2011 Atlanta Braves season
After entering the playoffs with their first franchise Wild Card berth in 2010, the Braves attempted to return to the postseason for a second consecutive season.
[2][3] October 19: The Atlanta Braves released left-fielder Melky Cabrera, reliever Takashi Saito, and back-up catcher J. C. Boscán in order to make room on their 40-man roster for future transactions that would come in the offseason.
[4] November 2: The Braves picked up the $2.5 million options for both shortstop Alex González and All-Star utility man Omar Infante.
Additionally, the Braves resigned reliever Scott Proctor to a one-year deal worth $750,000 including incentives that bring the total to $1 million.
[11] December 10: At the Winter Meetings, the Braves agreed to a one-year deal with left-handed relief pitcher George Sherrill for the 2011 season.
[12] January 13: The Braves claimed right-handed reliever Anthony Varvaro off waivers from the Seattle Mariners in order to add bullpen depth to the organization.
For the fourteenth straight season, Champion Stadium at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista served as the Florida home for the Atlanta Braves.
Spring training standings In the first inning of the March 9 game versus the St. Louis Cardinals, Brian McCann pulled a foul ball sharply toward the Braves' dugout, striking Minor League manager Luis Salazar in the left eye.
[18][19] Following a strong recovery from multiple facial fractures, doctors determined that Salazar's left eye could not be saved and performed an operation to have it removed on March 16.
[21] MLB Standings March 31, 2011: On Opening Day versus the Washington Nationals, right-fielder Jason Heyward launched a home run in his first at-bat of the season.
[23] April 8, 2011: In the sixth inning of the first game of the season at Turner Field, long-time Braves third-baseman Chipper Jones notched his 2,500th career hit, a single off of Antonio Bastardo.
[24] April 13, 2011: In the bottom of the ninth of a 1–5 loss to the Marlins, Chipper Jones hit a solo home run to collect the 1,500th RBI of his career.
[26] May 15, 2011: The May 15 series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies at Turner Field was the fifth annual Civil Rights Game, concluding four days of festivities in Atlanta.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, McCann became just the second player in Major League history to hit a pinch-hit, game-tying home run in the ninth inning and then end an extra-inning game with another homer.
[33] July 26, 2011: Hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates for a four-game series at home, the Braves played the longest game in terms of time in franchise history.
The Braves again found themselves in a tie atop the Wild Card standings with just one scheduled game to play, this time with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Despite a solid start by veteran Tim Hudson, the Braves fell to the Phillies 3–4 in thirteen innings, officially eliminating the team from playoff contention.
The Braves entered the final month of the regular season 25 games above .500 with a record of 80–55 and an 8+1⁄2-game lead in the Wild Card standings.
[43] Having swept the New York Mets in a doubleheader at Citi Field on the previous day, the Braves traveled to St. Louis on September 9 to play the Cardinals in a three-game series.
Gaining a 3–1 advantage on the Cardinals entering the bottom of the ninth inning in the first game of the series, Braves rookie and eventual Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award winner Craig Kimbrel suffered his first blown save since June 8, ending a string of 25 straight converted saves and a personal scoreless innings streak of 37+2⁄3.
With two outs and the bases loaded, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols sent a ball down the right field line that scored two to tie the game at three.
[56] The Braves and Cardinals entered the final scheduled day of the regular season with the Wild Card standings tied between the two clubs.
The situation was one familiar to the Braves, who were tied with the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card standings on the final day of the 2010 season.
[57] Starting one hour before the Cardinals-Astros game, the Braves tossed veteran ace Tim Hudson against a Phillies pitching staff that was preparing for the 2011 National League Division Series.
With two outs and runners on first and third, Hunter Pence, who was acquired by the Phillies in a midseason trade with the Houston Astros, sent a ground ball that reached the outfield grass for a single.
Braves closer Craig Kimbrel, who had not surrendered a single earned run in July or August, carried a 4.76 ERA in September with three blown saves.
High-profile attorney Gloria Allred staged a press conference on April 27 to announce these allegations made by Justin Quinn of Fresno, California.
Quinn alleges McDowell made crude sexual gestures in the direction of three men during batting practice before the game started.
[71] Around ten in the evening of the scheduled off-day on April 28, Braves starting pitcher Derek Lowe was arrested in the Buckhead area of Atlanta and charged with a DUI.
Being released the following afternoon, Lowe said in a statement that he was truly sorry to his family, friends, teammates, fans, and the Braves organization and hoped that the matter would not distract the team.
