The Braves had lost five of their past six games before Tuesday despite hitting .289 and averaging five runs per game in that stretch.
They had a 5.89 ERA in those six games, and a 5.02 ERA over their past 14 games before Tuesday, a 5-9 stretch in which the bullpen blew leads in five games.
With barely more than one-third of the season completed, the Braves already had seven losses in games they led after seven innings, and nine losses when they led or were tied after seven innings.
Their bullpen had a majors-worst 5.09 ERA and 11 blown saves before Tuesday, and Braves pitchers had a National League-worst .287 average allowed in the late innings of close games, and a majors-worst .483 slugging percentage and majors-worst 14 homers allowed in those situations.
All this is to say, it’s easy to see why there might be some frustrations growing in the Braves clubhouse.
“Anytime you don’t win games it’s a little frustrating,” veteran catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. “But I think we’re going about it the right way. We’re working hard. There’s not much you can really do. All you can do is put in the time. This team gives a great effort and we fight till the end. I don’t expect that to change at all.”
Manager Fredi Gonzalez was asked Tuesday, in the aftermath of another blown lead in Monday’s 11-inning, 5-3 loss to the Padres, if clubhouse matters still seemed as copacetic as they had since the beginning of spring training.
“I think so,” Gonzalez said. “I’m in there a lot, I talk to the guys. It’s good. Sure, when you win, it’s always better. Because everybody’s competitive and everybody wants to win. But so far, I haven’t seen anything that scares you. Other than nobody likes to lose.”
After Monday’s game, veteran closer Jason Grilli was a bit terse with the media after blowing a save for only the second time in 17 opportunities. Understandable he’d be a bit defensive, given the circumstances and the mounting criticism directed at the bullpen in recent weeks.
A day later, Grilli asked a reporter, rhetorically, “Am I supposed to sit here and be happy we lost?”
He was adamant in his reply when asked if the Braves remained positive and if he believed in the team, which still had a 27-30 record — better than most pundits predicted after an offseason of wholesale changes and trades made with an eye toward the future.
“You have to (believe),” Grilli said. “If you don’t, might as well just pack it in now, might as well go home. We’re three games out. Despite all that, we’re still in the fight. We’re right there. A week’s worth of games can change a whole lot.”
The Braves were just 3 ½ games behind NL East leader New York before Tuesday.
“If we’re in September, people are excited where we are,” Grilli said. “We’re in June, and we’re making a mountain out of a mole hill. I mean, you know, there’s been a lot of turnover. It just doesn’t happen, it doesn’t just click at the beginning. I don’t care whether you’re starting a business or whatever. It sounds like a great idea on paper, but you have to play it out. We’re playing good baseball, and you go out and … that’s why you play it out.”
