded and no outs in an extremely important game: These are the defining moments that tell you what kind of team you have.

By Don

August 5, 2006 08:30 AM | Link to this

Robert (Justice), if by questionable decisions you mean decisions that you can question after the game when they don’t work, Cox makes them and so does everybody else.

NOBODY in baseball in 2006 bunts their #3 hitter in a hitter’s ballpark early in the game with men on first and second and nobody out. This is not the 1965 L.A. Dodgers with Sandy Koufax on the mound. Pitching is lousy, the fences are pulled in, the game has changed. Even if Renteria gets the bunt down, they walk Andruw intentionally and if McCann hits a ground ball you’re out of the inning.

How did you like Cincy running themselves out of a big inning last night trying to play that “small ball” everybody here loves so much?

But the dumbest play in last night’s game was Lance Cormier throwing Francouer a first pitch ball over the middle of the plate. If I was the opposing manager I’d tell my pitchers that anybody who threw Francouer a strike in any count would get fined.

The Braves management needs to give Francouer a DVD with every one of his at bats this year and a copy of Ted Williams’ book “The Science of Hitting” when the season is over at the beginning of October and tell him to come back next spring with every at bat he took all year charted and his written conclusions on what he learned and what he will do differently. Unless he has an IQ of a turnip, he doesn’t need Pendleton or McCann’s dad to teach him that he’ll have better success if sticks to swing at pitches he can reach. If Francouer’s approach to hitting doesn’t change, he will hit .220 next year because more and more pitchers will wise up and never throw him a strike.

By Casey

August 5, 2006 08:36 AM | Link to this

I think this is what the Braves are this year. They are very young and inconsistent and last night was a perfect example. How many one run games have they lost this year. I guarantee they are one of the 3 worst teams in that category in the whole LEAGUE. Francoeur is good and will be a great player but he is young and very impatient at times at the plate. If you would have told me we would get .260 and 30+ homers and 100+rbi’s, I would have taken it in a heartbeat. He will get better in those positions as he matures. I just think they braves are a 75-80 win team unless they go on another 14-5 run. If they don’t, they are what they are this year and still need tweeks to compete for next year.

By KneeJerk

August 5, 2006 08:41 AM | Link to this

What is McCann squeezes and pops the bunt up? If Renterian sacs runners to 2nd and 3rd with one oue, what do you think the Reds will do with AJones? They walk him to load the bases. Someone said Cox made a stupid pitching decision in this game. When? James is throwing a no-no through 5. Gives up 3 hits and a walk. I think he pulled him at the right time. Whoever said you must have uncanny control of your pitches to throw a no-hitter forgot that A.J Burnett (i think) walked about 8 and no-hit someone a couple of years ago.There are no excuses, no questioning strategy, we just didn’t come through in the clutch.
The season is not over. We have 2 months to make up 5 1/2 games. If you want to jump ship like you’ve said, don’t come back QUITTERS.

By SAL

August 5, 2006 08:56 AM | Link to this

Absolutely a frustrating loss. Cox left James in for one too many batters. Paronto is not the guy I want to see in games like this. Kenny Ray has been awful for the past few weeks as far as giving up runs. So the Paronto - Ray combination was frustrating.

Get first 2 batters on base with number 3, 4, & 5 hitters coming up when leading by 2 runs and they don’t move up at all, not even 90 feet. Renteria and Andruw failed to advance them. Why didn’t Cox have Renteria bunt them over?

Bases loaded and no outs in 9th, gee. McCann can’t come through all the time and at least he knew he wanted a fly ball. Fancouer is too much like Andruw Jones (no game plan at the plate, decides to swing before pitcher releases the ball, and tries to pull everything). He should know they are not going to give him something to pull after his HR on previous at bat. He goes after a pitch down and away to hit into a game ending DP when all he needed was a fly ball to tie the game. Not good situational hitting. Not intelligent hitting. Isn’t there a hitting coach on the payroll?

What happened to Thorman on Diaz’s fly out in foul teritory when Freel made the diving catch in the 8th? The ball was foul the entire way. Thorman should have been on the bag and ready to tag up, especially when it was obvious that Freel was coming full speed and diving away from 3B. Poor base running. Thorman should have been on 3B with one out.

This game was an example of the whole season. Bullpen that can’t hold people and failure to play fundamental baseball (advancing a runner, situational hitting, base running, etc). These guys have played the game for years and are major leaguers (at least I thought they were). I guess the lack of fundamentals has been the most frustrating part of this season for me.

But win the next 2 (unlikely with Schiell going today - his ERA is worse than Sosa) and there is still hope.

By Cox sucks, well, Cox

August 5, 2006 09:06 AM | Link to this

Despite what the broadcasters said, Cox did not call for the pitch out to hold the squeeze, he thought reds were just gonna take 2nd (common move to avoid the DP with runners on 1st and 3rd). Look at McCanns first move/look, it was to first to catch that runner going to 2nd. Bottom line is Cox missed 2-3 hitting decisions (bunts, take pitches, etc.). He is a good manager for the players , but has never been a good game play manager. Bring in new manager blood to take these young players to their next level - Cox is too tired to do it

By Don

August 5, 2006 09:13 AM | Link to this

Cox sucks? No, you suck. McCann froze the runner from first and then turned to the runner coming from third. Cox called for the pitchout, they showed him giving the signal on TV.

Clueless dolt.

By Yars

August 5, 2006 09:24 AM | Link to this

Last night was a must win game. Not scoring even 1 run with runners on 2B & 3B with ZERO outs is hard to do. I blame both McCann & Frenchy. McCann not working the count and hitting a weak pop up and Frenchy hitting into a double play. I didn’t see any of that coming. Chucky James pitched a decent game. The Braves postseason hopes are hanging on a thread now. If we lose 2 out of 3 against Cincy, then it’s official. Turn out the light and unscrew the light bulb. Too many good teams ahead of us in the NL wildcard that aren’t going to fade away. Astros, Dodgers, D’Backs, and even the Phillies are all playing good baseball. The only goal the Braves have now is to try to finish at .500. It looks like they will fall short of that. I blame a few things on a disappointing ‘06 season. JS not addressing the bullpen problems until last week. He should have done something back in February. The starting rotation is awful with the exception of Smoltz and maybe even James. Get rid of Ramirez and Thomson. Now that the Braves are pretty much out of it, I say bring up some kids from Mississippi & Richmond and have them start. Let’s see what they got to offer. Anyone know what starting pitchers in AA & AAA are playing decent?

By h_charles

August 5, 2006 09:28 AM | Link to this

Can someone please explain to me how in the world Giles didn’t score on Renteria’s double? That ball was clearly not going to be caught, and Giles should have been running on a 3-2 pitch. THe ball bounced 25 feet away from the wall. Giles should have been able to walk home. Was it once again Fearfull Freddy Gonzalez refusing to waive home a runner in a game we had so much trouble scoring?

By cox suck, well Cox

August 5, 2006 09:32 AM | Link to this

Don, this is a blog site soliciting opinions. People give theirs. I gave mine. mature adults who disagree can disagree, but insulting someone for offering their opinion in a blog is about as immature as it gets.

By Don

August 5, 2006 09:39 AM | Link to this

Renteria’s double was clearly not going to be caught? I guess that’s why Freel crashed into the wall trying to make the catch and if the ball had been a couple of feet lower he might have made it. Giles was looking at the play standing between first and second, not looking at Freddy Gonzales. That’s why Giles didn’t score, because he didn’t want to kill the inning by getting doubled off first if the ball was caught.

Robert (Justice) wants to know why Cox didn’t have Renteria bunting Giles over to second in that situation, down by one with nobody out in the 9th.

Wait a minute, you say Robert didn’t criticize Cox for not bunting in that situation since Renteria hit one off the wall? Don’t tell me he waits until after the game and uses 20-20 hindsight to only criticize the moves that didn’t work.

By Don

August 5, 2006 09:41 AM | Link to this

Yeah, your handle is certainly a sign of a mature adult.

By Robert J

August 5, 2006 09:45 AM | Link to this

‘Cox sucks” is right, Don. You might not agree with his opinion, but you’re acting like a child calling him a clueless dolt. I would agree that the pitchout was called for the 1st base runner. If it wasn’t for the announcers making such a big deal about it, (they work for the same company that employs Cox…), he wouldnt be getting the pat on the back. Bottom line is, reds made a baserunning blunder (2 actually in that play) that made the called pitchout appear to be genious. Had the reds called a delayed squeeze, the 3rd base runner would have recognized the pitchout. Then if McCann choose to throw to 2rd, he would decide if he could make it home. Typically, both runners would not move on a pitchout if delayed squeeze was called and the only result would have been ball 1. So, let’s not reward Cox for the reds baserunning bluder (the way the cox loving announcers do - after all, their jobs are to get his interview after the game). Cox made enough tactical errors in the game already - noone has brought up the lack of situational pinchhitting - Cox allowed several lefty on lefty plate appearances when reds were already deep in their bullpen. he could have forced more pithing changes on the reds side but instead he just went with his original lineup the whole game.

By Phil

August 5, 2006 09:46 AM | Link to this

don replies with another insult……….yawn

By John Buck

August 5, 2006 09:52 AM | Link to this

Good point Robert, you think McCarver or any other ‘network’ announcers would have ripped Cox apart for his gamecalling last night? YOu betcha. Ron Gant criticizing Cox? yeah right.

By Don

August 5, 2006 10:10 AM | Link to this

It’s not just that you Cox rippers are idiots, which you are. It’s that you wait until after the game to decide which decisions to criticize and can’t even get your facts straight. Should have bunted early when Renteria made an out. Stupid Bobby. Didn’t bunt when Renteria hit one off the wall in the 9th, well of course you don’t bunt down one in the 9th. You bunt your 3rd place hitter in the 3rd with 2 men on and nobody out in the 3rd. Everybody knows that except Bobby.

We have a guy who said Cox went with the original lineup the whole game, including lefty on lefty matchups. Wrong. Diaz pinch hit for Langerhans against Cormier in the 8th. And I guess the implication is that Cox was stupid not to pinch hit for McCann in the 9th with the bases loaded and nobody out. Who was he going to send up there, Todd Pratt? I can imagine how everybody would have loved that.

We have a guy with an obscene handle whining about not being treated like a mature adult and others chiming in.

It can’t be that this team isn’t very good, it’s Bobby Cox. Dumba$$ losers.

By nathan

August 5, 2006 10:43 AM | Link to this

Don……tell your brother Bobby I said “hi” at your next family gathering.

One last question? Do you guys scratch each other’s backs when you have sleep overs?

By Don

August 5, 2006 10:45 AM | Link to this

Speaking of idiots, good morning Nathan.

By stew

August 5, 2006 10:47 AM | Link to this

This loss has to be blamed on Gonzalez or Giles. When Renteria hit the double, Giles should have scored on the play. My mother could have scored on that play. When Freel ran into the wall, Giles should have been near second base. The ball bounced off the wall towards center field. There had to be at least 6 seconds before Junior retrieved the ball. Wasn’t anyone who watched the game aware of the amount of time that elapsed. Giles should have scored and Renteria should have been on third easily. There was too much time with the ball in the outfield for it not to happen. This had to be the biggest baserunning blunder of the season.

By Don's impotent

August 5, 2006 11:08 AM | Link to this

Try Viagra Don. It works for your lover, Bobby

By robert j

August 5, 2006 11:11 AM | Link to this

the failure to punch hit was for Aybar. 0-million versus lefties, and clearly hasn’t earned the ‘bobby cox blind loyalty over common sense’ treatment yet

By h_charles

August 5, 2006 11:25 AM | Link to this

Thanks, Stew, for recognizing an obvious basserunning error. If it had been a 12-11 score, with runs easy to come by, I can see playing that so conservatively. But as poor as our offense has been at bringing runners home in that low scoring gane, no excuse for Giles not scoring. I think the blame is Gonzalez, who has shown a tendancy to be too conservative on the basepaths when we can’t score runs. Second time in a month Gonzalez has cost us a huge run by not waving the runner.

By Kentavo

August 5, 2006 11:34 AM | Link to this

Cox did turn the franchise around. But he’s also holding it back. He does not manage to win, in my opinion.

Why did he bring Ken Let’s Give ‘em A Run Ray into the game when he’s got Baez over there? You don’t have to only bring Baez in when there’s a lead. Cox never has a sense of urgency. His moves are all based on instilling confidence and trusting his players so that things will pay off down the road. Guess what? We’re running out of time Bobby. It is not April anymore. Cox does not do anything with a sense of urgency. It’s always, the will get ‘em next time approach. Drives me nuts.

By Don

August 5, 2006 11:37 AM | Link to this

Robert J., not that we should let facts get in the way of anything, but this year Aybar is batting .256 left handed and .250 right handed.

After the first week of the Aybar-Betemit deal, More Upside Aybar is 6 for 21, all singles, and has an OPS of .661. Betemit is 6 for 19 with 2 doubles and 2 home runs and an OPS of 1.119.

And yeah, we also got Rental Baez in the trade, which is worth nothing since this team wasn’t going to be in the postseason with or without him and he isn’t going to be with the Braves next year because he will cost more than the big league minimum.

By Don

August 5, 2006 11:45 AM | Link to this

Great, here’s another one. Why did Cox put in Ken Ray, who most everybody here was saying should be the closer 2 weeks ago? They should just pitch Baez and Wickman every night, a couple of innings apiece if necessary. No matter that we have Independent League Schiell pitching a day game today and will likely be into the bullpen by the 3rd inning, Cox should have used Baez in the 7th last night.

By robert j

August 5, 2006 12:29 PM | Link to this

don, if you are going to quote stats, get them right. .250 is his versus LEFT average (6-24) for full season. prior to his first game as a Brave in which he hit 4 off a pathetic lefty, he was 1-15 against lefties in LA. look beyond the numbers and think

By don's impotent

August 5, 2006 12:31 PM | Link to this

aybar has all of ZERO (that’s less than 1, Don) extra base hits against lefties the entire season!

By hop on chop

August 5, 2006 12:31 PM | Link to this

Don,

It’s useless to argue with these Monday morning quarterbacks. Robert & Co. are all fantasy players in the sense that they know everything there is to know about the great game of baseball, and the Braves players and managers are a bunch of hopeless clods without a clue, stinking it up out there. And should the facts get in the way of their fantasy, they simply ignore them. Cox has been good enough to manage in the playoffs 14 straight years? Ignore it. Francoeur is second in the league in two-out RBIs? Ignore it. Bobby Cox smelled the squeeze and called for a pitchout to foil it? Invent a different scenario for the pitchout so it looks like Cox just lucked out. Francoeur actually swung at a third-pitch strike in his last at-bat? Boldly lie, and claim he hit a first-pitch ball. Somone dares to point out the true facts? Call him a queer.

You’ll get no intelligent exchange of ideas here, Don. If you can’t get with the fantasy, then you’re better off reading a book or something. These guys are too busy being frustrated geniuses to toy with the pathetic likes of you.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 12:40 PM | Link to this

Here’s a fact, folks. There is time for “small ball” and a time for the big 3-run HR. The problem with this offense is that they are always trying to hit the big HR and they have very few “contact” hitters that just try to put the ball in play. Don, you’re right that the Reds probably would have walked Andruw to load the bases. However, McCann (sans last night) is much more likely to make contact and put the ball where a double play isn’t possible than he isn’t. Make fun of “small ball” all you want but last year’s WS featured the two team who did it best. The year before’s WS featured two teams who used power but also used “small ball”. I’ll say it again. When is the last game the Atlanta Braves won where they did not hit a HR. I cannot totally say this for fact but I think it was a game against the Cubs in late May (Horacio’s first start off the DL). Think about that. I realize that Great American is homerun hitter’s haven but you still have to play smart ball. Everyone keeps preaching patience to Francoeur. Why? If you all think that going for the HR is the right thing, then Frenchy is doing the right thing by swinging at the first pitch. Especially in that situation last night. With the bases loaded Guardardo is going to be throwing strikes. All pitchers no matter the situation try to throw first pitch strkes, so what is the point in bashing this lineup. I don’t want to hear anyone else say, “why can’t they manufacture a run?” I will tell you why. Because this lineup as good as it is is very unbalanced and lacks the speed and contact hitters that makes a major league lineup truly dangerous. Don’t believe me. Look at Derek Jeter. How many times has that guy come through in the clutch? Does he have to hit 25 HR to do it?

By hop on chop

August 5, 2006 12:44 PM | Link to this

Way to go, Robert! That post made a lot of sense, and you didn’t have to fudge any stats or change history to manage it.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 12:49 PM | Link to this

You know, Hop on Chop, I don’t know everything about baseball. I do know,however, sir, that you can’t win baseball games solely by hitting home runs. That is a pure fact. If a team could do such things, then the Texas Rangers would have about 4 world titles and the Detroit Tigers would have run off about 3 in a row in the late ’80s. It has nothing to do with being a “fantasy player”. The last time I checked if you are in a fantasy league the last kind of guy you want is someone who is a “contact” hitter. I’m not saying I’m always right. It is merely my opinion. If that offends you……well,……………sorry. I am not bashing Cox. I have defended Cox on this blog more than almost anyone. So, don’t come at me like that, my friend. I do however, question some of his decisions. For example, last year’s NLDS. In game 3 Sosa (who could believe it now) was doing very well. What does Bobby do? He brings in the bullpen, which had time after time blown games. What happened? They blew the game and the Braves fell down 1-2 in the series. The very next day Tim Hudson was cruising. He was mowing down the Astro hitters. Because he had already pitched 7 innings Bobby brought in Farnsworth for a 2 inning save (something he had not done all year long) and well, you know the rest is history.

By Don

August 5, 2006 12:52 PM | Link to this

hop on chop, obviously you’re right. It would be nice to have a forum for people who know something about baseball. They probably have them in cities like Boston or New York or St. Louis where the fans know baseball.

I think these people are actually sincere but are so convinced of their own genius that they don’t realize what they’re doing. Every time they see a move by Cox, or the lack of a move, they question it to themselves during the game. But if it works out, they forget about it. For the moves that don’t work out, they knew it all along and keep a running tally. Then after the game if the Braves lose they can list all the things stupid Cox did to cause it and how they knew it all along.

I question some of Cox’s moves during the games just like everybody else. But I’m not delusional enough to notice that his moves work out more often that mine would have.

And let’s don’t even get into the fact that virtually everybody who has played for Cox would try to run through a brick wall for him. What do they know?

I’d love to see a couple of these idiots give their theories about Bobby Cox the incompetent to the guys who have played for him and see the reactions.

By Don

August 5, 2006 12:58 PM | Link to this

Hey Robert (Justice), if you’re going to continue to harp on Cox not having Renteria bunt early in the game, can you explain to me why you haven’t also critized him for not having him bunt the tying run over in the 9th with nobody out and down by a run?

Oh yeah, I know why, because Renteria hit a double off the wall and that wiped out the memory of you yelling at the TV about why Cox was an idiot for not having him bunt.

By shawn

August 5, 2006 12:59 PM | Link to this

its 1:00 deal or no deal

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 01:00 PM | Link to this

Again, Don, I am not bashing Cox. I love Bobby Cox. Nothing upsets me more than the multitudes of people on these blogs who constantly say that Cox is an idiot and has no clue as to what he is doing. How can you say that? The man has won 15 stragight division titles (if you include Toronto in 1985). No one can be that “lucky”. Cox is a genius in my book. However, even geniuses make mistakes. I don’t think Cox is particuarly good managing in the postseason. His record speaks for itself. But, there is not another manager in baseball who can manage a 162 game season. That is why until the Braves are mathmatically eliminated you can never count them out. His players love him. With the exception of Robert Fick and Kenny Lofton I have never heard anyone say a negative thing about him. Yeah, Marquis wasn’t happy but it had nothing to do with Cox, but more with Mazzone. These guys do love him. He is like the perfect parent. He allows them to be themselves but at the same time sets down rules that he insists on being followed.

That was all I’m saying. I’m no major league manager.

By hop on chop

August 5, 2006 01:02 PM | Link to this

I’m not going to get into a debate with you, Bob (thats the mistake Don made; you people won’t listen to reason). Certainly over the course of 14 years Cox has made some bad decisions. Who hasn’t? But last night offers a perfect example of why you bloggers are hopeless. Cox foils a suicide squueze by calling for a pitchout, and you masters of denial claim the pitchout was designed for the runner at first and Cox simply lucked out getting the runner from third. Boy, the eye for subtleties you wizards possess! Why in hell aren’t you in a third-base coaching box somewhere, calling your own shots?

Cox has to have made a whole lot more good decision than bad over the course of 14 straight division titles. But even if you guys actually were smart enough to pick them all out, you’d find a way to diminish every one in your attempts to bolster your lame contention that he’s incompetent.

Bobby Cox looks like a pretty good manager from where I sit, but of course, I don’t know everything like you do.

Better take your blood pressure pill, Bob —ame’s about to start. I’ll bet Cox has some real moronic moves planned to frustrate the hell out of you today.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 01:04 PM | Link to this

By the way, I’m not harping on Renteria bunting. You keep bringing it up. And the reason I didn’t say anything about Renteria not bunting in the 9th was not because he hit a double and I erased from my memory but that the consensus baseball play is to play for the tie at home and the win on the road.

Sorry, if I have offended or upset you.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 01:12 PM | Link to this

Hop on Chop, I totally agree with you. There is no debate to have. I just said I thought he should have made some differnt decisions last night. I think Cox does the right thing 95% of the time. I didn’t realize that he or any other manager were above being criticized for any moves they make.

You guys, make it sound as if I totally ripped him, which if you actually read my comments I didn’t even get close to that. Yes, I said sometimes he frustrates me. And remember this the next time you yell about Frenchy or Andruw swinging at first pitches in run scoring situations. Bobby totally approves of them doing it. So, don’t get upset because its Bobby condones their actions. Okay.

By Don

August 5, 2006 01:25 PM | Link to this

Of course I agree that Bobby Cox made a terrible move taking Jorge Sosa out against Houston last year. Even though Sosa typically was up to 100 pitches by the 5th inning because he walked so many guys, nothing bad is going to happen to you with Sosa on the mound. It’s too bad we don’t still have him to start the game today.

And Cox definitely should have taken Hudson out after 5 innings in St. Louis a couple of weeks ago even though Hudson had only thrown 55 pitches. It was hot outside. The runs Hudson gave up in the 6th were entirely forseeable and should be charged to the idiot Cox, not Hudson. It’s not reasonable to expect to get 6 innings out of major league starter when he’s been staked to a double digit lead. Stupid Bobby!

Cox should also have known Chuck James was losing it and yanked him after he gave up a couple of hits last night, even though he had a no-hitter going into the 6th. He could have brought Paronto in, no wait, that didn’t work, I mean Ken Ray, no wait that didn’t work, I mean Baez. Yeah, Baez should have come in and worked the 7th and 8th with the Braves trailing and a day game today and Schiell pitching. Baez never gets lit up, at least not as far as we’ve seen. Those 7 blown saves this year were somewhere else.

By Chipper's a Candy

August 5, 2006 01:37 PM | Link to this

Cox continues to make stupid decisions, leaving starting pitching in too long and giving up needless runs late into the game. Oh, I forgot, we have Ray, he’ll sure as hell shut ‘em down. Then, if that doesn’t work, our outstanding clutch hitting will come through.

The simple truth is, this team can’t win in spite of Cox like the other teams have.

By Chipper's a Candy

August 5, 2006 01:38 PM | Link to this

Cox continues to make stupid decisions, leaving starting pitching in too long and giving up needless runs late into the game. Oh, I forgot, we have Ray, he’ll sure as hell shut ‘em down. Then, if that doesn’t work, our outstanding clutch hitting will come through.

The simple truth is, this team can’t win in spite of Cox like the other teams have.

By Pops

August 5, 2006 01:51 PM | Link to this

Did anyone notice (Rathbun and Gant said nothing) the baserunning and/or coaching blunder in the top of the eighth. Thorman on second with none out. Diaz basically gives himself up by punching a soft fly to the right side. Freel comes in and over, dives all out, catches the ball and skids accross the warning track on his chest and elbows. Why the hell didn’t Thorman tag up and jog to third??? THERE WAS NO ONE OUT!! If Freel missed, he scores anyway or at least goes to third with no one out. LaRoche either hits with the infield in (he didn’t get the chance)or his chopper to second scores the run. Tie game.

Hitting a major league pitcher is friggin hard. The best manage little more than 3 out of 10. Fundamentals are fundamentals. I am 61 and could have made it to third on Freel’s catch. The Braves never used to do these things. Can anyone picture Marquis Grissom standing on second with his thumb up his rear end on a play like this. Aha, you can’t.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 01:55 PM | Link to this

Don, your sarcasm is quite cute but what is the deal with you. You Bobby’s son or something. Again, I just said I think he made a wrong decision in the NLDS last year. That’s it. I will never say a negative thing about Bobby again as long as I don’t hear a negative word about Frenchy’s free swinging which has been publicly (very publicly) endorsed by Cox.

By TrueBlueBravesFan

August 5, 2006 01:57 PM | Link to this

In baseball there is only so much the manager can do to get your team the win. That’s why Managers get way to much credit for a teams success in the win. And also to much blame for the loss. What I like about Cox is he at least understands that its the players that get you there and not the manager. Unlike the genius otherwise known as LaRussa

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 02:04 PM | Link to this

Cox is great. I am getting blasted by a couple of guys on here for bashing Cox. All I said was I disagreed with some of his decisions. The fact is a manager can only do so much. A lot of year’s the Braves have not had a roster built for the postseason. That fact shows how good Cox is at getting these guys to play so hard during the regular season.

Here is an example of why even Cox can make mistakes. LaRoche should have been the everyday 1B from day one. No way should he have been platooning with Brian Jordan. No one can tell me that having Todd Pratt on the roster is better thna having Bryan Pena. And is it not obvious now that Giles for whatever reason is much more comfortable in the 2 hole and Renteria should have been leading off. C’mon. When Chipper comes off the DL who is going to leadoff? Any takers on it being Renteria? Would not be smart money to do that. He will put Giles, who has clearly stated his detest for the leadoff spot right back in there.

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 02:07 PM | Link to this

Why is Shiell on the mound? You have to have a 5th starter I know. But, wouldn’t Cormier be a better shot. He at least kept the team in the game. Shiell is about to let the Reds blow this wide open. Kevin Berry couldn’t start. Somebody….anybody! How many times does this guy have get blown up? You throw 1-2 pitch to a strkeout machine like Dunn right down the middle of the plate and then you hit a guy you have down 0-2. Good Lord!

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 02:09 PM | Link to this

I smell Grand Slam!

By Robert(Justice Is The Best)

August 5, 2006 02:12 PM | Link to this

Woooooo! What a relief! I’m eating my crow and I have to say it tastes good.

Lets go get some runs! We are going to have to score at 10 to win from what I’m seeing so far.

By matt

August 5, 2006 02:52 PM | Link to this

How are the Braves supposed to stay in the Wild Card race when they have this Shiell guy pitching on a regular basis? Is it not bad enough that we have only one consistent starter in Smoltz? Shiell didn’t even get the number 8 AND 9 hitters out. Just to remind you, that’s the worst position hitting player and the pitcher. In the word of David Brent from The Office: PAH-THEH-TIC.

By SRF

August 5, 2006 02:53 PM | Link to this

This is pathetic.

As I predicted - we are only a few days from last place.

By Peter

August 5, 2006 03:04 PM | Link to this

Are the Braves going to set a record this year for most pitchers who’d been waived by other teams or from an obscure independant league??

I didn’t think that we would win this year but it was tempered by the fact that I thought the same last season.

For an organization that prided itself on pitching this is humiliating. With Hudson not resembling anything close to a #1 starter, Hampton coming back from serious surgery and Smoltz maybe in his last season there’s a real question as to how the starting pitching will stack up.

Plus those guys will pull down close to $30 million next season.

In addition we’re going to get the short end of the stick in the winter if we continue to offer only one year contracts to proven bullpen guys.

With the pending sale I don’t know if we’re going to see first place again for a long time.

By Ron Roberts

August 5, 2006 03:19 PM | Link to this

HOME RUN MARCUS GILES!!!

Just kills me how a spot in the lineup makes such a psychological difference to him.

Glad he’s back in his groove now, though!

By bravesfan

August 5, 2006 03:26 PM | Link to this

I have been a Braves fan for 30 years. This team reminds me of the days when we were out of the pennant race by July 1st each year. Pitching, both starting and relief is not capable of producing winning baseball. Hitting is not consistent. There are three or four talented players on the team, but they cannot carry a team the whole season. My rating - at this point of the season, the Braves are not a very good team and are out of the w/c race.

By TrueBlueBravesFan

August 5, 2006 04:12 PM | Link to this

Geesh does Yates stink…….Why is he even on this team. Every time hes come in recently hes coughed up at least 1 run

By TrueBlueBravesFan

August 5, 2006 04:13 PM | Link to this

Let’s play pick the stiff. Yates, Paranto, Ray…..etc, etc

Rasberry…..

By don

August 5, 2006 04:28 PM | Link to this

Now, let me get this correct. The braves trade Betemit to get Baez to set up. However, Cox, master that many say he is, brings in Yates. Brilliant move- for the Reds.

By rob

August 5, 2006 04:35 PM | Link to this

Stick a fork in us, we’re done.

Man this sucks. Thank god football season is here.

By supergrass

August 5, 2006 04:42 PM | Link to this

i dont understand bringin in yates either…….

By KneeJerk

August 5, 2006 04:43 PM | Link to this

6 1/2 with Smotz going tomorrow. I’ll dare to say we’ll be 5 1/2 back after that. There are NO GREAT teams in front of us for the WC. We’ll get hot again. Be patient.

By supergrass

August 5, 2006 05:03 PM | Link to this

5-54 when trailing after 8 innings

By dubya

August 6, 2006 11:26 AM | Link to this

I guess I just don’t see the logic. You have two straight games with the wildcard leading Reds, you enter the bottom of the eighth inning with a tie. You have Wickman in the wings. **Why don’t you throw Baez in the 8th??” Please explain.

By becky

August 6, 2006 03:43 PM | Link to this

Francoeur finally !!!! hit a triple to tie the game at 4 apiece in the 8th inning.And no one’s out!!! Amazing that Frenchy finally came through.