2015 Atlanta Braves

[Sportsforever]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

BTW - really glad we cut Wandy Rodriguez...he's sure been sucking it up for Texas.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

What, you didn't want Trevor Cahill instead?

[Sportsforever]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

What, you didn't want Trevor Cahill instead?

Exactly...I get the move as Wandy's old and Cahill is mid-20s, but suck is suck no matter the age.

[LowerWolf]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

I know they've said there's no structural damage, but I just don't have a good feeling about Minor. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm not sure we see him this season. And even if we do, I'm not sure we get much out of him.

And now he's officially done for the year after shoulder surgery. He's supposed to be ready for the start of next year; I hope that prognosis turns out to be correct.

[KSUowls]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

I can't imagine we bring Minor back. The ceiling is really high enough to to throw the money out there on a risk.

Really hope Julio gets back on track tomorrow night. I heard Leo on the radio saying he saw something wrong with Julio's mechanics. I hope that's all it is and they can get it fixed.

[LowerWolf]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

I still miss Heyward, but ... yeah, we won that trade. Big time.

[KSUowls]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

Absolutely won that trade. 2 CG SO and not even through May. Wood looked good last night and Julio was ok on Friday. The offense isn't great this year, but it's scoring plenty of runs if we could just get some consistent play from those guys.

[aukevin]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

Heyward is finally starting to come around for the Cardinals now, but you never know when he might fall off again. Loving the trade now, just hope Miller stays away from the Braves recent pitching curse.

[aukevin]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

Going to two Braves/Giants games next week! Scheduled to pitch is Shelby Miller on Thursday which I'm excited about, and then Friday is suppose to be Folty vs Tim Hudson. I hope the schedule holds up to see Huddy pitch. He's been my favorite player for years since we he was a player at Auburn when I was a student. Really want to see him in his final year.

[aukevin]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

Well hopefully tonight closes the book on Stults.

[canes21]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

It's a clear as can be, Fredi must be let go. He simply cannot lead a team to victory because he does not know how to manage a game.

Avilan comes in and walks his first batter. Most managers would pull him right then and there, but not Fredi. He then gives up a single. Definitely should be out, but not to Fredi. Walks the bases loaded. No way he's still in, but Fredi. Gives up a tying run. Hey, finally out 4 batters too late.

Guy gives up a walk to his first batter. Should learn our lesson, yank him. Nope, Fredi. 2 run homer. He is gone for sure, right? Nope, Fredi. Gives up a 2nd homer. Gone 100%. Wait, no, Fredi. Gives up a 3rd homer. Hey, about time he's out, great call Fredi.

It's ridiculous. This team is 21-20, about to be 21-21 with Fredi Gonzalez as the manager. This is not a roster full of world class talent, but it is a team that should be over .500 by more than one game had they a real manager. They hustle, they hit well enough, they hit when guys are on base, they play defense, they have starting pitching, and they have a capable bullpen. What they lack is a manager than can maximize his bullpen.

Ever since he came to Atlanta we have watched the Braves collapse late in games often. We've seen them pretty much play worse after the all-star break every single year. It's not a coincidence. Fredi Gonzalez cannot manage at a high enough level to do anything significant in the MLB.

This team has easily shown they could and should be competing for a wildcard spot at the end of the year, but they won't. They will finish 10+ below .500 and every bit of it will rest on the shoulders of Fredi.

[p_rushing]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

I hope they are ready to replace him after this year. He only has this year left, so he will probably stay through the end.

[DonkeyJote]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

I'm not now, nor have I ever been, a fan of Fredi's. But blaming him for not pulling a guy after a walk? You can't yank a guy everytime he walks a leadoff batter. Especially when it's a pretty good reliever; Avalian had a 2.45 era going into that one and a 2.55 career era. You gotta be able to trust that guy to get out of it. And he couldn't. Don't get me wrong; I think it's clear we need to move on at manager, but constantly blaming him for things like this is ridiculous. It's not his job to pitch, you've got to be able to trust your best players to play like it.

Also, if you think this team should be a whole lot better than 21-21, I want some of what you're smoking.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

I don't think the team should be a "whole lot" better but we've blown a least 5 or 6 games late that we should have won, most notably that stupid 13-12 game that launched the Nationals resurgence.

[canes21]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

The Braves have blown 5 games at least because of poor bullpen management. Fredi left a guy in there to give up 3 homers in the inning. He threw in the towel and then the Braves came in to get another run in the bottom half of the inning. Had Fredi not conceded defeat and taken his man out and it was a potential 4-3 score, the game could've taken a huge turn.

The fact of the matter is Fredi does not like taking pitchers out mid inning and it has cost the Braves multiple games this year and plenty more in previous seasons.

5 games because he can't manage a bullpen correctly. All the successful teams have their bullpen pitchers on short leashes. A leadoff walk, single, walk would be it for most teams. Heck, most teams would yank them after the back to back base runners to start and inning off. You don't see St Louis letting their bullpen pitchers throw 42 pitches and giving up 3 runs in 1/3 innings before getting yanked.

No one runs a bullpen like that except Atlanta. Avilan had an off night. Sure he only gave up one run, but that's only because Fredi left him in there to load the bases in the first place. If your starter goes 6 deep and gives up one run and leaves with the lead, you have to win that. Fredi Gonzalez, however, does not manage well enough to win half of those games.

The bullpen is killing this team because Fredi does not yank anyone out mid inning and would rather give up 5 runs in the late innings then use multiple arms. It's ridiculous and as this team at 22-22 instead of 27-17. That's a giant difference and will be major come September.