MLB Team Report – Atlanta Braves – INSIDE PITCH
Third baseman Chipper Jones was asked before Sunday’s game whether he was feeling fresh, all things considered.
“Fresh?” he repeated, eyes widening, mouth turning up in a grin. “I am stale beyond belief! But it’s all hands on deck. I can make it work for 28 more.”
That would be the number of games left in the regular season; he hastened to add that he was not writing the Braves out of the postseason.
But the Braves’ bats might be doing that anyway.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez finally said out loud in Friday’s post-game comments, “I’m worried about our offense. We’re just not swinging the bats at all. It’s easy to say the pitchers are better than us, but enough of that.”
Jones was more pointed: “We have some guys in our lineup that get paid to hit. It’s forcing Fredi to make decisions and juggle lineups.”
Sunday’s juggling found catcher Brian McCann and second baseman Dan Uggla on the bench. Part of that was because of their numbers against left-handed pitchers, and the Phillies were starting left-hander Cole Hamels. But McCann and Uggla are wiping out against everyone.
Gonzalez also moved Jones back to the three hole, hoping to give the Braves’ only consistent hitter more RBI opportunities. Right fielder Jason Heyward, who had been thriving batting third until the last week, was dropped to sixth in an effort to lengthen the lineup.
“I wouldn’t call it desperation or panic,” Gonzalez said.
Outfielder Reed Johnson, who started in left to allow Martin Prado to start at second, drove in the first three Braves runs. But not until the bottom of the ninth did the Braves make hay with consecutive hits, culminated by Jones’ two-out, three-run game-winning home run, bringing the Braves from a 7-1 deficit to an 8-7 win over the Phillies.
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MLB Team Report – Atlanta Braves – NOTES, QUOTES
–RHP Peter Moylan, who got the win in Sunday’s come-from-behind 8-7 win over the Phillies, says he “was almost in tears” when he learned he’d be one of the Braves’ September call-ups. It was originally thought he’d be back around the All-Star break after offseason shoulder surgery, but physical setbacks and inconsistent outings in rehab appearances had made him think his career was over. He made his season debut with a 1-2-3 eighth-inning appearance versus the Phillies on Saturday afternoon.
–3B Chipper Jones was moved back into the third spot in the batting order as manager Fredi Gonzalez tried to counter the Braves’ offensive slump. RF Jason Heyward, who had been hitting well before last week, was moved to the sixth spot in an effort to try to lengthen the lineup. Jones responded with a walk-off three-run home run to beat the Phillies 8-7.
–2B Dan Uggla was out of the lineup Sunday versus Phillies LHP Cole Hamels. IF/OF Martin Prado started at second base in his place. Uggla, not surprisingly, did not agree with his benching despite his .145 batting average against Hamels because he has hit two home runs off Hamels in his career.
–OF Reed Johnson, starting in left field because LF Martin Prado was starting at second base, drove in three of the Braves runs Sunday. He was 3-for-4.
–RHP Tim Hudson said of his five-inning outing versus the Phillies in Saturday’s 5-1 loss, “That’s probably the worst stuff I’ve had all year.” He gave up five earned runs on nine hits and three walks in his first loss since July 1 versus the Nationals.
BY THE NUMBERS: 9 — Career walk-off home runs for 3B Chipper Jones.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I’m worried about our offense. We’re just not swinging the bats at all. It’s easy to say the pitchers are better than us, but enough of that.” — Manager Fredi Gonzalez.
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MLB Team Report – Atlanta Braves – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–RHP Ben Sheets (right shoulder inflammation) was placed on the disabled list Aug. 25.
–RHP Jair Jurrjens (strained right groin) went on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 1. He left his rehab start for Class AAA Gwinnett on Aug. 15 with dizziness. He will be evaluated further Aug. 16.
–OF Matt Diaz (bruised right thumb) went on the 15-day disabled list July 21. He had his arm placed in a cast July 28 to promote healing in the thumb, but it didn’t work and was scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery Aug. 15.
–SS Andrelton Simmons (broken right little finger) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 9. He hopes to return sometime in September.
–RHP Peter Moylan (right shoulder surgery in October 2011) threw his first bullpen session May 23. He began pitching in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League on June 30, then moved up to Class A Rome on July 13 and to Class AA Mississippi on July 24. He went on Class AAA Gwinnett’s disabled list in late July because of right shoulder tendinitis.
–RHP Brandon Beachy (sore right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list June 17. He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery June 21.
–LHP Robert Fish (left elbow tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26.
ROTATION:
RHP Tim Hudson
LHP Mike Minor
LHP Paul Maholm
RHP Kris Medlen
RHP Tommy Hanson
BULLPEN:
RHP Craig Kimbrel (closer)
LHP Jonny Venters
LHP Eric O’Flaherty
RHP Cristhian Martinez
RHP Chad Durbin
RHP Miguel Batista
LHP Luis Avilan
RHP Peter Moylan
CATCHERS:
Brian McCann
David Ross
J.C. Boscan
INFIELDERS:
1B Freddie Freeman
2B Dan Uggla
SS Paul Janish
3B Chipper Jones
INF Tyler Pastornicky
INF Juan Francisco
INF/OF Jeff Baker
INF Lyle Overbay
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Martin Prado
CF Michael Bourn
RF Jason Heyward
OF Reed Johnson
OF/INF Eric Hinske
OF Jose Constanza
