Braves Get Clobbered Late for a Lopsided 11-2 Loss

by moorebraves on Jul 23, 2011 7:53 PM EDT in Braves Game Recaps

In stark contrast to last night, this one ended up getting out of hand. Unfortunately it was the Braves that took the brunt of an offensive onslaught beginning in the sixth inning. Derek Lowe had pitched five great innings to start the afternoon and it looked like, despite some serious missed opportunities early on, the Braves might be able to preserve a slim 2-1 advantage.This was not the case.

Lowe helped himself out in a big way, driving in the Braves only two runs on the afternoon by sending a fastball down the third base line into the corner to score Uggla and Eric Hinske. He proceeded to pitch very quick third, fourth, and fifth innings to keep the Braves ahead. But all of the sudden, after giving up just one hit and one run in the first five innings, Lowe's sinker started flattening out as he gave up some big hits to the dizzy Jay Bruce, the sick Edgar Renteria, Joey Votto, and Brandon Phillips. George Sherrill and Scott Proctor came on to keep the game at a manageable 4-2 and left runners at second and third.

Fredi left Scott Proctor in for the seventh though, and that's when the game got out of hand. Proctor gave up three hits and a walk while getting just a sac bunt out in the seventh. Christhian Martinez wasn't any better though, giving up a bases loaded walk and a host of base hits. The icing on the cake came when Todd Frazier sent one off the wall in left to score three and make the came an 11-2 affair.

Just like Lowe's most recent start against Philadelphia, the game was a blowout due to some sub-par mop-up pitching. Unlike last time, Lowe truly outpitched Homer Bailey for five frames, though. But the Braves couldn't capitalize with runners on base and something went awry for D-Lowe in the sixth to essentially end this one. The Braves will go for the series win tomorrow as Beachy takes on Dontrelle Willis.

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Does anyone still believe we don’t need a good RH reliever?

by Ultada on Jul 23, 2011 7:56 PM EDT reply actions

I'm all for grabbing Kohi Uehara

by OrangeBravo on Jul 23, 2011 7:59 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

moylan coming back

I pray to Jason Heyward every night

by JasonHeywardisGod on Jul 23, 2011 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Still need another and counting on Moylan to be a sure thing this year after such a long layoff is folly.

by Ultada on Jul 23, 2011 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

Even if Moylan came back 100% healthy, I think he’s pretty much a ROOGY. The market is absolutely flooded with high impact RH relievers, meaning we may be able to pick up one without overpaying.

by OrangeBravo on Jul 23, 2011 8:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Uh, Peter Moylan is not “pretty much a ROOGY.”

We DO need another reliable RH arm in the pen, but if you insult Moylan like that again, he’ll make YOU put on a little black dress.

by crimsonqueen9 on Jul 23, 2011 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Take a look at the splits...

Pointing out an objective observable differences when it comes to handedness is not insulting somebody. As a sidearmer, it’s more or less to be expected.

by OrangeBravo on Jul 23, 2011 9:53 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

He’s a really a ROOGY with career numbers no unlike Gearrin. Braves need someone who can get lefties and righties.

by pbrfan on Jul 23, 2011 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions

as much as i love moylan i’m not trusting a guy that’s been out for most of the summer from back surgery. we’d be foolish not to add another RH insurance arm.

by toppleprone on Jul 23, 2011 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions

At the right price, why not. But come playoff time that’d just be a luxury. We have the best bullpen in the majors, and Scott Proctor can’t change that.

by CourtesyLaughs on Jul 24, 2011 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions

I recognize defeat after Proctor comes in

Shrimp, Steak, Liquor, and Pasta
.

by KINGSLYTUT on Jul 23, 2011 7:59 PM EDT reply actions

You can’t really blame Fredo for bringing Proctor in to face Gomes who basically can only hit leftys, but why in the world do you leave Proctor in for the 7th in a 2 run game? There’s no excuse for that stupidity.

by Ultada on Jul 23, 2011 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions

tough choice

but when you are leaving LOBster all over the field , I dont want to see any of O’ventbrel there. So it came down to linebrink Cmart and Proctor again…this one is on the offense…and Dlowe’s pathetic excuse for a 6th inning.

by ottie on Jul 23, 2011 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Proctor for another inning or using Linebrink to try to keep it at a 2 run deficit is not a tough choice.

by Ultada on Jul 23, 2011 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions

he has pitched 3 of last 4 games...

by ottie on Jul 23, 2011 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Even trying C-mart with nobody on (which still obviously likely wouldn’t have worked in hindsight) is not a tough choice over doubling down on Proctor. Fredi wasn’t the main reason for losing by any stretch and was fine if not good win or lose before that 7th inning but leaving Proctor in was beyond stupid and it deserves to be said. There was nothing “tough” about it.

by Ultada on Jul 23, 2011 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions

It's obvious proctor is no good

this really is a pointless debate though and not even needed today.

by ottie on Jul 23, 2011 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions

we got it handed to us...end of story

no second guessing needed today

by ottie on Jul 23, 2011 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions

We did get it handed to us and squandered plenty of early opportunities. I actually thought there would be some good and at the very least nothing egregiously bad for Fredi win or lose, but leaving Proctor in for the 7th wasn’t second-guessing. Who wasn’t saying WTF at that point in time as the bottom of the 7th started?

by Ultada on Jul 23, 2011 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Fredi’s gotta pitch and divy up innings and not sacrifice his other guys. He pitches the guys that Frank Wren puts on his roster. Direct your anger at the proper departments…

by TBuzz on Jul 23, 2011 9:10 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Dude. No. Just no.

Yes, sometimes a guy has to pitch to take one for the team. But Fredi refused to use Gearrin even before he had a string of craptastic outings. He did not, in fact, pitch the guy that Wren put on his roster. When Bobby refused to use KK out of the pen, that was on Bobby, not on Wren for having KK still on the roster. Early in the season, after Sherill and Linebrink imploded a few times, Fredi refused to pitch them except in mop-up duty. He did not, in fact, pitch the guys on his roster, minus O’Ventbrel.

Yes, Fredi has to use Proctor sometimes. No, he does not need to use Proctor as much as he does. That has nothing to do with Wren.

Fredi clearly thinks Proctor can do things he can’t; if that’s not the case, then he’s purposely trying to lose games, and I don’t think that’s the likely outcome.

by Ivan the Great on Jul 23, 2011 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Old news but, Fredi Gonzalez is retarded.

With that kind of “managing,” we deserved to lose the game, and should have.

"It looks like The Hound of the Baskervilles out there." - Steve Stone
"...I'm reminded of Wuthering Heights." - Harry Caray
~
Swing and a drive...Belted right! Welcome to the Show!!!

by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Jul 23, 2011 7:59 PM EDT reply actions

Hard to blame an 11-2 loss on the manager…guys didn’t execute, and they got beat. Simple as that.

-C

It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?

by cthabeerman on Jul 23, 2011 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think anyone would completely fault Freddie for this loss

that would just be dumb.

Leaving Proctor in for the 7th inning though, is a whole different story. Indeed, that was a bad judgment call.

He seems to be doing a pretty good job managing, just the occasional odd lineup, and his love jones for Proctor, make it easy to say he loses us games. Freddie actually does make several good calls game in and game out, the bad ones are just more frustrating and more noticeable.

With that being said, this scenario awfully comes close to resembling two faults Mr. Cox had throughout his years here. Especially last year with odd lineups, and his emphatuation with Mr. Chavez.

Weird how things work that way, don’t you think.

by chicagobullies on Jul 23, 2011 8:19 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

You can't say retarded anymore!

Haven’t you seen the TV edit of Tropic Thunder?

by swainzy on Jul 23, 2011 11:39 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

But you can say Booty Sweat...

by TBuzz on Jul 24, 2011 12:43 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

this offense is totally inept

they deserved to lose after having the bases loaded twice and coming out with only 2 runs. what’s going to happen when we find ourselves actually facing GOOD pitching in the playoffs?

by toppleprone on Jul 23, 2011 8:11 PM EDT reply actions

Man, we come back from the ASB and our pitching goes kaboom. Know we didn’t exactly have our best pitchers (plus Proctor) on the mound today , but still just waiting for that smoke to clear…

Hopefully starting tomorrow.

by Shocked on Jul 23, 2011 8:15 PM EDT reply actions

Well, that was painful to endure.

Good thing, we still have a game tomorrow night to take the Series.

It appears that only an alien invasion that beams the entire Philly team to their ship and takes them to another planet is our only hope for someone other than us to make them lose a ball game these days.

~ "The NL - where our pitchers do more than just play with their balls." ~

by NCChopper on Jul 23, 2011 8:25 PM EDT reply actions

we went 6 inning without a hit...

Game over at that park.

by ottie on Jul 23, 2011 8:26 PM EDT reply actions

The offense today was unbearable to watch.

However, it wasn’t as unbearable as having to listen to Mitch Williams.

Twitter: @TAlmeyda

by TonyAlmeyda on Jul 23, 2011 8:28 PM EDT reply actions

Seeing Boog Sciambi running the ESPN broadcast...

Really made my day. I detest Mitch Williams.

by OrangeBravo on Jul 23, 2011 9:59 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Hearing Boog

Made mine.

"You feel really comfortable with Scotty Proctor in that situation to handle those guys." - Fredi Gonzalez

by Sam Jethroe on Jul 24, 2011 12:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Can someone explain why Proctor continues to be allowed near MLB ballparks? I’m not even trying to be cute here, I’m genuinely confused how this is continually permitted.

"Jason Heyward was a Greek philosopher reincarnated as a baseball player." - Don Sutton

by UMDBHIK on Jul 23, 2011 8:41 PM EDT reply actions

He waves his hand in front of his face

The security guards think he’s John Cena, so they let him in.

"You feel really comfortable with Scotty Proctor in that situation to handle those guys." - Fredi Gonzalez

by Sam Jethroe on Jul 24, 2011 12:51 AM EDT up reply actions

His father must have made a huge donation to Bud Selig

Freeman isn’t on Heyward’s level in terms of tools, skills, or baseball IQ–but it’s fair to say Freeman has failed to meet the modest expectations in place for him - Capitol Avenue Club (May 28th, 2011)

by ATLandUNC on Jul 24, 2011 12:59 AM EDT up reply actions

I tend to be patient with players.

But damn. Proctor has NO business playing major league baseball. This is a playoff team. He’s gotta go. What’s it gonna take Frank and Fredi. Stabbing our other players? Exposing himself to fans? Swastika tattoo on his forehead.

by Frozen Fan on Jul 23, 2011 8:43 PM EDT reply actions

Proctor

Still hasn’t been cut

by Erihury on Jul 23, 2011 8:54 PM EDT reply actions

2 bad relievers

C-Mart SUCKS!!! Out of his last 14 appearances, he has given up runs in 10 of them. During that span, 29 innings pitched 15 earned runs 4 HR allowed 11 walks. That is pretty dreadful people.

Maybe C-Mart is another great AAA player but one thing for sure is Proctor needs to be cut. Why not have JJ Hoover as the long man and the RH reliever be Abreu, Chapman or Jairo

by PhuckthePhillies on Jul 23, 2011 9:00 PM EDT reply actions

C Mart

is a long reliever thats it. We need him either when a starter cant get thru 5 or if someone cant make a start. Proctor is worthless

by Erihury on Jul 23, 2011 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions

i really

never understand why he decides to use C Mart for 1 inning

by Erihury on Jul 23, 2011 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Some people wanted C-Mart to be the RH reliever that we need. And why couldn’t JJ Hoover be a long reliever? He was a starter till recently. When C-Mart is in I’m as nervous as when Proctor is in

by PhuckthePhillies on Jul 23, 2011 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions

C-Mart didn’t look good tonight, but his body of work is much better than Proctor. His numbers are basically the same as Linebrink, except CMart is even more useful because he can go extended innings.

by pbrfan on Jul 23, 2011 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope the front office recognizes

that this should be the end of Scott Proctor in a Braves uniform & that another RH reliever needs to be acquired asap. Forget about Beltran & put those resources toward a lesser known platoon/bench OF & reliever.

by bloodgimp on Jul 23, 2011 9:48 PM EDT reply actions

We’ve been hoping for Proctor’s release for a couple of weeks. I’m quite surprised it hasn’t happened yet.

Twitter: @TAlmeyda

by TonyAlmeyda on Jul 23, 2011 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Is this a Fredi thing, or a Wren “Well, we got him, so we might as well throw away several games with him” thing?

"Jason Heyward was a Greek philosopher reincarnated as a baseball player." - Don Sutton

by UMDBHIK on Jul 23, 2011 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Proctor didn’t have to start the next inning. Poor guy.

by BeatTehMets on Jul 23, 2011 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Pretty sure

Its a little of everything…i imagine they make decisions as a organization. I doubt it’s just one persons call.

by ottie on Jul 23, 2011 10:07 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I think you give a guy who’s out of options every conceivable chance to be a reliable option…but I can’t justify keeping a guy who reverses the run differential every time he comes in.

by TBuzz on Jul 23, 2011 11:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

No doubt proctor should be long gone

by ottie on Jul 23, 2011 11:54 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

He’s had those chances. The only thing he’s reliable at is giving up runs.

by Broccoman on Jul 24, 2011 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Could have used a speedy leafoff hitter to manufacture runs today

by ATLandUNC on Jul 23, 2011 10:14 PM EDT reply actions

Indeed. Shame his wrist is hurt.

by drumzalicious on Jul 23, 2011 10:58 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

if Schafer could get on base then yea

by Dwalk1217 on Jul 24, 2011 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Since the ASB he leads the team in walks and is second in OBP to Uggla.

So maybe.

by ATLandUNC on Jul 24, 2011 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah we certainly didn’t have enough opportunities with RISP yesterday…

by Ultada on Jul 24, 2011 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions

blah.

at least the good arms all got days off today. Go get em tomorrow!

Your my boy Beachy!

You shouldn’t sip liquor.
-justincredubil02

no, Jack Daniel is whiskey.
-ChopMaster

"Welcome to the show, Brandon Beachy. I think you’re going to stay a while."

by abraves257 on Jul 23, 2011 10:36 PM EDT reply actions

PROCTARDED

by Santaklose11 on Jul 23, 2011 10:59 PM EDT reply actions

A win tomorrow gives us a winning a Road trip...

So let’s not lose perspective after a bad loss. We have a bullpen to shore up and some offensive depth to trade for…

by TBuzz on Jul 23, 2011 11:25 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

turning point of this game

was when we couldn’t increase the lead and break the game open with the bases loaded and one out in the 2nd

however, Proctor again showed that he can’t get through the game without not being hit hard

as much as I have lost faith in him along with everyone else here, it amazes me how much he is struggling and how spectacularly he fails (maybe part of the reason is Fredi leaving him out there)

by LEastCoastBears on Jul 23, 2011 11:34 PM EDT reply actions

anemic offense + bullpen collapse = Braves lose.

Funny how our two major needs can join forces into a unbearable hell-fuck of fail, but other nights sleep quietly and leave us alone. Honestly we have enough prospects so that we can make the big trade and still have probably the deepest farm system in the league

You shouldn’t sip liquor.
-justincredubil02

no, Jack Daniel is whiskey.
-ChopMaster

"Welcome to the show, Brandon Beachy. I think you’re going to stay a while."

by abraves257 on Jul 23, 2011 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Wait… people actually had faith in Proctor to begin with?

by Ultada on Jul 23, 2011 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Our bullpen problem

Fredi does baffle me at times, but unfortunately our bullpen is VERY limited. It has not seemed so in the past because Oventbrel has been SO GOOD. But the top three’s use has drastically risen because the pitchers didn’t go deep into games because they were having to pitch perfect,….because the offense was so putrid to start the season for so long.

Beyond Oventbrel and the correct usage of Sherrill, we have crap. The blame for this goes to Wren. Sherrill & Linebrink were horrible pick ups in the season and the lose of Moylan and the not return of Medlen gives us nothing. We have no one to rely on and Fredi cant keep running Oventbrel out there all the time. We need at least one more top bullpen arm, and we need it fast.

Lately we have had a hard time keeping things close. NOW…the offense is starting to hit better (today not withstanding..boy we sucked today). But our pitchers are getting lit up compared to earlier in the season. Washington, Colorado, and Cincinnati all have blown us out of games. Our team ERA has skyrocketed. So the pitchers still arent pitching deep into games and so the bullpen needs to be relied on again. JJ has had two bad starts in a row, Tommy’s start was rough, so was Beachy’s and now Lowe (who seems to not be able to get past the 6th without falling apart. Today he couldn’t have been that tired, his pitch count was still low.

We need another arm and we need another bat and Wren needs to hurry. Today’s lose sucked and should have never happened.

P.S….At this point I am actually baffled that Proctor hasn’t been release. He just cant get hitters out anymore. All he has done is kill games for us.

by MikeJolly on Jul 24, 2011 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Linebrink isn’t a bum. He’s been decent. He’s the 5th best option, but he’s not a terrible option.

by Broccoman on Jul 24, 2011 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions

no he isnt a bum, but he isnt reliable. And thats what we have very few of right now. We have 3 reliable bullpen arms and a 4th in Sherrill that can basically only handle one batter each time out. Our bullpen goes from the top 3 being elite and the middle two being VERY mediocre and the bottom 2 being crap.

by MikeJolly on Jul 24, 2011 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions

I would be surprised if Wren doesnt make a move by Monday

tomorrow should be the last game he needs to decide what he wants to do with this team.

by Dwalk1217 on Jul 24, 2011 12:04 AM EDT reply actions

11 TO 2 SUCKS IN EVERY DIRECTION NO MATTER WHO YOU WANT TO BLAME

seriously!

Senator, we have another old saying,"Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining." Fletcher

by jimmontg on Jul 24, 2011 3:04 AM EDT reply actions

Wining the series is always good

and I hope we give them what-fer today, but there comes a time when just winning the series isn’t good enough. As much as I thought the Phillies age would catch up with them, they have shown no signs of slowing down. If we want to win the division, we need to go on a few serious win streaks, just winning the series at this point will only get us the wild card. There is plenty of games left, but we only play Philly 6 more times and at this point unless we sweep all six games (possibly but not likely) we have to take advantage of the schedule. No more losing to teams we should beat, like the Nats, Marlins, and D-backs, and no more performances like yesterday. Last but not least, no more Proctor, ever again. When is the last time he came in a game and didnt give up runs? I cant remember. The offense needs to get their crap together and be more consistent, and the bullpen can not give up 7 runs in a week, let alone one inning.

by HeyMikey on Jul 24, 2011 7:18 AM EDT reply actions

Series WIN can be ours today.

Until we start getting some help elsewhere, we’re going to have to stop wasting RISP with a pitcher who is obviously struggling or we’ll have to settle for the 2nd spot in the NL East. August is near. Very near.

Yesterday’s game was awful, but other than inflating our team’s ERA, it counts the same in the standings as a heartbreaker 1 run loss. Let’s finish up the road trip with a series win and go back home with determination to play the next 2 months with intensity and determination to overtake the NL East lead. And keep it.

So, what other team is going to help the Phils experience a multi-game loss?

~ "The NL - where our pitchers do more than just play with their balls." ~

by NCChopper on Jul 24, 2011 8:34 AM EDT reply actions

With ya. Yesterday was yesterday. Time to win today!

"Baseball is the only place in life where a sacrifice is really appreciated."

by Grantdawg on Jul 24, 2011 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I am not a student of the game.

I know nothing about obscure numbers, sabermetrics, small ball, WHIP, OPS, or any of that noise. I just watch the games and hope the Braves win.

Today I checked out at 5-2. When I saw the final score, even I knew that Proctor was involved. He is a really bad player. I know nothing about the game, yet I understand how bad he is. Can we send him away somehow?

I'm on the Twitter: twitter.com/edgrohl

by Duff_Man on Jul 24, 2011 12:24 PM EDT reply actions

That should say yesterday.

I “Proctored” it.

I'm on the Twitter: twitter.com/edgrohl

by Duff_Man on Jul 24, 2011 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Perhaps USA Prime Credit

is looking for a replacement for Peggy.

"Jason Heyward was a Greek philosopher reincarnated as a baseball player." - Don Sutton

by UMDBHIK on Jul 24, 2011 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Procter has a decent breaking ball. His fast ball is straight and flat with no movement. If he could correct that, then he could be a decent pitcher. He’s trying to substitute speed for movement on his fast ball and it just isn’t fast enough. Right now he has one decent pitch, the slight curve breaking to the left on right handed batters.

by armanidog on Jul 24, 2011 2:27 PM EDT reply actions