GDT 9/17/13: Braves (Minor) @ Nationals (Haren) 1:10 PM (Game 1)

[NYCBrave]

Braves:

1. Elliot Johnson (S) 2B
2. Justin Upton (R) RF
3. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
4. Evan Gattis (R) LF
5. Brian McCann (L) C
6. Chris Johnson (R) 3B
7. Andrelton Simmons (R) SS
8. B.J. Upton (R) CF
9. Mike Minor (R) P

Nationals:

1. Denard Span (L) CF
2. Ryan Zimmerman (R) 3B
3. Jayson Werth (R) RF
4. Bryce Harper (L) LF
5. Ian Desmond (R) SS
6. Adam LaRoche (L) 1B
7. Wilson Ramos (R) C
8. Anthony Rendon (R) 2B
9. Dan Haren (R) P

[zitothebrave]

Elliot Johnson at leadoff. Lol. I guess it could be worse. Hopefully Minor rocks and we score a few runs.

[gcbraves]

This line-up hasn't worked for two weeks.

Hurry back Jason, you need to make Fredi look smart again!

[sturg33]

Why do pepole on this board think Fredi is a good manager again?

[gilesfan]

Why do pepole on this board think Fredi is a good manager again?

Like he has other options.

[sturg33]

Like he has other options.

Every single hitter in the ineup is better than Elliot Johnson - yet Fredi will ensure Elliot gets the most PAs on the team

[NYCBrave]

Every single hitter in the ineup is better than Elliot Johnson - yet Fredi will ensure Elliot gets the most PAs on the team

So what is the answer for second base? Oh yea, there's this little tidbit of information.....


Dan Uggla is not in the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Nationals.

The struggling Uggla hasn't played since last Thursday and he's sitting in favor of Elliot Johnson once again. The 33-year-old is hitting just .114 (4-for-35) with 12 strikeouts since returning from LASIK surgery.

[Runnin]

Every single hitter in the ineup is better than Elliot Johnson - yet Fredi will ensure Elliot gets the most PAs on the team
Your lack of baseball understanding is sad.

Elliot is batting leadoff because we don't have a leadoff hitter and Fredi doesn't want to screw up someone's approach who will never hit first in the playoffs. Better to sacrifice the least important hitter in the lineup and maybe batting first will simplify his thinking some. You can't prove that he's wrong.

The season is a marathon. The lineup in one insignificant game doesn't matter.

[stpeteirish]

Elliot Johnson at leadoff. Lol. I guess it could be worse. Hopefully Minor rocks and we score a few runs.

Really, who else? BJ? Schafer? Costanza?

We don't have a leadoff man and we don't have 8 players who are even remotely "hot" right now. EJ's gotten on base some, which is more than I can say for the September version of Schafer.

[bravesnumberone]

It's time for Minor to step up and pitch lights out with our ****ty offense.

[Heyward]

Every single hitter in the ineup is better than Elliot Johnson - yet Fredi will ensure Elliot gets the most PAs on the team

Only other lead off option of is Schafer and he's been worse than BJ in the last month or so.

Not pro or anti Fredi but he doesn't have much options with Heyward out.

[Enscheff]

Your lack of baseball understanding is sad.

Elliot is batting leadoff because we don't have a leadoff hitter and Fredi doesn't want to screw up someone's approach who will never hit first in the playoffs. Better to sacrifice the least important hitter in the lineup and maybe batting first will simplify his thinking some. You can't prove that he's wrong.

The season is a marathon. The lineup in one insignificant game doesn't matter.

Ding ding ding.

Fredi is clearly trying to keep guys comfortable in their lineup slots and will simply slot Heyward right back in at lead off in a week or so. He tried to give BJ and Schafer a shot to show they could handle it, and they failed. Now he is just biding time until Heyward returns.

There is more to managing a baseball team and winning games than numbers. Folks that don't participate in competitive team sports fail to realize that a lot of the time.

[sturg33]

Your lack of baseball understanding is sad.

Elliot is batting leadoff because we don't have a leadoff hitter and Fredi doesn't want to screw up someone's approach who will never hit first in the playoffs. Better to sacrifice the least important hitter in the lineup and maybe batting first will simplify his thinking some. You can't prove that he's wrong.

The season is a marathon. The lineup in one insignificant game doesn't matter.

What is a "leadoff hitter"?

Most folks on this board (not me) thought Heyward "wasn't a leadoff hitter"

Fact is, every singple player in that lineup is a beeter hitter than Elliot Johnson. But hey, my baseball understanding is sad because I don't want the career 500OPS man to get our most PAs.

[sturg33]

So what is the answer for second base? Oh yea, there's this little tidbit of information.....


Dan Uggla is not in the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Nationals.

The struggling Uggla hasn't played since last Thursday and he's sitting in favor of Elliot Johnson once again. The 33-year-old is hitting just .114 (4-for-35) with 12 strikeouts since returning from LASIK surgery.


Last 28 days:
Dan Uggla: .326 OBP
Elliot Johnson: .281 OBP

2nd Half of season:
Dan Uggla: .293 OBP
Elliot Johnson: .213 OBP

[Julio3000]

Whew...glad it didn't take five innings for the Braves to figure out that Dan Haren is on the mound.

[sturg33]

There is more to managing a baseball team and winning games than numbers. Folks that don't participate in competitive team sports fail to realize that a lot of the time.

LOL... I played both competitive college baseball and basketball.

[Dalyn]

Why he continues to anchor the lineup is beyond me. Wow.

[Diesel]

Evan's pitch selection is craptastic. It's as if every pitch he has zero thought process and expects it to be a belt high fastball.

[NYCBrave]

Last 28 days:
Dan Uggla: .326 OBP
Elliot Johnson: .281 OBP

2nd Half of season:
Dan Uggla: .293 OBP
Elliot Johnson: .213 OBP

You conveniently left out that Johnson at least in Last 28 days has 5 extra base hits, compared to ZERO!!!! from Uggla. Johnson, 5 steals, as well as legit 2B defense. Uggla's slugging percentage in the past 28 days is .114. Impressive.

[bravesnumberone]

Already off to a fantastic start.

[sturg33]

You conveniently left out that Johnson at least in Last 28 days has 5 extra base hits, compared to ZERO!!!! from Uggla. Johnson, 5 steals, as well as legit 2B defense. Uggla's slugging percentage in the past 28 days is .114. Impressive.

Sorry - I was told that Fredi had no other options for leadoff. When I believe the most important aspect of a leadoff hitter is OBP.

So to me, it looks like he has a much better option for leadoff. And that's diregarding the LARGE gap in potential of the two players.

[NYCBrave]

Sorry - I was told that Fredi had no other options for leadoff. When I believe the most important aspect of a leadoff hitter is OBP.

So to me, it looks like he has a much better option for leadoff. And that's diregarding the LARGE gap in potential of the two players.

There is no potential with Uggla left. It's gone, and the stats prove that.

[rniki10]

Mike looks horrible.

[clvclv]

Sounds like Minor's nibbling again...could be a long afternoon.

[Dalyn]

Why would people defend EJ leading off? That is terrible. Just move people forward one slot and bat EJ 9th if you want to entertain the idea you have to keep people 'comfortable' in their spot by plugging the top with worse options.

And Minor looks like crap again. Wonderful.

[Dalyn]

An out.

:tchop:

[sturg33]

There is no potential with Uggla left. It's gone, and the stats prove that.

1st half OPS:Uggla: .738
Johnson: .531

Full year OPS:
Uggla: .675
Johnson: .504

So I see at least a potential of a .738 from Uggla - I would gladly take that right now. I see nothing from Elliot Johnson

I thinkk you should be really careful about who you are trying to convince me is a better hitter than Dan Uggla.
Johnson:

[bravesnumberone]

Minor choking when we don't need him to.

[Runnin]

Both walks score.

[Diesel]

Minor is the lynchpin in our playoff rotation. If he is not very good....it could be a quick exit.

[clvclv]

Time to get back to work it seems.

[jsebe10]

What an absolute piss fckn poor performance from Minor. This team needed him to provide a good start and this is the horse **** he brings out there...,He needs to be embarrassed.

[Gary82]

3-0 Nats. Minor needs to step up.

[Dalyn]

Minor is the lynchpin in our playoff rotation. If he is not very good....it could be a quick exit.

Medlen is (hopefully) making a convincing grab for that spot.

[thethe]

Zito jinx.

Hope mike gets it together. We need him.

[NYCBrave]

1st half OPS:Uggla: .738
Johnson: .531

Full year OPS:
Uggla: .675
Johnson: .504

So I see at least a potential of a .738 from Uggla - I would gladly take that right now. I see nothing from Elliot Johnson

I thinkk you should be really careful about who you are trying to convince me is a better hitter than Dan Uggla.
Johnson:

I was all for Uggla leading off earlier in the year before the Heyward experiment, which ended up working out nicely, but now there is no way you can justify having Uggla in the lineup. Are you paying attention to his at bats? He has shown nothing up there at the plate. I'm only defending Johnson because he's our only other 2B option.

[stpeteirish]

who leads off is kinda insignifigent when your pitching vaporizes like ours is starting to.

[Gary82]

Good grief, Minor.

[Gary82]

Mike is closing in on 40 pitches in the first inning. This could be a nightmare for the bullpen. Two games today.

[bravesfan247]

Our "Ace" and I use that lightly is afraid to throw strikes. Get him gone.

[stpeteirish]

nice little 40 pitch inning puts us in a hole in the first inning of a twinbill, crap.

[Runnin]

Medlen is (hopefully) making a convincing grab for that spot.
I'm getting more convinced every game.

[sturg33]

I was all for Uggla leading off earlier in the year before the Heyward experiment, which ended up working out nicely, but now there is no way you can justify having Uggla in the lineup. Are you paying attention to his at bats? He has shown nothing up there at the plate. I'm only defending Johnson because he's our only other 2B option.

Yeah. Uggla has been terrible. But he's still a better hitter than Johnson and that's assuming he never improves - which is really unlikely. I think Uggla is probably a .700 OPS player worst case scenario. Johnson is a .500.

Fredi should be using the cushion to get Uglla out of his funk.

[bravesnumberone]

It's not even a conversation at this point that Medlen needs to be the No. 1 starter, for better or worse. That was unacceptable for Minor. Why even bother showing up today for that garbage?

[tvsportscaster]

Really sucks that the game is already over in the first inning. What is this crap from Minor.

[bravesnumberone]

Maybe this team could show some damn heart and pride and make a game of this thing.

[stpeteirish]

BJ with RISP. Yum.

[sturg33]

You guys are ridiculous... Game over in the 2nd inning? Agsint Dan Haren? Just because GF thinks he should be a cy young candidate doesn't mean he is one

[stpeteirish]

You guys are ridiculous... Game over in the 2nd inning? Agsint Dan Haren? Just because GF thinks he should be a cy young candidate doesn't mean he is one

Not to be negative but when was the last time we came back from 3 down to win a game?

[bravesnumberone]

Plus, Haren already shoved it down our throat once this season. This team couldn't even score on Burch Smith, or whatever the hell his name was. So spare me. This team is punchless at the moment. Oh hey, what to you know? BJ struck out in a big situation.

[jason27nc]

Not to be negative but when was the last time we came back from 3 down to win a game?

Today? :tchop:

[bravesfan247]

Not to be negative but when was the last time we came back from 3 down to win a game?

THIS^^^^^^^^^^

[gilesfan]

You guys are ridiculous... Game over in the 2nd inning? Agsint Dan Haren? Just because GF thinks he should be a cy young candidate doesn't mean he is one

Your crush is cute.

[Dalyn]

:tchop:

[Runnin]

Fredi akimbo.

[sturg33]

Your crush is cute.

This isn't kindergarden - although perhaps that explains some of your arguments

[gilesfan]

I already told you I checked the "no" box. Sorry.

[jsebe10]

Fredi swung at 4 balls that looked like they were going to hit him.

[stpeteirish]

Now Haren can throw a strike. We had our chances, walks in the first tow ininngs, but with Gattis and BJ in the RBI spots, nada. He's probably done walking guys and, as usual, we can't hit.

[The Chosen One]

Stop the incessant flirting.

[DaneHill]

Our offense lately = stinky doo doo. And seems like our pitchers have one bad inning do them in. Frustrating formula. Really REALLY don't want to see the Nats sneak past the Reds for the second Wild Card. If they end up knocking us out of the playoffs, or god forbid, winning it all after such a piss poor first 5 months of the season, I may just hang it up....

[The Chosen One]

Our offense is due to get hot again... looks like it's setting itself up to get hot in October with a bad September.

[bravesnumberone]

And Garcia pitching tonight? :Sad:

[jsebe10]

I mean this team just can't hit. Plain and simple. I am seriously thinking what good Jason will do if NO1 can drive him in...I honestly feel like we are pissing the division away.

[Lenny]

All I can say is it's nice to find the game thread again.

[VirginiaBrave]

Give me Uggla any day over Gattis...

[stpeteirish]

Nice turn around by Minor.

[jdunn]

There is nowhere in this line up that a pitcher can't go to get outs. You can walk the two .300 hitters and then take your pick of someone batting between .180 and .250.

Call me negative, but I can't see the lineup getting hot. As bad as I hate it, we're not going to get any production for the remaining of the season, including the playoffs from CF, 2nd, and LF. Too many holes. No reason to throw Gattis a strike, no reason to let Uggla hit, BJ's bat has a leather allergy, and I believe we've gotten the best out of Schafer. At least with Uggla out, there is a chance we don't lead the NL in K's

[stpeteirish]

Our offense lately = stinky doo doo. And seems like our pitchers have one bad inning do them in. Frustrating formula. Really REALLY don't want to see the Nats sneak past the Reds for the second Wild Card. If they end up knocking us out of the playoffs, or god forbid, winning it all after such a piss poor first 5 months of the season, I may just hang it up....

Thery're not catching the Reds...haven't you read the board....they're catching us!

[Dalyn]

He is safe if he continues to run.

[bravesnumberone]

Minor is pitching better, but you just cannot go out and give up three runs and 40 pitches off the bat with a putrid offense.

And if the Nats had another two weeks, they probably would catch us. Or at least make it very, very close.

[benchguy]

Gattis is not an everyday player...the pitcher have caught up to his
swing for the fences everytime up..



Give me Uggla any day over Gattis...

[thethe]

Gattis is not an everyday player...the pitcher have caught up to his
swing for the fences everytime up..

Yup. I wish he wouldn't swing so damn hard all the time.

[DaneHill]

All I can say is it's nice to find the game thread again.

WTTB! :tchop:

[bravesnumberone]

Wish I could be excited that the top of the order's up. Need Justin and Freeman to do something that involves runs.

[jdunn]

The similarity to 2010 is surreal.

[DaneHill]

Thery're not catching the Reds...haven't you read the board....they're catching us!

Lol, well, we shouldn't laugh it off, though it certainly would take the worst collapse in baseball history (again). We should be able to at least back in to the playoffs. But if the Nats end up sweeping us this series....

:emot-siren.gif.17:

[jdunn]

As a team, the 2010 playoff roster hit .175

[Dalyn]

The similarity to 2011 is surreal.


There you go.

[bravebonebook]

Wonder when they'll get serious? Getting swept today would be a bad thing. IMO, they really need to close this thing out this series.

[Dalyn]

0-2 again. Why throw him a strike?

[NYCBrave]

Remember the last time Justin Upton did something? He's got one RBI in September! And that came on a solo homer.

[bravesnumberone]

Remember the last time Justin Upton did something? He's got one RBI in September! And that came on a solo homer.

You expect more from someone who was looking like he'd be an MVP candidate.

[sturg33]

Remember the last time Justin Upton did something? He's got one RBI in September! And that came on a solo homer.

He did a hit a double today. It's tough to get RBIs when you have Elliot Johnson, BJ Upton, and Jordan Schafer as your leadoff hitter.

[bravesnumberone]

He did a hit a double today. It's tough to get RBIs when you have Elliot Johnson, BJ Upton, and Jordan Schafer as your leadoff hitter.

Fair enough. Maybe CJ should hit eighth again and Justin leadoff.

[Dalyn]

Nice quick inning from Minor. Well done.

[Dalyn]

Fair enough. Maybe CJ should hit eighth again and Justin leadoff.

I would definitely support Justin at the top.

[NYCBrave]

He did a hit a double today. It's tough to get RBIs when you have Elliot Johnson, BJ Upton, and Jordan Schafer as your leadoff hitter.

Yea, that probably explains why he can't get that OPS for the month over .700. Darn those lead off hitters

[bravesnumberone]

One garbage inning, and it may cost us the game. Minor at least has kept us within striking distance.

[DaneHill]

Ok, I'll keep repeating this to myself. The Nats are 10 games back. If they sweep us, they'll still be 7 games back. If we win 1 of these games, they'll be 9 games back with a magic number of 2. If we win 2 of these, we clinch the division (and pretty much put a nail in their WC hopes). Come on! :tchop:

[Dalyn]

:facepalm:

[Garmel]

Come on, BJ!

[sturg33]

Yea, that probably explains why he can't get that OPS for the month over .700. Darn those lead off hitters

Yeah - we should probably replace him with Elliot Johnson. Scahfer and Johnson would make a mean 1-2 punch

[Dalyn]

Come on, BJ!


:Gasp:



:snort:



:tchop:



Come on, BJ!

[jdunn]

In all fairness to Minor, he held it together and stuck to his game plan. He may take a loss, but he stayed within himself and so far hasn't let the game get away. Reminds me a lot of another lefty that pitched for Atlanta

[jdunn]

bunt over for Minor

[Dalyn]

Uggla. Good place for his first at-bat in ages. Success.

[sturg33]

Uggla. Good place for his first at-bat in ages. Success.

You know Fredi - always setting everyone up for success

[Dalyn]

:emot-siren.gif.17::emot-siren.gif.17::emot-siren.gif.17::emot-siren.gif.17:

[sturg33]

Thatta boy UGGS

[DaneHill]

O_O Uggla? Did he find his eyeballs?

[mfree80]

Uggla fooled us all!!!!

[sturg33]

Good thing we have Elliot Johnson up here in a critical moment.

Definitely the right spot for the worst hitter in the league.

[Dalyn]

EJ staying in?

[Julio3000]

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff511/poinsett/bdf0d05b-fd06-484a-baf9-dfa104651065_zps9a108833.jpg

[sturg33]

EJ staying in?

If you have to pinch hit for your leadoff hitter, then he shouldn't have been hitting leadoff

[NYCBrave]

If you have to pinch hit for your leadoff hitter, then he shouldn't have been hitting leadoff

ok we get it already, you hate Elliot Johnson. You've made it clear 37 times in this thread.

[Dalyn]

If you have to pinch hit for your leadoff hitter, then he shouldn't have been hitting leadoff


Can't argue with that.

[Bdawg2309]

let's conveniently forget that johnson already got a hit and a run earlier today......

[sturg33]

let's conveniently forget that johnson already got a hit and a run earlier today......

Who forgot about it?

[Bdawg2309]

they know how ****ty the attendance will be for that brewers series to be offering that deal

[bravesnumberone]

I see both sides. Bottom line is if Uggla didn't suck so badly more than half the time, it wouldn't even be a discussion.

[bravesnumberone]

It is time for Justin to step up and crank one.

[Dalyn]

Screw it. Hit for Gattis.

[Dalyn]

0-2 again.



:Gasp:

[sturg33]

Has Gattis taken a pitch all game?

[Dalyn]

:happy0157:


:Alone:

[DaneHill]

GATTIS! :cooter:

[Garmel]

Failure

[sturg33]

Well well well...

This would be a daggar to Wahington and GF

[TURBO]

boom?

[Bdawg2309]

please keep trotting clippard out there

[thethe]

Has Gattis taken a pitch all game?

The result is great but he needs to change his approach.

[Julio3000]

Clipaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhddddddd'd

[Dalyn]

Has Gattis taken a pitch all game?

No.

Can't believe Clippard tossed one even close to the zone. Glad he did.

[thethe]

Screw it. Hit for Gattis.

Sweet!

[NYCBrave]

Unbelievable

[DaneHill]

boom?

Boom

[Garmel]

You would think the Nats would quit putting Clippard up against us.

[sturg33]

No.

Can't believe Clippard tossed one even close to the zone. Glad he did.

Gameday shows the HR ball WAY high

[Runnin]

Gattitude. lol

[Julio3000]

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff511/poinsett/fmkleenex_zpsf120f6a8.jpeg

[Dalyn]

Gameday shows the HR ball WAY high

Pretty high.

But obviously not high enough.

http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4574472039500053&pid=15.1

[Julio3000]

Dalyn, when you said "hit for gattis," that was a prediction, right?

[Dalyn]

Dalyn, when you said "hit for gattis," that was a prediction, right?

Yes, sir. That's why I said, "Screw it."

[bravesnumberone]

Well goddamn if we can manage to hold onto this and then win the division tonight, I'll save Keith the trouble and ban myself from posting for a day.

[DaneHill]

Well goddamn if we can manage to hold onto this and then win the division tonight, I'll save Keith the trouble and ban myself from posting for a day.

:happy0157:

[mfree80]

Maybe during the off season Gattis can practice taking pitches. For now, hitting homeruns will have to suffice.

[thethe]

Nice...now minor doesn't get a loss!

[mfree80]

Nice...now minor doesn't get a loss!

Shall we start calling Ayala the "Vulture?"

[Garmel]

:Gasp:



:snort:



:tchop:



Come on, BJ!

I'd rather he prove me wrong than for me to be right. I'm rooting for him to bust out. My ego can handle me being wrong.:icon_biggrin:

[Dalyn]

Did Werth just come to plate to the Game of Thrones theme?

[Runnin]

There sure are a lot of empty seats.

[NYCBrave]

So I'm guessing Fredi doesn't feel that Walden is back yet? Interesting that Carpenter took the righties in the 8th.

[Dalyn]

:facepalm:

[DaneHill]

Avilan regressing it seems.

[Dalyn]

Avilan is throwing like his arm is dead.

[Dalyn]

Stretching and shaking his arm after just about every pitch. Dropping his slot. Not good.

[mfree80]

Avilan!!!!

[Gary82]

whew. avilan a little wild but he gets out of the 8th. three more outs to go. let's get some insurance.

[DaneHill]

Wow. Nice comeback, Avilan. Come on, Kimbrel! Bring it today!!!! :tchop: :tchop: :tchop:

[mfree80]

Wow. Nice comeback, Avilan. Come on, Kimbrel! Bring it today!!!! :tchop: :tchop: :tchop:

Gotta be a bit concerned about him in the playoffs.

[bravesnumberone]

Tad worried about Kimbrel. He needs to bring it today.

[Garmel]

Fredi was over managing the situation again. Carpenter was sharp. No reason to take him out.

[Dalyn]

Schafer is BJ's biggest fan.


EJ!

[Garmel]

I love EJ on the basepaths.

[Bdawg2309]

EJ>

[Dalyn]

Flashes of the old Zimmerman there.

[NYCBrave]

Elliot Johnson (2 hits) and Justin Upton (0-2 RISP) making me look smart today.

[Heyward]

Great play by Zim to save a run, ball was hit well.

[Dalyn]

:emot-siren.gif.17:

[Heyward]

Thanks Desmond.

[Dalyn]

REED! Love seeing him back.

[Garmel]

We'll take all the freebies that the Nats will give.

[jdunn]

I wouldn't have pitched to FF

[DaneHill]

Happiness

[Gary82]

That is a huge run there. The Nats with another error.

[Runnin]

bwahahaha

[DaneHill]

Eek! Reed definitely needs some ABs to shake the rust off.

[Garmel]

Reed looked a tad rusty.

[thethe]

So can we live with a catcher that has a 300 bop and hits 35 homers?

[Dalyn]

Reed looked a tad rusty.


Yeah. He needs a handful of starts before the playoffs.

[NYCBrave]

Yeah. He needs a handful of starts before the playoffs.

I thought the report was he could hit but couldn't run well since the injury has not fully healed?

[mfree80]

Those two balls both looked like strikes.

[bravesnumberone]

Jesus Christ, a leadoff walk.

[Heyward]

Up 2, why throw off speed.

Lead off walk, oh boy..

[Heyward]

Can't command his off speed.

Smh.

[Julio3000]

Somebody want to lay odds on EJ starting the playoff opener?

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff511/poinsett/elliot_et_zps77576176.jpg

[Dalyn]

I thought the report was he could hit but couldn't run well since the injury has not fully healed?


I don't mean today. Just before the playoffs.

[Dalyn]

A bit lower after that play.

[Heyward]

Seriously, why not throw to first.

[Teheran_49]

You have the friggin catcher running. get the out. WTF is this guy doing out there?????

[bravesnumberone]

Are we really about to choke this away?

[Dalyn]

Come on, Kimbrel!

[Garmel]

I guess EJ didn't know The Roach runs like a snail.

[mfree80]

Seriously, why not throw to first.

Could have thrown to 2nd. Just not a flip.

[ProbationDeac]

If gameday's pitch locations are accurate Craig is a little off today.

[Garmel]

If gameday's pitch locations are accurate Craig is a little off today.

More than just a little.

[mfree80]

gotta have an out.

[Dalyn]

Unbelievable.

:Sad:

[Gary82]

Well...

[jpack1]

Really Kimbrel. Really. We are gonna choke this one.

[Teheran_49]

Wow....It's not hard to see Freddi that Kimbrel just doesn't have it today.

[ProbationDeac]

More than just a little.

Yup.

[DaneHill]

Bad time for Kimbrel to blow up. Bleh.

[Julio3000]

It's Chad Tracy. Challenge him.

[BlackwaterPark]

Come on Craig

[ProbationDeac]

Well damn.

[Dalyn]

Why no walk?

[jpack1]

No freaking way. Come on Kimbrel.

[bravesnumberone]

****ing Kimbrel, of all games. Ridiculous.

[Dalyn]

Wow.

[DaneHill]

Unreal. Kimbrel and Simmons.

[Teheran_49]

Typical Atlanta Braves.

[stpeteirish]

let's conveniently forget that johnson already got a hit and a run earlier today......

and that we didn't pinch hit for him.

[Gary82]

No words to describe this inning.

[Runnin]

unbelievable

[Bdawg2309]

choke time

[VirginiaBrave]

They might catch us after this...

[bravesnumberone]

Yep, the Braves are done.

[jpack1]

We suck. Being a braves fan sucks.

[DaneHill]

Worse loss of the year. Gotta suck it up and come back out in a few hours.

[TomahawkChip10]

Great work from our gold glover and best closer in the league

[50PoundHead]

Through the wickets on Simmons or bad throw?

[jdunn]

What was the deal on the ground ball hit to Elliot Johnson?

[ProbationDeac]

They might catch us after this...

I won't go that far but it would be nice to ahead and wrap this up.

[TDlxANDER]

This team just inventing ways to lose right now....

I guess better now than October?

[tvsportscaster]

They have no chance of winning Game 2 now, the Braves will be so demoralized, there's no way they bounce back.

[TURBO]

Some of you are ridiculous. No doubt a terrible game, but come on.

[benchguy]

too bad it is not u that is done...


Yep, the Braves are done.

[TDlxANDER]

Seriously....Nats had 6 runs on 4 hits. That's brutal.

[bravesnumberone]

too bad it is not u that is done...

Go figure. Another moronic response.

[Bdawg2309]

hopefully garcia can throw a CG shutout

[bravesnumberone]

It may still be too late, but we're going to try our best to throw this division away.

[Dunit24]

Magic Number still rests at 4. 9 up with 11 games to play.

We arent done..cmon thats ridiculous

No question we need to step it up though. Maybe Fredi needs to start playing his regulars again. Seems hes been giving guys rest and pitchers some rest. Time to get going again.

[bravesnumberone]

hopefully garcia can throw a CG shutout

And there lies the problem right there. Someone else needs to be starting besides him. We can't just be giving guys days off right now. This race is not over.

[Heyward]

That one hurts...

[Teheran_49]

I don't know if I've ever seen an inning as terrible as that one.

[TDlxANDER]

Screw the East....this team needs to be wrapping up home field adv

[Heyward]

Could have thrown to 2nd. Just not a flip.

Ramos is as slow as Mac.

Get the out.

[ProbationDeac]

Magic Number still rests at 4. 9 up with 11 games to play.

We arent done..cmon thats ridiculous

No question we need to step it up though. Maybe Fredi needs to start playing his regulars again. Seems hes been giving guys rest and pitchers some rest. Time to get going again.

This. We need to start playing better baseball and winning some series but we're still in great position.

[bravesnumberone]

Ramos is as slow as Mac.

Get the out.

Playing scared, plain and simple.

[CyYoung31]

Saw what transpired score-wise on my phone. Ridiculous. Was hoping to get to see the Braves clinch tonight since I won't be able to tomorrow. So pissed.

[Heyward]

Screw the East....this team needs to be wrapping up home field adv

The East isn't technically done either.

If they win the next two, would be at 7 with four games against the Marlins who will lie down for them.

[Runnin]

The pen being reminded how easy it is to give up runs. I think they had almost forgotten.

[Heyward]

Kimbrel just didn't have it today.

Of all days, had to be this one, smh.

[Heyward]

Playing scared, plain and simple.

Just a dumb play, Ramos is incredibly slow, play for outs.

[ProbationDeac]

The East isn't technically done either.

If they win the next two, would be at 7 with four games against the Marlins who will lie down for them.

I know we're all at a certian level haunted by what happened two years ago but we're 4 wins/Nats losses away. Not the time to panic.

[bravesnumberone]

I would equate this loss to the one two years ago we blew against the Marlins. The dropped pop-up and the Omar walk-off.

Again, may be too late, as it's a 9-game advantage with 12 to play. But this will get very interesting if this team can't find it within itself to finish a game.

[57Brave]

what day would have been a good day for him to have a bad day?

[Dunit24]

Yeah some here think we are just going to go on a slide

This team is different IMO. They know they let one slip. Craig knows it. Simmons knows it.

They aint laying down. This was a wake up call.

[jdunn]

As Glavine once told Marcus Giles after making a crucial mistake, "if you want to be on a playoff caliber team, you damn well better start playing like it"

[Bdawg2309]

upton upton and reed johnson in the OF
johnson,simmons,uggla,freeman

and start whoever at C, doubt they start mccann at C for game 2

[DaneHill]

I DON'T WANT THE NATS TO WIN THE SECOND WILD CARD! (I'm shouting to the baseball gods that seem to love torturing us.)

[CyYoung31]

I would equate this loss to the one two years ago we blew against the Marlins. The dropped pop-up and the Omar walk-off.

Again, may be too late, as it's a 9-game advantage with 12 to play. But this will get very interesting if this team can't find it within itself to finish a game.

Actually, it would be more like the first game against the Cardinals where we had a two run lead and Kimbrel blew his first save in months. But, that was with like 18-20 to play, and at that time was even a smaller lead. 9 games up with 11 to play? Not going to happen.

[tvsportscaster]

what day would have been a good day for him to have a bad day?

After the division is clinched not against your arch rival

[gcbraves]

Hate losing this game this way but its too easy to want to throw in the towel. How many times will that combination of factors in an inning occur? Not often. We win one game in this series out of the two left and they have to win out while we lose out, playing the Cubs next, and Brewers when we get back home. I don't see that happening. I don't know what October will be like, not sure we will have a long visit to that month, but I can't see the Braves losing the division, even as bad as it has been the past couple of weeks.

[Lville21]

The game feels like a punch in the stomach. With the Pirates/Cardinals/Dodgers losing recently, this game hurts in terms of home-field advantage. It'd be great to have that clinched before the Braves have to see Hamels and Lee again in the last series of the year.

[Heyward]

what day would have been a good day for him to have a bad day?

Not vs them.

The Cubs or someone else.

But it had to end eventually.

[Dalyn]

what day would have been a good day for him to have a bad day?

Yesterday would've been perfect.