The Braves split the series with the Nationals, after taking the first to, and then had the eyes on the Mets. Mike Minor pitched terrific in his seven innings of work and gave the lead to O’Flaherty and Kimbrel for the win, right? No. O’Flaherty gave up a solo home run to Marlon Byrd in the 8th inning that tied the game up for the Mets. Evan Gattis (El Oso Blanco) connected for a solo home run of his own in the 9th. Craig Kimbrel came in to close the door on the Mets, except he made one mistake to David Wright, which sent the game into extra innings. Jordan Walden, Luis Avilan, and Cory Gearrin gave pitched the 10th inning and allowed the Mets to score two, and eventually win the game 7-5 in 10 innings.Don’t get used to that effort from the bullpen. They are the best in baseball and rarely give away opportunities like that to seal a game. I’m more concentrated on the offense.

In the bottom of the 9th inning, Ramiro Pena, in for Juan Francisco, doubled to start the Braves off. Reed Johnson sacrificed him to third and that brought up Jordan Schafer, who had four walks in four plate appearances on the night. I couldn’t help but think that the Braves would win it there. Unfortunately, » Continue reading “Braves Losing Streak Goes to Three, But It’s Not All Bad”

After the Braves 10th straight win last night, they turn around for a 12:10 ET first pitch and head out of town again. That’s roughly a 20 hour home stand. It is probably in Atlanta’s best interest to keep moving along. Who knows, they may never lose, or they could lose today. Just keep your eyes open, and enjoy every minute of the ride.

All season we have watched a 40 year old play like he is a teenager all the while wondering, “is this the last home run,” “is this the last…” Sunday was a definitive last- Larry Wayne Jones played his last regular season home game for the Atlanta Braves. Atlanta has at least four more games, three in Pittsburgh in the regular season, and at least one playoff game.

Oddly enough, during Chipper Jones weekend, it was not Chipper Jones carrying the Braves. For some fans, this was surely disappointing, but honestly, it should be relieving. All season, those of us covering the team have told you it is not a good thing for the best player on your team to be the guy who will not be here next year. Finally, Atlanta does not need Chipper as their spark- at least not this weekend. Martin Prado, Kris Medlen, Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward, and Mike Minor were the stories on the field. Atlanta won a record 23 games in which Kris Medlen started on Sunday, Minor’s win on Saturday further highlighted his incredible second half turnaround. Prado, Freeman, and Heyward each stepped up with key RBI to give both pitchers enough run support to get the wins. All of this while Chipper went one for the weekend.

I understand you wanted the Chipper Jones heroics you have become used to over the last 19 years, but your happiness should be in that the Braves can win without him. This was something that I myself was skeptical of at several points during the season. The faces of the Braves as Chipper announced his retirement showed sadness and even doubt. Maybe, just maybe, this was something that this team was not certain of themselves, but now that they are, you may be for a Hall of Fame ending to a first ballot Hall of Fame career.

Braves fans may finally be able to take a breath and enjoy the rest of the season thanks to the guy that ended a horrific September and in return the season in 2011. Freddie Freeman not only clinched at least one playoff game for the Braves with his two run walk off home run, he also brought a glimmer of hope of a division title.

That’s right folks the team that had the most colossal collapse in team history, could make just as shocking of a come the next year. With eight games remaining, Atlanta finds itself only four games back of the NL East leading Washington Nationals, a team that has shut down their ace when they need him most. More than the loss of Starburg’s arm, Washington misses the continuity in the clubhouse. The message sent to the Nationals and their fans is that winning is not important. On top of the fact they they have proven to the world their inability to manage a pitching staff.

Freeman’s moment of glory may have taken away from two milestones: Chipper Jones tied Robbie Alomar in career hits, and Kris Medlen tied Whitey Ford for the longest games started team winning streak. In the 22 games Kris Medlen has started, even if he has gotten a no decision, the Braves have won. You cannot really blame Freddie though, it could have more to do with the fact that we are just accustomed to Medlen and Chipper carrying the team.

Seth Everett stopped by The Opening Drive to discuss how insane the Nationals shutdown of Stephen Strasburg, but to a Braves fan, it could seem pretty brilliant!

Marc Ryan. Leslie Koerdt, and the Opening Drive went on a Tour of Atlanta with Atlanta Journal Constitution Braves Beat David O’Brien about a six-man rotation and what happens after, Michael Bourn’s contract, and how a person could have a splinter in their hand for six years. Listen to DOB had to say.

WEATHER FORECAST
105F 4:05; 106F HIGH *UPDATED TEMP 3:28PM, **HOTTEST BRAVES HOME GAME IN HISTORY

BRAVES LINEUP
1. Michael Bourn CF
2. Martin Prado LF
3. Jason Heyward RF
4. Freddie Freeman 1B
5. Dan Uggla 2B
6. Brian McCann C
7. Andrelton Simmons SS
8. Juan Francisco 3B
9. Mike Minor P

NATIONALS LINEUP
1. Danny Espinosa 2B
2. Bryce Harper CF
3. Ryan Zimmerman 3B
4. Michael Morse RF
5. Adam LaRoche 1B
6. Ian Desmond SS
7. Tyler Moore LF
8. Jesus Flores C
9. Stephen Strasburg P

You would think a lead off triple is a good way to put 20 scoreless innings away and move on to winning ways. You, like many others, would be wrong. You are probably on target when it all fell apart though. That’s right, the dreaded 5th inning is where it all blew up for Mike Minor giving up three runs. The Yankees did not stop there, scoring one run in each of their at bats to follow.

A team coming off the aforementioned 20 scoreless innings cannot afford to relinquish a lead. The Braves struggles at the plate are far to similar to that of 2011, excluding Dan Uggla, whose patience is shown through the number of walks he has this season. What is not similar is the amount of pitching at Atlanta’s disposal. The bullpen is not as reliable, most notably Johhny Venters. Eric O’Flaherty has been injured, Livan Hernadez designated for assignment, and Kris Medlen sent down to stretch out for a starting role. Needless to say, Medlen will not be filling that spot just yet.

Although, a starter spot has opened with news that could be devastating if the Braves stay on the recent course. Brandon Beachy, who left Saturday’s game versus Baltimore with an elbow injury, showed a partial tear of the Ulnar Collateral Ligament on an MRI performed today. Beachy will see the team doctor Tuesday and Dr. James Andrews Wednesday. Injuries of this nature often require Tommy John surgery and one year of rehab.

Admit it, you cringed when you saw Mike Minor was up against Stephen Strasburg, and it looks like mother nature did too. Friday night’s rain out allowed Freddie Gonzalez to skip the struggling Minor’s start, and give the ball to Brandon Beachy who has been (insert sarcastic tone here) slightly better than Minor this season. The rain also delayed the debut of Andrelton Simmons at shortstop, but by all accounts the youngster is not phased. One last thing, please open your minds and at least look at the reasoning behind batting Beachy eighth with Jose Constanza and Simmons in the line up. It is least disruptive, gives balance, and may possibly allow Simmons to see better pitches. Besides that, the guy that started the whole “pitchers hit eighth” controversy didn’t do so bad with it!

Braves Line Up
Michael Bourn CF
Martin Prado 3B
Brian McCann C
Dan Uggla 2B
Freddy Freeman 1B
Jason Heyward RF
Andrelton Simmons SS
Brandon Beachy P
Jose Constanza LF