The AJC's David O'Brien asked Braves assistant general manager John Coppolella the question on the minds of many Braves fans: How did the team get this bad?
The Braves have an 11-game losing streak and a 12-40 record since July 7.
Coppolella admitted seeing the team perform this poorly has been tough on him too. “We live through it and suffer through it every day,” he said.
But he also stands behind, and explains, the Braves’ rebuilding plan and all the roster moves.
Take Saturday night for example
The Braves lost for the 18th time in 19th games, falling to the Nationals 8-2.
The Braves didn’t get a hit against the Nationals’ Gio Gonzalez until the sixth inning.
Braves starter Shelby Miller gave up seven hits, seven runs and three walks in 4 1/3 innings and fell to 0-12 with a 3.53 ERA during a 3 ½-month winless streak, which already was the longest single-season drought in Atlanta Braves history.
The beginning of the Braves
The AJC’s Tim Tucker talks to former Braves owner Bill Bartholomay, who brought the team to Atlanta, and gets the inside story on how Atlanta landed a major-league baseball team.
Bartholomay has lived Braves history. Read his recollections here.
Also: Atlanta's top 50 sports figures
On deck
The Braves complete the series with Washington Sunday at 1:35 p.m. The game is televised on Fox Sports South.
