ajcsportstalk

By Gary

June 6, 2008 11:23 PM | Link to this

Kelly Johnson either needs to be benched or dropped from the roster totally. That was pathetic and one doesn’t deserve being on a MLB roster if you cannot catch that pop up.

By Eric

June 6, 2008 11:23 PM | Link to this

Definitely the toughest loss of the season…game they should have won, at home to a division rival ahead of them. I’m starting to think this team just doesn’t have what it takes.

By Joe

June 6, 2008 11:24 PM | Link to this

Kelly, u sux.

By James

June 6, 2008 11:25 PM | Link to this

This isnt just the toughest loss of the season, it may be the end of the season. This proves that our bullpen and defense is too lousy to measure up to the rest of the division. We lose every game on the road and blow leads at home. Go ahead and call Disney to make vacation plans for October, because the schedule will be wide open.

By Chuck

June 6, 2008 11:25 PM | Link to this

Toughest loss of the season? Yes.

This game will be remembered as the game that started the Braves on a rapid descent into 2nd from bottom.

One handed catches my butt? Not your finest hour Kelly.

By indybravedog

June 6, 2008 11:25 PM | Link to this

The Braves need to do something about the bullpen. To have Hudson pitch until the ninth and a bonehead play screw up a win and to have Acosta ruin it again sucks. I live in Indy and don’t get to see the Braves much but I was in Cincinnati last weekend to watch the bullpen ruin a win and it sucks to only see highlights of losses after the bullpen sucks

By DirtyDawg

June 6, 2008 11:26 PM | Link to this

Just when it appeared that Johnson was coming around defensively, he pulls the boniest of bone-headed plays. Something’s wrong with this kid in the head…he’s simply not good enough to make lackadaisical plays…stupid…stupid…stupid.

By fan in bleachers

June 6, 2008 11:26 PM | Link to this

probably…but the phils are a studly bunch right now..their my team to beat

By Glenn

June 6, 2008 11:26 PM | Link to this

Why not go ahead and bring Richmond in a year early.Surely they can play smarter than these losers we have here now. How inept can these guys be.

By woodie

June 6, 2008 11:26 PM | Link to this

Why vent ? The Phillies are a better team whether we win or lose this game. I believe the stat was they have come from behind and won 18 games this year. You can’t argue with that.

By John

June 6, 2008 11:27 PM | Link to this

First.

By ugalaw

June 6, 2008 11:27 PM | Link to this

Before we start shooting to many arrows at Kelly Johnson, let’s not lose sight of who the two real goats were — Jeff Francouer and Blaine Boyer.

By Lee

June 6, 2008 11:28 PM | Link to this

I hate Philly. But I hate giving Philly a gift-wrapped win even more. Not one 2nd baseman we’ve had in 10 years would’ve dropped that ball. Un-freaking-believable.

By Ernie Wheelwright

June 6, 2008 11:28 PM | Link to this

KJ little league stuff.He’s got to make that catch on what looked like a easy play . But we should have put the Phils away much earlier when we missed opportunities to score.

By Charles Kilgo

June 6, 2008 11:28 PM | Link to this

If I were Bobby Cox I would fine Kelly Johnson for not using two hands. Something that all LITTLE LEAGUE players are taught when they first start playing. Also, I would have his shagging fly balls until he was exhausted making sure he uses BOTH HANDS. This may not look big now, but if we lose the pennant by ONE GAME I attribute it to that BONEHEAD PLAY!

By Ernie Wheelwright

June 6, 2008 11:28 PM | Link to this

KJ little league stuff.He’s got to make that catch on what looked like a easy play . But we should have put the Phils away much earlier when we missed opportunities to score.

By James Schroeder

June 6, 2008 11:29 PM | Link to this

I was sort of hoping Bobby wouldn’t let the team come out for the 9th. Can we send Kelly Johnson and Blaine Blower as far away as possible?

Hey Kelly, two hands. Nice buddy, NICE!

By Wayne Roth

June 6, 2008 11:29 PM | Link to this

The Braves are nearing a total melt down. Forget who blew what and ask yourself: are the braves worth watching or supporting unless they shake up there team big time. I think I will no longer watch or support them until they do. Last night was the straw that broke me. Bobby may be a nice man but someone needs to get in there and trade, demote and fire. The days of yester year are now totally gone.

By Ben Cartoon

June 6, 2008 11:29 PM | Link to this

JESUS CHRIST WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THEM. THEY’RE PATHETIC. DOES BOBBY COX JUST SIMULATE A SEASON IN MLB 08 AND JUST COPY EVERY MOVE THAT’S MADE.

By beau vighn

June 6, 2008 11:30 PM | Link to this

Kelly Johnson cost us this game and probably the division. We now go to 4.5 instead of 2.5 out. How can a major league player not catch a pop up. Bobby should sit his butt for a while and play Infante at 2nd. Francouer hasn’t had a big hit in how long? Basically everybody but Chipper and Mac suck right now.

This was our worst game of the season. From baserunning to fielding we just sucked. They deserved to lose this game. Cox needs to quit coddling these pukes and hold them accountable. Acosta could get my grand mother out. We are toast.

By Don

June 6, 2008 11:30 PM | Link to this

My 3 year old can catch a pop fly. My dog can catch them in his mouth. But a professional athlete drops it to lose the game. These guys dont deserve to be on the field. I dont care if we have a great home record. This team is a disgrace.

By Josh

June 6, 2008 11:30 PM | Link to this

Yes, and with all the mental errors we made in this game we didn’t deserve to win, if they don’t get their heads out of theirs asses they will be 10 games out by the all star break, there is absolutely no excuse to have left that many runners on base and to have 2 out with nobody on in the top of the ninth and not be able to win the game, and Kelly Johnson is a joke on defense, there is no way anyone is as bad of a 2nd basemen than he is, they teach you in little league to catch with two hands, we should be benched tomorrow!

By Jack Lee

June 6, 2008 11:30 PM | Link to this

Yes, this was the toughest loss this year up to this point. Today’s players continue to TRY to catch the ball one-handed instead of the correct way(two-handed). If you’ll notice, Mark Kotsay is a great defender and catches the ball TWO-HANDED. Hudson and Boyer deserved a win and save, respectively.

By Bob

June 6, 2008 11:31 PM | Link to this

Dump Cox!!!

All this terrible playing… leaving millions of base runners on base every game, stupid base-running errors, dropping easy pop ups, and so on and so on… does anyone think that its NOT the fault of the so-called “Hall of Fame” manager Bobby Cox? That man has lost more games that should have been easily won than any manager in history. All this nonsense of his about endless pitching changes just to get the right “match up,” suicide squeezes that don’t have a chance in hell of working, never bunting but always expecting the big home run to win every game… and I could go on forever. Let’s face it Braves’ fans, Bobby Cox is the manager who won only one World series after his team won 14 straight division titles. That alone is testament to his complete inability to manage and motivate. Its time that idiot of a manager do the right thing and step down so Atlanta baseball can get a real manager. Cox Sux!!!

By bravesarestillmyteam

June 6, 2008 11:32 PM | Link to this

This game tonight was a team loss, because of bad baserunning,a stupid one handed catch attempt, and Bobby trying to be loyal to Manny Acosta. I think Frenchy and Tex left a small army on base tonight.

By beau vighn

June 6, 2008 11:35 PM | Link to this

Kelly Johnson should be ashamed to wear a major league uniform. A Little leaguer could have caught that pop up. Stevie freakin’ Wonder could have caught it. I used to be a Kelly fan but not anymore. That is inexcusable. If he had a pair he should apologize to every Braves fan dead and alive for that play. I am so p** off right now. We just give the freakin’ game away.

By John Zook

June 6, 2008 11:35 PM | Link to this

Lack of talent hurts, doesn’t it and it is inherent throughout this team. Boyer walks two in the top of the 9th with 2 out! Acosta stinks. Kelly Johnson, gimme a break. 2 slow a* runners thrown out at home, most teams don’t even get 1 thrown at, much less 2! And so on and so on and so on. Not good enough, not by a long shot. A repeat of the last 2 years.

By Kashi

June 6, 2008 11:36 PM | Link to this

I agree this is the toughest loss of the season. But why Bobby’s decision to keep Mr. BOYER too long in the game is NOT mentioned her? Giving 2 (TWO) walks in 9th inning will NOT give W to Hudson’s 8th inning gem work, would it? You could see in TV Boyer was shaken after a first walk and absolutely he had no command on his pitches. I felt like Bobby went to take nap or something in 9th inning. Kelly did everything he could to save the game but it was a high fly ball he had to run half way towards right field battling againts lights coming from home plate and right side field. This is what happen when you become a player’s favorite manager in close games. Good Job Bobby!

By HoustonBrave

June 6, 2008 11:36 PM | Link to this

Everyone is down on Kelly. Okay he made an error but Blaine Boyer, Manny Acosta and Cox do it every night. Look at the incredible won-lost record for one loss games. I feel for Hudson who Cox has single handedly lost his last two well pitched games.

By MJM

June 6, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this

Kelly may have droped that ball but there is plenty of blame to go around, like Francoeur 0 for 5. A piccher getting thrown out at second because he forgot to run. etc etc.

By Robert S

June 6, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this

Let us not mince words here to describe this absolute shambles of a baseball game:

The Braves deserved to lose.

Let’s remember that the Braves had ample opportunities to score in this game and did their usual choke job with a one run lead.

To wit-

Bases loaded in the third inning, and Jeff Francoeur flies out to end the inning.

Omar Infante gets thrown out at home on Blanco’s bunt attempt in the sixth.

Bases loaded in the seventh - Escobar is thrown out at home on Francoeur’s sac fly. Double play, inning over, rally over.

Bottom of the ninth, two on and one out. The Braves duly struck out (Teixiera) and popped to first (that Francoeur guy again).

Johnson’s error was just icing on the cake.

This is the biggest collection of choke artists in baseball, and it’s a wonder they still have a winning record.

By Joe

June 6, 2008 11:38 PM | Link to this

It is time for Frenchy to sit down or go to AAA for a while.

He is just pathetic at the plate right now. Everyone in the ballpark knows that he is going to swing at every first pitch he sees, yet he keeps hacking at bad balls.

The one constant he had was great defense, and he is not even playing an average right field right now.

Hate to say it, but the kid is really hurting the team right now.

By Bob

June 6, 2008 11:39 PM | Link to this

probably, but so what. even if we swept the phils we would go 1-9 on the upcoming road trip and be back in the bottom with the nats. this team is just lousy. pitchers that are made of glass or choke, hitters that cant hit with men on base, and base runners that look like blind retarded kids. i cant bear to watch this train wreck anymore. i’m becoming a cubs fan.

By Traver

June 6, 2008 11:39 PM | Link to this

OK Bobby,

It’s time to stop yelling at the umpires and start yelling at the players. Rearrange the locker room one time. Where’s the focus? Time for Acosta to go. Time for Frenchy TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT AT THE PLATE. I can see he spent way too much time in the cage with Andruw during the off season. Its time to trade Hudson and Chipper to a contender - they deserve better. HEY KELLY USE TWO HANDS. It’s time to call a team meeting to review base running. Its time to stop walking leadoff men in the 8th and 9th innings. ITS TIME TO REALIZE THAT WE NEED TO GO OUT AND GET A CLOSER. Lastly, if somebody doesn’t throw behind Victorino the first time he is at the plate tomorrow, then you guys are gutless. He did his job but he showed you up in the process. Get it together. You are embarassing us. This is not the way the Braves play ball!!!!!

By beau vighn

June 6, 2008 11:41 PM | Link to this

Yeah, you can Blame Francouer and Boyer but for crying out loud this game is on Kelly “can’t catch a pop up” Johnson. Frank Wren should put his butt on the first train to Richmond. He is no more a major league player than I am. For that matter, I could have caught that pop up because I WOULD HAVE USED 2 FREAKIN’ HANDS.

By bravesarestillmyteam

June 6, 2008 11:42 PM | Link to this

You know I think gaining that weight has hurt Frenchy in every part of his game. His bat speed seems slower,and I know he is slower on the bases and in the field. He said he wanted to add muscle to hit more homers, but didn’t he hit like 30 or more 2 years ago about 20 pounds lighter.

By Dean

June 6, 2008 11:44 PM | Link to this

The Braves have no shot to win the division. Any team that loses this many one run games clearly doesn’t have the makeup to be a playoff team, much less a championship team.

And I’m tired of hearing about Chipper. Great for him, but this team has no heart.

By BubbaGump

June 6, 2008 11:44 PM | Link to this

Wow. KJ’s one-hander. I seem to remember Bobby pulling Andruw out of a game for a similar bone-headed play. KJ isn’t good enough for nonchalanting the ball…

Francoeur left 8 men on base in his last 3 at-bats. Pathetic.

Escobar’s baserunning “blunders”. Stuff a little-leaguer should know.

A botched squeeze. A pitcher (who aparently hasn’t ever been on base before) trying to take second on a passed ball/wild pitch.

What did these guys do in spring training? Definitely not work on funda-mentals (stress the mental part).

If it weren’t for Chipper…

By Kashi

June 6, 2008 11:44 PM | Link to this

I agree with [ugalaw June 6, 2008 11:27 PM] REAL Goat tonight were JEFF FRANCOUER, BOYER, ACOSTA. O yeah Bobby didn’t play. He managed to lose tonight’s game by letting BOYER face too mange batter on day he didn’t have any command of his pitches.

By chipdip

June 6, 2008 11:45 PM | Link to this

I just s==t a scrapple sandwich and MIKE SCHMIDT just ate it.

By Wen

June 6, 2008 11:47 PM | Link to this

Braves,

You made my 6 year old cry tonight. Thanks, a-holes.

By rolltideface

June 6, 2008 11:47 PM | Link to this

There’s so many things wrong with this team. M Tex CANNOT come through when we need him, Manny Acosta and Kelly johnson should either be demoted or cut altogether, and Norton is horrible. Frenchy has had one good year- that’s it, he’s mediocre at best. Cox’s working on a new streak- 3 3rd place finishes in a row! Wow- what consistency!! Blow this team up- no way that they are going anywhere with this current lineup.

By beau vighn

June 6, 2008 11:48 PM | Link to this

For once I would like to see Booby Cocks go off on somebody and start chewing some butt out. Some of these guys need to be called out in the paper. Francouer needs to explain why he is as bad as Andrew at being hard headed and refusing to listen to TP. He needs to spend some time at Richmond or on the bench until he decides that he is going to quit swing at pitches in the other batters box. Cocks needs to send a message to these guys or this season is over. If we lose tomorrow…it’s over.

By Belvedere

June 6, 2008 11:48 PM | Link to this

Sure, this one really stings, and sure, KJ should have used two hands, but with all the stupid baserunning mistakes, botched squeezes, and lack of even one clutch hit, the team absolutely deserved to lose this game. The execution simply has to improve. As for the popup, we all know it was a fluke. It’s not the end of the world.

By AJ 25 FAN

June 6, 2008 11:49 PM | Link to this

Kelly bleeping Johnson and Frenchy freakin Francootie are going to kill this team.

By Don

June 6, 2008 11:49 PM | Link to this

Note to Braves:

Quit being huge v*ginas.

By JoeyZ

June 6, 2008 11:52 PM | Link to this

Bobby Cox shows that his nemesis is the Phillies. When it comes down to meaningful games against the Phils, the Braves always find a way to lose. I also have to say to the Umpire at the plate, nice call. The Phillies catcher got the tag in just before the foot crossed the plate. It wouldn’t have come down to that if, Escobar didn’t get thrown out at the plate, and Johnson dropping the ball in the 9th. This shows you what a team that winners and losers are made of.

By Eric C.

June 6, 2008 11:52 PM | Link to this

Folks…this is the worst loss on a defensive blunder I’ve seen since the 1992 fiasco when a pop-up landed between Justice and Lemke against the Pirates early that season. Don’t blame anyone except KJ for that loss. Good teams win lots of 2-1 games in the course of a year…how can you start spreading blame for being up 2-1 with 2 outs to go in the 9th. It’s plain and simple…the 3rd out should have been made with Braves up 2-1.

By JoeyZ

June 6, 2008 11:53 PM | Link to this

Bobby Cox shows that his nemesis is the Phillies. When it comes down to meaningful games against the Phils, the Braves always find a way to lose. I also have to say to the Umpire at the plate, nice call. The Phillies catcher got the tag in just before the foot crossed the plate. It wouldn’t have come down to that if, Escobar didn’t get thrown out at the plate, and Johnson dropping the ball in the 9th. This shows you what a team that winners and losers are made of.

By BubbaGump

June 6, 2008 11:54 PM | Link to this

Kashi - Kelly Johnson did have to run a bit for the ball, but he was camped out under it when it mattered. He set his feet, found the ball, let the ball hit his glove as he looked away, dropped the ball (because he forgot what every little league coach teaches his players - USE TWO HANDS), then proceded to trip over his feet. Not exactly what you expect from a major-league ballplayer.

By beau vighn

June 6, 2008 11:56 PM | Link to this

Tired of hearing about Chipper?! Are you kidding me!!!… without Chipper we are… the Nationals. Chipper is all we got with a little McCann thrown in.

As the ranking member of the clubhouse, Chipper needs to chew some a*. Bobby’s gonna keep breast feeding these liitle punks so we need a Chipper to kick somebody’s a*.

By UUUUUNEL

June 6, 2008 11:56 PM | Link to this

4.5 games back there is no way we will ever catch up to the phillies with only 100 games left. We might as well forfeit the season now that kelly dropped the ball. Its impossibble to comeback now. NOT!!!!!!!!!!! who cares one game they will get over it.

By robby

June 6, 2008 11:56 PM | Link to this

NO BLAME THIS ONE ON BOBBY COX FOR TAKING OUT HUDSON, IF HUDSON WAS STILL IN THERE, BRAVES WIN 2-1,NOT FREAKING LOSE 4-3.

By fubravesa

June 6, 2008 11:57 PM | Link to this

Knock Knock

Who’s there?

The Braves.

The Braves who?

The Braves are a bunch of f*ggot, fu(k-face, d!ck licking, cun%s that su

By Jim Dandy

June 6, 2008 11:58 PM | Link to this

While several of the Braves are among the best in baseball and play like real professionals, others just do not seem to give a damn.

KJ, go cash your paycheck and have a beer, your work here is done.

By Kashi

June 6, 2008 11:58 PM | Link to this

I DISAGREE WITH MANY OF YOU HERE. IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF KELLY THAT WE LOST A TOUGHEST GAME OF THE SEASON TONIGHT. IT IS THE POOR TEAM PERFORMANCE AND BADLY MANAGED. ACOSTA NEEDS A WEEK LONG VACTION TO HAWAII AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT BOBBY NEEDS…? BOBBY HAD DONE A LOT FOR US AND I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR HE SINGED ONE YEAR EXTENTION BUT HE NEEDS TO BE AGGRESSIVE WITH PITCHERS AND PLAYERS. —-STOP BEING VERY VERY LOYAL TO PLAYERS—-. PHILLIES DID EVERYTHING RIGHT TONIGHT GIVING CHIPPER 2 INT. WALKS TO FACE TEX AND JEFF FRANCOUER. DROP J.FRACOUER TO 7TH SPOT. I KNEW SOMETHING WOULD GO WRONG WHEN I SAW A BATTING LINE UP WITH JEFF IN 5TH SPOT. PHILLIES ARE NOT A LOSER TEAM TO TAKE THEM EASY. LINE UP SHOULD HAVE BEEN 1.YUNEL 2.KELLY 3.CHIPPER 4.TEX 5.BMAC 6.INFANTE 7.JEFF 8.BLANCO 9.HUDSON

C’MON BOBBY USE YOUR BRAIN PHILLIES ARE A TOUGH TEAM TO BEAT.

By Josh

June 7, 2008 12:02 AM | Link to this

Is funny how some mlb guys like KJ are so overrated.. If this guy’s name was ‘Jose’ from somewhere south, he would have not made the team…

By Mitchell

June 7, 2008 12:02 AM | Link to this

In a way, the loss to the Marlins on Wednesday still hurts a little more. I mean the bullpen is usually good but it’s overworked and the loss exposed a weakness. How do you see a game like this one tonight coming. What can you do? Kelly dropped it. It’s unacceptable but it’s also a sign of who the Braves are these past 3 years: still pretty solid but on a razor’s edge of total collapse. You can’t blame that game entirely on that one play just like you can’t blame Bill Buckner for losing Game 6 of the ‘86 World Series. You want to, you should, but you can’t. Despite all of that I thought the Phillies showed themselves to be as classless and ugly as the citizens of their hometown. They showed complete disrespect and I did not appreciate it. In my state of horror, I immediately sent two obscene emails to the Phillies website after the game. I’m sure they got erased for explicit content but just in case I go missing, tell my family I sort of love them. I honestly feel bad for Kelly, I thank God it wasn’t me who did that.

By DSan

June 7, 2008 12:02 AM | Link to this

F^^^ stupid F^^^ kelly. i don’t want to hear any of this bull^^^^ that it wasnt only his fault. I was his f^^^^^g fault!!! He knows it too! And dumb^^^ Blaine “base on ball” Boyer needs to be fall the team! Acosta can join him!! And Where the F^^^ was Soriano!! Go F^^^ yourselves you stupid F^^^ing C^^ts!

By beau vighn

June 7, 2008 12:03 AM | Link to this

I hate Kelly Johnson right now more than Kyle Bush…Oh wait what am I thinking. I hate Kyle Bush more..But Kelly Johnson is a tool.

By DSan

June 7, 2008 12:05 AM | Link to this

My bad in my rage i made a typoon my other comment: Boyer needs to be off the team!

By Harpie

June 7, 2008 12:06 AM | Link to this

That’s not the first game they’ve lost because of Kelly’s crappy defense. But, this team is basically a bunch of losers - they keep inventing new ways to give games away.

By gdog

June 7, 2008 12:07 AM | Link to this

once again! the braves snatch defeat from the jaws of victory

By Britt

June 7, 2008 12:07 AM | Link to this

Please no more squeeze plays!!! Can’t remember the last time we scored on one. The bad plays just kinda went downhill from that.

By beau vighn

June 7, 2008 12:07 AM | Link to this

Not because of Kelly? What freakin game did you watch? As badly as we played, if Kelly catches that ball we win… we freakin win!!! He didn’t so we freakin lose!!1 Now, it is because of Kelly because he DROPPED A FREAKIN POP UP OR THE GAMES OVER.

By BubbaGump

June 7, 2008 12:08 AM | Link to this

Kashi, are you kidding me? KJ catches the pop-up, the game is over. I watched similar plays this evening with Arizona/Miami, and those guys remembered the fundamentals. I watched Tex catch a pop-up in the 10th, two-handed. It’s not a difficult thing.

Two outs, easy pop-up to second baseman, game is over. Unless your second baseman is KJ.

You are right about one thing, though. The Phils did everything right tonight. They played like professionals, as professionals are expected to play. They made the routine plays, they made the difficult plays. They didn’t hit well against an excellent pitcher (Hudson), but when it came time to hit against the AAA relief corps, they did what they were expected to do. Double, triple, double, game over.

By tiger297

June 7, 2008 12:10 AM | Link to this

**Team Loss Period Before you feel to badly for Huddy there are plenty of terrific plays (double play with bases loaded) that keep him in games the numbers that hurt me are 14 runners left on base including runners on 3rd with 1 out twice 4 men thrown out running the bases and this isn’t the first game the Braves have lost because of these same offensive miscues No doubt Kelly’s boneheaded play hurt but we held the Phillies to 4 runs in 10 innings so its hard for me to blame the pitching/defense to much

By Harpie

June 7, 2008 12:12 AM | Link to this

Bunch of losers….

By warren

June 7, 2008 12:15 AM | Link to this

ive seen enough!!! too many of the same mistakes, this team,a as much as id like them to…are not going to the playoffs this year. when mike gonzalez comes back, does anyone think thats going to be the turnaround player???? no. unlike when the braves were a sub 500 team then, and went like 58-26 the rest of the way when they got fred mcgriff. this team has no chance of doing that!! the have chipper, mac, huddie,yunel and jj. after that everyone there is just about average. the bullpen has no true proven closer. the staff is decent, but you cant win close games with a bullpen that fails 4 out of 5 times. i still love the braves, and always will, but for them to recover for this there going to need a act of god. call up that kid from richmond. he’s 5-1 with a 1.70 era!!! make a trade for a real left fielder with power, sit frenchy some more, dont put acosta in a close out position. and please let infante play second. kelly johnson i thought at one time would be a great second baseman, but he has lost us too many games this year with errors, or not hitting. play anderson some in left, please do something. luv ya braves

By Rick M

June 7, 2008 12:15 AM | Link to this

I feel for everyone bashing Kelly Johnson. Yea, I’m as ticked off as you most everyone else on that bone-headed play. No one remembers the nice turn he made on the DP to end the 7th. This is a converted outfielder. Jeff Francouer will be the next Andrew Jones if he does not get it soon. Trying to pull everything and he’s not maturing. He wonders why the Braves have not offered him a contract like McCann? Acosta and Soriano are both scary thus we are back to where we were last year. No reliable closer. Stinks to lose this game but execute on the squeeze and we’re talking about how Cox is finally playing some small ball instead of Kelly’s error.

By Tim

June 7, 2008 12:15 AM | Link to this

Is Leo Mazone not available? The Braves have had a terrible bullpen since he left. Only reason that patchwork starting staff has been as successful as it has been is McDowell can’t screw up the veterans Hudson, Smoltz, and Glavine. Reyes has been better this year because he has had teaching from Glavine. Jurgens has not been under the negative influence long enough yet. I would take Dan Uggla any day over Kelly Johnson. And, give me a hurt Josh Willingham over Frenchie.

By Braves are so lame

June 7, 2008 12:17 AM | Link to this

Ugghhh.. I just threw up…in my mouth.

How does this team have a winning record?

Oh well that won’t last.

Braves, you su

By Braves are so lame

June 7, 2008 12:17 AM | Link to this

Ugghhh.. I just threw up…in my mouth.

How does this team have a winning record?

Oh well that won’t last.

Braves, you su

By Rhyno

June 7, 2008 12:20 AM | Link to this

Lots of mistakes tonight by lots of people. Base running was pathetic the whole game. Kelly will drop 1 pop fly a season like that, but Acosta will lose you a game ever other time he comes out of the bullpen. He’s an absolute joke and needs to be shipped off to some half@ss mexican league team. Sadly, it looks like the best we can hope for this season is another 3rd place NL East finish, and we may be lucky to end up in 3rd.

By Sosad

June 7, 2008 12:21 AM | Link to this

Well, the good news: I won’t be spending any more money on Braves tickets this year.

How did it come to this…when did the Braves become a joke?

By True Braves Fan

June 7, 2008 12:22 AM | Link to this

GOATS??? TAKE YOUR PICK…Johnson, Escobar, Boyer, Acosta, Fancoeur, Tex, et al….Mac, Chipper, Ohman, Huddy deserve to be on a better team.

By Fan since 66

June 7, 2008 12:24 AM | Link to this

No blaming Bobby Cox for this one.Jeff Francouer has become this years version of Andruw Jones.He can’t buy an rbi anymore.We have no postion player that can get a bunt down when needed.And it was not the pitching tonight either.Boyer did his job getting the popup that should have been the last out of the game.Kelly Johnson and Yunel Escobar among others have got to stop the silly mistakes they are making.What we saw tonight was bush league play.

By sutyu

June 7, 2008 12:26 AM | Link to this

I wonder what it’s like to root for a team that doesn’t su

By Rabiddawg

June 7, 2008 12:26 AM | Link to this

look, as a die hard braves fan, this loss does not bother me. As many braves fans we are used to this kind of loss. maybe not a dropped pop fly, but a loss nonetheless. Here is the number one problem with this team, and it has plagued the braves for years. No heart…. It’s that simple. We have a bunch of managers players who do not fear mistakes. They ho hum through every season and no one ever lights a fire under their arses. Until we get vocal and fiery leadership on this team, we will continue to settle for mediocraty. You think Lou Pinella, would stand for his players just simply going about their business and not having heart and grittyness… I think not.

By Andy G

June 7, 2008 12:26 AM | Link to this

Kelly Johnson continues to be a defensive liability. If Prado was not hurt, I seriously doubt Kelly would be at second base with all his errors. Yes, his bat can help at times, but his defense is atrocious. We need to stick him back in left field or sit him to be a bat off the bench. Errors have killed us so far. How many times has Hudson and Glavine lost because of errors or bullpen woes? More than we’d like to admit.

By melissa

June 7, 2008 12:27 AM | Link to this

the news media in this town needs to grow some balls ! and ask bobby some countable questions ! like : why did you try to squezze when your ex coach was in the other dugout and knew what was coming !! why didn’t you take kelly out when he made that bone head play !!!! why you keep leting these players get away with their play ?!!! why didn’t you bench francoeur ?! andruw jones made refence to this out in LA !! HE SAID that bobby cox and the atlanta media never treated him with tough questions about his play ?! joe torre quickly answered “you are in LA and you are playing for me ! that’s why that other team has one world series” ! get it bobby cox !!! i was hoping frank wren was better than shuerholtz when it comes from keeping the manager and team in check !!! and quickly make changes !! bobby cox signing an ext. for one more year saying “i’m not ready to leave my players” !! well!, bobby they sure have left your sorry a* !!! a sorry ! sorry ! sorry ! team ! please give chipper another chance to win another world series with someone else !!! ask the damn questions news media !!! ask the damn questions !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Kerrie

June 7, 2008 12:27 AM | Link to this

it cracks me up that everyone can dog on kelly for this loss….people make errors…and the game never shoudl have been this close…let’s look at all of the base running mistakes the braves had tonight…shoudl have been up by a couple of runs at that point…..this loss does not belong to kelly. Yunel Escobar needs to be benched…I am tired of watching him think he needs to be the hero and making dumb decisions..send manny acosta down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and Mike Hampton step it up….ask Smoltz about pain management and do something for a team that needs you!

Smarter base running and patience at the plate makes the difference.

By Dan in NC

June 7, 2008 12:28 AM | Link to this

As ststed in an earlier post, this could be the type of lost that begins a downward spiral in the standings.

First off, I don’t think Hudson had his best stuff tonight because there were a lot of balls, especially in the early innings that got hit. That said, he did a masterful job and should have been a sure-lock win.

The problem came in two areas. First off the absolute brain-fart by our younger players. Did you see the brief look on Chipper’s face after Yunel made that horrible base-running blunder?

Then you got KJ and his choke job in the 9th. Boyer got rattled after not getting some close pitches and allowed two to walk. That said he got himself out of that jam, or at least he thought he did?

The second problem I had was Bobby’s micro-managing of the 9th inning. Is it now against Bobby’s rule book to throw Soriano two consecutive days? Am I missing something here? This whole 9th should have been a no-brainer. That said, he makes a decision to keep Ohman in the game to face Howard only at the cost of not pushing an extra run across in the 8th. In all reality Ohman and Boyer did their part, but once again the point is that they shouldn’t have been in there anyway. Basically Bobby played the 9th inning like it was the 7th inning.

By jdaddy

June 7, 2008 12:30 AM | Link to this

this team is a minor league team. No ands,if’s, but’s about it. I knew it at the beginning of the yr.It was that way pretty much last yr and the yr before. There will never be another braves team of the 90’s. You have players on this team that are just too old or you have players who are minor leagers who are non shalant. Painful loss indeed.Im about at my whits in with watching such garbage.

By Aaalaaan

June 7, 2008 12:31 AM | Link to this

Bobby Cox lost the game again by using Acosta. Is was ridiculously stupid to bring him in. The Braves should of had many more runs but that was a team effort. Everyone thinks Cox is such a great manager but when Baseball Historians look back 20 years from now their conclusion will be that the Braves were fantastic under achievers with four hall of famers on their team.

By bravesfansarestupid

June 7, 2008 12:36 AM | Link to this

You are all losers.

The Braves don’t care what you think.

They only care about the paycheck.

Most of them can’t read anyway, so your posts are useless.

By Bob

June 7, 2008 12:39 AM | Link to this

This one hurts … but it cannot be blamed on Kelly Johnson alone. Base running blunders, bad defense, numerous runners left on base in scoring position … the Braves grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory. Francoeur had two very sub par at bats with the bases loaded and wasn’t able to bring home one single run. I am so tired of waiting on Francoeur to turn into the MLB ballplayer that he has been touted to be since the days of Parkview. This guy has had more hype coming into his career as a local star than anyone I can remember, and has yet to deliver in times when it really mattered with a bat in his hands. No one player can be blamed. Obviously Kelly Johnson and the bullpen will receive most of the blame for this loss, but it cannot go un-noticed how underwhelming Francoeur is at the plate. Right now he is probably the last guy I want at the plate with runners on, runners in scoring position, hell .. . no one on. We all know of the Braves struggles in one run games, games on the road, etc. Those are game you have to win. I know its a long season, but you cannot give games away like that. I didn’t know whether to just curse and yell, throw something at the tv, turn the tv off, call somebody to vent, punch someone, or call a psychiatrist. Bobby Cox is Hall of Fame veteran coach who must be losing his mind during games like this. We are a competitive ballclub without a doubt, but this was a complete collapse, as a team.

By billT

June 7, 2008 12:41 AM | Link to this

Are the Braves allowed to have bunting practice? Or baserunning practice? They made more miscues on those than my 10-year-old Little League team. C’mon Escobar, a fly to the outfield with one out means you tag up - and then run/ Not run one way, then another way and then a third direction back to home. And Francouerm - watch some Chipper tapes. Over and over. You stink these days.

By mikehamptonhater

June 7, 2008 12:44 AM | Link to this

Kerrie,

You want Mike Hampton to step it up?

I want Mike Hampton to die. He’s a thief, a loser, and a pu$$%.

I hope his house collapses on him.

By Mitchell

June 7, 2008 12:44 AM | Link to this

The most painful part of that for me was Tim Hudson not getting the win. All I wanted in the 9th was for Tim to ge a victory. The game might as well have ended on that dropped ball for me. That was horrific. I think Braves fans for the most part are one of the worst things about this team. People never pay attention, the rich retards sitting behind homeplate act like they’re watching a movie. I hate the way we can never fill up Turner Field anymore, it’s a disgrace. I mean, it’s the Braves! But my God, anybody who feels like they’ll never go to a Braves game again has my understanding. All I can say is, this is our payback for beating the Phillies last year at home when we scored 8 runs in the last two innings and won on a Matt Diaz 3 run double. We may lose the division again because of this and many other games we’ve given away this year but come on, don’t give up yet… give up after we lose 9 games on our next road trip.

By Matt

June 7, 2008 12:45 AM | Link to this

I watched the whole damn game and was exhausted; I now can’t sleep.

By matlanta

June 7, 2008 12:49 AM | Link to this

Tonight’s loss was a tough one, maybe THE toughest of the season so far, but there’ve been some other hard ones as well. the season opener was one of the hardest ones for me: the braves could only get 1 run off odalis perez, then they finally tied it up in the top of the 9th only to have moylan give up a two-out homer to zimmerman. then there’s last weeks game against the reds: the one when jurrjens got knocked around early but the braves came back twice to tie and then went ahead twice, then soriano walked the leadoff guy and he comes around to tie it up on that close close play at the plate, which led to the jay bruce home run in the inning after the braves blew a great chance to take the lead in the 10th.

tonight’s may very well have been the toughest yet. a great performance by hudson is wasted, the offense can’t drive in runs at home, kelly johnson drops a routine pop up, blah blah blah blah…..how many times do you see it where a failure to drive in an insurance run comes back to haunt you. plenty so far this year.

By IndianaBrave

June 7, 2008 12:49 AM | Link to this

I’m not even going to comment on Kelly Johnson. It’s all been said. Same with Acosta and Francoeur. What is really hurting the Braves is Tex isn’t making teams pay for IBB to Chipper and they have like $40M on the DL. This team is a .500 team and will finish in 4th plave about 15 GB. Season over.

Let’s look to next year. Smoltz, Glavine, Hampton, and Kotsay will all be gone. That gives Atlanta about $40M to spend. Re-sign Teixeira, go get a left fielder and a 2B. Get a power closer and another SP with that money. 2009 could be a great year. SPEND SOME MONEY!!!

By Dan in NC

June 7, 2008 12:49 AM | Link to this

Again, I will ask the question…Where was Soriano in the 9th?

I can’t sleep until I get the reasoning behind it.

By Mitchell

June 7, 2008 1:00 AM | Link to this

You gotta admit, the Phillies are a really good team. They’re really good when the better teams in the division 1) fail miserably at executing the simplest of plays and 2) manage to collapse in historic fashion at the end of the season. And you know what, I’d have f*** 21 home runs too if I could make little 3/4er choppy swings and have the ball barely go over a wall that’s 200 feet down the line to my right. Chase Utley can suck it.

By IndianaBrave

June 7, 2008 1:02 AM | Link to this

Obviously Soriano isn’t right yet, Dan in NC. Which begs the question…Will he ever be healthy this season? Gonzo will probably not pitch this year, neither will Hampton. The Braves aren’t forthright with the injury situation of the players. Nobody said anything about Smoltz injury being career ending until two days ago. Does anyone know what the Hampton or Gonzalez situations are? The truth is, They are all hurt (Soriano included) and the season is over. Manny Acosta is the Braves closer for the rest of the season. Goodnight Braves fans, see you in 2009.

By haterz

June 7, 2008 1:09 AM | Link to this

Indiana Brave,

2009 will stink just like this year because the Braves have no heart.

You can’t buy heart no matter how much money you have.

I wish they would sell the team and tear down the stadium.

I hate this team.

By pfunkatl2

June 7, 2008 1:12 AM | Link to this

WORST GAME I EVER SAW! I have been to close to 1000 major league games in my lifetime and have NEVER left feeling more SICK! I KNEW when bobby let Ohman hit that it was gonna happen…ask my companion at the game…I threw enough F-BOMBS in the 9th to send children SCRURRYING for COVER. When the post-game fireworks are the HIGHLIGHT, then ENOUGH SAID!!!

By Mike O

June 7, 2008 1:17 AM | Link to this

Bobby Cox has always been seen as a manager who never gets too high when the team loses and definitely never gets on players with threats of demotions. Well, I think it’s about time he summoned Kelly Johnson and points out that his error in this game was totally ucalled for. He has made quite a few game changing errors this season. He should remind him that the popup with no wind is something that little league players handle with ease. The game was won and he blew it. Scold him it will surprise him into doing extra fielding practice.

By BeachGaBulldog

June 7, 2008 1:19 AM | Link to this

I’m still in shock. I’m still p**. Kelly, Escobar, Jeff, Boyer, and Acosta played like s. I hate the Phillies, and to just hand a game to them like that is inexcusable. I have never been a Bobby Cox fan for a number of reasons. He doesn’t know how to handle a pitching staff. A pitcher like Acosta blows a game, and Mr. Stubborn will bring them right back out the next time to screw up. He is way too loyal to his players. What he needs to do is crack the whip, and sit Francoeur, KJ, Escobar, Acosta, and Boyer. He won’t do s! To me, not using two hands to catch a pop is just as lazy as not running hard to first.

By sudf

June 7, 2008 1:19 AM | Link to this

Who knows about Soriano.

He probably stubbed his toe or cut himself shaving.

I have a few baseball tips:

There are others, but we can start with those.

Clearly the Braves don’t have the slightest idea of what they are doing and are thus doomed to 100 more games of failure.

YOU STINK BRAVES> I HATE YOU>

By Vonshawn

June 7, 2008 1:50 AM | Link to this

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems that Bobby has a designated “pet project” player every year. And this year it just happens to be Acosta. Everyone in the stands and watching at home knows that this guy is going to blow the game, yet Bobby brings him in anyway. Check the definition of insanity and you’ll find Bobby’s picture in color.

By A.S

June 7, 2008 1:51 AM | Link to this

Of course this is the toughest lost so far this season. Thats a little league mistake that Kelly made. Its wasn’t even truly the bullpens fault we lost this one. Ohman did his job but Kelly just forgot the easiest baseball rule. USE TWO HANDS! Especially in a situation like this.

By Dave in Arizona

June 7, 2008 2:00 AM | Link to this

When Johnson droppped the ball, I laughed so hard I almost fell over. After all the chokes in the nineties, it’s finally getting easier to lose again. Reminds me of the good old days of 1979. Where’s Biff Pocoroba and Brian Asselstine? These yuks look just like them.

Bobby’s bums don’t care. They don’t have the edge that creates a winning team. They are absolutely horrific at fundamentals, which isn’t anything new. The Braves lose games in ways that would shame little leaguers. Part of it is that they don’t play the game properly, and Cox can’t do the small things with strategy to win ballgames. That makes for recurring disasters. No team should lose one run games the way this one does.

Bobby Cox does his clown act shouting at the umpires, but he won’t hold his players accountable for anything. As a result the team goes through the motions. There’s no fire in their belly. Losing is no big deal.

This team is pitiful. God bless Chipper. What an awful team to have to play for.

By scdawg1

June 7, 2008 2:11 AM | Link to this

WHAT A SORRY EXCUSE FOR A TEAM….HEY KJ USE TWO HANDS IDIOT, FRENCHY, DON’T SWING AT PITCHES THAT ARE IN THE OTHER BATTER’S BOX, HEY CLOSER, THE OBJECT OF PITCHING IS TO THROW STRIKES……NONE OF YOU DESERVE TO BE PLAYING MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AND SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF ACCEPTING A PAYCHECK WHEN YOUR CAN’T EVEN GET THE FUNDAMENTALS OF BASEBALL DOWN, I.E., PITCHING, CATCHING AND HITTING………NICE JOB AS ALWAYS BOBBY, IT’S NO WONDER I DON’T WATCH THIS JOKE OF A TEAM, WITHOUT CHIPPER THIS TEAM WOULD BE IN LAST PLACE, AT LEAST HE PLAYS WITH HEART, UNLIKE THE REST OF YOU LOSERS……….KJ IS YOU’RE READING THIS, I HAVE SOME GORILLA GLUE YOU CAN USE, JUST SENT ME YOUR ADDRESS…

By Mitchell

June 7, 2008 2:15 AM | Link to this

You know, looking back on it now after we’ve had some perspective, that was a great game. Really, that was one of the biggest wins of the season so far, by far. Wait a minute, where am I? What the hell just happened? Can somebody take me home? I fell asleep. What did I miss?

By bravo22

June 7, 2008 2:32 AM | Link to this

did anybody else see francoeur not come through 3 times tonight??? Yall blame Kelly? You gotta score more than 2 runs on jamie moyer! He is 82!! You guys always support frenchy but he isn’t even that good!! Kj is hitting 40 points higher than him with the same power numbers and you want to cut him!?? What ignorant Atlanta fans- come to the games and watch whats going on!! It was a bad error! But without mccann we would have been shutout!! Tex and frenchy do not produce nightly! Good riddance tex. He hates atlanta anyway— we don’t have a starting pitcher than can get through 6 other than Hudson! We have plenty of problems other than a single error at a bad time- poor managing, poor coaching, poor clutch hitting!! Let’s get real! Study before you place blame on kj

By LuisGuillermo

June 7, 2008 3:18 AM | Link to this

I really don’t blame Kelly at all. He plays ok at defense, and will make an error from time to time. Acosta is the guy that drives me crazy. Seems like he does this EVERYTIME he goes to the mound. Ship him to the Kansas City Royals NOW!

And why is Francoeur still hitting in front of McCann when a lefty is throwing? Jeff hit with bases-loaded situation and didn’t come through (I think it was twice today).

By tj

June 7, 2008 3:30 AM | Link to this

To: Dan in NC

Soriano was up warming up to come in in the 9th, but apparently his arm was bothering him. Never got anything official. One of the TV guys said his arm was sore above the elbow. The way it’s going with him ( and others ) he’s probably headed back to the DL.

By kirknga

June 7, 2008 3:31 AM | Link to this

Kelly takes the blames because he failed to catch a popup. He makes that catch and we aren’t talking about Frenchie, Boyer, Escobar, and Cox. Without his error Acosta doesn’t get into the game.

All the other blunders to that point in the game were survivable except one….Kelly’s.

The Braves have talent…maybe not as much as many of us thought. Somehow that talent is coming together in a way that suggest it might not really contend for a playoff spot.

It’s way too early to give up on this year, and 4.5 games back with 100 to play does not require a heroic effort to overcome.

In the next couple of months we will learn whether or not this team has the heart and focus to be a playoff team.

By vernontheman

June 7, 2008 3:58 AM | Link to this

Bobby Cox needs to go! He’s lost it. The braves will not make the playoffs, again, and now Cox said he’s coming back another year—-get rid of him, clean house on those coaches, and get Lou Pinella in here to turn things around. Pay him whatever he wants. Atlanta needs a real manager, not some old, out of date guy like Cox.

By Fred

June 7, 2008 4:16 AM | Link to this

Wow, a guy misses a catch and the whole season is over. Cool, does that mean the players can now go home?

You freaking morons, especially the staff that so called “wrote” this piece that was so ashamed of what they did, they wouldn’t even put their names on it.

Kelly Johnson should now be drawn, quartered, burned at the stake, the ashes scattered, and the ground upon which they are scattered salted so nothing could ever grow there again. Just damn folks, get a grip on something other than your old useless, wrinkled up tool. Like none of you fat old rat b******* that couldn’t make it past little league ever missed a ball. It HAPPENS.

Yeah right, they are “professionals” so they should never make a mistake. Every pitcher should strike every batter out, yet every batter should hit a home run every time up because “they are professionals.”

The whole season is over because ONE GUY dropped a ball. Do any of you morons even begin to see how utterly stupid you sound? You should collectively be bent over a true grown ups knee and have a bare butt spanking to jar your brain into gear, because it is obviously stuck in the stupid gear.

The Braves may win the World series, they may not, that is uncertain. One thing that IS certain is that one dropped ball in early June did NOT win or lose it. Had he caught that ball would you mindless morons be now going to Vegas and betting your life savings on them winning it all?

What is scary is that I bet most of you vote, which would explain the “leadership” of this State and Country………

By grandpa

June 7, 2008 4:26 AM | Link to this

Lets not forget if Bowyer shuts down those stupid lolipop curves and goes after the hitter he doesnt walk two men in the ninth. How many times do we have to relive Wolers(sp) type relief in the ninth…..go at the hitter. And Acosta….lets find another line of work.

By SoCal Phil

June 7, 2008 4:36 AM | Link to this

Guys, relax. As a long suffering Phillies fan I know how this feels. I’ve seen it for decades in Philly. One thing I know, its a long season. Last year this time the Phils were 8 games out and yet they still won the division. Fortunes change quickly in baseball. The Braves are better than you make them out to be. They’ll be in the hunt come September.

By captain Midnight

June 7, 2008 4:39 AM | Link to this

A bonehead play by Kelly but I’m tired of hearing all of this praise for Jeff Francoeur. He came up twice with the bases loaded of drove in no runs either time. He is no better than a two fifty hitter but they all praise him when he occasionally gets a hit. He is just like Andruw Jones he will swing at anything this side of first basde.

By pfunkatl2

June 7, 2008 5:00 AM | Link to this

STILL can’t sleep!

By Fred <