Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals – Box Score – June 03, 2012 – ESPN.
The Braves finally beat the Nats. It wasn’t easy, and it didn’t start off well. Tommy Hanson allowed homers to the first two batters of the game. But after that, he was swell, allowing just four more hits, striking out six, and walking no one in seven innings.
He had to be good, because the Braves couldn’t do much on offense. In the third, Dan Uggla cut it to 2-1 with a two-out double to score Martin Prado. In the fifth, the Braves loaded the bases with two out, and for once came through with a hit, Jason Heyward singling home Michael Bourn and Uggla.
Eric O’Flaherty pitched the eighth, and walked the first two men he faced, but got a double play and a flyout to get out of the jam. Craig Kimbrel had no such worries, striking out the side in the ninth.
Andrelton Simmons had a double in the second for his first career hit.
JC’d:
Kimbrel just got his 200th strikeout for his career. He has pitched 117.2 innings. Stupid
That makes him the fastest to 200ks in BASEBALL HISTORY
Gio Gonzalez reminds me a lot of Oliver Perez. A wild lefty who gives us fits.
Gio Gonzalez is better than Perez. With him in the rotation and the 4 left handers in the pen, the Nats are built specifically to beat the Phils and the Braves.
The Braves need to get another RH stick for the bench.
Nice win. I’m off to Eastern Europe for the summer. Ta ta!
Gut check time. NOT DOOMED TIME. Nats announcers are bad and missed a good game. Smart to give Ross a two inning rest. Boscan can catch.
I wasn’t real strong on sending Pastornicky down, but I think Simmons’ defense won the game for us. I don’t think Pastornicky makes two to three plays that Simmons made today.
Was a little surprised Fredi didn’t send Hanson out for the 8th, he only had 84 pitches. It worked out, though.
Yay, 3 of 4 since our stretch in the wilderness. Kinda needed that one.
Glad Fredi didn’t send Hanson back out. Fourth time through the order, Stephen Strasburg becomes Jo-Jo Reyes, and Hanson didn’t exactly have Strasburgian stuff through the first 7.
Off day tomorrow, O’F and Kimbrel needed the work.
Simmons looked good in the field. That double play turn in the 8th was definitely a major league play, and he made a good relay throw to get Harper.
The Heyward-to-Simmons-to-Prado play was great. May it happen a hundred times. And Kimbrel was pinpoint today — every pitch thrown with purpose and alacrity.
Chip kept calling Kimbrel’s breaking pitch a slider, but I think it’s more of a slurve. It has the late break of a slider, but also has a little loop to it. And when he goes where he’s aiming, there’s no hope.
Pretty darn good win. Full credit to Hanson to come back after that first inning. I hope Simmons is our SS for many years to come. Now it’s up to us to try to cool off the Marlins, since nobody else seems up to the task.
@14 I don’t expect Chip to get anything right. He can’t even see whether a pitch is inside/outside or high/low.
Thought Hanson was certainly in for a 4 and 2/3 kind of day. Nice recovery
Hate to put too much emphasis on one game…but that was a biggun.
6-17 from Prado, Diaz, Uggla, Ross and Simmons. Decent day by RH hitters against some southpaws.
14- Powell also called it a slider.
Teheran’s line today: 9IP 7h 1R 6K 0BB
Wow. Heckuva line from Teheran. Nice to see, too. He’s been inconsistent thus far.
As for the correct name for Kimbrel’s breaking ball, Chip, etc. probably call it a slider because that’s what Kimbrel calls it. A lot of the time, a pitcher will have a slider that looks more like a curveball or a curve that looks more like a slider, but for whatever reason, they call it what they call it. So if you’re calling the game or giving a scouting report, I think the standard way is to just call it whatever the player calls it and if it deviates from what a “typical” slider (or whatever) would look like, you just add that to the description.
Personally, I think “slider” is perfectly adequate for what Kimbrel throws, but if you want to say that it has a little more north-south break than a typical hard slider, I wouldn’t argue with you. Regardless of what you call it, it’s a disgusting pitch, and when he’s dropping it in for strikes like he was doing today…. Man. When he comes in and he’s one, I know the game is already over, but I never leave early because I want to see how silly he makes some hitters.
I think Chip does enough other things that nit-picking him on Kimbrel’s slider/slurve is kind of silly.
That, boys and girls, is the first defense of Chip Caray in Braves Journal history!
It wasn’t intended as a nitpick of Chip — I was just thinking out loud in writing.
Thus nullifying your defense! The record remains unblemished!
Fisted!
@21 If it is 90 mph I think it is a slider. If the batter cannot pick it up what’s the difference what you call it?
@23
Thank you
@25
He should name his pitches like Rick Vaughn.
I agree, it doesn’t really matter. For the record, he was throwing it 85-86 last night, which is about 12-14 MPH slower than his fastball, which is a spread more common in a curveball.
Pretty cool to see Eric O’Flaherty’s family members contributing to the last thread.
You have to admit, if you’re using the “8 ER all last year” stat to try to justify criticism of O’Flaherty, you’re either an idiot or you’ve got some kind of grudge.
I don’t have any sort of grudge against Eric O’Flaherty.
I heard he’s read one more Southern Gothic novel already than all of last year, which is why I call him Eric O’Flannery.
If he reads another you can call him O’Faulkner.
I like EOF. He’s been a very good bullpen piece for the Braves the past two years, and right now I’ve got as much confidence in him as any reliever not named Kimbrel. That said, when he screws up, the nickname “O’Failurty” is just too good to not use.
@32: When it comes to relievers, a good man is hard to find. But overall, O’Flaherty has been a revelation. (OK, I’ll stop.)
Re: dumb statements by Chip, I thought his description of Hewyard’s RBI single as a “hot shot” was noteworthy. The ball barely made it to the outfield grass.
#29,
That’s an honor coming from Mike Minor’s dad.
@35
It was hit hard. But that was a little over done.
article on Kimbrel pitches
http://capitolavenueclub.com/?p=5287
“Line drive. Base hit. Caught out there. The runner tags. Throw to the plate. On target. And in time! A double play.”
36—Actually, I’ve made it a point not to really defend minor on here.
Nice try, though, Mrs. O’Failurety!
(And note that the obvious reason I don’t try to defend him is that he doesn’t deserve much defense…)
I wish he were doing better, because I do root for the guy a little bit extra, but I don’t think that affects my assessment of his play a whole lot.
Who was the pitcher that his wife was posting on here? He made a few starts for us and went back to AAA.
Every ERA that rises must converge.
42—You mean, before EOF? Jason Shiell.
Here’s Morgan Shiell.
Hey, no Monday game this week.
Rest assured that Braves players are failing at golf or whatever video game they’re playing today.
But we have the Draft…
Already saw Callis linking us to Florida lefty Brian Johnson this morning. That was depressing.
I don’t like any Florida players right now. Especially Zunino and that Nolan Fontana dude.
@49
Ah, “Hell’s Bells”
If he gets lit up do you think they will play “You Shook Me, All Night Long” ?
Of course, if he ever drives back to Gainesville, he will be on the “Highway to Hell”
@40- Eric O’Flaherty’s wife is more attractive than James Franklin’s wife. At least I hope so. The thought helps me cope…
Throwing it out there for NYC-area peeps:
Got 3 tix to Yanks/Mets Saturday night at Yankee Stadium–upper-level seats (Row 9) behind home plate, $28 each.
Anybody up for it? (Everyone in my season-ticket group is away on business next weekend.) It could be icky rooting for Braves’ self-interest in this one, but it’s a unique experience, nonetheless.
#51
And if he gets really bludgeoned, you could play “If You Want Blood (You Got It).
29 – The first thing I thought of yesterday was Jason Shiell’s wife.
I don’t usually get upset with anything about the draft because I’ve been wrong so many times, but it does make me upset when I read ‘they might take so and so because they are a team on a budget’ about the Braves so many times.
@38
Well, if the smartest kids in the class say so….
self proclaimed smartest kids?
You say slurve, I say cider.
@56
I have thought that from time to time, especially when failing to draw them into conversation while they’ve busied themselves responding to more low-hanging fruit in the comments. It seems their mission has changed lately, though — I see far fewer opinion pieces there now.
The Brian Johnson rumor hs been going for month–but I saw three mock drafts which have us taking Tyler Naquin, which is no less depressing….
At this point, I would not be unhappy with anyone of Rahier, Davis. Trahan or Smoral. All of that assumes that Hawkins, Dahl, Shaffer, Stratton and Heaney are off the board at #21….
Is there a realistic draft pick anyone here would be happy to get?
I would hope that people could be happy with Rahier or D.J.Davis (though I know a few who would grumble) or Trahan. I cannot imagine anybody being unhappy with Dahl or Shaffer–both who I did see slide to the Braves in different mock drafts, but I am not sure how actually realistic they were….
Stephen, I don’t really follow these guys but I can see why you’re depressed by those two ideas just by looking at Matt Garrioch’s draft board: http://www.minorleagueball.com/2012/6/2/3060007/2012-mlb-draft-board
Do you tend to agree with that order?
I remain cautiously optimistic (damn it, hope still won’t go away!) that under the new CBA limiting over-slot dollars, the Braves won’t be stuck with safe picks because they’re unable/unwilling to go over slot. So, I’m hoping that we’ll be willing to go with the best player available.
Alex,
You mean the best SOFT TOSSING LEFTY available?
Right, of course.
If the Braves go with Naquin, Ramsey or Brian Johnson, it all about saving money.
However, I think that they can do that with Davis or Stroman or Stratton.
Since we don’t draft again until #85, I would hope that they would feel comfortable taking the best signable player available which might well be Rahier or Davis or possibly Trahan.
Carson Kelly is my darkhorse for the draft.
Given the overall draft (and not just pick 21)I believe that the Braves will get as much for their money as team, but it might take a few years for us to realize it…..
Want to know something fun? The greatest 21st overall draft pick OF ALL TIME is Rick Sutcliffe.
Exactly 10 of them have accumulated at least 4 WAR in the majors:
And yes, that’s a Pete Smith sighting!
@66-
I know he played CF so I suppose it isn’t too much of a stretch, but it blew me away to see Gorman Thomas listed as a shortstop on that list.
Goldstein had the Braves on “best talent available”, so I don’t expect them to be budget-restricted like they’ve been in the past. I mean, the going cheap on the draft was more a Schurholtz-is-the-guy-Selig-has-running-the-progam-to-keep-teams-around-slot thing than a Liberty Media thing. And now that Selig got his draft cap thingy, I think the Braves are likely to spend the full amount they’re allowed to.
Besides, Minor worked out fine, and Gilmartin’s been at least all right thus far. It’s not like the Braves have done something stupid with a top 10 pick or anything.
Got heem.
Byron Buxton seems to be lacking much in the brain.
Alex’s chart illustrates the reason I can’t bring myself to be a baseball draftnik. The greatest variable isn’t college vs. high school, or tools vs. savvy, or hot girlfriend vs. no hot girlfriend — it’s margin of error. And so the judgment of the success or failure of a particular draft is just self-contained logic and optics.
Younger Braves fans—-at least the ones who experienced the 1995 World Series—-will always recall the one very valuable inning Pedro Borbon, Jr., gave us in Game 4 when he came to the rescue (of a suddenly ineffective Mark Wohlers), striking out 2, getting the save & giving the Braves a crucial 3-1 series lead.
Dunno if any of you folks saw his dad pitch, but I wanted to give a shout out to Pedro Borbon, Sr., who passed away today at 65. http://tinyurl.com/7g8mljh
I’ve mentioned before how much I value effective middle relievers who rack up the big innings over a long season—-guys like the Yanks’ Ramiro Mendoza & Dick Tidrow, the Orioles’ Moe Drabowsky, the Athletics’ Darold Knowles, etc. Well, the Reds’ Pedro Borbon was the very definition of that often unheralded, but very valuable guy.
Between 1972 & 1977, Borbon threw 122, 121, 139, 125, 121 & 127 innings at a 3.01 ERA (120 ERA +) with a 52-27 record (an outrageous .658) & 70 saves for a club that averaged 98 wins during that span, (plus, 4 West division titles & 2 World Series wins). In 7 post-season series—-5 of them won by the Reds—-he had a 2.42 ERA.
Those powerhouse clubs had terrific bullpens (Carroll, McEnaney, Eastwick), but Borbon was the real workhorse of the bunch. He wasn’t a big strikeout guy, but he could seemingly pitch every day—-and Sparky Anderson (aka Captain Hook) was never afraid to use him. Even when he warmed up, with his cap always perched a little too high on his head, he looked kinda rubbery.
Bench, Rose, Morgan & Perez were the HoF-caliber players. Griffey, Foster, Concepcion & Geronimo might’ve been the quiet stars. But under-the-radar guys like Pedro Borbon helped make The Big Red Machine historically great.
The thing about the draft is that you’re probably not going to find a franchise talent in the first round, at least, probably not after the first fifteen picks or so. (Mike Trout excepted.) But you’re probably going to find him somewhere in the first five rounds. It’s about quantity as much as quality. Draft a ton of raw toolsy guys and safe guys, sign a bunch of international free agents, and cross your fingers and eventually one of them will figure out the strike zone.
Just got up–Dahl is gone, but the A’s just surprised by taking Russell. Many mocks had them taking Shaffer….
Also, ububba, thank you very much for that memory. I remember that Borbon was pretty worthless when he came up, but there were a few magical moments where he turned into a Remlinger/O’Flaherty/Chris Hammond-style shutdown lefty.
His dad will be missed.
@74
Right, get a bunch of everybody and then see. Leaving very little basis to form an opinion about anyone in particular beforehand. I don’t get it.
That said, I could be wrong and tonight is for the draftniks.
Phew — dodged a bullet! The Indians took Naquin.
Thank you Indians!!
Can anyone explain this to me? This seems…excessive:
@whygavs: If the Pirates pay Mark Appel what they paid Gerrit Cole, they won’t have a first round pick again until 2015.
@jaysonst: Pirates have $6.6M to spend on first 10 rounds. If they have to exceed it to sign Appel, they can. But if they top $6.9M they’ll lose picks.
The new Collective Bargaining Agreement tried to severely tamp down the rampant over-slot money that was affecting teams’ ability to sign the players they drafted. So now there are severe penalties for spending more money than you’re supposed to.
@81 This rule may actually help teams which have refused to pay over-slot money….like the Braves….
Boy, a whole lot of apparently high-ranked people left on the board. I wonder if there are a lot of signability concerns. Stroman, Wacha, Marrero, Shaffer, Piscotty, Stratton, Trahan, Sims, Eflin, Hensley, Roache, Smoral, Trahan…
Yeah, Schuerholz was on the committee that helped draft the new CBA, and it was widely assumed that he refused to allow the Braves to go over slot in recent years — which is why we wound up with signability guys like Minor and Gilmartin when there were flashier, more expensive guys left on the draft board.
So, we’ll see if it actually winds up helping us. But, to some degree, it was written with us in mind.
“And with the 21st pick of the 2012 first year player draft, the Atlanta Braves pick: Big Righthanded Bastard Who Mashes.”
See, draftin’s easy.
@83 Force them to the lower rounds and force them to take less money…sounds like collusion to me!!!
@84 JS still runs the ship. What a surprise.
@85 Sounds good to me.
I hope we take Shaffer or Trahan, but Rahier would be great as well….
OMG WE’RE ON THE CLOCK!!!!
LOL at Selig. “Mississippi State, Mississippi”?
I seriously thought that was Bethany posting for a second.
Well that was anti-climactic.
Oh, of COURSE they take the Georgia high schooler.
Almost a stereotypical Braves pick.
Flashed on the screen: “Player comparison: Luke Hochevar”
Ick.
Not a bad pick, but I am surprised that we went with a HS pitcher–I sure the Braves know they will sign him….
Hey, it’s something new. At least it’s not a college soft-tossing lefty!!! I still want a power bat damn it.
The only way we would take a power bat is if he was a pitcher from the greater Atlanta area.
At this point in the draft I was hoping for Shaffer, but the Braves must have their doubts. Sims will probably cost more money as well….
The Braves goal is to have an all-Georgia team so that at least they can be assured that the players’ families will show up at the game.
This organization sucks. If this was 1990 again, the Braves would have drafted Todd Van Poppel.
I don’t even care if this guy becomes great. There is no way this was the best player available on the board.
Van Poppel was not from Georgia
@100 We have not been drafting the best player available for who knows how long…
The Cardinals are trying to save money….
@96, what’s old is new again – of the last 29 1st round picks (since Mike Kelly in ’91) , the Braves have used 13 on HS pitchers. Adam Wainwright was pretty much it out of all that.
We would have taken Van Poppel in real life, remember, but he refused to sign… ostensibly because he wanted to go to college, but who in their right mind wouldn’t rather sign with an organization that doesn’t suck? So that’s why we got some schmuck named Larry.
Van Poppel was from all the way over in Texas. For a long time, Braves scouts have covered Dixie like the dew.
The only reason the Braves drafted Jones over Van Poppel in 1990 is that they thought he was going to college. He said he was going to college, and Phil Rogers wrote an article the day before the draft that said that he was almost certain. The Braves drafted Chipper because they didn’t think they could sign Van Poppel, not because they liked him more.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/happy-birthday-boy-todd-van-poppel-turns-40-175241821.html
Will Sims be a starter?
Never is this board more hilarious than on draft day. I always make sure I’m here during our first pick just for entertainment value. You guys don’t have a clue in all the world what you’re talking about. I’m not even defending the pick. I have no idea who the hell this guy is. And neither do you.
Oh, completely. I have no idea who he is. But it’s fun to get caught up in it.
I like what I have read about Sims.
@108, The trade deadline is my personal favorite, but point taken.
I don’t claim to know Sims from Adam, but he’s just such a Bravesque draft pick (Dixie high schooler with a big arm). Sometimes it works, sometimes it Francoeurs, and it’ll be years till we know which.
@110 Same here. Seems like a pretty solid pitching prospect.
Well, he isn’t a soft-tossing lefty. I agree-we really don’t know what the hell we are talking about. But it seems uninspiring.
From reading on him he only has 2 above-average pitches with a 3rd average one. I guess the Braves feel like they can develop his repertoire, otherwise it doesn’t seem like a first round caliber pick to me.
Sims has one ugly ass delivery. Don’t really like this pick. Would’ve preferred a bat. Apologies in advance for having an opinion.
@115 I read that he has added a sinker to his repertoire. Seems like a guy who cares about pitching rather than just throwing hard. As he grows older, perhaps his fastball would sit on mid-90s rather than low-90s.
Sims hit 97 on the guns, sits at 90-93. He is a high upside power arm.
I like the pick.
Anyone noticed our 3 hole hitter has a sub .300 OBP? Didnt know Freeman was struggling this bad.
I wanted Shaffer, aka Big Righthanded Bastard.
When you take a HS arm in the first round, it’s generally an upside play. Sims is a guy other teams were looking at, so I don’t think it’s like the Braves reached. They found a guy they liked and pulled the trigger. I don’t see any reason to complain.
Well, he played last month blind, so that’s got to hurt his numbers some.
Probably didnt help him any, but he had a .302 OBP in April also.
Fangraphs
9:20 Marc Hulet: 21. Atlanta Braves:
Lucas Sims, RHP, Georgia HS
Sims has a solid frame and a nice delivery. His fastball sits in the low-90s but he can get up into the 95-97 mph range. He throws two breaking balls – a slider and a curveball – and they both have a chance to be above average.
9:21 Marc Hulet: Had him linked to Atlanta… Georgia product. Nice pick.
Freeman’s been swinging-and-missing the whole year. I haven’t noticed much of a difference lately, to be honest.
Braves wanted to take me in the first round, but we couldn’t work out a deal beforehand.
No one’s fault but yours, sdp. I told you not to talk to talk to Scott Boras if you wanted the Braves to draft you.
The last five times the Braves selected left handed pitchers in the first round were 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2011. Only one of these made the majors (our pal Minor).
The last five times the Braves selected right handed pitchers in the first round were Jason Marquis, Adam Wainwright, Luis Atilano, Joey Devine, and Cory Rasmus. Only one of these hasn’t made the majors.
@73 ububba
Thanks for the reminders. Pedro once wound up with the wrong team’s cap in a playoff brawl against the Mets. He ripped off a big chunk of it with is teeth.
Forty years later, I still want to do that to every Mets cap I see.
I wonder how his unique rubber arm would be used in today’s game.
It’s not like the Braves have ever had a bad experience, using their first-round pick to sign a kid away from Clemson, so I have no problem with the pick.
sansho @13 – combining purpose and alacrity is a pretty good definition of mastery. Good call.
#129
Yeah, that was Buzz Capra’s cap during the famous Pete Rose/Bud Harrelson scrap. (The next year, Capra won the NL ERA title for the Braves.)
Dunno if you remember this, but that fight kinda marked the moment that Pete Rose became a bit of national villain. For a few years after that incident, Rose got booed in every AB in almost every city he played.
I guess people didn’t like seeing a skinny shortstop getting beat up on national TV.
From a drafting perspective, Francoeur was far from a bad draft. He was promoted too quickly and used incorrectly by the franchise, who wanted him to be a starting star rather than a useful part. But as a drafting of amateur talent, the guy is about to kick in 10 years of major league service, so it’s not exactly crap work by the scouts.
Any chance Haithcock is still on the board at #85?
@133 The scouts also couldn’t have known how incredible thick-skulled the guy would be.
Well, except for the fact that he wanted to go to Clemson. That was a red flag.
Really couldn’t agree more with Sam. Francoeur has 8.9 bWAR in his career and 11.4 fWAR (fangraphs gives more credit to his defense). Should be deemed a successful pick easily as many 1st rounders don’t even reach the majors.
Actually Jeff was the 23rd pick in 2002 which puts him as the 6th most successful #23 pick of the last 50 years. The ones higher according to bRef are:
Jason Kendall 38.3
Mo Vaughn 24.5
Aaron Sele 17.5
Jacoby Ellsbury 13.5
Luis Alicea 9.8
@134 I think the thick skull was partly a chicken and egg problem. Because the franchise mis-promoted him and played him up as a star, he expected to be a star, and never could quite grasp that he wasn’t. (Of course, there are still ML managers telling him he’s a star, so there’s that too.)
If circumstance and marketing had not conspired to over-promote Francoeur he could have been a very inexpensive, young Matt Diaz with better defense for at least six seasons. He was mishandled and asked to do too much, but a draft of a near 10-year starter isn’t a bad draft at all.
Didn’t Pedro Borbon Sr. eat somebody’s hat during a fight with the Mets?
How dare you people begrudge me a shot at Jeff Francouer.
@136 That’s a great point.
Sam, you make a valid observation. But I think you’ve missed the crucial detail that Francoeur sucks.
Man, Rahier almost slipped all the way to the Braves’ spot in the second round.
@136
Francoeur has also complained numerous times of not being an everday starter. Sure it might have something to do with the way he was marketed at such a young age, but I’m fairly certain he’d never have been as humble about his baseball career as Matt Diaz.
Furthermore, Francoeur was already more expensive than Diaz has ever been at the time of the trade to the Mets when he was probably the worst everyday player in baseball. Sure if he had been a part time player, he would have been cheaper when arb-eligible but were the Braves to do? The kid burst on the scene, tore up the league, hit for power the next year, then looked to put it all together his 3rd year before becoming terrible his 4th. In hindsight, when would you have benched him?
And truth be told, Diaz plays the field just as well as Francoeur, without the arm and hits lefties better.
I also think McCann was brought up too soon. While he was ready to hit, his work behind the plate was terrible.
He has taken the time to improve (no that he is great). He has the open mindness to know his weaknesses and improve, Francoeur did not.
Sam is right, Francoeur wasn’t a bust at all
UGA LHP Alex Wood is the second-round pick.
Unlike Minor (in college) and Gilmartin, Wood throws hard and has spotty command. So, it’s a different kind of pitcher, at least.
Would love to see the Braves actually achieve the all-Georgia team goal that they seem to have.
Francoeur sucks.
Wood was #42 in MLB’s pre-draft top 100, which was compiled by Baseball America. So that’s not a bad result. Always nice to have live arms in your system.
Braves’ third round selection, 116 overall, is catcher Bryan De La Rosa, a high school catcher from Jacksonville, Florida. Ah well, the spell is broken.
Matt Garrioch of minorleagueball.com had him as #83 on his pre-draft board.
PerfectGame.org said this:
On the other hand, ESPN had him as the sixth-best HS catcher, and said this:
Third-round pick is a 5’8″ HS catcher.
Well, alright!
AAR, thank you.
BA had him at #200.
I thought those first two picks were pretty good.
But, our 3rd round pick comes up a little short.
As far as I can tell, how you feel about him depends a lot on how much you feel you need to discount his height.
Me, I think a short catcher’s fine. Hell, Yogi was 5’7. If the tools play up, and apparently they do, I have no problem rolling the dice. I think short players still get a bad rap, and may well be undervalued. Just look at Altuve.
How dare you people begrudge me a shot at Jeff Francouer
Mike Minor.
Cats.
What are we talking about?
@144 It is easier for young pitcher to improve command of pitches than velocity.
Braves pick a Montana high school center fielder, Justin Black. Notes from ESPN:
He has a Nebraska commitment. As the Billings Gazette reported:
Here’s a radio interview with Justin Black: http://www.northernbroadcasting.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=9ADvToMOIm4%3d&tabid=74
The interview was on June 1, and he said: “I think I’m gonna go to the Braves or Cardinals… anything before the third round, I’ll sign. The lowest is like $450,000 or so.”
But the Braves wouldn’t have taken him if they didn’t think they could sign him.
“Justin Black is ranked as… the second-best player in the state of Montana”
Honestly, the jokes write themselves. (Apologies to all the Montanans out there, if any.)
I think the Braves’ picks generally make the majors. They tend to be, I think, relatively low-risk, lower-ceiling players (which, in fairness, partly reflects the fact that they normally draft pretty late). The Nationals drafted a guy (Giolito) with a bad arm who may not want to sign but who supposedly has a very high ceiling. It’s a high-risk, potentially high-reward pick. I don’t think the Braves would make that kind of pick and maybe they shouldn’t. Of course, the Nats are now in position to make these kinds of picks, largely due to years of accumulating very early picks and getting guys like Strasburg and Harper.
Braves must be done with Fransisco, we just acquired Ruben Gotay again. I wish we still had JJ Hoover.
This has turned into a very colorful draft after the first round. We have a hopping pitcher from UGA, a catcher who might not be able to see over his mitt, and a guy that had to dodge elk and moose in the outfield.
We just picked up Gotay for cash. I think we’ll stash him in AAA as organizational filler/emergency injury callup. I don’t have a problem with that.
No one thinks Gotay is a better baseball player than Francisco, no matter how bad Francisco has been this year.
New pick: Blake Brown, University of Missouri, a 20-year old junior. Callis calls him a “boom-or-bust” pick, a raw tools guy who has good speed but is pretty unfinished.
Notes from Mizzou:
@162 – Ruben Gotay? He looked about 40 years old last time he was in Atlanta and he played like it. Unless the guy has shown vast improvement, I don’t care too much for this. I’d rather have Fransisco.
@164 – Whew!
Sign Justin Black. If he’s one of the top 500 baseball players in America the Braves can use him.
I have liked our draft so far.
The Gotay pick is fine. I agree with Alex, he will be in AAA.
Gotay hasn’t seen the major leagues since his stint with Atlanta in 2008. I won’t be shocked if we never see him in Atlanta. Don’t scare me like that csg!
Seems like the Braves are going for a good mix of talent, HS and college, position guys and pitchers.
I’m not as down on the catcher as others here. I’m glad the Braves are willing to take a risk on a guy some think might be undersized. Frankly, it sounds like three inches were the only thing between this guy and the first round. We’ll see where it goes. The Braves have done very well lately with catchers. Off the top of my head, they’ve developed about 1/10th of the starting catchers in MLB. (Although I guess Tyler Flowers is more of a platoon situation, so maybe that doesn’t count.)
Is there anyone in the organization who’s recognized as a catchers guru, the way Glenn Hubbard is with our second basemen? We had a pretty good run for a while there: Saltalamacchia, Ramirez, Flowers, and of course McCann.
Brayan Pena has been around for a while also.
@172: Eddie Perez?
Another catcher, although this one is from college and doesn’t seem likely to stick at the position. Josh Elander is 144th on PG’s list, though.
Elander:
MLBDraftcountdown.com:
College Sports Madness:
Here’s a scouting video of Elander. He does have a nice stroke.
Stark says expanded replay is coming.
The only reason Kimbrel reached the 200 strikeout milestone so quickly is due to the fact that he was ridiculously overworked all of last season. http://98ontheblack.com/2012/06/05/frediocy-works-in-kimbrels-favor/
Erlander’s swing looks OK. But he appears to be on the small side, compared to those guys on the other side of the cage.
Unfortunately, when the scout said he had raw power, he really meant that the guy likes to talk about his Stooges albums.
I just read that Sims lost the state championship high school game. He’s a loser! I want a pitcher that knows how to win in the clutch like Derek Lowe. He’ll probably be one of those pitchers that loses games because “he doesn’t get enough run support” or because his defense sucks or some crap like that. Give me a guy who knows how to get his teammates to score for him. I think the Braves should hire Joe Morgan to advise them on their draft. He would know how to pick guys that know how to win.
His pretty face is going to hell.
#180
He might not be able to play, but he’s pretty good at writhing around on broken glass.
Elander can join the World’s Greatest Batting Practice Hitter, who is occupying right field, and put on quite a show. Whatever happened to the guy who broke all those car windows? I miss him.
Word on the street’s been that the World’s Greatest Batting Practice Hitter is Ichiro.
Glaus was a pretty awesome Batting Practice Hitter when he was with the Braves, FWIW.
One of the very weirdest things Iggy Pop ever did was to play Donald Rumsfeld on the Comedy Central cartoon show “Lil’ Bush.”
Of course, he was also Michelle Trachtenberg’s dad on The Adventures of Pete & Pete. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW-8-aIr00I
Pete & Pete had a lot of stuff going for it that I definitely didn’t pick up on as a kid.
The very weirdest, though, was playing American Idol. Part of my brain has yet to recover.
Braves just took David Peterson from College of Charleston. You can see him on this video. Just one pitch, though. It starts at around 0:57.
http://www.cofcsports.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?catid=0&id=870564
Braves take Steven Schils, a 21-year old reliever from Florida Tech. He was clocked at 91 in 2008, back in high school — I have no idea what he has now. There isn’t a lot on the internet about him.
Hey, the Supersuckers are playing here in Phoenix tonight. Any fans of theirs here? Are they any good?
Tonight’s lineup:
CF Bourn
3b Prado
C McCann
2b Uggla
1b Freeman
RF Heyward
SS Simmons
P Hudson
LF Constanza
Let’s win the first game, Braves.
Michael Bourn is awesome. That was a hell of a running grab.
Thank you, Michael. It’s nice to have a real centerfielder and a real shortstop.
Not a good-looking ballpark, IMO.
Uglier than hell on the inside.
So far, so good; but a few more runs wouldn’t hurt.
To the old Athens folks — Paul Hammond died today. A fine musician and a good and gentle fellow.
Uggla used to do that all the time when he was a Marlin. I’m glad he isn’t any more.
DAN!!!!!!
I’m growing fond of Dan Uggla.
SIMMONS!
HE NEEDS A NICKNAME!!
I can’t believe Freeman slipped in on that play.
Continuing the Braves’ aversion to non-Southern things, the Braves’ 11th and 12th round picks are high schoolers from Florida, the 13th and 14th round picks both went to Appalachian State in NC, and the 15th round pick is from South Carolina.
HIS NICKNAME IS HUGE SHIT!
Way to go, Andrelton. Nice inning.
Florida is not the south!
good grief Freddie is slow
Communication is easier, AAR, if the new guys say y’all.
They’re going to have to teach a lot of these kids how to find the strike zone with a map. They oughta be able to teach ’em “y’all” while they’re at it.
Stanton can hit.
South Florida is not the South. Plenty of Florida is the South.
I think Freddie has the best arm of any first baseman.
I agree, Bethany. That was nicely done.
Freddie Freeman says he’s done wearing glasses, he’s wearing contacts from here on out. Well… okay.
Hold ’em, Timmy.
The Marlins haven’t hit a lot of ground balls tonight.
A ground ball to Andrelton will do nicely.
BMac may not make it to the all-star game this year, nor does he deserve to.
It’s pretty depressing to look at BMac BREF page and watch his power numbers slide off into nothing.
Oh, he deserves to. Check under the hood. It may be the shift to some degree, and he is hitting a few more grounders and a few less fly balls, but there’s no contesting McCann’s been one of the unluckiest hitters in baseball.
Pick it, Andrelton.
I love Simmons. I’ve said that already but it’s true.
McCann’s ISO:
2006 – .240
2007 – .183
2008 – .222
2009 – .205
2010 – .184
2011 – .195
2012 – .168
His HR/FB% is holding at normal levels for him, and his line drive rate is actually on the rebound from last season. Something tells me he’ll start hitting a few more in the air, and will be fine.
Oh my God. Simmons is amazing.
He can hit a little bit too.
Dang!!!!! I love him even more!
Woo-hoo!
Sir ‘Drelton John
@225
Hope you’re right. I can’t help but think a normal BABIP for a pull hitter hitting into a shift is destined to be lower than we’re accustomed to seeing. It’s like playing against 10 fielders.
Hell of an at-bat from Bourn. Really nice.
@220 BMac needs three days off this season
I like this version of the offense a lot better.
Dan’s having a night!
Nice inning. Let’s save some for tomorrow.
DAAAAAN!
Andrelton has settled in nicely.
Jason!
Great to see Jason hitting the ball well.
Simmons doesn’t appear to be overmatched.
Time for a Durbin save tonight?
Hudson should finish it
92 pitches? Yep, Hudson should finish it unless he gives up multiple runs.
Hudson should absolutely go back out there
I can’t get anything about the game from MLB.tv or MLB.com or even ESPN. What’s going on???
Don’t know. Yahoo’s feed is working.
my MLB.tv feed died also.
Just came back for me.
You didn’t miss much, just another Uggla bomb, is all.
This is Heyward’s first 3-hit game since April 11.
MLB.tv still isn’t working for me.
Mobile is dead too
Seems like pitchers are going to have to figure out how to adjust to Andrelton in a hurry.
Braves’ bats made the trip to South Beach.
Wow, Simmons.
Timmeh!!!
Yay, a functional shortstop at last!
Gaudin’s taking one for the Marlins.
DURB >>> GAUD
Before this season, I’d always get Gaudin and Durbin confused. Tonight isn’t helping matters.
Not sure that last one got the plate.
Mow ’em down, Huddy.
You know what? I still haven’t forgiven them for 1997. Screw them. Mow ’em down, Tim.
Freeman is really good at first.
Congratulations on the shutout and two RBI, Tim!
One of our best games this year.
What a wonderful game! Let’s win the series tomorrow.
Ha! Freddie must have found out I was raggin’ on his defensive range the other day. Silencing critics!
Someone must’ve been reading when I asked for a CG after Johan’s no-no. Thanks, Timmeh!
Good old Huddy. Please tell me he is returning next season. Love the man.
And this is what Dan Uggla used to did to us when he was a Marlin.
Uggla’s second homer was the longest I have ever seen him hit.
LOS METS
Cliff Lee is 0-3 on the season.
Actually Gotay was acquired so they could drop Terdo to AA. Probably a good move at this point.
I am perfectly find with having Prado being our full-time third baseman going forward. We need a big bat in leftfield.
The edit function…geez, I miss it too…
find = fine
Um…pretty sure Chipper’s coming back.
Pretty sure he meant next year and beyond.
Yeah Chipper will be back by the weekend hopefully. I like the left side of the infield with Prado and Simmons over there. We need to keep Bourn and get that big bat in left field.
Mets are trying to give the Nationals this game.
Stupid Mets
What would you guys think of trading Teheran for Wil Myers and then plugging him in LF starting next season w/Prado at 3rd…fyi Myers is a combined 337/.399/.712 this year in AA/AAA.
If you’re looking to trade Teheran for a young bat, Myers would be the type of guy to look for. But most teams aren’t willing to trade potential “#1” starters, so I guess it comes down to whether you still think Teheran’s got that upside. I know his results in AAA have been inconsistent, but he’s still just 20.
How about those Celtics…
@282 It would be another Pineda/Montero type of trade for sure. The conventional wisdom of course is that bat is more valuable than arm.
I’m not necessarily looking to trade Teheran, but the Braves need an impact RH OF bat and the Royals need SP. Obviously, I wouldn’t start the negotiations w/Teheran, but I doubt the Royals would take less…I wouldn’t. Myers seems the real deal, and if you’re going to pay Bourn, you probably don’t have the money to spend on a decent FA LF (especially if you’re looking to take care of Prado/McCann in the near future).
You’d still have Delgado, Hudson, Hanson, Minor, Medlen, and Beachy with which to fill a rotation, but the issue (as 282 points out) is if any of those guys are a legit #1 starter
The Braves will have the money to spend for a LF and CF next year (approximately 25-30 million). There’s really no need to trade a cheap, cost controlled pitcher, especially one who’s already damaged his trade value more than what any Minor League numbers he puts up from here on out can recover.
If the Braves were to trade a pitcher after the season, they should look at trading Hanson. They’re just delaying the inevitable with him and Tommy will be an expensive Arb-2 and Arb-3 player. Trade Tommy for a guy that can man LF cheaply for a few years and put up a 4-5 WAR, re-sign Bourn, and use excess cash to start locking up young talent.
Seems I missed an entirely enjoyable game. Went to Yanks/Rays instead & saw Pettitte pitch really well against a really weak lineup, plus a grand slam from Russell Martin, of all people.
#199
Paul was a terrific & versatile musician (guitar, bass & sax, IIRC). I remember him mostly with the Little Tigers (reggae/ska) and Time Toy (just no easy musical category). Of course, some might recall Time Toy from the “Athens Inside/Out” documentary. A bummer to hear.
I’m not sure about that being the conventional wisdom, KC. My impression is that pitchers are more risky because they’re more vulnerable to injury, but frontline bats are slightly more plentiful than true ace starters.
Teheran isn’t worth as much now as he was before MLB facing players. I wouldn’t cry if they traded him, but I’m not sure the return would be worth it.
I’m becoming jaded about all of these blue chip pitching prospects.
I think it’s more the dip in his minor league numbers that has hurt Teheran’s value somewhat. If anyone cares that much about a 20 year-old’s first 20 IP, they shouldn’t have a job in baseball.
He could still certainly be part of a Pineda/Montero-type deal.
No one is saying it, but would you think about moving McCann this winter?
@291 If Gattis stays healthy or Bethancourt finally learns how to hit. I don’t think the team would make Ross a starter with two prospects like that in the wings.
@292
I agree. I am sure the team will pick up the option, but I would think that he could bring a decent return. If they think they can’t resign him, this might be the way to go.
We are really going to need another bat or two next year. We aren’t a very good team without Chipper in the lineup.
I don’t think the Braves are looking to trade Teheran, but its been reported that he’s spent a lot of time this year working on his curve ball, which could explain the inconsistent results. And if he gets that pitch looking good, he really might be a monster.
New thread. Calling it a recap would be too generous.