Braves quotes after their 5-1 loss to the Mets on Friday at Turner Field.
FREDI GONZALEZ
On runs scoring on Matt Wisler’s balk and Christian Bethancourt’s passed ball
“Wisler was good. I haven’t seen the tape but I’m not so sure he balked. It’s probably borderline. (Bartolo) Colon last night, look at those borderline (balks) nonstop with runners at first base. And I get it, 20-year veteran (versus) a guy who’s only got two months in the big leagues. Yeah, 2-1 game there and we get a passed ball. Wisler was outstanding, he really was. He pounded the strike zone, he made some good pitches when he had to. We put him in situations sometimes where he (intentionally) walked to face d’Arnaud, and that’ s not an easy thing and he passed it with flying colors. Out defense was terrific: (Daniel) Castro at second, Michael Bourn in center field. Earlier in the game (Andrelton) Simmons takes a line drive off the chest. Most shortstops bail on that or they don’t even catch it, and he makes a stop. A lot of positive things. A couple plays that cost runs are the ones that stick out and are going to make you toss and turn at night. I’m proud of the club. You can get frustrated with maybe not (being) ready to play in the big leagues. But you can’t get mad at that. You get mad and upset where there is lack of hustle, lack of effort, lack of try and we don’t have that. We are going through some growing pains and you get frustrated but there was a lot of positives today.”
On Wisler pitching with runners on base
“I saw a lot of good stuff. Pounding the strike zone, getting that third out. The first inning he got the first two guys out and then (David) Wright got on. He passed another test where got two outs and got behind the pitcher and he got him out. There was a lot of good stuff.”
On Michael Bourn’s defense
“His legs are still good. He is as fundamentally sound center fielder as you see in the major leagues. He takes great routes, great instincts, sells his body out on balls against the wall. We’re good that we have him.”
On Mets left-hander Steven Matz
“It was either ’03 or ’04 and I remember sitting in Orlando and watching Cole Hamels come up as a young pitcher and pitching a spring training game, and this guy is pretty close. I am not comparing them as far as (accomplishments). The thing I am comparing is they are both left-handers, they’ve got great arms, they’ve got great secondary pitches. I remember Bobby (Cox) popping out of the dugout and watching Cole Hamels after about two innings and going, ‘Where did this guy come from?’ We’ve seen him on tape but it was nice to see him live. This guy, barring any injuries, is going to be successful in the big leagues for a long time.”
On Daniel Castro
“Danny’s a good player. He’s got a great clock. He’s almost like Simmons—close, nobody is like him. But he puts the ball in play, knows how to play the game, plays all three positions in the infield. And he’s a good teammate.”
MATT WISLER
On if there was a carryover from his bullpen appearance
“I think so. The mentality part was better today. I got a lot of guys on base today. It was still believing I could get guys out. Still attacking from the stretch and making pitches and trying to get the outs and limit the damage.”
On how he felt
“Good. Obviously I’ve got a lot of things to work on. I still had a lot of guys on base. But I felt better tonight. Mentally it felt better out there. I felt confident the whole game and was attacking guys.”
On if the aggressiveness was the difference
“I think so. A lot of guys commenting on it that they could tell my mound presence was a lot different tonight. I wasn’t pitching in fear. I was attacking guys and see what happens.”
On the defense
“Unbelievable. Those plays in the sixth inning with (Bourn) and Castro, and Freddie made a diving catch too. I had great defense behind me tonight. One thing the guys tell me is let them put it in play. We’ve got good guys behind you. I did that tonight.”
On if this gives him confidence going forward
“It’s good. Obviously we don’t have too many more starts. I hope I can just build on this and finish the year strong. We’ve got good teams coming up. Stay strong mentally and attack the rest of the year.”
On Castro’s defense
“He was a shortstop for me in Triple-A for a little bit. He definitely has skill. He makes the normal good plays and then he can come up and make good plays like that.”
DANIEL CASTRO (via Spanish interpretation)
On his first career home run and his good defensive play
“I feel good. I contributed with the home run as well as my defense but, at the end of the day, we lost the game.”
On the thrill of rounding the bases after the home run
“It felt great but I wasn’t trying to hit a home run. I was down in the count. I was just trying to make contact.”
On what he plans to do with the ball
“I will just save it and put it away and always have it as a (memory) of what happened.”
