4/28/15 MLB GDT Braves/Nats: Teheran on the bump(Julio Pic)/Some lineup consistency!

[GovClintonTyree]

No, actually, I can ask a well-paid Major League Baseball to play well. I don't assign moral failings to a player's physical failings, but this isn't JV high school baseball. Uggla isn't getting paid to work hard and bust his ass.

If Frank had sent him to an Ocularmoterdysfunction specialist, he'd have hit 70 more home runs, Frank would be the GM instead of the three-headed dick we have now, he would have extended Heyward and we'd be competing for championships while our thin farm system (because of successful major leaguers) would be replenished with drafts, scouting and international signings instead of the Padres and Astros crap.

Between Freddie, Mac, Melvin and Uggla, we must have the stupidest eye specialist ever to graduate from the DeVry School of Optometry. Pitiful.

[Runnin]

Well, at least I'm sure we all feel good for Dan Uggla.

[Tapate50]

Tough one, but it happens ... We have no BP other than Grilli and Martin and this is Nick Markakis fault? Sheesh.


Avilan has one terrible beard. It's like he glued pubes to it in patches.

[Julio3000]

Well, sure. But are we really still hammering Fredi? He's the manager. He doesn't play.

I'm not sure how people hang this on him. The roster flat sucks, the bullpen sucks, Teheran sucks, Cahill sucks month-old bongwater. Really he's got three good starters, a good first baseman, a good shortstop, and an asshole catcher who is hot as hell.

He seems to handle them pretty good, it's all those ****ty players he ****s up with. And I think you and me and LaRussa would all have the same results.

If a few of these steaming turds turn out to be keepers, this will have been a successful year. Martin, Peterson, Maybin.

Why wait for the deadline to flip the ten vets? Do it now. Screw it, let's be the Astros.

It's not his choices, it's this team. I'm not saying he's Earl Weaver or anything, but he can eat soup without spilling much of it on himself, probably write his name.

Managing a baseball team ain't hard. We just suck.

Yesterday's loss is not on Fredi. Anyone could second-guess any manager on any given night. I think the construction of the roster is going to tempt him to overmanage, and . . . let's just say that's not his strength.

[Julio3000]

Tough one, but it happens ... We have no BP other than Grilli and Martin and this is Nick Markakis fault? Sheesh.


Avilan has one terrible beard. It's like he glued pubes to it in patches.

Markakis has been a net positive, of course. His lack of range got a little bit exposed last night, but he's great in the leadoff spot.

Last night was weird. Freed from the burden of high expectations, I find that I can watch the Braves blow an 8-run lead against their most hated rival in a strange but not uncomfortable state of detachment. It's not a very good team. The bullpen is shaky. Grilli's going to blow one occasionally. C'est la vie.

[dak]

Markakis has been a net positive, of course. His lack of range got a little bit exposed last night, but he's great in the leadoff spot.

Yeah, so far Nick's range in RF is a little worse than I expected . . . and my expectations were fairly modest. His ABs though are unreal. He may never post a SLG over 400 again, but he's a quality hitter.

My feelings on the contract are unchanged. He's a guy you don't mind paying $11m for in 2015, but it's very unlikley he'll earn that money in the 4th year. He seems to be a hard worker and mentally tough though, so I'm guessing his decline will be gradual and nothing like the Melvin decline.

[sturg33]

Markakis is clearly a very solid hitter who is a great person to have in the lineup... but I think we probably get similar production from Aoki - and don't have to pay 10% of the payroll to.

Having said that - the lineup would probably be pretty decent if we kept Upton in there to bat in between Markakis and Freeman.

[50PoundHead]

I was watching on the MLB network with the Nats' broadcasters and I found myself agreeing with Santangelo as the game wore on (shudder). Big gripe with Gonzalez was not pulling Teheran after 5. Guy is really struggling. Couldn't believe how timid our pitchers were. We kept leaving it outside and they kept tattooing it to the opposite field. For those who constantly decry Joe Simpson's commentary (and it can be maddening), if you let the pitcher do most of the work, you can make a living driving the ball to the opposite field and our pitchers were just leaving their outer-half stuff way too high.

As for Uggla, he made more adjustments at the plate in one night than he did in 4+ seasons in Atlanta. Plus, he looks like he's lost some weight and has greater flexibility. What good are hitting coaches if you don't listen to them.

I'm not going to carp about Markakis. He is what he is. I tend to agree with sturg33 at a level. Most RFs in baseball catch Reed Johnson's ground rule double. He's a good hitter and I suspect his doubles power will pick up as the season goes on. I just think they paid him too much and for too many years.

[AerchAngel]

Dan Uggla is still laughing.

"They paid me to beat them, I hope Freddie isn't mad at me, LOLLLOLLOLLLL!!"

[UNCBlue012]

Anyone who blames Markakis is just wrong.

It's not his fault that Avilan still blows, Teheran is... something (Mental, Hurt, Idk) and that Grilli threw a 0-2 fastball almost directly down the middle to a hitter that has enough strength to get that over the fence easily.

And it's Dan FREAKING Uggla.

I'm still livid.

But, I hope Teheran is fine. I think it's more mental than anything, but something has to change, because our "Ace" can't be doing this crap.

[UNCBlue012]

Also, bravo to the offense. Seriously.

Everyone did work last night and I'm beyond happy to see Markakis-Simmons-Freeman-AJ in the first four spots.

Oh yeah, PLAY MAYBIN FREDI. He was pretty good, can take a walk, steal bases and play great defense.

[50PoundHead]

Anyone who blames Markakis is just wrong.

It's not his fault that Avilan still blows, Teheran is... something (Mental, Hurt, Idk) and that Grilli threw a 0-2 fastball almost directly down the middle to a hitter that has enough strength to get that over the fence easily.

And it's Dan FREAKING Uggla.

I'm still livid.

But, I hope Teheran is fine. I think it's more mental than anything, but something has to change, because our "Ace" can't be doing this crap.

Braves' pitchers were pitching "backwards" all night. Only guy Teheran seemed to go after was Harper. Don't know if it was scouting or whatever, but when you have a big lead, you don't toy with the other team's hitters. You go after them.

[UNCBlue012]

Just bad pitching almost 20 walks in the past 4-5 games. That's embarassing.

I'm not buying this Tehran being the ace sht.

I can buy him being a Ace to number 2 starter at his lowest. I do think he's incredibly good.

That being said, I stated several times this offseason that I believe Wood could easily pan out to be better and I'm really really high on Miller. The future is bright, last night was just dark.

[sturg33]

Anyone who blames Markakis is just wrong.

It's not his fault that Avilan still blows, Teheran is... something (Mental, Hurt, Idk) and that Grilli threw a 0-2 fastball almost directly down the middle to a hitter that has enough strength to get that over the fence easily.

And it's Dan FREAKING Uggla.

I'm still livid.

But, I hope Teheran is fine. I think it's more mental than anything, but something has to change, because our "Ace" can't be doing this crap.

I'm not blaming Markakis for the loss. We scored 12 runs and lost. The pitching was to blame.

I'm just saying Markakis' defense in the 7th inning was so bad that it cost 3 runs, in my opinion. He has no range.

But he is not the reason we lost.

[Russ2dollas]

I can buy him being a Ace to number 2 starter at his lowest. I do think he's incredibly good.

That being said, I stated several times this offseason that I believe Wood could easily pan out to be better and I'm really really high on Miller. The future is bright, last night was just dark.

did you see the talkingchop article about miller and his lack of swing and miss pitches?

Wood may be the nastiest out of the 3.....but hard to trust that he holds up.

[Millwood1Hitter]

I'm worried as hell about Julio. He's not right, he needs to be shutdown for a start or 2 or whatever he needs. I hope it's just minor and nothing that could be a serious setback in the long-term. He's just not right and it's apparent, and it's just another thing to the long list of why Fredi Gonzalez should not be managing this team any longer. Yeah, I don't really care about wins and losses this year, and that's ok, but his handling and managing of pitchers and young players for the future isn't good either and could have severe consequences moving forward.

[weso1]

Markakis has certainly been a positive so far this year...

But his offense isn't sustainable, and his defense is

Why is his offense not sustainable? In his career he's put up a similar or better OPS in 5 seasons compared to what he has right now. If his neck really was causing him issues the last couple seasons then maybe he can put up an OPS north of .800

[chop2chip]

Why is his offense not sustainable? In his career he's put up a similar or better OPS in 5 seasons compared to what he has right now. If his neck really was causing him issues the last couple seasons then maybe he can put up an OPS north of .800

That goes against the narrative, weso. His true talent level was 2013 (the year after a pretty severe injury). Not the other 8 years.

[thethe]

That goes against the narrative, weso. His true talent level was 2013 (the year after a pretty severe injury). Not the other 8 years.

Markakis will never EVER be given a fair shake with a portion of the fanbase.

[sturg33]

Why is his offense not sustainable? In his career he's put up a similar or better OPS in 5 seasons compared to what he has right now. If his neck really was causing him issues the last couple seasons then maybe he can put up an OPS north of .800

Well for starters - his BABIP is .377... good luck keeping that pace up.

And his BB% is the highest of his career, at 16.7%, where it's been under 9% for the last 4 years.

And no power to speak of - but maybe that will come