Morning Chop: Atlanta Braves News 9/13
Sep 11, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez (16) sits in the dugout during the game against the Atlanta Braves at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Tomahawk Take’s Morning Chop – Braves News Summary
Miami Marlins fall to Braves 6-1 as Jose Fernandez fallout continues
Less than 24 hours after Jose Fernandez beat and riled the first-place Atlanta Braves in his final start of the season, the Marlins began their final 18-game stretch Thursday afternoon looking like a team without its best player around to help.
Atlanta took advantage of six walks and pounded rookie left-hander Brian Flynn — who was making just his second start — en route to a 6-1 victory played in front of an announced crowd of 15,274 at Marlins Park.
Fernandez, meanwhile, watched from the bench. After closing out one of the best rookie campaigns by a pitcher in major-league history — and also angering the Braves and his own manager for “pimping” his first major-league home run — Fernandez told Marlins.com on Thursday morning he’s going to keep being who he is.
The Marlins want Jose Fernandez to tone it down
I feel like most of fandom was on Jose Fernandez’s side the other night after he admired his home run and ruffled the Braves’ feathers. No one particularly approved of the spitting-at-Chris-Johnson thing, but overall the sense I’ve gotten from people is that, hey, he’s young, he hit his first-ever homer and he can be forgiven for being a bit exuberant about it. More broadly, I think most fans roll their eyes at unwritten rules things and there’s nothing wrong with a kid having a bit of fun out there. He plays for the Marlins for cryin’ out loud, let him enjoy himself for five minutes, OK?
The Marlins, however, are on the Braves’ side with this one:
Even after emotions had settled Thursday, [Marlins manager Mike] Redmond sided with Atlanta.
"Jose is an emotional guy,” he said. “That’s part of his game that is going to improve. We don’t want to take the ‘having fun’ aspect away from him. That’s what makes him him. But at the same time, I think maybe he can center that a little bit. … That might be a part of his game he needs to look at, and maybe try to do something different."
With East in sight, Braves call on local prospect Hale
Georgia native set to debut as Kennedy tries to keep Padres rolling
If everything plays out in their favor, the Braves can lock up the National League East as early as Sunday.
But to secure their first division title since 2005 at Turner Field — they start a six-game road trip Monday — they have to win their series opener against the Padres on Friday night. The Braves will certainly welcome the return home after losing four of their seven games on the road and eight of their last 13 games away from Turner Field.
David Hale, recalled last week, will make his Major League debut. The 25-year-old posted a 3.22 ERA in 22 games (20 starts) with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Hale grew up just 20 miles north of Atlanta in Marietta, Ga., idolizing the Braves’ famed trio of Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine, the crux of the 1995 team that won the franchise’s last World Series.
Atlanta Braves’ Dan Uggla Needs to Put Up or Shut Up
Most players who have 21 home runs and 53 RBIs are starters for their teams, but Atlanta Braves second baseman Dan Uggla doesn’t deserve to be one. Thankfully, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez has finally figured that out, as he has started Elliot Johnson over Uggla three of the past four games, which I recently said he needed to do. You see, while Uggla has put up the aforementioned numbers, his batting average currently sits at .180, which is one of the lowest marks in MLB among regulars. And although the 33-year-old native of Louisville, KY has worked a respectable 71 walks, he has also struck out 158 times, which has him projected to go down on strikes a career-high 175 times.