Andrelton Simmons standing on a baseball field with a glove on his hand is a web gem waiting to happen, and this winter Braves Journal is going to determine which of his gems is the best of his best—his Jadeite. To see the previous posts in the series, click here.
Round 3: You Shall Not Pass vs. A League of His Own
You Shall Not Pass
Editor’s Pitch: I’m really not sure how Simmons got to this ball. He had to dive, obviously, but then he had to reach up to actually catch it. I wouldn’t have guessed his arms were long enough to make this play, but the one lesson I have learned from watching Andrelton for three years is to always expect the impossible. And this certainly looks impossible.
Last Round: You Shall Not Pass beat On the World Stage in a runoff, 27-23.
A League of His Own
Editor’s Pitch: Simmons was moving toward third base with the pitch, so he had to reverse his direction to get to the ball. He somehow caught the ball anyway, managed to beat the runner to second, then threw to first while his entire body was still heading toward right field, and somehow got enough on the throw to turn a double play. In a tie game. In the bottom of the 14th inning. He’s not fair. He’s really just not fair.
Last Round: A League of His Own beat Double ‘Em Off 34-5.
Sorry from last thread
I’ll speculate that the majority of these injuries come from little league coaches teaching these kids how to throw curve balls at the age of 9 & 10. That and travel ball has them playing year round.
Only the Braves could have a no-hitter through 8 and not be winning.
I guess we’d better get used to this.
Clearly the right thing to do after today’s game is to pack it in and call it a season.
I think these two plays are the top 2 overall.
I know ST isn’t terribly predictive, but it’s fair to assume the Braves will fail to win a no-hitter once a week.
Also, sorry from last thread.
@1 A lot coaches stopped doing that, and I don’t think coaches delayed before somewhat recently.
I’ll go with “A League of His Own”, I think it’s one of the best two or three of them all.
Thanks, ‘Rissa. Both please.
Somebody mentioned it last thread, but Shelby Miller only recorded one out in his start on Saturday. He’s setting himself up for some major improvement to wow us all.
His velocity was good, which I was glad to see. Clearly his control wasn’t very good, but it was good to see him throwing 95.
I wouldn’t be overly concerned with Shelby Miller’s 1st ST start.
Yeah, the question mark with Miller was that his velocity was worryingly down last year. Control can be refined, but if he came to camp throwing 88, then I’d be worried.
He was probably just a little revved up. Let’s say he settles in at 92-93 and locates. With his previous success, maybe he gets even better. Hope springs eternal.
First Cuts
Matt Capps
Ian Thomas
Elmer Reyes
Tanner Murphy
Yenier Bello
Yohan Camargo
This could be interesting
@mlbtraderumors: Braves In Ongoing Discussions With Hector Olivera http://t.co/X1hcXYgHz2
Lot of red flags and question marks is why we’ve got a fighting chance, per Fangraphs. Very interesting.
@6, I don’t know ’bout that, but I could easily see them getting no-hit once a week.
I don’t know if anybody was watching MLB Net today, but right before the game started the program “high heat” starring one of the Mike and the Mad Dog guys was on. I guess they’ve been running some sort of tournament where fans vote live for the best teams ever. Today was 95 Braves vs 98 Yankees, and the braves won. He was flipping out, the voting is tallied live, so I’d have to imagine the braves had thousands if not millions of fans tuned in to watch the game that was scheduled to start in 5 minutes. The NY loudmouth guy was so angry. I loved it.
I honestly think we need more outfield bats. We have enough infielders.
If we get one more outfield bat, we’ll only need two more and we can have a show! I’ll get the barn – you guys get the costumes!
After two years of BJ, we still have to put up with three more years of Melvin…not to mention we are still living the final year of the Uggly contract when the guy plays for the Natpos. We should really keep Wren as a special advisor because he can really tell which players the Braves should NOT sign. Whoever Wren wants, run away.
Apparently we have offered a contract to Olivera. I don’t get it.
Why wouldn’t we offer Olivera? We are sitting on some money, he can play 2B until Peraza is ready and then shift to 3B. Its a gamble worth taking.
#19 – I think Peterson could shift to LF and share time with Gomes.
#18
That’s Chris Russo and it’s just a schtick. FWIW, he detests the Yankees. He’s a SF Giants fan.
Interesting to follow. Olivera just fired his trainer and Agent, Santin. Santin was our connection to Toscano I believe.
That’s really interesting. According to Kiley McDaniel, Olivera’s agent was almost certainly behind the leak that Olivera had a $50 million dollar offer on the table, and he was also the agent for a couple of disappointing Cuban signings, Alex Guerrero and Erisbel Arruebarruena.
Greg Genske of the Legacy Agency is now his agent.
The Olivera development is interesting. I think we may have offered him far below what he wants and may be the highest bidder.
I’m not sure getting a new agent will be very much help to him at this point.
Minor has rotator cuff inflammation and will be shut down for two weeks. So, no Tommy John. Yet.
We should offer contracts to players we believe will contribute to quality baseball, both in 2015 and beyond. If Oliveras signs and moves Jace Peterson into the OF mix, we have a better OF mix.
@30
His shoulder issue probably wouldn’t require TJ.
DOB says Peraza is taking fly balls in CF just in case an opening comes up later in the year
If this is the same problem Minor was having at the end of last season, what will two weeks worth of not pitching do that a whole offseason couldn’t do? There’s got to be something structurally wrong with the shoulder (or elbow putting pressure on the shoulder) that is causing this inflammation to occur.
I’d say Dr Andrews is pretty good at what he does, if this was coming from the Braves medical staff then I would be concerned. Minor might be using his shoulder more throwing now if there was another issue that he’s trying to hide or avoid (leg, elbow, etc)
I guess the optimistic theory is that the inflammation was caused by ramping up his workouts too quickly rather than a tear of any kind, and that rest and a supervised pacing of bb activities will have him in game shape by opening day. It does sort of invite a response that bb activities seem to be the recurring trigger, and are a sign of pre-tear weakness in the area.
New thread.