Braves Stumble Into The All Star Break
By Fred Owens
The Braves stumble into the All Star Break on a five game losing streak after being swept by the Rockies on Sunday.
Braves Stumble Again
The Braves can’t stand prosperity. Every time the team approaches the 500 mark they seem to hit an invisible barrier that send them into a skid. The first inning looked promising as Alex Wood quickly disposed of the first three Rockies’ hitters but it went downhill from there.
Wood finished the day with a line of 5 2/3 IP, 10 hits, 7 runs all earned, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts but that’s not the whole story.
The Braves were flat the whole game. Chris Johnson was unofficially benched for not running out the what he thought would be a home run on Saturday and getting tagged out at second. Cameron Maybin was a late scratch due to illness and of course Jason Grilli’s injury on Saturday meant he wasn’t available. That’s not to say some of the players didn’t give it everything.
Eury Perez went three for five including a double in the first and a bunt single that resulted in a run in the sixth. That bunt single ignited a three run rally that tied the game and seemed to light a fire under the Braves. In fact the Braves might have turned the whole game around had they been able to take advantage of Chad Bettis when they had him on the ropes.
The Sloppy Sixth
After Perez’ led off with that bunt single Nick Markakis walked and Kelly Johnson single to right scoring the speedy Perez. Juan Uribe hit a ground ball to short forcing Johnson at second but he beat the throw to first and the Braves had runners on the corners with one out.
More from Tomahawk Take
- Atlanta Braves 2012 Prospect Review: Joey Terdoslavich
- Braves News: Braves sign Fuentes, Andruw’s HOF candidacy, more
- The Weakest Braves Homers Since 2015
- Atlanta Braves Sign Joshua Fuentes to Minor League Deal
- Braves News: New Year’s Eve comes with several questions about the 2023 Braves
A.J. Pierzynski followed with a single to right scoring Markakis and Jonny Gomes hit a double to right that bounced into the stands. Uribe scored but had the ball stayed in play Pierzynski would likely have scored as well.
The Rockies decided to walk Andrelton Simmons to force Fredi Gonzalez to decide to give up the out or pinch hit for Wood who had looked pretty good after giving up three early runs.
Everyone expected a pinch hitter. After all the bullpen was full with 10 pitchers available, he had CJ, Maybin, Pedro Ciriaco and Ryan Lavarway on the bench Bettis was shaky and the Rockies bullpen is one of the league’s worst. It seemed like a no brainer but Gonzalez sent Wood to the plate apparently with orders not to swing at all.
Wood took three strikes without acting like he was going to swing and went to take a seat. Jace Peterson whose numbers with the bases loaded this season are eye watering headed to the plate. Unfortunately Jace is also in an awful slump and he grounded weakly to second ending the inning.
Wood took the mound in the bottom of the sixth with a tie score and a virtually new game to pitch. He immediately gave up singles to Willin Rosario and Nick Hundley followed by a sacrifice by Drew Stubbs moving them to second and third.
The Rockies pinch hit Michael McKenry and Wood struck him out bringing Charlie Blackmon to the plate. Blackmon had Wood’s number on his first at bat when he drive in the Rockies first run and again in the fourth when he singled to right. It was pretty obvious that Wood should give him nothing to hit or just walk him. Instead hit left a pitch over the outer third of the plate that Blackmon rifled into right field scoring two Rockies and giving them a 5-3 lead.
D.J. LeMahieu followed with another single sending Blackmon to third and bringing Gonzalez out of the dugout to get Wood.
"Wood replaced Fredi’s decision to allow Wood to bat in the top of the sixth backfires as the lefty allowed two runs in the bottom half before exiting."
Fredi's decision to allow Wood to bat in the top of the sixth backfires as the lefty allowed two runs in the bottom half before exiting.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) July 12, 2015
David Carpenter replaced Wood and Troy Tulowitzki greeted him with a three run homer into the left field seats. Carpenter struck out Nolan Arenado to end the inning and effectively end the game.
That’s A Wrap
There are many things to be said about the game and the series. We saw players not running when they should and CJ was punished for it but Simmons was not. Fredi Gonzalez continues to be lost as a manager. Let me be clear, I do not fault him for playing the players he has and losing. I’ve said before that he can only be expected to do so much with a roster of aging veterans and AAAA players that lack the depth necessary to replace an injured player.
A key part of the manager’s job is to put the players in a position to maximize their talent and give them a chance to win. Gonzalez does not do that and it’s not new, he’s been doing it since he took over but with a roster full of home runs and division rivals that imploded on their own or because they were badly managed mask a lot of mistakes.
The other part of the manager’s job description is to motivate players and get them back on track when the going gets tough. Fredi failed to do that in 2012 and 2104, now it looks like it’s happening again and he has no idea how to deal with it. I’ve met Fredi briefly and I like him but I don’t like him as a manager, after the first three months of 2011 I never have.
The team is going to lose more veterans over the next few weeks. New closer designate Jim Johnson may never get a chance to close for the Braves. Kelly Johnson, Jonny Gomes and perhaps Maybin are trade candidates and as they try to move CJ they may package a starter with him to get a team to take him and his contract. The thing we must keep in mind is that the players aren’t trying to be bad, they don’t want to lose and they need support even when they are losing.
When I visited the Astros last year the atmosphere at the ball[park was light hearted and the fans really into the games. No one got booed. No one was verbally abused and genuine effort resulted in genuine applause. This young Braves team needs that kind of support so buckle your seatbelts Braves fans, things will get worse before they get better but keep smiling and remember it will get better.