Braves Season Ends After Losing Wild Card Game

Not the way any Braves fan wanted to see the season end.  Chipper's final game is marred by poor defense, including an error by Chipper, and an infield fly call that stunted a possible rally by the Braves.  The call by the umps also fueled the Braves' fans as they showed their displeasure for the bogus call.  It was really a shame as it showed the fans and city in a bad light.  It also masked the fact that the team lost due to poor defense and Medlen not being able to get out of a jam when he needed to.  You probably also missed Fredi Gonzalez's great decision in starting David Ross over the struggling Brian McCann.  Ross then went 3 for 4 with a home run for 2 runs batted in.  A poor showing all around.

 

It is also a dissapointing end to a great bounce back season where Atlanta won 94 games and was strong down the stretch in contradiction to the epic swoon they displayed last September.  The offense was average at best.  There were some good points.  Chipper's .287/14/62 (AVG/HR/RBI)was a great way to end his career even if he struggled the last two months of the year.  Martin Prado played everywhere and had an impressive .301/10/70 year.  Jason Heyward (.269/27/82) and Freddie Freeman (.259/23/94) each had good years while Michael Bourn batted .274 while stealing 42 bases.  Brian McCann and Dan Uggla hit .230 and .220 respectively creating holes in the lineup throughout the year. 

 

The pitching was outstanding.  Fifth in ERA, runs, and earned runs, and 4th in WHIP.  Up and down the rotation and bullpen Atlanta's pitchers were as good as almost anyone's in the league.  The rotation was anchored by Tim Hudson (16 wins/3.62 ERA), Kyle Medlan (10 wins/1.57 ERA) and Paul Maholm (4 wins/3.54 ERA after trade from Cubs).  Tommy Hansen and Mike Minor also had good years with each attaining double digits in wins and had an ERA in the 4's.  Craig Kimbrel was nothing short of a stud as the closer (42 saves/1.01 ERA/.65 WHIP).  Ed O'Flaherty, Johnny Venters, Chad Durbin, and Luis Avilan were key to one of the best bullpens in baseball.  How good?  Second in ERA, 4th in WHIP, 10th in batting average allowed, and 7th in strikeouts.  This pitching staff was good, no questions there.

 

Hard to have a 94 win season go up in smoke with one bad game.  I'll expand on that in another post.  Atlanta will definitely look at this as a good year but will still be dissapointed in having lost in their one game series with St. Louis.  Personally, I thought this team could go deep with their pitching.  They were made for a nice playoff run.  You just never know how things will work out. 

 

This offseason will be one in which they'll really have to make some tough payroll decisions.  Michael Bourn and Chad Durbin are the key free agents but some of the top bench players will also be on the market (David Ross, Matt Diaz, Eric Hinske).  They have club options on Tim Hudson and Brian McCann.  Hudson is a slam dunk but McCann's $12 million dollar price tag will be a head scratcher after the tough season he had.  Atlanta has a $500 thousand dollar buyout option with McCann.  Eight are eligible for arbitration including Jason Heyward, Tommy Hansen, Johnny Venters, Kris Medlan, Martin Prado, and Ed O'Flaherty among others.  Will be a busy off season for GM Frank Wren.  I honestly think most of these players will return though I wouldn't be surprised if Atlanta finds it hard to commit that kind of money to Brian McCann. 

 

Atlanta will be a contender again next season assuming the pitching doesn't go south and the offense can stay the course and hopefully get better.  With Chipper leaving someone will have to step into the role as team leader not to mention as the full time third basemen.  Still there is plenty of reasons to be optimistic.  Still I, like other Atlanta fans, am not happy with the way the season ended this year.  I would have loved to see Chipper go out after a nice deep run in the playoffs since there is no "next year" for him.  Again a very good season for the Braves and we'll just have to see what next year brings.   

2012 Major League All-Star Game

Was able to catch the baseball all-star game last week.  I think this is the the best of all the sports all-star games.  You still have great pitcher versus batter match ups.  At it's basic element it is pitcher versus batter.  We might even be talking about some of these in future as a "remember when..." conversation.  Maybe even Justin Verlander versus Joey Votto.  Yes Verlander had a bad game but again some day the conversation may lend itself to "I saw Verlander strike out Votto looking". 

Even with the shutout the National League put on the American League I enjoyed the game.  Of course it being Chipper Jones' last game it was something special.  Can't say he will be one of the all-time great motivational speakers   - Chipper Jones Addresses NL Locker Room Prior to All-Star Game -  but it was still pretty special for me and I know it was for him - Chipper Jones 2012 All-Star Moments  Enough about Chipper.  San Francisco represented as Matt Cain, Melky Cabrera (MVP) and Pablo Sandoval all had a very good games.  I thought Rafael Furcal stood out with his great defense and added a hit.  Ryan Braun also had two hits and Craig Kimbrel fanned two facing only two batters.  Along with Aroldis Chapman, Wade Miley, Joel Hanrahan, and Jonathan Papelbon the National League relievers allowed only one hit cementing the shutout. 

Nice to see Tony LaRussa get a win as he probably managed the last game of his career.  Pretty cool that he was able to manage the all-star game after retiring after the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series last year.  Speaking of, I do still believe it is garbage that this game determines home field advantage in the World Series.  This is an exhibition game.  Do the Yankees want to count on a game that will have every all-star, including rookies, get to play or do the Nationals want home field advantage determined by rookie Bryce Harper's fielding blunder?  Oh wait, he plays for the Nationals...but you get the idea.  I do think players play hard but are these players all truly the best?  How many don't play due to "injuries" or pitch because a pitcher pitched two days before the all-star game?  Too many variables here to make this game determine home field advantage.  But at it's core it is a game I look forward to each year and do enjoy watching. 

Attended Last Night's Braves-Cardinals Game

Last night I was able to attend the Atlanta Braves game in St. Louis against the Cardinals.  The Braves won 9-7 in 12 innings.  First the experience was great.  I live and work in Illinois.  I took the metrolink train directly from work to the stadium.  I attended with a group of friends from work and their families.  They all rooted for the Cards while I was the lone Braves fan amongst us.  I wore my Chipper Jones jersey and Braves hat but was definitely not the only Braves fan in the stadium.  The train let us off right at the stadium which was built in 2006.  I was blown away.  It looks great and I can't say I was dissapointed by anything.  Ok maybe the prices for food but that is part of the experience.  The concorse areas were very open and I never felt confined as you might in some of the older stadiums.  The game was sold out with over 45,000 in attendance.  The seats were comfy and while we were in the upper deck they would fall in the "not a bad seat in the house" category.  The fans around me were very good natured about me being a Braves fan and added to the fun. 

Prior to the game the Cardinals retired Tony LaRussa's #10.  This was a great bonus to being at the game.  I am someone who enjoys the game in all it's glory and history and appreciate others who aren't directly related to teams I root for.  Tony is right there near the top when it comes to managers.  He's won three World Series Championships and I think the two with St. Louis really stand out as those teams won't be looked at as the most dominant in history.  Last year's title specifically was a great example as he had to deal with ace Adam Wainwright being out for the season, no defined closer for a good part of the season, injuries to Matt Holiday, and a defense that won't make anyone write a book.  The front office did a great job of bringing in players like Edwin Jackson, Rafael Furcal, Arthur Rhodes, Octavio Dotel among others which were a huge part of why they won.  Still they had an amazing September to just get into the playoffs and then won three playoff series against favored teams (Philadelphia,  Milwaukee, Texas) culminating in an exciting seven game World Series.  I know he wasn't always the most popular guy even amongst his team's fans but he was a great manager who deserves the accolades he gets.  What I enjoyed the most was seeing some of the great players he's managed over the years in attendance.  Dennis Eckersley, Dave Stewart, Tom Seaver, and opposing manager Joe Torre were the highlights for me.  Too cool!

The game itself was a great one.  Atlanta took an early 5-1 lead but the Cardinals came back powered by four homeruns, two by Carlos Beltran.  He also added a double and a triple.  What a monster night.  I really questioned why Atlanta pitched to him in the 5th with first base open and runners on second and third.  Yes Allen Craig is having a nice year but he isn't Carlos Beltran who happened to be killing you at the plate that night.  He promptly hit a triple.  The game went back an forth until the game was tied at seven after Beltran's second homer in the eighth inning.  Johnny Venters blew the save but the Braves bullpen still had a good night giving up that one run in 7 2/3 innings of relief.  Livan Hernandez made it interesting at times to include loading the bases but got the win.  Finally in the 12th inning Chipper got on with a leadoff walk.  While you love having your leadoff guy on in that situation knowing Chipper couldn't be pinch ran for and he doesn't have much speed I knew we needed some help.  That came when the next batter, Jason Heyward, hit a two run homerun putting Atlanta up for good.  Craig Kimbrel then came in for his 11th save. 

Last night was also a pleasure I was able to see Chipper play in his last season.  He received a standing ovation in his first plate appearance by Braves and Cards fans alike.  I joked by thanking my friends for the #10 that had been mowed into the outfield in honor of Chipper (maybe it was for LaRussua...).  It was even better as Chipper went 2 for 4, knocking in 1, walking twice and scoring twice.  All around as a Braves fan I couldn't have asked for much more.  It was a great game and great experience.  

Atlanta Braves - 2012 Preview

2011 was disappointing to say the least for the Atlanta Braves.  They did win 89 games and were poised to be the National League Wild Card team even though they finished 13 games back of the Philadelphia Phillies.  Then came September...when they lost 18 of their final 29 games including a 13 inning heart breaker to the Phillies on the final day of the season.  I don't think you can finish a season in a much worse fashion.  As a fan it was heart wrenching.  One win is all it would have taken to reach the playoffs and who knows what can happen at that point.  Just ask Cardinal fans.  Living near St. Louis I heard it.  I still hear it!  Ugh. 

Still as most fans do I went into the offseason looking forward to seeing what the winter held for this team.  I can't say I've done any back flips since October as the only significant changes are a new shortstop in Tyler Pastornicky and the departure of Derek Lowe.  Not much to write home about.  Still this team won 89 games last year with that horrible September.  There is hope. 

This is where many fans, including myself, wish we had seen some changes after last season.  The Braves' offense ranked 26th in batting average and on base percentage, 21st in slugging, 22nd in runs scored and 8th in homeruns.  Dan Uggla can't hit .236 this year.  He can hit 36 homers again.  He is a real power threat who should anchor the middle of that order.  Hitting .236 doesn't scream anchor.  To his credit he was below the Mendoza line for much of last year before coming on strong at the end.  Likewise Jason Heyward can't hit .227 and must hit more than 14 homeruns.  Brian McCann a had another good year and I expect no different this year from the all-star catcher.  Michael Bourn is that speedster at the top of the lineup they really haven't had since the Otis Nixon days.  He won't lead the league in average or on-base percentage but he is still a respectable hitter who makes the lineup that much more dynamic.  In his rookie year Freddie Freeman showed he is a major league hitter.  Just need him to avoid that sophomore slump (see Jason Heyward) this year.  Chipper Jones is a big unknown.  He had surgery last month on his meniscus in his left knee.  He returned in 17 days from the same surgery last year but I'd be surprised if he returns before this May.  If Chipper hits .270 and gives the Braves 15 homers and 65 runs batted in I think it is a win-win for Atlanta who has no real replacement if he goes down for an extended amount of time.  Martin Prado will play left field and is reliable if nothing else.  The offense has the players to be not just good but very good.  I think if they can get their average up the runs will follow.  That will be the key.  I do think they will be better and look forward to actually thinking the Braves can outscore their opponent. 

Pitching was deflinitely the strenth of this team in 2011.  Their 3.48 ERA was good for 4th in the majors and were 3rd in runs allowed.  Nice.  Hard to argue much with those stats.  There were grumblings that the dynamic young duo of Craig Kembrel and Johnny Venters were used too much (77 and 88 innings respectively).  They had great years and I hope they can put up numbers close to last years.  Ace Tim Hudson is out until May after back surgery.  The rest of the rotation is Tommy Hansen, Jair Jurrjens, Mike Minor and Brandon Beachy.  One through five this is a good rotation.  Randall Delgado will hold down the #5 spot until Hudson returns.  Eric O'Flaherty and Kris Medlan are also keys to the bullpen.  I'll put this pitching staff against about any other.  Philly's is hard to beat but I think this one is in the discussion.  Again I'm counting on the sophomore slump not hitting Kembrel and Venters.  It is a luxury going to bullpen knowing you have guys you can count on. 

While this may not directly impact how the Braves do, Chipper's retirement will be there in the background.  Probably more for fans but I know the team and management would love to send him off the right way.  I for one love Chipper and will miss him greatly.  This team is built to go to the playoffs.  They need some things to go right and they'll do just that.  Get that average up and hope the pitching staff resembles the 2011 staff.  Will it?  Only time will tell.  I think this team matches the 89 wins of last season.  With the perennial favorites Philadelphia and the Miami Marlins who made significant changes this winter in the same division making the playoffs even as a wild card is no easy task.  Of course there will be two wild card teams this year so that alone helps the Braves out.  I am excited about this year and expect nothing less than a championship!  Just kidding...I just want to have an exciting season to send Chipper out on.