Atlanta Braves News: Morning Chop, Box Score, Cleveland Wasn’t Upset About Nick Swisher Leaving??
By Jeff Schafer
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: The Atlanta Braves were defeated by the Tampa Bay Rays in game one Tuesday, but if not for one pitch we could be singing a different song. Atlanta out hit, out pitched and actually played better defense than the Rays, but still the score books and runs decide it at the end of the day. Williams Perez continues to pitch better since coming off the DL with a foot injury. His first start back was ugly, second start was less ugly and now seems to be back. He pitched a complete game while giving up only four hits, four walks and two runs. His mistake pitch was to Kevin Kiermaier in the 7th inning. Kiermaier took a pitch to deep right field to put the Rays on the board with a two-run homer.
Braves lose 2-0
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | PA | BA | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Bourn LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .241 | .307 | .288 |
| Cameron Maybin CF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .269 | .329 | .375 |
| Nick Markakis DH | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .302 | .373 | .381 |
| A.J. Pierzynski C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .296 | .333 | .434 |
| Nick Swisher 1B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .189 | .254 | .288 |
| Jace Peterson 2B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .246 | .322 | .349 |
| Adonis Garcia 3B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .250 | .273 | .500 |
| Andrelton Simmons SS | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .255 | .321 | .332 |
| Eury Perez RF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .278 | .341 | .313 |
| Williams Perez P | ||||||||||
| Team Totals | 31 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 31 | .194 | .194 | .226 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williams Perez, L (4-3) | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4.21 |
| Team Totals | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2.25 |
Not all Indians in clubhouse sad to see Nick Swisher go
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Since joining the Braves last Saturday, Swisher has played in three games with the Atlanta Braves. He’s had 10 at-bats and one hit (the double he hit and the already famous chop he made while at second base). Is swing is getting there, but not quite yet. These are the first three games he’s played in since returning from a knee injury he suffered on June 12. Hopefully Swisher can be a major contributor to the Atlanta organization on and off the field…but as I read this article this morning from Yardbarker, it caught me off guard about his former teammates in Cleveland.
"Swisher always cut an enthusiastic, upbeat figure with the fans and media, and often in the clubhouse as well. Perhaps it was too much. NEOMG’s Zack Meisel piggybacked on Bastian in saying that some weren’t upset to see Swisher go, in part because his rah-rah attitude could grow old, especially when juxtaposed against ongoing injuries and inconsistency.Not all teammates shed a tear when Swisher packed up his belongings and jetted to Georgia. His relentless enthusiasm wore on members of the clubhouse and the fan base, as they longed for numbers in his stat line worthy of those on his paychecks.The energy and over-the-top bubbly attitude helped eliminate any lasting effects from a defeated team that amassed a 68-94 mark in 2012. When his performance went south, however, his insistence on being the club’s commander and cheerleader didn’t carry much weight.Swisher was asked [shortly after being traded] why the 2015 Indians never found their footing. His answer was surprising, given his typical demeanor. Swisher simply said he didn’t know, because he wasn’t in the clubhouse and wasn’t around the team."
Nick Markakis, A.J. Pierzynski set example for younger Atlanta Braves
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: If you were uncertain about John Hart’s moves late last year and early this year, are you still? He continues to wheel and deal to get the players – young and old – that he sees could bring the Braves back to the “Braves Way”. The veteran leadership the Braves currently have is remarkable…the clubhouse, I believe, is in the right order right now. Atlanta seemed lost the last few years since Chipper Jones retired, Tim Hudson moved on and Brian McCann went to the Yankees. The Braves haven’t had the leadership they needed. Now, the leadership seems to be back! Yes, the Braves are done in 2015, but watch out in 2016!
"As coaches like to say, when your best performers are also your hardest workers, that’s gold in terms of setting an example for the others. Particularly for younger players who aren’t accustomed to the rigors of a long season.When other Braves see 38-year-old Pierzynski, still catching about five days a week, and Markakis, who had major neck surgery last winter, excelling in July and August as teammates are getting injured or traded and the team’s postseason goal fades, it can have more of an impact on young players than any motivational message from others.“It’s huge,” Braves hitting coach Kevin Seitzer said. “Absolutely huge. That’s been the biggest reason for the success we’ve had, is just the way guys grind at-bats and keep bringing it for 27 outs, as hard as they can go. And when you’ve got two veteran guys like that who are the role models leading the way, it’s a real good example for the younger guys.”"