I’ve been on this earth for 28 years, and the Braves have made it to the playoffs 16 times. I’m a lucky guy. Those of you who started rooting for the Braves before I was born had a much tougher row to hoe. I think I probably took the playoffs for granted in the early 2000s, when it seemed like we had the division title as our birthright but could never get past the Division Series. Now I don’t take it for granted.
Neither did these guys.
I am excited.
Rick Camp, Roger Mudd & Bob Horner’s classic short stroke (at 2:12)–1982 was a helluva crazy-fun year.
Who backs up Simmons? Pastornicky!?!? Maybe not Brooks Conrad 2.0, but it’s close to Brooks Conrad 1.5.
That was great, AAR. Just great for us old farts. I moved up north permanently from Atlanta in 1978 and the Superstation arrived just in time. And how great to hear Skip. I was psyched before… now I’m psyched and nostalgic.
Me too, Jonathan.
In the past decade, we’ve said goodbye to so many old stalwarts.
2002: Tom Glavine
2003: Greg Maddux
2005: Leo Mazzone
2007: Andruw Jones
2007: John Schuerholz
2008: Skip Caray
2008: John Smoltz
2008: Pete Van Wieren
2011: Bobby Cox
2012: Mac Thomason
2012: Chipper Jones
Let’s win this damn game.
In my personal opinion, all eleven of them belong in the Hall of Fame.
If we win today, Game 1 of the NLDS at Turner Field (vs Washington) is Sunday at 3 pm.
Game 2 would be Monday at 4:30 pm.
Yeah… who was that guy who came back for 13 starts in 2008 claiming to be Tom Glavine? He looked some old Met castoff or something.
And didn’t Cox actually leave in 2010? 2011 was the year the Braves decided to go without a manager at all… at least in September.
Oh, er, uh, yeah. 2010.
9- Oh, I wish. I’m sure Chipper and Tim could have put together the lineup and run the pitching staff well enough to hold on. Good thing Fredlot has a learning curve. Sort of.
I was nine years old in 1982, and that Atlanta Braves team was my first true love. Sure, my heart was broken, but I don’t blame them. To this day, and for the rest of my life, I will hate, with the intensity of a thousand suns, the mother-fu@king St. Louis Cardinals.
Buried in an interesting article on hitting coaches at Fangraphs is this nugget about Francoeur:
“For Francoeur specifically, jump to about the 11-minute mark when they start discussing Francoeur. Seitzer says that once Francoeur started hitting behind Billy Butler, he got frustrated because he knew that Butler couldn’t take the extra base or whatever, so he started swinging harder to try and drive him in. That threw Francoeur’s swing off or something and just made the slump worse. I am not making this up. There is more good stuff, like something about Seitzer saying he asked Francoeur if it would help if he hit Frenchy in the head with a bat or something. I guess, deep down, Seitzer is just like every other 2012 Royals fan.”
Damn, I am excited!
I was looking at Francoeur’s career stats earlier today. They are mind boggling. I feel so bad for Dan Ford. Everyone must think he was as bad as Frenchy.
15- I feel bad for Billy Butler. According to Baseball-Reference’s Fan EloRater, people think Francoeur is a better player than Butler, even though Butler has three more WAR (9.5 to 6.6) in a shorter career.
Really trying hard to enjoy the moment.
Nope. I’m in High Fret and will stay there ’til it’s over.
—————-
Btw, did y’all know that when Medlen was a freshman in HS he was 5’1″ and weighed 97 pounds?
Nope. I’m in High Fret and will stay there ’til it’s over.
Relax. The Orioles are starting Nate McLouth in left for their game tonight.
The depth chart at SS goes Simmons > Prado > Pastornicky. This is why Fredi went with Hinske (LF) instead of Francisco (3B.)
Just glad that LaRussa isn’t there to manage circles around Fredi. He would love this game with the special one-day rosters.
Doesn’t Baker play LF too? I’m pretty sure I remember seeing him out there at least. In a battle of non-hitters I think I’d honestly rather have him in left than Hinske.
Yeah, phone broadcast started. It’s on.
Three pitch strikeout. Nice start.
1 down, 26 to go.
Holliday didn’t try to get out of the way.
And there goes the perfect game. Good job, Medlen. Geez.
Good inning, Medlen!
Great start. Nothing eventful!!! Medlen looks cool!
Would love to see the Braves make this a laugher over the Cardinals.
Boy, Craig looks like me out there.
JASON! WHAT A CATCH!
Phew
Wow!
One for the highlight reel. Nice.
Wish this game wasnt blacked out, sounded like a great catch.
Yeah, as far as MLB knows, I’m watching this from the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Nah, Jason made it look much more difficult than it was
How is Kyle Lohse striking this many Braves out?
Come on, Lohse isn’t supposed to be some kind of big strikeout pitcher…
Am I stupid or is the camera angle different than the FSS broadcasts?
ROSS IS BOSS!
GOOOH MY GOD
ROSS!
Boss. David Boss!
Brian who?
He threw him the same pitch!
Awesome. Thanks for the timeout.
Hm, quite a decent decision of Fredi to start Ross…
I LOVE FREDI!!!!!!!!!!!!
ROSS!
DAVID F. ROSS!!!!!!!!
FREDI F. GONZALEZ!!!!!!!
Huge!
Fredi, you genius!
DAVID ROSS
Game on everyone
David Ross. The best catcher in postseason baseball.
We heard that shot from 5 time zones away!!
It’ll be better when McCann hits a pinch hit homer later
Ross!!! Awesome! Gotta get on a plane now; time to put my trust in Medlen and the bullpen. 🙂
ROSSY!
Very important shut down inning after scoring.
Med Dog! Carving! I fucking love this guy.
1/3 of the way. Would love to see more runs.
Bunting with a .300 hitter.
“Fredi Gonzalez” is trending on Twitter.
And it’s not “Fredi Gonzalez fired” which was everyone’s wish at the start of the season.
LARRY!!
Ugh, Chipper.
And I think Martin was bunting on his own.
G’damn
Freaking hell, Chipper.
Oh, Chipper. Turning into Brooks Conrad is not the way to go out.
Medlen falling behind now. Uh-oh.
ugly
And Medlen is not getting ahead of these hitters.
Chipper probably just cost the Braves this game.
If we lose this game I’m blaming it on Chipper. I mean, that’s back breaking. Double play ball turning into runners on the corners, no outs. Dammit.
This is why we’re carrying three starters, right?
Turning two outs into none is often not optimal.
@74 well, maybe they should go ahead and play the last 6 innings just in case
This is not going well…
Medlen actually hasn’t looked sharp.
2-0 after this inning is now, at least, 3-2 after this inning. Thanks Chipper.
@80 Doesn’t change the fact that there’s 0 runs instead of three this inning without Chipper’s mistake.
What a shitty way to go out. We’ve got to pick him up.
Medlen has looked fine. Chipper just cost him three runs.
Anyone else experiencing weird sound on TBS? And also, that inning didn’t look right.
What a catastrophic error.
What the heck just happened? I hope Chipper does something to get back the lead. I can’t imagine ending a career by costing your team their only chance at the playoffs.
Why was Bourn so out of position to make a decent throw? Did he know there was only one out?
Seriously, that play is going to be a big part of Chipper’s legacy unless something happens.
Ross is going to have to win the game himself.
Ross finds a new way to be boss.
That is the most hilarious moment of the game. The slowest guy on the team with a bunt single.
I am truly, madly, deeply in love with David Ross.
Rossy making pancakes out there.
ABE!!
Oh Rossy, I love you.
AHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA
Wat? Interference? Wat?
Knew that was going to happen, it was blatant.
Why is Simmons bunting anyway??
WTF?!?!?!
Andrelton, WTF?
Oh, it’s a good call. Crap.
What else can go wrong?
Should pinch-hit for Medlen, here.
…if we had any half-decent left-handed hitting options, anyway.
Why the hell was he bunting?
Why in the world was he bunting?
That was our chance to get back into it right there!
We’re just giving away outs.
Braves 2, Brain Sprains 4. At least.
Agree with pinch hitting for Medlen here. It’s a one game playoff, you throw out everybody when you have a scoring chance.
Extremely stupid baseball.
That may be the single dumbest decision I’ve ever seen a baseball player make.
Why the hell is Simmons bunting?? FFS
Simmons Simmons Simmons…..
Was Simmons thinking Medlen was supposed to drive ’em in?
Well I just went from screaming jubilation to quite sobbing in record time.
We’re toast.
Braves self-destructing. Not sure I agree with letting Medlen hit there either.
September 2011 condensed into one game.
Stupid play and a good call
Maybe someone missed a sign and Simmons thought it was a squeeze.
Son of a bitch.
Holy hell in a hand basket! I am now dumber because of Andelton Simmons.
There’s still plenty of time.
But seeing brain-dead play is not encouraging.
I think Simmons fell in love with Ross.
Dumb, but there’s plenty of time to come back.
So Fredi told Simmons to squeeze, according to Gonzalez himself.
Fredi make the bunt call. Of course.
So… Fredi put that squeeze on earlier. Really, Fredi?! WTF.
Did Fredi really call a safety squeeze, or is he just covering for his young shortstop?
Announcers just said Fredi called that bunt with Simmons. Why? What the hell is he thinking bunting in front of the pitcher?
And thus Fredi undoes all the progress he made this season.
Told y’all. Frediot is back!
Announcer just said Freddi called a safety squeeze on the Simmons play. Wasn’t Simmons fault.
I hope Fredi is taking the heat for now.
Awesome
Bad time for the return of Frediot…
So now that I know Fredi called the safety squeeze, I am more annoyed but far less surprised
Freddie wasn’t running. I think Simmons did it on his own and Fredi is covering.
The call would make absolutely no sense if you don’t do it to score a run, and Freeman wasn’t going.
Let’s get that run back guys.
#140
On a safety squeeze, the runner waits to see where the bunt goes before he fully breaks for the plate.
I think Fredi is just protecting his player.
The question remain: why would Simmons bunt if not for a squeeze? There isn’t even a dumb reason to bunt on your own.
@143 You wouldn’t call a safety squeeze with a guy as slow as Freeman at third.
Why in the world would you call a squeeze here, with the pitcher coming up and Simmons having enough speed to beat out a double play !?!?! I take everything good back that I ever said about Fredi
@140 That’s exactly what I think.
Out-hitting them 5-2 and down by a run.
🙁
I don’t think Simmons did that on his own, but he knew he put down a bad one that Freddie couldn’t run on, so swerved into the lane hoping to make something happen.
Kellogg’s strike zone is rather inconsistent.
Right, so you guys think Simmons is more likely to be an idiot than Fredi?
How many things can go wrong in this game?
Damn, Braves get no breaks
@152 Do I think a rookie kid in his first playoff game is more likely than a manager to make a dumb decision in game? Of course.
I think Fredi called a squeeze.
152- “A manager,” yes, but this is Fredlot.
So long optimism.
@ 155 Do I think a rookie kid in his first playoff game is more likely than *Fredi Gonzales* to make a dumb decision in game? Ehhhhhhh……
Bethany, this is Fredi’s first postseason game too. And he has already proven that he is an idiot.
Whatever. The same lot of you were praising him less than 24 hours ago. The idea that Fredi called the bunt makes zero sense, but it does make sense for a kid to mimic the strategy of the guy who hit before him.
Well, this wasn’t a bad season.
And there goes any hope.
Well, too bad.
We’ll get ’em next year.
Well… The way we have been playing all year that run signals the end of our season unless we can manage more late inning heroics.
That should just about do it
Down 2 runs with 4 ABs left isn’t hopeless.
Three-run homerun by Ross. I am feeling it.
Ross is going to have to win it with three solo homers.
“Three-run homerun by Ross. I am feeling it.”
That feeling is just gas.
Well, maybe next year will turn out better. Stupid 1-game playoff.
I refuse to give up at this point after 162 games.
Would be a rather inglorious way for Chipper to go out, but I’d honestly feel better about getting eliminated from the playoffs if it were his fault. At least I wouldn’t have any regrets about his teammates letting him down or whatever.
Lohse is great. I don’t know what they’re doing with pitchers in St. Louis but it’s impressive.
Uggla – almost a hero.
@170 Thanks, we need humor like that at this kind of moment.
My damn heart stopped. Ugh.
Stupid Uggla, ruined my prediction.
The Cardinals are going to win the World Series again. To me, they are the most unlikely (and luckiest) team to ever win back-to-back championships. I mean, between the Braves collapsing last year and the rule change that even allowed their lucky asses in this game…I don’t even know what to say.
Oh perfect. The LaRussa style of bullpen management. THis will be a four-hour game….
I’m thinking about our offense next year and it makes me want to die or forget that baseball exists.
@173 was just saying the same thing
181—Leading off and playing center field…JOSE CONSTANZA!!!
Ross wasn’t quite boss enough. We need to move the fences in.
I hate the Cardinals.
@183 Oh god, kill me.
Matheny is managing this game smartly. Jealous.
@173—I had the same thought. This would be a terrible way for Chipper to go out, but at least you can pretty directly pin it on him.
This game is so playoff braves.
Alright, empty the tank, Medlen.
@189 Yeap, one error ruins everything.
Why is Medlen still pitching?
Jeeeez….
Conrad is watching.
Wonderful.
The Barves.
Make that two errors.
Uggla decided that Chipper was having all the fun.
That should have been a K.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph
@192 That’s not even the issue. The defense is throwing the game away.
Thanks Kris. You gave us everything. It’s not your fault today.
Medlen should have come out after five–not that he has pitched that badly or that Uggla’s error is his fault–but he never should have faced the lineup a third time. I was afraid of Fredi not understanding the optimal strategy for a single game playoff, and it’s turning out to be true.
201—Uh, crappy managing is most certainly an issue with which I’m concerned. I wasn’t assigning the blame for this game or inning to Medlen’s being on the mound, just asking what the reason to have him still on the mound would be.
So THIS is the freaking game that stops Medlen’s record?
I’ve seen this movie before, and it sucks. It got 0% on Rotten Tomatoes when viewed by Braves fans.
Well, at least it’s Durbin… Ugh. Now isn’t the time to clear the bench
@204 I don’t have much faith beyond EOF and Kimbrel. I bet Fredi is feeling the same way.
Well, if I’d known Durbin was the backup plan, I wouldn’t have requested that Medlen come out…
lolBraves
Of course. Now Freeman just needs to boot one to fit in.
You are shitting me.
5 runs on 3 hits and no walks.
I can’t watch this anymore.
Imploding.
Simmons also having a helluva game
Makes that three.
Haven’t seen this kind of defensive meltdown in a while.
208- Oh yes. Thanks for reminding me. At least we won’t ever have to see him again after today. Please, please, please.
Fuck this.
How many of you still think it was Fredi?
207—So why not go to EOF or Kimbrel? Or Minor or Hudson?
Now it’s game over.
Again: September 2011 condensed into one game.
@217 Since last September you mean?
I think the correct strategy should be walking the guy and playing for the double play.
Why do the Braves play like little leaguers every time they make the postseason?
Well, time to enjoy the last three innings of Chipper in a Braves uni.
Choking top to bottom.
Didn’t know it was Brooks Conrad Day at the Ted.
@221 Yeah, it is the game that you don”t need to save any bullets.
@226 We have been so used to it.
what a showing from the braves d today. sickening.
Choketober
Just call the game…
I like the way the Cards are playing.
lol, how can you do anything but laugh at this point?
Just pathetic. Go dawgs.
This is why we choke!
Today is the Braves post season history in a nutshell… Bad breaks and bonehead plays
Now Simmons decides to look competent, now that the game’s out of hand.
The Braves still have three innings to turn it around.
Oh, there’s the double play I was talking about, ha.
It’s truly amazing how much I can hate and love one thing at the same time.
@239 Or decent pitching performance, bunch of errors, and silent bats.
What a crappy way to end the season.
I feel like Q*bert right now.
Basically, every run the Cards have scored, except the HR, is a direct result of miscue.
Let it rip, boys…
Can’t get a lot worse.
Making so many errors so that Chipper’s wasn’t decisive anymore was not what we meant by picking him up, guys.
Something wrong with me, I am starting to miss Janish.
Don’t press. Just find a way to get on base. Singles.
Looks like Georgia boys want to blow this popsicle stand and go hunting.
Chipper making the error that caused that entire inning full of fail was like Superman getting punched and bleeding after he didn’t have any powers. It just took the wind out of their sails and demoralized them.
WE JUST NEED SIX MORE OF THOSE, GUYS!!!
I forget what to say here… Woohaay? Woo par?
Way to go George.
Sesame Street said that today’s game was brought to you by the letter E and the numbers 4, 5, and 6.
Hahaha, 256
Prado didn’t get the memo that our infielders wrote about the tee times on Sunday.
So, so far, our bench players are the heart of our offense tonight.
Hope is dangerous.
Holy wow at this guy’s surname.
This is awful. I have defended the braves against the “chokers” tag since 1996. I think I’m done.
This is probably it for Chipper.
Blast time, Chipper (or a single)…
Come on, Larry…
Time for redemption
This could be Chipper’s last at bat ever. Bring it.
260- Now we really are screwed.
261- He’s nicknamed Scrabble for obvious reasons.
Chipper. We love you no matter what.
Meek groundout to second. Thus the legend dies.
The first pitch, Chipper? THE FIRST PITCH???????
No one to blame but himself…
Still gonna miss him like crazy.
(Sound of air going out of room…)
Wow… Chipper. Did you give up already?
Make him work a little, Chip.
I’d retire too, if I was playing today like Chipper.
That wasn’t even worth standing up for.
Chipper not really doing much to make this a storybook finish
He had his chance.
Shouldn’t prado have scored on heyward’s hit? That hung in the air forever.
I’ll feel differently tomorrow, but tonight? Screw Chipper.
Seriously, If this one-game crap is all we get after 4 months, then why even have a regular season? Let’s just play a round robin with every team in the league in april and then start the playoffs in May. It would be so exciting! It would entertain the “fans”! It makes about as much sense.
Fucking depressing. Good bye, Chipper. Wish we could have seen more of you.
Wow, we have nine hits. Oh, nice play Chipper. Just too many innings too late.
Of all the innings to bring in EOF, this isn’t it. These guys kill lefties.
If that is how a HOF career ends, it has to be the most anitclamatic ending it could have after the way this season shaped up.
@259 Should have started Francisco at 3B..
Wow, I think Alex Gonzalez would have got to that grounder, Simmons.
Leaving liquor behind, moving to the harder stuff.
Fredi has no idea what he’s doing in this game.
Then again, neither do many of his players.
Release Uggla as soon as this game ends.
Again, a belated display of competence. Although Uggla did try to inflate his error count.
I hate Uggla.
@289 He was hoping for a complete game shutout from Medlen.
Geez, Uggla was trying very hard to throw balls away.
More Adventures in Fielding.
It’s hard to imagine this game being any uglier, but it absolutely would be if we didn’t have such a great first baseman.
Jeez. Can you imagine Uggla’s defensive numbers if Freeman weren’t so great? What an awful arm.
That’s Uggla at 2B? I thought it was Chuck Knoblauch.
@289 Agree completely. He’s not the reason they’re losing, but he is managing very poorly. Kimbrel will now pitch the 9th, the inning with the lowest leverage index in this game. Insanity.
Uggla must had dinner with Conrad last night.
I will spend the entire offseason criticizing Fredi’s bullpen management.
Nah, Knoblauch was a better hitter.
The Dodgers will want to upgrade at 2B. Right? Right?
Whatever happens tonight, I’ll always love Freeman for the hard facetag on Molina.
The fans are very good today.
Was about to say something derogatory about Dan Knoblugglauch. I see the point was made.
The Curse of Brooks Conrad.
Proud of Freddie today.
I honestly love postseason baseball, the Braves just aren’t very good at it.
Uggla, not so much, although at least he busted it down the line.
Three more years of this.
I absolutely hate Uggla.
Too bad all scenarios that lead to the Braves not owing Knobluggla 13 million in 2014 result in his untimely demise. Except maybe the Mayan calendar.
If we get out of this, I want everything drinking whatever Ross had this afternoon.
Ross seems to be the only one who showed up.
Screw it, give Ross all of the money.
No pinch runner for Ross?
Rally time?
first pitch swinging.
idiot
Bunt, no?
We should have started the whole bench today.
I’m just glad Simmons isn’t bunting.
The problem with this new WC format is that you have the pressure of game 7 without your guys having the chance to get any playoff experience. Doesn’t excuse Chipper, but it’s true.
The Cardinals are not beating the Braves right now. The Braves are beating the Braves.
Dare I hope that our ineptitude is infectious?
Wow.
Your turn, Cards.
Please McCann…
THIS BETTER NOT BE A TEASE.
For the love of god, atlanta, make this count.
BULLSHIT!!!!!
WHAT THE SH**?!
Infield fly????
Infield fly rule to LF.
WHAT?! How can they call infield fly?!?!
I didn’t mean infecting the umps, you Goddamn idiots!
I can not believe it.
no way
Apparently we’ve got replacement umps.
That was not a “routine” fly ball.
Worst game in history.
You know what’s embarassing? Holbrook’s life.
@288 That made me laugh. I needed that.
I don’t blame the fans. Keep throwing them.
Whatever. I applaud. Fuck Sam Holbrook or whatever his name is.
worst call of the season
How can. An outfield umpire apply an infield fly rule? Ridiculous.
it was 100 feet in the outfield
Forget Simpson, I’d throw junk on the field too. It’s not embarrassing to Atlanta fans, it’s embarrassing to baseball. “Infield fly” in left frickin’ field.
Embarrassing for Atlanta fans? Fuck that! Embarrassing for the umpires. This is the worst.
What the fuck? That’s fucking awful
Not the best start for a new playoff format.
Worst call ever. Unbelievable!
Is there no way that can be overturned? He called it after it was clear the players weren’t going to catch it.
Not close enough to Holbrook, IMO.
Baseball god really hates us.
Either the fans or Ross are the best part about this game.
That’s a very efficient cleaning job.
The fix is on. Umpire’s hand didn’t go up until the SS bailed on the play. This is so fixed!
“…and heeeere come the pretzels”
I dont even know how to react to that awful call,
I am just sad.
As if this game couldn’t get worse…If this is Chipper’s last, it will be memorable for all the wrong reasons.
I still say the fans are very good today.
Wow….
Embarrasing my A$$ …Im surprises Fredi didn’t rip up a few bases Bobby surely would I’m so mad this is unbelievable
I’m done with baseball. I can’t bear this crap any longer. Good night, all.
Coca-Cola needs to reroute their production machines to just launch the bottles at the Turner Field pitcher’s mound.
Awful. Just Awful. Little league umpires could do better. The replacement umpires from football are AVAILABLE!
What a way to christen the new, first ever MLB wild card game.
Shut the fuck up, Joe. The umps are the embarassment. If I was there I’d be throwing shit, too.
Darling just made a good point. Is it too late for Fredi to protest the game?
Fuck you, Joe Simpson.
F— you, Simpson. The umpires are the ones that need to be embarrassed right now.
Shut the f&ck up Joe.
First time Atlanta fans have impacted a game in about 20 years, by the way.
I cannot believe that Chipper’s last game is going to end with this BULLSHIT.
I am damn proud of the fans. Who says we don’t care?
I’m ashamed of Fredi for not getting ejected there.
And I’m not saying people should throw stuff, but I’m certainly *not* upset that there are at least some people there that are fiery mad about the sum of this performance by the Braves and the umps.
If there is a baseball God, he certainly is a Cardinals fan.
I can’t even believe this. The Braves were screwing themselves just fine.
Worst call since Don Denkinger.
I am proud of Fredi.
Braves fans have no choice. This call is ridiculous and they paid good money not to be insulted by officiating this bad.
Braves fans showed up. The team…not so much. This isn’t enjoyable any more.
Why in god’s name can’t they reverse this? They reverse catches/traps all the time.
Problem is the dip$h!t ump not the playoff format.
What’s happening?
My first thought was that Fredi should have gotten himself tossed out of the game. Now, he’s earned my respect by standing up to this craptastic call.
Protest the game, walk off the field, $rew Bud Selig for this mess.
This protest has no chance of being upheld. We need McCann to tie the game up.
I still want to know why a pinch runner hasn’t gone in for Ross? I guess Fredi plans on leaving him in after Bmac pinch hits?
Is it still delayed? I can’t get updates via phone right now.
Wait – umpire is on the phone now.
I cannot believe we’re getting Eric gregged again.
MLB apparently hired the replacement referees.
Eric Gregg, you’re off the hook. I hate Sam Holbrook more.
Yep…at this point the only thing I will accept is for the Braves to walk off the field and let MLB figure it out.
Debris still being thrown onto the field. That’s the reason for the delay.
yes dg, big delay. garbage tossed all over the field
The umpires deserve all these. This is the fans’ game, and they are just part of the game.
Rob, Simmons hit a single with two on. Would have been bases loaded, one out. However, the umpire in the outfield calles an INFIELD FLY, even though nobody camped under the ball AND the ball clearly left the infield. Thus two outs, runners on second and third. The Stadium erupted, fans threw whatever they had on the field, mostly cans. They had to clean up the mess, Fredi protested the game, Yet the call stands.
Worst call in the history of baseball. The entire fucking history of baseball. Walk off the field and go home. There’s nothing else you can do. Finishing this game would be accepting getting skullfscked. No reason to do that.
So, is the game under official protest or not?
Sorry, late to the party.
#%*^+•£|€]!_¥!~{£]€[!\£~’&@”?!
That is all.
Very good managing job by Matheny.
Yes it is Remy.
We need a little bit of the old BCIB…
Thank you, buddy.
McCann’s being patient.
Ball four and a run is in! Oh, wait.
Don’t worry, this is only game one. That’s why they have playoff series, to make sure a single call doesn’t destroy an entire season.
That walk would have been a lot sweeter with bases loaded and one out…
Be big, Bourn
@398, yes.
Urgh. We still needed one more hit and didn’t get it.
Don’t pay him a dime
Idiot, swinging.
None of the money.
Choke.
we can let Bourn go this offseason.
bloom is off his rose after that atbat.
The only chance we had was to walk off the field. This is acceptance.
Of course it had to be a no-power hitter coming up.
We could’ve had Prado up there without that damn BS call.
This is sad. Just sad.
Seriously, losing a single game against an 88 win team from an incredibly weak division on a blown call is a pretty shitty way to end the year. Who thought this was a good idea?
Then again, we’re all watching it, so they win, I guess.
In Bourn’s defense, those last two pitches were strikes.
Bourn: 3yrs/24 million. That’s all the money he deserves.
I’m so disgusted. Fuck this.
We would lose this game against any team. That’s who we are. But the blown call just makes it that much worse. I would wager that this might be the last ever sellout at Turner Field…but that might just be the beer talking. Fuck.
I trust Uggla more than Bourn right now.
Bourn had a good at bat. He only swung at strikes.
Damn, thats a bold statement AAR.
Phew, good thing they saved Kimbrel for this important 9th inning.
I wish our entire infield hadn’t done their Chuck Knoblauch impression.
Oh what could’ve been…had it not been for the umpires.
I’ll miss you, Kimbrel. Stay the same.
Craig, you’re too good for this game. You should get part of all the money!
I’d take Bourn playing second with the wrong hand over Uggla .
Bourn sucks. Uggla sucks. Finding someone in this offense that doesn’t suck is actually pretty damn difficult. When was the last time Freeman or Heyward did anything that was clutch? Ross doesn’t suck. So we got that going for us. Which is nice.
This would be a lot easier to swallow if we lost two out of three.
Been watching the game in a bar not able to check in on Braves Journal. I’m listening to the last inning on radio. Probably won’t have the heart to read any of the posts in this thread for a while.
So, say the protest is upheld, what happens? I know Selig would never let it happen, but I’m curious.
Best case scenario, Chipper ties this thing this inning. Worst case, he’s the last out of the season. Judging from how this game has gone, I fear I know which scenario is more likely.
@431 Freeman hit a HR to clinch the WC.
Yes, we will always remember Freeman’s WC clinching HR. And Heyward’s opening day. And that time they gave Chipper a surfboard.
Much will be made of the ump’s monumental screw-up, but the story of the game is told in 3 unearned runs.
@434, We’d start playing from the point of protest. It’ll never happen.
Can’t decide if the Braves’ defense losing this game, or Prado not coming up with a two-run deficit and the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning is more infuriating.
@438, How is the screw-up any less real than the errors? Do you claim to know what would’ve happened if they made the obvious right call?
If a protest is upheld the game is replayed from the point of the protest, if the protesting team loses.
We have no shot at the protest. The only shot was to walk off the field and go home. Fredi should’ve been arrested for assault and battery, and we should’ve had 500 fans on the field. Instead we’ll just lose.
Joe, you idiot. Batting down three with two out and none on isn’t storybook.
I can’t believe they’re talking about Yadier Fucking Molina.
Someone in the stands yelled “Infield Fly” when Heyward just popped out. Hilarious. Enough to hear it on TBS.
MLB is not going to uphold the protest. They never do. Selig will give his usual half-assed explanation and go into hiding until the anger inevitably dies down.
Fans were chanting “Infield fly” all through Kimbrel’s two FB outs.
@441 – oh, it’s too real, but the defense failed to perform even close to expected norms.
Oh hope, you evil bitch.
Well, that’s nice.
wow – make up call
Yeah. Freddie’s not clutch at all.
Please drill Uggla in the back and let the game hinge on Ross.
freeman = clutch hit
No, they can’t tease us like this again. Tying run at the plate? Really? What’s going to happen this time?
Another IF fly?
Third straight inning with men on 2nd and 3rd, 2 out.
3 all or nuthin’ swings coming.
Sigh. Uggla.
No, it won’t be upheld, but that’s what would happen.
That Freeman fly ball was a missed infield fly out.
I was worried about the offense today but that has been the least of our problems. Tying run on again.
Horrid call or not, you cannot drop the ball all over the field & expect to win a game like this.
Bottom’s up…
Thank you, Chipper.
A trashy end to Chipper’s career.
I’ve had about all of this that I can take. I say we become the world’s biggest Nationals fans for the next week.
Yeah, one game playoff. Great idea.
Thank you, Chipper.
Wren, now what?
Life is a ball game, being played each day
Gonna miss watching Larry Wayne swing a bat.
I couldn’t have imagined a worse way to lose.
Thanks Chipper. Thanks to all here for continuing the best blog on the internet.
I never want to hear Joe Simpson’s self-righteous, self-serving voice again.
Well, it’s not the Cardinals’ fault. Nor can you blame the rules, they are what they are. The umpires blew it, and so did the Braves. Whenever it matters, we lose. Simple as that.
I hope something equally shitty happens in the late game. There’s a reason playoff matchups are series.
No native Atlantan really expected to win this game. But I’ll admit to being surprised as to how we lost. Wow. I think I’ve run out of give-a-shit. Go Nationals.
This is 3 years in a row of crappy endings. You could argue that Braves beat themselves in 2010, 2011, 2012. This blows.
Braves lose again. Big surprise.
I sure hope Sam Holbrook’s house doesn’t burn down tonight. Would be a real shame for someone who I’m sure is a real standup guy.
That wasn’t sarcasm, by the way.
Neither was that.
OK, the third one might have been sarcasm.
And the most miserable sports city in the country just became more miserable.
@467
Count me in. The Nats just became my favorite team until next season.
Evidently, MLB’s twitter account tagline used to be “We don’t understand the infield fly rule, either.”
Now it’s gone…
http://i45.tinypic.com/2mmb7nm.png
This team hasn’t won a playoff in 11 years. We would have been better served just sucking and piling up a decade of top draft picks.
I’m rooting for the Nationals, and any other team playing the Cardinals. I will dance on their graves when they’re eliminated.
Outfield fly rule (imho)
Would be even worse if Dan Uggla was being hosted at the house for dinner as some form of reconciliation for a soft focus ESPN OTL special. Not that they’d have any reason to invite Dan Uggla since he had nothing to do with the play in question. Just saying it would be worse.
Not sarcasm.
I fucking hate the Cardinals. Team full of douches.
It’s not the Cardinals fault. They didn’t make a gazillion errors and leave 20 runners stranded. However, rooting for the Nationals makes some sense. I guess. I think I’m just gonna root for the A’s since I bet not 1 in 100000 people could name 5 players on their team.
I’m hoping for a Beltway Series.
12 LOB (Cards had 2)
4 unearned runs.
I would love it if they actually took this game seriously and upheld the protest.
There has to be some kind of tipping point where MLB will start to lose fans with these playoff structure shenanigans.
And a dbag ump …
MLB already denied the protest. Screw this, I’m not sure I can watch baseball after this.