Braves Offense Fails Late In 12-inning Loss To Marlins
by TonyAlmeyda on Sep 13, 2011 12:25 AM EDT
in Braves Game Recaps
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If the Braves want to have any chance of going far into the playoffs, they will certainly need to be better situational hitters.
The Atlanta offense blew numerous scoring opportunities and the Marlins ultimately won in 12 innings, 5-4.
Brandon Beachy fell behind 2-0 early. Omar Infante hit a one-out triple in the first and scored on a single by Greg Dobbs. In the third inning, Emilio Bonifacio tripled and scored on Infante's sacrifice fly. Beachy threw 31 of his first 73 pitches in the third inning.
The Braves offense didn't push a run across against Chris Volstad until the fourth when Alex Gonzalez doubled home Dan Uggla with two outs. Freddie Freeman's sacrifice fly in the fifth after a pair of singles tied the game 2-2.
Unfortunately, Beachy couldn't keep the Marlins makeshift lineup at bay. Following a one-out walk in the sixth, a weak pop-up off the bat of Donnie Murphy amazingly fell in for a hit. That led to trouble when Matt Dominguez singled in a run to give the Marlins the lead again. Arodys Vizcaino entered the game and wild pitched another run in, putting the Braves in a 4-2 hole.
The Braves fought back, however. Martin Prado hit a leadoff triple in the sixth off Burke Badenhop and scored on Jason Heyward's sacrifice fly. Heyward scored the tying run in the ninth against Edward Mujica thanks to another two-out hit by Alex Gonzalez. Heyward had reached on an infield single and went to second on Murphy's throwing error.
The bullpen held the Marlins in check while the Braves tried to break the tie in the ninth. Two hits and an intentional walk loaded the bases against Steve Cishek, but Brian McCann struck out and Prado hit into a force out, inducing extra innings.
In the tenth, Heyward walked leading off and was at third with two outs, but Michael Bourn was called out on a close play at first. The eleventh inning brought similar fortune: Chipper Jones reached on an error and Dan Uggla walked with one out, but again, the hitters behind them failed.
Anthony Varvaro pitched a scoreless eleventh, but in the twelfth, a leadoff walk led to a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk. With two outs, Mike Stanton was called on to pinch-hit and sunk the Braves with a tie-breaking single.
The Braves had no magic in the bottom of the inning. A leadoff walk to Jason Heyward was wasted and the Braves lost their fourth straight, their first such streak of the season.
The Braves were 3-for-20 with RISP; Alex Gonzalez had two of the hits. They put the leadoff hitter on base in each of the last four innings.
If there's any silver lining, it's that the magic number shrunk to 11 with a St. Louis loss.
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Alex Gonzalez was the Braves Player of the Game
that is all you need to know about how bad this game was
DFA Heyward. I'm dead serious
by wpf3211 on Aug 6, 2011 9:11 PM EDT
When all else fails – beat yourself.
by NCChopper on Sep 12, 2011 9:47 PM EDT
Just start winning again
Its that simple
"The Dos Equis guys want me to be the least interesting man in the world" - Drama
AAAAH!!!
MY PHONE BILL!
Seriously, the FuckerFishes now? REALLY?!
by Tomahawk45 on Sep 13, 2011 12:31 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Joe Capozzi
is reporting via tweet that the Marlins have released Mike Cameron. Surely this is a joke?
by Aaron Meier on Sep 13, 2011 12:33 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
God, what a brain fart.
I was thinking of Mike Stanton. Move along…nothing to see here.
by Aaron Meier on Sep 13, 2011 12:36 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Braves now fall to 20 games over .500 for the first time since August 17 when they were 72-52. They are now 84-64.
by AnEternalEnigma on Sep 13, 2011 12:44 AM EDT reply actions
FTGE
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)
Playoff Odds Actually Went Up
To 93.1% because the Cardinals lost. Still 4.5 games up in the NL Wild Card with 14 games left. Magic number falls to 11.
by AnEternalEnigma on Sep 13, 2011 12:48 AM EDT reply actions
Fredi Gonzalez is an idiot who doesn’t understand the value of an out.
But our odds increase and it is improbable that this team keeps sucking for 3-4 weeks straight. We are bound to start playing well eventually….right?
Sgt.: Pointed stick? Oh, oh, oh. We want to learn how to defend ourselves against pointed sticks, do we? Getting all high and mighty, eh? Fresh fruit not good enough for you eh? Well I'll tell you something my lad. When you're walking home tonight and some great homicidal maniac comes after you with a bunch of loganberries, don't come crying to me! Now, the passion fruit.
What does he do that most managers don’t try to do?
by TBuzz on Sep 13, 2011 8:18 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I feel like he tries to insert himself into the game by “managing” things like giving away an out to give a minor leaguer a chance with RISP is stupid. It’s not totally his fault, I know that, but it is absolutely his job to put his players in the best position to succeed and I feel like he has constantly set them up for failure.
Sgt.: Pointed stick? Oh, oh, oh. We want to learn how to defend ourselves against pointed sticks, do we? Getting all high and mighty, eh? Fresh fruit not good enough for you eh? Well I'll tell you something my lad. When you're walking home tonight and some great homicidal maniac comes after you with a bunch of loganberries, don't come crying to me! Now, the passion fruit.
The intricacies of Sabermetrics as it relates to bunting and stealing are still not widespread or commonplace. Don’t blame Fredi on that.
Hitting w/RISP isn’t a special skill, and your desire to get a hit doesn’t usually change that drastically w/RISP. Therefore it’s statistically as probable that the Rookie hits em in as it is him getting on base to lead off an inning.
by TBuzz on Sep 13, 2011 10:51 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Lots of people are talking about how you can’t blame the manager. In what other profession can you be ignorant of aspects or opinions in your field and get away with it? Certainly not many.
But even if you ignore the sabermetric side of it, it is common sense. JC Boscan is not the person you want in that situation, and he is pretty much an out and definitely shouldn’t be considered our great hope. I think you let Wilson hit away and if he fails then you bunt with Boscan with 2 outs, which was basically the predetermined result with Boscan up man on 2nd and 1 out. I mean he looked completely over-matched, very much like the minor leaguer that he is. That is not setting your players and team up for success.
I know it’s not on Fredi, but does a lot of really stupid things that are much easier to control than if you are going to get a hit. I’m not even sure how well he knows his own club (example, he was giving an interview and started to say that he didn’t know that Beachy was a rookie but stopped himself. How can you not know that about the team you coach. How many casual Braves fans know that?
It’s stuff like that, combined with his insistence on inserting himself in the game (generally to our own detriment) is really making me sick.
Sgt.: Pointed stick? Oh, oh, oh. We want to learn how to defend ourselves against pointed sticks, do we? Getting all high and mighty, eh? Fresh fruit not good enough for you eh? Well I'll tell you something my lad. When you're walking home tonight and some great homicidal maniac comes after you with a bunch of loganberries, don't come crying to me! Now, the passion fruit.
The guy has never been an intellectual. I think knowing whether or not someone is a Rookie is not relevant to what he does. He’s dealing more from the perspective of “how many innings can X pitcher go?”, “what roles in the offense can X player fill”, etc.
I agree he has a frustrating penchant to tinker and experiment. But he’s from a managerial school where if you don’t do these things you aren’t trying. I would argue if you gave the guy a few years this would quiet down as he gains experience.
by TBuzz on Sep 13, 2011 3:30 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
My hatred for Fredi isn’t irrational. If he matures as a manager significantly then I’ll rejudge him.
But in the meantime he is hurting the team on the field and I don’t think he is half as important to the locker room leadership as Chipper or even Mac.
Sgt.: Pointed stick? Oh, oh, oh. We want to learn how to defend ourselves against pointed sticks, do we? Getting all high and mighty, eh? Fresh fruit not good enough for you eh? Well I'll tell you something my lad. When you're walking home tonight and some great homicidal maniac comes after you with a bunch of loganberries, don't come crying to me! Now, the passion fruit.
I'm as upset as anyone about how the team has played of late
But the Mark Bradley piece (I usually think he is pretty ok with his writing over at the AJC) helps put things in perspective a bit:
"The Dos Equis guys want me to be the least interesting man in the world" - Drama
It doesn't change my perspective
Parrish needs to go badly….as in now. I really do not mind if he were fired right now mid season. His hitting philosophy is hamstringing one of the most potent offenses in MLB. The man has had zero experience as an ML hitting coach, why was he hired to begin with…and why the hell are we so patient with the way we have hit all season.
Fredi Gonzalez needs to learn to take games more seriously and stop “conceding” games merely to save a bullpen for tomorrow when playing head to head games against teams we must beat. If he doesn’t learn he needs to go. These are faults that will prevent us from ever winning (much less getting to) the WS unless corrected.
All while Fredi is surrounded by a bunch of orangutans, trying to teach them how to bunt the rocks and coconuts that angry 300 lb gorillas are throwing at them,
by royhobbs on Jul 29, 2011 11:20 AM PDT
Strong Side / Weak Side: Chipper Jones
http://www.onionsportsnetwork.com/articles/chipper-jones,8431/
They definitely won't fire Parrish
At least not until the off season.
But I agree, he took a VERY patient ball club and turned it into an overly aggressive one just to get a boost in power that they lacked last season. I have no clue how much a hitting coach impacts the game, but it’s pretty clear that his approach and philosophy isn’t going to work with this particular club.
Fredi I’m willing to stick with. Parrish can’t return next year, they’d be insane to bring him back. Then again, Snitker’s stuck around all this time…..
by Undocorkscrew on Sep 13, 2011 1:29 AM EDT up reply actions
I am completely on board with Parrish getting the boot
wether he this agressiveness was his idea or not, he isn’t doing what needs to be done to fix it. if he is trying, he isn’t trying enough. however, I don’t belive thate every player would be ignoring his direction so I have to think he is just pushing the same agenda and it isn’t working.
although then you take McCann who – with the bases loaded – looks at strike three! I almost lost it on that one. Folks are asking if his side is bugging him, I truly am starting to think it is his eyes again. His side hurting wouldn’t be causing him to swing at pitches way, way, way out of the zone like he has been.
he took strike 3 looking, and then the next at bat he swings at strike 3 way out of the zone
you could be on to something with the eyes
I'm sure in some respects he already is
Chopmaster: my link is my dad who has watched the braves since I don’t know. he’s 56.
Can't rely on the Pirates....
…Braves really need to win one of these next two games. Despite both starters being rookies, I like the pitching matchups. But when an offense can perform like this, it won’t matter how well they perform.
The failure with RISP was hard to stomach, but at least they were putting them on base at a good clip. They’ve looked terrible at the plate, but we all know they’re not this terrible.
Any word on Chipper’s status?
The rookies have been better than Lowe and Hudson lately.
by AnEternalEnigma on Sep 13, 2011 1:26 AM EDT up reply actions
"That’s the matchup you want. The change-up came back over the plate 1-2 and Stanton put a good swing on it and base hit up the middle."
The troubling thing is he actually believes that, even though Varvaro has been much, much better against RHBs than Martinez. Fredi just doesn’t understand the strengths and weaknesses of his players. That’s what would lead him to burn a switch-hitting Conrad for Diaz. Yes, Diaz is probably slightly better against LHP, but not so much better that it is worth burning Conrad for nothing.
I would've stuck with Vavarro
But I don’t think Fredi should be crucified for this.
Vavarro had already thrown what, 2.2 innings? Righties are hitting just .173, 248, .309 and Martinez has close to 70 innings under his belt. Vavarro had 16 coming into this game. I don’t know how much better Vavarro is against righties, but it can’t be by much and it’s in a much lower sample size.
Plus, I imagine Martinez is less likely to let that kind of pressure get to him compared Vavarro due to much more experience.
by Undocorkscrew on Sep 13, 2011 1:38 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm starting to like what i see from jason lately. he's starting to take a lot more balls
but he still isn’t hitting much for power right now. hopefully that starts to come back
Agreed
I think it’s time to try him at #2 again. His OBP in the last 10 games has been near .400.
by AnEternalEnigma on Sep 13, 2011 2:05 AM EDT up reply actions
Does anyone else think Alex could have gotten to that stanton ball?
I don’t think fredi understands why we got jack Wilson. He’s a defensive replacement,yes,but not for your best defensive player…
Alex wouldn't have gotten it
Stanton just put it in the right spot
by AnEternalEnigma on Sep 13, 2011 2:12 AM EDT up reply actions
The only silver lining is
that the Braves are getting their batting slump out of the way now. Usually they wait until the post season to slump. And another silver lining? Conrad will not be starting in the post season.
So let’s limp into the wild card spot, and be done with the batting slump and infield errors.
One other note, put Venters on extended rest and while he is resting, let him practice his fielding. Or tell him to not even stick a glove out unless the ball is right at him.
As far as the hitting coach goes, I imagine the players such as Freeman are ignoring his advice., Freddie is a sucker for down and in strikes. He needs to get rid of that tendency. Wait for strikes on the outer half.
Yeah, Venters need to avoid leather at all possible. lol, he has a knack for poking the ball to random, vacant spots.
"It looks like The Hound of the Baskervilles out there." - Steve Stone
"...I'm reminded of Wuthering Heights." - Harry Caray
~
"Wang, my third at-bat, he threw me a 1-0 fastball that I fouled straight back, and he came back with another heater, which surprised me." - Freddie Freeman
~
Gaby Sanchez - 1, Nyjer Morgan - 0
by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Sep 13, 2011 8:42 AM EDT up reply actions
I can't stand!
All year long everytime Freddie Gonzales call for reliever, he always send untrusted arms to the mound. (head to head game or when the team was down by 2 or 3 runs call for Proctor or semi-Proctor for sure!) Like last night Vizcaino to Varvarro. 2 runs are huge!!! Is this Freddie Gonzales mentality of winning WS???
by Braves.14 on Sep 13, 2011 6:12 AM EDT via iPhone app reply actions
Oh my lord you’ve got to be kidding, right?
Vizcaino → Moylan → EOF → Venters → Kimbrel → Varvaro is what happened.
Notice how you left out our four best relievers, all of which held the Marlins scoreless.
by Ivan the Great on Sep 13, 2011 7:37 AM EDT up reply actions
starting to get nervous a little bit, our offense is cold, our pitching has scuffled a bit, thank god the Pirates won
If Halladay, Lee, and Hamels all break their arms while playing tag in the clubhouse, We'll be set
by suicide bunting is a sin on Sep 13, 2011 6:54 AM EDT reply actions
Lukewarm because of RISP fail
I think is a better description of last nights offense. Bravos had 4 guys w/a multi-hit game. AGon was 3 for 4 w/a double & 2 RBI’s (be still my heart!). Heyward w/3 walks showing good patience & plate discipline. Everyone in the starting line-up (except the pitcher) at least got a hit. Pappaw & Uggs have been solid of late.
14 hits last night but only 4 runs to show for it. What’s been icy cold as far as offense is leaving all these poor souls stranded on base.
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Rogers Hornsby
The NL gods are righting all the wrongs...
from the plethora of men we’ve had on 1st this year, and never bothered to move them over (bc of potential 2-run homers that never happened)….
by not allowing our guys at 3rd to score at all.
~
I, for one, would rather see Teheran pitching in Lowe’s spot. Move Lowe to the bullpen. It’s definitely not Sept 2010.
On a good note….. at least the Cards lost.
"It looks like The Hound of the Baskervilles out there." - Steve Stone
"...I'm reminded of Wuthering Heights." - Harry Caray
~
"Wang, my third at-bat, he threw me a 1-0 fastball that I fouled straight back, and he came back with another heater, which surprised me." - Freddie Freeman
~
Gaby Sanchez - 1, Nyjer Morgan - 0
by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Sep 13, 2011 8:38 AM EDT reply actions
Couldn’t agree more RE: JT or even Delgado assuming DLowe’s role in the rotation. Dude’s done. Personally, if we do make the playoffs, I wouldn’t mind him being left off the playoff roster. What has he done over the course of the last month (maybe more) to even earn the right to be on the playoff roster?
Thankfully, the Cards got beat, but I’m starting to feel a tad, shall we say, uneasy. We need to pick it up, and fast, or we won’t even make the playoffs.
"Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that." George Carlin
by DolphinNation on Sep 13, 2011 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions
10Ks for Beachy and yet, another no decision.
But, the fail last night wasn’t pitching IMO, the quote from the writeup says it all.
The Braves were 3-for-20 with RISP; Alex Gonzalez had two of the hits.
They put the leadoff hitter on base in each of the last four innings.
~ "The NL - where our pitchers do more than just play with their balls." ~
Every day we break even with the Cards is a win, but would still have preferred the W to help put the race away.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
I wonder if Infante
would be interested in coming back next year….
by WeStillHaveBobby on Sep 13, 2011 1:44 PM EDT reply actions
Boscan????
What in the hell is Boscan doing with a bat in his hands with the game on the line???
JMR
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