The Sports Xchange
MLB Team Report – Atlanta Braves – INSIDE PITCH
Catcher Brian McCann had a bad year at the plate; it’s assumed that’s because he has a frayed labrum and a cyst on the joint in his right shoulder. But that isn’t the reason manager Fredi Gonzalez told him before Wednesday’s game that his backup, catcher David Ross, was starting Friday’s wild card game, catching right-handed Kris Medlen.
It was a tough decision and a tough conversation, Gonzalez said, but McCann understood. Ross is better defensively even when McCann is healthy. He can throw runners out, and the Cardinals run.
“We know how well he can throw people out,” Gonzalez said. “The Cardinals have a tendency to put people in motion a lot. And with the combination of Rossy and Medlen, maybe it gives you an opportunity to shut that down a little bit.”
The decision was about more than that, though Gonzalez didn’t mention it. The two times Ross caught Medlen this season, Medlen established consecutive career highs in strikeouts: 12 on Sept. 3 versus the Rockies and 13 on Sept. 14 versus the Nationals.
Third baseman Chipper Jones said Medlen is “the closest thing I’ve played behind since (Greg) Maddux.”
But he also said, “I am of the belief that power pitching in postseason wins.”
Medlen was able to get strikeouts all year when he needed to. In the Cardinals, though, he was facing a predominantly right-handed lineup. Ross steered him through that and more, giving the Braves an early 2-0 lead with a two-out home run in the second inning.
But neither one of them could do anything about the Braves’ three throwing errors, shocking for the team that led the National League with a .986 fielding percentage. Only two of the Cardinals runs in the Braves’ 6-3 loss were earned.
It was the first time the Braves had lost a game Medlen started since May 23, 2010 against the Pirates.
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MLB Team Report – Atlanta Braves – NOTES, QUOTES
–RHP Kris Medlen got the loss in his first career postseason appearance. It was the first time the Braves had lost a game Medlen had started since May 23, 2010 at Pittsburgh, snapping a major league record streak of 23 starts.
–C Brian McCann, who has played all season with a frayed labrum and a cyst on the joint of his right shoulder, was on the bench for the wild card game. Manager Fredi Gonzalez started backup C David Ross. Ross is better at throwing out runners even when McCann is healthy, and the Cardinals put runners in motion. Ross’ two-run homer in the second inning gave the Braves the early lead.
–3B Chipper Jones said before the game that he knows it’s time to go because he didn’t feel nervous driving to the ball park. His assessment of starting the game at 5:07, with the shadow problems that presents, was that whoever scored first was going to win the game. The Braves did that, but Jones had one of three Braves throwing errors, which cost them the game.
–LHP Mike Minor was the third starting pitcher on the Braves’ wild-card roster. Manager Fredi Gonzalez wanted some insurance in case something strange happened to starting RHP Kris Medlen or backup RHP Tim Hudson — or in case the game went 18 innings, as happened when the Braves played the Astros in the 2005 Division Series. “If I’m in there,” Minor said, “it’s probably not a good thing.”
–LHP Eric O’Flaherty finished the season pitching 28 consecutive innings without giving up an earned run, dating to July 15. The streak following his last earned run allowed on July 13 included 15 hits, seven walks and an unearned run in 25 innings. He had been out of commission the last week of the season because of a stiff back, but after a successful tuneup inning in Wednesday’s game against the Pirates, he said he felt good. He pitched a scoreless inning in the wild-card game.
BY THE NUMBERS: 19-6 — The Braves’ record on Fridays before the 6-3 loss to the Cardinals in the wild-card game.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I’m not willing to say that one call cost us the game. Three errors cost us the game, mine probably being the biggest one.” — 3B Chipper Jones.
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MLB Team Report – Atlanta Braves – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–SS Paul Janish (torn labrum in left shoulder) was injured diving for a ball Sept. 18. Initially thought to be a dislocation, it turns out to be a torn labrum. He will need offseason surgery that most likely will keep him on the sideline until the end of spring training and possibly through the first week or so of next season..
–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 he underwent season-ending surgery Aug. 15.
–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. He was transferred to the 60-day DL on Sept. 1.
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
RHP Randall Delgado
RHP Cory Gearrin
RHP Julio Teheran
RHP Ben Sheets
CATCHERS:
Brian McCann
David Ross
J.C. Boscan
INFIELDERS:
1B Freddie Freeman
2B Martin Prado
SS Andrelton Simmons
3B Chipper Jones
INF Dan Uggla
INF Paul Janish
INF Tyler Pastornicky
INF Juan Francisco
INF/OF Jeff Baker
INF Lyle Overbay
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Reed Johnson/Jose Constanza
CF Michael Bourn
RF Jason Heyward
OF/INF Eric Hinske
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