Braves third baseman Chris Johnson apologized to first base coach Terry Pendleton Sunday morning after Pendleton confronted him in the dugout Saturday night for throwing his helmet in frustration over his groundout that ended the game against the Phillies.
Johnson’s helmet bounced near the dugout bench and inadvertently hit Pendleton, who then grabbed Johnson by the front of his jersey and pushed him back.
“Hey, I’m a nut job sometimes,” said Johnson, who was thrown out by Jimmy Rollins on a close play that stranded the tying run in scoring position in a 5-4 loss. “My helmet slipped out of my hand and hit someone. That’s not good. I’m in the wrong right there. I came in today, talked to T.P., apologized and we’ll move on.”
Johnson is known for being one of the Braves’ most emotional players. He said Pendleton has been talking to him about controlling his emotions throughout the season.
“I’m a fiery guy too, so it’s one of those things where I’ve got to try to find a way to cool off and that was T.P.’s way of trying to help me out,” Johnson said. “T.P. is old school. He’s one of those guys (who’s) going to confront you as soon as it happens.
“It’s all good. It’s good for me to learn from that and make sure it doesn’t happen again. Because the last thing I want is to take out some anger on something and have it hurt somebody on the team.”
Pendleton did not address the media Sunday, but manager Fredi Gonzalez said he spoke with both Pendleton and Johnson.
“It’s two competitive guys, Game 161 and it happens and that’s it,” Gonzalez said. “Chris Johnson is a likable, lovable guy. Sometimes during the course of the game, he gets a little adrenaline flowing and T.P. is about as close to him as anybody on this team and I think it’s over with.”
Johnson was out of the lineup Sunday, but Gonzalez said he is nursing a sore right shoulder which he jammed making a diving play Thursday night. Johnson entered Sunday’s game out of the race for the National League batting title, trailing Colorado’s Michael Cuddyer by 12 points (.333 to .321). Gonzalez said with three off days before the division series, Johnson will be fine to start Game 1 of the NLDS.
Roster watch: Gonzalez isn't expected to make final playoff roster decisions until after meeting with his coaches and club officials Tuesday. The Braves aren't likely to announce the roster until Tuesday or Wednesday, when their second workout is open to the media. The Braves want reliever Jordan Walden to throw once more in instructional league before they make final decisions on the bullpen. Teams don't have to submit their rosters until the first day of the division series on Thursday.
Beachy's relief: Brandon Beachy didn't get his wish to contribute during the stretch run or playoffs, but he did find out what's been ailing his surgically repaired right elbow. He underwent arthroscopic surgery Thursday to remove a loose body, which had caused the inflammation that hindered his return from Tommy John surgery.
“There’s definitely a sense of relief, finding what the doctors had speculated they would find,” said Beachy, who had Tommy John surgery June 21, 2012. “Then having the reaffirmation that my ligament is good, it definitely puts the mind at ease.”
Beachy was only able to make five starts, going 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA, before he lost significant velocity on his fastball Aug. 20 against the Mets. Rest didn’t solve it either, as he aborted several attempts to re-start his throwing program in September.
“I just wasn’t going to be able to help this team pitching through that,” Beachy said. “That was a tough realization to come to, but it was the right one.”
Beachy said the loose body didn’t show up on initial MRIs or X-rays but a CT scan revealed the problem: “This little piece of bone sticking off the end unattached and they took off another bone spur and some extra calcified tissue.”
Beachy said he should get his normal range of motion back in four to six weeks and expects to be back at full strength for the start of spring training.
“That’s the hope,” Beachy said. “I can’t wait to just pick up a ball and hopefully feel normal again.”
Bethancourt debut: Christian Bethancourt waited three weeks after his call-up from the miniors for his first major league at-bat, and it was over in three swings on three curveballs from reliever Tyler Cloyd. But Bethancourt walked away happy after his eighth-inning strikeout.
“I was kind of nervous when they told me to get ready,” Bethancourt said. “I was just looking for fastballs. I haven’t seen a pitcher in a while, but I did have fun. I enjoyed it. And I’m happy I finally got my at-bat. It just broke the ice. It felt really good to be out there.”
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