Morning Chop: Atlanta Braves News 9/19
Sep 18, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Alex Wood (58) yells at home plate umpire CB Buckner (not pictured) after coming out of the game in the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Tomahawk Take’s Morning Chop – Summary of Braves’ News
Braves Rally Past Nationals for 5-2 Win
WASHINGTON — Justin Upton and Dan Uggla each homered in a three-run sixth inning, and the Atlanta Braves rallied past the Washington Nationals for a 5-2 victory Wednesday night, lowering their magic number for clinching the NL East title to two games.
Brian McCann and Jordan Schafer also drove in runs as the Braves snapped a three-game skid. Atlanta has not won the division since 2005, the last of 11 straight titles.
Washington entered 4½ games behind Cincinnati for the second NL wild card.
Hurry Back, Jason Heyward
The Atlanta Braves have been without one of their best hitters and outfielders for almost a month now. Jason Heyward got hit in the face by a pitch on Aug. 21. When he comes back depends obviously on how he heals and how he feels. They won’t rush him back too soon and risk future injury. However, the Braves are missing their star player a lot. It’s hard to replace a player like Heyward, and at this point in the season, every game counts. The Braves need to keep winning as they don’t have anything locked up just yet.
Heyward is near the top of each Braves statistical category. One player of his caliber can hurt a team when he is either not playing well or is injured. In Heyward’s case, his injury came at a difficult time for the Braves. They need a productive end to the season and hopefully gain some momentum for the playoffs. This is still a young team. In fact, the Braves are one of the youngest teams in baseball. A guy like Heyward, who has actually been around a few years, is something they desperately need. He needs to be on the field as a leader and mentor to the young players in these meaningful games.
Fredi Gonzalez, Alex Wood ejected from Nationals-Braves game, warnings issued
Washington Post – Nationals Journal
… Bucknor called the pitch a ball and Werth took first base. As Rendon jogged home to score the run, Manager Fredi Gonzalez emerged from the dugout.
Wood, a rookie, erupted at Bucknor, who doesn’t exactly have a sterling reputation behind the plate. Chris Johnson ran over from third base, held Wood back and Johnson even covered Wood’s mouth with his glove. Wood yelled expletives at Bucknor. Wood escaped an ejection but Gonzalez was tossed by Bucknor for arguing the call.
,,, Wood was clearly unhappy as he stepped off the mound, bumping into Tosca as he walked off. With his night over, he took advantage and pointed and yelled at Bucknor.“Hey **** you, CB. **** you. That’s ****ing terrible,” he appeared to say on television replays. Bucknor ejected Wood instantly.
Those history-chasing Atlanta Braves
History in baseball comes in many shapes, many sizes, many colors, many forms. Those 2013 Atlanta Braves are living proof.
On one hand, their closer, Craig Kimbrel, is on the verge of doing something Mariano Rivera has never done — and, for that matter, something no pitcher in the history of baseball has ever done.
On the other hand, this is a first-place team that, amazingly, has two every-day players –Dan Uggla and B.J. Upton — living life below the Mendoza Line. Many of you have asked me how rare that is for a team heading for October. Well, friends, the September History Watch has the answer.
Atlanta Braves Rumors
- Look for Elliot Johnson to be back with the Braves in a super-utility role next season, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com within his latest column. Atlanta is quite pleased with their August waiver claim on the 29-year-old as he has done a capable job of filling in for second baseman Dan Uggla.