Tomahawk Chops: Daily Atlanta Braves News Clippings For Wednesday, September 21st

Your one-page daily morning overview of Atlanta Braves news:

Braves quotes after Tuesday win over Marlins | Atlanta Braves
Chipper Jones, how big a win for the team? "It’s huge. I’m proud of the guys for the way they bounced back tonight. I still would have liked to have seen us score seven or eight and make it a laugher, but we’ll take it any way we can get it. I thought we swung the bats pretty good. We got Anibal’s pitch count up early in the game, and the kid [Delgado] made pitches when he had to."

As Braves’ lead shrinks, team remains cohesive | Atlanta Braves
"I really believe when we have survived this – and we will – we’re going to be a better team for it," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, whose bullpen blew a late lead in a loss for the second consecutive game Monday. "Because I’m around them all the time, and not once – and this is a sign of a good club to me – not once have you heard anyone, ‘It’s your fault,’ or ‘How come you didn’t do this?’ It’s we got beat, let’s regroup and come back out there and get ‘em tomorrow."

Hinske attempts to rally troops with Mohawk | braves.com: News
Eric Hinske returned to the visitors' clubhouse at Sun Life Stadium late Tuesday afternoon sporting a Mohawk that made him look one of the NFL's bruising fullbacks. "That's the coolest cut on the team," Braves second baseman Dan Uggla said. "I can't pull that off. He's got the tats and he's huge. He's got that whole [tough guy] look going."

Strained calf could sideline Braves shortstop Alex Gonzalez | braves.com: News
"We don't think it's major," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "But it's one of those calf injuries that can become major."

Prado getting his mojo back at right time | braves.com: News
"I was kind of lost for a little while, but now I'm like, 'I'm going to see the ball and just swing at it,'" Prado said.

Braves are fizzling in a season that has never felt right | Jeff Schultz
The biggest problem has been injuries to starting pitchers Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson. The Braves needed Lowe to pick it up to support the kiddie corps behind Tim Hudson. He didn’t have to look like a $15 million pitcher (which unfortunately he is). He just couldn’t look like a $1.50 one. But here’s Lowe’s numbers in his past three starts: 0-3, 26 hits, 17 runs (15 earned) and an ERA of 10.13.

Braves' top pick Matt Lipka adjusting to center field  | ajc.com
"It wasn’t so much that we didn’t think Matt could play the infield," said Braves assistant general manager Bruce Manno, who oversees player development. "He could play second [base] as well. We felt that in the future, one of the needs we may have may be in center field and for a leadoff type hitter, and he fit that profile."

Canadian prospect Bowman at baseball crossroads
Shawn Bowman is navigating that. The 26-year-old third baseman from Port Moody, B.C., has been close enough to the major leagues that you couldn’t help but wonder if he keeps a travel agent on retainer to get his family and friends to a big-league city at a moment’s notice. For instance, he was slotted to be the Atlanta Braves’ triple A third sacker this season. That makes you an understudy to Chipper Jones, and that generally puts you in line for big league at-bats, since it can feel like duct tape is keeping aging Jones together.